Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

WOMEN’S NGO CONCERNED OVER VIOLENCE IN ARMENIAN SOAP OPERAS

Tert.am
02.12.11

Amid its campaign to reduce domestic violence in Armenia and change
the public mentality on the phenomenon, the Coalition on Violence
against Women has voiced concerns over the influence of soap operas
on the society.

Considering television an extremely powerful tool in shaping the
society’s consciousness and bringing up the younger generation, the
organization has focused its attention on the content and sinister
ideology of Armenian soap operas.

In a statement issued in that connection, it particularly notes that
the present-day soap operas predominantly feature violence.

“In almost all the soap operas, women’s rights are violated, and
the image of an Armenian woman is being extremely humbled. Beating
a woman, degrading and cursing her in public have become integral
elements of Armenian soap operas, pushing families that watch them to
considering such conduct a routine and non-condemnable phenomenon,”
reads the statement.

The Coalition calls upon the government bodies to take appropriate
towards banning violence against women in soap operas.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKYAN VISITED ARGENTINEAN PARLIAMENT

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 2, 2011
YEREVAN

On 1 December President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited
the Argentinean parliament and met first deputy speaker of the Chamber
of Deputies Oskar Aguad, chairman of the standing commission on foreign
affairs of the chamber Alfredo Atanasof and a group of deputies.

Central information department of the office of the Artsakh Republic
President told Armenpress a wide range of issues related to internal
and foreign policy of Artsakh, development of bilateral relations and
the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict were discussed
during the meeting.

According to President Sahakyan Argentine is a friendly state for the
Armenian people and Artsakh is interested in developing and deepening
cooperation with it in different spheres. The NKR president expressed
gratitude to Argentine for recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide,
adding that it became a serious political and moral victory for the
civilized world.

Touching upon the Azerbaijani-Karabagh relations, Bako Sahakyan
noted that the main reason of impasse in the conflict settlement
is the destructive policy of Azerbaijan qualifying it a variation
of terrorism.

The Argentinean parliamentarians considered important the meeting
with the NKR President, underlining their awareness of the state
building process in Artsakh in particular rating high achievements
our republic has registered in building democratic and civil society.

Both sides noted the necessity of developing bilateral ties and
carrying out concrete projects in this direction.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Argentine, Uruguay
and Chile Vladimir Karmirshalyan, head of the central information
department of the office of the Artsakh Republic President David
Babayan partook at the meetings.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S CULTURE AND HISTORY TO BE PRESENTED TO TOURISTS IN 7 LANGUAGES

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 2, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Yerevan Mayor’s Office has issued 20
thousand items of guidebooks of two types. Press service of Yerevan
Mayor’s office told Armenpress that the official guidebook for the
tourists who have chosen the capital of Armenia reveals and presents
the cultural Yerevan, as well as provides the addresses of historical
and cultural monuments, museums, concert halls, hotels, restaurants,
cafes, and shops. The guidebook is also an initial source of knowledge
for the tourist about our national peculiarities. The second one –
the illustrated guidebook is a guide for entertaining Yerevan. Both
the guidebooks have photos illustrating the informative texts.

Head of the Development and Investment Programs Departments of Yerevan
Mayor’s Office Eduard Nersisyan said that the Mayor’s Office is open
for cooperation and ready to discuss the proposals and considerations
of tourism organizations.

“Today tourism in Yerevan is an active field with rules of competitive
logic: the mayor’s office will use all its potential to contribute
to consolidation of the tourism field.”

The representatives of tourism organizations are sure that the
introduction of the guidebooks to the market will help to present
Yerevan to the guests in a more coordinated and meaningful way.

The printed guides are in Armenian, Russian, and English. The
guidebooks are now being translated into French, German, Spanish
and Persian.

From: Baghdasarian

OSCE PROMOTES WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
02.12.2011 16:06

Measures to increase the number of women candidates nominated by
Armenian political parties was the focus of a roundtable discussion
organized today by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the OSCE Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Representatives from political parties discussed how to increase
women’s participation in political life as well as best practices in
advancing women as leaders, decision-makers and candidates.

“Women leaders play an essential role in the development of robust
democratic societies and sustainable political systems,” said Carel
Hofstra, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “In the run-up
to the parliamentary elections in May 2012, the OSCE is looking to
support the country to ensure the elections are free and fair. In
addition, an election cannot possibly fulfill OSCE commitments unless
it includes the opportunity for full and equal participation by women.”

The meeting was part of ODIHR’s continuing work to strengthen the
democratic functioning of political parties and electoral processes,
in line with OSCE commitments on political party pluralism and equal
representation.

“ODIHR supports the political party reform process in Armenia by
sharing good practices in democratic governance and women’s political
participation from across the OSCE region,” said Diana Digol, ODIHR
Project Officer.

During the meeting, participants were presented with the
ODIHR-supported study, Gender Equality in Elected Office: A Six-Step
Action Plan, which identifies trends in women’s political participation
in the OSCE region and introduces concrete strategies for enhancing
women’s role in public life.

The findings of a study on the gender dimension of civic and political
participation in Armenia, prepared with the support of the United
Nations Population Fund and the OSCE Office in Yerevan, were also
discussed.

The roundtable will be followed by a two-day intensive training course
for women candidates from several political parties. The training
will focus on developing political skills in the areas of platform
development, effective campaigning and relations with the media.

From: Baghdasarian

PARTY LEADER ACCUSES FORMER MEMBERS OF USING EMBEZZLED FUNDS FROM NAIRIT IN SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM

epress.am
12.02.2011

Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia (HRAK) leader Harutyun Arakelyan
doesn’t rule out the possibility that the monies “stolen” from Nairit
Plant are being used in a smear campaign against him and his party.

Arakelyan said this himself while meeting with reporters in the
Armenian capital today. Recall, Arakelyan is accusing Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan of embezzling $31 million USD of state
funds in the process of the sale of Nairit Plant in 2006 (when Tigran
Sargsyan was head of the Central Bank).

As proof of the smear campaign, Arakelyan cited an event organized
by Eduard Antinyan, who was recently dismissed from HRAK, and local
daily Azg (“Nation”) editor Hakob Avetikyan, and presented the joint
statement signed by leaders of various HRAK branches.

The statement notes that the HRAK branch leaders learned from the
press on Dec. 1 that Antinyan and Avetikyan (who was dismissed from
the Diaspora branch) together have organized a process of uniting
political parties. The HRAK representatives officially state that no
discussion on uniting with any party has taken place “since the HRAK
leadership has received no offer to unite.”

The party leader noted that Antinyan registered his chairmanship with
the Ministry of Justice on Mar. 18, 2011, forging their secretary’s
signature. According to Arakelyan, Antinyan presented an excerpt of
the assembly minutes and received authorization as chair when minutes
weren’t even taken at the first meeting and thus, there couldn’t have
been an extract from said minutes.

“Yesterday, those who were present at the banquet [organized by
Antinyan] at the Armenia [Marriott] Hotel reminded me of something:
there was a horrid smell of natural rubber coming from that banquet –
you couldn’t even eat it [Note: Nairit Plant produces rubber; thus,
Arakelyan is citing this as an example of the alleged embezzled funds
from Nairit funding the smear campaign against him].

“For years, Avetikyan has had financial problems, has debts to
printers, while Antinyan, who hasn’t been working anywhere for over
10 years, has come to the most expensive place – the Armenia Marriott
Hotel – and is organizing a lavish event. The prime minister sends
TV companies – you see here [referring to today’s press conference]
there are no special TV companies -, he send TV companies and organizes
an entertainment show and a banquet at the end,” he said.

Note, Harutyun Arakelyan and Eduard Antinyan are both fighting for the
position of HRAK party leader in 2011. On Jan. 20, Arakelyan ceded
the chairmanship to Antinyan, but at the August general assembly
meeting Arakelyan was again voted as party chair, while Antinyan
was dismissed from the party. The latter called the assembly meeting
unlawful, saying that Arakelyan is a self-proclaimed chair.

From: Baghdasarian

VIC DARCHINYAN TAKES ON A REAL-LIFE BULL WHILE DRESSED AS A MOUSE IN CRAZY GAME SHOW
Nick Walshaw

The Daily Telegraph

Dec 1 2011
Australia

NO ONE wanted to take the mouse costume with its ridiculously
oversized ears.

Sure, a potential 10 points were on offer. The fact continually
repeated to those European celebrities who, split into eight countries,
were competing for national pride on The Bigggest Gameshow In The
World.

Yet still no one would touch it.

See, to accept the saggy, grey suit was to throw oneself into a
challenge that involved entering a dusty arena all screaming crowd,
giant cheese obstacles and a bull. Yep, a bull.

Not quite an animal the size of rodeo stalwarts like, say, Chainsaw
or Red Rock, but still a heaving, whirling, snorting side of beef
all bad intentions and sizeable horns.

Which is why European actors, singers, even Olympic wrestling
champions, all of them politely declined the suit.

And then the game show host got to Vic Darchinyan.

“And I was in,” the Australian bantamweight laughs, kicked back now
in his Los Angeles hotel suite.

“Eventually two other athletes followed me – a Ukranian who broke
three ribs and another from Belarus. When the bull spun and landed
on him, the guy’s leg snapped in half.”

Only three days out from his unification blockbuster with WBA Super
Champion Anselmo Moreno, video footage of the Sydneysider dubbed
Raging Bull challenging, well, a raging bull has become something of
a hit here in Hollywood.

Fighters, managers, even Team Darchinyan’s large contingent of Armenian
and Russian supporters clambering over one another to not only ask
about the game show challenge, but to see the footage that’s truly
equal parts bravery, hilarity and insanity.

So how tough was it?

“Brutha, I was wrestling a bull . . . it was f…en tough,” Darchinyan
laughs. “And the mouse head, it was too big. I couldn’t see. That is
why the bull, he catches me.”

Not just catches either, but gouges. Going so close to driving a horn
into Darchinyan’s leg, it slices the saggy grey pants to reveal a
pair of red Team Armenia shorts beneath.

“They offered me leg guards but I didn’t want to wear them,” Darchinyan
shrugs. “It was certainly scary though. At one stage I had the bull in
a headlock on the ground. I looked him in the eye and, yes, I could
see he was upset with me.”

Given the show was filmed only weeks before Darchinyan’s last IBO world
title defence in Armenia, how did the bantamweight gain permission from
both his manager Elias Nassar and US promoter Gary Shaw to compete?

“I didn’t,” he laughs. “When I told them the show was like (if)
It’s a Knockout (nf) they said no. So I say ‘okay, I won’t do it then’.

They’re only now just seeing the video like everyone else.”

From: Baghdasarian

HOLY BLESSINGS FOR JESC 2011 PARTICIPANTS

oikotimes.com

Dec 1 2011
Greece

The Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Thursday received the
contestants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011, which will
be held in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, on Friday and Saturday.

The Catholicos acquainted the children, who had arrived in Armenia from
different European countries, with the history of the Armenian people
and with the Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of all
Armenians, the Holy See’s Press Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“We are confident that you all are happy and enthusiastic. I wish
that joy be with you always because you already have reached heights
by participating in this contest,” Karekin II noted. Afterward, he
gave his blessings to the children. After the meeting, the children
toured the Holy See’s museums and familiarized with the national and
spiritual treasures of the Armenian people.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA : ORANGE STARTS PARTNERSHIP WITH FRENCH UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION IN ARMENIA

TendersInfo
November 30, 2011 Wednesday

Today Orange Armenia signed a partnership agreement with the French
University Foundation in Armenia. As part of the partnership agreement,
students of the University will be provided the chance to pass their
internship at Orange and participate in the training and qualification
courses organized for them by the best specialists working at the
company, who will also provide consultancy services to the University.

Bruno Duthoit, the CEO of Orange Armenia, said: “The French University
already has a tradition spanning a number of years in Armenia and has
become one of the best universities in the country, producing alumni
that are sought after by employers. We are happy for this new level of
cooperation, which will allow students to start their work experience
in a European workplace, and in the future to have more chances to get
a job, including at our company. This cooperation will also allow the
application of our business experience in an academic establishment.”

Orange Armenia also brought another piece of good news to 26 students
of the University. Through its philanthropic organization, the
Orange Foundation, 3 million AMD were transferred to the university
as a scholarship for those students, proposed by the university
and selected based on two basic criteria, i.e., social need of the
students’ families and their overall academic progress.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN RAMKAVAR PARTIES UNITED

news.am
Dec 1 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party (ARLP) headed by Edward
Antinyan and Armenakan-Ramkavar Liberal Party (RLP) headed by Hakob
Avetikian united. The two parties signed a memorandum on this occasion.

“It is quite a long time that members of Ramkavar Liberal Party
are split, which is intolerable for an ancient-traditional party in
Armenia’s political history. Hence, ARLP and Armenakan-RLP parties
being the followers of Ramkavar liberal ideology announce that
they start of a process. It aims to put an end to the long split and
establish a united party. The memorandum also calls to start a process
for all RLP parties in Diaspora and become the direct participant
and supporter of the Armenian party. Besides, all parties, which
carry liberal-democratic ideology in Armenia, are invited to join
the initiative.

We believe that the initiative will establish a united RLP in Armenia,
which will be the follower of ideology, political belief of the
party as well as continuer of its traditions and developer both in
the Motherland and Diaspora,” the memorandum reads.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ACCUSES BAKU OF TENSIONS SURROUNDING KARABAKH

Interfax
Nov 30 2011
Russia

Armenian Defense Minister Seiran Oganian has accused Azerbaijan of
provoking an escalation of tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
area.

“Oganian noted at a meeting with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
that provocations by Azeri snipers at the contact line threaten the
efforts being made by mediators to form an atmosphere of confidence
between the conflicting parties,” the Armenian Defense Ministry
told Interfax.

The mediators insisted on preserving the truce between the conflicting
parties.

“The mediators also pointed out that incidents at the contact
line between the troops call for engaging efficient mechanisms to
investigate them internationally,” it said.

An OSCE mission monitored an Armenian-Azeri border near Ijevan on
Tuesday, during which OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs crossed the border
on foot, it said.

The monitoring passed without incidents.

From: Baghdasarian