Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LIVESTOCK IN ARMENIA TO REACH 575 THOUSAND BY THE END OF 2011 – MINISTER

ARKA
Sep 26, 2011

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Livestock in Armenia as of September
20 increased by 3.5 thousand compared to the same period of the
last year and by the end of this year will reach 575 thousand, said
Armenian Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan during his visit to
cattle-breeding farm “Agroholding” in Lori region.

“These indicators allow to approve that this year 3 thousand more
meat was produced than in the same period of the last year. Annual
indicator of meat production will be 127 thousand tons and milk
production will increase by 10 thousand tons reaching 615 thousand
tons”, states the press-service of the Ministry.

According to Karapetyan, it will allow to reach unprecedented
indicators during the last 15 years.

From: Baghdasarian

DIASPORA, OLIGARCHY, CITIZENS
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am News

13:15:53 – 27/09/2011

In a meeting with the Armenian entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, as the
official press release informed, Serzh Sargsyan noted that in the
past twenty years the potential of the citizens of Armenia has not
been used fully.

It is a hint that Armenia could have reached greater success, even
in the blockade that Armenia has been in over its independence, had
the potential of the citizens been used at full. The reason why this
potential has not been used or has not been used appropriately seems
to be known to everyone. This potential was stifled in election fraud,
criminal and oligarchic economic relations, corruption covering the
country like weeds.

To use the potential of the citizens at full, all these hindrances
should be eliminated. Serzh Sargsyan is certainly aware of this but
is he ready to take dynamic steps in this direction? Is he ready to
dissolve the criminal and oligarchic economy?

He invites Diaspora entrepreneurs to have greater participation in
the economy of Armenia, generally in the development of the economy
of Armenia. However, Sargsyan who sends this invitation must be ready
to reduce the participation of Ruben Hairapetyan, his brother Sashik
Sargsyan, Samvel Alexanyan and other similar oligarchs.

After all, those Diaspora entrepreneurs and these oligarchs cannot
coexist: either the Diasporan entrepreneurs will have to get used to
the rules and ways of the oligarchy, or the oligarchy will have to
leave. Maybe Serzh Sargsyan thinks that the more Diaspora entrepreneurs
come to Armenia, the more dominant this quality will be in the economy
and public life, ousting the oligarchy. However, this is an illusion,
to put it mildly, because the Diaspora businessmen will come to Armenia
only after this oligarchy is ousted. Because it is necessary to oust
that oligarchy to use the potential of the citizens of Armenia. This
step directed at using the potential of the citizens of Armenia will
be a signal for Diaspora and any serious foreign businessman to make
investments in Armenia.

For the time being, Serzh and Tigran Sargsyan only speak about fight on
corruption, the same oligarchy is made to pass legislation on fight on
themselves first ensuring them that these laws will never be enforced.

From: Baghdasarian

NUNE AND THE VOTE
Yeghisheh Metsarents

Lragir.am News

11:28:32 – 27/09/2011

The TV report in the evening of September 26 told about a concert
organized by some foreign organization of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
somewhere, at which Nune Yesayan performed. Then Nune Yesayan was
interviewed who said she is ready to be beside the army always.

It seems that all the ARF-D organizations should know what Nune Yesayan
had stated in an interview on the ten citizens of Armenia killed on
March 1. “They died, it was their fault that they died. Were they not
there, they would not die,” Nune Yesayan had stated in an interview
following the clampdown on peaceful demonstrators.

A singer who makes such a pronouncement should never ever get any
invitation, besides the government invitations, of course. Even
the so-called national events should be closed for Nune Yesayan,
especially if they are organized by the organizations of the ARF-D
which is considered to be opposition.

After all, should this Diasporan audience get killed in Yerevan,
such as while struggling for the votes of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
Nune Yesayan will probably say, “They were killed, it was their fault
that they were killed. Were they not there, they would not get killed.”

Perhaps Nune Yesayan speaks similarly about the killed or “suicide”
soldiers at peacetime, announcing that she is ready to be beside the
army always. Surprisingly, the organizers of the military parade of
September 21 did not run Nune Yesayan across the square together with
her star colleagues who express their fiery delight with the army
from time to time, in reality being happy that they have demand in
the government also for the sake of the army.

How can Armenia and the Diaspora clap to a singer who can speak with
such cynical indifference about the innocent people killed in the
center of Yerevan, even if the so-called political views of Nune
Yesayan and their political views differ?

When will a social consensus be established between Armenia and the
Diaspora on the key genuine values, such as the citizen, the life and
dignity of the citizen? When will a uniform system of values be adopted
to measure everyone who will speak so cynically about the tragedy
of the citizen of Armenia? And to have everyone understand that a
citizen is a value and not a political value, and any encroachment
upon this value, written or oral, will be absolutely condemned,
both in Armenia and the Diaspora.

Meanwhile, the goal of the political organizations, whether national
or other, should set to proselytize the value of citizen rather than
the performance of cynical stars. Otherwise, it is at least strange
when the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Armenia launches the movement “Vote
is Power”, while some of its organizations abroad are guided by the
logic that “Nune is Power”, meanwhile Nune and vote are different
categories, to put it mildly.

From: Baghdasarian

TRILOK GURTU AND TIGRAN HAMASYAN, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, LONDON
By Mike Hobart

September 26 2011 18:57

Trilok Gurtu is one of the world~Rs great fidgets. He can tap, rattle,
scrape and bang any object into a sublime symphony of rhythm ~V at
this gig, even the sloosh and drip of water in a fire bucket had
musical purpose. As the likes of Jan Garbarek and John McLaughlin
can testify, he is a natural scene-stealer.

Gurtu, a Kashmiri, was born in Mumbai and has visibly fused the music
of the Indian subcontinent with a host of other music. Tablas nestle
by a full drum kit, there are things to crash and shake and a box
drum to sit on when required. But though he may be a scene-stealer,
he is no showboater. Gurtu~Rs vision is complete and, as a short solo
spot confirmed, his soundscapes are sensuous and understated.

EDITOR~RS CHOICE Edward Simon Trio, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London –
Sep-25.Iness Mezel, Purcell Room, London – Sep-20.Brad Mehldau and
Chris Thile, Wigmore Hall, London – Sep-19.Matthew Shipp & Evan
Parker, Vortex, London – Sep-13.Marius Neset, Pizza Express Jazz
Club, London – Sep-04.Barry Harris, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London –
Aug-30..Here he was teamed with the Armenian piano prodigy Tigran
Hamasyan, who, like Gurtu, brings the music of his homeland to a
jazz-inflected world fusion ~V the evening opened with the dolorous
beauty and ghostly, flutelike tones of the duduk, a traditional
Armenian woodwind instrument.

Hamasyan played his first jazz festival when he was 11, but at this
gig, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Armenia~Rs independence,
Hamasyan appealed most when interpreting the sedate folk songs
and melancholic hymns of his homeland. Mournful clusters of notes
hovered over oddly spaced bass, stark chords rang monastically and
baroque decoration came with an acute sense of timing. Elsewhere,
his introductory showcase featured full-piano arpeggios and bombastic
thumps, twinkling single-note runs and rapid-fire riffs. There was
technique by the bucketload, but the many, oft-repeated patterns did
not hang together.

Hamasyan~Rs somewhat episodic approach gained considerably from
Gurtu~Rs direction and support. The long duet was freely developed ~V
there was many a nod and mutual glance ~V and the pianist~Rs tricks
and fancies sat well over chattering tablas, brushed snare and full-on
drum kit rock. There were set-piece endings, synchronised stabs and a
highlight vocal duet with Gurtu scatting tabla rhythms to Hamasyan~Rs
human beatbox pulse ~V lines were swapped, argued over and finally
brought to heel. The finale, a slow-burning climax, won the encore,
which, as Gurtu accurately explained, ~Swas the same again, but done
differently~T.

.

From: Baghdasarian

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN IN LOS ANGELES AT THE RECEPTION DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

25.09.2011

Dear Compatriots,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am very glad to have this meeting. I am proud with you, I am proud
that today we are together and would like to congratulate you all
on the 20th anniversary of our common Motherland, homeland of all
Armenians – the Republic of Armenia.

This great anniversary is being celebrated in different corners of
the world, in every place where there is just one Armenian. These
have been truly memorable and beautiful days for us all.

On September 21, the Armenian television was overwhelmed with exciting
and very impressive reports from the regions of Armenia and from all
over the world. One cannot help the excitement watching, for example,
reports on the celebrations held by you, the LA community.

One cannot help the feelings of pride and gratification watching
the young men toasting to the independent homeland tell the whole
world that if there is an encroachment upon the Armenian land, they
will reach the defense positions in a matter of hours from a place
so far away as America. One can only watch and repeat in his mind,
~SGod bless you, guys.~T

These thoughts and emotions are understandable to every Armenian
wherever he is. I always experience joy when during my visits abroad
I see our young people and children proudly holding up our tricolor.

It means that no force on the face of the earth can ever alienate
these young people from their Armenian hearth. It means that born and
raised in a different country with a different language and culture,
they have managed to preserve the Armenian spirit, which will most
certainly bring them to Armenia.

The dream of the Armenian people became reality in 1991. For two
decades now, we have been building our corner of the great world,
our state – the Republic of Armenia. We have been building it by
overcoming difficult and tough challenges. We have been building it
in face of disaster, war, blockade, and crisis. We, young and old,
have been building it through the efforts of all Armenians.

In this short period of time, we tried to lay the foundations of
statehood, to consolidate democracy, to develop civil society and
liberal economy, and to integrate into the international community.

We tried to adopt all that is modern and good, whilst preserving our
Armenian traditions. We managed not only to learn from the world,
but also to share with the world the flight of our thought and the
warmth of our soul.

One certainly cannot say that we have reached perfection in 20 years.

However, any assessment should be comparative. Twenty years, which
is a blink of an eye in history, has been a long, difficult, and
exciting period of time for us; these have been years of losses,
years of a quest, years of successes, and years of achievements.

Today, we have a solid system of government, the army which makes
us all proud, civil society that is gaining momentum, and all the
institutions of a modern state. However, we cannot stop here; we
continue to strengthen our state every day, every step of the way.

Dear Friends,

During the recent meeting in Yerevan with the leaders and
representatives of the Diaspora organizations, I proposed the
following formula: ~SThe utmost of the Fatherland~Rs capabilities
for the Diaspora, and the utmost of the Diaspora capabilities for
the Fatherland.~T

Institute of dual citizenship has already become a reality: some of
you here also hold the passport of the Republic of Armenia. We have
eliminated the psychological barrier that kept many Diaspora Armenians
from wholeheartedly living and doing business in Armenia.

Let us take a look around: there are many Diaspora Armenians who either
have returned to Armenia or have actively and directly participate
in the life of our Fatherland. Clearly, it is not easy.

It is not easy to leave a familiar environment and to move to an
unfamiliar, seemingly imaginary Fatherland. However, we already
have numerous inspiring examples. Many of our fellow Armenians have
experienced the enthusiasm of living and working in our Fatherland.

Unfortunately, some of them have experienced the bitterness of
disappointment, too. We have to learn lessons from our inspiring
experiences. However, we must first of all openly and freely discuss
the reasons of bitterness. We have to discuss together because
pointing out the shortcomings is only half of what it takes. It is
also necessary to jointly seek ways to eliminate them and to share
the glory and responsibility of success.

Actually, Armenia is not an imaginary romantic Fatherland. Armenia is
an earthly place with its joys and difficulties. We have made enormous
progress, but we have shortcomings that we all know very well. Who
can better than our fellow Armenians help us in overcoming them?

I invite us all to engage in the open and candid dialogue. We address
our kin in Diaspora as our relatives, and as relatives we have to
discuss all the shortcomings.

We must discuss our issues without avoiding the share of responsibility
that each of us has.

Indeed, we still face many problems. We have not yet reached lasting
peace and have to spend great sums to provide for the security of
our country and our people. The Turkish-Azerbaijani duo is waging a
campaign against our country across the world, in all international
fora, and we have to respond. Our small economy remains vulnerable
to external shocks, and we are exerting great efforts to protect our
businesses and to satisfy at least the basic needs of our elderly.

Corruption, of course, remains one of the greatest challenges, and we
are continuing to fight this phenomenon which was inherited from the
Soviet era and has gained new shades in recent decades in virtually
all walks of life, from education to civil works, from social security
to agriculture.

All of these problems belong to us, and we are responsible for finding
solutions. I do not even marginally doubt our ability to find the
necessary solutions. We have the will and potential to do it. We have
important historical memory, and there are lessons that we ought to
learn from our own past. The creation of the Republic of Armenia was
the best proof of our ability to make true our own centuries-long
dream in the beginning of the last century. May 28 also proved our
ability to set difficult and hard-to-reach goals and to accomplish
them jointly. The roots of this strength reach the depth of centuries,
and the flower of this strength blossoms and bears fruit every time
we display faith in our own power, collective effort, internal accord,
mutual respect, generosity, forgiveness, and confidence.

Our times are symbolized by freedom; freedom which is achieved through
competing and cooperating. There is a competition between individuals
and competition between businesses. There is a competition between
economies and competition between states. The more competitive we are,
the greater freedom we will enjoy.

As a people striving for freedom and as a nation that has achieved 20
years of free and independent statehood, we continue and will continue
to compete. We compete with all in everything. The ability to succeed
in this eternal competition hinges on the strength of one~Rs back,
the feeling of a friend and sibling fighting side-by-side with you
for the victory. I believe that we are covering each other~Rs backs
in this fierce competition. We are side-by-side for creation and
construction. We are side by side for defending our freedom; side by
side for being even more free.

Dear Friends,

I am confident that efforts to resolve problems faced by our common
Homeland will reinvigorate both Mother Armenia and the Diaspora. It
will help preserve the Armenian identity in all Diaspora communities,
no matter where they are. It will bring us closer to a just resolution
of the Artsakh issue. It will reinforce the foundations of our
independent statehood. It will fortify the roots of our eternity tree,
and nurture the crown of our freedom and independence tree.

I say this with the utter conviction, because the Republic of Armenia
is the only real guarantor of the sustainability of the Armenian
nation. No other force will assume this responsibility for us.

Pan-Armenian gatherings of professionals are frequently organized
through the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. This enables our architects,
lawyers, financial experts, and various other professional Armenians
from across the globe to contribute their knowledge and experience
to the resolution of the all-Armenian issues. It is a very effective
and practical format that must be sustained and improved.

Armenia~Rs most precious asset is her worthy children, blessed with
free will. Today, children of Mother Armenia are scattered throughout
the world.

Representatives of the Diaspora can be among the first to support the
modernization and development of our country. And I have no doubt
that through our joint efforts we will lead Armenia down the best
path towards new achievements and new milestones of freedom.

Armenia exists. Armenia is not a dream. It is a small but proud
country in faraway mountains, which is gradually rising to her feet.

It is a country that is now competing on the arena of the world~Rs
large and powerful players. A country that encounters harsh problems,
builds new vital institutions, achieves successes, and pursues new
and greater goals. We all share these goals.

Armenia is the country that we all, our parents and grandparents have
dreamed of. Armenia is the home for our children and grandchildren,
the foundations of which we are continuously strengthening. Armenia
sincerely loves all her children and never discriminates between them.

Our dream come true is 20 years old. Today, free and independent
Armenia is 20 years old, and today there can be no greater pride and
joy for the Armenians.

Long live Armenia! And I once again congratulate you all on this
holiday.

Thank you.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY CAN NOW SAY IT’S ARMENIA’S TURN TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE: ANALYST

ArmeniaDiaspora.com
Sept 26 2011

Epress.am — What’s interesting in recent political developments is
that the Republic of Turkey has now resubmitted the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, said Regional
Studies Center (RSC) NGO Director Richard Giragosian in an interview
with Epress.am today.

“After the election in June, the Protocols were removed from the
agenda of the new parliament with many other bills. That was normal;
it was general procedure in every parliament. When there’s an election
for a new parliament, much of the outstanding legislation that wasn’t
voted on has to be removed and then resubmitted,” he said.

But what’s interesting, the political analyst continued, is that
Turkey chose now to resubmit the Protocols.

“In my opinion, it’s a sign of two things: One, that diplomatically,
Turkey is beginning to return to the opening [i.e. reviving relations]
with Armenia, especially after this week’s diplomacy in the United
Nations.

“The second reason is more negative: it’s another way to test Armenia.

In other words, now Turkey will say to the Americans and the
Europeans… it’s not up to us, we submitted the Protocols, the next
move is back to Armenia.”

In Giragosian’s opinion, the real test now is if and how Armenia
reacts now to Turkey’s move.

To the Epress.am reporter’s comment “So now the ball is in our court,”
Giragosian replied:

“Not really. In other words, Turkey is saying that – that’s their
excuse and their trick. Everyone is waiting for Turkey to make the
next move – to open the borders, establish diplomatic relations,
But this is a convenient way for Turkey to shift the blame and
expectations back on Armenia. It will only work if Armenia doesn’t
respond effectively. It’s also a reaction to [Armenian] President
[Serzh] Sargsyan’s speech in the United Nations. So we will see these
two things: another test of Armenian foreign policy and diplomacy, but
also a sign for Turkey that it may signal a return to [the] Armenian
issue. Mainly because of the Kurdish initiative, and because Libya,
Syria are much bigger problems.”

Epress.am then asked the analyst for his opinion on how the Armenian
government will respond.

“Well, as I’ve said before, it’s the worst time in Armenian history to
have the worst foreign minister. I’m not confident that the [Armenian]
foreign ministry will respond effectively. It’s up to the Armenian
president in order to answer this challenge from Turkey, and we
haven’t seen anything yet,” Giragosian concluded.

From: Baghdasarian

LISTENING TO TURKEY’S ARMENIANS – REPORT

news.am
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

ISTANBUL. – The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
presented a special report devoted to Armenians in Turkey.

TESEV’s report, entitled “Listening to Turkey’s Armenians: Questions,
Demands and Solution Proposals,” recommends that the Turkish state
provide assistance in the publication of textbooks for Armenian
schools, the teachers’ salaries be raised through state funding,
Armenian language and literature departments be established in Turkey’s
universities, and conditions be established for Armenian-language
radio and theaters, Turkey’s Milliyet daily writes.

The report also requires that constitutional equality be guaranteed
for all ethnic groups in Turkey, and thus the article on “insulting
Turkishness” also include other ethnic and religious minorities. The
report also demands that clergy be trained at Istanbul’s Surp Khach
(Holy Cross) Armenian seminary.

“Considering the Lausanne Treaty, the [Turkish] state must not
allow the assimilation of Armenian identity and culture. There
must be legislative regulations to make teaching children from
Armenia their mother tongue meet UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child. The textbooks must be rid of expressions sowing enmity and
hatred against Armenians. Restored churches must be returned to the
Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, and liturgy must be allowed to be
held in those churches,” TESEV’s report states.

In the report’s section on Armenian-Turkish relations, it is noted
that opening of the borders between Armenia and Turkey and the
implementation of the protocols would contribute to the normalization
of relations between both countries. “The concept of ‘zero problems
with neighbors’ must be implemented, without concentrating on the
Karabakh and Genocide problem,” the report says, and it also demands
that the real culprits behind Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s
murder be exposed and to punish all public servants who are guilty.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN VISITED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN MONTEBELLO

Panorama
Sept 26 2011
Armenia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is currently paying a working
visit to USA, has departed from New York on September 24 to Los
Angeles. President has arrived in the city of Montebello, visited
the Armenian Genocide Memorial and planted a tree in the yard of
the memorial.

The Armenian Genocide Memorial in Montebello is the first Armenian
monument built on a territory belonging to U.S. The monument was
built in 1968.

The representatives of Armenian community, gathered in the monument
prior to the President~Rs arrival. The Mayor of Montebello City was
also present at the meeting with the Armenian President. Mr. Art
Barahas said that Montebello celebrates its 9th anniversary and that
Armenian community has had great contribution to the development of
the city.

President Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the cordial words
and thanked the country which gave opportunity to Armenians live,
develop and work in the US.

From: Baghdasarian

HEAD OF MOLDOVAN GENERAL STAFF DISMISSED FOR ARMS DEAL WITH ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 26 2011

Acting Moldovan President Marian Lupu has dismissed General Yuri
Dominich, head of the General Staff, to improve discipline and prevent
violations of the military laws, APA reports.

The real reason for the dismissal is an arms deal with Armenia.

Moldova fears that the recent scandal could be a problem for
cooperating with Azerbaijan and the GUAM.

Defense Minister Vitaly Marinuya confirmed the arms deal, which
includes artillery and AT equipment. Weapons were shipped from Kishinev
to Yerevan via an Il-76.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said that sales of
arms to Armenia for offensive purposes are a big mistake.

Vestnik Kavkaza reported earlier that an Il-76 from Libya landed
at the airport of Kishinev on September 12. It then headed to the
airfield of Merkuleshty to pick up cargo from a Latvian company
registered in Riga. 60 tons of weapons were sold on September. Two
Libyan planes transport weapons on September 13 and 14. Head of the
press-service of the Defense Ministry Alexander Zhosan said that the
cargo consisted of artillery and anti-missile systems.

Vice-Premier and Minister of the Economy Valery Lazer said that
Armenian air authorities denied the allegations. The press secretary
of the Armenian Administration of Civil Aviation said that the
Libya-Moldova flight with weapons never happened.

The plane flew from Benghazi to Kishinev three days after Prime
Minister Vladimir Filat’s visit to Germany for a visit with the
president of Trans-Dniester, Igor Smirnov.

.

From: Baghdasarian

IRF, France
25 sept 2011

8ème anniversaire du jumelage entre Clamart et la ville d’Artachat en Arménie

De nombreux immigrants arméniens se sont installés à Clamart et y ont
développé une importante activité artisanale de tricot.

Gérard Atekian, d’origine arménienne, comme Stéphane Kélian ou Robert
Manoukian, y on trouvé un modèle de réussite.

“Nous avons commencé par vendre des pulls, puis nous les avons
fabriqués. Ensuite, nous avons commercialisé du fil. Tout logiquement,
nous commençons à en filer nous-mêmes”, expliquait le PDG DE ABG 2000
un poids lourd qui mis la clé sous la porte à Clamart en 2010.

L’évolution du nombre d’habitants depuis 1793 est connue à travers les
recensements de la population effectués à Clamart depuis cette date.

I comme iPhone et iPad à Clamart. La ville de Clamart propose cette
année de composer son parcours via une application gratuite baptisée
Patryst et spécialisée dans le patrimoine. Cinq itinéraires sont ainsi
proposés avec des thématiques différentes. Ces parcours sont également
disponibles sur le site de la ville et une borne en accès libre est
installée à la mairie. Le parcours « centre-ville » sera l’occasion de
participer à un jeu de piste avec 30 questions (programme complet sur
).

Les Clamartois, et plus particulièrement la communauté arménienne,
très active sur la ville, Philippe Kaltenbach est maire de Clamart et
Gagik Muradyan, maire d’Artachat et le Gouverneur de la Région
d’Ararat, Vardges Hovakimyan.

Au carrefour de La Fourche ce trouve une sculpture « L’Aigle
d’Artachat », offerte par le Maire d’Artachat, Gagik Muradyan, à la
ville de Clamart.

Cette `uvre a été réalisée spécialement pour la ville par Gurgen
Akopian. C’est la concrétisation d’un projet qui a visé à donner à
chaque ville jumelle un site rappelant les liens entre la France et
l’Arménie. En 2009, c’est à Artachat qu’a été inauguré le jardin de
Clamart.

From: Baghdasarian