Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Associated Press International
February 8, 2014 Saturday 7:10 PM GMT

Cuba frees jailed Canadian businessman

by CHARMAINE NORONHA, Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) – A Canadian businessman who served 2 1/2 years of a
9-year prison sentence in Cuba for corruption has abruptly returned to
Canada.

Sarkis Yacoubian, president of Tri-Star Caribbean import company, said
Saturday that he’s extremely happy and excited to be home in Toronto.
However, he says he is still adjusting after he was given only 24 to
48 hours’ notice before his release.

Yacoubian was arrested in 2011 by Cuban authorities but only formally
charged in April 2013 with bribery, tax evasion and “activities
damaging to the economy.” He said that because he was expelled from
Cuba, he is not subject to transfer conditions that would require him
to serve the rest of his sentence in Canada.

“I can’t discuss on what grounds I was expelled,” said the 53-year-old
Yacoubian. “When somebody goes to jail, most of them claim that they
were innocent. It’s not only the facts that support this for me, but
official recognition that supports this,” he said.

“I’m still confused. They released me, 24-48 hours’ notice, I still
don’t know exactly how this whole thing happened. I’m trying to figure
out what happened, who had interest behind it, which were the
organizations or companies that did what they did to me. So it’s just
48 hours. The decision, nobody knew that. They just said we’re going
to let you out,” Yacoubian told The Associated Press from his mother’s
home in Toronto.

He said that he is willing to share his story but wants to consult
with his lawyers, who he said are currently on vacation, before he
provides further details about what he calls a “very interesting,
exciting story.”

“I want to be properly vindicated on the highest level once the facts
are there. I’ve already been officially vindicated, but I just can’t
tell you how, but it’ll come out in the next two weeks,” he said.

Yacoubian, who is Armenian, was born in Lebanon, where he studied
international relations before coming to Montreal to earn his MBA at
McGill University. He then ventured to Cuba, where he spent about 20
years. There, he partnered with the Cuban government on multiple
ventures.

“(I developed) probably the third or fourth largest company (in Cuba).
I started with $3,000 and that’s where I got millions of dollars of
credit from factories, and all my money was confiscated, so there’s a
story behind the story,” he said.

Two months after Yacoubian’s arrest, authorities raided another
Canadian-run company, the Tokmakjian Group, one of the largest foreign
operations in Cuba. Cy Tokmaakjian, 73, was arrested September 2011.
He remains in Cuba’s La Condesa prison with no charges filed.

Peter Kent, Tokmakjian’s Member of Parliament, told The Toronto Star
that Yacoubian’s release had been expected, but that the news that he
was back in Canada came as a relief.

Kent said that his greater concern was for Tokmakjian, who has spent
two years imprisoned and in frail health. Kent said that Canadian
government representatives “have on a number of occasions asked the
Cuban authorities to either take him to court, lay charges or release
him. And that continues to be our position . . . and that hasn’t
happened.”

President Raul Castro has said that rooting out rampant corruption is
one of the country’s most important challenges.

Dozens of Cuban government officials and state company executives have
been imprisoned for graft, while more than 150 foreign businesspeople
and scores of small foreign companies have been kicked out of the
country.

From: Baghdasarian

Marrying Armenian women in Azerbaijan can be perilous

February 07, 2014 | 00:09

An Azerbaijani family’s intention to seek political asylum in Armenia
has caused numerous reactions.

Fine lines in the Azerbaijani press reports show what is not directly
said: those of Armenian descent are in danger in Azerbaijan.

As reported earlier, Resident of Baku Javid Orujev (born in 1976), his
wife and three children on January 29 applied to the Armenian side
seeking asylum for his family. The Azerbaijani citizen explained his
decision by the persecution against him in his homeland. In
particular, Orujev said the pressure of the special services followed
his marriage to Roya Mirzoyeva (born in 1983) having Armenian roots.
Failing to stand the pressure, Orujev was forced to agree to
collaborate with the Azerbaijani special services and inform them
about Armenian news received by his wife’s relatives from Armenia and
the Diaspora.

Azerbaijani media are flooded with articles where they question
Orujev’s statements, considering them cynical and Orujev, a person
devoid of patriotism.

One of the periodicals went even further and spoke about the marriage
of the couple.

“After divorcing his first wife, he married Mirzoyeva who was also
previously married. Her surname is that of her ex-husband. Did Javid
not know whom he was marrying? He knew. Has this become a reason to
refuse the registration of their marriage? It has not,” the writes
columnist, who considers being married once likewise to be
discrediting evidence.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

Organizers say 3 billion people watched Sochi Olympics opening

February 8, 2014 – 18:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 3 billion people worldwide watched the opening
ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Friday, Feb 7. Another 40,000
watched the ceremony at the Fisht stadium in the Sochi Olympic Park,
the organizers said in a statement.

The three-hour show, which offered an epic overview of Russian history
in 18 parts, utilized a staff of 12,000.

The audience of the opening ceremony at the previous Winter Games in
Vancouver was put by organizers at 1 billion. Between 1 billion and 4
billion people, by various estimates, watched the opening of 2008
Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The Sochi Olympics run February 7 to 23. About 3,500 athletes will
compete for 98 medals in 15 disciplines.

From: Baghdasarian

Paris mayoral candidate: Turkey can’t join EU unless Genocide recognized

February 8, 2014 – 15:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist candidate for mayor of
Paris named Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a
precondition for Ankara’s accession to the EU.

“The recognition will make Turkey stronger,” Cihan Haber quoted her as saying.

Ms Hidalgo further expressed support for adoption of the Genocide
denial law, further referring to President Hollande’s pledge to work
out a legal instrument that won’t meet the ban of the Constitutional
Court.

“Denial of tragic pages of history is what prevents building a new
future,” she said.

Ms Hidalgo vowed to perpetuate the April 24 commemorative events if
elected a mayor, with Paris Mayor’s Office to extend financial support
to the Genocide centennial events in 2015.

On January 23, 2012 the French Senate passed the bill making it a
crime to deny the Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged a 45,000 euro
fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime
against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire. However, the French
Constitutional Council ruled the bill as anti-constitutional. In a
statement the Council said the document represented an
“unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom of expression and
communication

Later, President Hollande pledged to redraft the law criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial in France, stressing the need to ensure the
legal framework to avoid censorship by the Constitutional Council.

From: Baghdasarian

Aram Khachaturian’s manuscripts, film music included in UNESCO Register

February 8, 2014 – 12:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Collection of note manuscripts and film music of a
world renowned Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian has been included
in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

The relevant UNESCO certificate was handed by the Minister of Culture
Hasmik Poghosyan to the Aram Khachaturian Museum director Armine
Grigoryan, ITAR-TASS reported.

“The application to the UNESCO was filed in 2012 on the initiative of
the Minisitres of Culture and Foreign Affairs. Fifteen note
manuscripts and film music included in the register are reposited in
the museum, as well as several documents provided by the composer’s
son Karen Khachaturian,” Gigoryan said.

Aram Khachaturian is a world renowned Armenian composer and musician
of genuinely universal stature who has left a comprehensive musical
legacy embracing almost all genres and forms. Making extensive use of
the Armenian rural and urban folklore, Khachaturian raised Armenian
composition school to a new classical level, ensuring its place in the
world culture. His works influenced the formation of the composition
schools in South Caucasus and Central Asian Republics.

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE
La Turquie et l’Azerbaïdjan doivent coopérer activement pour prévenir
les attaques de la diaspora arménienne

Le président du Comité d’État de la République d’Azerbaïdjan sur la
coopération avec les organisations religieuses Elshad Isgandarov lors
d’une conférence scientifique et pratique sur l’Alliance des
civilisations à Istanbul, a attiré l’attention des médias turcs.

Dans un article intitulé > le journal Zaman a repris les déclarations faites par
E.Isgandarov qui a abordé le sujet des aspirations de la communauté
arménienne à obtenir la reconnaissance du génocide arménien à
l’échelle mondiale.

>,
écrit le journal.

Le journal a également abordé le thème du conflit du Haut-Karabagh.
From: Baghdasarian

Charles Aznavour to celebrate his 90th birthday with a concert in Berlin

15:27 06.02.2014

Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour will give two concerts in Berlin and Frankfurt, the
Frankfurter Neue Presse reports.

On his 90th birthday (May 22) Aznavour will give a concert at O2-Arena
in Berlin under the slogan “The legend returns.”

On May 24 he will be the guest at Frankfurt’s Festhalle.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
L’Arménie serait en mesure de se rapprocher de la signature de
l’accord sur l’Union douanière

L’Arménie est en mesure de se rapprocher de la signature d’un accord
sur son adhésion à l’Union douanière et à la zone économique commune
dès 2014 a annoncé le chef de la Commission économique eurasienne
Victor Khristenko.

La décision de l’Arménie à rejoindre l’Union douanière est un choix
souverain a dit Victor Khristenko ajoutant qu’un travail énorme a été
effectué, avec des collègues arméniens afin d’élaborer un cadre
juridique.

La feuille de route pour l’adhésion de l’Arménie approuvé fin décembre
et contient 300 articles, a-t-il dit.

Selon le chef du conseil, ne pas avoir de frontière avec les pays de
l’UD n’est pas un problème.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Les habitants de Vanadzor aux prises avec le froid

En raison d’un accident majeur une grande partie de la troisième plus
grande ville d’Arménie, Vanadzor, a été coupé d’électricité et
d’approvisionnement en gaz naturel depuis plusieurs jours. Les
résidents des quartiers touchés de la ville doivent faire face à des
difficultés supplémentaires au milieu des conditions hivernales
rigoureuses.

Le 3 Février, une explosion a eu lieu dans l’un des btiments de la
rue Narekatsi de Vanadzor et a provoqué un incendie. Après les
livraisons de gaz ont été coupés dans toute la ville. Les autorités
n’ont pas encore confirmé que l’ arrêt de l’alimentation en gaz est
liée à l’explosion et le feu, mais certains habitants y voit un lien
car les deux choses se sont produites presque simultanément.

L’organisme du service local du gaz a dit à ArmeniaNow qu’ils avaient
concentré toutes leurs ressources humaines et techniques sur
l’élimination des conséquences de la situation d’urgence et que les
livraisons de gaz dans certaines parties de la ville avaient déjà été
restaurées. Mais il y a encore des zones résidentielles à Vanadzor qui
continuent à rester sans électricité et gaz.

Gagik Sargsyan directeur de l’agence du réseau électrique de Debed a
dit à ArmeniaNow que les lignes électriques ont également été
endommagés car en l’absence d’approvisionnement en gaz toute la charge
était sur le réseau électrique.

>, a déclaré Sarkissian, ajoutant que les efforts
pour rétablir les alimentations électriques sont en cours.

En raison de l’absence de gaz et d’électricité les écoles et les
jardins d’enfants à Vanadzor n’étaient pas en mesure de donner des
cours.

> a déclaré Margarita Antonyan 28 ans de Vanadzor
à ArmeniaNow.

Suse Sardaryan responsable des relations publiques à Gazprom a dit à
ArmeniaNow que les services de la province du Lori avaient passé les
deux derniers jours à essayer de localiser la source de l’accident et
ils ont réussi à le faire. Selon elle, par son ampleur l’urgence de la
fourniture de gaz à Vanadzor est sans précédent pour l’Arménie.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMTAB: FIRST TABLET COMPUTER MADE IN ARMENIA UNVEILED

IT and Telecom | 05.02.14 | 08:57

Photolure

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

The long-awaited tablet of Armenian make has become a reality. The
computer called Armtab manufactured by the first production company
registered in the Free Economic Zone of Armenia, Armenian-U.S.

Technology and Science Dynamics, was officially presented to the
public on Tuesday.

Enlarge Photo

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the ceremony, thanking those
who stand behind the program. He described it as a major success since
“in a long-term sense Armenia finds one of the most important sectors
of specialization in its economy.”

“I am convinced that any young person who will use this tablet will
be proud to be using an Armenian device. If we are able to reap all
the fruits of this industry, it will mean that in another 10 years’
time our economy will be more productive, and from the point of view of
productivity we will be a competitive nation,” said the prime minister.

The idea of Armtab was first presented during the Digitec Expo 2013
international technological exhibition, and during the GITI-2013
regional event it received two awards for “Best Multimedia Project”,
and “Year’s Software Support”.

The software and hardware support for the tablet is implemented
in Armenia, while assembly is conducted in the United States and
Hong Kong.

In the next three years Technology & Science Dynamics is expected to
increase the production of tablets from 10,000 to 50,000, while the
price of one tablet will be $180, with the self-cost estimated at $135.

Minno Tablet Corporation President Eric Ryan described this investment
program as the best, saying that Minno Tablet will ensure an effective
launch of the project and the necessary financial resources for its
development, technology transfer as well as other support.

“I admire the Armenian technological talent and potential and I am
sure that very soon with our support Armenia will get its worldwide
recognition as a high-tech country,” said Ryan.

During the event, the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and
Technology & Science Dynamics signed a memorandum of understanding,
providing for Armtab tablets introduction in the Armenian educational
system in 2015.

“The Ministry of Education and Science will thus acquire a new and
effective tool of creating a serious Armenian educational environment.

It will also open up broad opportunities for cooperation for Armenian
companies. We will do everything to boost the production proper in
the second quarter of 2014 with a view to designing and developing
PCB boards on which the tablet is based in Armenia,” said Technology &
Science Dynamics Corporation founder Vahan Chakaryan.

Since 2008, information technologies have been considered as a priority
sector of Armenia’s economy. The sector comprises 360 companies,
with more than 9,300 specialists involved.

Speaking about the results in the IT sector in 2013 Prime Minister
Sargsyan said that double-digit economic growth in it has a continuous
nature, while the number of those employed in the sector has increased
by 1,800 over the last year, standing at 11,000, of whom about 9,000
are highly qualified engineers.

From: Baghdasarian