Author: Badalian Vardan

Radio Times
March 7 2013

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pens Armenia’s 2013 Eurovision entry

Legendary axeman said that Armenian song entry Lonely Planet was a “demo idea”

Tom Cole
12:00 PM, 07 March 2013

Armenia will be rocking up to Eurovision 2013 with a song written by
Black Sabbath’s guitarist Tony Iommi.

“Well here’s something different, one of my demo ideas has been chosen
as the Armenian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest,’ Iommi wrote on
his official website.

`It went on a short list and Saturday night was voted as the winner. I
did the music and the performing band Dorians wrote the lyrics, it’s
called ‘Lonely Planet’.

`They’re a good band, the singer has a really good voice and the
lyrics they’ve written are in English.’

But anyone expecting wall-to-wall Sabbath-style heaviness from the
Lonely Planet might be left feeling a little disappointed. It
alternates between quiet, finger-picked verses and an admittedly
crunchy chorus, but the chap singing the song, Gor Sujyan, is no Ozzy
Osbourne.

Iommi, who was given an order of honour by Armenia in 2009 for his
fundraising and charity work in the country, said he was `glad to be
able to be involved with Armenia again.’

As well as the Eurovision tune, 2013 will also see the release in June
of the first all-new Black Sabbath album since 1995’s Forbidden.

Entitled 13, the record reunites three quarters of the original
Sabbath line-up (Iommi, Ozzy and bassist Geezer Butler – but sadly not
drummer Bill Ward) and was described earlier this month by Iommi as
`today’s version of how it was 40 years ago.”

The band had intended to tour extensively in 2012, but they were
forced to change their plans after Iommi was diagnosed with cancer and
underwent treatment for lymphoma.

Will Serzh Sargsyan meet Putin’s requirements

2013-03-07 19:14:08

March 12. This day, RA President Serzh Sargsyan will travel to Moscow
to meet with RF President Vladimir Putin. In general, all political
forces are waiting for this day, including the PAP, which has clear
motivation for a regular meeting on March 12, as well as Heritage”
party, and Raffi who serves his regional visits with expectation of
good news.

First observers have encouraged, then have grown already existing
pressure on Serzh Sargsyan. This was a kind of message both from
Russian side and West. In other words, the government, represented by
Serzh Sargsyan, should make final decision, either Armenia enters
“Union of Customs” and then, “Eurasian Union”, or holds the path of
European integration, which, of course, caused RF outrage on this
issue.

Thus, the Russian side does not stop the implementation of the
different formats of meetings, one of which is a symbolic meeting
between Medvedev and the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, which should
have been held, despite of which Russia, being tired of problems,
organized context version of meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and
Vladimir Putin, which will finally solve all the problems, either this
side, or another. But, first, what is here for Armenia in this side?
-“Customs Union”. At first glance, it is normal, everything will be
safe and good, but in fact, entering “Union of Customs” Armenia will
lose its economic sovereignty, which Russia openly says. Instead of RF
will offer cheaper gas, which today has become Serzh Sargsyan’s weak
point, and in case of price will rise the government will finally
dismiss from the collapse of the economy.

But for us on the other side is the mythical West, whic has already
tired of the requirements of parental care and claims his rights to be
realized. Today Armenia is associated with the West with billions of
dollars of debt. It turns out that, in fact, there is no change, again
loss of economic sovereignty.

And Serzh Sargyan on March 12, despite his wishes, must give a final
answer to Vladimir Putin, or ask Vladimir Putin for time until April,
but in fact, it will not make a significant change in the situation of
the answer. And Finally, a new era will start in April, finally
oriented Prime’s choice, appropriate Government, otherwise, bitter
reality will start for Armenia.

Gevorg Avetisyan

Political expert: To gather 15 thousand rally in regions of Armenia is heroism

ARMINFO
Thursday, March 7, 18:10

To gather 15 thousand rally in Gyumri, 10 thousand in Vanadzor and 5
thousand in Kapan is simply heroism, as one cannot compare rallies in
Yerevan with rallies in the regions, political expert Stepan Grigoryan
said at today’s press-conference when speaking about the political
meetings of the leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian.

He said that Hovannisian will never go to concession with the
authorities in exchange for any position. He did not agree to the
viewpoint of other experts that the votes given for Raffi Hovannisian
are against Serzh Sargsyan. “These are his votes, though it will be
difficult to keep them, and only if they go on fighting, they will
manage to keep these votes”, – Grigoryan said.

When touching on foreign policy of Armenia, he said that president of
Armenia has been conducting a very much balanced policy with the West
and Russia. At the same time, he did not rule out pressure on Serzh
Sargsyan from the side of Russia during his visit to Moscow on 12
March.

Catholicos of All Armenians issues message on International Women’s Day

15:49 08.03.2013

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of
International Women’s Day.

`It’s a great joy for all of us to glorify our beloved mothers,
sisters and daughters and value their devoted efforts in national and
religious life, which stand out for a number of achievements.

With their contribution to the fields of economy, science, education,
culture and others, with their care women attest to the biblical words
that the grace of a good and wise woman is more precious than gold.

We pray to God that he may bless and protect all women, strengthen
their faith, endow them with spiritual virtues, and grant them a
peaceful and secure family life, continuous happiness, and ever new
success,’ the message reads.

Finger Licking Good? Getamej Chickens Show Unacceptable Salmonella Levels
Sara Petrosyan

21:30, March 1, 2013

Laboratory testing of chickens sold under the “Getamej” brand revealed
higher than accepted levels of salmonella.

The tests were conducted at the RA Ministry of Agriculture’s Food
Safety Inspectorate’s laboratory. The results were published on
February 14.

Vahe Khalatyan, who heads the Kotayk Regional Center of the State Food
Safety Inspectorate, has written that a spot inspection of 300 kilos
of broilers produced by the “Grig el Met” company did not correspond
to storage standards or labelling laws and thus the sale of the
product was stopped until the end of lab testing.

Inspections are on-going at the Getamej poultry plant and are tasked
with locating the source of the salmonella. Plant workers say that the
operations of the “Grig el Met” company might be shut down as a result
of the findings.

The Food Safety Inspectorate says that the entire operation id being
monitored and that each batch of chickens is being tested.

The Investigative Journalists NGO hatched the idea of coverage the
inside operations of various poultry plants in Armenia. We wanted to
study the production facilities, especially from a food safety
perspective, and to see whether genetically modified organisms were
showing up in the lab tests.

On the orders of Food Safety State Services (FSSS) Chief Abram
Bakhchakoulyan, the monitoring team included Sergey Stepanyan
(President of Armenia’s Union of Poultry Producers), FSSS regional
inspectors and Armen Poghosyan, President of the Consumers’ Union of
Armenia, NGO.

We weren’t able to visit all the poultry plants in Armenia, just the
four largest ones – Black Star (Lousakert brand), Grig el Met
(Getamej), the Baghramyan poultry plant owned by Gzhouk Ltd. and the
Araks Poultry Plant CJSC.

Grig el Met was the second site that we visited. The staff wasn’t all
that welcoming and didn’t give much importance to our visit.

Grig el Met was the only plant that we visited where the production
workers weren’t wearing the required work clothes and where
unauthorized people were seen entering and exiting the plant, thus
violating hygiene laws.

The factory actually reminded me more of a family-run operation that
the second largest poultry plant in Armenia. Most of the operation,
>From start to finish, was conducted in a very unhygienic environment.

The experts in our group said it was no wonder that unacceptable
traces of salmonella were to be found in the chickens coming off the
assembly line. There was inadequate ventilation in the plant and the
exhaust system was ineffective as well.

Right now, Getamej is in the process of going out of business due to
financial problems.

Photos and video by Saro Baghdasaryan and Ararat Davtyan

ANCA protests Azerbaijani Ambassador’s anti-Armenian remark at AIPAC conference

12:55 08.03.2013

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), giving voice to the
Armenian American community’s growing alarm over anti-Armenian tirades
by Azerbaijani leaders and diplomats, officially registered a protest
with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) regarding
remarks made by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States Elin
Suleymanov, at the organization’s recently concluded annual
conference.

According to news reports, Azerbaijani Ambassador Suleymanov, during a
breakout session at the AIPAC Policy conference titled `New Allies:
Israel and the Caucasus Region,’ threatened supporters of Israel not
to `fall under the influence of pro-Armenian lobby groups.’

In the March 7th ANCA letter, Executive Director Aram Hamparian
explained that: `Strengthening the relationship between the United
States and Israel need not involve support for dictatorial regimes.
Nor should supporting Israel require providing a platform for those,
like Ambassador Suleymanov, who engage in the very sort of hateful,
conspiratorial rants that have, for far too long, been used to
demonize Israel and her supporters worldwide.’

Hamparian specifically asked AIPAC to `reevaluate the moral and
practical dimensions of your organization’s association with
Azerbaijan’s war-mongering President, Ilham Aliyev, a dictator who,
echoing the venomous Holocaust-era rants of Adolf Hitler against Jews,
has announced openly that, `all the Armenians of the world’ are his
enemies.’ He added that Aliyev, by saying that `Armenia as a country
is of no value… it is actually a colony, an outpost run from abroad, a
territory artificially created on ancient Azerbaijani lands,’ was
`attacking Armenia’s very right to exist in language chillingly
similar to those who seek to destroy Israel.’

HEAD OF BUNDESTAG: COMPLICACY OF KARABAKH CONFLICT’S RESOLUTION OBVIOUS

ARMINFO
Wednesday, March 6, 16:43

Armenia is interested in further enhancement of cooperation with
Germany, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan said in
the course of his meeting with Bundestag President Norbert Lammert,
who is on an official visit to Yerevan.

Abrahamyan highlighted the European dimension and European integration
as Armenia’s foreign policy priorities, the Armenian National Assembly
press-service told ArmInfo.

The speaker said that cooperation with FRG is an important link
on the way to European integration. He came out for promotion of
parliamentary contacts and effective cooperation within international
structures. President of Bundestag Lammert shared his views and
said that mutual visits of parliamentarians help expanding bilateral
cooperation and German deputies get first-hand view of the situation
in the region and, particularly, in Armenia.

The two parties discussed also the Karabakh peace process. In this
context, Hovik Abrahamyan said that the conflict must be settled within
the OSCE MG and through negotiations. He said that Azerbaijan creates
obstacles to the peaceful resolution of the conflict by refusing
to remove snipers from the line of contact. The speaker expressed
regret with the fact that the world community has not yet given any
adequate assessment of Baku’s actions. Hovik Abrahamyan touched upon
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations saying that Armenia
is committed to the protocols signed in Zurich, while Turkey refuses
to fulfill its commitments and makes preconditions to establishment
of diplomatic relations. Norbert Lammert said, in turn, that regional
stability and peace are of special importance and the complicacy of
the Karabakh conflict’s resolution is obvious.

NORBERT LAMMERT: VISITING TITSERNAKABERT IS THE MOST HEART POUNDING ELEMENT OF MY VISIT TO ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Wednesday, March 6, 16:50

“My visit to Titsernakabert is the most heart pounding element of my
visit to Armenia. There are very many similar places in my country and
in the world. In 2005 German Bundestag adopted a decision regarding
the events that happened n 1915. Such a decision was adopted taking
into consideration our own past”, – President of the German Bundestag
Norbert Lammert said after laying wreath and flowers to the Memorial
to the victims of the Armenian genocide.

Stemming from our past experience, we express our support to the
people of Armenia, Mr Lammert wrote in the book for visitors of the
museum-institute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide.

“HELP YOUR BROTHER” ALLOCATED SUM OF MONEY FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS SETTLED IN QASHATAGH

13:09, 6 March, 2013

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS: The flat construction project, launched
in Qashatagh Province, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, commissioned by
“Help Your Brother” initiative is in a concluding stage. As office
of the civil initiative told Armenpress, still in 2012 October “Help
Your Brother” initiative has transferred AMD 5 million to “Qashatagh”
foundation for settling flat construction issue of 20 Syrian Armenian
families settled in Qashatagh Province. The regular assistance,
namely 4 million AMD was transferred to “Qashatagh” foundation on
March 5 aimed at completing flat-construction works.

“Help Your Brother” civil imitative was established by the head
of the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief, member of “Dashnaktsutyun”
Party Lilit Galstyan and “Dashnaktsutyun” MP Vahan Hovhannisyan. The
initiative seeks to show material and moral assistance to the Syrian
Armenians families settled in the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

LOOKING FOR LEADERS: ROLE OF INTELLIGENTSIA HAS SHIFTED IN INDEPENDENT ARMENIA

SOCIETY | 06.03.13 | 15:31

Photolure

By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN ArmeniaNow reporter

Post-election Armenia with the recent domestic political developments
has become a rostrum for polarized intellectuals who are using it to
voice criticism against one another and preach “the true role of an
intellectual” in society.

Enlarge Photo Astghik Gevorgyan

Enlarge Photo Vardan Petrosyan

Intelligentsia that traditionally, and especially during times of
repression, meant the elite of the society, the brightest of the
nations’ minds, fighting injustice and often punished for putting
people’s right to freedom above all, has, ironically, had its profile
distorted over the two decades of Armenia’s independence.

If some of them today are at Liberty Square next to Raffi Hovannisian,
participating in the post-election standoff, many more are on the
other side of the barricade, openly preaching the pro-establishment
propaganda.

Astghik Gevorgyan, president of the Journalists’ Union and member
of public council of Armenia and Yerevan city council, says the
intellectuals are the public conscience and it is very important
they each work with integrity in the field they represent, and be
honest to the society. At the same time she says she cannot go to a
rally, confront a policeman, and be by citizens’ side fighting for
their rights.

Film director Tigran Khzmalayan is convinced that there is no longer
intelligentsia in Armenia, and does not think of himself as one,
because he says, an intellectual’s role has been irreversibly
distorted.

“The intellectuals have to be free and have the freedom of expression,
while today many among those so-called intellectuals have sold their
voice, their conscience,” he says, adding there are others who during
the years of hardship preferred to sell things at Vernisage [flee
market in Yerevan], but refused to sell their conscience and become
a puppet.

Writer, script writer Vahram Martirosyan believes that a state-awarded
title does not make one an intellectual.

“The kind of administration came to power that started ‘hanging
those bells’ from the intellectuals’ necks, forming a class of
intellectuals submissive and subservient to them. Their number
kept growing, because it is in human nature to be unable to resist
temptation. The authorities should not feed the intelligentsia, the
sense of gratitude is the worst adviser to an intellectual, whereas
they are the ones who should be forming a system of values,” he says.

Popular comedy actor Vardan Petrosyan has arrived from France to
personally participate in Hovannisian’s rallies. He said during a
program on Kentron TV, that he had been following the developments
in Armenia online, but then just left everything and returned to
motherland.

“People seemed to be alone, hopeless, but then they made the right
choice… I do not recall any such case when people would lead the
intelligentsia; the people now are far ahead. It’s usually the other
way around, intelligentsia leads people, but today the people have
taken a step up, rising to a pedestal, which is higher than the
intelligentsia. I do not mean to insult, but the intellectuals are
slowly following the people,” he said.

The discussion on the role of intelligentsia got more heated after
pop singer, now MP Shushan Petrosyan, during another program on
Kentron TV, reproached residents of Gyumri for taking 5,000 drams
(around $12) election bribe and voting for a different candidate,
and called their actions “dishonest”.

Residents of Gyumri wrote in Hello Gyumri page in Facebook social
network that if Petrosyan did not apologize they would greet her
with bars of soap and cucumbers during her jazz concert scheduled
for March 13 in Gyumri.

Many FB users wrote in this reference that artists should mind their
art, rather than politics.

Khzmalyan says that by “training and/or buying” the artists, teachers,
scientists the authorities are trying to “kill” the intelligentsia
in Armenia.

Martirosyan is convinced that the intellectuals should stand by the
people today and demand from the current leadership to step down,
respect their votes, and their right to vote.