Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

NEWS ABOUT WOUNDED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER BY ARMENIAN SIDE IS A REGULAR LIE

15:11, 5 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense
Army units continue to maintain the ceasefire regime. NKR Defense Army
press secretary Senor Hasratyan dwelled on the information issued
by Azerbaijani “APA” agency as if Azerbaijani 20 year old soldier
was wounded as a result of ceasefire violation by Armenian side,
Armenpress reports.

According to Hasratyan the widespread information is fake and
reportedly does not meet the reality. 20 year old Shahmar Shahlar
Oglu Dasmedirov serving in Azerbaijani Defense Ministry unit deployed
in Nagorno Karabakh Republic neighboring Aghdam district got a gun
shot and was taken to hospital. Deputy press secretary of Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry Teymur Abdullayev confirmed the fact stating as if
the soldier was wounded by “Armenian side due to border violation”.

Shahmar Dashmedirov was enrolled from Khachmaz district populated by
Lezgian people.

From: Baghdasarian

TV SERIES: CONTENT AND SCOPE

04.02.2013

Sona Manusyan
Expert at the Center for Information Studies, “Noravank” Foundation,
PhD (Psychology)
Diana Galstyan
Expert at the Center for Information Studies, “Noravank” Foundation

The TV series has thus taken a root in the activity of the TV companies
and in the life of the TV viewers that it is inevitable not to turn
our attention specifically to them while scrutinizing the problems
of the TV content. In terms of both TV scope and discussion of the
professional problems of the broadcasting the TV series are among
the first. The issues of undesirable axiological and behavioral
influences are discussed, thus underlining random factors caused by
either purposeful or non-professional actions. TV series of local (and
not only local) production cause concern by spreading inauspicious
ideas, vocabulary and way of talking, presenting malicious modules
of intra-family and intra-personal relationship and shallow heroes,
habituating society to crimes and vicious behavior. One of the
sociologists1 said: “TV series cannot but reflect the reality
but it does not mean that all the deputies are criminals. And the
relationships shown become a rule. You rather turn to an underworld
leader than to police. This causes change of values”. Despite the
criticism in address of the TV series they became a dominant way of
spending leisure time and in this aspect they are high in ratings. In
the report of the Public Television Board on the activity of the
Public Television for 2011, taking as grounds the rating figures
presented by “Telemediacontrol” Company, it is mentioned that
“in 2011 “Anna 2” and “School of Angels” TV series were among top
10 TV programmes which had the biggest audience on the Armenian
TV… “Anna 2″ had the biggest audience on the Armenian TV in 2011”
2. At the same time in the aforementioned report in the aspect of
the distribution of the scope of the TV prgrammes the TV series were
not presented separately, thus being united in “Cultural programmes
(including films)” thematic direction, which received impressing 31%
of the TV scope. The advantage of the high ratings of the TV series and
at the same time public criticism of their quality cause a situation
when in order to gain advantage TV companies can, on the one hand,
underline the weight of the series and, on the other hand, avoid it.

The “race” of the homemade TV series has begun between the Armenian
TV channels; the TV viewing grid is filled with the TV series which
are repeated several times. As a matter of fact the main “burden” of
leveling, typifying, value spreading function of the TV falls on them.

In Russia the bases of TV viewing grid also consists of the homemade
TV series – 4 of 5 hours of prime-time (19:00-24:00) are allotted
to TV series3. Today the TV series “boom” is inherent in all the
countries with developed TV companies and their list is topped by
Russia4. In case with the latter the timeline of the TV series watched
every day constitute unprecedented 4 hours, thus covering most of the
daily television viewing. In other words in the aspect of tendency
“we are not alone”. Hence, from the point of view of ideology and
values the availability or even their abundance is not a problem;
by saying TV series we can understand production of very different
quality and meant for different audience – from popular soap operas
to historical or detective series; from cheap TV series with cheap
cast to some projects abroad which can lay claim to be a works of art.

The monitoring of programmes in the prime-time (18:00-24:00) on the TV
channels (H1, “Shoghakat”, “Yerkir Media”, “Kentron”) carried out in
November 20115 allows to see the specific weight and content of the TV
series. In the aspect of the broadcasting time given to the TV series
H1 takes leading positions (25.8%) thus turning the main orientation
of the Public TV into an entertaining one. Let us also mention that
against the background of the abundance of the TV series, the scarcity
of the feature film stands out (4.1%). One-genre homemade TV series
which demonstrate hard lot of people (the leading characters of the
stories live in bad conditions, they are disdained by “authoritative”,
wealthy people, they are often powerless in front of quirks of fate)
are shown. Among these TV series are “Sweet Life”, “Anna 2”, “Carousel
of Life”, “School of Angels”. “Shoghakat” is the second among the TV
channels broadcasting TV series in prime-time (16.4%). Hence, here the
genre and orientation of the series cardinally differ – “Dr. Zhivago”,
“Odyssey”, “Commissar Megre” and “Roman Mysteries”. Over the same
period “Kentron” channel broadcasted Russian “Doctor Tirsa” TV series
(6.1% of prime-time). “Yerkir Media” assigned 10.3% of its prime-time
for TV series (“The Iron Empress”). According to the representative of
the TV channel while choosing TV series they are guided by the goal of
showing honest human relations and models to emulate, thus differing
from other TV channels. Of course some differences between the TV
channels in the aspect of the ideological “profile”, orientation
of the TV series shown can be observed, but not to the extent as
it is in Russia. For example, “Rossia” TV channel specializes in
patriotic series while CTC – in comedies, etc. And at the same time,
TV companies there, in order not to lose their ratings and advertisers,
avoid going beyond their ideological scope6.

And today in Armenia, generally speaking, homemade, “being written in
the process of filming” “unhappy” series with inconsistent scripts
prevail. Thus, conforming by the social type of their heroes only
with some part of our society they are, nevertheless, imposed on
the rest of the audience. As one of the media-experts said: “… if
2-years long unhappy family life of Anna is inherent to 2 or even
10% of the Armenian families, they have no right to impose it to all
the families”. In this aspect there is some craft in the arguments
of the TV channels’ representatives that they are taking as a ground
the demand of the audience. It would be appropriate to say that they
do not want to listen to other demands.

Unlike local picture the international experience allows seeing that
TV series can be interesting for progressive and educated TV viewer
and compete with full-length films in terms of direction, camera work,
plot and cast. Such TV series as “House M.D.”, “Mad Men” successfully
suggest new subjects of thought and new heroes. Even more, young
people, identifying themselves with the hero chose the profession of
doctor. “This is contradictory hero; he is neither typically positive
nor typically negative as the hero should be in our times when many
usual values are disputed”, – says A. Akopov7.

This allows prejudicing the widespread line of criticism according
to which TV series suggest alien values and behavior. We can mention
with sore heart that today’s TV production is “closed” in the bad
sense and insensible towards the world; it cannot “import” the
approaches which could promote the development of the society. The
TV series cause problems first of all due to the fact that they put
into circulation anachronistic behavior and subjects (as well as
plots without subject). They rather reproduce yesterday than today
and they are shifted to our days by being played in front of a new
generation. For example, though today the type of “nouveau riches”,
“criminal authorities”, “underworld leaders” are not as topical as
they were 10 years ago, today “wealthy” “good guys” from TV series
are artificially shifted to our period and make apprehend it as
prevailing picture. In this aspect out situation is similar to the
model of many Russian TV series where residual Soviet phenomena are
presented in hyperbolized way and they are presented as “preserved”
characters. According to the film critic D. Dondurey, “almost all the
heroes of the Russian TV series are victims of circumstances who are
passive in the issue of choosing their destiny”8, and this is also
a characteristic feature of the Armenian TV series. The script does
not allow raising new questions, creating new dynamic characters
(not only for today but for tomorrow either) that face new challenges.

Of course the audience and its culture also matters. Today due to the
availability of Internet and satellite TV there is an alternative in
the form of qualitative TV series but for the Armenian TV viewer the
homemade TV series are more influential. Unlike foreign TV series the
heroes live in the same city where they live, speak the same language,
wear similar clothes, they appear in the situation a common viewer may
appear in, and episodes are shot in the familiar places. That is the
reason why the viewer easier identifies himself with the heroes of
these series, thus considering himself as “a part” of that reality,
and takes the condition of the heroes as something very close to them.

The solutions offered by the heroes of TV series are, particularly,
taken by young people as a means of handling their own problems. In
addition, every TV channel turns the actors, playing in their
TV series, into public figures around which they build their
broadcasting. For example, many of those actors work as TV-presenters,
the others often become their guests; every piece of information
connected with these actors – their birthdays, weddings, etc. –
is broadly covered.

Simply speaking, the TV series cannot but exist. All over the world
they have turned into the main income item for the TV companies and
losing it may become an obstacle on the way of general development
of TV companies and of preparing the programmes of other formats.

Besides, people have almost got addicted to this format, partially
because the film watching audience moved from the cinemas to their
homes in front of wide flat screens. Taking into consideration the
importance of the TV series both for audience and producers, one
should also speak rather about qualitative changes, professionalism,
genre diversity, as well as becoming more sensitive to the needs of
different audiences than about their abolishment.

According to some opinions, the possibility of qualitative changes
of the TV series is in direct proportion to the production prices and
accumulated revenues, i.e. the economic factor is decisive.: “Only when
the prices will approach the western prices then the changes in quality
can be observed”, – said V.Ryashin9. According to some other points
of view, the main reason is rather the ideological crisis than the
lack of money. Today in Russia, just like in western countries, they
take into consideration the viewer, thus trying to make investments,
carry out studies on preferences of the audience, make the TV series
more targeted and substantial. In Armenia it is not even discussed yet:
the TV production and viewer are considered to deserve each other. The
low quality of TV series is explained by the level or simply the demand
of the viewer. “TV series have demand. We form an opinion based on the
phone calls, And there are plenty of phone calls”, – said the Head of
the Films Department of the Armenian Public TV R.Avetisyan10. In the
opinion of one of the experts we questioned: “The TV channels follow
the stereotype approaches, dated schemes. They shoot TV series at low
prices and offer it to the TV viewers, thus thinking it will provide
their rating. Today there are different research organizations which
deal with the ratings of the TV series, programmes, but there is,
in my opinion, some kind of fraud. Of course if you broadcast some
show in prime-time people will watch it more. In order to find out real
rating of TV series it is necessary to broadcast them at other point of
time instead of prime-time and see whether people watch them or not”.

Thus, eventually, the policy of broadcasting and target audience are
decided by the TV channel.

1 The results of the expert poll carried out within the framework
of “Study of the Ideologemes of the Information Space in the RA”
research programme (grant program of the State Committee of Science
of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia).

2
veraberyal.doc, Õ§Õ” 21O~I

3 Ð~оÑ~AкаДенко Ð~[., ”РейÑ~Bинги вмеÑ~AÑ~Bо
Ñ~AмÑ~KÑ~AДа” // ”ЭкÑ~AпеÑ~@Ñ~B”, # 38(820), 2012.

4 Ibid.

5 We considered and grouped by subject TV programmes broadcasted
by 4 TV channels in prime-time (18:00-24:00) in November 2011. The
monitoring was executed within the framework of “Study of the
“Ideologemes of the Information Space in the RA” research programme

6 Ð~оÑ~AкаДенко Ð~[., ”РейÑ~Bинги вмеÑ~AÑ~Bо
Ñ~AмÑ~KÑ~AДа” // ”ЭкÑ~AпеÑ~@Ñ~B”, # 38(820), 2012.

7 Ibid, p. 20O~I

8 Ibid, p. 21

9 Ibid, p. 23

10 http://95.140.203.201/h1/pages/viewhistory/page/copyrightfilms

“Globus” analytical journal, #1, 2013

Another materials of author DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND
CREATIVITY IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROSPECT[27.10.2011] SPECIFIC
SITUATION OF THE AZERBAIJANI ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA[14.10.2010]
ISSUES OF NATIONAL IDENTITY PRESERVATION IN THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA:
SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE[08.06.2010]

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PREMIER: RUSSIA INTERESTED IN STRONG ALLIED ARMENIA IN CAUCASUS

YEREVAN, February 4. /ARKA/. Russia is interested to see Armenia as
its strong ally in the Caucasus, Armenian premier Tigran Sargsyan
said in his interview to Moskovskiye Novosti.

Sargsyan mentioned that Russia has leading positions in terms of
investments in Armenia’s economy, “not to mention about the cooperation
in the military field”.

According to Sargsyan, today Armenia-Russia relationship is a
counteraction of allies that is firmly based on historically close
relations of the two countries

“The special feature of the relations is that we see no problems in
them. Issues occur from time to time and are solved bilaterally. What
is very important is that the hystorically-formed relations between
our peoples are valued and passed from one generation to the next.
That is why our relations are of comprehensive nature”, Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan said it is difficult to single out any priority or priorities
in the cooperation.

“However, recently the issues of security and our joint responsibility
for the future have been coming to the fore” Armenian premier said
adding that another priority is the format of economic cooperation
where Armenia may cooperate with Russia while having strong positions.
-0-

From: Baghdasarian

HAYRIKYAN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WAS A CHALLENGE WE SHOULD COME OUT MORE STRENGTHENED AND UNITED: SERZH SARGSYAN

13:59, 4 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Presidential candidate Serzh
Sargsyan in the frame of his pre- election campaign had a meeting with
Ararat province residents on February 4. During the meeting with Masis
habitants Serzh Sargsyan first touched upon Paruyr Hayrikyan incident,
Armenpress reports.

Presidential candidate expressed his gratitude refer to Hayrikyan’s
speedy recovery. “Villainous crime, targeted not against Hayrikyan
candidate, but Armenian statehood and the progress the country
registered. Each of us should acknowledge its obligations. We must
continue to work in an uninterrupted way, because the crime was
seeking to hinder the smooth election procedure. I am sure jointly
with our citizens we will not endure it” Sargsyan noted.

“Hayrikyan assassination attempt was a challenge we should revive
more strengthened and united way and reportedly accumulate experience.

Constitution of the Republic of Armenia must act under this situation.

Serzh Sargsyan assures all processes are in line with the letter
and spirit of the Constitution. Presidential candidate states he is
going to walk over large and small cities, listen to the people and
present our perceptions refer to safe Armenia and the pre- election
pledges.We are well aware of the problems Masis town residents are
facing. There are no issues that cannot be resolved. Serzh Sargsyan
is scheduled to have meetings with voters of Vedi, Ararat and Artashat.

Presidential candidate has already had meetings with Syunik, Vayots
Dzor, Tavush, Lori province electorate.

From: Baghdasarian

LEVON BABUJYAN BECOMES RAPID CHESS CHAMPION OF ARMENIA

February 3

YEREVAN. – Grandmaster (GM) Levon Babujyan tallied a total of 7.5
points, out of a possible 8, and captured the title of Armenian Rapid
Champion 2013 at the championship that was held in capital city
Yerevan.

A total of 24 chess players, including GMs Tigran Petrosian-who is the
reigning champion-Zaven Andriasian, Arsen Yeghiazarian, Levon
Babujyan, and Gevorg Harutyunyan, were competing for the champion’s
title.

NEWS.am Sport

From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIA INTERESTED IN HAVING STRONG ALLY, REPRESENTED BY ARMENIA, IN CAUCASUS – PM SARGSYAN

NEWS.AM
February 04, 2013 | 12:07

Armenia is interested in the integration processes within the CIS
expanse, and it stands ready to stimulate them because Russia is our
strategic ally and it has a huge and promising market. Armenia’s
Premier Tigran Sargsyan said this, in an interview with Moskovskiye
Novosti daily of Russia, responding to the query as to whether Armenia
could become a Customs Union member, in the case when it does not
border Russia.

“The peculiarity of Armenia lies [on the fact] that our economy
differs from the structure of the Customs Union countries, where there
are considerable energy resources and a policy of protecting domestic
producers is conducted-but by way of very high customs [tax] rates.

Overall, the [customs] duties are double than in Armenia. Armenia is
one of the first CIS countries to become a World Trade Organization
member, and this brings a particular feature to our relations with the
Customs Union,” the PM noted.

Sargsyan stated that, considering the historical commonalities between
the Armenian and the Russian people, the bilateral ties are at the
level of strategic interaction.

“We observe that Russia is interested in having a strong ally,
represented by Armenia, in the Caucasus. Russia takes first place in
the investments into our economy; [here we are not] even speaking
about the cooperation in the military sector,” Armenia’s PM stated.

From: Baghdasarian

“HELP YOUR BROTHER” TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS TO 500 SYRIAN-ARMENIAN FAMILIES

09:40, 5 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. “Help Your Brother” Civil
Initiative will distribute provisions to over 500 Syrian-Armenian
families settled in Armenia. The Coordinator of “Help Your Brother”
Civil Initiative Vardan Vardanyan stated this in a conversation with
“Armenpress”. Vardan Vardanyan noted: “About 12-13 tones of provisions
will be distributed to 500 Syrian-Armenian families settled in
Armenia from February 6 to February 8. The Armenian Christian Medical
Association granted the aid.” In addition he mentioned that they also
will send provisions to about 50 Syrian-Armenian families in Artsakh.

The families have already been listed. The Coordinator of “Help Your
Brother” Civil Initiative Vardan Vardanyan underscored: “There are
vegetable oil, sausages, sugar, rise, bean, green peas and other food
in the provisions.” Notwithstanding Vardan Vardanyan stressed that
each family will get a separate parcel.

“Help Your Brother” Civil Initiative launched on September 18. Clashes
in Syria had evidently tragic consequences for both the Syrian people
and our compatriots as well. The war caused a lot of casualties to
the local population and it still has a devastating impact for the
Armenian community in Syria, which is one of the most vivid communities
of the Armenian Diaspora.

From: Baghdasarian

LES MINORITES VEULENT LES MEMES DROITS QUE LES MUSULMANS EN TURQUIE

Les communautes non musulmanes en Turquie ont demande aux services
municipaux et de l’Etat des services funeraires semblables aux services
offerts aux citoyens musulmans du pays.

Les municipalites ne fournissent que les citoyens non musulmans avec
des services gratuits tels que l’allocation d’un char funèbre. Une
parcelle cimetière coûte peu d’argent pour les musulmans dans les
installations municipales, tandis qu’une parcelle dans les cimetières
des minorites qui ont des espaces limites peut coûter une fortune.

S’exprimant dans le journal Hurriyet, les autorites de la direction
des cimetières de la municipalite d’Istanbul ont declare que meme
s’ils savent que le coût des tombes et des ceremonies funeraires pour
les citoyens non-musulmans sont très eleves, ils n’interviennent pas.

” Un [non-musulman] organise des funerailles, conformement a sa
religion et ses traditions. Nous n’intervenons pas avec eux car
nous ne sommes pas habitues a leurs traditions et ceremonies. Sauf
si elles prouvent leur conversion a l’Islam avec des temoins alors
nous pourrons faire leurs funerailles ” a dit un fonctionnaire.

Garo Paylan, qui est membre du Conseil d’administration de l’Ecole
armenienne Yeþilkoy a declare que les exigences d’une citoyennete egale
doivent etre mises en ~uvre. ” La Direction des affaires religieuses
pourraient affecter des fonds, qui seraient transmis aux proprietaires
des maisons funeraires a travers le patriarcat ” a dit Garo Paylan.

Yeznik Bahcevanoglu, proprietaire d’une compagnie qui organise
des funerailles pour les non-musulmans, a declare que le coût des
funerailles varie de 2000 a 8000 livres turques, ajoutant que les prix
peuvent varier et augmenter selon la compagnie. Lorsqu’on l’interroge
sur les politiques de prix, M.Bahcevanoglu dit que les prix etaient
determines en fonction des classes des parcelles.

” Il y a un prix donne par le patriarcat, mais le prix augmente
beaucoup quand les autres frais tels que les avis de decès et les
cercueils sont ajoutes. Si la Direction des affaires religieuses
pouvaient affecter des ressources, les prix ne seraient pas si eleves ”
a dit Bahcevanoglu ajoutant que certaines compagnies peuvent exploiter
leurs clients.

mardi 5 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

CE SOIR ARMENIE-LUXEMBOURG A VALENCE (DRAME)-PHOTOS

Ce soir a 19h45 au stade Georges Pompidou de Valence l’equipe
nationale d’Armenie affronte le Luxembourg pour un match amical.

L’entraineur national armenien Vartan Minassian devant faire quelques
essais -et notamment avec trois nouveaux joueurs- avant le match
contre la Republique Tchèque le 26 mars a Erevan dans le cadre des
qualifications de la Coupe du Monde 2014. Vartan Minassian a donne
hier soir a 18 heures a l’hôtel Novotel de Valence une conference de
presse. Il s’est dit satisfait de son equipe et confie qu’il allait
proceder a quelques essais. Il a egalement affirme qu’il etait heureux
que ce match amical se deroule a Valence qui compte une très forte
communaute armenienne et où a passe plusieurs annees le joueur Henrikh
Mekhitarian sont le père, Hamlet Mekhitarian evoluait au sein du club
armenien local l’USJOA (Union Sportive des Jeunes d’Origine
Armenienne) de Valence. A 19 heures, l’equipe d’Armenie a procede a
son deuxième entraînement au stade Georges Pompidou. Plus d’une
centaine de supporters Armeniens avaient envahi les tribunes pour
suivre cet entraînement. Ils encourageaient les joueurs de la
selection armenienne. A noter la presence de Roupen Haïrabedian, le
president de la Federation armenienne de football ainsi que son
homologue du Haut Karabagh, Samvel Garabedian, egalement vice-ministre
de la Defense du Haut Karabagh. Hovannès Guevorguian, representant de
la Republique du Haut Karabagh en France accompagnait Samvel
Garabedian.

Krikor Amirzayan-Valence

Photo-reportage Aharon Boyadjian et Krikor Amirzayan a Valence

mardi 5 fevrier 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CONSULTATIONS ON FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAMMING HELD

Monday 4 February 2013 15:47
Photo: Photolure

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian-Russian consultations on foreign policy
programming were held in Moscow.

“The opinion exchange on a broad range of international and regional
issues was held in warm and friendly atmosphere peculiar to allied
Armenian-Russian relations. As a result, it was registered that the
assessments of the sides on development of international trends either
coincide or are closer”, the press release of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry reads this.

From: Baghdasarian