Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

THIRD BIENNIAL WILLIAM SAROYAN PRIZE COMPETITION DEADLINE EXTENDED

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 24, 2012 – 15:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) this
week extended the deadline to the Third Biennial William Saroyan
Prize for Playwriting Award competition from Feb. 15 to March 15,
The Armenian Weekly reported.

Three finalist plays will be selected by a panel of theater
professionals and announced in early summer 2012. The grand prize
winner will be announced in late 2012. Due to funding changes, the
grand prize for this cycle will be a $5,000 award.

The 2010 winner of the Saroyan Prize, London-based playwright Silva
Semerciyan (“Another Man’s Son”), has since signed with the famed
literary agency Curtis Brown and received a weeklong development
workshop of the play at the National Theatre, the pre-eminent theater
in Britain, with an eye toward a full production. ADAA also presented
a staged reading of the play at the Los Angeles Theater Center.

ADAA’s mission is to project the Armenian voice on the world stage
through the arts of theater and film. It accomplishes this through two
writing contests, play readings, the Boston Armenian Film Festival,
and various networking events.

ADAA’s William Saroyan Prize for Playwriting for plays on Armenian
themes is made possible by a grant from the William Saroyan Foundation,
which established the award at ADAA in 2007-08 in conjunction with
the William Saroyan Centennial.

From: Baghdasarian

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: “AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES DISTORT THE REALITY”

24.02.2012

The Azerbaijani authorities, misrepresenting the reality for years,
come up with false statements in connection with Khojalu events. The
day before the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made such a
statement, putting the whole legal-political responsibility of Khojalu
tragic events on the current authorities of Armenia and Artsakh. We
present the RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov’s
comment in this regard:

“As at that time Aliyev was not in a war field, but he was busy with
the prosperity of his own business in Istanbul, would hardly know the
whole reality on the painful events of Khojalu. The reality is the
following: for many months Stepanakert was pelt from Khojalu weapon
emplacements day and night, and the neutralization of the military
base for the local Armenians was a life and death issue. During
the liberation operation of Khojalu the sub-divisions of the NKR
self-defense forces left a corridor for the peaceful population of
Khojalu for safely leaving the military operations zone, about which
the Azerbaijani side was warned beforehand.

Ayaz Mutalibov, former President of Azerbaijan, told the “Nezavisimaya
Gazeta” newspaper after one month of his resignation: “The corridor,
by which people could leave, was, nevertheless, left by the Armenians.

In that case, why they were to shoot. Especially, in the territory
nearby Aghdam, where at that time there was a sufficient force to go
out and help people.”

And ten years after his resignation Mutalibov in his interview to the
newspaper “Novoye Vremya” has noted: “It’s obvious that the shooting
of the Khojalu people was organized by somebody for the shift of
power in Azerbaijan.”

By the way, Azerbaijani lawyer Arif Yunusov in July 1992 told the
newspaper “Zerkalo” that “the city and its residents deliberately
sacrificed their lives for the political purpose.” And Tamerlan
Karayev, former Speaker of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan, on April
28, 1992 informed the newspaper “Mukhalifat” that “the Azerbaijani
authorities were in charge of the tragedy.”

The above mentioned facts unequivocally testify that the Azerbaijani
side is to be guilty for the death of Khojalu peaceful residents,
which is a heinous crime committed towards its own people for the
sake of political intrigues and for power struggle.”

From: Baghdasarian

‘KARABAKH – HIDDEN TREASURE’: THE TASK IS TO GIVE RIGHT PICTURE OF ARTSAKH

Panorama.am
24/02/2012

“Through this film we tried to speak of present-day Artsakh,” director
Jivan Avetisyan said, addressing the launch event of documentary titled
‘Karabakh – Hidden Treasure.’

“Distorting reality, the propaganda machine of Azerbaijan represents
Artsakh as a hell, a pile of ruins.

This film is not about Karabakh issue. It is about present-day Artsakh
and aims to show reality to the world,” said the film director.

According to the director, the documentary about Artsakh is also
intended to boost tourism, for every foreign tourist coming to Artsakh
not only to be able to see Artsakh with his own eyes but also to long
for knowing historical reality.

“The more people visit Artsakh the sooner the true facts will be
recognized. The task is to give the right picture of Artsakh,” said he.

The film features the nature, the cultural heritage of Artsakh and
the life of Artsakh people, added the director.

The film’s premiere will take place at Narekatsi Cultural Center today,
and it will be aired by Yerkir Media TV tomorrow at 21:20.

From: Baghdasarian

WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS TO BE RESTORED IN ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 24, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: A 15-million USD loan agreement
has been signed today between Armenia and International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. The agreement has been signed in
the sidelines of community water supply program. Press office of
the Ministry of Finance told Armenpress the agreement was signed
by the Minister of Finance Vache Gabrielyan and Jean-Michel Happi,
the World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.

The loan will be transferred to the “Water Sewage” company to improve
the water supply in a number of territories. Within the framework of
the program the water supply networks of Ashtarak, Masis, Etchmiatsin
towns and nearby settlements will be restored. The loan is being
provided with 25 year term, of which 10 with privileged conditions.

The program is intended to be accomplished in June 30, 2015.

From: Baghdasarian

AKHTALA MINING PLANT WORKERS RECEIVE MISERABLE SALARIES

Panorama.am
25/02/2012

Hayatsk daily has carried out an investigation at Akhtala Mining Plant
which revealed that documents show plant workers receive a monthly
salary of around AMD 35 000-40 000, while they risk their lives every
minute. At the same time the director of the plant was trying to assure
the daily that the average salary of workers is AMD 122 000. By the
way, the salary of plant’s owner Madlen Tashchyan is AMD 6000000.

From: Baghdasarian

ARAM I: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE INTEGRAL PART OF GLOBAL AGENDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 25, 2012 – 14:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The decision of U.S. House of Representatives to urge
Turkey to return confiscated churches and church properties to their
rightful owners, and the approval of a bill by the French Parliament
and the Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide, along
with the Turkish government’s aggressive reaction, have, once again,
brought the Armenian Genocide to the fore of international headlines,
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia said
in his introductory remarks at the international conference on the
Armenian Genocide in Lebanon.

“The Armenian Genocide is no longer an exclusive concern of
Armenian-Turkish relations; it has become integral part of the global
agenda,” His Holiness said.

“The term “genocide” only became part of the vocabulary of
international law in 1944; however, the carefully planned and
systematically executed attempt of the Ottoman-Turkish government
in 1915, which aimed at the total extermination of the Armenian
Nation, fits the definition in the Genocide Convention. This act,
strongly substantiated by the historical evidence and eye-witness
accounts of Armenian and non-Armenian, including Turkish sources, was
unequivocally a genocide. The Turkish authorities may deny that it was
a crime against humanity; some nations or governments may still keep
silent about it for geopolitical reasons. But denial is a dead end.

Negationism will eventually fall short before the truth. The
retroactive application of the Convention is a critical issue which
will be certainly treated by the Conference. Since only a state that
has accepted the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice
may submit a case to it, I hope that the Republic of Armenia will
soon study this matter and take the necessary action,” he said.

“For decades we have focused on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by Turkey and the international community. In fact, the
recent Court cases against American, Turkish and French insurance
and private companies; the decision of US Congress to urge Turkey
to return churches and church-related properties to their owners,
and the Turkish government’s decision on 27 August 2011decided to
return to the minorities the properties confiscated since 1936, came to
re-emphasize the crucial importance of reparation. Indeed, recognition
of truth implies reparation; these acts are intimately interconnected.

This is at the heart of international law.”

“As Catholicosate of Cilicia, which was established in the 10th Century
in Cilicia, south-western part of present Turkey, and which was in 1915
forcefully uprooted from its historical seat, we claim the ownership
of our properties confiscated by the Turkish authorities. It is with
this objective in mind that we have set the agenda of this conference,”
His Holiness concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES RENOWNED ARMENIAN SINGER ON 70TH BIRTHDAY

news.am
February 25, 2012 | 11:27

YEREVAN. – President Serzh Sargsyan on Saturday extended his
congratulations to Armenia’s People’s Artist Raisa Lazarian, on her
70th birth anniversary.

“In your person, our people recognize a brilliant representative and
a high-merited person of the Armenian art of singing and culture. You
have performed the Armenian song on numerous world stages, for decades
on end, and deservedly earned a high reputation and a wide popularity.

Together with your colleagues, you have opened a new era in the history
of the Armenian art of singing, and raised our musical culture to a
new level,” President Sargsyan’s message specifically reads.

In the President’s words, Raisa Lazarian’s pedagogical activities,
and her mission to convey to the new generation the best traditions
of true culture also deserve praise.

From: Baghdasarian

TAX OFFICIAL: NAREG HARTOUNIAN AND OTHERS SEE ARMENIA AS CASH COW
Kristine Aghalaryan

hetq
14:11, February 24, 2012

Armen Alaverdyan, First Deputy to the President of the RA State
Revenue Committee, issued a statement today that basically charged
diaspora businessman Nareg Hartounian with viewing Armenia as a cash
cow to be milked.

“The case of Nareg Hartounian, in typical Armenian fashion, is one
in which Armenia is regarded as a source of profits and, tragically,
evasion of taxes goes hand in hand,” Alaverdyan said.

Alaverdyan made the statement during a live TV link-up with the U.S.

on the general topic of diaspora investment, with particular
attention paid to cases where the rights of diaspora investors have
been violated.

Participating in the discussion were MP’s, officials from the State
Revenue Committee, the Deputy Minister of Diaspora Affairs and lawyers
representing diaspora investors.

Alaverdyan charged the Hartounian family company with importing
macaroni and flour from Russia for three years and not disclosing
the correct sales figures.

The SEC official estimated the difference between the actual and
reported sales figure to be around 20%

Hartounian family lawyer Lernik Hovhannisyan refuted the charges made
by Alaverdyan.

Hovhannisyan argued that the inspector issued incorrect information
as to when Nareg Hartounian actually managed the company.

Mr. Hovhannisyan responded that Hartounian wasn’t even in Armenia
at the time and was called back in September of 2010 when it was
discovered that 120 million AMD had been embezzled from the company.

The lawyer argued that at the time of the alleged tax evasion, it
was Artyom Martirosyan who served as director of the company and that
Nareg Hartounian had no connections to the company at all.

From: Baghdasarian

A YEREVAN COMMUNITY PREFECT HAS DOG-KILLING BUSINESS – NEWSPAPER

news.am
February 24, 2012 | 10:09

YEREVAN. – The prefect of a community in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan,
has a dog-killing business, Iravunk daily writes.

“Although it has long been known that stray dogs must be neutered and
released, there are people and organizations which shoot numerous dogs
virtually every day, [and] thus [they] disturb the people’s peace and
break Armenia’s law and regulations. Shooting dogs is cheaper than
their neutering, and also a question rises: where is the difference
between the amounts [spent]?”, Iravunk writes.

From: Baghdasarian

WE STAND READY TO CONTINUE PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ARMENIA – KOREAN OFFICIAL

news.am
February 24, 2012 | 11:09

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandian, who on Thursday arrived
in Seoul on an official visit and on the invitation of his Korean
colleague Kim Sung-hwan, was received by Korea’s PM, Kim Hwang-sik.

They discussed the preparations for the Second Summit on Nuclear
Safety and the EXPO-2012 World Exhibition-both of which will be
held this year in Korea-and Armenia’s participation in these events,
MFA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Nalbandian thanked the Korean Premier for his country’s support to
the development of Armenia ever since its independence. And the PM
noted that the Korea stands ready to continue providing technical
support to Armenia.

And during Edward Nalbandian’s meeting with Korea’s FM Kim Sung-hwan,
the latter reflected on the Summit on Nuclear Safety, which will be
convened next month in Seoul, and on behalf of the Korean government
he expressed a satisfaction in connection with Armenian President’s
scheduled attendance at the event.

The interlocutors also examined the Karabakh issue, and Edward
Nalbandian briefed his Korean colleague on the latest developments
in the respective talks.

The two FMs reached accordance on developing collaboration within
international organizations.

They also discussed the encouragement of collaboration and relaxing
mutual visa requirements.

The Armenian and Korean FMs also signed an intergovernmental agreement
on lifting the visa requirements for their citizens who hold diplomatic
and service passports.

Edward Nalbandian invited his Korean counterpart to capital Yerevan.

From: Baghdasarian