Author: Badalian Vardan

SHAHAN NATALIE’S “TURKISM FROM ANGORA TO BAKU” PUBLISHED IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net – Writer Shahan Natalie’s (Hagop Der Hagopian) book
titled “Turkism from Angora to Baku and Turkish Orientation” was
published in Moscow. Though the book was written over 80 years ago,
the issues raised by the author are still topical.

According to the annotations to the publication “Armenian book”,
independent Armenia is bordered by a state that secretly and openly
nourished the dream of the global empire, a dream that changes its
denominator from religious to secular Pan-Turkism (and vice versa)
regardless of the political situation. Today we witness yet another
shift of the denominator in the form of deviation from Kemalist
secularism to attempts to become a leader of the Pan-Islamic movement.

However, the essence remains unchanged – an empire from Bosnia to
the Middle Asia.

As for Armenia, the policy of isolationism cannot prove effective
in a landlocked country. Armenia is in need of a dialogue with its
neighbors. But what’s the border between cooperation and surrender,
smart maneuver and betrayal?

Shahan Natalie (1884-1983) was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s Bureau and the principal organizer of Operation
Nemesis wherein the Turkish masterminds of the Armenian Genocide were
assassinated. He later became a writer on Armenian national philosophy,
and notable for his essay, The Turks and Us.

Shahan Natalie’s avengers also executed several Armenian spies and
traitors, who, by denouncing their kinsmen to Turkish authorities,
were responsible for their deaths.

After the Sovietization of Armenia, many of the Armenian Republic’s
expatriate revolutionary activists were ready to collaborate with
Azeri and Turk Armenophobe activists in order to regain governmental
control. This policy was contrary to Shahan Natalie’s conviction that
“Over and above the Turk, the Armenian has no enemy. Armenian revenge
is just and godly.” There were deep dissensions on both sides, but
not yet to the point of schism.

CBA EXPECTS 8% INFLATION IN 2013, BANK’S OFFICIAL SAYS

June 11, 2013 – 21:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Central Bank of Armenia expects inflation
of up to 8% during 2013, deputy head of CBA monetary and credit
department said.

As Artur Stepanyan further noted, the increase in inflation forecast
of 4±1,5% is conditioned by a hike in gas and electricity prices as
well as devastating hail in May.

According to him, growing cost of products and services caused by the
gas and electricity tariffs upsurge will also affect the inflation
growth.

However, he said, inflation will drop in late 2014.

ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY: IRAN EXPECTING ARMENIA’S STEPS

17:32 ~U 11.06.13

With respect to the construction of an Armenia-Iran railway, Iran
is expecting Armenia’s steps, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad
Raiesi told journalists on Tuesday.

“We have for several years stressed the need for construction of a
railway between Armenia and Iran. I am sure that about 5,000 Iranian
tourists will come to Armenia every week if a railway is constructed.

We have repeatedly stated that the moment Armenia begins constructing
its section Iran will begin its section. I think a high-speed railway
section from Meghri to Georgia meets Armenia’s interests,” Ambassador
Mohammad Raiesi said.

Iran is ready to invest up to $500,000 in the construction of a
hydro-power plant.

In response to Tert.am’s question as to whether Iranian gas might be
an alternative for Armenia, he said that it is up to Armenia to decide.

Armenia’s Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan had stated that Iranian
gas could not be an alternative for Armenia because Iran is selling
its gas to other countries, particularly to Turkey, at $340 per 1,000
cubic meters.

As regards Turkey, Ambassador Mohammad Raiesi said that Iran considers
international prices. He noted that an Armenian-Iranian gas agreement
based on the gas-for-energy principle remains in force.

Iranian hardly has any energy problems. Iran wants Armenia to solve
its problems somehow, so it remains committed to the agreement.

“Armenia is well aware Iran is its best friend,” Ambassador Mohammad
Raiesi said.

CHECKING INFLATION: CENTRAL BANK’S MONETARY POLICY QUESTIONED IN PARLIAMENT

ECONOMY | 11.06.13 | 15:31

Photolure

By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter

The first day of the National Assembly’s four-day session this week
was marked by heated debate over the Central Bank’s 2013 monetary
policy program. It drew criticism not only from opposition lawmakers,
but also from some pro-government members of the legislature.

The point is that according to Central Bank estimates, the increase
in natural gas tariffs may entail an inflation of only 2.5 percent,
while many experts believe that the inflation rate may be much higher,
considering the fact that higher gas and electricity tariffs will mean
an inevitable rise in prices for some essentials and consumer goods,
which will in turn be aggravated by a higher cost of agricultural
production conditioned by an expected unsuccessful agricultural season
in the wake of a series of hailstorms.

“In the first half of 2013 the 12-month inflation will, to some
extent, accelerate and by late June will be in the upper part of the
permissible band. The inflationary environment will be extended also
because of the possible increase in prices of agricultural produce in
the wake of the damage caused by hailstorms and from the third quarter
also by the possible revision of energy tariffs,” said Central Bank
governor Artur Javadyan. “In this situation in order to mitigate the
high inflation and reduce its secondary effects as well as to anchor
inflationary expectations the Central Bank will review its monetary
policy directions, raising the refinancing rate, and then, after
the specification of inflationary expectations, will again lower the
refinancing rate. As a result, beginning from the third quarter of 2014
inflation will slow down and will fluctuate within the projected band.”

This announcement was met with harsh criticism from some lawmakers.

While the ruling Republican Party representatives think that the
Central Bank has not correctly estimated the financial risks,
opposition Armenian National Congress party faction member, former
Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan stressed in his speech that the
financial system in Armenia does not change, nor does it develop.

“They seized the Central Bank by the balls and won’t let it go so
that change could take place in the financial system,” Armenia’s
former prime minister asserted.

According to him, the Central Bank’s monetary policy does not
contain deep and thorough analysis. Bagratyan is also concerned by
the circumstance that a large percentage of deposits is collected
from regions and then is concentrated in capital Yerevan. “Banks
borrow money from villagers, ordinary people and concentrate it in
the hands of the rich,” he said, stressing that in Armenia there is
no development of stock exchanges and there is no investment system.

Another circumstance that angered the former prime minister is that
the government provides tax incentives to such projects as Dilijan
International School, but small businesses have no such privileges. As
a result, he charged, small businesses leave the country.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation MP Artsvik Minasyan thinks that
the monetary and fiscal policies of the government do not contribute
to the overcoming of economic obstacles, while the declared policy of
economic diversification bears a formal nature. According to Minasyan,
the government and the Central Bank have no idea what is going on in
the economy and keep talking only about a stable banking system.

“A tank is also a solid armored vehicle, but you cannot plough with
it in your garden,” he said, calling for a revision of the current
policy to make it targeted and consistent.

Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan relieved some of the tensions
in the chamber by calling on the finance minister and the Central
Bank governor to take responsible steps adequate to the situation
and through joint efforts find an effective way to solve the problem.

According to the speaker, if long-term loans at low interest rates are
issued to borrowers, it will directly contribute to the development
of the economy, which will in turn reduce unemployment and emigration.

COMPUTER CENTERS OPENED IN JRARAT AND SPANDARIAN VILLAGES OF SHIRAK REGION WITH THE SUPPORT OF ORANGE

Orange continues implementation of projects aimed at community
development, by providing modern technologies the Armenian villages.

Today two modern computer centers furnished with Orange broadband
Internet were opened in two villages of Shirak region – Jrarat
and Spandarian – with joint efforts of Orange and”Shen” charity
organization.

Jrarat has around 1000 inhabitants, while Spandarian is the home of
1,400 people. Inhabitants of both villages have the possibility, for
the first time, to acquire computer skills and use internet without
the necessity of having a computer at home. Each of the newly opened
computer centers are equipped with 7 computers, a printer, Orange
MyFi 3G router allowing up to 21.6Mbps download speed and comfortable
furniture which will provide possibility to the residents of both
villages to not only be connected with the world, but also participate
in computer courses. For the implementation of this project Orange
has allotted total AMD 4,700,000.

Nazareth Seferian, Orange Foundation General Secretary, said: “Modern
technologies are developing with incredible speed, and their usage
on an everyday basis makes easy people’s life easier and shortens
distances. Such computer rooms can bring real changes in the rural
communities, where especially the youth needs more social and cultural
sources and exchanges, as well as more opportunities of leisure”.

This initiative of Orange was implemented in the frames of the
strategic program of support to sustainable development of remote
and vulnerable communities, which aims to boost and support social
and economic development of these communities and make them fully
benefit from the high technologies.

15:10 11/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:

MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Computer centers opened in Jrarat and Spandarian villages of Shirak
region with the support of Orange

Computer centers opened in Jrarat and Spandarian villages of Shirak
region with the support of Orange

Orange continues implementation of projects aimed at community
development, by providing modern technologies the Armenian villages.
Today two modern computer centers furnished with Orange broadband
Internet were opened in two villages of Shirak region ? Jrarat and
Spandarian – with joint efforts of Orange and?Shen? charity
organization.

Jrarat has around 1000 inhabitants, while Spandarian is the home of
1,400 people. Inhabitants of both villages have the possibility, for
the first time, to acquire computer skills and use internet without
the necessity of having a computer at home. Each of the newly opened
computer centers are equipped with 7 computers, a printer, Orange MyFi
3G router allowing up to 21.6Mbps download speed and comfortable
furniture which will provide possibility to the residents of both
villages to not only be connected with the world, but also participate
in computer courses. For the implementation of this project Orange has
allotted total AMD 4,700,000.

Nazareth Seferian, Orange Foundation General Secretary, said: ?Modern
technologies are developing with incredible speed, and their usage on
an everyday basis makes easy people?s life easier and shortens
distances. Such computer rooms can bring real changes in the rural
communities, where especially the youth needs more social and cultural
sources and exchanges, as well as more opportunities of leisure?.

This initiative of Orange was implemented in the frames of the
strategic program of support to sustainable development of remote and
vulnerable communities, which aims to boost and support social and
economic development of these communities and make them fully benefit
from the high technologies.

15:10 11/06/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

WINEMAKER VERNISSAGE 2013 TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Tuesday, June 11, 14:36

Winemaker Vernissage 2013 will be held on June 15 in Parakyar village,
Armavir region, Armenia, Festival Areni Fund reports.

Factory and home-made wines, dried fruits and souvenirs will be
exhibited at the event. The vernissage is organized every year to
preserve traditions and upgrade wine drinking culture, as well as to
attract tourists. Music and dances will accompany the event.

IRAVUNK: POLICE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST KHACHATRIAN AND HIS RELATIVES

Tuesday,June11

Following the resignation of Syunik regional governor Suren
Khachatrian, the police have begun receiving complaints and letters
about relatively recent crimes committed by the ex-governor and his
relatives as well as crimes committed years ago, “Iravunk” newspaper
writes, citing its sources.

“In particular, there have been applications regarding Suren
Khachatrian’s son Tigran, whose actions were concealed at the time.

They say the matter also concerns a murder which was committed two
years ago, but was passed off as a suicide,” the paper says.

MP BAGRATYAN: “LET’S NOT FROTH AT THE MOUTH IN THE EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL ATTRACT FOREIGN TEACHERS”
Grisha Balasanyan

A bill that would grant certain tax breaks and customs privileges
related to a government project to build an international school in
the Armenian resort town of Dilijan, remains a topic of heated debate
in parliament.

The $550 million project, of which a mere $20 million has been invested
to date, is planned to house 600 students at a school the government
claims would be operated to international standards.

$150 million would go to the actual building of the school and the
remaining $400 million to its operation and future maintenance.

HAK MP Hrand Bagratyan today said that he was opposed to the bill.

“The government wants money but they don’t say why. There is no
project,” Bagratyan said, adding that $80 million has already been
given. “The impression being created that we are dealing with something
akin to the end of the world.”

“Let’s not froth at the mouth in the expectation that we will attract
foreign teachers,” Bagratyan mocked.

Parliament President Hovik Abrahamyan addressed the MPs and supported
the bill in principle, nevertheless warning that the tax breaks should
not be fraudulently used. He said there was the possibility that the
financing could be used to purchase more material than planned for
and that the excess would then be resold.

Yearly tuitions at the school would be in the $30,000 range.

Despite such an exorbitant cost, the government says most of the
students will be Armenian citizens.

Many opposition MPs have questioned the economic benefits of such a
costly project and that the best and brightest students of Armenia
will leave the country upon graduating.

The bulk of the financing will come from foreign investors.

LiberoQuotidiano.it, Italia
8 GIUGNO 2013

Il Papa: “Genocidio armeno in Turchia” Ankara ai ferri corti pure col Vaticano

Francesco I lo ha definito “il primo del ventesimo secolo” ricevendo
una delegazione di Yerevan. Proteste dal ministro degli Esteri di
Erdogan

Le autorità turche avrebbero espresso il loro “disappunto” per le
parole di Papa Francesco, che in un incontro con una delegazione
guidata dal patriarca di Cilicia degli armeni, Nerses Bedros XIX
Tarmouni, il 3 giugno scorso ha parlato della strage di armeni in
Turchia all’inizio del Novecento come del “primo genocidio del
ventesimo secolo”. Fonti diplomatiche turche citate dal sito del
quotidiano Hurriyet hanno affermato che “il ministero turco degli
Esteri ha comunicato il suo punto di vista e ha espresso il suo
disappunto sia all’ambasciata (della Santa Sede, ndr) ad Ankara, che
al Vaticano a Roma”.

“Papa Francesco ha espresso grande partecipazione alle vicende del
nostro popolo e ha ribadito la sua vicinanza e la sua attenzione”, ha
confermato l’ambasciatore armeno presso la Santa Sede Mikayel
Minasyan. L’ambasciatore per la prima volta sarà residente a Roma, in
via della Conciliazione, un fatto che rafforza i rapporti diplomatici
tra il Vaticano e l’Armenia, rapporti comunque di lunga data e ottimi.
“La nostra è la via dei valori democratici e su quelli che fondano il
nostro popolo, i valori cristiani, dunque è naturale che tra noi e la
Santa Sede i rapporti siano profondi, direi naturali. D’altronde,
quella armena è la prima nazione ad essere stata convertita al
cristianesimo”, spiega l’ambasciatore.

E del resto in Armenia si guarda con apprensione e partecipazione a
quanto sta avvenendo in Turchia e in Siria, precipitata nel caos e
nella guerra civile. A farne le spese, come spesso accade, sono in
primis le comunità cristiane e sono ormai a migliaia i profughi che
fuggono da stragi e violenze. Molti sono armeni sono stati costretti a
tornare in patria. “E’ un nuovo capitolo della storia terribile che
ha segnato la vita di tanti armeni: quelli che oggi sono costretti a
scappare dalla Siria in fiamme sono i discendenti, i pronipoti di
coloro che riuscirono a scampare alle stragi in Turchia nel 1915. Una
tragedia che si ripete”, ricorda il giovane diplomatico. In attesa del
fatidico 2015, in cui appunto ricorrerà la commemorazione del
centenario del genocidio degli armeni, perpetrato nell’aprile del 1915
dal governo dei giovani turchi”, per il quale sono previste iniziative
e progetti culturali come una grande mostra, proprio a Roma, dedicata
a San Gregorio l’Illuminatore, il protettore del popolo armeno. Nel
1915 scomparvero almeno un milione e mezzo di persone, in gran parte
furono deportati e morirono di stenti nei deserti dell’Anatolia, ma
probabilmente furono molti di più. Genocidio che la Turchia non ha mai
voluto riconoscere come un piano deliberato e progettato,
ridimensionando le cifre dell’orrore.

Caterina Maniaci

The Hindu, India
May 9 2013

Ashwin finishes tied 13th

Ashwin Jayaram emerged as the best Indian with a tied 13th place finish
after settling for a draw with GM Boris Chatalbashev of Bulgaria in
the ninth and final round of Grand Europe Albena chess tournament
here.

There was little to cheer for the Indian enthusiasts as the highest
rated Indian Abhijeet Gupta went down fighting against International
Master Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine in his final round.

Earlier in the eighth round Abhijeet had raised visions of an improved
finish after outplaying Eylon Nakar of Israel.

Petrosian triumphs

Tigran Petrosian of Armenia won the tournament defeating Levente Vajda
of Romania in the last round. The Armenian finished with eight points
out of a possible nine and remained a full point clear of his nearest
rivals.

Hrant Melkumyan of Armenia, Mircea-Emilian Parligras of Romania, Tamir
Nabaty of Israel and Bernadskiy tied for the second spot on seven
points each.

Jayaram on six points ended in a tie for the 13th place along with
Anurag Mahamal who defeated Melih Yurtseven of Turkey in the last
game.

Dissapointing show

Abhijeet Gupta, Vishnu Prasanna and Swapnil Dhopade ended the
tournament on a disappointing 5.5 points. Gupta also lost valuable
rating points that puts him below the 2600 rating mark again.

Sagar Shah ended the tournament on a high finishing with 4.5 points in
all while N. Raghavi also did well to score four points. The Indians
will now move to the Golden Sands tournament which is bigger than this
one with 40000 Euros prize money at stake.

Important and Indian results:

Eighth round: Vladislav Nevednichy (Rou, 6.5) drew with Hrant
Melkumyan (Arm, 6.5); Tigran Petrosian (Arm, 7) bt Boris Chatalbashev
(Bul, 5.5); Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian (Bra, 5.5) lost to Levente Vajda
(Rou, 6.5); Mircea-Emilian Parligras (Rou, 6.5) bt Evgeny Sveshnikov
(Lat, 5.5); Avetik Grigoryan (Arm, 5.5) drew with Vitaliy Bernadskiy
(Ukr, 6); Ashwin Jayaram (5.5) drew with Dragan Solak (Tur, 5.5);
Anurag Mhamal (5) lost to Vasil Spasov (Bul, 6); Abhijeet Gupta (5.5)
bt Eylon Nakar (Isr, 4.5); V. Vishnu Prasanna (5) drew with
Tiberiu-Marian Georgescu (Rou, 5); Vasile Sanduleac (Mda, 5.5) bt
Swapnil Dhopade (4.5); Sagar Shah (3.5) lost to Konstantin Zalkind
(Isr, 4.5); N. Raghavi (2.5) bt Mykola Lisnichuk (Ukr, 1.5).

Ninth round: Levente Vajda (Rou, 6.5) lost to Tigran Petrosian (Arm,
8); Hrant Melkumyan (Arm, 7) drew with Mircea-Emilian Parligras (Rou,
7); Tamir Nabaty (Isr, 7) bt Vladislav Nevednichy (Rou, 6.5); Vitaliy
Bernadskiy (Ukr, 7) bt Abhijeet Gupta (5.5); Boris Chatalbashev (Bul,
6) drew with Ashwin Jayaram (6); Ogulcan Kanmazalp (Tur, 5.5) drew
with V. Vishnu Prasanna (5.5); Melih Yurtseven (Tur, 5) lost to Anurag
Mhamal (6); Swapnil Dhopade (5.5) bt Abdalla Luiz Guilherme Aurell
(Bra, 4.5); Vladimir Valkov (Bul, 3.5) lost to Sagar Shah (4.5);
Veselij Gagarin (Rus, 4) drew with N. Raghavi (3).