Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIA TO ISSUE EUROBONDS FOR FIRST TIME

August 8, 2013 – 17:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian government has approved signature of
agreements with a number of companies which will act as underwriters
of the first emission of eurobonds.

According to the project submitted to Finance Minister David Sargsyan,
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, HSBC Bank plc and J.P.Morgan
Securities plc are among the underwriters.

The government approved the concept of issuing eurobonds in May, with
the first emission to total $500mln with 10 years of circulation term.

From: Baghdasarian

WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS THAT ALL TEAM PLAYERS ARE ARMENIAN – NATIONAL BASKETBALL SQUAD COACH

By Lusine Shahbazyan

YEREVAN. – “It does not matter where the national team is formed;
what’s important is that all team members are Armenian and they feel
good together.

“We came to Armenia to join the players from Armenia and to prepare
for the Division C tournament of the European Championship.”

Head coach Carl Bardakian of the Armenian national men’s basketball
team, which is formed in Los Angeles, stated the above-said during
a press conference.

To note, ten players from the national squad have arrived in Armenia.

“We have started the trainings. We will travel to Artsakh [i.e.,
Nagorno-Karabakh]; there is a team candidate from Artsakh, too. The
team is formed, [but] we will not yet participate in official
tournaments.

“There is a plan to hold a European Championship Division C tournament
next year in [Armenia’s capital city] Yerevan. But until then, we
will limit ourselves to friendly games,” Bardakian said.

Photo by NEWS.am Sport

From: Baghdasarian

PROTEST AGAINST TUITION FEE RISE NEAR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT (PHOTO)

August 08, 2013 | 12:55

YEREVAN. – A protest action against tuition fee rise was held near
the building of the Armenian government on Thursday.

The action was staged by activists of the Nation-wide liberation
movement, including parents of the students. The activists were
holding banners, urging to cancel the decision (photos).

One of the activists Vahan Martirosyan said they plan to hold a mass
protest action by the end of August and will voice calls not to pay
tuition fees and hold student strikes in September.

The demonstrators read out a letter calling to suspend the decision
on increasing tuition fees, at the same time suggesting that the
universities should not be listed among large taxpayers

Vahan Martirosyan said they failed to meet with Deputy Education
Minister, while Minister Ashotyan is on vacation.

From: Baghdasarian

ARAM I HOSTED ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM

[ Part 2.2: “Attached Text” ]

15:03, 8 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. On August 8 His Holiness Catholicos Aram
I of the Holy See of Cilicia received His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan
Manoogian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Catholicosate of
the Holy See of Cilicia informed “Armenpress” that at the course of
the private visit the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues
ranging from the Armenian Apostolic Church and homeland to the issues
regarding the Armenian people in general.

His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian has been elected the Armenian
Patriarch of Jerusalem on January 24. The patriarchal throne remained
vacant since the former Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Rev.

Archbishop Torkom Manoukyan passed away after long illness at the
age of 93.

Archbishop Nourhan Manougian (baptismal name Boghos) was born in
Aleppo, Syria on 22 July 1948. He received his primary education in
the Haigazian School of Aleppo.

In 1961 he entered the Theological Seminary of Antellias to start his
theological education. In 1966 he entered the Jarangavortz Theological
Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. On 27 July 1968
he was ordained to the diaconate.

In 1971 he was ordained a celibate priest by then Patriarch of
Jerusalem Yeghishй Derderian and was given the priestly name of
Nourhan.

Following his ordination, he was appointed to serve as the Vice Dean
of entered the Jarangavortz Theological Seminary from 1971 to 1972. In
1975 he was named as the Dean of the Seminary.

In 1972 and 1973 Father Nourhan continued his pastoral mission and
served as the spiritual pastor of the Armenian faithful in Geneva,
Switzerland. Father Nourhan received the rank of Archimandrite
(Vardapet) in 1973.

Following his service in Europe, Father Nourhan returned to the
Middle East and from 1974 to 1980 served as the spiritual pastor of
the Armenian community of Haifa, Israel.

In 1980 upon the invitation of then Archbishop Torkom Manoogian,
he left for New York, New York and entered the General Theological
Seminary, where he furthered his theological education. He graduated
in 1983.

Remaining in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America, in 1994, he served as the spiritual pastor of the St. Gevork
Church in Houston, Texas.

In 1998 he returned to Jerusalem where he served as the Grand Sacristan
of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On 14 December 1999 he was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II. He was elevated to the rank
of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin
II in 2000.

In 2009, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the Armenian
Patriarch of Jerusalem, designated Archbishop Nourhan as Patriarchal
Vicar. He currently served at the Patriarchate supervising the
activities of the Departments of the Patriarchate.

Archbishop Nourhan was elected on January 24, 2013, at the general
assembly of the St. James Brotherhood of Jerusalem, to serve as
Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, following the
passing of Patriarch Torkom Manoogian of blessed memory. On June 4,
the consecration service of His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manougian,
Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was offered
in the chapel of St. Jacob on June 4, 2013. On July 23 2013, His
Beatitude Nourhan Manougian was officially recognized by the State
of Israel as the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem

From: Baghdasarian

“EXPENSIVE” ARMENIAN SKY

YEREVAN, August 8. /ARKA/. Vacation season is still in full swing, and
many of our citizens plan to spend their holidays abroad. Apart from
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Georgian Black Sea resorts
that have become popular recently, many Armenians prefer spending their
summer vacations in more remote countries. One can reach Batumi and
Kobuleti by car or the special “Armenia” train operated by the South
Caucasus Railway, whereas the only transport to other countries is
airplane due to Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia.

Many experts and even ambassadors believe high air ticket prices and
few direct flights hinder development of tourism in Armenia.

Heading to Tbilisi

Recently many Armenian citizens prefer flying abroad not from Armenian
“Zvartnots” but from Tbilisi airport, as air tickets from Georgia
cost considerably less than from Armenia. Even several hours’ driving
distance to Tbilisi and need for going through customs at the border
do not withhold people.

If you take a minute to look at prices in air ticket offices and tour
agencies, you will understand why.

For instance, one of the most popular destinations for Armenians
this summer, Barcelona will cost (including return) 468 euros from
Yerevan and only 350 euros from Tbilisi, with both flights operated
by Polish LOT via Warsaw. The LOT has set different prices also
for direct flights – Yerevan-Warsaw-Yerevan costs 420 euros whereas
Tbilisi-Warsaw-Tbilisi costs 310 euros only.

And LOT is not the only one… Charter flight to Antalya and back in
summer time will cost 300-350 dollars if traveling from Tbilisi and
350 euros from Yerevan (the prices do not include travel package,
which may bring the ticket price down).

Charter flights to Sharm El Sheikh cost 450 dollars from Yerevan and
300-350 dollars from Tbilisi.

It is cheaper from Yerevan only when flying to Moscow, but that is
probably due to complicated relations between Russia and Georgia.

SibAvia ticket for Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan is 344 euros, whereas
Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi operated by the same air company costs 374
euros.

Flying to Dubai is also cheaper from Yerevan – 220 dollars as compare
to 320 dollars from Tbilisi.

“Zvartnots” say they are not to blame

Earlier representatives of bankrupted national air company Armavia
said air ticket prices were high due to expensive airport service.

Yet, the management of the airport says service prices at Zvartnots
are not higher than in any other airport in the region.

“In general, if only airport tariffs are considered, we are competitive
and provide even cheaper services than the neighboring states do. Our
services, for instance, are twice as cheap as in Azerbaijan”, deputy
general manager of Armenia – International Airports closed joint
stock company Andranik Shkhyan said.

According to Shkhyan, the weaknesses of Zvartnots are high jet fuel
costs, air “tax” (state duty of 10,000 drams included in the air ticket
price) and a number of other services beyond the airport’s competence.

Prices for jet fuel that has considerable contribution to high air
ticket costs are regulated by the State Commission for Economic
Competition and depend on a number of factors, Shkhyan said. The
margin is from 100 to 150 dollars per ton, he added.

General manager of Armenia – International Airports cjsc Marselo Vende,
in his turn, said number of flights to Armenia should be increased
and Armenian air market should be liberalized in order to get the
air ticket prices reduced.

Zvartnots may turn into a transit airport?

In late May Armenian premier Tigran Sargsyan said at the parliament
one of the options for aviation development in Armenia is transferring
Zvartnots into a transit airport. But these plans may fail, like some
of the other government projects, under the current circumstances, when
even Armenian residents prefer flying not from their home Zvartnots,
but from Tbilisi.

And if the air ticket prices are high in Armenia due to high service
costs at Zvartnots then it is time for the government to think over
development of Giumri airport (about 120 kilometers from Yerevan).

Development of Giumri airport may be important also in terms of
development in Armenia’s regions which is said to be of high importance
to the government.

Hayk Khalatyan, specially for ARKA Agency – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN CHILDREN HOMES HOUSE 1,300 CHILDREN

YEREVAN, August 7. / ARKA /. There are some 1,300 children in Armenia
living in children homes. according to head of Sociometer polling
center Aharon Adibekyan.

Of them 870 children are housed by eight state- run children homes
and 373 by four charitable children homes. Aharonyan said 120 children
are adopted a year.

According to him, the total number of institutionalized children in
Armenia is over 4000. In this context Aharonyan argued that children
homes are no longer effective and should be replaced by substitute
families which will take over temporary guardianship of children.

“According to UNICEF estimates, the annual cost of keeping an
institutionalized child in Armenia is about $ 3800, while the
substitute family will need by one thousand dollars less,” Aharonyan
said. -0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

CURTSY BY ALIYEV, IGNORANT PROPAGATORS AND THE “STICK AND CARROT POLICY”

Friday, 02 August 2013 16:59

The steps taken by the political elite of Azerbaijan clearly show that
its today’s topic of concern is the presidential election. And the
election campaign, as it is known, requires an active and targeted
propaganda. Realizing this fact, Ilham Aliyev decided to stress the
significance of journalists’ work on the National Press Day.

But, the generous President of Azerbaijan could not be satisfied with
just words, and his basic curtsy, of course, would have a material
content.

He thought or he was prompted that they could cajole the journalists
by, first of all, granting them apartments. It concerns the
journalists serving the ruling regime rather than those who are
imprisoned by Aliyev-the-junior for free expression, for criticizing
the administration’s policy and who were severely beaten with rubber
truncheons by the Azerbaijani policemen in the Fountains Square in Baku
for being active at the protest demonstrations, to which, by the way,
international organizations have repeatedly given their assessment.

The fact that the ruling elite is preparing for the presidential race,
pleasing the journalists with gifts, is not surprising at all, but the
ugly way that the elite’s propaganda is made should be demonstrated.

Recently, one of the Azerbaijani sites issued on the Armenian language
has published two unrelated and illogical information. According
to the July 22 information, the Azerbaijani president was present
at the ceremony of putting into operation the residential building
for journalists, congratulating the mass media representatives on
the occasion of the National Press Day and noting that Azerbaijan was
the first country where houses for journalists were built. Reportedly,
the country’s leader also noted that the profession of journalism was a
very difficult and responsible task, and as the media workers could not
independently solve their housing problem, the government helped them.

According to the second information, the President of Azerbaijan
signed a decree on July 23 on additional measures for strengthening
the social and economic security of the mass media. It was decided
to allocate $ 5 million manats from the presidential reserve fund
envisaged by the 2013 budget for implementing the first stage of the
residential building construction, and the ministry of finance was
instructed to provide the amount through the corresponding procedure.

A question arises: how can it happen that the building for journalists
was put into operation on July 22, Ilham Aliyev made a speech at
the ceremony, and a day later, on July 23, he signed an order on
allocating funds for the construction of a residential building,
giving corresponding instructions.

To have a certain influence on the Armenian side, the Armenian-language
mass media didn’t even imagine that the reader would compare these two
reports. But, as their goal was propaganda, though in the ugliest way,
so the means were not so important.

But, this is one side of the cause. Aliyev-the-junior is a leader with
a quite low rating at the international arena, and his team is aimed
today at saving the president’s rating decreasing to zero. According to
the Azerbaijani propagators, Aliyev makes an impression on the outside
world when he announces that Azerbaijan is the first country where
houses are built for journalists and the grounds of the free press,
as it has turned out, were laid by national leader Heydar Aliyev by
eliminating censorship.

The world is aware that Azerbaijan is among the oppressive countries,
where the rights and freedoms of journalists are violated.

It has been repeatedly raised by international structures during the
meetings with the officials in Baku, but as we know, the international
structures represented the only interested side at these meetings. The
political figures devoted to the Azerbaijani president are doing
their best to present the acting president as the most popular and
indisputable presidential candidacy.

As the events are related directly to the Azerbaijani information
field, we think it is necessary to recall the statement spread in
November 2012 by the Azerbaijani mass media, which was issued by the
delegation of the OSCE, the EU and the CE in Baku. The latter called
upon the Azerbaijani authorities to release the imprisoned journalists
and political activists. In its statement, the delegation expressed
its concern about the fact that the people had been imprisoned for
criticizing the authorities. The delegates urged official Baku to
conduct an impartial and transparent investigation on the cases of
attacks on journalists.

Let’s add to the abovementioned that in late 2012, PACE co-rapporteurs
of the monitoring group on Azerbaijan Pedro Agramunt and Joseph
Greh presented their grounded viewpoint on the situation of human
rights and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan. Actually, their report
gave an assessment of the ilhamaliyev regime. The co-rapporteurs
stressed in the document that the increased fines for unauthorized
demonstrations and the strict ban of protest rallies in the center
of Baku are directed against the freedom of speech and assembly
in the country. Thus, they evaluated the level of implementation
of the commitments assumed by official Baku before the Council of
Europe. They were concerned about the amendments introduced in the
Criminal and Administrative Codes of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
which, in their opinion, may have an additional negative impact on
the freedom of speech and assembly.

Last year, as we know, the opposition political forces held several
protest rallies in the Fountains Square, which included journalists
and which were suppressed brutality by the Azerbaijani police. After
the events, the punishment against the organizers became stricter,
depending on their role. Considering the realities, the co-rapporteurs
stressed that the Azerbaijani authorities should change their attitude
to the organizers of protest rallies and journalists.

Before preparing the report, a survey was held in Baku, according to
which 60 per cent of the population approved the demonstrations and
rallies aimed at the protection of the citizens’ rights.

The PACE monitoring group co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan made Ilham
Aliyev understand that Azerbaijan must put an end to the violations
against journalists, organizers of the protest demonstrations, and
political prisoners.

All the signals of the kind were ignored by Ilham Aliyev.

Today, they mean nothing for him either. He is getting ready for the
presidential election in a traditional manner, cajoling, wheedling,
and winning over. And if journalists join the opposition forces’
rallies, Aliyev will suppress them brutally, involving the police and
using rubber clubs. It follows from this all that the Azerbaijani
president establishes relations with his country’s journalists on
the principle of the “stick and carrot policy”.

Ruzan ISHKHANIAN

From: Baghdasarian

“…WE ARE IN A DOMINANT POSITION AND IN THE ROLE OF A MANDATORY”

Wednesday, 07 August 2013 09:28

Last week, a press conference of NKR Defense Minister, commander of the
Defense Army Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobian, with the participation
of some mass media representatives of Armenia and Artsakh, took place.

Greeting the journalists, the defense minister noted that his meetings
twice a year with representatives of the media had already become a
tradition, at which he presents the results of the army life for six
months and for a year.

According to M. Hakobian, the winter training stage is completed,
and the troops are preparing for the summer training stage.

The Minister of Defense noted that their main goal had been and still
was the security of the Republic’s population, adding that for the
Defense Army cease-fire was a relative term.

He also touched upon the nature and essence of information and
economic wars and armed conflicts, noting, as for the latters, that
the situation was under control… Recently, two attempts to penetrate
by enemy subversive groups have been stopped and the number of shots
has been cut in half, thanks to the DA activity.

According to M. Hakobian, serious and effective works have been
conducted at the frontline, in particular, engineering structures
have been built, land mining has been carried out, etc. In short,
everything is done to ensure that soldiers perform their duties
without endangering their life, remaining, at the same time, in the
dominant position and in the role of a mandatory. There is also
progress in the field of military training… In particular, the
tactical exercises, involving the military reserve, were successful,
and the army demonstrated a high level of training. The same can be
said about the command-staff exercises, the armed forces muster in
Artsakh, and a number of other demonstration activities held at the
proper level. All the military units involved in the training received
the rating of “good”.

The military training and the processes of retraining and staffing
were continued. In particular, it was noted that 80% of the DA officers
have top military and academic education and the officers of the army
will soon be supplemented with 200 officers with higher education.

According to the minister of defense, the DA replenishment with
weapons and military equipment and the construction of large military
depots were continued. A work on the improvement and stabilization of
the personnel’s morale was conducted. Through the introduction of a
number of innovations, tension ease on the positions was recorded. A
new procedure for receiving recruits was established and new methods
of passing from military to civilian life are used.

Compared with the last year, according to the data for the first
half-year, the deaths and injuries from firearms have reduced, which,
according to Lt. Gen. M. Hakobian, is the result of the annual works.

He also noted that they were determined to reduce to zero the incidents
and violations of all kinds.

The Minister of Defense touched upon the reforms, the social and
construction sectors. In particular, he noted that in providing housing
for officers they could not achieve significant breakthrough and were
still searching ways to resolve the issue.

The journalists asked the Minister of Defense dozens of questions
concerning the arms race in Azerbaijan, the recent incident in
Goris related to the DA officer, commander of the military unit
Artak Budaghian. “The military unit commanded by Artak Budaghian was
recognized “the best military unit” at the DA. I still think he is one
of the best commanders and honest servicemen. As for the events, the
law reinforcement bodies and the justice will give their assessment”.

There were also questions on the information war and the ratio of the
enemy’s forces… Having made a little analytical insight, the defense
minister noted that Azerbaijan was not able to resume the war so far.

The journalists also tried to get first-hand answers to such
problematic questions as compliance with the principle of justice in
acquisition of recruits, suppression of information leakage from the
army, the term of putting the Stepanakert airport into operation, etc.

Members of the media interested in the process of staffing the Army
also contracted, creating disciplinary mouth feasibility of creating
a sports mouth.

The mass media representatives were also interested in the process
of the Army’s contractual staffing, creating disciplinary companies,
and the expediency of creating sports companies.

The defense minister gave comprehensive answers to all the questions.

Sirvard MARGARIAN

From: Baghdasarian

WHY THE GEORGIAN WATERMELON BECOMES EXPENSIVE AT THE BORDER WITH ARMENIA?

August 8 2013

It is the month of August, the watermelon season, but the watermelon
in outlets of Noyemberian city is sold at 160 drams per kilo.

Watermelons imported from Georgia are sold here, at the distance of
about 25 km. We learned from the merchants bringing in watermelon from
Georgia and delivering it to Noyemberian stores that the harvest
of watermelon in Armenia is not good this year, the plantings
of watermelon were burnt out from the sun. They told that they
buy watermelon in Georgia paying 29 tetri per kilo. One lari is
now equivalent to 255 drams, 29 tetri to 74 drams. Crossing the
Armenian-Georgian border, and transporting about 25 km, watermelon
become more than double in price. Of course, the expensive price
of watermelon sold in Noyemberian includes the profits of importers
from Georgia and reseller in Noyemberian. However, in case of real
competition, would watermelon be so expensive?

Voskan SARGSYAN

Read more at:

From: Baghdasarian

ASSYRIANS CALL ON KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE GENOCIDE

11:17, August 8, 2013

American Mesopotamian Organization and The Iraqi Christian Relief
Council challenge the Kurdish Regional Government to issue a formal
apology to the Assyrian and Armenian descendants of the survivors of
the genocides committed by the Kurdish allies of the Ottoman Turks
against the indigenous Christian populations of the region, during
and subsequent to WWI.

In a letter addressed to Masoud Barazani, President of the Kurdish
Regional Government (KRG) and in commemoration of Assyrian Martyr’s
Day of August 7, Assyrians around the world demand the KRG, in northern
Iraq, to formally and officially acknowledge and recognize the genocide
of the indigenous Assyrians and Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks, and their allies from Kurdish tribes and warlords during and
after First World War.

In December 2007, the International Association of Genocide Scholars
(IAGS), recognized both the Assyrian and Greek genocides (in addition
to its 1997 recognition of the Armenian Genocide), announcing the
following: “It is the conviction of the International Association
of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian
minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted genocide
against Armenians, Assyrian and Pontic and Anatolian Greeks”.

KRG is urged to give the same recognition to Assyrians it desires to
receive from western governments, pertaining to the issue of “Kurdish
genocide” at the hands of Saddam’s regime.

American Mesopotamian Organization is a Grassroots/Political Action
Committee founded to influence and guide US policy on matters of
interest to the Assyrian American community.

Iraqi Christian Relief Organization was founded mainly to raise
awareness among the American public about the religious and ethnic
cleansing being inflicted on Christians of Iraq.

Photo: Assyrian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

From: Baghdasarian