Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD PRESSURE AZERBAIJAN – SEYRAN OHANYAN

Tert.am
21:32 30.08.11

The international community should exert serious pressure on Azerbaijan
for its ceasefire violations along the Line of Contact, Armenia’s
defense minister said during a visit to a near-border military unit
in Armenia.

Asked by journalists to comment on the violations of the ceasefire
accord, Seyran Ohanyan said: “Armenia’s Armed Forces have no goal
and aim to violate the ceasefire on the first line.”

“We keep track of random shootings and we try to respond only in case
of precise firings,” he added.

Ohanyan also referred to the recently growing interest by Diasporan
Armenians to do their military service in Armenia’s Armed Forces.

“Many Armenian residents living in abroad, especially from the southern
oblast of the Russian Federation, always express willingness to serve
in our army,” said he.

“Everything is being done according to the law,” Ohanyan explained.

From: Baghdasarian

A WEEK LATER: STILL NO GOOD NEWS FOR MANAGER OF DEMOLISHED ‘MILANO’ SHOP IN YEREVAN

epress.am
08.30.2011 16:35

A week has passed since clothing and footwear shop “Milano” at 4
Abovyan St. in Yerevan was demolished, however, police have taken
no steps to rectify the situation and goods are being robbed from
beneath the rubble, according to the shop manager, Hovhannes Ghukasyan.

Demolition of the building – while there was still valuable goods
and furniture in the shop, says Ghukasyan – was completed on Aug. 22.

According to the shop manager, on Aug. 21, while the shop was
still standing, he had asked that demolition work be ceased since
the legality of the act had not yet been determined. Police and
construction workers, however, were told otherwise and carried out
the demolition.

Later, Ghukasyan and his attorney T. Hayrapetyan reportedly went to
the downtown police station, where they stayed till 3 am, to report
a crime. The investigator they spoke to promised to follow up with
them the next day; however, the next day, a Sunday, no one came –
worse, another attempt was made to demolish the building. At 7 am on
Monday, the building was razed to the ground. On Aug. 23, Ghukasyan
was called to the police station to give a testimony. According to
the store manager, he presented his losses (by way of a list of goods
and furniture), as well as the illegality of the demolition, but the
police only asked after the grounds of the goods and furniture he
acquired, according to a statement sent to the press by Ghukasyan.

Earlier, media reported that Ghukasyan’s attorneys said that the state
simply “gave” Milano’s basement, second floor and attic to developer
company AVO FMH which reportedly belongs to Syrian Armenian businessman
Avetis Karagulyan.

Supporters have launched a Facebook community page to report on
developments in this case.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA NOT TO SHORTEN OR PROLONG COMPULSORY ARMY SERVICE

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 30, 2011 – 16:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan said
that the Ministry is not going to shorten compulsory military service
from two to one year or prolong it.

He also said that no special program envisaging a shorter term for
representatives of Diaspora has been developed.

“Meanwhile, I want to note that at each draft about 500 Armenian
citizens come to Armenia from abroad, particularly from southern Russia
to serve for motherland,” Ohanyan said, adding that changes regarding
this issue should be made within the framework of the operating law
without reservations.

From: Baghdasarian

ARS, INC. JOINS DORCAS AID IN HELPING FAMINE VICTIMS IN AFRICA

Noyan Tapan
30.08.2011 | 09:05
Social

(Noyan Tapan – 30.08.2011) The Armenian Relief Society, Inc., joined
Dorcas Aid in an effort to assist the victims of the famine in the
Horn of Africa.

The worst drought in over half a century has hit parts of Eastern
Africa affecting more than 10 million people. Especially hard hit
are the Somali refugees who are crossing into Ethiopia at the rate of
1,600 to 2,000 a day, who are arriving in refugee camps malnourished,
dehydrated and exhausted after having walked for days or in certain
cases weeks. More than 125 thousand have already crossed the border
into Ethiopia.

“As an international non-profit organization, we feel obligated to
assist human beings in distress. Having people facing famine in the
21-st century is unthinkable for us, therefore we have decided to join
the efforts of Dorcas Aid and other organizations and try to alleviate
the suffering of women and children facing starvation”,- said Vicky
Marashlian, Chairperson of the ARS, Inc. Central Executive Board. “We
have labeled our initiative ‘Help us help the starving population’,
therefore we call on everybody to make donations online, through our
website – , or through ARS entities worldwide to ease
the pain of as many individuals as we can”,- she concluded.

“I really appreciate this thoughtful gesture on behalf of the Armenian
Relief Society. I look forward for a spirit of cooperation. Our
common goal is to serve people less fortunate. May God bless the
ARS endeavors and efforts”,- wrote Dikran Youmoushakian, Executive
Director of DorAid America, in response to the ARS, Inc.’s decision
to join the efforts of Dorcas Aid.

Dorcas Aid and DorAid America representatives had visited the ARS,
Inc. International Office in Boston during July 2011 and the two
non-profit organizations had agreed to cooperate in the implementation
of humanitarian and development projects.

Dorcas Aid International is a Christian relief and development
organization serving needy communities in 20 countries around the
world including Armenia. DorAid America is the partner organization
in New Jersey.

2010 marked the Centennial of the Armenian Relief Society, the
oldest Armenian humanitarian organization of women, which currently
has chapters in 27 countries. You can make donations to assist the
famine stricken refugees in Africa by visiting the ARS website and
clicking on the special button for donations.

From: Baghdasarian

NUMBER OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN ARMENIA IN 2011 JULY INCREASES BY 2.2% FROM A YEAR BEFORE

/ ARKA /
August 30, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, August 30. / ARKA /. The number of real estate transactions
in Armenia in 2011 July increased by 2.2% from a year before to
13,900, according to the numbers unveiled today by the State Cadastre
Committee. However, the number of transactions in 2011 July slashed
by 17.7% from 2011 June.

According to official data, the largest portion of real estate
transactions in July was registered in Yerevan -34.8% of their total
number and the smallest number in the Vayots Dzor region – 3.2%.

The central province of Kotayk accounted for 12.9% of the total number
of transactions in July, Gegharkunik province for 7.9%, Lori province
for 7.4%, Armavir for 6.3%, Ararat for 6.8% and Shirak for 6.7%. The
southern province of Syunik accounted for 4.7% of the total number of
transactions registered in the country in 2011 July, Tavush for 3.4%
and Aragatsotn for 6.1%.

Of all real estate transactions in 2011 July 27.4% were homes sales
and purchases, 15.6% were new built houses first registration, 14.9%
were mortgaging transactions, 12.4% inheriting homes and 4.6% were
real estate lease transactions.

From: Baghdasarian

ROCHESTER IS FOCUS OF ARMENIAN TV SERIES
Christina Killion Valdez

Post-Bulletin

Aug 29, 2011

A State Department investigation into what’s being done to promote
diversity in the United States turned up the work of the Diversity
Council, which will be highlighted by a team of journalists who will
travel to Rochester from Armenia.

“I chose Rochester because in doing my research for the project, I came
upon the Diversity Council, which to me was interesting because one
would normally find such an agency in a much larger city,” said George
Santulli, senior TV producer for the Department of State’s Office
of Broadcast Support, who is coordinating the Armenian journalists’
visit to the United States.

To demonstrate how the Diversity Council works to educate students
about the value of diversity, the television crew will observe and
film the Diversity Council’s Spark workshops.

And while the Diversity Council was the first finding of interest in
Rochester, Santulli uncovered several more Rochester organizations that
fit the television crew’s focus on diversity, education, immigration
and volunteerism.

From: Baghdasarian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPORTS SURGE IN TOURISM

RadioFreeEurope

Aug 29, 2011

YEREVAN — Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh say the number of foreign
tourists visiting the breakaway Azerbaijani region jumped by almost
50 percent in the first half of this year following a similarly sharp
rise recorded in 2010, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports.

“More than 3,000 foreigners visited Nagorno-Karabakh in the first
half of 2011, a 49 percent increase from the same period of 2010,”
the Foreign Ministry of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) said in a statement.

“Compared to the same period of the previous year [2009,] the first
half of 2010 was also marked by a significant 45 percent increase in
tourist numbers,” it added.

The official figures do not include residents of Armenia.

According to the statement, citizens of over two dozen countries
visited the territory this year, notably the United States, France,
Russia, and Iran, which have sizable ethnic Armenian communities.

The statement also spoke of a growing tourist influx from more
farther-flung places such as Japan, China, and New Zealand.

It said the forthcoming reopening of the territory’s sole airport will
“greatly facilitate” further development of the local tourism industry.

A senior Karabakh official told RFE/RL earlier this month that
the delayed airport reconstruction will be completed by the end
of September.

The Azerbaijani authorities regard private or business trips to
Nagorno-Karabakh that have not been authorized by them as a breach
of Baku’s internationally recognized sovereignty over the disputed
territory.

Dozens of foreign dignitaries have been declared personae non gratae
in Azerbaijan for ignoring these warnings.

Last week, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry blacklisted four members
of France’s parliament who toured the territory and called for
international recognition of its independence.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a brutal six-year war over the
Armenian-majority enclave that only ended with a cease-fire in 1994,
but Nagorno-Karabakh’s final status remains unresolved and the
situation in and around the enclave remains volatile.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY’S DECISION OF RETURNING ETHNIC MINORITIES’ PROPERTY IS VERY IMPORTANT – ISTANBUL ARMENIANS

news.am
Aug 29, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to
implement the 1974 ruling of Turkish Court of Cassation and return the
property of ethnic minorities as described in 1936 is very positive
and important. Ethnic minorities fought for decades to get this done,
Ara Gochunian, the editor of Istanbul based Zhamanak newspaper told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, each of the minority communities in Turkey is given
exactly one year to file an application for the return of confiscated
estates and restore the right of ownership to them.

“It is not yet decided when the representatives of the Armenian
community will submit the application, said Gochunian, adding that
representatives of national minorities in Turkey have done a great
deal of preparatory work of in this direction, in terms of making
lists, preparing the necessary documents and so on.

The editor of Zhamanak refused to comment on the statement the
Washington office of Hay Dat, which called this decision of the Turkish
government a smokescreen that will result in the return of less than 1%
of Armenian churches and property.

“I would not like comment on the statements of other centers,
especially when people who are far away from here are never able to
sensibly evaluate the atmosphere,” he added.

From: Baghdasarian

BAKO SAHAKYAN CONGRATULATES ABKHAZIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT

Tert.am
29.08.11

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Repubblic (NKR, Artsakh) Bako
Sahakyan has congratulated the new Abkhazian leader on his victory
in recent presidential election.

In his congratulatory address to the Abkhazian president-elect,
Alexander Ankvab, Sahakyan expressed confidence that his knowledge and
rich experience of a state political figure would greatly contribute
to the country’s development and further strengthening.

“I am hopeful that the relationship between our countries will not
only maintain the positive dynamics but also be upgraded to a new
level,” the NKR president said in his address.

From: Baghdasarian

VARDAN MINASYAN NAMES ARMENIA SQUAD FOR MATCHES AGAINST ANDORRA, SLOVAKIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 29, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia chief coach Vardan Minasyan announced the
composition of the national squad to train for the coming UEFA EURO
2012 qualifiers against Andorra (September 2) and Slovakia (September
6), reported the press service of the Football Federation of Armenia.

20 players are invited to the national team: goal-keepers Roman
Berezovskiy, (Khimki, Russia) and Gevorg Kasparov (Mika), fullbacks
Sargis Hovsepyan (Pyunik), Robert Arzumanyan (Jagiellonia, Poland),
Levon Hayrapetyan (Lechia, Poland), Hrayr Mkoyan (Mika), Valeriy
Aleksanyan (Sanat Naft, Iran), Artur Yuspashyan and Artak Yedigaryan
(Pyunik), Denis Tumasyan (Ural), midfielder Karlen Lazarian
(Metallurg, Ukraine), Artur Yedigaryan (Banants), Henrik Mkhitaryan
(Shakhtar, Ukraine), Edgar Malakyan (Pyunik), Masis Voskanyan
(Roeselare, Belgium), Zaven Badoyan (Impuls); forwards Gevork Ghazaryan
and Marcos Pizzelli (Metallurg, Ukraine), Edgar Manucharyan (Ural,
Russia).

The national team will have a training session on August 29-31 in
the territory of Soccer Academy in Yerevan.

Armenia competes with Russia, Ireland, Slovakia, Macedonia and Andorra
in Group B of the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying round which will be held
in Ukraine and Poland. Armenia has 8 points after 6 matches and is 4th
in the standings. The Group leaders are Russia, Ireland and Slovakia,
each having 13 points.

From: Baghdasarian