Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Armenian Athletes Win Silver and Bronze at Olympics

by Armenian Weekly
August 5, 2012

LONDON (A.W.) – Armenia’s Arsen Julfalakian won silver in the 74kg
category of Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympics. Earlier today,
Hripsime Khurdushyan secured a bronze medal for Armenia in the women’s
75kg weightlifting competition.

Arsen Julfalakian
Julfalakian lost to Roman Vlasov of Russia in the final. In the
semifinals, the Armenian wrestler had defeated Emin Ahmadov of
Azerbaijan.

The son of Armenia’s national wrestling coach Levon Julfalakyan, Arsen
was born in Gyumri in 1987.

The 5’6” (167 cm) wrestler was 10th in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

In 2010, he won the silver medal in the world championships held in
St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2011, he won bronze in the world
championships held in Istanbul, Turkey.

In 2009, Julfalakian won the European championship in Vilnius, Lithuania.

From: Baghdasarian

Protest In Front of Department of Investigations

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:39:26 – 03/08/2012

Yesterday an action of protest was organized in front of the General
Department of Investigations of the RA Police in memory of Vahe
Avetyan beaten to death in Harsnakar Restaurant by its owner MP
Hairapetyan’s bodyguards. August 2 is Vahe’s birthday. He would be 33.

The activists noted that they will not allow cover-up of the case.
Continuous actions forced the GDI to bring more severe charges against
the detainees.

Besides, the attorneys of Vahe’s successor, his father, entered the
building to get acquainted with the records of the case access to
which had been denied to them earlier.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY READIES FOR POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA DEVELOPMENTS – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 3, 2012 – 16:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey is readying itself for the possible military
involvement in Syrian developments, Director of RA NAS Institute of
Oriental Studies said.

“Turkey is currently seriously studying the possibility of its forces
to launch hostilities in Syria,” Ruben Safrastyan said, commenting
on Turkish authorities’ recent statements on the Kurdish factor,
military drills on border with Syria, as well as Turkish outlets
about Iranian forces’ transfer to Aleppo.

In this context, the expert noted that closer analysis will make Turkey
aware of the fact that involvement in Syrian developments will only
weaken its positions in Kurdish factor, resulting in deterioration
of Turkish ties with the Arab world.

“However, Turkey’s foreign policy has recently been based on elements
of adventurism, rather than serious analysis,” Mr. Safrastyans said.

From: Baghdasarian

PUBLIC ACTIVIST: POLICE OF ARMENIA TRY TO DELAY INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT AT HARSNAKAR RESTAURANT

arminfo
Friday, August 3, 17:51

The tragic incident at Harsnakar Restaurant owned by oligarch Rouben
Hayrapetyan has once again demonstrated the Armenian authorities’
policy of enslaving or expelling the citizens from their own country,
Garegin Chugaszyan, analyst, member of the Vahe Avetyan public
initiative, said at today’s press conference.

To recall, on June 17 the security guards of Harsnakar Restaurant
severely beat Vahe Avetyan, major of the Armenian Defense Ministry,
head of the HENT department of the Yerevan military hospital, as
well as doctor Artak Bayadyan and senior lieutenant of the Armenian
armed forces Garik Soghomonyan. Avetyan underwent brain surgery the
same day. On June 29 Avetyan died at 7 pm. The incident caused a wide
public response not only in Armenia, but also in Diaspora.

The activist thinks that the law-enforcement structures are not going
to complete the criminal case and they are trying to delay the process
and to exempt Rouben Hayrapetyan from any responsibility.

The lawyers of the aggrieved party were provided with the materials
of the criminal case only on August 2. “It is noteworthy that Vahagn
Haroutyunyan is conducting the investigation. He is famous for the fact
that he failed to disclose the case of 1 March 2008”, Chugaszyan said.

The activist added that on August 7 the public initiative will light
candles near Harsnakar Restaurant. Afterwards the protest action
will continue in the Avan administrative district of Yerevan, where
Hayrapetyan lives. “We will not restrict out steps to this action. Our
fight will continue until we gain full victory over the oligarchy”,
he said.

From: Baghdasarian

IRAN, ARMENIA AGREE ON LAKE URMIA JOINT RESTORATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 3, 2012 – 18:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran and Armenia have agreed on cooperation in
restoration of Lake Urmia, currently on the edge of desiccation,
head of Environmental Protection Organization of Iran said.

According to Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh, the two countries have
reached an agreement on water transfer from Armenia to Iran. He
further stressed Iran~Rs readiness to agree with other countries on
additional water supply for Lake Urmia.

Earlier, Iran announced about the new plan, envisaging use of Araks
River waters. The initiative was followed by Azerbaijani authorities~R
criticism of the project.

Lake Urmia has 65% dried up, the spokesman of Environmental Protection
Organization said, deeming the situation as critical.

From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY TO WEAKEN ITS POSITION IF IT GOES ON ITS INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIAN ISSUE

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: Turkey’s involvement in Syria conflict
cannot have a success.

Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy
of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan had abriefing with the journalists
on Augusat 3. ” No matter whatever happens Turkey cannot come out
as winner: they themselves make the situation more complicated. The
forces considering similar stance wrong policy by state are increasing
in number. There is not a single analyst in Turkey who defendsTurkey’s
authorities such a stance” Safrastyan noted, Armenpress reports.

In the words of the interlocutor Turkey’s armed forces are seriously
studying the possibility of starting a military operation in Syria.

Turkish studies expert doubts Turkey will undertake that step,
“They will realize they will weaken the country’s position, worsen
their relations with Arabic world, if it goes on intermingling in
the events.” Yet it is possible Turkey will not reckon with these
calculations: we often witness country’s foreign policy more adheres
to adventurousness than to analysis, which reportedly is dangerous
for the region and forTurkey also” the expert assured.

The relations of Turkey and Syria became tenser after Turkish military
F-4 aircraft wreck. Turkey deployed air forces and military units in
the border with Syria and threatened they will strike a blow to any
object violating Turkish border. Official Ankara announces Turkish
aircraft wrecked in the international waters ,yet Damascus insists
the aircraft was hurt because of the violation of Syrian airspace.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA MUST AVOID TOUGH STATEMENTS ON SYRIA

news.am
August 03, 2012 | 15:37

YEREVAN.- Armenia must avoid tough statements on Syria. It is in the
interests of its community, Director of Institute of Oriental Studies
Ruben Safrastyan told reporters on Friday.

Clashes between the rebels and government forces occurring throughout
the country, including Aleppo with its major Armenian community,
are not threatening for the Armenian districts. This is the reason
Aleppo Armenians do not want to attract much attention.

“Any radical statement on Syria may harm their interests,” he said.

Safrastyan believes Armenia must stand for lasting peace in Syria.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJANI TEXTBOOKS SHOULD PASS INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATION – ARMENIAN MP

news.am
August 02, 2012 | 22:03

STRASBOURG. – Azerbaijani text-books should pass an international
examination on the presence of propaganda of hatred towards Armenians,
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP and Armenian delegation member
at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Naira
Zohrabyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to her, the corresponding document will be submitted to
the PACE Commissar on Human Rights. Copies of various Azerbaijani
text-books, where Armenians are presented as murderers and enemy to
people of the region, will be attached to the document as well.

Zohrabyan claims that the Azerbaijani text-books should pass an
international examination with a conclusion. If the examination
issues a positive conclusion based on the document, Azerbaijan will be
demanded to review the educational text-books. The PACE fall session
is scheduled for Oct. 1, while the agenda should be confirmed till
late August.

From: Baghdasarian

ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO COVER UP VAHE AVETYAN CASE

news.am
August 03, 2012 | 13:06

YEREVAN.- A person who failed to disclose those responsible for the
March 1 events is now in charge of Vahe Avetyan case, said Sardarapat
movement member.

The Vahe Avetyan initiative group told reporters that attempts are
made to cover up the case of a young military doctor who died as a
result of brutal beating in Harsnaqar Restaurant.

One of the group members Garegin Chugaszyan said the authorities want
to gain time “till public attention becomes weaker.”

He stressed that Armenian young people are smart and will struggle
to the death.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an incident had occurred
at Yerevan’s Harsnaqar Restaurant on June 17, where several military
doctors including Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik Soghomonyan,
Artak Bayadyan and Vahe Avetyan were brutally beaten by Hayrapetyan’s
security personnel. Vahe Avetyan died in hospital on June 29. The
Police have detained six people.

From: Baghdasarian

KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN TO DOCUMENT HISTORY OF ARMENIAN-ETHIOPIANS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: In the early 1900s, when Armenians
were faced with genocide orchestrated by the Ottoman empire,
scores of families escaped and some arrived and settled in
Ethiopia. Armenians make up one of the oldest immigrant communities in
Ethiopia. As Armenpress citing TADIAS, Vahe Tilbian, a 4th generation
Ethiopian-Armenian, told TADIAS magazine that “historically Armenians
worked as goldsmiths, carpenters, builders, teachers, embroiders, silk
makers, and carpet makers.” His great grandfather Tavit Aslanian was
a carpet maker in Empress Zewditu’s palace, his paternal grandfather
was a tailor in Addis and his maternal family members were cobblers.

Armenians have likewise contributed heavily to Ethiopian modern music.

Kevork Nalbandian was an Armenian who composed the first national
anthem for Ethiopia as well as served as the musical director of Arba
Lijoch. His nephew Nerses Nalbandian was involved in the founding of
the famed Yared Music School as well as led the Municipality Orchestra.

A kickstarter campaign has now been launched to produce a documentary
of the unique history and contributions of Armenian-Ethiopians.

From: Baghdasarian