Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Dismissed headmaster uses bad language to describe Armavir governor

Friday,July 05

`Chorrord Inkinshkhanutyun’ writes that Armavir regional governor
Ashot Ghahramanian patronizes a man against whom a criminal case was
opened at one time. Besides, Ghahramanian recently appointed that
person as headmaster of the school in Dasht village, forcing the
former headmaster to quit his job.

The paper’s correspondent asked the former headmaster Gnel Rostomian
to comment in this connection. Prior to the interview, Gnel Rostomian
asked if the paper would publish his every word, even if he called the
governor a son of a bitch. During the interview with the paper Gnel
Rostomian used bad language to describe the governor.

`I want to address my words to the president of the country, the prime
minister, and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions. Please
give me a few thousand dollars so that I will pay money to keep my job
and remain in Armenia. I want to stay here in difficult times. Let me
work and support my family in the homeland’, the dismissed headmaster
said.

From: Baghdasarian

Gérard Depardieu plays role with Russian-Armenian actor (PHOTOS)

JULY 5, 11:15

Renowned French actor Gérard Depardieu played a role for the first
time in a Russian comedy series, ITAR-TASS News Agency of Russia
reports.

Depardieu played in a comedy series named `Zaitzev+1 [Rabbit+1].

‘ The French actor played the part of the father of Fyodor, who is one
of the main characters and is played by famous Russian-Armenian
showman and actor Mikhail Galustyan.`He was perfect for this role; it
was very interesting despite the language barrier. At the end we
started communicating in old Armenian, [and] we were singing
[world-renowned French-Armenian singer] Charles Aznavour’s songs
during the breaks. Now, we are like Asterix and Obelix,’ Galustyan
noted.

From: Baghdasarian

Serzh Sargsyan: July 5 the day of historic choice

10:25 05.07.2013
Constitution, Serzh Sargsyan

President Serzh Sargsyan issued a congratulatory message on the
occasion of Armenia’s Constitution Day.

`Dear Compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of Constitution Day.

July 5 is indeed a momentous day for us. On that day, our people made
their historic choice. At the same time, everyone knew that it was
impossible through a referendum, just in one day to become a
democratic, social, and legal state. It is a long way and a serious
process.

The Main Law of our land is called upon to guarantee rights and
freedoms of our citizens. We, as a state and as a society, step by
step are getting closer to the remarkable goal enshrined in our
Constitution.

Dear Compatriots,

Once again conveying my congratulations on the occasion of this
significant state holiday, I wish us all to have a state, which grows
stronger by day, strong guarantees for protection of human rights and
freedoms, and application of the rule of law in all areas of our
social life.’

From: Baghdasarian

Hraparak: Number of TV serials to be reduced

10:02 05/07/2013 » DAILY PRESS

Staff reduction takes place in some Armenian TV companies, with some
programs being closed and employees being sent for an unpaid vacation,
Hraparak reports. There is an order not to shoot TV serials, and every
TV channel must air one TV serial. As a result, huge staffs engaged in
TV serials are becoming unemployed, the paper says.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 5 2013

Foreign Ministry welcomes US court decision denying release of Turkish
diplomat’s killer

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed the decision of a U.S. court
to deny a probation request by Hampig Sassounian, who had been
convicted for the 1982 murder of Los Angeles Consul General Kemal
Arıkan.

Two similar requests were denied in 2006 and 2010.

“The refusal of terrorist Sassounian’s release request is an accurate
decision in terms of justice and the principles of the fight against
terrorism, and has been welcomed,” a Foreign Ministry statement issued
today said.

“We commemorate once again our martyred diplomat,” the statement added.

Sassounian was a member of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation
of Armenia (ASALA) which operated from the beginning of the 1970s
until the 1990s and targeted Turkish diplomats in the U.S. and the
European countries.

July/05/2013

From: Baghdasarian

HERMITAGE MUSEUM HOSTS URARTIAN PERIOD EXHIBITION

16:08 04/07/2013 ” CULTURE

Unique exhibits from Urartian period are on display at ‘Urartu’
exhibition hall of Saint Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum on the
sidelines of Days of Yerevan in Saint Petersburg.

After watching the Urartian period exhibits, Director of the State
Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky invited Yerevan Mayor Taron
Margaryan to see the exclusive exhibits presented at the constant
exhibition of Armenian cultural values at Hermitage Museum, the press
service of Yerevan Mayor’s Office reported.

Taron Margaryan thanked Mr. Piotrovsky for the warm welcome and for
the good attitude to Armenian cultural values.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

HEFFERNS VISIT AGBU WOMEN’S CENTER IN TALIN

Published: Thursday July 04, 2013

Women at the AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin listen
to US Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern during a visit on May 18.

YEREVAN – On May 18, US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, his wife
Mrs. Libby Heffern, Former Chairman of the AGBU Western District
Committee of California Haig Messerlian and AGBU Armenia Director Arpi
Vartanian visited the AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin.

During the Ambassador’s Diaspora Tour in the USA last December, Ms.

Sona Yacoubian, Chairperson and Founder of AGBU Hye Geen Southern
California, invited Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern to visit the AGBU
Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Centers in Armenia and meet the expectant
mothers to better understand the realities facing women and their
families in Armenia’s regions today.

Ms. Yacoubian remarked, “The AGBU Hye Geen Committee welcomes the
interest and the appreciation shown by Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern. We
consider the Pregnant Women Centers in Armenia a priority. Healthy
newborns and healthy, educated mothers are essential to safeguard
the future of our homeland. I also thank Haig Messerlian and Arpi
Vartanian for their assistance in arranging this visit.”

Messerlian, Vartanian and Ani Aslanian, Project Coordinator of the
AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin, described the Center’s
activities, accomplishments and challenges. The 20 mothers-to-be
were delighted to share their impressions and have a frank discussion
about their everyday challenges. Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern, proud
parents of five children and grandparents to one child, welcomed the
opportunity to interact with the women, learn about their concerns,
and share their experience and ideas.

To date, AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin has served
close to 160 women and their healthy babies.

Mrs. Libby Heffern said, “It was wonderful to see so many Talin women
actively participating in the center. I really believe that proper
prenatal care is the most precious gift for their children.”

Ambassador Heffern stated, “Thanks to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union for its great work in Armenia. Its Women Centers all over the
country are prime examples of what AGBU does for the Armenian people.

Libby and I had a heart-warming visit to the center in Talin, where
we met two dozen pregnant women and discussed their lives, families,
challenges and opportunities.”

Several constructive suggestions were offered. AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant
Women’s Center Talin is already exploring ways to turn those ideas
into reality.

Messerlian, Vartanian and Aslanian thanked Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern
for their visit and enthusiasm, and expressed appreciation for their
support to Armenia and the Armenian people. Messerlian added that
their meaningful visit and conversation with the participants meant
a great deal and would be remembered by all for years to come.

The first AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Armenia was
established in 2002, in Gyumri, with the goal of improving the health
of pregnant women and reducing infant mortality rates and complicated
pregnancies. In 2006, the second Center was opened in Vanadzor. In
2009, the Talin Center was established, replacing the Gyumri Center.

In 2011, the Nora Injijian Center was launched in Yeghvard. Most
recently, the Arshagouhi Tavitian Center was opened in 2012 in
Yerevan. Maintaining a constant number of 20 pregnant women per
site, the Centers have become a place for women to discuss concerns,
receive medical exams & pre-natal care, learn through individual and
group consultations with experts and form long-lasting bonds with
one another. These Centers have become possible through the efforts
of AGBU Southern California Hye Geen Southern California. To date,
the Centers have served over 1,400 healthy babies and mothers. For
more information about Hye Geen, visit

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City,
AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching
the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA 22 POSITIONS UP IN FIFA RANKING

13:20 04.07.2013
Armenia, FIFA

Armenia has climbed from 89th to 66th position in the FIFA ranking
of national teams released today. The progress comes after the 4-0
victory over Denmark in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying round.

The ongoing Brazil 2014 qualifiers and a number of friendlies have
seen no fewer than seven teams rise more than 20 places, namely Cape
Verde Islands (49th, up 23), Scotland (50th, up 24), Austria(54th,
up 22), Guinea (61st, up 24), Armenia (66th, up 23), Senegal (74th,
up 25) and Malta (133rd, up 23).

Spain held on to pole position ahead of Germany, while Colombia climbed
four places to a personal best of third thanks to some impressive
performances in FIFA World Cup~Y qualifying.

From: Baghdasarian

OMBUDSMAN AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR VISITED NUBARASHEN PENITENTIARY

Today, Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan and Ambassador of Great
Britain to Armenia Katherine Leach visited Nubarashen penitentiary,
after which the Ombudsman and the ambassador had a briefing in
the Human Rights Defender’s office. The aim of the meeting was to
once again attach importance to the situation in penitentiaries and
to present the Ombudsman’s interim report on violence and inhuman
attitude in penitentiaries as the result of the joint project.

Advisory Council for the Prevention of Torture under the staff of
the Human Rights Defender, with the support of the British embassy,
carried out visits to 133 to closed and half-closed institutions
reporting the results in the interim report.

A number of issues found in prisons, police departments, military
unites, special schools, boarding schools, orphanages as well as
psychiatric hospitals and social care facilities has been raised.

The staff number in penitentiaries is inadequate to the number of
prisoners. Stable and effective communication between prisoners and
the staff lacks. The privileged status of some prisoners considered
authorized criminals in law is worrying. The prisoners’ right to walk
is not ensured, they have no occupation which may lead to worsening
of interpersonal relationships. The quality food and medical service
is not sufficient.

Human Right Defender’s Staff 13:05 04/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am
News:

From: Baghdasarian

STILL NO ACCUSATIONS IN THE CASE OF FINANCIAL PYRAMID IN THE SPHERE OFF POLICE

Wed, 07/03/2013 – 14:30

No one is yet charged with the financial pyramid in the sphere of
police. The newly appointed press secretary of RA Special Investigative
Service Miqayel Aharonyan said adding that the investigation continues.

As earlier, in response to the written request of “Factinfo” was
informed, a criminal case at RA Special Investigative Service was
filed on the ground of large-scale extortion and theft of property
of others by the high-ranking officials of the police. The case
is filed on the ground of part 1 of paragraph 3 of article 178 of
RA Criminal Code (swindling), part 3 paragraph 3 of article 182
(extortion) and paragraph 1 of article 213 of RA Criminal Code
(usury). Investigation is in process. Note that the case was filed
in April and it has already been two months that the investigation
continues, but SIS does not reveal details of the case.

Media mentions Yerevan former Chief of Police Nerses Nazaryan as
the head of the group and the name of Shirak Chief of Police Karen
Babakekhyan is also mentioned.

Author: Factinfo – See more at:

From: Baghdasarian