Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

GERMAN-ARMENIANS DEMAND TO STOP ‘BODYGUARD NONSENSE’ IN ARMENIA

news.am
July 03, 2012 | 19:11

FRANKFURT. – The Central Council of Armenians in Germany (ZAD)
released a statement on the occasion of brutal murder of Armenian
military doctor Vahe Avetyan.

Death of a military doctor Vahe Avetyan having been brutally beaten on
June 17 in Harsnakar restaurant shocked the Armenians in Germany. The
ZAD condoles with the Avetyan family. Being extremely concerned about
the current painful system of the Armenian authorities, which has
created an atmosphere of catastrophic impunity, filled the country
with murderers and oligarchs supporting them, the organization condemns
all the representatives of the criminal world.

Armenians in Germany demand the Armenian authorities that they
punished all the accused of the murder and put an end to the current
body-guard system, which has become a headache for the people,”
the statement reads.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN SHOULD DEVELOP LANGUAGE POLICY STATE PROGRAM- EXPERT

/ARKA/
3 July, 2012
YERVAN

YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. Vice President of Armenian State Pedagogical
University Lavrenty Mirzoyan said Tuesday Armenia needs a state
program to manage a language policy.

“Founded in 1956 Terminology committee, which is now a part of
State Language Inspection at Ministry of Education and Science,
is controlling the language to be pure. However today it is not
operating fully what degrades its status,” he noted.

Mirzoyan highlighted that if years ago the staff of the committee was
made up of 96 specialists, now the number dropped to 16. “Obviously,
they can’t conduct linguistic policy on the whole territory of the
republic,” he said.

Thereby, Mirzoyan proposes to develop a state program for language
purity control thus raising the status of the Inspection as well as
to increase the fine for placing ad posters containing linguistic
mistakes from 50,000-200,000 drams to 500,000- 1,000,000 drams. ($1 –
418.34 drams).

From: Baghdasarian

WHY PETROL PRICE DOESN’T DROP

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:09:37 – 03/07/2012

Soon the petrol price will drop in the world but this decrease does
not “threaten” Armenia. A 30% cut is forecasted in the international
market, while only 2% in Armenia.

According to the National Statistics Service of Armenia, a 1.9% cut
of petrol price from May was reported in June. Since December 2011,
the price has grown by 10.9%.

According to the chairman of the Union of Consumers A. Poghosyan,
the Committee for the Protection of Economic Competition has special
competences to monitor the market, and from time to time it punishes
the major importers. Howeverm the aim of the Committee should not be
punishment but end of market dominance which is not done, says Mr.
Poghosyan.

Management specialist Harutyun Mesrobyan says fluctuations of
the price of petrol price is not consistent with international
developments. According to him, with the dollar growing, a 15% cut
could be expected.

According to him, when the international price of petrol grows,
Armenia immediately reacts but when it drops, reaction is too slow.

Harutyun Mesrobyan says petrol prices will drop in the world because a
“second wave” of crisis is approaching. In Armenia, the scenario will
be the same. According to the expert, it is a matter of psychology
of importers – they want to get profit, they do not care for cuts.

Note that 5 companies import petrol to Armenia but 80% is imported
by City Petrol Group and Flash.

From: Baghdasarian

THE NEXT STOP OF “MY ARMENIA” PROJECT WAS IN VANADZOR

ARMENPRESS
3 July, 2012
YERVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS: The dancing days of the Armenian festival
“My Armenia” that is held on the initiative of the Ministry of Diaspora
are continued in the regions of Armenia. Armenpress was informed from
Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia that on July 2 four dancing groups
left for Lori region.

In Spitak city they were met by the mayor of the city Gagik Sahakyan
and workers of the municipality.

In the cultural palate after Charles Aznavour in Vanadzor took place
the concert. Armenian dancing groups from Romania, Iran Russian
Federation, and Georgia performed for the audience.

With a greeting speech performed Deputy Head of Lori Administration
Arsen Darbinyan. He thanked the Ministry of Diaspora, particularly
to Hranush Hakobyan, dancing groups which had arrived from abroad and
their heads for all what they have organized for people of Vanadzor.

From: Baghdasarian

CT DANCE GROUP TO KICK OFF INGA & ANUSH ARSHAKYAN CONCERT
by Lilly Torosyan

July 3, 2012

On Sat., Nov. 10, the Connecticut branch of the Vanoush Khanamirian
Dance Academy of New York will perform with the sensational sister duo,
Inga and Anush Arshakyan­­-famous in Armenia for their contemporary
take on traditional music-at Felician College in Lodi, N.J. The
opening act will also include members of the Hamazkayin New Jersey.

The Connecticut-based group has come a long way since its start this
past October.

The Connecticut-based group has come a long way since its start this
past October. In the summer of 2011, Der Gomidas Zohrabian, the pastor
of the St. George Armenian Church of Hartford, Conn., requested the
help of his long-time friend, Tovmas Harutyunyan, a choreographer at
the Vanoush Khanamirian Dance Academy of New York. Zohrabian hoped
that Harutyunyan would teach the art of Armenian dance to some of
the church’s youngest parishioners, aged 10-14. Harutyunyan makes
the two-hour trip from New York to Hartford every week for practices.

Lots of toe-stepping and near-tripping occurs during these Wednesday
evening practices in the church basement, but the performers are
determined to master their dances, and are excited to perform with the
Arshakyan sisters. One of the dancers even revealed that she feared
wetting her pants upon meeting the sisters, and freezing up on stage.

In May, the group premiered at the St. George Armenian Church’s annual
dance. Dressed in their traditional hand-made costumes straight from
the homeland, locking arms and swaying to the music, each and every
one of them beamed with sweaty happiness. The audience appeared to
be in awe at their passion.

Der Gomidas acknowledges that this activity is a first for the
community, but nevertheless, it is successful. In just a few months,
the children have grown very close and have become strongly connected
to their culture. They are adorably Armenian in every sense of the
word; their grandmothers would be proud.

Sona and Briana Sarkisian He also affirms that by introducing
Armenian dance to his youngest members, he can ensure their active
involvement in the Armenian community later in life. “The Armenian
heritage is heavy in literature, architecture, painting, and art,
but dance specifically is interesting because first of all, they
are group dances (shurjpar), so they bring the children together and
their Armenian genes are awaken[ed]; they feel a cultural connection
to the Armenian ethnicity.”

It is no surprise that these children’s hard work is starting to pay
off. In just the past eight months, they have already learned nearly
a dozen traditional dances, and have performed in the West Hartford
Town Hall and the annual Russian Heritage Festival in New York,
in addition to local church events. Their performance alongside the
Arshakyan sisters will be their largest yet. In 2010, the Arshakyans
placed 10th in the European singing competition, Eurovision. Ever
since then, they have toured worldwide, spreading their music to the
diaspora communities.

To learn more about their upcoming event, visit

From: Baghdasarian

‘IMPUNITY MAKES OFFENDER EVEN MORE IMPUDENT’ – PSYCHOLOGIST

Panorama.am
02/07/2012

“It is regrettable, I can’t find the words to express it,” psychologist
Karine Nalchajyan told reporters, commenting on the incident at the
Harsnakar restaurant and the death of military doctor Vahe Avetyan.

“It is degraded people who feel comfortable in degraded societies,
while people who hold real values are forced out of society. Today we
are seriously concerned because unfortunately we see morally degraded
elements in society,” she said.

“It is already good that our society rose against the phenomenon,”
Nalchajyan said. “It is very important that those guilty should be
punished, because impunity makes the offender even more impudent.”

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS THE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE OSCE

ARMRADIO.AM
02.07.2012 18:04

Within the framework of the working visit to Ukraine Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with the President Ukraine,
Viktor Yanukovich. Issues related to the Armenian-Ukrainian bilateral
relations, including the trade-economic cooperation were discussed.

Taking into consideration that Ukraine will assume the OSCE presidency
in 2013, the interlocutors discussed the cooperation within the
framework of the OSCE and the priorities of the Ukrainian chairmanship.

On July 1st Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan joined the President
of Ukraine and other high-ranking officials to watch the final match
of Euro-2012.

From: Baghdasarian

HASNAKAR REACTION: MPS ATTEND AVETYAN FUNERAL BUT SAY INCIDENT “SHOULD NOT BE POLITICIZED”
By Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
02.07.12 | 16:36

The protest against the death of a military doctor Vahe Avetyan who
died after being beaten by security staff at Harsnakar restaurant in
Yerevan continues on this, the day of his funeral.

On June 17, Avetyan was among five men severely beaten by security
at the restaurant complex belonging to several military doctors were
brutally beaten in Harsnaqar restaurant complex, which belongs to
Ruben Hayrapetyan, who is a Member of Parliament, head of the Armenian
Football Federation, and a high-ranking member of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia.

Among those taking part in Avetyan’s funeral were hundreds of ordinary
citizens and political figures, including representatives of the
Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage, and Prosperous Armenia parties.

Naira Zohrabyan, of the Prosperous Armenia Party, said that society
must revolt so that similar tragedies do repeat in the future – as
accusations have been leveled against Hayrapetyan, alleging that he
had his bodyguards assault the men.

“What has happened is terrible. How can an Armenian be so brute and
kill someone with no reason?! We all must push for punishment of all
those who are responsible for his [Avetyan’s] death. But there is no
need to politicize the issue,” Zohrabyan said.

One of the on-line travel agencies in Armenia, Georgia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, ginosi.com joined the protest, too, temporarily
taking out from its website the information on Harsnakar Restaurant
in Yerevan as well as in Harsnakar hotel located near Lake Sevan.

“As a socially responsible company, we have decided to temporarily
suspend Harsnakar’s listing from ginosi.com until an investigation
clarifies as to what exactly has transpired at the Harsnakar Restaurant
on the evening of June 17th which led to the death of Vahe Avetyan,”
ginosi.com said in a statement.

From: Baghdasarian

STRONG OPPOSITION IN KARABAKH
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:32:01 – 02/07/2012

The Armenian mass media is actually ignoring the presidential elections
in Karabakh, either believing the result is predetermined, or having
lost any interest to the peace life in Karabakh at all.

Apparently, Armenia has “joined” the Diaspora which has always treated
Karabakh as a sacred thing, which should be cared for and “weeded”
to exclude any penetration of a tree into the marble of patriotism.

In the meantime, the election campaign is gaining momentum in Karabakh
threatening to bring Karabakh ahead of Armenia in the competition
for democracy. And even if Bako Sahakyan is reelected president,
the atmosphere of the total hypnosis is disappearing in Karabakh.

For already several years, this atmosphere has been penetrating
into all of the sphere of the life – from economy to the human
rights. The owner of a different opinion is considered someone
“sent”, self-promotion is seen as a treachery and breach of unity,
and the truth is the main threat to the stability.

In such a stable pseudo-reality, appears someone who says that the
economy of Karabakh is monopolized be several families, that the
freedom of speech is repressed, and that administrative resources
are used during the elections, that Karabakh needs an active foreign
policy. The stability has been broken, but the former methods of
hypnosis don’t function any more – Vitali Balasanyan can be hardly
accused of “espionage” since he is a hero of the Artsakh war, a
military general. It is difficult to accuse him of the breach of
stability, since elections are meant to point out the shortcomings
of their rivals.

But most importantly: during the campaign meetings it appears that
people are just standing at the start to break the pseudo-stability.

They want that the apartments in Karabakh built with state funds
were not sold on credit through commercial banks, but at least at
market prices. They want that after serving 25 years in the Army,
they could have the possibility to open a small business, and maintain
the family. They want to have a normal foreign minister, who would
live in 2012, not in 1988.

Last presidential elections in Karabakh were really alternative too:
Masis Mayilyan managed to create the image which was accepted by many.

He was so perfect that even his opponents said that his only
shortcoming is his young age and the “glamour”.

In 2004, really democratic elections were held in Karabakh when the
opposition candidate Eduard Aghabekyan was elected Mayor of Stepanakert
(then the opposition was not believed to be spies).

Now, Eduard Aghabekyan, Masis Mayilyan and Vitali Balasanyan are in the
same team, and this is a big force in Karabakh. If we add the desire
of the greater part to come out of the marsh and start a new life,
we may hope for interesting elections in Karabakh. The best result
would be the second round, in which everyone could make their choice.

But the fact that it turned out possible to unite the three politicians
who were not hypnotized (or managed come out of it in time) shows
the necessity for changes. And if this team succeeds in the Karabakh
elections, the process may shift to Armenia, as it has already once
happened.

From: Baghdasarian

THE TRIAL OF ARMENIAN SOLDIER POSTPONED INDEFINABLY

ARMENPRESS
2 July, 2012
YERVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: The regular trial of Armenian national
Sevak Shahin Balekch was postponed for an indefinite time. The trial
was scheduled to take place in Diyarbakır province military court.

As Armenpress reports citing Milliyet newspaper at the course of the
hearing Kvanch Aghaoghlu accused of the murder was asked questions. The
accused was questioned on having bullets in his bag.

At the end of the examination the court announced that court cases
of Kvanch Agatoughlu and Sergeant Ersyoz on his shift that same day ,
were united and postponed for an indefinite time.

Sevak was murdered in 2011 April 24, while serving his compulsory
military duty in the Turkish army by his fellow Kvanch Aghaouglu. The
murder occurred by “accidentally “fired bullet. Sevak parents insist
Sevak was killed for being Armenian.

From: Baghdasarian