Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FOOTBALL
Henrikh Mekhitarian « je suis convaincu que mon père me regarde de là
haut et qu’il est fier de moi »

Lors de la rencontre amicale de football entre l’Arménie et le
Luxembourg (1-1) à Valence, l’attention des supporters était en
direction de Henrikh Mekhitarian, le meilleur joueur de la sélection
et l’enfant du pays. Henrikh Mekhitarian était dans tous ses
déplacements, largement entourés de fans et des dizaines
d’admirateurs. Il leur accordait avec une très grande gentillesse des
photos et conversait avec eux. De nombreuses équipes de télévision
filmaient le joueur-vedette du « Chakhtior » Donestk. Dans une
interview accordée à France 3 Rhône-Alpes, diffusée le 5 février,
Henrikh Mekhitarian a évoqué son enfance à Valence ainsi que le
souvenir de son père Hamlet Mekhitarian qui était venu à Valence faire
les beaux jours de l’équipe arménienne locale l’USJOA Valence en
troisième division puis en deuxième.

18 ans après avoir quitté Valence, Henrikh Mekhitarian y revenait avec
des souvenirs plein la tête et une grande nostalgie. Il était
accompagné de sa mère, Marina Tachdjian qui a également des souvenirs
de Valence. Le reportage de France 3 Rhône-Alpes évoquait ce souvenir
de Hamlet Mekhitarian avec des images le montrant lors d’un
entraînement. Puis des photos-souvenirs où on le voit en compagnie du
jeune Henrikh avec des amis de Valence. Henrikh Mekhitarian foulait la
pelouse du stade « Georges Pompidou » de Valence 24 ans après que son
père Hamlet l’avait effectué avec l’équipe d’Arménie. La charge
émotionnelle étant présente… France 3 Rhône-Alpes a précisé qu’après
avoir joué sept ans à Valence, Hamlet Mekhitarian après un passage
dans la région parisienne, était retourné en Arménie où il avait
disparu prématurément. Et Henrikh Mekhitarian de dire « je suis
convaincu qu’il me regarde de là haut et qu’il est fier de moi ».

Marina Tachdjian, la mère d’Henrikh et épouse de Hamlet affirme de son
côté qu’à Valence, elle a de très nombreux souvenirs qui la touchent.
D’autant que son fils, sur les traces de son père, ranimera bien des
sentiments de jours heureux.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 9 février 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

SYRIE
Syrie : un village chrétien échappe à la guerre mais pas aux voleurs

Les bibles n’ont pas bougé de leur présentoir de bois sculpté. Sur
l’autel, des chandeliers ont été renversés. A l’image de son église,
le village chrétien d’Al-Yacoubiyé a échappé à la guerre en Syrie,
mais pas aux rapines de la soldatesque.

Le long de l’avenue principale de ce bourg agricole de la province
d’Idleb (nord-ouest), un vieux cimetière aux croix de pierre annonce
l’église apostolique (orthodoxe) arménienne. La porte est ouverte aux
quatre vents.

Le ou les visiteurs cherchaient à l’évidence des objets de valeur.
Sous un portrait bienveillant de la Vierge Marie, le calice a disparu
du tabernacle entrebillé. Le choeur et la sacristie ont été fouillés.

Dans la montagne verdoyante qui surplombe la vallée de l’Oronte,
Al-Yacoubiyé est tombé il y a deux semaines aux mains des rebelles.

Les combats ont duré plusieurs jours autour d’une position fortifiée
de l’armée à l’entrée du village, avant que les militaires ne se
retirent vers la ville de Jisr al-Choughour, plus au sud.

Les soldats ont ainsi épargné au hameau chrétien – deux églises
arméniennes et une catholique – une bataille de rues qui l’aurait
inévitablement transformé en champ de ruines.

Seuls quelques hommes, une poignée de personnes gées, et un prêtre
catholique sont restés pendant les affrontements. `Près de 600
personnes vivent ici en hiver`, précise George, retraité à épaisse
moustache, dont la famille est enracinée ici `depuis mille ans`.

Dans une région majoritairement musulmane sunnite, ce village de
paysans, `moitié arménien moitié catholique`, sert de villégiature
d’été à des chrétiens d’Alep, la grande métropole du nord. `Chrétiens
et musulmans vivent ici en frère depuis des siècles`, insiste Georges.

Archange Saint Michel

En ce jour de pluie, de rares habitants s’aventurent dans les rues
envahies par un épais brouillard. Les ordures s’ammoncellent aux coins
de rue et beaucoup de maisons sont fermées. Quelques portes et volets
ont été visiblement forcés.

Jusqu’à leur départ précipité, les forces loyalistes avaient pris leur
quartier dans le jardin de l’autre église arménienne, avec chars et
blindés.

Les soldats n’ont pas pénétré dans l’église elle-même, toujours
fermée, mais le parvis n’est plus qu’un dépotoir à ciel ouvert de sacs
de sables, chiffons souillés, restes de popotes et autres immondices.

Dans Al-Yacoubiyé `libéré`, les rebelles de l’Armée syrienne libre
(ASL), pour la plupart originaires de villages sunnites voisins,
occupent plusieurs demeures sur l’avenue centrale, avec l’accord de
leur propriétaire, affirment-ils.

Jeune chef d’une `katiba` (bataillon), Moussa Beidaq est installé dans
une habitation à deux pas de l’église catholique. Les clés lui ont été
remises par le prêtre, à condition de ne rien endommager.

Icônes et crucifix sur les murs, portraits de l’archange Saint Michel
terrassant le dragon, rien n’a bougé dans le salon.

`Nous serons bientôt partis`, promet Moussa, 27 ans. `Il n’y a eu
aucune violence contre ce village, et nous n’en tolèrerons aucune`.

`Pas un villageois n’a été tué`, renchérit Joseph, quadragénaire selon
qui les relations avec l’ASL sont `correctes`.

Ce sont plutôt des catholiques qui sont restés. Beaucoup d’Arméniens,
dont certains ont accepté de servir de supplétifs aux loyalistes, ont
préféré fuir par peur des représailles, soutient Joseph. `Nous,
catholiques, avons refusé de porter les armes distribuées par
l’armée`.

Des familles sont déjà discrètement revenues, certaines
malheureusement pour découvrir que leur maison avait été cambriolée.

Selon Moussa, `des soldats ont forcé les maisons vides`, reconnaissant
aussi que des insurgés ont volé dans des maisons.

`Ne cherchez pas les coupables uniquement dans l’un ou l’autre camp`,
glisse Georges, philosophe, en conclusion. `Il y a de bonnes et
mauvaises personnes partout.`

Par Hervé BAR

AL-YACOUBIYE (Syrie) (AFP)

samedi 9 février 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Grants for Cataloging Eastern Christian Manuscripts

Patheos.com
February 4, 2013

By James F. McGrath

The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
()
announces grants available for cataloging work in its eastern
Christian collections in Arabic/Garšūnī, Armenian, Old Church
Slavonic, and Syriac. These grants are funded by the Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation.

Many of these collections are greatly understudied and catalogers thus
have prime opportunities for new and further research, as well as the
satisfaction of making a contribution to our knowledge of the
literature and of manuscript traditions.

The grants support full-time cataloging work for periods of one to six
months, and are renewable. The work may be done anywhere; residence at
HMML is not expected. Catalogers will be expected to prepare
text-level records for, ideally, 75 manuscripts per month (with these
numbers adjusted for genres with multiple texts per manuscript, such
as hagiography and homilies). A sample record may be viewed here. A
brief report summarizing completed work (numbers, notable finds, etc.)
will be sent twice a month to HMML’s lead cataloger of eastern
Christian manuscripts, Adam McCollum. Completed records will be
submitted on a monthly basis.

The grants offer a stipend of $2500/month, with the added benefit of
copies of two digitized manuscripts from HMML’s collections each month
at no cost, which may be used for personal research. Those who wish to
apply for a cataloging grant may send their CV and a cover letter to
Adam McCollum ([email protected]), to whom also any informal
enquiries may be sent off-list.

From: Baghdasarian

PM SARGSYAN QUIZZES EDUCATION MINISTER OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE VIOLATING CAMPAIGN LAWS

16:44, February 7, 2013

At today’s cabinet session of the Armenian government, PM Tigran
Sargsyan queried Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan
regarding allegations that certain public school principals had
taken it upon themselves to suspend classes and send pupils to attend
campaign rallies for the incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan.

PM Sargsyan reminded Ashotyan that he had been instructed to make
sure such incidents did not occur and asked what steps had the
minister taken.

Ashotyan told PM Sargsyan that certain schools had been registered as
campaign locales for all the candidates and reminded him that there
was no law on the books forbidding pupils to attend campaign rallies
after school hours.

Ashotyan said the evidence shows that pupils and parents have been
attending to rallies of all the candidates and not only those of
President Sargsyan.

PM Sargsyan reiterated that education sector officials will be severely
punished if they violate the laws regarding election campaigning and
that the government will continue to monitor the situation.

From: Baghdasarian

ZORYAN ANNOUNCES NEW DONATION, PUBLISHES SPANISH TRANSLATION OF SUMGAIT EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

Published: Friday February 08, 2013

Cover of the Spanish edition of the “Tragedy of Sumgait”.

TORONTO – Henry Sarkissian, Armenian philanthropist, noted
international businessman, and the president of world-class Contractor
in Industrial and Power Projects, has just made the largest donation
this year to the Zoryan Institute amounting to $100,000.

Sarkissian, based in Beirut, Lebanon, with offices in several countries
of the Gulf, Africa and North America, has been a long-time supporter
of the Institute’s mission, which is to serve the cause of scholarship
and public awareness relating to issues of universal human rights,
genocide, and diaspora-homeland relations, through the systematic
and continued efforts of independent scholars.

In response to a letter of gratitude from Zoryan’s president, Mr.

Sarkissian simply replied, “The Zoryan Institute deserves our humble
donation.” Over the years, he, along with his family, have sponsored
conferences, publications, and other activities of the Institute held
in Europe, Armenia and North America.

George Shirinian, Executive Director of the Zoryan Institute, remarked,
“The Institute has just completed thirty years of service to the
academic community and to our people. We look back with pride on the
acknowledgement we have received from community and government leaders,
scholars, students, and the thousands of supporters, large and small,
who have encouraged us in our work. It is only with their help that
Zoryan has been able to achieve as much as it has. We are excited as
we look forward to what the next thirty years will bring!”

Prof. Roger W. Smith, the chairman of Zoryan’s Academic Board,
declared, “We are grateful for the generosity of Mr. Sarkissian. This
kind of “noble” donation not only brings enthusiasm to people at
the Institute, but also reinforces the commitment of its directors,
the staff and the volunteers to work even harder in conducting their
academic work, including research, analysis and publication on issues
related to the forces that shape modern Armenian life, politics,
history and identity in a global context. We are hopeful that others
will follow Mr. Sarkissian’s example.”

“Tragedy of Sumgait” in Spanish The Sumgait Tragedy: Pogroms against
Armenians in Soviet Azerbaijan: Eyewitness Accounts is as relevant
today as when it was first published by the Zoryan Institute. A new
Italian language edition, La Tragedia di Sumgait: 1988, Un Pogrom di
armeni nell’Unione Sovietica has just been released. The edition was
prepared by Pietro Kuciukian and published by Guerini e Associati
of Milan and marks the ninth language in which Zoryan’s work has
been published. This edition includes the prefaces both from the
English edition by human rights activist Yelena Bonner, and the French
edition by human rights activist, French politican, and co-founder of
Medecins Sans Frontières, Bernard Kouchner. The appearance of this
book is very timely, exposing the origins of the current conflict,
as Azerbaijan continues to use threatening and warmongering language
against Armenia and Artsakh.

For three days in February, 1988, the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait
became the arena of pogroms against the Armenians. The Sumgait tragedy
was a brutal, organized attempt to block a political solution to the
peaceful demands of the Armenians of Mountainous Karabagh, over 1000
km away from Sumgait, which is deeply within Azerbaijan proper. These
events marked the beginning of a premeditated plan to depopulate
Azerbaijan of Armenians, and eventually of Russians and Jews.

The book is a compilation of interviews conducted by Armenian
journalist Samvel Shahmuratian with Sumgait survivors immediately
after events in February 1988, while the memory was fresh. These
testimonies give painful answers to critical questions. What happened
in Sumgait? Why was the impending slaughter not averted? Why did
measures to halt the massacres come too late? Why did the events
not receive complete analysis and coverage by the mass media, the
government, and judicial bodies? The answers to these questions come
from the victims themselves, in halting painful narratives.

In 1988, the Nagorno-Karabagh Autonomous Oblast was a small, 4400 sq.

km. (1699 sq. mi.) Soviet enclave with a population of approximately
153,000, of which 80% was Armenian. It is central to Armenian cultural
and historical identity. Since its transfer by Stalin to Azerbaijan
in 1921, the government of Azerbaijan pursued a policy of economic and
social discrimination and political repression, making life intolerable
for its citizens in a variety of ways. In the 1960s and 1970s, the
government of Nagorno-Karabagh petitioned the central Soviet government
several times for relief from these conditions, without success.

The advent of Mikhail Gorbachev and his policies of glasnost and
perestroika encouraged the people of Nagorno-Karabagh to call for
self-determination within the existing legal framework and within the
jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. Starting in 1987, they signed petitions,
held vigils, conducted hunger strikes, demonstrations, rallies
and general strikes. Massive marches took place in Stepanakert and
Yerevan. On February 26, 1988, Gorbachev tried to calm the situation
by asking for a moratorium on the demonstrations for one month, after
which he would announce a new policy regarding Nagorno-Karabagh. The
Armenians agreed to suspend their protests.

A wave of anti-Armenian statements and rallies swept over Azerbaijan.

This culminated in three days (February 27-29) of unhindered mass
pogroms against the Armenians living in Sumgait, a city of some
250,000 inhabitants, miles away from Nagorno-Karabagh.

The perpetrators who broke into Armenian homes were aided by prepared
lists containing the names of residents. They were armed with iron
rods, stones, axes, knives, bottles, and canisters full of benzene.

According to witnesses, some apartments were raided by groups of 50
to 80 persons. Similar crowds, up to 100 people, stormed the streets.

There were dozens of casualties and 53 murders – most of those were
burnt alive after being assaulted and tortured. Hundreds of innocent
people were wounded and disabled. Many women, including adolescent
girls, were raped. Over 200 apartments were raided, dozens of cars
burnt, numerous shops and workshops looted. Mobs hurled furniture,
refrigerators, TV sets, and beds from balconies and then burnt them.

The direct and indirect results of these atrocities were tens of
thousands of Armenian refugees.

The army arrived in Sumgait on February 29; however, it limited its
activities to shielding itself against the ravaging Azerbaijani mob
that threw stones at the soldiers and did little to protect Armenians.

As the true story behind Armenian-Azerbaijani relations has become
obscured by propaganda, oil lobbyists, and economic interests,
this volume serves as a valuable document for Italian readers when
considering a resolution to the ongoing Karabagh conflict.

This new edition provides an abridged version of the interviews, making
it an excellent introductory text for Italian readers interested in
learning more about the Sumgait tragedy. This new version also arranges
the interviews into thematic chapters, making them easy to navigate
and providing those who are new to the subject with more context.

The Zoryan Institute is the parent organization of the International
Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, which runs an annual,
accredited university program on the subject and is co-publisher
of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal in
partnership with the International Association of Genocide Scholars
and the University of Toronto Press. It is the first non-profit,
international center devoted to the research and documentation of
contemporary issues with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Armenia.

For more information please contact the Zoryan Institute by email
[email protected] or telephone 416-250-9807.

From: Baghdasarian

A NOTE SAYING ‘I WAS THE KILLER’ APPEARS IN UNSOLVED MURDER OF ARMENIAN WOMAN

Kucuk’s son grieves his mother in the front of her apartment.

A thief robbing a shop next-door to the apartment of a murdered
elderly Armenian woman in central Istanbul left a note saying,
“I was the killer,” as an intense police investigation continues,
reported daily Hurriyet.

On Dec. 28, 2012, 84-year-old Maritsa Kucuk was stabbed several times
at her home in Istanbul’s Samatya neighborhood. Following the murder,
investigators established a special team to look for the perpetrator.

The Istanbul Police Directorate has drawn a police sketch of the
suspect and is performing a search against the images of the security
cameras located in the neighborhood. Security measures have also been
drastically increased.

According to daily Hurriyet’s report, the shop owner, identified as R.

M., found the safe intact in its place, but with this message
inscribed on its top: “It would have been good for me to take it,
because I needed the money. I took few things, I was the killer.” R.

M. told Hurriyet that the thief had entered the shop during the
morning and added that he knew Kucuk before the tragedy.

However, police officials contacted by the Hurriyet Daily News didn’t
confirm the incident. Yesayi Demir, director of Surp Kevork Church,
told the Daily News that it was “too early to make any comment.”

After Kucuk’s murder, two other attacks were carried out in the past
month against elderly Armenian women in the Samatya and Bakırköy
districts. One of the women, 87-year-old Turfanda AÅ~_ık, lost an eye,
while the other woman was robbed and severely injured. Most recently,
84-year-old Sultan Akyar was attacked in Samatya, after which she
underwent eye surgery. On Jan. 27 a march was organized in Samatya
district to protest the attacks.

February/08/2013

From: Baghdasarian

BUSINESSWOMEN FROM ARMENIA, RUSSIAN AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ESTABLISHING COOPERATION

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Businesswomen from Armenia, Russian and
the United Arab Emirates are establishing cooperation, LiliaGevorgyan,
the head of the Armenian Commerce and Industry Chamber’s Business
Women Support Foundation, told journalists on Friday.

“In recent days, a delegation made up of 20 women from Armenia and 24
from Russia returned from the United Arab Emirates, where we signed
a number of agreements on cooperation in various businesses,” she
said adding that this was the Armenian businesswomen’s first visit
of this kind.

She said that the visit has resulted in a decision to cooperate in
construction, medicine, education and folk craft areas.

Besides, a cooperation agreement was signed by the Armenian Commerce
and Industry Chamber’s Business Women Support Foundation and a similar
institution of the United Arab Emirates.

Armenian and Russian businesswomen met with Sheikha Hessa Saad
al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, president of the Council of Arab Businesswomen,
as part of their visit.

A delegation of Arab businesswomen is expected to pay a return visit
to Armenia in October 2013.

The Armenian Commerce and Industry Chamber’s Business Women Support
Foundation have organized many forums, seminars and exhibitions in
some countries, including Georgia, Russia and Iran, since it was
established in 2005. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

SMALL BUSINESS IN ARMENIA CRASHES BIG PROBLEMS: EMPLOYERS’ UNION

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Small business in Armenia faces many
obstacles as the republic has no fair competition, weak management
and legislative flaws in the republic, the head of Republican Union
of Employers Gagik Makaryan said Friday.

He explained much damage is caused to small business when media
disseminates disinformation about the goods produced by these
enterprises.

Particularly, he referred to a TV program on one of Armenian channels
which reported on a buyer’s complaint about a low-quality hair bleach
domestic product and an allergy the woman had after using it.

Makaryan clarified that shortly after the complaint was filed,
the product was tested and no detrimental or prohibited chemicals
were detected.

The head of the Union accused the TV program authors of ignoring the
positive results of the expertise which they never presented as well as
didn’t resumed that the domestic product meets all quality standards.

The authors, on their side, disagreed with Makaryan stating the
program was unbiased. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

BEST GREEN ENERGY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BE SHOWCASED AT EXPO 2017 IN ASTANA

YEREVAN, February 8./ARKA/. Energy shortages in the world makes the
leading powers seek new ways to solve this problem. While in the
field of sports leaders are determined during the Olympic Games, in
the sphere of innovations development such a venue is International
Specialized Exhibition EXPO. In 2017, it will be held in Kazakhstan.

The main theme of the site designated as the “Energy for the future”.

We emphasize that showcase of the best mankind achievements in the
development of green energy will be held in a country whose economy
has been historically kept at the edge of the angle. Perhaps this
will be the main “zest” of the upcoming event.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in the nearest
quarter of century, the mankind will face two simultaneous global
threats. There are a shortage of energy resources and environmental
disaster. The authorities of young Kazakhstan – a country, which
broke away from the Soviet Union on December 1991, have adopted this
theme in order to achieve the highest number of votes for the right
to host EXPO-2017.

The main contender for the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, was a
Belgian Liege, rather serious competitor, that already had experience
of such exhibitions. At 152th General Assembly of the International
Exhibitions Bureau (IEB), Belgium proposed the theme “Bringing people
together.” However, during a secret ballot of representatives of 161
IEB Member States Astana was given the overwhelming number of votes.

Kazakhstan’s application was supported by 103 participating countries,
44 – voted “against”.

The exhibition of such a scale has not been conducted not only in the
Central Asian region, but throughout the Commonwealth of Independent
States. Perhaps carte blanche was given to Astana in view of the fact
that in this region for the past two years there have been held two
major international events.

The OSCE summit was held on December 1-2, 2010 in Astana. For the
first time in 11 years after a similar summit in Istanbul, heads of
state and diplomats from 56 countries of the OSCE met for one table.

A month later, Kazakhstan was the first Central Asian country that
exercised its right to host the VII Asian Winter Games. From January
31 to February 6, 2011 in the official and the financial capitals
of the country (Astana and Almaty) competitions were held with the
participation of athletes from 26 countries.

But the previous two events are incomparable with holding of EXPO, in
which Kazakhstan may be visited, according to conservative estimates,
by about 5 million people from 100 countries and about 10 international
organizations. For comparison, according to official data, there are
758,000 people in Astana.

Realizing what serious test for the young capital of Kazakhstan will
be the holding of EXPO-2017, the Presidium of the IEB took into
account the fact that the preparations for the exhibition will be
held under scrutiny and with the direct assistance of the leadership
of the country.

Back in Paris, as soon as it was decided to hold the Expo-2017 in
Astana, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Kelimbetov
told at the press conference that for the supporting of research in
the field of energy in the it was established the Fund Kazakhstan
EXPO-2017. It concentrated more than 62 million euros. They will be
allocated to fund research projects and scientific research on the
development of renewable sources of energy of more than 69 developing
countries.

But benefits are not only for the countries, which are receiving
guests. The case of a 10-fold profit was recorded with the Netherlands,
which place their exhibition pavilion at Expo 2010 in Hannover
(Germany). Investing up to 35 million euros, the Dutch brought to
its economy about 350 million euros.

As for the mistress of the exhibition, Germany, EXPO-2000 was losing:
the country has lost its hold in the amount of 1.2 billion euros.

Instead of the expected 40 million people the exhibition was visited
by only 18 million. Then losses of EXPO-2000 became one of the reasons
why France (organizer of the next show) refused to hold EXPO-2004
in Seine-Saint-Denis.

And it should be kept in mind not only the direct economic impact of
the exhibition, but also additional benefits to be gained from EXPO.

In Canada in 1967, an Expo cost 283 million Canadian dollars (178
million euros), but the profit from this event resulted from the
growth of the country’s income from tourism in the same year.

International tourism increased the budget of the country for 480
million Canadian dollars (303 million euros).

It is possible that the EXPO will give Astana new attractions. Recall
that for the exhibition in 1851, it was built the world-famous Crystal
Palace in London’s Hyde Park. Enough to remember the fact that the
famous Eiffel Tower, the symbol of France was designed by French
engineer Gustave Eiffel especially for Paris “EXPO-1889”.

Astana, which can be called the largest construction site for almost
every significant event in Kazakhstan, will present a new architectural
object. With the participation of renowned architects from around the
world Kisho Kurokawa and Norman Foster from the moment of transfer
of the Kazakhstan capital in 1997, the area of the former Akmola
(formerly known as Astana) has increased almost three times, from
258 to 710.2 square kilometers.

The Kazakh side expects to attract significant amounts of private
investment in the construction of new exhibition facilities and
infrastructure. In Astana, the forthcoming Expo 2017 is considered
as a push for the next stage of development of the city. It has been
already selected a land for the construction of the future Expo Center
taking into account infrastructural development of the city. Total
land area is 113 hectares, of which 25 hectares – is complex, and the
rest is allocated for parking, outdoor construction and city EXPO-2017.

We note here that in Shanghai specifically for the exhibition there
were built several lines of Shanghai Metro. In Portugal, for example,
in 1998, in order to cope with the expected number of visitors, it
was developed a program including: the new Vasco da Gama Bridge (the
longest in Europe), a new line of the Lisbon subway stations 7 lines
(5 were ready to open) , the new chief multimodal terminal, train,
subway, bus and taxi, called GaredoOriente.

At the same time the holding of EXPO increase the inflow of foreign
tourists to the country. Do not forget the fact that the objects being
built as part of EXPO, in the future will let to consider Kazakhstan
and Astana in particular, as a major international, exhibition and
information-presentation platform.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the Kazakh authorities
intend to implement plans for the development of processing industries.

The government adopted a policy of rapid industrialization. With
the positive results of these state measures, the introduce of new
industries will lead to the growth of energy consumption.

Given the significant amount of coal in depths of Kazakhstan (3.6
percent of world reserves), energy of the Central Asian country is
mainly based on coal component.

Nevertheless, Kazakhstan builds its policy so that by 2030 the share
of renewable energy sources (RES) will increase to 11 percent in
the structure of the generating capacity of the country. Kazakh
authorities hope that with the development of renewable energy in
the world, these technologies will become cheaper.

It is symbolic that the exhibition area of Astana will only be provided
by renewable energy sources. Thus, Kazakhstan capital will be a sort
of “City of the Future.” A presentation of the achievements of the
world alternative energy development in the EXPO-2017 will further
expand the horizons of renewable energy in Kazakhstan. -0-

Lusine Karapetyan reported for ARKA agency

From: Baghdasarian

GRAHAM: ARMENIA SOCCER TEAM OPENS SEASON WITH DRAW

Posted by M.J. Graham on February 7, 2013 in News

Armenia opened the 2013 international season with a 1:1 draw against
Luxembourg at the Stade Georges Pompidou in Valence, France on Feb. 5.

Luxembourg’s experienced midfielder Mario Mutsch found the net on the
volley after 14 minutes of play, and Edgar Manucharyan replied for
Armenia with a header on 43 minutes to restore parity entering the
break. Although Armenia dominated play and created plenty of chances
in the second half, they were unable to add to the score sheet,
and their opening match of the year ended in a disappointing draw.

Armenia’s national soccer team

Just as Coach Minasyan had done last year, an experimental team
was run out for the first match of the season. International debuts
were handed to Artem Khatchaturov and Norayr Aslanyan, players who
recently became eligible for selection, while Karen Muradyan and
Taron Voskanian were also introduced into the fray in the hope of
establishing themselves in the side.

The chosen venue for this match has received a certain amount of
criticism in the media. The standard of playing surface and lack of
television coverage were at the center of the backlash. The match
was played in wet conditions, on a bumpy surface, and in front of
a sparse crowd. A grainy internet feed and radio broadcast were the
only broadcast options available and even those were intermittent.

Torrential rain during the first half was seemingly to blame for the
spotty coverage. Taking all of this into account, the setup was hardly
conducive to attractive football or pleasing to Armenia’s worldwide
fan base.

The playing surface also brought an element of risk into play. With
crucial World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, injuries can have toll
on Armenia. Granted, injuries are a part of football, but they can be
minimized. Shortly after scoring, Luxembourg’s Mario Mutsch was forced
to retire with an unfortunate ankle injury. Armenia cannot afford
such injuries with the strong Czech Republic side waiting in the wings.

The town of Valance does hold a little romance for Armenians and
Henrikh Mkhitaryan in particular. Henrikh’s father Hamlet spent a
number of years there as a player with ASOA Valence in the early
nineties, with Henrikh spending much of his early years there and
making many friends. With such a large Armenian community in the
region, some believed that as many as 8,000 fans would visit the
Stade Georges Pompidou. Perhaps the adverse weather conditions and
the caliber of Armenia’s opponent (on paper at least) contributed to
the weaker attendance figures.

Luxembourg’s national soccer team

Luxembourg entered the match with a depleted squad of 18 players and on
the back of some poor results. With nine of the squad being defenders,
perhaps that was a signal of their intent on the night.

Many of their key players including Deville, Payal, and Bensi were
unavailable through injury and this led Coach Luc Holtz to call a
number of youngsters into the squad from the National Football League
in Luxembourg. With such an inexperienced squad at his disposal and
his veteran foreign based players Joachim and Mutsch only arriving
the day before the match, the 1-1 result was all the more commendable
for the Red Lions.

Luxembourg employed a defensive setup, maintaining men behind the
ball and hoping for some joy on the counter attack. The poor weather
conditions and playing surface along with some good goalkeeping proved
all the help Holtz’s men would need to grind out the result. Any
advantage Armenia brought into the match in terms of skill and
enterprise was nullified by the pitch and general conditions of play.

Armenia opened the match brightly, dominating possession but ultimately
struggling to fashion a clear opening. The poor playing surface
disrupted their usually fluid passing in the final third.

Close to the quarter hour mark, a hopeful diagonal ball from Daniel
Alves da Mota found Mario Mutsch peeling off his defender into space.

Showing terrific concentration and technique the Luxembourg talisman
who plies his trade for FC St. Gallen in Switzerland, met the 40-yard
pass on the full volley and guided his effort across Berezovsky and
into the net. The speculative long range effort seemed to catch the
Armenian keeper unaware. The simple move that didn’t initially seem
threatening was converted into a shock lead with Mutsch’s quality
strike.

In response to falling behind Armenia created a couple of good chances
with Ozbiliz and Manucharyan coming close to scoring, following
creative play from Marcos Pizzelli and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Armenia
finally found the equalizer after 43 minutes. A move down the left
wing saw Marcos Pizzelli deliver an early cross into the Luxembourg
area. Edgar Manucharyan took advantage of the acres of space afforded
him as the Luxembourg defense seemed all at sea. Manucharyan ran from
the top of the box unopposed and met the ball perfectly, guiding
a header to the bottom corner of the net. The match was all square
entering half time.

Armenia looked to take the early initiative in the second half. Aras
Ozbiliz was looking lively down the right and was denied a goal by
Jonathon Joubert in the Luxembourg net after a run and shot was beaten
away. The follow-up attempt from Aras was also cleared to safety. The
pressure was beginning to tell as the Luxembourg players scrambled to
deny Armenia space and clog the middle of the park. Luxembourg gave
away plenty of free kicks in dangerous areas but Armenia was unable
to capitalize.

The finishing in front of goal was also rusty. This could be put down
to the pitch or it being the first match of the year. Marcos Pizzelli
found himself in a glorious position yards from the Luxembourg goal
following a neat exchange at the edge of the box. Joubert was sharp
yet again, closing the angle and denying Pizzelli a certain goal.

Later on, debutant Aslanyan also found himself with a clear sight of
goal. He opened his body towards the goal in an attempt to curl the
ball home but he snatched at the chance and skied the ball into the
stands. For all their dominance, Armenia was still susceptible to the
counter attack. Luxembourg also threatened to score as the half wore
on. Luxembourg’s U21 striker David Turpel came close on one occasion
and Da Mota was also in the mix late-on but Berezovsky stood firm.

Although the result may not be desirable, the performance was
workmanlike and the match was effectively an exercise in introducing
new players into the setup. Coach Minasyan is still tinkering with
his defense, and after this latest experiment he is one match closer
to knowing his best starting back-four.

As a debutant, Norayr Aslanyan played well, showing a desire for
touches by making himself available as an outlet on numerous occasions
following his introduction. Artem Khatchaturov is also a key addition
to the squad. His size and aerial ability are skills that Armenia
needs as they look to improve their defending under the high ball.

Assuming he works his way into the side, it will be important to
be partnered in central defense by a player that compliment what
Khatchaturov brings to the table. There is still plenty of work to
be done and plenty of questions that still need answering. Up next
for Armenia is a match versus Turkmenistan on March 22, followed by
the much sterner test from the Czech Republic’s visit to Yerevan on
March 26.

Armenia: R. Berezovsky, J. Hambardzumyan (46′ Artak Yedigaryan), R.

Arzumanyan (88′ T. Voskanian), A. Khatchaturov (YC)(80′ H. Mkoyan), K.

Hovhannisyan, K. Muradyan (78′ K. Lazarian), H. Mkhitaryan, A.

Ozbiliz, M Pizzelli, G. Ghazaryan (61′ N. Aslanyan), E. Manucharyan
(72′ A. Sarkisov)

Manager: V. Minasyan

Luxembourg: J. Joubert, C. Philipps, E. Hoffmann, T Schnell, G.

Bettmer (56′ D. Turpel), L. Jans (YC), M. Janisch, M. Mutsch (23′ R.

Peters), T. Laterza (63′ M. Martino), A. Joachim (G. Blaise), D. Da
Mota (84′ D. Collette)

Manager: Luc Holtz

From: Baghdasarian