Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Tough Times and Unwanted Summertime Guests for Metzamor Family of 8Grisha
Balasanyan
17:05, May 25, 2013
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It took us more than an hour to find the wood shack in the town of Metzamor
that Artour Stepanyan and his large family call home.

Even though we had an address, local residents we asked for directions
didn’t know where the house was located.

Artour, his wife Arevik, and their six children live in this shack on the
outskirts of town. Four of the kids are from a former woman that Artour had
been married to.

Mr. Stepanyan told us that he fought in the Artsakh War, participating in
the battles for Shushi and elsewhere. Now, he complains, that the
government has forsaken him.

Artour claims that last year, when he applied for a disability pension, the
committee chairman demanded a 50,000 AMD bribe. Angered by the affront,
Artour says he stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.

The family now survives on the monthly disability pensions two of their
children receive (18,700 AMD apiece), and a poverty allowance of 61,200 AMD.

Arevik said that she wrote to the Armavir Provincial Administration six
months ago requesting additional assistance. Her letter was forwarded to
the Metzamor Municipality, where her request was rejected.

The municipality has told her that they don’t have the funds necessary to
assist her but that help will be forthcoming when the resources are
available.

Tzaghanoush Grigoryan, who runs the Department of Health and Social
Security at the Armavir Regional Administration, told Hetq that they are
doing all they can to assist the family, but that they are in no position
to solve the family’s housing problem.

Since the shack isn’t hooked up to the gas supply network and wood is too
expensive for winter heating purposes, the family tries to stay warm with
an electric heater. Arevik says that their average monthly electricity bill
comes to 35,000 AMD.

She cringes at the thought of a rise in electricity rates.

In the heat of the summer, however, there are other risks the family faces.
Given the arid surroundings, natural pests like scorpions, tarantulas and
wasps invade the property.

Arevik says that when the sun goes down, she has to keep her eyes peeled to
prevent the creepy crawlers from getting inside.

She has the six kids to think about.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian named top scorer of Russian Premier League

17:36 – 26.05.13

A forward of the Armenian national football team and Moscow’s Spartak,
Yura Movsisyan, has been named a top goal-scorer of Russia’s premier
league.

According to RIA Novosi, he shares the top position together with
Vanderson, a forward of Russia’s Krasnodar.

Vanderson took part in 22 matches in the recent tournament. The third
on the top players’ list is Lasina Traore (12 goals). Ruslan
Muhametshin (Moldova FC) and Ahmed Musa (CSKA) scored 12 goals each.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Hail causes 50%-60% damage to Armenian village

14:15 – 26.05.13

The estimated hail damage in Lejan (Lori region), one of the villages
that suffered a crop loss as a result of a recent hailstorm, is
50%-60%, according to the local authorities.

Speaking to Tert.am, the village’s governor, Sasun Margaryan, said 200
hectares of lands – including those for potato, grain and vegetables –
have been seriously damaged.

Three villages in Lori region (Agarak, Amrak and Lejan) were earlier
reported to have been seriously affected by Saturday afternoon hails.

Most villagers in the region (90%) benefit from agricultural loans to
obtain harvest.

Asked whether Lejan too, will demand a compensation, Margaryan said
such a possibility is still questionable. `I don’t know yet, but the
population will demand [loans] because I know what the situation is,’
he told our correspondent.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

95 years have passed since Sardarapat battle

16:13 – 26.05.13

Ninety-five years ago these days the Armenian nation celebrated one of
its glorious victories in history, stopping the Ottoman army’s advance
into Eastern Armenia and preventing the nation’s complete destruction.

The Battle of Sardarapat, which took place from 21 until 27 May 1918,
was between the Armenian regular troops and militia, and the Turkish
military units that had invaded the country.

The Soviet Russian government, which came to power after the 1917
Bolshevik Revolution, announced that the country was withdrawing from
World War I. The situation for the Armenians grew extremely dangerous
after the Russian troops quit the Caucasian military front. The
Armenian military corps units had to confront the Turkish forces all
alone. The situation gave an advantage to Turks, who launched military
operations in February 1918 (violating an earlier agreement signed in
Yerznka) in an attempt to seize not only the Western Armenian
provinces occupied by Russia but also Eastern Armenia. The Turkish
Army invaded Alexandropol (Gyumri) on May 15 after getting hold of the
fortress cities of Erzurum and Kars,
.
Aram Manukyan, who was the de-facto dictator of the Yerevan province,
undertook the region’s protection. He issued an order for appointing
Russian Army’s Major General Movses Silikyan (the commander of the
Armenian corps’ Yerevan division) the commander of Sardarapat (which
is 40 km of Yerevan). Major-General Tovmas Nazarbekyan was tasked wit
heading the troops in the direction of Vanadzor. Drastamat Kanayan
(better known in history as Dro), a military commissar of the Armenian
corps, was appointed a front commander near the Aparan city.

The first group launched its attack on May 21. The Turkish troops had
an infantry division a shock brigade, and a battalion of engineers, as
well a regiment of riders and an artillery (with 50 canons).

The Turkish army retreated after heavy losses, thus suffering a
crucial defeat in the battle.

Outstanding heroes in the Battle of Sardarapat were Lieutenant-General
Daniel Bek-Pirumyan (First Republic), Major General Pogos
Bek-Pirumuan, Deputy Colonel Karo Hasanpashyan, Captain Hovhannes
Baghramyan (who later became a USSR marshal) and many fedayeens
(voluntary fighters) .

Around 8,500 Armenians and 500 Yezidi partisans are known to have
taken part in the battle. The first Republic of Armenia was proclaimed
on May 18, 1928. The monument complex eternalizing the Sardarapat
heroes was built in 1968 (author: Rafael Israelyan).

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

Glendale News-Press (California)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
May 24, 2013 Friday

Simonyan, Yacoubian fall at CIF Individuals Tournament

by Charles Rich and Andrew J. Campa, Glendale News-Press, Calif.

May 24–Oleg Simonyan arrived at Andulka Park Tennis Center in
Riverside on Thursday ready to compete in the CIF Southern Section
Individuals Tournament.

The Hoover High senior boys’ tennis player got to the venue around 10
a.m. and received a first-round bye. He then had to wait nearly three
hours before stepping on to the court.

Simonyan couldn’t find a rhythm after the waiting session and saw his
season conclude with a 6-2, 6-2 second-round loss to Justin Zhang of
Crean Lutheran.

“Waiting around was very annoying,” said Simonyan, who finished
runner-up in the Pacific League Tournament on May 1 and helped the
Tornadoes advance to the Division I playoffs. “I finally got out there
and my ground strokes weren’t working for me in the first set.

“We had some good volleys in the second set and I figured out my
stroke game. I was up, 40-0, in the first game of the second set and
lost. That got me down a little. It was a fun experience again and I
felt like I played my best tennis over the last few weeks.”
Simonyan, who plans to attend Glendale Community College in the fall,
fell in the second round in 2011.

Pasadena Armenian General Benevolent Union freshman Vahe Yacoubian
made history in an opening-round match at Cate High in Carpinteria.
The Glendale resident became his school’s first-ever tennis qualifier
and tried to parlay that accomplishment into a first-round victory.

Despite a valiant effort, Yacoubian came up short, losing to Frontier
League champion Spencer Ekola of Santa Barbara Bishop Diego, 6-1, 6-3.

“Around the second set, I think Vahe understood that he definitely
needed to be more aggressive and he took on a different approach and
challenged his opponent,” said Spartans Coach Maro Yacoubian, who is
also Vahe’s mother. “His opponent was an excellent player and it was a
great match.”

Unlike all the area’s other competitors, Yacoubian qualified to the
individual tournament as a freelancer since Pasadena AGBU does not
currently have a team.

Yacoubian played in tournaments, such as Ojai, and built up a credible
body of work before being allowed to participate in the individual
playoffs.

“It was really a great match and even some CIF officials noted that
despite the score, it was really back-and-forth,” Maro Yacoubian said.
“I’m proud of Vahe and can’t say I’m disappointed. He played really
well and his opponent just made fewer mistakes.”

From: Baghdasarian

New photo exhibition

07:13 PM | TODAY | SOCIAL

The photo exhibition entitled “Tracking Armenian orphans” is the
history of Armenia and the USA. Ambassador John Heffern said today at
the opening ceremony of the exhibition in National Gallery of Armenia.
He defined the Armenian Genocide of 1915 as one of the worst crimes of
the XX century.

The exhibition is organized by “Naregatsi” art institute, Middle East
fund and the embassy of the USA to Armenia. It presents the history of
American humanitarian mission – Middle East fund which saved lives of
hundreds of thousands of Armenian orphans after 1915 events.

According to the US ambassador, this exhibition is also about victory.
“In the history of the USA it was the first effort of the American
people and government to realize international humanitarian mission.
This is also the first page of Armenian-American relations”.

President of National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, deputy prime minister
Armen Gevorgyan, deputy from ANC Nikol Pashinyan, deputy from ARF
Vahan Hovhannisyan, representatives of ministries and artists were
present at the opening of the exhibition.

Hovik Abrahamyan said in his speech, “We are grateful to the American
people for supporting our compatriots and helping them to arrange
their lives in the USA. The USA help us today too to foster democracy
and human rights”.

From: Baghdasarian

EurasiaNet: When it came to Eurovision Azerbaijan became extremely
courteous with Russia

17:28 25/05/2013 » SOCIETY

When it comes to differences with Russia over energy or arms
shipments, Azerbaijan rarely flinches or gives an inch. But when
discussion turns to the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, Europe’s annual
sequin-studded pop-music extravaganza, Azerbaijan seems unusually
solicitous in its reaction to Russia, Shahin Abbasov writes in his
article published in U.S. organization EurasiaNet.

According to the article last week, there’s been lots of wailing in
Moscow about the Eurovision results, which showed Azerbaijan gave no
points to the Russian contestant, Dina Garipova and no one has been
able to offer a convincing explanation as to why Russia’s Eurovision
anger matters so much to Baku. Azerbaijani officials have appeared
eager to make amends: President Ilham Aliyev called for an
investigation, and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov released data
from all three of Azerbaijan’s mobile operators to support Baku’s
assertion that, yes, it had voted for Garipova.

Many Azerbaijanis, terming the investigation `ridiculous’ and `silly,’
would agree.

`It is only a song contest. Baku should calmly ignore it, and the
uproar over Eurovision in Russia would soon disappear,’ commented
political analyst Elhan Shahinoglu, head of the Baku-based think-tank
Atlas. `But the Azerbaijani government itself politicized the issue,
showing how afraid it is of Russian anger,’ he added.

`It shows how far we are from the civilized world,’ added Rauf
Mirgadirov, a political columnist for the Russian-language daily
Zerkalo (The Mirror). `Could you imagine such a conflict between
Denmark and Sweden, for example?’ he asked.

The author writes that the Azerbaijani government has not demonstrated
similar sensitivity on matters of far greater economic and political
importance, such as the construction of oil and gas pipelines that
deliberately avoid Russia. Baku also has stood firm in lease
negotiations for the Gabala radar station. Yet to see Mammadyarov and
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov now, some Azerbaijanis have
joked on Facebook, you would think they have nothing to discuss other
than the Eurovision vote.

`With a presidential election scheduled for October, and, with it, the
risk of unsanctioned street protests, Baku has good reason not to want
to vex the Kremlin. Members of Aliyev’s administration may worry that
a Russia-based group of ethnic-Azeri billionaires could pose a
political threat to President Aliyev’s reelection, and thus officials
are eager to keep Russia relatively happy,’ noted Shahinoglu.

The author believes that or perhaps energy plays a role – Baku and
Moscow are discussing new terms for shipping Azerbaijani oil to Russia
via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline, following Moscow’s suspension of a
1996 agreement. `But why Eurovision would be the chosen tool for
smoothing those tensions away is a mystery,’ Abbasov writes.

One analyst, who asked not to be named, speculated that President
Aliyev himself, or his wife, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who oversaw
arrangements for the 2012 Eurovision in Baku, may feel personally
embarrassed or upset by the Eurovision flap. This could explain Baku’s
eagerness to curry favor with Moscow, given that government
decision-making in Azerbaijan is generally vertical, particularly in
an election year.

Amid the brouhaha with Russia, the Azerbaijani public generally has
ignored another brewing scandal — an online Lithuanian news outlet’s
report that Azerbaijan allegedly attempted to buy votes for
Eurovision.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan is in list of poorly governed countries in ranking of
resource management quality

16:03 25/05/2013 » SOCIETY

According to the first rating of the resources management quality
compiled by the `Revenue Watch Institute’, only 11 out of 58 raw
powers of the world are able to truly manage quality of their natural
resources. In the above mentioned list Azerbaijan is in the list of
poorly governed countries, the “Finmarket” news agency writes.

The article notes that raw powers have tied their future to mining.
Most of them – 41 out of 58 – brings no less than half of export
revenue of the sale of these minerals on the international market.
Their future depends on the fact how effectively these countries
manage the mining industry.

Overall, 34 countries have received less than 40 points for the
favorable market environment. These countries have high level of
corruption, low efficiency of government or non-transparent budget,
there are no democratic institutions there and the letter of the law
is not followed.

“Azerbaijan, Russia and Venezuela are included in that list for the
high level of corruption, low level of civil and political freedom and
democracy,’ the article notes.

The article explains that in 2012 the funds of the natural resources
of all countries are assessed at $ 2 trillion, these are funds which
go to cover budget deficits. Besides, 23 funds do not publish any
information about their condition at all. The article highlights that
in 15 countries, including Azerbaijan, these funds are used to evading
the law , at the request of the government.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Baghdasarian

Argentina’s national holiday marked in Yerevan

May 24, 2013 | 22:26

YEREVAN. – Argentina’s national holiday, the 203rd anniversary of the
May Revolution was marked in Armenia on May 25.

The celebration was attended by high-ranking officials, members of the
diplomatic corps, representatives of local and international
organizations, cultural figures and media representatives.

Argentina’s Ambassador to Armenia Diego Alvarez Rivera addressed the
participants with the following speech:

`Good evening,

I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us the 203
anniversary of the Revolución de Mayo, which led to the first
Argentine National Government and gave way to the Independence of
Argentina in 1816.

This year we also celebrate 21 years since the inauguration of
Diplomatic relations with the Republic of Armenia. Since then the ties
between our countries have increased steadily in various ways and
multiple areas. To name a few examples, in the year that has lapsed
since my arrival we have received the visit of our Minister of Foreign
Affairs and very recently of our Vice President.

During this period we have witnessed an increase in trade and in
investment flows which allow us to be very optimistic of the future
that lies ahead. Expressions of argentine culture and fine arts have
been showcased, and it was wonderful to see such an interested
audience gathered in the Tango Festival that took place in April in
Yerevan. Also, a few weeks ago we celebrated the Malbec World Day with
a large number of enthusiasts appreciating the quality of Argentine
wines. Although so many things have already been achieved, still we
have room to work and many avenues of cooperation to explore.

But the historical ties between our peoples go further back in
history. As you well know, the Armenian community in Argentina has
done, since the first part of the 20th century, great contributions to
our country, with their work, their efforts and their ingenuity,
excelling in businesses, arts, politics and so many other fields of
life.

Finally, I would like you all to share this toast with me – which we
will do with this excellent argentine wine – for our country and for
the furthering of Argentinean-Armenian bilateral relations.

Thank you very much.’

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian public should display civil disobedience

Saturday,
May 25

A political factor cannot be ruled out in the gas price hike. Member
of `We Will Prevent Gas Price Increase’ civil initiative Andrias
Ghukasian expressed this opinion at a meeting with journalists today.

In his words, the Armenian authorities are implementing a policy of
increasing prices and Armenia presently resembles Europe only in terms
of prices. He noted that by raising prices, the Armenian government
tries to increase budget revenues.

`It was announced that the gas tariff will be set at 156 AMD per cubic
meter, that is to say, the price hike process continues. But Armenian
society today has matured and can say no to the price increase policy.
We must demand that the gas tariff be reduced, rather than raised,’
Ghukasian stated.

In his opinion, the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia
executes an order.

Former employee of Yerevangaz, member of the civil initiative Silva
Adamian said for her part that ArmRosGazprom Company is trying to
convince society that it aims to work better, but it is not the case.

`In the past seven years, I have followed actions of that company
doing nothing to ensure proper services: gas leaks, low-quality gas
pipes, and so on. The statements about expenses do not correspond to
reality,’ she said.

In the opinion of the civil initiative’s member, it will become
possible to achieve a reduction in the gas price if Public Services
Regulatory Commission, which is now under political pressure, starts
to operate out of political processes.

The members of `We Will Prevent Gas Price Increase’ initiative
declared that in any circumstances, the Armenian public should display
civil disobedience.

TODAY, 17:25
Aysor.am

From: Baghdasarian