Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIA CALLS FOR FURTHER EXPANSION OF ITS TIES WITH IRAN

Press TV
july 18 2012
Iran

Armenian Defense Minister General Seyran Ohanyan has reiterated his
country’s willingness to expand security and defense ties with the
Islamic Republic.

The top Armenian official made the remarks at a Tuesday meeting with
the new Iranian ambassador to Yerevan, Mohammad Ra’isi, in the Armenian
capital, wishing the envoy well in facilitating a further enhancement
of the Iran-Armenia relations in all fields during his tenure.

During the meeting, Ra’isi and Ohanyan also discussed a number of
current issues and conflicts in the region as well as ways to deepen
mutual collaborations in various fields, particularly security affairs.

The Armenian minister further stated that relations with Iran are of
utmost importance for Armenia and Yerevan is determined to expand
its ties and cooperation with Tehran on bilateral, regional and
international levels.

On July 9, Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, heading
a high-ranking delegation, paid an official two-day visit to Yerevan
and met with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyana and the country’s
other top officials.

During the visit by the Iranian interior minister, Iran and Armenia
signed a security agreement to expand cooperation on measures against
organized crimes and the fight on drug smuggling as well as security
and border issues.

Mohammad-Najjar declared Iran’s readiness to share its experiences
with Armenia in police training and criminal extradition as well
as the fight against drug-trafficking and organized crimes, noting
that the agreement between the two countries set a good framework
for mutual cooperation.

Iran and Armenia have taken major strides towards promoting their
mutual relations over the recent years, particularly in the energy
sector.

From: Baghdasarian

KICKBACK KILLS ARMENIA
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:00:06 – 18/07/2012

U.S. citizen Paul Anderson whom the Armenian law enforcers want
to hold responsible made serious allegations against the Armenian
statehood. He stated that in order to receive construction license
he bribed senior officials.

This is something usual for the citizens of Armenia. The kickback is
a common feature of our life or rather the lives of those who live on
account of state-funded activities. Since the state is the major client
in many spheres in Armenia, most businesses depend on their capacity
to convince the officials to contract state-funded activities to them.

This system is so perfect that procurement is not competitive. Most
businessmen are going to add kickback to their budget lines.

Paul Anderson describes it as a pornographic scene. It is evident
that he could not see how clearly everyone could play their roles. He
does not hide that he also played in this performance but he could
not imagine what characters are involved in all the spheres of life.

We are living in a world full of kickback which is called free
market with independent courts which fight corruption. Externally,
everything is perfect while in practice the system is immersed in
kickback and corruption.

Several years ago, some foreign companies working in Russia launched
a signature collection, refusing to bribe officials. They came to
terms among one another and with the state but after a month they
had to admit that nothing could be done without kickback in Russia.

No such attempts have ever been made in Armenia. There are companies
which do not give bribes but they are few. The greater part of
businessmen either find a ~Sroof~T of give kickbacks to officials,
to say nothing about bribes to tax and other services.

There is nothing surprising here since foreign investors do not
invest any money in Armenia. The reason is the blockade, transport
issues and the small market of Armenia. The issue is corruption,
the kickback which the Western investors do not recognize and so
they do not want to pay. Moreover, Georgia is there ready to offer
a kickback-free business climate.

Kickback is killing the economy of Armenia, or rather those who
promote kickback-venal court-based system. Unwritten rules regulate
this system instead of the Constitution. In this system human rights
are not protected and the government may sacrifice nature, human lives
and health for the sake of businesses which kick back. In this system,
people are evicted from their homes because Northern Avenue needs
to be built where no one lives. In this system, Teghut forest can be
destroyed because the officials have already spent the kickback for
the license.

From: Baghdasarian

FALLOUT: SYRIAN-ARMENIANS CONTINUE FLEEING TO ARMENIA
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow

18.07.12 | 15:23

Syrian-Armenians continue coming to Armenia despite the fact that
unlike Damascus, Homs and other cities with ongoing active hostilities
it is relatively peaceful in Aleppo, where the largest Armenian
community lives. Violence continues to escalate in the country,
and today Syria’s Minister of Defense was killed by a suicide bomber.

Habet Putuzian arrived in Armenia on July 9 with his wife, elder son
and his family. They have rented an apartment in downtown Yerevan,
however, have not decided yet whether to permanently reside in
Armenia. The Putuzians have applied for double citizenship and will get
their Armenian passports in a few days. The 73-year-old Syrian-Armenian
has his own perspective on situation in Syria and considers it to be
“a matter of revenge”.

“They killed one another’s family and started fighting among
themselves. It is not so easy, it takes time to solve those kinds of
issues,” Putuzian told ArmeniaNow, whose family deals in sale of car
spare parts in Syria. “If it were not for these events we would have
been living like kings.”

Putuzian says that their clients from Turkey, Iraq and Iran are now
afraid to come to Syria therefore business is low.

During his stay in Armenia, Putuzian has made inquiries about founding
a private business here, but many challenges have been pointed out
to him.

“I was thinking about buying mini buses and operating them here,
however, I was told that I would not be allowed to. I said I wanted
to buy a petrol station, they said, no way. In the end, some people
advised me to buy several apartments and lease them or deposit money
I had in banks. We’ll decide after we get our passports,” he says.

According to recent data, about 3,000 Syrian-Armenians got citizenship
in Armenia and only eight have applied for refugee status. Many
Syrian-Armenians who come to Armenia, do not turn to any state body,
because they plan to leave for another country later.

The issue of Aleppo-Yerevan-Aleppo tickets also remains to be
problematic, because Armenia’s national air carrier Armavia and
the Syrian Airlines flying only once a week, have sold out all the
tickets until September. Armavia has only business class tickets left,
for 235,000 drams (about $573).

From: Baghdasarian

US LAYS OBSTACLES TO ARTSAKH’S RECOGNITION – EXPERT

tert.am
18.07.12

The United States is the only co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk
Group that prevents Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) from becoming a
recognized state, according to Sergey Shakaryants, a political analyst.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the expert said that the
country might have most different reasons for that, including the
Armenia-Turkey border issue, Turkey’s major role in the region,
the Arab revolutions, the Iranian issue etc.

“It is possible to declare everything by word of mouth, but the facts
behind the activities testify to completely different objectives,” he
said. “The explanation is very simple and primitive; in case Russia,
France or EU remain in the Minsk Group alone, they will more easily
agree upon different issues relating to Nagorno-Karabakh. As to how
they will reach an agreement, it is already possible to guess that.”

Addressing the co-chairs’ recent statement backing the plan to open
the Stepanakert Airport, Shakaryants said that the move has political
motives.

“I characterize it as a motive even if the use of the air space becomes
a subject of negotiations. It can even be considered a good will to
the Armenian side. Although Azerbaijan has expressed its negative
attitude, they issue will clearly become subject to negotiations,
which is very important,” he said.

The expert added that the Armenian diplomats may call for opening
Karabakh’s air space and ensuring communication between Artsakh and
other countries.

From: Baghdasarian

NA DEPUTY SPEAKER EDUARD SHARMAZANOV RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

17.07.2012

On July 17 the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Eduard
Sharmazanov received members of the House of Commons of Canada,
Deputy Chairmen of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Jim
Karygiannis and Alexandre Boulerice.

Welcoming the Canadian deputies’ visit to the Armenian Parliament,
Eduard Sharmazanov has noted that Canada is a friendly country, and
though it is separated from Armenia by ocean, but the territory cannot
have an influence on good relations. In the name of the representatives
of the House of Commons, he expressed his gratitude to Canada for
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and the benefit of Armenians during
the years. The RA National Assembly Vice President highlighted the
visit of the Canadian deputies leaving for Nagorno Karabakh to take
part in the presidential elections with Observation Mission for the
Artsakh people, which, in his word, shows that a democratic country,
as Canada, is interested in extending the democracy in the NK.

Thanking for the shown warmth the Canadian guests stressed that
despite the fact that many were against their visit, particularly,
Azerbaijanis, but they had big wish to witness the establishment of
democracy in Nagorno Karabakh. In their word, Canada shows big interest
in all the countries, where the democracy is one way of establishment.

As the Canadian parliamentarians noticed, about hundreds of thousands
of Armenians living in Canada are very active: the Armenian community
was in the second-third place with its influence, “the Armenian fire
is always bright.”

The members of the House of Commons of Canada talked about the need
of having an Embassy in Armenia, in response to which Mr Sharmazanov
noted that the Armenian side was always interested in the relationship
at higher level. An opinion was expressed that they should activate
the parliamentary mutual visits, which in its turn would boost the
strengthening and development of good relations. Eduard Sharmazanov
noticed that Armenia had been the first in the South Caucasus that
opened an Embassy in Ottawa, which testified to the importance of
the Armenian-Canadian relations.

The Canadian MPs expressed hope that in Nagorno Karabakh the
parliamentary elections would hold at high level and presented
their idea to initiate a group called “Friends of Nagorno Karabakh”
returning to Karabakh, which was accepted with big inspiration by the
RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker. The latter noted that it was
a brilliant idea, expressing conviction that Armenia and the whole
community would welcome, as it was a vivid example how to support
the young democratic country.

In the course of the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were
also discussed.

From: Baghdasarian

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO BAN
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

July 17, 2012 12:59

The government of Iran has banned showing chicken dishes on TV,
reports referring to The chief of police
of that country explained that not all citizens of Iran can afford
chicken and negative emotions may arise, while seeing it on TV, which
may become a reason for public protest. If our folks are guided by
the same logic, many things will be banned from broadcasting on our
TV too. Guess not everyone in Armenia can buy a Bentley – for that,
one needs to have rich kin. Therefore, when some “tough guy” gets into
a Bentley in TV series, it can also cause public protest. Here is one
of the criteria – all TV series characters, regardless of whether they
are Mafiosi or violin teachers, must drive a VAZ 2107. As we know,
there are people in Armenia who want to have the same situation in
our country as it is in Iran. They don’t like the TV production and
apply to the head of state, in order that he fixes the problem to
rescue the nation from degradation. (They could apply to the Chief
of Police, by the way, in order to make the parallel more accurate.)

Firstly, I think that the talk about degradation is a gripe of old
people. We were in that same “degraded” condition 40 years ago too –
Zeynar Khanlarova would pack 72 thousand-seat Hrazdan for a few days
in a row. It is not like our whole nation used to live for highly
intellectual, cultural and national values and suddenly cunning
imperialists came to our country after the independence and took us
out of the condition we cherished, forcing us to accept values that
were strange for us. People who are in the mental darkness listened to
cheap music both at the time and now, watched tasteless movies both at
the time and now. One should struggle against it with public activity,
articles, discussions, devising mechanisms of self-control. But not
by banning, calling the legislative and executive powers as a “big
brother” and trying to absolutize one’s own perceptions and taste.

Otherwise, if the state interferes, the society will be forced to
accept the tastes of functionaries and powers that be. And is there
any guarantee that they will be impeccable?

However, it is possible that political forces will also join
nation-saving initiatives and say, collect signatures to establish
a National Assembly interim commission on examining TV series. Who
doesn’t sign, s/he is for destroying the identity and moral degradation
of the Armenian people. It is also an occupation, isn’t it – one can
spend a few weeks of the summer months on just talking about that.

From: Baghdasarian

THE POLICY IN THE AGRARIAN SPHERE JUSTIFIES ITSELF AND WILL BE EEFICIENTLY CONTINUED IN THE COMING YEARS

Tuesday, 17 July 2012 12:54

Grain harvesting is underway in the Republic.

These days, those responsible for this area are working on a very
tight schedule, so that to harvest the crop as soon as possible,
as the “summer day feeds a year.”

This year too, the nature has presented a surprise to farmers, this
time in the form of endless rains of July. What kind of damage have
they caused to the harvesting campaign and how is the field work
going on? Following is our interview with NKR Minister of Agriculture
Andranik Khachatrian on this.

– Mr. Khachatrian, the weather has changed dramatically in the most
active time of harvest. Have the rains spoiled the harvesting?

– This year, the harvest has started a few days earlier and indeed
proceeded with an accelerated pace. Prior to the rainy season,
one third of the fields under harvesting was cut – 2.5 times more,
compared with the same period of the last year. The harvesting works
are stopped, due to the rains. They will resume when the weather
becomes stable and will be completed as soon as possible.

– Will you tell us please at what stage the harvesting is. What
problems have you already faced?

– In the Republic, of 57,875 hectares of fields to be harvested,
approximately 24,586 hectares have been harvested, the average yield
making 17.6 Ó / ha. 10,609 hectares of barley and 13. 977 hectares
of wheat are harvested. The average yield of barley made 16.6 c / ha
and wheat – 18.3 c / ha. The problems emerging during the harvesting
are mainly related to the agricultural equipment. The majority of the
combine harvesters is worn and is often out of order, which affects
the harvesting rate. Machine operators try to repair the combines in
place, using the existing tools, but it takes much time.

– Actually, the matter is the lack of agricultural equipment.

– In accordance with the agricultural rules, 10 days are given for
conducting any field work, including the harvest, after which the
crop losses increase. Given this, we can say that there is need in
combine harvesters. In the NKR, 132 of the 241 registered harvesters
are used in harvesting; 85 combines more are delivered from the
Republic of Armenia, which mainly work in the Kashatagh region. This
year’s peculiarity also is that wheat and barley have ripen almost
simultaneously, which also led to tension and congestion in the
combines’ work.

– Is there any approximate data on the crop volume? Has it justified
your expectations and does it correspond to the expected indicators?

– As I have noted, the average yield is 17.6 c / ha. The highest
yield – 22 c / ha – is in the Kashatagh, and the lowest – 10.7 c /
ha – in the Martakert region. Surely, we expected more, but in March
and April, due to the lack of rainfall, some areas in the lowlands
(about 3,500 hectares), in particular, in the Martakert region, have
suffered. But, I want to point out that the reason of the low yield
is not in the climatic conditions, but mainly in the unprofessional
conduct of agricultural works by farmers. Studies have shown that
even when rainfall is low, those farmers who cultivated the land
in accordance with the agricultural rules and cared for the crops,
collected high yields. Striking evidence to this is that in the same
field, someone harvests 15 quintals per hectare and someone – 50 or 60.

– How is the issue of storage and marketing of the crop solved?

– While earlier there was a problem of wheat selling in the Republic,
this issue has not arisen in the recent years. There are wheat storing
companies both in our country and the RA; they buy harvest at the
current market prices. Problems arise only when the harvested crop
does not satisfy the requirements of the supplier on its quality
indicators. But, there are only a few cases of such. Currently, the
issue of crop storage is resolved by farmers themselves; they also
establish direct relation with the harvesting companies. The price
of barley is 105-110 AMD and wheat – 130-135 AMD, depending on the
quality indicators.

– Will the prices for bread change after the harvest?

– The prices for bread will not change in our Republic after the
harvest. The price for bread is mainly conditioned by the price for
wheat, which Armenia imports from other countries.

– Will you briefly tell us please about other programs of the Ministry
of Agriculture?

– The Ministry is implementing a series of important programs of
sub-regional and industrial development. Since 2008, the land has been
left fallow; since 2009, a program on stimulating corn production
has been implemented. Through the NKR Foundation for Village and
Agriculture Support, free credits are given for winter sowing on the
privatized lands, as well as soft credits for the implementation of
different programs. Seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are imported
and provided to land users on a contractual basis (with the condition
to pay after the harvest). For spring sowing of the current year,
seeds of 8 different crops were imported from the RA and foreign
countries and were granted to the owners at 50-percent subsidized
rates, and to the tenants – 40%. Basing on the submitted applications,
the NKR Foundation for Village and Agriculture Support will acquire
agricultural equipment and give it to those wishing. The implementation
of the program of crops’ seed growing is underway, which will allow
to fully satisfy the public demand for high quality seeds. Given the
importance of balanced development of crop farming and cattle breeding
(currently the ratio is 65% and 35% and does not meet the international
standards), the Ministry of Agriculture conducts intensive works
to increase the specific weight of cattle breeding. To this end, in
2008, we started buying high-yielding cattle. To date, 400 cows have
been imported to the Republic. To improve the local breed of cattle,
we provided 30 cows to farmers and as a result have already received
over 100 cattle of improved breeds.

The implementation of the programs of agricultural development in the
Banadzor and Magavuz sub-regions is underway. This year, the program
of agricultural development in the Ukhtadzor sub-region has started.

– What can you say about the spring sowing?

– The spring sowing is mainly completed. As of June 20, it was
conducted on 11.600 hectares of land, exceeding the last year index by
18,1%. Compared with 2011, the following indexes have also exceeded
the last year ones: wheat – by 4.2 times, buckwheat – 16 times,
and industrial crops – 2.1 times.

– How is the struggle against hail and other natural disasters
conducted?

– This year the hail damaged about 1,800 hectares of various crops,
including 100% of 379 hectares (142 hectares of wheat and 199 hectares
of vegetable crops, etc.). Most affected were crops in the south of the
Kashatagh region. The territories in the zone of anti-hail systems’
impact in the Askeran and Martuni regions suffered comparatively
less. As in the previous years, this year too corresponding work was
carried out to ensure the safety of the crops grown by the farmers. In
addition to the compensation for the damage, the Government allocates
substantial funds to install anti-hail systems. 52 systems are already
purchased and installed, which have been operated by the NKR rescue
service since the last year. In the coming years, anti-hail systems
will be also installed in other hail-dangerous areas, which will
minimize the damage caused by natural disaster.

– Please, give a number of indexes of the last five years in
comparison.

– For the recent the years, dynamic growth has been recorded in the
agricultural sphere. Speaking of crops, for comparison, 96 411 tons
of wheat were grown in 2011, against the 52280.9 in 2007, and the
average yield per hectare made 19.1. quintals against the 11. The
areas under sowing have increased by almost 4000 hectares. But in
general, the GDP share of agriculture in 2011 amounted to 12.3%,
providing 17044.6 million drams; the increase made 73.9%, compared
with 2006. The volume of funds allocated to agriculture from the
state budget has grown 10 times and totaled nearly 3 billion drams.

– Can we say that the agrarian policy of the Government justifies
itself?

– Our policy in the agricultural sphere pursues one goal – to ensure
the country’s food security, which is an important guarantee for our
economic and military power. And to achieve this, it is necessary
to provide even and interrelated development of the two branches of
agriculture – farming and cattle breeding. This is the only way to
achieve the desired result and to ensure a high yield. We can hope
for high and stable yield when a number of complex measures is carried
out, among which are the use of various fertilizers, use of sound crop
rotation, implementation of corresponding works in accordance with the
best agronomic terms of cultivation and care of crops, as well as a
complex struggle against diseases and pests, introduction of new high
yielding varieties, use of seeds with high sowing quality. Surely, the
role of agriculture is great in the implementation of the strategic
program aimed at ensuring the welfare of the population. To hope
for the successful development of agriculture during the transition
to a market economy, it is extremely important, what tax policy is
carried out in respect of the land user. In this context, compared to
many countries around the world, we have an extremely soft tax- and
preferential credit system, which has a very beneficial effect on the
marketing of agricultural products. Our agricultural products, as well
as the imported agricultural machinery are not subject to VAT, which
also promotes the development of this economic sector. This year, the
credit capital directed to agriculture has amounted to over 2 billion
drams, which indicates the constant care of agriculture by our state.

I am confident that the Government-approved policy in the agricultural
sphere, which we conduct currently, justifies itself and will be
effectively continued in the coming years.

Srbuhi VANIAN

From: Baghdasarian

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERS COMBINED SECOND AND THIRD REPORTS OF ARMENIA

armradio.am
18.07.2012 11:43

The UN Human Rights Committee has concluded its consideration of the
second and third periodic report of Armenia on its implementation of
the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.

Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
introduced the report and said significant steps had been taken over
the past years to bring the legislation of Armenia fully in line with
its international obligations. This included the judicial reform
package and the adoption of the Council of Europe Action Plan with
priority actions in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule
of law, to bring the country further in line with European standards.

Several laws were promulgated, including the Judicial Code, the
Electoral Code and the law on the Office of Public Prosecutor. The
draft law on equal rights of women and men had been submitted to the
Parliament, while the draft law against domestic violence had been
submitted to the Government’s approval. One of the risks Armenia faced
was the violation of the right to self-determination; the will of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh to fully exercise that fundamental human
right was fully supported by the Government.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Hovakimian noted that Armenia was changing
and had achieved much since 1998. The right to self-determination
was a very important issue for Armenia and since it was the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh, the participation of its authorities in all hearings
and procedures should be considered.

Ashot Hovakimyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said
significant steps had been taken in recent years to bring Armenia’s
legislation fully in line with its international obligations. The
judicial reform package aimed to implement the principle of the
independence of the judiciary, adoption of enabling legislation,
institutional transformation and measures to prepare and train staff.

In July 2012 the Council of Europe launched the Action Plan for
Armenia which provided a package of priority actions in the areas
of democracy, human rights and the rule of law to bring the country
further in line with European standards. In 2007 the Judicial Code of
Armenia was adopted, which clarified the mandate of the Council of
Justice and stipulated a basic code of ethic for judges. A further
law regulating the Office of Public Prosecutor introduced a new
concept which eliminated centralization in the prosecution system,
prohibited case investigations by the Office of Public Prosecutor and
authorized the Office to solely oversee the lawfulness of inquests
and preliminary investigations. The draft Criminal Procedure Code was
currently under review. Elsewhere, the police force was undergoing
reform and a Human Rights Defender was recognized as an Independent
Preventive Mechanism as defined by the Convention against Torture.

The Electoral Code was amended in 2011 in order to advance electoral
processes: the first elections conducted under the Electoral Code were
the May 2012 parliamentary elections which were held in an open and
transparent manner. To strengthen the protection of women’s rights
and gender equality and to improve the status of women in society
several legal and institutional measures had been implemented.

A draft law on the equal rights of women and men had been submitted
to the Parliament, while a draft law against domestic violence had
been submitted for the Government’s approval. The National Action
Plan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was being implemented.

From: Baghdasarian

‘THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS’ BY CHRIS BOHJALIAN

Boston Globe

July 17 2012
MA

The year 2015 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide,
and it is likely that Chris Bohjalian’s newest novel, “The Sandcastle
Girls,” will represent just the beginning of what will be a steady
stream of publications remembering this tragedy. Unlike his mystery
books, this one is a historical romance, but the cool and lucid tone
infusing it is unmistakably Bohjalian’s.

Laura is a writer and mother of two, and granddaughter of Elizabeth
and Armen Petrosian. She has happy memories of her visits to her
grandparents’ comfortable Long Island home, with its “plush Oriental
carpets, and thick leather books filled with an alphabet I could not
begin to decipher,” and the perpetual aroma of the lamb chops her
grandfather ate for breakfast. But she has always been struck by the
“relentless formality” of the house, and decides to research what may
have fed the “subterranean currents of loss” she invariably sensed
in her grandparents’ presence.

Her quest takes her, and us, back to 1915, when the rulers of the
Ottoman Empire used World War I as an opportunity to exterminate
the Armenian minority, whom they feared might ally itself with the
Russians. Many Armenians were outright massacred; many more were
exiled on forced death marches through the desert.

It is at the end of one such march, in the Syrian city of Aleppo, that
Laura’s grandparents meet. There, on behalf of the Friends of Armenia,
Boston banker Silas Endicott has come with his daughter, Elizabeth,
to deliver humanitarian assistance. As the US consul escorts them to
their quarters, the Endicotts get their first glimpse of the human
calamity they have gamely, if naively, come to address.

A line of women staggers into the town square. “All are beyond modesty,
beyond caring. Their skin has been seared black by the sun or stained
by the soil in which they have slept or, in some cases, by great
yawning scabs and wounds that are open and festering. . . . The women
look like dying wild animals as they lurch forward, some holding on
to the walls of the stone houses to remain erect. . . . Their breasts
are lost to their ribs. The bones of their hips protrude like baskets.”

That detailed, clinical language works to great effect. Bohjalian
succeeds in depicting the horror, without sentimentalizing it,
using photographs as one of the book’s major plot devices. Shooting
images of the dead and dying Armenians are two German soldiers,
whose government is allied with the Ottoman Empire.

From: Baghdasarian

ST. NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY’S APPROVAL IRKS NORTH CASTLE TOWN BOARD’S JOHN CRONIN

The Journal News

July 18 2012

ARMONK – The North Castle Town Board’s approval of a special-use
permit to an Armenian seminary looking to relocate from New Rochelle
is being called “completely inappropriate” by one Town Board member.

Town Board member John Cronin, who cast last week’s lone dissenting
vote, said he thinks his colleagues gave the St. Nersess Armenian
Seminary a free pass because it is a religious group.

“I think it’s wrong what happened,” Cronin said. “The fact that this
was a religious institution kind of caused them to back away and not
give it the same level of scrutiny that they would have if it was
any other kind of developer.”

The 486 Bedford Road facility in Armonk will incorporate about 15
bedrooms and will house the dean’s family. That plan is significantly
scaled back from previous incarnations, which hoped to house as many
as 30 to 50 people on a permanent basis.

North Castle Supervisor Howard Arden said he’s glad the seminary
downsized its proposal. He voted to approve it because he saw no
“overriding negative,” he said.

“It’s a legal use in that area. We’ve always had a policy in our
town of being open to all religious organizations and groups,” he
said. “At the end of the day, democracy worked. It came out to be a
better project.”

But Cronin said the increased traffic on roads, compounded by the
facility’s proximity to busy Byram Hills High School, would create
an unfair burden for the proposed seminary’s neighbors.

“How much more traffic do you want to have?” he asked. “This is
going to cause a hardship on the residents of this part of town for
no benefit to the town.”

Cronin, who lives near the Bedford Road site, said the area would
get even more congested if a proposed 115-unit condominium complex
that would be about a quarter-mile away from the seminary was approved.

The seminary is at 150 Stratton Road in New Rochelle, but that
facility lacks a “proper” library, classrooms or chapel to train
priests, said Seth Mandelbaum, a partner at McCullough, Goldberger
and Staudt LLP and a lawyer for St. Nersess since 2010.

The proposed seminary is still pending site plan approval from the
North Castle Planning Board, and Mandelbaum said the move from New
Rochelle wouldn’t take place for at least a year.

“It’s kind of an old building that’s very constrained,” Mandelbaum
said of the Stratton Road property. “When they found (the Armonk)
location, this just seemed like a perfect place, a very quiet wooded
setting where they could be a little more comfortable in their layout.”

The Rev. Daniel Findikyan, the seminary’s dean, declined to comment
on the plan and referred comment to the lawyer.

“We’re not saying anything about this right now because it’s sort
of still in the works, so I’ve been instructed not to say anything,”
he said.

Mandelbaum said he wasn’t sure if the seminary plan had been given
special attention by North Castle officials because of its religious
focus.

“Generally speaking, under New York law, religious institutions have
a special status, as do educational institutions, when requesting
land-use and zoning approvals,” he said. “And that’s been New York
law for decades.”

Cronin said that’s not fair.

He likened the seminary to a small apartment complex, which he
predicted his Town Board colleagues would never approve at the Bedford
Road location.

“Because this is a religious institution, they basically put every
consideration aside and give these guys every benefit of the doubt,”
he said. “They’re not taxpayers. That doesn’t mean they should throw
every consideration out the window.”

From: Baghdasarian