Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

HYATT PLACE HOTEL OPENS IN DOWNTOWN YEREVAN

Herald Online
dec 11 2013

CHICAGO – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and “Interarm-M” LLC
announce the opening of Hyatt Place Yerevan, just steps away from
the heart of Armenia’s capital city, the Republic Square.

The opening marks a significant milestone as the Hyatt Place brand
continues to expand outside the United States. New Hyatt Place
locations recently opened in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and India, and
in Europe, Hyatt Place Amsterdam Schiphol is set to open its doors
in early 2014.

“Having built a strong foundation for the brand with more than 180
Hyatt Place hotels in the United States, we are delighted to now
bring Hyatt Place to Europe and establish the brand’s presence in
new markets where our guests are increasingly traveling,” said Peter
Fulton, Executive Vice President, Group President – EAME/Southwest
Asia, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “We have designed every aspect of the
Hyatt Place experience with today’s traveler in mind. As we continue
to grow the brand strategically and thoughtfully in key markets, this
hotel will allow us to provide more choice to new and existing guests.”

“We are excited to open the first Hyatt Place hotel in Europe in
one of the best locations in downtown Yerevan,” said Igor Jovovic,
general manager of Hyatt Place Yerevan. “This all-new, beautiful hotel
is designed to meet all the needs of modern multitasking business or
leisure travelers, and we are looking forward to showing our guests
the authentic hospitality and purposeful service for which the Hyatt
Place brand is known.”

Hyatt Place Yerevan is located next to Republic Square, the heart
of Yerevan’s city center, in close proximity to Government House,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Gallery, and Abovyan Street,
the city’s main thoroughfare with many boutiques, cafes and gift shops.

Hyatt Place Yerevan offers:

95 spacious guestrooms, each featuring a swiveling 42-inch HDTV,
the plush Hyatt Grand Bed, a Cozy Corner with sectional sofa-sleeper
and Hyatt Plug Panel media center for connecting a laptop or media
device to the TV Free Wi-Fi everywhere Free public computers and
internet access in the Gallery Free hot breakfast for guests daily
Full-service restaurant and 24/7 Gallery Menu serving made-to-order
appetizer, salads, sandwiches and desserts A Coffee to Cocktails Bar
featuring specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and
cocktails 24 hour StayFit Gym 2 meeting rooms, 65 sqm each Open-air
Terrace Complimentary car parking

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is a very vibrant and rapidly growing
city, where more and more businesses and international organizations
are launching their operations, and the growing influx of tourists
from all over the world makes Yerevan one of the top destinations in
the world for both leisure and business purposes.

HYATT PLACE YEREVAN LEADERSHIP

Hyatt Place Yerevan is under the leadership of General Manager Igor
Jovovic and Director of Sales Marina Solakhyan. In his role, Jovovic
is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of
the hotel and ensuring guests encounter the purposeful service
for which Hyatt Place is known. Mr. Jovovic also oversees the
hotel’s approximately 70 enthusiastic associates from Armenia and
two expatriates. Ms. Solakhyan is responsible for providing sales
service and support to tourists and businessmen visiting Yerevan.

ABOUT HYATT PLACE

Launched in 2006, Hyatt Place brings to the upscale select service
hotel category the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known.

Inspired by multitasking travelers’ 24/7 lifestyle, Hyatt Place
combines style with casual hospitality, featuring spacious guestrooms
with the Cozy Corner, free Wi-Fi, the 24/7 Gallery Menu, Coffee to
Cocktails Bar, and free hot breakfast daily with your stay.

Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, offers more than
180 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, India
and Armenia. For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation,
call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit

From: Baghdasarian

STEPAN SAFARYAN. “THE MAIN MESSAGE IS THAT ARMENIA IS RUSSIA’S PROVINCES.”

December 10 2013

“The main message of this statement is that Armenia is a province,
a countryside for the Russian Empire”,- so replied the secretary of
“Heritage” party Stepan Safaryan to the question of Aravot.am as to
what the Russian’s outpost characterization of Armenia is about. To
remind that Alexander Gusev, Professor, Director of the RF Center
for Strategic Development of the Institute of CIS countries, days
ago, made the following statement, “Russia views Armenia as a kind
of original outpost in the Caucasus, and it is clear that under the
political processes that are underway in Armenia and Georgia, or have
been already implemented, anyway Russia has a very definite attitude
in regard to Georgia, and under these conditions, Armenia acts as a
certain outpost for Russia in the Caucasus.” Mr. Safaryan said that
“the game did not end with September 3, and it has just launched for
Russia”. Then he detailed, “To this respect, Russia would not be too
lazy to make statements and exert pressure on Armenia until the full
membership of the European Union, because Armenia has not yet joined,
it had made only a statement about joining the Customs Union.” To our
observation whether the pressures from the Russian side would become
tougher, Mr. Safaryan replied as follows: “If Yerevan attempts to
question its accession to the Customs Union, then the pressure would
certainly increase.” Ashot Manucharyan, a member of the Karabakh
Committee, believes that it is appropriate to take offence of Russia
and emphasize, “When countries are establishing relationships with
each other, each one becomes something for the other side. Russia is
the guarantor of our security; we can also say that Russia has become
a blackjack for us, which we can use to hit on the head of others.

There is no need to see other shades. Russia is establishing the
biggest military unit in the Caucasus, and it adds security of the
Russian Federation, as well as drastically increases the security of
Armenia”. And to the observation whether similar “confessions” from
the Russian side do not show that the decision on September 3 was
really made under pressure, Mr. Manucharyan answered, “Undoubtedly,
it was made under pressure.” The member of the Karabakh Committee
believes that this game has nothing to do with us, it refers to
Russian-American relations, when “one wins the other.” Then, he added,
“We take an offence to what. How is it associated with us? As they say,
we and our mountains”.

Tatev HARUTYUNYAN

Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ANC AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY WEEK FEATURES JOHN EVANS, RAISES $85,000 AND HONORS OFFICIALS

Monday, December 9th, 2013

The Armenian National Committee of Australia honored seven Members
of the NSW Parliament who took part in a trip to Artsakh

SYDNEY-The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
completed its most successful Advocacy Week to date by raising $85,000
at its Annual Banquet. This completed a week which included high
profile meetings and events featuring international guest of honor,
the former United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans.

During ANC Australia Advocacy Week, Evans gave numerous talks in Sydney
and Melbourne. He held numerous high-level meetings with Members of
the Federal Parliament on various issues including Armenian Genocide
recognition and trade relations with Armenia. Ambassador Evans also
joined a panel discussion, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation
of Australia and held at the Urban Hotel, with Member of the New South
Wales Legislative Council Marie Ficarra, Sassoon Grigorian and Vache
Kahramanian, who discussed the issues of genocide denial and the path
to recognition.

The signature event to conclude the week was the ANC Australia Annual
Banquet, held at Miramare Gardens with a capacity crowd of supporters
in attendance. Throughout the evening, over $85,000 was raised to help
fund the activities of the community’s peak public affairs committee
throughout 2014.

Evans delivered the keynote address to a standing ovation recounting
his personal experiences as Ambassador to Armenia, a post from which he
was removed by the Bush Administration after affirming the historical
reality of the Armenian Genocide.

ANC Australia bestowed the Armenian-Australian Community’s Friend of
the Year Award to Member of the NSW Legislative Council Fred Nile
for his tireless efforts in advancing issues of importance to the
Armenian-Australian community.

The NSW Parliamentary trip to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, led
by ANC Australia in July, was a key theme of the evening, with ANC
Australia and the community paying tribute to the seven Members of
the NSW Parliament who took part. In their honor, individual trees
were planted in Armenia as a token of appreciation on behalf of the
Armenian-Australian community.

Other key themes presented on the night was a reflection of the
successful 2013 launch of the ANC Australia Professional Network and
the unprecedented positive media coverage received for the Armenian
cause in Australian mass press over recent months.

At the conclusion of the week, ANC Australia Executive Director Vache
Kahramanian remarked: “This evening brings the end to one of the most
successful Advocacy Weeks held to date. Over the past twelve months
ANC Australia has continued to demonstrate the vital importance of the
work it does in ensuring a stronger Armenia, an independent Artsakh,
and a strong and vibrant Armenian-Australian community.”

ANC Austalia’s Community Relations Director, Stephen Abolakian said:
“Tonight is a clear testament to the strength of the community and
its full-fledged support of the ANC. We are deeply humbled by the
ongoing support which is vital for our continued success.”

From: Baghdasarian

OPPOSITIONIST LAUNCHES NEW BLOC TO PUSH FOR POWER CHANGE

Politics | 09.12.13 | 14:31
Photolure

Opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan has presented a new political
unit called Civil Accord, which is a bloc set up to push for a power
change in Armenia.

Pashinyan, a member of the parliamentary faction of the opposition
Armenian National Congress (ANC) who effectively quit the opposition
group over policy differences last year, told a press conference in
Yerevan on Monday that they deem President Serzh Sargsyan and his
administration to be the main obstacle to the country’s development.

“They will no longer have the status that they enjoy today,” the
oppositionist pledged.

Besides Pashinyan Civil Accord’s governing board consists of a number
of other opposition figures and civil activists, including Sasun
Mikayelyan, a Karabakh war hero who was also formerly associated with
the ANC.

The first sitting of the board was due to be held today.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH, ARMENIAN ACTORS BREAK LONGEST HANDSHAKE RECORD

Journal of Turkish Weekly
dec 9 2013

9 December 2013

A Turkish and an Armenian actor completed the longest-ever handshake
on Dec. 8 in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, in an act designed to
help foster peace between the two long-time foes.

Deniz BarıÅ~_ from Turkey and Hovhannes Hajinyan from Armenia stood
for 43 straight hours holding each other’s hands, in a performance
aimed at underlining the possibility of better relations between
Turkey and Armenia.

It took place thanks to the initiative of a group of Turkish and
Armenian entrepreneurs and artists, supported by the TANGO Network
(Turkish and Armenian NGO Network), which unites Armenian and Turkish
non-profit organizations.

BarıÅ~_ and Hajinyan’s handshake beat the previous record, which
was set in New York in 2011, by 25 minutes.

The whole event was broadcast live on the Internet, allowing everyone
to witness BarıÅ~_ and Hajinyan holding hands in defiance of the
rain, wind and cold weather, with the temperature falling to as low as
minus 3 degrees Celsius during the night. The organizers are currently
working on a Guinness World Records Book entry.

Hajinyan is an actor at the Yerevan Patomime Theater, and BarıÅ~_
is from the southern Turkish province of Mersin.

9 December 2013

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY TO PROPOSE OPENING ARMENIA BORDER DURING FM DAVUTOGLU’S VISIT: REPORT

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 9 2013

ISTANBUL

Turkey will propose to open its border gate with Armenia in return
for Yerevan’s ceding from two occupied Nagorno-Karabakh regions,
daily AkÅ~_am reported Dec. 9.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Armenia on Dec. 12,
marking a first diplomatic push since the protocols signed between
the two countries in 2009, which foresaw the development of relations,
including the decision on opening the borders, was shelved.

According to the daily, Davutoglu will demand Armenia to cede from at
least two of the seven regions Armenia has been occupying since 1993.

In return, the border gate between two countries will be re-opened.

A 2009 protocol aiming to boost ties was halted upon request by
Azerbaijan, which has repeatedly said such a move must not happen
until there is an agreement on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

December/09/2013

From: Baghdasarian

25 YEARS AGO: ARMENIA SEEKS RELIEF AFTER DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE

World Socialist Web Site
Dec 9 2013

This Week in History

Rescue worker searching for survivors under the rubble

European rescue teams and equipment were airlifted into Armenia
on December 10, 1988, just days after the strongest earthquake on
record for the region hit the Soviet Transcaucasus. The quake, with
a magnitude of 6.9, virtually wiped out the region of Spitak, killing
a large part of the population of more than 55,000. Armenia’s second
largest city of Leninakan, with a population of nearly 250,000, was
more than 80 percent destroyed, according to a government communique.

Also devastated were the cities of Kirovakan and Stepanavan as well
as the district of Akhuryanansky. In addition to Soviet troops and
equipment that were sent into the disaster area to conduct rescue and
relief operations, rescue teams, food, clothing, and medical supplies
were flown in from around the world.

For days, people were trapped in the rubble of schools, factories
and apartment buildings. The newspaper of the Soviet Communist Party,
Pravda, later said that poor construction from the era during the rule
of Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982) was responsible for the extent of the
death toll. Rescue efforts were largely given up a week after the
quake. The voices and cries for help from under the rubble dropped
off sharply after December 12, when temperatures plummeted to below
freezing.

In the aftermath of the quake, an estimated 500,000 were made
homeless. In the freezing weather, displaced residents were forced to
huddle around huge outdoor bonfires before tents arrived to provide
limited shelter. The final estimated death toll was as high as 50,000,
with injuries over 100,000.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian cultural worker speaks of art, culture, country’s major problems

12:21 – 08.12.13

Gusan Haykazun, Art Director of the Haykazunk folk song and dance
company, talked to Tert.am about the role and dissemination of
Armenian folk songs and music as well as about his concerns over the
current situation in the country.

`Our nation needs our folk and patriotic songs as air – both in
Armenia and throughout the Armenian Diaspora. Unfortunately, the
government is not sponsoring this field. Our moneybags and officials
prefer low-class songs. Our folk songs live on due to enthusiasts.
With difficulties we are moving forward.

`Yes, folk and patriotic songs, which are of national value, are being
composed now. Since 1988 I have composed about 100 songs, and at least
15 or 20 of them are well-known. Over the past ten years, the title of
gusan (folk singer) has been conferred on four composers. Each period
has its popular songs, and we should not be contented with what we
have now. People need refreshing.

`I took part in the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] war. If only you could
hear the songs sung on the battlefield! Good songs’ role for soldiers
was like heavy artillery’s role. In peacetime, we have given five or
six concerts in Armenia’s regions this year. In hundreds of schools we
have participated in different events. Young people have changed for
the better. Although they listen to songs of different styles, they
are giving priority to folk songs. But I would note TV’s negative
role, and the people are accepting all they are shown,’ Haykazun said.

As regards the emigration problem, he said that it has been a concern
for many years, but the situation in changing now.

`Let us hope for the better. But if things go on like this, Armenia’s
people has to do nothing but carry out revolution. But such a
situation poses a threat to the nation. We must prevent emigration.
Armenia must be turned into a paradise on earth, and we have all the
preconditions for it.’

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

REVUE DE PRESSE
À Istanbul, le pouvoir turc rêve d’islamiser Sainte-Sophie

Le vice-premier ministre, Bülent Arinç, souhaite reconvertir le
célèbre musée-basilique en mosquée.

Le vice-premier ministre turc a profité samedi de la cérémonie
d’ouverture d’un Musée du tapis, dans le quartier historique de
Sultanahmet, pour exprimer son souhait de voir la basilique
Sainte-Sophie qui se trouve juste à côté reconvertie en lieu de culte
musulman. « La mosquée Sainte-Sophie, a espéré Bülent Arinç, sourira
bientôt de nouveau », selon les médias. Cette déclaration intervient
dans un contexte tendu où le Parti de la justice et du développement
au pouvoir (AKP) est accusé d’islamiser la société et l’espace public
turcs en multipliant les réformes en faveur d’une certaine conception
de la religion.

Pour étayer sa démonstration, le numéro deux du gouvernement a
critiqué le statut actuel de l’édifice religieux, transformé en musée
par un décret de 1934. Selon lui, « un lieu de culte ne peut pas
servir à une autre fonction que celle initiale ». Et à sa grande
satisfaction, c’est fort de ce précepte que deux églises-musées
également nommées Sainte-Sophie, l’une à Trabzon, sur les rives de la
mer Noire, l’autre à Iznik, dans l’ouest du pays, ont été enregistrées
comme des mosquées ces derniers mois.

Attraction touristique phare d’Istanbul, Sainte-Sophie est un joyau
architectural avec son immense coupole de trente mètres de diamètre et
ses mosaïques recouvertes de feuilles d’or. Édifiée au VIe siècle
après Jésus-Christ par l’empereur Justinien, la btisse qui fut le
siège du patriarche orthodoxe de Constantinople, a été mise à sac au
cours de la quatrième croisade puis changée en mosquée lors de la
prise de la ville par les Ottomans en 1453. Les demandes de
transformation de Sainte-Sophie en mosquée se multiplient

Sa reconversion en mosquée est une vieille revendication de l’extrême
droite et des islamistes turcs. L’année dernière, au mois d’octobre,
le jour de la fête du sacrifice, une centaine de membres du Parti de
la grande unité (BBP), des islamo-nationalistes, a ainsi prié devant
le musée-basilique. Mais ces derniers mois, les demandes se
multiplient. Une pétition de particuliers réclamant sa transformation
est ainsi étudiée par une commission parlementaire depuis le mois de
février. Le numéro d’août de Skylife, le magazine de la compagnie
aérienne Turkish Airlines, dont l’actionnaire majoritaire est l’État
turc, consacrait sa couverture à « La mosquée des sultans ». Sans
faire mention de l’origine chrétienne de « cet héritage en grande
partie ottoman », le dossier met en doute la légalité du statut de
musée. Mosquée Sainte-Sophie… « Comment ce nom résonne-t-il à vos
oreilles ?, fait mine de s’interroger l’éditorialiste Burak Bekdil
dans le Hürriyet Daily News. (…) Que signifierait la synagogue al-Aqsa
ou l’église Sultanahmet pour les musulmans ? Défaite et injustice
n’est-ce pas ? Cela serait exact. »

Les propos de Bülent Arinç sur l’avenir de Sainte-Sophie suivent de
quelques jours son opposition à un projet du premier ministre. Début
novembre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan s’en était pris aux dortoirs mixtes
pour étudiants, au motif que certains « modes de vie » ne sont pas «
légitimes ». Des descentes de police dans des colocations avaient
suivi dans des immeubles de plusieurs grandes villes de Turquie. Cette
prise de position morale, vécue comme une violation de la vie privée
par une grande partie de la population, avait également été critiquée
par le vice-premier ministre. Mais le statut de Sainte-Sophie s’ajoute
à une liste, qui ne cesse de s’allonger ces derniers mois, de mesures
en faveur d’une présence plus visible de l’islam, qu’il s’agisse de
restrictions de la vente d’alcool ou de l’introduction de cours
supplémentaires sur la religion sunnite dans le cursus scolaire.

Par Laure Marchand

LE FIGARO

dimanche 8 décembre 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE-TURQUIE
La visite de Mehmet Davutoglu à Erévan pourrait signifier le
réchauffement des relations diplomatiques entre l’Arménie et la
Turquie

Le journal turc « Today’s Zaman » dans un article consacré au
déplacement du ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu
en Arménie, entrevoit le début d’un réchauffement des relations entre
Ankara et Erévan. Selon Sinem Gengiz qui a consacré un large article
sur le dossier, depuis les protocoles de normalisation des relations
diplomatiques signés en 2009 entre la Turquie et l’Arménie, cette
visite du chef de la diplomatie turque à Erévan s’inscrit comme le
premier acte tangible entre les deux pays. Un diplomate turc aurait
confié au journal que cette visite de Davutoglu à Erévan était très
importante pour la Turquie et la première de ce niveau.« Cette réunion
d’Erévan permettra d’aborder de nombreux dossiers liés à la région »
dit le diplomate. Le journal a également interrogé un spécialiste du
Caucase, Mehmet Fatih Oztarsun qui a vécu et étudié en Arménie. Selon
ce dernier « si l’Arménie désire donne une importance à ces rencontres
à Erévan, les relations entre l’Arménie et la Turquie pourraient
marquer une nouvelle étape ».

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 8 décembre 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian