Author: Badalian Vardan

FINDING EMPLOYMENT REMAINS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS

Society | 17.10.12 | 12:19

In August, the Armenian Ministry of the Diaspora met with Syrian
Armenians

About 100 Syrian Armenians have found jobs in Armenia with the help
of the Diaspora Ministry, writes tert.am quoting Lusine Stepanyan,
head of Armenian community department of Middle East at the ministry.

About 57 organizations and individuals applied to the Ministry of
Diaspora presenting the list of vacancies.

However, 400 out of 500 offers come from a textile factory, and only
one Syrian-Armenian marketing specialist applied for the vacancy.

VivaCell, Orange mobile phone operators, ACBA Credit Agricole
Bank,Ameria Bank, Converse Bank, Prometey Bank and other companies
voiced readiness to give jobs to Syrian Armenians.

“The problem is in salaries. In their country the salary is higher,
the prices lower. People are not used to do the same work for less
pay,” she said.

Stepanyan said many Syrian Armenians prefer having their own business
and with that aim the ministry in collaboration with Armenian
Development Agency will organize seminar-classes for providing
legal and other consultation to Diaspora Armenians starting their
own businesses.

SHAKIRA SHOWS ARMENIAN FLAG AT BAKU CONCERT

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Shakira during her Baku concert on Saturday

World famous singer Shakira caused a stir at an international soccer
tournament in Beku Saturday as she mistakenly held up a Colombian
flag upside down giving the impression it was the flag from Armenia.

The Colombian singer took to the stage before the FIFA Under 17
Women’s World Cup Final between France and Korea in Baku, Azerbaijan,
for the first time since the announcement of her pregnancy.

She was dressed all in black and displaying what she thought was her
native Colombian flag. However the flag, turned backwards, represents
Armenia due to it having similar colors as the Colombian flag.

Amnesty International had urged Shakira and Rhianna a week before
the concert to open their eyes to recent arrests of journalists,
bloggers and activists in Azerbaijan, before their performances in
the former Soviet republic this month,.

Amnesty and Sing for Democracy said in a joint letter that it wanted
to draw the singer’s attention to human rights and freedom of speech
issues in Azerbaijan.

“Both singers should be aware of the situation in the country
post-Eurovision,” the letter said, referring to the singing contest in
the Azeri capital of Baku in May, which spurred protests and rallies
by Azeris demanding democracy.

Authorities in Baku arrested dozens of protesters in May and have
since arrested several journalists and political activists.

Rihanna is scheduled to perform in Baku on Saturday, while Shakira
performed on Oct. 24.

“Amnesty International believes that the Azerbaijani government should
afford all artists, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens the
right to express themselves freely without fear of reprisal. We hope
that you share our belief,” said the letter to Rihanna and Shakira.

ARMENIA’S AID SENT TO ALEPPO DISTRIBUTED AMONG NEEDY FAMILIES (PHOTOS)

17.10.12

Within the framework of Help your Brother initiative the aid sent
from Armenia to Aleppo is already being distributed among the needy
families.

According to Syria’s State TV, the aide that reached Aleppo yesterday
was welcomed by Aleppo’s governor Wahid Akkad, Armenia’s consul in
Aleppo Karen Grigorian and primate of Aleppo Diocese of the Armenian
Church Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian.

Aleppo governor thanked Armenia for the aid, stressing that it
testifies the friendship between the two peoples.

The aid will be distributed both among Armenian and Syrian families.

Its distribution will be coordinated by the newly set up
Syrian-Armenian emergency aid body. Over 14 tons of aid has been sent
to Aleppo.

The aid will be of continuous nature and soon another plane with food
will depart for Aleppo.

ARMENIAN CULTURE IS OF THE OLDEST AND RICHEST CULTURES IN THE WORLD

News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan
16-10-2012 14:35:52

On 16 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent an address
to the participants of the International Poetry Festival launched in
the city of Stepanakert.

The address runs as follows: “Dear participants of the festival, I am
glad to welcome all the participants and guests of the international
poetry festival.

We consider important holding the festival in Artsakh and host with
love famous poets from different countries in the ancient Armenian
soil.

Armenian culture is of the oldest and richest cultures in the world,
where the art of poetry always occupied a unique place. Talented
Armenian writers created valuable pieces, which have become treasure
not only for the Armenian but also for the universal poetry.

Today, carrying out the important mission of creating, preserving
and developing cultural traditions writers inspire their native
people, educate and bring up generations cultivating both national
and universal values.

The NKR authorities rate high the role of writers and are ready to do
everything possible to keep supporting the development of literature.

Within this very context, we consider important holding such events
in our republic, which is also a good opportunity for establishing
new contacts and making Artsakh recognizable to the world.

Dear friends, I wish you fruitful work and new creative successes.”

CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC
PRESIDENT

CAFESJIAN HAS NEW AND UNIQUE IN THE WORLD ART EXHIBITS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Cafesjian Center for the Arts is
supplemented with new and interesting works: three new art exhibits
are going to enrich Cafesjian.” Cafesjian continues to represent the
best of contemporary art in Armenia” Lilit Sokhakyan, Public Relations
and Marketing responsible of the Center told Armenpress.

“Armenians are fond of arts reportedly the Center enables a unique
opportunity to get acquainted with World Art pieces, development
trends” the interlocutor stated.

One of the works belongs to South Korean artist Do-Ho Suh Cause &
Effect composition sketched in 2007 evoking a vicious tornado. This
vast ceiling installation is made from acrylic, resin and aluminum.

The next sample is presented by Jenny Pickford composition
called “Circles of Life”. Jenny Pickford is a contemporary artist
blacksmith designing and making unique sculptures, water features and
architectural ironwork. Her designs combine forged, galvanised steel,
with spectacular blown glass. The third one is composed by Guy Buseyn
called “Wall”.

The works are taken from London, New York, Hong Kong, Paris, Geneva,
Miami , Amsterdam and other places. Cafesjian Center for the Arts
glass exhibition is composed of five thousand samples, three thousand
of which are already in Armenia.

LE CHEF RELIGIEUX DES YEZIDIS MIR MIRA TAHSIN BEG A VISITE TSITSERNAKABERD
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 18 octobre 2012

Mir Mira Tahsin Beg, le chef religieux des Yezidis de la Republique
federale d’Irak et sa delegation ont visite le Complexe Commemoratif
de Tsitsernakaberd

Les deputes Yezidis des Parlements Kurdes et irakiens aussi bien que
les representants de la primaute font parti de la delegation. Les chefs
de la delegation ont depose des couronnes au memorial des victimes du
Genocide armenien après que les membres de la delegation aient depose
des fleurs devant la Flamme Eternelle et ont honore la memoire des
victimes innocentes avec une minute de silence.

Le but de la visite de la delegation est la consecration du premier
sanctuaire Yezidis dans la Republique d’Armenie.

MINI HYDRO-PLANTS DEBATE: “ILLEGAL OPERATORS NEVER PUNISHED”
Narek Aleksanyan

hetq
14:23, October 17, 2012

The issue of mini hydro-plants sprouting like mushrooms across Armenia
has been one of the most hotly contested issues of late in the country.

Local residents and environmental activists have, in many instances,
joined forces to stem the tide of construction or at least to see
that new ones are built according to legal norms.

Today, a number of sector specialists and civic organization reps
took part in a roundtable discussion on the matter. Here’s what a
few had to say.

Inga Zarafyan (President of Ecolur NGO) – These mini hydro-plants
should not be operated for at least two months of the year, especially
in the summer. Sadly, everywhere you look the opposite is happening.

The energy now produced by these mini-plants comprises 10% of what’s
consumed. The price were paying to pipe our rivers is tremendous and
the environment is being defiled.

Aram Gabrielyan (Coordinator of the UN’s Climate Change Framework
Convention in Armenia) – We must compare energy security and
environmental security and try to understand which one is paramount
for us.

>From a socio-economic viewpoint, hydro-plants provide little benefit
to local residents. The owners are the real beneficiaries. Most of
the work is automated, so any talk about new jobs is absurd.

Gevorg Petrosyan (Gyumri Aarhaus Center Coordinator) – In certain
cases the entire river has been piped and siphoned off; for example
the Yeghnajour River.

Two islands in the Shirak Arpi Reservoir that are listed in the Red
Book as endemic bird nesting grounds have now been transformed into
peninsulas. The reason is the large quantity of water being piped
off by the hydro-plants.

In Armenia, hydro-plants are operated without taking into account the
opinion of the real owners of the land and water; the citizens. There
is no defined mechanism for public participation in the process.

For the most part, the various state ministries give their consent
to such projects, and these projects are constructed and operated in
a manner that clearly violates all normal standards.

There has yet to be a case in Armenia when an owner of an illegally
operating hydro-plant is legally prosecuted.

Home page

GETTING TATEV DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BACK ON TRACK
Yeranuhi Soghoyan

hetq
18:26, October 17, 2012

I met three year-old Hayk at a festival on the road to the Tatev
Monastery in Armenia.

The boys was decked out in handmade colourful wool socks, red britches,
leather slippers and a pointy cap worn in olden days.

I asked Hayk what he wanted to be when he grew up. Waving his small
wooden sword in the air, the boy answered he would smite Bel, Armenia’s
archenemy of yore. He then pondered the question a little more and
answered, “I will become a good boy.”

The fact that a bunch of his elders were lined up along the road
didn’t faze Hayk in the least. His main mission was to swipe as many
sweets and walnuts from the cup sitting on the table as possible. The
older folk could discuss and debate issues like planting trees and
talk about the much awaited multi-functional centre planned to be
built in Tatev next year to their hearts content.

Two years ago, when the Tatev aerial tram was opened, there was talk
about ancillary development projects planned for the village of Tatev.

One of the projects involved getting local residents to turn their
homes into bed and breakfast establishments for the tourists attracted
to Tatev by the aerial tramway.

Even before that, Armenia’s National Competitiveness Foundation
(ANCF) had come up with an idea of creating a circulating fund for
Tatev residents willing and able to transform their homes into B&B’s.

The project was launched but it never really took off. A year ago,
there were staff changes at the ANCF and Arman Khachatryan replaced
Bekor Papazyan as director.

Khachatryan avoided commenting on other failed development projects
at Tatev in the past.

In March of this year, the ANCF and the U.N. Armenia Office signed a
memo of understanding regarding the development of the local community
and tourist infrastructure. A three year plan has been designed for
2012-2015 with the assistance of the ANCF and participation of local
residents.

The multi-functional center will house an information unit, an office
and stalls selling local handicrafts and produce. The initial cost
estimate for the project is around $155,000.

There are also plans in 2013-2014 to renovate a 5.5 kilometre stretch
of water pipe> the job is expected to cost $237,500. The following
year a garbage collection and sanitary system will be installed. That
will cost around $82,500. The same year a sewage system costing some
$665,000 will be built.

The bed and breakfast project, allowing for 10 private houses to
be turned into tourist lodging, will start this year at a cost
of $179,500. Families wishing to participate will have to present
competitive bids.

30% of the investment will be supplied by the individual families
and the rest by the ANCF.

Aram Khachatryan says it’s vital that local families participate
directly in the project and invest their resources, thus ensuring
greater overall success.

Tatev Mayor Mourad Simonyan believes the project will help spur
village development.

“I believe that many who have left Tatev will want to return after
the projects are completed,” Simonyan said.

Hripsimeh Manoukyan, an economist in the U.N. Development Program,
said the long-term goal was to get money into the pockets of local
residents. This way they’d have seed money to launch other local
projects.

FOR AND AGAINST: HUNCHAKIANS FOR OBAMA; DASHNAKS FOR NOBODY IN U.S. ELECTION
By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
Politics | 17.10.12 | 15:25

Prior to the November 6 presidential election in the United States
two major Armenian parties – Dashnaks and Hunchakians – have opposing
positions on whom the U.S. Diaspora should support.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Armenian Cause Office
has decided not to support either incumbent president Barack Obama’s
or Mitt Romney’s candidacy, urging the more than 1.5 million Armenian
community of the United States not to support candidates “who have
not earned the American-Armenians’ votes”.

The Office is convinced that the executive body of the United States
is acting as dictated by Ankara and Baku when it comes to foreign
policy issues of importance to American-Armenians.

“After coming to the office President Barack Obama did not keep his
vow to recognise the Armenian Genocide and, during the first 90 days
of his tenure, through his administration he had Yerevan accept the
‘road map’ and the protocols using it as a political shield allowing
him to break his vow.”

Moreover, American-Armenians stress that president Obama failed to
keep his promises also in other spheres: “despite the promise to help,
president Obama tried to cut the aid to Armenia” and “had not a single
meeting with the community over the past four years of his presidency,”
says the Armenian Cause statement.

California Courier publisher Harout Sassounian says that this is, in
essence, a boycott to the presidential elections, but the Armenians
will take part in the elections of senators and congressmen to be
held simultaneously.

“If one doesn’t honor a promise, we don’t honor him. The other
candidate – Romney – has given no promises, neither is he planning
to or has a desire to meet us. If we are not important to him, we
won’t give our votes to him. Hence we can’t give our votes to either
of them,” he said in an interview to 1in.am.

Meanwhile, the social-democratic Hunchakian party urges support
of Obama, who “has recovered the destroyed economy” and “the past
four years have proven that President Obama is a wise leader with
foresight, capable of taking the United States out of the difficulties
it is facing”.

As opposed to Dahsnaks, Hunchakians are satisfied with the fact that
although Obama did not use the word “genocide”, he was the first among
U.S. presidents to refer to it as “Meds Yeghern” (Great Calamity).

“Moreover, when speaking at the Turkish parliament he called on Turkey
to face its history, making a reference to the Armenian Genocide”,
whereas “Mitt Romney completely ignores the Armenian electorate”.

Giro Manoyan, Director of the International Secretariat of the ARF
Bureau in Yerevan, says neither of the candidates has responded to
the issues of the Armenian community, not because they regard those
as unimportant; quite the opposite, they are highly important in the
highlight of Turkey’s increased role in the Syrian conflict.

“Yes, the Turkey factor has its impact, and it’s obvious from the
fact that the American-Armenian community’s letters have been left
unanswered so far. However, both candidates view the impact of a
foreign power as more important than their citizens’ opinion and
votes,” he told ArmeniaNow.

HYATT ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A HYATT PLACE HOTEL IN REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

TendersInfo
October 16, 2012 Tuesday

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has
entered into an agreement with Ginekar Limited Liability Company for
a Hyatt Place hotel in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Hyatt Place
Yerevan is the third Hyatt Place hotel under development in Europe,
joining Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport and Hyatt Place Zurich Airport.

Slated to open in the spring of 2013, Hyatt Place Yerevan will offer
96 guestrooms, in addition to more than 1,300 sq ft (120.7 sq m)
of meeting space, an open market with made-to-order meals and snacks
around the clock, a restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner;
a bar; a four-station e-room, and a well-equipped fitness center. The
hotel will be located next to Republic Square, the heart of Yerevan
s city center, and is in close proximity to the Government House, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Gallery, and Abovyan Street,
the city s main thoroughfare with many boutiques, cafes and gift shops.

We are pleased to introduce the Hyatt Place brand to a city that
is undergoing major commercial and development enhancements and
transformations, said Peter Norman, Senior Vice President Acquisitions
and Development for Hyatt International Europe, Africa, Middle East)
LLC. The opening of Hyatt Place Yerevan will mark a significant
milestone for Hyatt as we begin to introduce the brand worldwide. In
addition to Hyatt Place Yerevan, two Hyatt Place hotels are slated
to open outside of the United States in 2012 in Hampi, India and San
Jose, Costa Rica.

We are proud to develop the first Hyatt Place hotel in Armenia, said
Samvel Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board, Ginekar Limited Liability
Company. The Hyatt Place brand is a unique and refreshing concept,
and we believe that this will be a very successful hotel serving
business and tourist visitors to the Armenian capital.

Launched in 2006, Hyatt Place brings to the upscale select-service
hotel category the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known.

Inspired by multitasking travelers 24/7 lifestyle, Hyatt Place combines
stylish design and practical amenities with forward-thinking technology
and purposeful service. Hyatt Place hotels feature complimentary Wi-Fi
access and remote printing, a 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt fitness center,
a coffee and wine bar serving specialty coffees and premium wine,
beer, and spirits, complimentary a.m.

Kitchen Skillet , featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches and
a Grab n Go case stocked with sandwiches and hand tossed salads. The
Guest Kitchen offers lunch and dinner entrees 24/7. Specially trained
Gallery Hosts offer assistance with everything from directions to
check-in to a freshly made meal.

Ltd.