Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Fuller Center partners with Marriott in Aragatsotn build

Published: Thursday August 16, 2012

At the Avetisyan home in the village of Ujan.

Yerevan – On August 11 Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan staff members
joined Fuller Center for Housing Armenia team in Aragatsotn region,
the village of Ujan helping the Avetisyan family of 4: building more
than a home, building hope, building a better future.

It was winter of 2011… the sight inside the house was miserable-
bare, grey walls, a room with an oven in the centre, two beds, a table
and a few chairs. It’s pointless even to speak about sanitary
conditions, no bathroom…But it was much more painful to learn that
even this one room with miserable conditions wasn’t their own. The
mother of the family, Larissa said that one of the villagers had given
them the room temporally to live till they could build the house of
their own. And for a very long time the family has been living with
the fear that one day they will be left even without that one room…

For Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan this already Annual Corporate Build
day has become a great team building opportunity, a good way of
maintaining strong employee environment and giving back to their
community – helping to eliminate poverty housing in Armenia.

“Every year we are all looking for this great opportunity to put our
efforts in helping families in need. This is really a wonderful way of
not only helping but seeing the results of it on the happy faces of
the family members” said the general manager of the Armenia Marriott
Hotel Yerevan Ami Miron.

“It has become a kind of dream to have a place to call HOME, where
nobody can ever tell us to leave”, said 12 year old family member
Anie. We can proudly say that thanks to our supporters very soon the
family will move to their new, decent home and the lovely girl will
forever forget that fear.

Marriott International, Inc., is a leading lodging company. Its
heritage can be traced to a root beer stand opened in Washington,
D.C., in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. Today, Marriott
International has more than 3,200 lodging properties located in the
United States and 66 other countries and territories.

For more information, please visit

The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is working to eliminate poverty
housing by providing long term, interest free loans and by assisting
with volunteers helping low-income families to build simple,
sustainable, affordable houses and renovate their houses. Up to now
199 families have been assisted, the construction of another 17 family
houses is in progress For more information, please visit

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA calls on Obama to meet with Armenian American community

tert.am
August 16, 2012 | 21:07

WASHINGTON, DC -The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
again called upon President Obama to meet with the broad-based
leadership of the Armenian American community, noting that his
failure, over the past three and a half years, to consult personally
with representatives of his Armenian American constituents – major
stakeholders in U.S. foreign policy on Armenian issues – is unhealthy
for both American democracy and U.S. diplomacy, ANCA reports.

To date, despite his January 2008 campaign promise of `active
engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues
of concern to the Armenian American community,’ the President has
failed to hold a single meeting with the community’s leadership.

The full text of the ANCA letter signed by Chairman Ken Hachikian is
provided below.

August 15, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C.20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to ask you, in the spirit of your campaign pledge to
actively engage with Armenian American leaders, to invite the
broad-based leadership of our community to a meeting with you to
discuss your Administration’s policies on Armenian issues.

As you know, the ANCA has, since the first months of your tenure,
regularly, publicly, and formally requested opportunities such as this
for you to communicate personally with Armenian American leaders. Such
a meeting, which, sadly, has yet to take place, would provide a
much-needed platform for an open exchange of views, allowing you to
hear directly about our concerns and disappointments as well as our
expectations and our hopes for the future. The absence of a direct
dialogue between you and your Armenian American constituents is
unhealthy both for our democracy as well as for our diplomacy.

Mr. President, given the attention that your Administration has
devoted to Armenian issues, and the time that you have personally
devoted to meeting with other stakeholders – including foreign
officials and domestic groups openly hostile to our community’s views
and values – we remain hopeful that you will choose not to end your
term in office without having held even a single official meeting with
Armenian American leaders.

Please accept our appreciation for your consideration of this, our
most recent request for a personal meeting with the broad-based
leadership of the Armenian American community.

Sincerely,

[signed]

Kenneth V. Hachikian

Chairman

From: Baghdasarian

Charles Aznavour had a meeting with Tbilisi Armenian Community

10:03, 16 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: World composer singer Charles Aznavour
arrived Georgia and had a meeting there with Tbilisi Armenian
community on August 15. As Armenpress reports citing Georgian
`’Rustavi 2”, French Armenian singer is set to partake in the opening
concert of `’Rabat” restored castle in Akhaltskha.
This is Aznavour’s third visit to Georgia, yet as visit initiator,
concert organizer Eastern Promotion company head Kakha Kandelaky told
Georgia Online, this is the first time world famous chansonnier is
going to come up with a concert.
Jazz performer Beka Gochaishvili is scheduled to open the concert
program on 20:00 pm, Aznavour concert is going to follow it 45
minutes later.
Big screens are installed in connection with his arrival, on which the
concert will be performed by live version. Georgian `’Rustavi 2” TV
channel will demonstrate a part of the concert by air live. Aznavour
arrived Georgia accompanied by 22 musicians. In accordance with the
agreement he will sing 1, 5 hours.
Aznavour’s concert due in Akhaltskha is not accidental; the singer’s
father was born here. His parents emigrated to France and had
intentions to leave for USA, however not getting visa, were forced to
stay in France.
Previous week Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili visited a newly
built `’Rabat” castle calling it the country’s cultural heritage
crown.
Viewed 286 times

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia to provide assistance to Iran

12:12, 16 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian will provide Iran which has
suffered from the earthquake with assistance of first importance equal
to 36 million AMD. Armenpress reports that Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan mentioned at the session of the Government on August
16: `We have discussed with our Iranian partners the issues of
providing with assistance of first importance’. In his words the
assistance and its transferring to Iran will be organized within two
days.

Deputy Minister of Emergency situations of Armenia Haykaram Mkhitaryan
told that among the assistance would be both real estate and water
preserves and other food products.

The strong earthquake hit Iran on August 11 at 16:23. The strength of
the earthquake in the epicenter was 9 magnitudes.

On occasion of ht disaster President and Prime Minister of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan and Tigran Sargsyan sent letters of condolences to
Iranian officials.

From: Baghdasarian

ITAR-TASS, Russia
August 14, 2012 Tuesday 06:41 PM GMT+4

Premier orders analysis of SSJ100 use by Armavia

MOSCOW August 14

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the Industry and
Trade Ministry and the Foreign Ministry jointly with the United
Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to analyze the use of Sukhoi Superjet 100
(SSJ100) commercial jetliner by the Armenian airline Armavia by
September 15, says a protocol of the Novosibirsk conference on
regional air passenger traffic published by the governmental press
office on Tuesday.

Earlier reports said that Armavia, the first user of SSJ100, planned
to stop flying that jetliner and to repeal the contract on buying the
second jet.

A market source said Armavia statements derived from its complex
financial position and aimed to get a discount price.

Armavia was supplied with the first SSJ100 in April 2011.

SSJ100 is a regional 100-seat plane designed and manufactured by
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft with the assistance of Alenia Aermacchi. The
jet’s flight range varies from 3,048 kilometers in the basic
modification to 4,578 kilometers. There are more than 170 orders for
the aircraft now.

From: Baghdasarian

Community Event in DC Focuses on Supporting Syrian Armenians

by Armenian Weekly
August 15, 2012

BETHESDA, Md. (A.W.) – Concerned community leaders, activists, and
members from throughout the Washington, DC area gathered at Soorp
Khatch Armenian Church Arabian Hall on Sunday Aug. 12 for an update on
the challenges facing Syria’s Armenian community and to explore ways
to help support the community and the welfare of individual Syrian
Armenians.

ARF Sebouh Gomideh leaders Hovsep Avakian and Vahe Tanashian discuss
the unfolding crisis facing the Syrian Armenian community.
The Washington ARF Sebouh Gomideh organized the event, which featured
remarks by local leaders Hovsep Avakian and Vahe Tanashian, who are in
close touch with the situation on the ground and are coordinating with
international efforts to help the Syrian Armenian community. Avakian
and Tanashian placed special emphasis on the need for assistance for
Syria’s Armenian schools, which will, amid the continuing turmoil in
Aleppo, Damascus, and other areas of Syria, face the challenge of
opening their doors to thousands of students in just a few weeks. They
spotlighted recent calls for humanitarian assistance by His Holiness
Aram I, Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia and efforts by the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS), and the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). Many attendees offered immediate financial assistance
for the ARS `Fund for Assistance to Syrian-Armenian Schools,’ in the
hopes of alleviating both the financial burden on needy
Syrian-Armenian families, and, at the same time, promoting the
continuity of the educational mission of the schools.

In response to questions about ANCA efforts to address the Syrian
Armenian community challenges, Communications Director Elizabeth
Chouldjian noted the organization’s efforts to secure language in the
U.S. House version of the 2013 Foreign Aid Appropriations Nill calling
for funds to be allocated for humanitarian and relocation assistance
for Armenians and other Christian minorities in Syria. The ANCA
continues to lead the grassroots effort to ensure inclusion of that
mandate along with the ongoing foreign aid priorities for Armenia,
Karabakh and Javakhk in a continuing resolution, likely to be acted
upon by Congress in the next two months.

The event was the first of several local updates and fundraising
opportunities planned to address the Syrian Armenian situation.

From: Baghdasarian

Lithuanian Ambassador Completing His Diplomatic Mission in Armenia

hetq
17:02, August 15, 2012

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania Giedrius Apuokas, who is completing
his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

`It is obvious that your work has had a serious impact on raising the
Lithuanian-Armenian relations to a new level, as well as on
strengthening them,’ Tigran Sargsyan said.

The two sides highly appreciated the implementation of joint projects
in, particularly, military, cultural and educational spheres and
expressed confidence that the cooperation will be continuous.

At the same time, the parties noted that the Armenian-Lithuanian trade
and economic relations are still on an unsatisfactory level, despite
the existing potential. Giedrius Apuokas informed that a few
Lithuanian companies are interested in cooperation with Armenian
partners in the field of information technologies. Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan and the Ambassador expressed hope that this interest
will result in additional investments in Armenia.

From: Baghdasarian

Earthquake epicenter near Yerevan may result in disaster, seismologist says

tert.am
14:13 – 15.08.12

The seismic activity in the region is interconnected, seismologist
Vladimir Balasanyan told Tert.am, speaking about the recent disastrous
earthquakes that hit the region.

The specialist said he does not know whether the seismic activity will
end by the occurred three earthquakes that hit Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Iran, or be followed by the fourth . In case the fourth quake strikes
Armenia, near the capital, in particular, the 80 percent of the total
residential fond will collapse. `It means we will face all-national
disaster and will not be able to `digest’ it,’ he said, adding that at
least one third of Armenia’s population is focused in the capital.

The expert said in spite of the wide-scale construction of elite
buildings in the capital, about 70-80 percent of buildings in Yerevan
are of the soviet era.

Asked to assess the seismic resistance of the new buildings, the
expert advised to apply to the Yerevan City Hall. Balasanyan said the
elite buildings in the capital are very dense. It is not only a
violation of urban development norms but safety norms as well. People
will not be able to escape from the multi-storeyed blocks of flats
built so close to each other.

The expert offered the authorities to treat the seismic issues more
seriously and fortify the buildings. In 90s the buildings were
fortified in Vanadzor and Yerevan.

Pilot programs on fortification of buildings were carried out
previously but their financing was suspended.

Head of National Seismic Defense Service Hrach Petrosyan told Tert.am
the figures presented by Balasanyan are far from being a reality. He
claimed that Balsanyan has nothing to do with buildings, he is a
seismologist, `let him deal with seismology.’

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian foundation received the church in Turkey in ruined condition

14:05, 15 August, 2012

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: Saint Gevorg Church in Kzltepe city of
Mardini province of Turkey after reaching threshold of collapse has
been given to Armenian catholic foundation in Mardini. The Ministry of
agriculture of Turkey has built betony columns and stairs in order to
use it as storage of medicine for tens of years.

Armenpress reports that Turkish `Radical’ newspaper on that occasion
writes that famous publisher and owner of `Belge’ publishing house
Ragip Zarakolu discovered the Church and demanded to take it under
protection. A restoration program has been developed and in 2004
someone was appointed as a guard. The latter dig the ground of the
CHourch for seven meters in order to find treasures and has been taken
to prison for abusing the office. In 2007 the Church collapsed and
only after that was given to Armenian Catholic foundation. At present
only four walls of Saint Gevorg Church are steady.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Troops Depart for Training in Germany

armradio.am
15.08.2012 13:12

On August 15, the U.S. Embassy joined Armenian members of the Armenian
Peace Keeping Brigade at Zvartnots Airport to send off 116 Armenian
peacekeepers who will train alongside American, Romanian and Ukrainian
soldiers in Germany. The Armenian personnel will train for three weeks
and are expected to return to Armenia on September 4.
In Germany, the Armenian peacekeepers will prepare for their upcoming
tours in Kosovo, where they will be based at the U.S. Bondsteel
Military Base, near the city of Urosevac, and serve for 6-month
rotations. In Kosovo, the peacekeepers will be responsible for
conducting patrols, checkpoint security, riot and crowd control, and
convoy activity. The joint Armenian-U.S. peacekeeping brigade in
Kosovo is underwritten by a Memorandum of Understanding between the
Armenian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Army in Europe.

From: Baghdasarian