Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

news.am, Armenia
Oct 1 2011

At EP Summit Armenian President reminded that Karabakh is not only
about land, it is also about people – expert

October 01, 2011 | 14:25

YEREVAN. – At Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw the President of
Armenia highlighted that Karabakh is not only about land, it is also
about people, said the Director of Caucasus Institute Aleksandr
Iskandaryan to a press conference on Saturday, commenting on President
Sargsyan’s speech to Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw. In his
speech Serzh Sargsyan particularly stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh
people are as much Europeans as other Europeans and their efforts to
develop their institutions according to European values deserve
attention and support and discarding this will not contribute to fair
settlement of the conflict at all.

`That Azerbaijan did not respond to the statement is an important
factor but we should also consider Russia’s reaction. Russian MFA said
that integration processes in the framework of Eastern Partnership
should not hamper similar developments within CIS and CSTO. It is here
that the complementary basis of Armenian foreign policy,’ said
Iskandaryan.

From: Baghdasarian

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 1 2011

S. Minasyan: Minsk Group co-chairs have pro-Armenian disposition in NK issue

`The Armenian-French relations have traditional and historical strong
grounds and roots. The Armenian community to France surely has its own
role. And France’s disposition towards Turkey is explained not only by
warm relations with Armenia, but being a traditional country, France
is against Turkey’s membership to the European Union,’ said expert
Sergey Minasyan to Panorama.am referring to the Armenian-French
relations and President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to France.

The expert has said that both the issue of genocide and
Armenian-Turkish process serve as means for France against Turkey:
`It’s under Armenia’s interests, since Armenia achieves a powerful
partner and lobbyist in the European stage.’

Referring to France’s disposition towards NK issue, the expert said:
`It coincides with those of Russia and US. In this regard we could say
that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have pro-Armenian disposition in
the issue of Karabakh,’ said the expert.

From: Baghdasarian

Voice of America
Oct 1 2011

Armenian Opposition Continues Anti-government Protest

Posted Saturday, October 1st, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, for
a second day Saturday, demanding early parliamentary elections and
electoral law reform.

Activists of the opposition Armenian National Congress set up tents in
Yerevan’s Freedom Square and said they will continue the
anti-government protest as long as necessary.

The opposition wants presidential and parliamentary elections before
the end of the year and amendments to Armenia’s electoral code to take
place before a vote. Activists also demand the release of political
prisoners and an investigation into the government crackdown on
post-election protests in March 2008 that killed eight people.

Opposition leader Levon ter-Petrosyan, a former Armenian president,
has led frequent protests since then, but the number of protesters has
been dwindling.

The government has rejected the possibility of early elections.

Armenia has had political tensions since it became independent from
the Soviet Union in 1991, with a series of disputed elections and a
war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the Armenian-speaking region of
Nagorno Karabakh.

Deadly riots erupted in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, following the
February 19th vote, when police clashed with opposition supporters who
said the election was rigged. Official results gave a landslide
victory to former Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who has since been
sworn into office. Mr. Ter-Petrosyan, who disputes election results,
won 21 percent of the vote.

More than 100 opposition members were arrested during post-election
violence in 2008, and there have been allegations of police brutality
against detainees.

From: Baghdasarian

PREMIER: ARMENIA – BUSINESS PARTNER 2011 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TO GIVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ARMENIAN MANUFACTURERS

ARKA
Sep 30, 2011

YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Armenia – Business Partner 2011
international exhibition will give new opportunities to Armenian
manufacturers, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Friday
at the exhibition opening in the Complex for Sports and Concerts
in Yerevan.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. It will accept visitors until October 2. Armenian
enterprises exposed over 500 varieties of their products and services
here.

Sargsyan said that this is a good chance for discussing various issues
and signing agreements.

“Today’s event enables us to make a deep look into the 20 years of our
independence, to analyze our weak and strong points with the focus on
a search for a more effective use of our internal resources,” he said.

Armen Zakaryan, director and founder of Prom Expo company, the
organizer of this exhibition, on his side, said that the exhibition
embraces the whole Armenian economy.

“Various segments – from food industry to services – are represented
here,” he said. “The aim of this exhibition is to boost Armenia-made
products and presentation of imports.”

Zakaryan said companies from Georgia, Iran, Turkey as well as Canada
and United Arab Emirates exposed their products here to find new
partners.

Companies producing tires and agricultural machinery are among them,
he said.

Armenian companies – Proshyan Brandy Factory, Arpimed, Natali Pharm,
Ingo Armenia, Nairi Insurance, Talgrig, Valan Prof – as well as foreign
companies – German Faber-Castell, Italian Renco, the United States’
Hard Lights, Iran’s Zar-Sab and ParsShahab and Georgia’s Rakia Georgia
and Bolnis Agro will expose their products here.

The event is supported by Armenian government, Yerevan municipality,
Armenian Commerce and Industry Chamber, Armenian Development Agency
and economy, health, and transport and communication ministries and
other state agencies.

From: Baghdasarian

OPPOSITION BLOC STARTS A WEEK OF 24-HOUR RALLIES

Tert.am
20:30 ~U 30.09.11

Opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (HAK) has announced that
it is starting a week of round-the-clock rallies from not on.

Addressing a rally on Liberty Square in central Yerevan HAK leader
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that the HAK is meeting the wish of its
supporters to hold twenty-four-hour rallies.

“And so as a result of the consultation the HAK, through a consensus,
is meeting your wish to hold self-generated events half way and from
this moment on it announces the beginning of round-the-clock rallies,”
said Ter-Petrosyan.

The HAK leader also said that they still have to agree on some
organizational issues and proposed holding the 24-hour allies or
sit-ins for a week.

“Now we and you are one single body,” said Ter-Petrosyan, addressing
to his supporters.

Further, he said that the HAK will come up with the same demands it
unveiled during the previous rally. The first point demands holding
snap presidential and parliamentary elections in the country.

From: Baghdasarian

ORANGE FOUNDATION SPONSORS EYE MEDICAL AID IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
19:22 30.09.11

A joint project of free eye screenings and treatment launched by Orange
Foundation and Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP) in Shirak region,
which aimed to provide free eye screening services to the residents
of Shirak region, as well as treatment for socially vulnerable people,
is coming to its end.

In this connection Bruno Duthoit, the Chairman of the Board of Orange
Foundation, today visited Eye care mobile hospital (ECMH) hosted in
Akhuryan to get familiarized with the works done. The mobile hospital,
where treatments and surgeries take place, is equipped with the latest
modern technology. Bruno Duthoit got acquainted with the lasers and
surgical instruments, witnessed eye screenings and surgeries of the
patients, talked to the patients and shared their impressions.

In the frames of the project 4,200 adults and 1,130 children
have undergone eye screening, around 640 adults have undergone
deep eye screening in the mobile hospital, over 2,000 glasses have
been provided. Around 270 surgeries and laser treatments have been
conducted in the mobile hospital. In the frames of the project eye
care awareness special classes have been conducted for around 400
children of nine schools in Shirak region parallel to eye screenings.

To support the works of the AECP in Shirak region, Orange Foundation
has allotted 9 million drams.

Bruno Duthoit, Orange Armenia CEO, said: “People with eye diseases
are in the center of the attention of Orange Foundation not only in
Armenia, but also in other countries, where the Foundation operates.

It is a matter of priority for us to facilitate communication among
people and, as all of us know, eyesight has a big role in this
respect. Today we met people whose life has changed thanks to the
Foundation and our partners. We are proud for our partnership with the
Armenian Eye Care Project. Having in view the results we see today,
we have decided to continue our partnership. The next region to host
the mobile hospital will be Aragatsotn.”

Eye screenings with participation of local ophthalmologists have
already launched in Aragatsotn and will last till the end of November.

It is envisaged to conduct eye screenings for around 1,800 adults
and 1,000 children, to operate on 180 patients and provide over 500
glasses. Besides, nine schools of Aragatsotn region will host eye
care awareness classes parallel to eye screenings. Orange has allotted
around 5 million drams to the AECP for implementation of the project.

Local ophthalmologists, namely in Talin and Ashtarak regions, actively
support the AECP in eye screenings of the local population. Local
residents and those from neighboring villages should apply to the local
ophthalmologists, who will receive the patients in regional centers
or will visit the villages on certain days. For more information, the
residents should follow the announcements in their community centers,
as well as apply to the local medical center or the Health Department
of the local Marzpetaran. The AECP medical teams will visit Aragats
and Aparan regions within October. Eye care mobile hospital will
host in Tsakhkahovit on October 18-21, in Aparan on October 24-27,
in Talin from October 31 till November 3 and in Ashtarak from November
7 till the end of the project.

From: Baghdasarian

FRANCE MAY TAKE LEADERSHIP IN KARABAKH MEDIATION – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2011 – 14:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – France may intensify its role in the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process, according to the head of European Integration NGO.

As political analyst Karen Bekaryan told a news conference in Yerevan,
“There are objective reasons for France to assume the role of a flag
bearer in Karabakh mediation mission.” In this context, the expert
called attention to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s scheduled
visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to Bekaryan, Moscow’s passivity can be explained by a
transition period, with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
about to replace President Medvedev on his post, as well as
Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan presidential meeting in Kazan. “However,
I believe, Russia won’t fully abandon its mediatory role in Karabakh
settlement,” the expert noted.

From: Baghdasarian

FIRST ARMENIAN-THEMED MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DEBUTS IN DECEMBER (TRAILER)
By: Erin Henk

Fri, Sep 30 2011

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (A.W.)~WLost and Found in Armenia, which is the
first all-Armenian financed major motion picture, is scheduled to
be released in the U.S. in December. The first production of Red Tie
Films, a Glendale-based independent production company, this romantic
comedy is directed by Gor Kirakosian and produced by Maral Djerejian
and Valerie McCaffrey.

Jamie Kennedy of Malibu~Rs Most Wanted and the Scream trilogy, and
Angela Sarafyan of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2,
A Beautiful Life and The Informers play the lead roles.

Jamie Kennedy of Malibu~Rs Most Wanted and the Scream trilogy, and
Angela Sarafyan of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2,
A Beautiful Life and The Informers play the lead roles.

Shot primarily over the summer in San Diego, Los Angeles and Armenia,
Lost and Found is the story of an American named Bill who vacations in
Turkey to try and recover from a recent breakup. A bungled parasailing
trip lands him in a small Armenian town where he~Rs mistaken for
a Turkish spy by its residents, labeled as missing, and soon finds
himself falling for an Armenian woman. In the film, Bill is the son
of a U.S. senator. Well-known Armenian-American lawyer Mark Geragos
makes an appearance, negotiating with Turkey on behalf of the senator
and his son.

~SThere is an effort going on to establish a professional film business
there as a way to get people outside the country to think of Armenia,~T
McCaffrey told Public Radio of Armenia. ~SThis will be the first
production where we are having American and Armenian actors together.

I hope this helps put Armenia on the map so more people know where
it is.~T

McCaffrey, whose maiden name is Boolootian, grew up in a large Armenian
family in Fresno. She has worked as a casting director and producer
for television and film for 30 years. Some of her projects include
Soul Assassin, American History X, Babe and Problem Child.

Yerevan-born Kirakosian co-wrote and directed the film Big Story in a
Small City, which was widely acclaimed at multiple film festivals. He
has also directed music videos and commercials for the Armenian
entertainment market, which have aired worldwide.

Djerejian, who was raised in Beirut, has worked on such films as
Sideways, The Right to Remain Silent and Bob, Verushka & the Pursuit
of Happiness.

Lost and Found in Armenia will initially be released in the U.S. and
in Armenia, before the director and producer hope to release it to
Asian audiences. Creators hope the film will be the Foreign Language
entry from Armenia for the next Academy Awards.

From: Baghdasarian

CANADIAN-ARMENIAN PRIEST TO ASSIST HOMELESS FAMILY IN GYUMRI

Tert.am
11:50 30.09.11

A Canadian-Armenian parish priest, Reverend Father Myoron Sarkiesean,
has promised to assist a homeless family in the second largest city
of Gyumri.

It comes after the regional information center Shirak released a
“>”>video footage telling about the tight social conditions of the
family of Elmira Tamazyan, a mother of three one-sided orphans. A few
hours later, the center received the priest’s letter to the prelate
of Shirak diocese, Bishop Mikael Ajapanyan.

Rev Fr Sakrissean asked for assigning a priest who would be responsible
for delivering Canadian-Armenian diocese’s assistance to the family.

“Since last year, the competences of the body dealing with the
parentless children of Armenia have been restricted to the privileges
of dioceses and diocesan prelates to ensure that orphaned children
are taken care of by local priests, in addition to receiving monetary
assistance.

We would like to have the local priest’s [contact] data to be able to
transfer the required question forms by the approval and confirmation
of your prelate,” reads the letter.

From: Baghdasarian

CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN: DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL DETAINED

Tert.am
10:38 30.09.11

On Sept. 13, the newspaper asked high-ranking officers of Armenia’s
Ministry of Defense six questions. On receiving answers, the newspaper
was to publish an in-depth article.

However, the author was summoned to the Investigation Service of the
Ministry of Defense to give evidence as a witness in a criminal case.

The newspaper reports that a high-ranking official of one of the
ministry departments has been detained for abuse of office.

From: Baghdasarian