Author: Badalian Vardan

Villagers Close Traffic to Teghout Ltd. Offices for Several Hours
Larisa Paremuzyan

19:40, July 5, 2013
Early this morning, residents of the villages of Shnogh and Teghout
blockaded the road leading to the offices of Teghout Ltd.

Residents were protesting the fact that the mining company had
installed barricades on a road leading to a local shrine and to the
forest beyond, us preventing them from picking wild mushrooms and
berries.

Traffic was halted for several hours and buses bringing in workers
from Alaverdi and surrounding villages parked on the shoulders until
the protestors reluctantly opened the roadway.

Teghout Mayor Frounze Norekyan stated that the village council has
discussed the issue and that Rouben Papoyan, a Teghout official
present at the meeting, had promised that villagers would have free
access to the forest and the shrine.

Villagers, however, say that the mining company’s security staffers
are still preventing them from moving freely about. They also claim
that they must first receive permission from the company before
cutting any wild grasses later used for livestock feed.

In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Lori Provincial Governor
Artour Nalbandyan and Lori Police Chief Anoubakh Hambaryan arrived on
the scene at noon.

They listened to the complaints of the villagers and later discussed
the matter with Teghout Ltd. Director Valery Mezhloumyan who remained
in his office the entire time.

Afterwards, Nalbandyan told the protestors that while the barricades
to the forest and the shrine wouldn’t be removed, villagers would have
free access to both.

The company argues that the barricades were installed to safeguard
company equipment and to prevent the access of unauthorized
individuals.

Even though Police Chief Hambaryan assured villagers that they could
freely go to the shrine whenever they wanted, to pray and light
candles, local residents didn’t seem convinced.

`What we want is to be able to go to our mountain and forest whenever
we want,’ said local resident Karen.

`Dear Karen, no one is restricting your free movement, but there are
safety rules. You can go to your places. That’s not a problem,’
Hambaryan responded.

Teghout officials say they are ready to sit down with local residents
on a weekly basis to resolve these and other issues.

At 1:30pm, the protestors grudgingly opened the road leading to the
Teghout Ltd. offices.

IDEX Online
July 7 2013

Armenia’s Polished Diamond Output Surges 81% in Jan-May

(July 7, ’13, 2:23 Albert Robinson)

(IDEX Online News) – Armenian exports of polished diamonds soared 81
percent on the year in January-May of this year, according to the
country’s National Statistic Service.

The country produced 39,589 carats of polished goods in the first five
months of this year, compared with 21,878 carats last year.

Armenia produced 7,247 carats of polished diamonds in May, Armenpress
reported without giving the year-earlier figure.

For all of 2012, Armenia’s polished diamond output was 135,900 carats.

Young Toronto band heavily informed by Armenian music tradition
by Taleen Babayan

Published: Saturday July 06, 2013

Pyunik is (l to r) Sevag Titizian, Sevag Haroutunian and Razmik
Tchakmakian. Shantimix

TORONTO – Ten bold, black letters of the Armenian alphabet are etched
across Razmik Tchakmakian’s left upper arm, the letters comprising a
powerful word that has been central to the plight of Armenians and
significant to our endurance as a people. Veradznoont: rebirth.

Above it rests a symbol of Armenian survival. Tsitsernakaberd: the
Armenian Genocide Memorial with a flame emerging from the steel slabs.

Though born thousands of miles away from the monument and his
homeland, Tchakmakian and his two childhood friends, Sevag Titizian,
and Sevag Haroutunian’s submerged patriotism is not only skin-deep,
but entrenched in their hearts. So much so that these former Armenian
school classmates decided to parlay their individual passion for music
and become part of an Armenian band to continue the musical traditions
of our culturally rich past.

Pyunik, which means “phoenix” in Armenian, pays homage to the lineage
of talented Armenian musicians and singers who have helped sustain the
unique melodies and compositions of our musical traditions.

“It was kind of like a young band rising out of the ashes of those
artists before us,” said Tchakmakian.

Playing everything from covers of Harout Pamboukjian’s patriotic tunes
to Tata’s crowd pleasers, Pyunik seeks to entertain and enliven the
spirit of Armenian “kef,” no matter what the occasion.

Formed in 2006 by Haroutunian, the group had its beginnings at St.
Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto, under the auspices of Fr.
Meghrig Parikian, where the group would practice in the church’s hall.
Although the group has shifted its members over time, it has found a
successful harmony among its current members, who have all been
musically inclined since childhood.

While Haroutunian, 25, Titizian, 25, and Tchakmakian, 23 brought a
range of talents to the band, each grew up with an appreciation and
emphasis placed on music and the arts in their households.

Playing the violin at the age of nine, Haroutunian switched to piano
when his older brother brought a keyboard home one day. He soon began
taking private lessons with teachers who were experienced in jazz,
classical music, and the Divine Liturgy.

Veering more towards percussion, Tchakmakian started playing the drums
at ten years old and picked up the dhol and dumbeg over the years.
Titizian, who sings vocals for Pyunik, also plays the piano and drums.

The band members musical influences also show diversity, which add to
their originality as a group.

As a vocalist, Titizian has been heavily influenced by Paul
Baghdadlian, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Frank Sinatra.

“Armenian music has been a big influence in my life,” said
Tchakmakian, who cites Harout Pamboukjian and Ruben Hakhverdyan as
singers who have inspired him. “But rock music and classic rock have
also played a significant role.”

Haroutunian’s musical interests also span genres and include
French-Armenian favorite Charles Aznavour, Canadian guitarist Jesse
Cook and the American heavy metal band Metallica.

“They all paint different colors in my palette which allows for
interpretation and usage of elements from each type of genre,” said
Haroutunian.

Throughout our modern history, Armenian musicians and singers have
rejuvenated our culture, which has been vulnerable to fading away.
Preceding visionaries such as Gomidas and Sayat Nova preserved our
music, ensuring that it wouldn’t be lost, and the more contemporary
singers, such as living legends Harout Pamboukjian and Adiss
Harmandian, modernized them. Pyunik, as a young Diasporan Armenian
group, is continuing the trend and using their musical talents to
engage our generation in the music of our people, while putting their
own modern spin on it.

“Armenian music is close to my heart,” said Haroutunian, who sang in
the ARS Armenian School of Toronto’s school choir and church choir.
“And we believe that young people around our age need to listen and
dance to more Armenian tunes.”

Tchakmakian echoes Haroutunian’s words and though he has played in
rock music bands, he says Armenian music, “is our own and the younger
generation has to carry it on.”

Music, in all ethnicities, is one of the simplest and most effective
ways in which to keep a people united. If it wasn’t for the arts, our
culture wouldn’t thrive and Armenians from Toronto to Buenos Aires to
Sydney wouldn’t know the familiar sound of an oud, the universal steps
to our “soorch bar” or the symbolic words to our folkloric songs. And
if it wasn’t for those dedicated to continuing the traditions of our
culture, we would be overshadowed in a world comprised of more
populous and powerful ethnic groups.

Pyunik, which has steadily been making a name for itself over the
years, has performed at a plethora of Armenian events both in Canada
and in the U.S., including the AYF Olympics in Chicago, Montreal’s
Kermese and Toronto’s Winterfest. Their most recent performance was on
the Armenian Heritage Cruise earlier this year, which displayed their
talents to a wider audience.

“Performing on the cruise was great,” said Tchakmakian. “There’s a
cultural aspect that people may not have access to in their own
communities.”

“It was a different dynamic to perform for people from all over the
world,” said Titizian. “The vibe was great and it was nice to see
everyone having a great time.”

The band would like to continue performing, writing more of their own
music and eventually putting out an album. In the meantime, they are
focused on their professions and their own independent projects, in
which the childhood friends support each other’s creative endeavors,
such as Titizian’s recently released “Du Im Sern Es,” a contemporary
Armenian song with an energetic dance beat. Haroutunian composed the
musical arrangements and Tchakmakian makes a cameo in the popular
music video, which was shot on location in downtown Toronto. The song,
written by Titizian, has already reached over 10,000 hits on YouTube.
Tchakmakian’s YouTube channel, “Chaks Drums,” in which he covers
popular songs, has already reached over 7,000 views in its short
history.

“We are all children of a great community and an even greater culture
who have lots to offer to the world,” said Haroutunian.

Their devotion to Armenian music brought them together. The commitment
to their culture will keep them connected for years to come.

“All of us have the same passion of being Armenian and supporting
Armenian causes,” said Titizian. “We are trying to keep our culture
alive. If we don’t do it who will?”

ARMENIE
Le nouveau chemin de fer vers l’aéroport de Zvartnots favorisera la
croissance économique en Arménie

Le nouveau chemin de fer vers l’aéroport de Zvartnots favorisera la
croissance économique en Arménie a déclaré le directeur général de la
compagnie des Chemins de fer du Sud Caucase Victor Rebets.

En 2012, la companie, le ministère arménien des transports et
Armenia-International Airports ont signé un protocole d’intention pour
un chemin de fer reliant l’aéroport Zvartnots et Erevan.

La longueur totale du chemin de fer sera de 7800 mètres dont un tunnel
de 810 mètres. L’étude de faisabilité est en cours et les plans de
conception sont déjà prêts.

Le projet reliera Zvartnots avec la station de métro Charbakh d’une
part, et le terminal de fret de l’aéroport avec la gare de Karmir Blur
d’autre part.

dimanche 7 juillet 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

BOXE PROFESSIONNELLE FEMININE
L’Arménienne Suzy Kendikian, reconquiert sont titre mondial WBA des
super-légers face à l’Américaine Karina Moreno

`190

Elle a le visage tuméfié et très marqué par le combat. Mais
l’essentiel est fait ! L’Arménienne Suzy Kendikian (25 ans, née à
Erévan) a reconquis hier soir à Dortmund le titre mondial WBA des
super-légers en s’imposant largement aux points face à l’Américaine
Karina Moreno (31 ans). Suzy Kendikian qui compte 31 victoires (dont
16 avant la limite et 2 défaites en 33 combats professionnels tient
ainsi sa revanche sur Karina Moreno (25 victoires et 6 défaites en 31
combats).

(JPEG)
Suzy Kendikian championne du monde
Le 1er décembre dernier à Düsseldorf, Suzy Kendikian surnommée «
Killer Queen » (la Reine tueuse) avait perdu aux points son titre
mondial face à l’Américaine. Suzy Kendikian, championne du monde WIBF
(2007) et WBO (2009) a repris ainsi hier soir sa ceinture mondiale WBA
des super-légers.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 7 juillet 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

ARMENIE
Arménie : la nouvelle règle pour les accouchements provoque du mécontentement

Un décret du gouvernement en Arménie qui interdit aux femmes enceintes
qui ne sont pas résidentes d’Erevan de bénéficier d’un accouchement
gratuit dans la capitale est à l’origine du mécontentement dans les
régions périphériques.

Dans un souci de renforcer le nombre d’habitants , l’Etat couvre le
coût d’un accouchement en Arménie. A la recherche de meilleures
installations et de personnel médical, les femmes enceintes des
régions d’arménie se rendent souvent à Erevan pour accoucher. En 2012,
64 pour cent des 70 648 femmes inscrites à l’assistance à
l’accouchement fournis par l’État ont donné naissance à Erevan, selon
le Service national de la statistique. Le décret du 1er mai publié par
le ministère de la Santé a été conçu pour encourager les améliorations
dans les hôpitaux dans les 10 régions du pays. En vertu de la mesure,
les femmes ne seront en mesure de bénéficier d’un accouchement gratuit
de l’État dans les hôpitaux dans les régions où ils ont une adresse
officielle.

Le ministre de la Santé Derenik Dumanian, l’auteur du décret, soutient
que les fonds budgétaires pour améliorer les soins dans les hôpitaux
publics dans les régions suivront. Le gouvernement paie actuellement
135000 drams (329 $) par accouchement dans les hôpitaux à Erevan et
97000 drams (236 $) dans les établissements en milieu rural.

« Un tiers des femmes enceintes des régions viennent à Erevan pour
donner naissance , d’où l’argent pour les hôpitaux ruraux est
transféré aux hôpitaux à Erevan, réduisant ainsi les ressources
financières dans les régions, ainsi que le nombre de professionnels
dans les communautés rurales » a déclaré Derenik Dumanian à
EurasiaNet.org.

Malgré les assurances du gouvernement, certaines femmes enceintes des
zones rurales restent très prudentes face au décret. Gohar Minasian,
33 ans, femme enceinte vivant à Abovian, à 16 kilomètres à l’extérieur
d’Erevan, craint les conséquences d’accoucher dans un hôpital local.
En 2011, elle a noté que l’erreur d’un anesthésiste à Abovian a
entraîné la mort d’une femme enceinte pour insuffisance cardiaque. «
Si cela avait été dans la capitale, sous la supervision de
professionnels qualifiés, à la fois la mère et l’enfant auraient
survécu » a affirmé Gohar Minasian sans fournir de détails à l’appui.

Selon le décret, les femmes enceintes des régions seront toujours en
mesure de recevoir des soins médicaux gratuits à Erevan dans des
situations d’urgence. Chef gynécologue-obstétricien au ministère de la
santé, Razmik Abrahamian, affirme que les femmes enceintes dans la
plupart des régions d’Arménie ont déjà accès à des soins adéquats.

« Il y a quelques années, nous n’avions pas de maternités rurales avec
des équipements modernes et il était facile de comprendre pourquoi
elles devaient venir à Erevan, désormais 6 des 10 régions ont des
hôpitaux entièrement équipés, mais les gens continuent à venir dans la
capitale par habitude », a déclaré Razmik Abrahamian. « Le nouveau
décret va au moins les familiariser avec les installations et les
conditions disponibles dans leurs nouveaux hôpitaux locaux, et
seulement ensuite elles prendront une décision ».

Un député indépendant Edmon Marukian, qui s’oppose fermement à ce
décret, fait valoir qu’il pourrait finir par alimenter la corruption .
« S’il y a des exceptions [apportées au décret] pour les naissances à
haut risque et [les femmes] sont envoyés à Erevan, il est fort
possible que les femmes ayant une grossesse normale ou pas de risque
pourraient corrompre quelqu’un pour obtenir la permission de donner
naissance à Erevan » a estimé Edmon Marukian, qui représente la région
nord du Lori. « Ou une femme enceinte d’une communauté rurale pourrait
être à Erevan et devrait accoucher mais un hôpital pourrait
l’accueillir qu’en échange d’argent ».

Razmik Abrahamian a rejeté les problèmes de corruption , promettant
une étroite surveillance de la mise en `uvre du décret. Tous les
hôpitaux disposent du numéro hotline du ministère par lequel ils
peuvent faire une tentative de corruption, a-t-il ajouté. « Qu’ils
appellent et ils seront punis ».

Basé sur les statistiques de la seule mortalité infantile les régions
peuvent sembler un meilleur choix pour donner naissance qu’un hôpital
à Erevan. En 2011, la dernière année pour laquelle des données sont
disponibles, la capitale a enregistré 118 décès infantiles, le plus
haut niveau dans le pays. Mais Razmik Abrahamian a soutenu que 70 pour
cent de ces décès étaient des enfants nés de femmes des régions où,
selon lui, la connaissance par le public des soins prénataux est
inégale.

Dans le pays au cours de la dernière décennie , le nombre de décès
infantiles a diminué de façon constante. De 2006-2012, le nombre des
décès infantiles pour 1000 naissances vivantes a chuté de moitié à 12.
Le taux de mortalité maternelle a également baissé à juste une dizaine
contre pas moins de 35 par an il y a une décennie. Des membres du
personnel des hôpitaux dans les régions disent les perceptions
publiques des soins médicaux dans les régions restent à la traîne des
statistiques. Par exemple, dans Artashat, une ville au sud-est à 29 km
d’Erevan, le taux de natalité de l’hôpital local a chuté de 50 pour
cent depuis 2008, quand l’Etat a commencé à payer pour les services
d’accouchement.

« Nos conditions sont bonnes et le personnel médical est très
professionnel, mais nous ne pouvons pas rivaliser avec les hôpitaux de
la capitale avec des installations plus modernes », a déclaré le Dr
Zemfira Navasardian, chef du service obstétrique et gynécologie de
l’hôpital d’Artashat.

Des obstétriciens qui ont déménagé à Erevan pour du travail peuvent
maintenant être tentés de rentrer chez eux disent les dirigeants des
hôpitaux mais ce processus demande du temps. Dans le même temps,
certaines femmes arméniennes ne sont pas prêtes à attendre. Interdites
d’accoucher gratuitement à Erevan, Mme Minasian, une enseignante de
maternelle, a décidé de payer pour les services elle-même.

Note de la rédaction :

Gayane Abrahamian est une journaliste indépendante et rédacteur en
chef à Erevan.

EurasiaNet.org

dimanche 7 juillet 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

ESPN.co.uk
July 6 2013

Liverpool set to miss out on Mkhitaryan

ESPN staff
July 5, 2013

Liverpool are prepared to admit defeat in their pursuit of Henrikh
Mkhitaryan, who looks likely to join Borussia Dortmund.

The Reds have long tracked the highly-rated Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker
although the price has proved to be a stumbling block to concluding a
deal.

New interest from Champions League finalists Dortmund has also
complicated matters, and Liverpool are now likely to turn their
attentions elsewhere.

The Armenia international is valued by Shakhtar at £25.5 million
although Dortmund are believed to have tabled a bid of £19.5 million.
Dortmund were also linked to Ajax’s Christian Eriksen.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu warned Mkhitaryan that joining
Liverpool, who are not competing in the Champions League, would be a
mistake.

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 6 2013

I do not view as likely a return to armed conflict in any of the South
Caucasus unresolved conflicts, Mathew Bryza says

6 July 2013 – 7:14pm
Former US ambassador to Azerbaijan and former co-chair of the OSCE
Minks Group Mathew Bryza, who is believed to be one of the best
Western experts dealing with the South Caucasus, talked to VK about
the situation in the region.

– Mr. Bryza, what do you think about the future of the region, are
those, who believe that the situation may change for the worse, right?

– I believe the South Caucasus and Caspian regions have tremendous
potential for economic growth, provided they can continue working
effectively ` especially with the United States and NATO — to stem
threats to their stability posed by: (a) Islamist radicalism,
aggravated by activists based in Afghanistan and Iran; and (b)
liberalize their political systems to unleash the full productive
potential of their populations.

Maintaining the balance between stability and liberalization is the
key challenge for these countries. Azerbaijan, for example, has a
chance to avoid the two extremes former President Hosni Mubarak left
for Egypt: either Islamist extremism or political authoritarianism.
Striking the balance in Azerbaijan and elsewhere in the region will
require continued courage and true commitment to national interests
and universal values of human rights, not only by government
officials, but by private citizens as well.

I do not view as likely a return to armed conflict in any of the South
Caucasus unresolved conflicts. The Georgian Government is working to
make reintegration more attractive to the residents of Abkhazia, while
South Ossetia has effectively been incorporated into Russia.
Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, I believe renewed armed hostilities would
be likely only if the parties fully lost faith in the Minsk Group’s
commitment and ability to negotiate a framework agreement as outlined
by the `Basic Principles.’

– The United States has intensified its efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, should one expect other steps towards
peaceful solution?

– Unfortunately, I do not agree with the premise of this question. I
am disappointed by what I see as the United States having
significantly decreased its activeness in the South Caucasus. In the
case of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the next step I recommend to
Washington is to appoint a full-time envoy to serve as Minsk Group
Co-Chair.

Once Washington does appoint a new Minsk Group Co-Chair, it will be
important for Secretary of State Kerry and President Obama to provide
strong political support to a renewed dialogue between Presidents
Aliyev and Sargsian and for any compromise decisions the two South
Caucasus Presidents may decide to take in the context of the Minsk
Group process. It will also be important for the top U.S. leaders to
have Nagorno Karabakh on their agenda for all discussions with their
Russian counterparts.

– Can the changes in the Russian-Georgian relations affect the
situation in the region? What certain changes should be expected?

– In principle, improved Russian-Georgian relations should benefit the
entire South Caucasus. Russia should naturally be one of Georgia’s
largest trading partners. There is no reason for the two countries’
trading relations to be disrupted; in fact, during the days when
Russian troops were invading Georgia in August 2008, electricity trade
between Russia and Georgia continued to flourish.

The Georgian Government has made clear that it will not normalize
relations with Russia until the Russia military ends its occupation of
Georgian territory in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is a strong
statement by Prime Minister Ivanishvili.

The most important question is whether Prime Minister Ivanishvili will
continue to lead Georgia’s quest to become a member of NATO and other
Euro-Atlantic institutions, while sustaining Georgia’s crucial role as
a bridge between Azerbaijan/Central Asia and Europe. Early in his
term, Prime Minister Ivanishvili sent confusing signals suggesting
that he might prefer Georgia to emphasized North-South connections,
(such as reopening of the rail link from Russia to Abkhazia and the
rest of Georgia to Armenia) over East-West connections (such as the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad).

It seems Prime Minister Ivanishvili has now corrected his course by
reaffirming Georgia’s trajectory toward the Euro-Atlantic community.
This approach reflects the preferences of Georgian voters, who
overwhelmingly favor Georgia’s membership in NATO. It also reflects
the unified voice of Georgia’s parliament, as articulated in a
statement last March by both the government and opposition factions in
parliament reaffirming their support for Georgia’s Western trajectory
in its national security policy.

– What Azerbaijan should do in order to pursue the USA and European
countries to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity?

– The United States and its European Allies are indeed interested in
the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The U.S. has
worked intensively and successfully with its NATO ally, France, as
well as with Russi all the members of the OSCE’s Minsk Group to
formulate a framework for a final settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, known as the `Basic Principles. ‘ This framework was
articulated in the `Madrid Document’ of November 2007, as well as in
the statement of Presidents Obama, Sarkozy, and Medvedev during the
G-8 Summit in D’Aquila, Italy, in July 2009. Finalization of the
`Madrid Document’ would make a dramatic contribution to Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity by securing Armenia’s agreement to return to
Azerbaijan’s control the seven Azerbaijani territories surrounding
Nagorno Karabakh in exchange for Nagorno Karabakh receiving an
`interim legal status’ until a vote occurs at some point in the
future on the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno Karabakh’s `final legal
status.’

So, the most effective step Azerbaijan could take in this regard would
be to resume negotiations at the presidential level to finalize the
Basic Principles. And, as I noted above, the U.S.’s top leaders would
have an important role to play in supporting such negotiations through
public statements, as well as by ensuring mediation of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict remains on the agenda of the U.S. and its European
Allies in all major meetings with their Russian counterparts.

Azerbaijan can also help by making clear its readiness to supply
Armenia with natural gas and to invest in Armenia’s transportation and
communications infrastructure in the context of progress to a
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Such commercial
diplomacy will provide Yerevan some breathing space to take the bold
decisions required for a breakthrough.

Interview by Fuad Safarov. Exclusively to VK.

Mathew Bryza graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in International relations and obtained his Master of Arts
in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of
Tufts University in 1988.

Bryza joined the United States Foreign Service in August 1988. He then
served in Poland in 1989-1991 at the U.S. Consulate in PoznaÃ?Â? and the
U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, where he covered the Solidarity movement,
reform of Poland’s security services, and regional politics. From 1991
through 1995, he worked on European and Russian affairs at the State
Department. Bryza served at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow during
1995-1997.

In April 2001, Bryza joined the United States National Security
Council as Director for Europe and Eurasia, with responsibility for
coordinating U.S. policy on Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, the Caucasus,
Central Asia, and Caspian energy. In June 2005, he assumed duties of
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

In May 2010, the White House appointed Bryza as the United States
Ambassador to Azerbaijan. On September 21, 2010, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee approved his ambassadorial nomination and sent it
to the Senate floor. On December 29, 2010 Bryza’s appointment by
President Obama was confirmed by the White House as a recess
appointment. He served as ambassador to Azerbaijan starting from
February 2011.

In January 2012 Bryza left the post and the foreign service as the
Senate did not confirm his nomination due to the opposition by
Armenian-American lobbying groups who alleged his ties with the
Azerbaijani government.

Since March 1, 2012 Bryza has been appointed the Director of the
International Centre for Defense Studies, a Tallinn-based think thank.
His first marriage ended in divorce. On August 23, 2007, he married
Zeyno Baran, from whom he has a daughter. He lives with his family in
Istanbul, Turkey.

Legal aspect must be added to political discussions on Armenians
Genocide – Heritage

July 06, 2013 | 01:02

YEREVAN. – Legal aspect must be added to political discussions on the
Armenians Genocide, head of Heritage faction told Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

Ruben Hakobyan participated in the Pan-Armenian forum of lawyers being
held in the National Academy of Sciences.

`Previously our demands were voiced, but did not grow into the thesis
of fair compensation. It is time to start looking at the Armenian
Genocide and the legal aspect. Here our lawyers can do much collecting
necessary documents,’ Ruben Hakobyan said.

According to him, the work must be extended and it is no less
important than ever.

`Well, better late than never. We need to expand our agenda on the
Genocide in terms of working with international organizations,’ he
concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Armenian HRD Will Send Note Of Protest To International Organizations

The spokesman for the HRD Naira Karmirshalyan told Pastinfo that the
ombudsman is going to send a note of protest to the international
human rights organizations and ombudsmen regarding the speech of the
Moldovan ombudsman Aurelia Grigoriu during the European conference at
the National Assembly of Armenia.

Our interlocutor informed that the RA HRD condemns such behavior and
finds that the speech of the Moldovan Ombudsman is inappropriate
behavior which defames the institution of human rights defender.

Note that during her speech at the National Assembly the ombudsman of
Moldova stated in regard to the Karabakh conflict that our country is
an aggressor, occupies 20% of the Azerbaijani territories, , and the
genocide of Khodjallu was perpetrated by the Armenians which is an
internationally recognized fact.

Some delegates of the conference applauded, others criticized the
Moldovan advocate. Davit Harutiunyan presiding over the conference did
not authorize the Moldovan advocate to respond to criticism to avoid a
long dialogue. This discussion started after the session of the
conference.

11:13 06/07/2013
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