Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

LOCAL GROUP CONCERNED THAT FOREIGN COMPANIES ARE ASSISTING CANDIDATES IN KAPAN ELECTION

hetq
11:13, August 29, 2012

To Dundee Precious Metals Company
To Deno Gold Mining Company

Two candidates are running in the September 9 election for mayor of
Kapan: Artur Atayan from the ARF and Ashot Hayrapetyan, a member of
the Republican Party of Armenia.

We are deeply concerned that foreign companies are playing a role in
local Kapan politics.

On September 2, during the campaign of ARF member Artur Atayan
and Kapan’s Deno Gold Mining Co., a subsidiary of Canada’s ‘Dundee
Precious Metals, are organizing a concert with the participation of
Tata Simonyan.

We are not worried that Artur Atayan is organizing a concert with
the participation of Tata Simonyan (this is the accepted trick of the
campaign), but we think it is unacceptable in this stage that a foreign
company or foreigner is financially assisting a local candidate.

The “Kapan Residents Determine Their Own Future” initiative strongly
urges the administration of the Kapan Deno Gold Mining Company to
refrain from any form of financial or other support to any candidate.

Otherwise, we will view it as a state, national security problem.

Kapan Residents Determine Their Own Future”

From: Baghdasarian

BORDER VILLAGE AYGEHOVIT RESIDENTS DO NOT AFRAID OF WAR, YET DREAM OF PEACE

ARMENPRESS
30 August, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: Rival’s regular shootings distort the
ordinary life of border village Aygehovit peasants who wake up in the
morning with vague hope towards the upcoming day.In an open hearted
conversation with Armenpress, the villagers’ concerns varied. Worried
grandma is much afraid about the safety of children pertain the
starting of this academic year. Village school often becomes an arena
of shootings: their anxiety is not groundless . Village adult male
representatives in their turn assure they do not afraid of breaking
a war, yet they are longing for the peace. Azerbaijan does not care
for its soldiers; whether soldier life is most precious for Armenian.

Ayhehovit village head assistant Henrik Hovsepyan told in the briefing
with Armenpress, the shootings are mostly registered in the line of
the border, mostly in the nearby territories of Kayanavan residency
conditioned by its location . There the village has got 670 hectares of
land, which have become inapplicable due to closeness with Azerbaijani
border.

The facts come to prove Azerbaijani shootings have become more
regular. Armenian Defense Ministry General Staff representative
Andranik Mkrtumyan informs cease fire violations by the opponent keep
escalating. In his words in comparison with 2011 data 12 thousand
700 cases of cease fire violations have been registered in the entire
line of the line of the contact, whether Azerbaijani side has already
violated 12 thousand times current year: Armenian side gave counter
response in case of 1200 shootings only.

From: Baghdasarian

CONGRESSMEN BERMAN AND SHERMAN TO FACE OFF IN ANCA-WR DEBATE

armradio.am
30.08.2012 11:05

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR)
will be hosting a debate between Congressman Howard Berman and
Congressman Brad Sherman on September 29 at Ferrahian High School’s
Avedissian Hall in Encino. The two congressmen, engaged in the most
closely watched congressional election in the country, will be facing
off at the epicenter of the Armenian community in the San Fernando
Valley.

In 2011, after an extensive evaluation process in which the ANCA-WR
participated, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission
released the new maps, revealing that the new district was composed
of large swaths of each congressman’s old district. With the decision
by both to run in the newly redrawn 30th District, the two longtime
congressmen and their respective campaigns for reelection have become
the focus of nationwide election coverage. In the blockbuster battle,
the Armenian-American community can provide the swing vote that
decides the election.

“There is no doubt about the large role that our community plays in
the San Fernando Valley,” said ANCA-WR Co-Chair Chris Guldjian. “And,
being a part of the greater Valley community, our organization wanted
to provide a venue where issues important to all local constituents
could be discussed.”

The candidates will be asked an array of questions ranging on topics
from domestic issues affecting local Valley residents to foreign
policy concerns.

ANCA – San Fernando Valley West Chairman Nareg Kitsinian commented,
“Both congressmen have been great friends of our community and it’s
going to be a difficult decision for everyone on Election Day. We’re
hoping this debate will help in leading us in the right direction.”

From: Baghdasarian

CHURCH ASKS CHRISTIANS IN FEAR TO STAY IN SYRIA

Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 30 2012
Turkey

Syriac clerics call on Christians in Middle East, especially those in
Syria, to avoid leaving their homelands amid harsh violence. Justice
in Syria can only be achieved by meaningful dialogue between all
belligerent elements, they say

Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of his weekly audience from his
summer residence in Rome. Pope will attend a meeting in Lebanon on
September in which all the Christian spiritual leaders in the Middle
East are expected to attend. REUTERS photo

Vercihan [email protected]

The Syriac Orthodox Kadim Patriarchate Synod in Damascus called
on Christians not to leave the Middle East after a meeting the
on escalating tensions in the region ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s
critical visit to Lebanon.

The Syriac Orthodox Kadim Patriarchate Synod met Aug. 24 to discuss
current high tensions in the Middle East and the condition of Christian
communities within the region.

“We refuse all kind of immigration as a response to the recent crisis
in the Middle East and strongly condemn all propagators, instigators
and provocateurs who call to Middle Eastern Christians to migrate,”
the second provision of a seven-provision declaration read. The
declaration, which was issued with the signature of H.E. Mor Gregorios
Yuhanna Ibrahim, metropolitan of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of
Aleppo, will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to
Lebanon in September.

The Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches in Turkey also
backed the call for Christians to stay put. Heybeliada Halki Seminary
Archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa Elpidophoros Lambriniadis said
the Fener Greek Patriarchate also announced a similar declaration on
their official website though it does not clearly mention the Middle
East. Lambriniadis said they supported the declaration and added that
it was very important for Christians to remain in the region.

“Above all, it should not be forgotten that the Middle East is
the place where Christianity was born. So it has a great spiritual
importance,” Lambriniadis said. Likewise, acting Patriarch Archbishop
Aram AteÅ~_yan, the religious leader of Turkish Armenians, outlined
the importance of Christians staying in the Middle East. “If they
presented the declaration to us, we would also support it without
hesitation,” AteÅ~_yan said.

Accepting the other

Pope Benedict XVI will attend a meeting called the “Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of
the Synod of Bishops” in early September as part of a program that was
arranged last year. All the Christian spiritual leaders in the Middle
East are expected to attend the meeting and discuss the situation
Christians in the region are currently facing, especially in Syria.

“We reiterate our convection and belief that the only path to
achieving justice, peace and the rebuilding of our homeland is
through the love, co-operation and accepting of the other,” the
declaration read. “This can only be achieved by constructive and
meaningful dialogue between all belligerent elements of our country,”
the sixth provision of the declaration read. Christians constitute
10 percent of the population in Syria. However, Armenians, Syriacs,
Chaldeans, Arameans and Greeks are leaving Syria due to the high
tension prevailing in the country. Members of Syria’s Armenian
community who have fled to Armenia due to the ongoing violence in
Syria fear the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood may seize power
there if the regime falls. “If the Muslim Brotherhood takes over in
Syria all Christians will have to leave the country,” said Narbey N.,
a Syrian Armenian who recently fled to Armenia.

Refrain from violence

The fifth provision of the declaration addresses all people in Syria
and the Middle East. “We call on all people with conscience to refrain
from all types of violence against their fellow human beings. We also
call for meaningful reform and to stand by and enable law and order,
justice and peace,” the provision read. The seventh provision calls on
peace advocates and humanitarian organizations from all over the world.

“We urge all peace lovers and humanitarian organizations to seriously
endeavor to provide all possible means of humanitarian and medical
relief to those innocent Syrians who were caught in the vicious spiral
of violence, badly affected, displaced by the current conflict and
underwent internal and external relocation and emigrations. They are
currently suffering an unprecedented harsh summer temperature and
expected to endure severe winter conditions,” the provision read.

Before the patriarchate’s declaration Syriac, Assyrian and Chaldean
intellectuals from all over the world also issued a statement in July
about the Christians latest situation in the region.

From: Baghdasarian

SHADOW ECONOMY IN ARMENIA

The Messenger
Aug 29 2012
Georgia

Armenian analyst Ruben Grdzelian thinks a substantial part of Armenia’s
economy is in the shadow. It is very difficult to change anything
because strong political clans are using umbrellas to cover such
businesses. Attempts to improve the economic situation in the country
such as regulating taxes are due to failure. Unfortunately for the
country’s economy the system is an absolute failure. Grdzelian stated
that the system is very difficult to change. He also commented on the
huge financial resources transferred abroad to the offshore zones
by different high-position political figures. Based on the expert
evaluation, Grdzeliani thinks that Armenia’s shadow economy is almost
equal to the country’s current budgetary revenue. It means that in
reality the country’s budget could be double. Meanwhile Armenia hopes
to receive foreign loans either from the EU or from Russia.

From: Baghdasarian

RAMKAVAR-AZATAKAN PARTY MEETS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

news.am
August 29, 2012 | 20:10

YEREVAN. – The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received on
Wednesday the Ramkavar-Azatakan democratic liberal party (RAK)
representatives headed by the Board Chairman Hakob Avetikian. The
RAK, which was officially registered recently and considers being
the legal follower of the Armenian Ramkavar-Azatakan Party and the
Armenakan-RAK, presented to the President the upcoming projects of the
party, claimed about running an active political campaign, as well as
intended to see the unity of the RAK in Diaspora, presidential press
service reports. The sides also expressed their concern regarding the
Syrian-Armenians’ situation and submitted offers on their support. The
RAK representatives also stated that the party decided to run an active
political campaign, to participate in the local self-governmental
and general elections. They have already nominated candidates for
the upcoming local elections.

From: Baghdasarian

DERENIK DUMANYAN INVITED ARGENTINEAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
28 August, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS: The Minister of Health of the
Republic of Armenia Derenik Dumanyan received Argentinean Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diego Ernesto Alvarez Rivera to
Armenia. As Ministry of Health told Armenpress, Derenik Dumanyan
welcoming the Ambassador stated the cooperation between two countries’
Ministries of Health dates for ages. Still 1998 an agreement was
signed between Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of the Republic of Argentina
aimed at cooperation expansion in many spheres.

“FIDEC Armenia foundation established by the initiative of Argentinean
Armenian known Doctor Daniel Stambulyan launched three programs in
Tavush Province. Yet the cooperation frame is expected to expand. I
guess this meeting will open new perspectives in this direction”Derenik
Dumanyan stated. Diego Ernesto Alvarez Rivera underscored he has
studied all the spheres where Armenia and Argentina can cooperate
with. Health sector has garve potential to deepen the cooperation
between the two countries. The top ranking diplomat expressed readiness
to become link between the two Ministries directed to implementation of
the programs. Minister Dumanyan conveyed an invitation to Argentinean
Minister of Health and Social Affairs through Ambassador to jointly
discuss cooperation programs. Ambassador promised to transfer the
invitation and in his turn expressed hope the launched meeting will
lay the foundation of effective partnership.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PM MEETS ORANGE ARMENIA’S NEW HEAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 28, 2012 – 18:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met with
the delegation headed by Executive Vice President of Europe for France
Telecom-Orange Benoit Scheen.

Prime Minister Sargsyan noted that the company’s entry to the Armenian
market intensified the competition and boosted the quality of the
services provided.

Mr. Scheen, in turn, said the company aims to continue investments
in Armenia, increasing the number of high-quality services.

He introduced the new CEO of Orange Armenia Francis Gelibter, who
will replace Bruno Duthoit on the post.

The parties further discussed issues related to Internet development
in the country and possibility of introduction of Armenian keyboard.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM OF AMERICA TO HOST SYMPOSIUM ON ‘ARMENIANS AND THE BOOK’

Panorama.am
28/08/2012

The Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard University, the
Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA), the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (ACF) and the National Association for Armenian Studies
and Research (NAASR) will present “The Armenians and the Book,” a
one-day symposium, on Saturday, September 15, Armenian Mirror-Spectator
reported.

The symposium will be held in ALMA’s Contemporary Art Gallery.

The symposium is being held in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition,
“The Armenians and the Book,” organized and sponsored by Russell,
Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies and the above listed
organizations as well as the Armenian programs of Tufts University
and Boston University.

“The Armenians and the Book” contains items drawn from the
collections of the participating organizations as well as local
private collections.

From: Baghdasarian

HAK’S VANADZOR HEAD: “THERE’S NO ONE IN THE MAYORAL RACE WE CAN SUPPORT”
Adrine Torosyan

hetq
12:44, August 28, 2012

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) is not fielding any candidate for
the upcoming mayoral election in Vanadzor, nor will it be supporting
any of those in the race.

Ashot Manoukyan, who heads the HAK office in Vanadzor, says that member
organizations can back anyone they like even though the HAK central
leadership sees no one in the race who shares its political views.

“We haven’t proposed our own candidate because our prior election
experiences in Vanadzor lead us to believe that true elections can’t
be expected,” Manoukyan told Hetq.

When asked if anything had changed during the 13 year tenure of Samvel
Darbinyan as Vanadzor mayor, Manoukyan answered, “Sure things have
changed. Just look at the goings and comigs on the streets. Two-thirds
of residents have left. Those who have stayed behind neither express
happiness or sadness. They just have blank stares. Our town is part
of the country as a whole and has been impacted similarly. When things
get bad overall, things go downhill here too.”

Manoukyan believes that regime change on a national level is the only
solution for Vanadzor.

“The number one guy at the top has to change. There is no other way.

Whoever wins in Vanadzor will only continue the political course of
the central leadership. We can’t expect anything to change and that’s
why we don’t support any of them,” argued Manoukyan.

HAK will be participating in the election for the Vanadzor Municipal
Council and has nominated five candidates.

Manoukyan says that the election of two or three will be considered
a serious victory for HAK and will allow the organization to fix some
of the shortcomings at the city level.

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From: Baghdasarian