ALEKSAN HAROUTYUNYAN UNANIMOUSLY REELECTED FOR POST OF CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF
RA PUBLIC TV AND RADIO
Yerevan, February 2. ArmInfo. Aleksan Haroutyunyan, appointed a member
of the Board of Public TV and Radio of Armenia by RA President, has
been unanimously reelected today for the post of the Chairman of the
Board for 6 years.
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
February 2, 2007
Theological Dialogue in the Vatican
ROME: The International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue
established five years ago between the Ancient (Oriental) Orthodox Churches
and the Roman Catholic Church has convened its regular plenary meeting from
January 28 through February 3, 2007.
The main theme for this year’s annual meeting is "The Mission of the
Church". Due to ongoing security problems in the Middle East, the
originally scheduled presentation of the joint paper on "Ecclesiology" has
been delayed.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has appointed His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian and His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian as the permanent representatives of the Armenian
Church in this ongoing dialogue. The two bishops are currently in the
Vatican participating in the meetings.
Upon the invitation of His Holiness Karekin II, last year’s meeting of the
Joint Commission took place in Holy Etchmiadzin.
TSAKHKADZOR ANNOUNCED TOURISM CENTER
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 1 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the 2007 program of Armenian tourism
development and the list of measures on the program’s implementation,
NT was informed from the RA Government Information and PR Department.
The purpose of the program is to develop tourism in Armenia by
improving the quality of tourist services, creating a modern
competitive tourism product and exporting it to international tourism
market. The program envisages a 20-22% increase in the number of
tourists to Armenia in 2007 compared with 2006, thus increasing the
number of tourist visits to 400 thousand.
The system of measures programmed for 2007 includes the following
directions: improvement of the information and advertizing system of
the tourism sector, development of international cooperation in the
tourism sphere, conducting marketing surveys, collection of the
necessary administrative statistical data through the introduction of
a modern information system – with the aim of creating the basis for
long-term programs.
By another decision of the Armenian government, the city of
Tsakhkadzor has been announced a tourism center. The decision was made
as a result of implementation of the program on solution of target
problems "Tsakhkadzor as Tourism Center in Line with International
Standards" in accordance with the list of measures.
The RA Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Ara Petrosian
told reporters after the sitting that international experience shows
that every city declared as a tourism center is included in a number
of programs and its historical and cultural monuments are preserved.
According to A. Petrosian, it is envisaged to allocate 180 mln drams
(about 500 thousand USD) for the purpose of advertizing Armenian
tourism by CNN and Euronews channels. 70 mln drams from state
resources will be allocated for Armenian tourism agencies’
participation in various international exhibitions.
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
Feb 1 2007
Armenians Complain of Labour Exploitation
Employees consent to illegal working conditions for fear of losing
their jobs.
By Lilit Harutiunian in Yerevan
Zara, 20, a resident of Yerevan knows that she is being exploited by
her employers – but also says that there is nothing she can do about
it.
"I work from nine in the morning till nine in the evening,’ said Zara
(not her real name), a shop assistant. `We do not have an official
lunch break or chance to relax. We eat in the small room where we
change our clothes and we get ten minutes to do so. I get terribly
tired – but it’s still better than sitting at home without money."
A high unemployment rate in Armenia – officially less than ten per
cent but generally agreed to be much higher – means that unscrupulous
employers pay scant regard to labour regulations. The country’s
labour code stipulates an eight-hours day, but in practice most
people work much longer hours.
According to Article 139 of the code, a normal working week should
last no more than 40 hours; and employees should be given breaks to
eat and rest and be paid overtime if they work more than the set
number of hours.
The reality of Zara’s life is very different. She found it very
difficult to get a job, as there were few vacancies and she had no
work experience. She had wanted to go to university but her parents
were unable to pay for her studies.
Now Zara works in a cut-price shop on the outskirts of Yerevan that
sells clothes, food, and household goods. She earns 1,500 drams (4.50
US dollars) a day for her 12-hour shift; she has only one day off a
week; and has never had any holiday leave while she has worked there.
The director of the shop where Zara works refused to comment on the
working conditions of his employees and his failure to pay them any
overtime.
Boris Kharatian, deputy chairman of the Armenian Confederation of
Trade Unions, says that cases like this are extremely prevalent.
"Employers make up for deficits by taking the money from their
employees’ salaries but, of course, shop owners deny this,’ Kharatian
told IWPR. `In the meantime, citizens come to us for legal advice on
being forced to work longer hours, but no one wants to resolve their
problems with our help or in courts.
`They do not trust the courts or they do not want to waste time,
preferring to solve their problems with the help of their own
relatives and acquaintances or just find another job.’
Karine (also not her real name) is 19. She works for more than ten
hours a day in a Yerevan shop and is given only one day off a week.
She said she had no idea that she works more hours than are legal and
that she should have signed an employment contract setting out her
rights and obligations when she was hired.
The manager of the shop where Karine works denied the allegation that
his employees work long hours and insisted the working conditions
were in compliance with the law.
Karine herself is not complaining. "I earn 1,300 drams (four dollars)
a day and I do not want to lose this job,’ she told IWPR. `I do not
care much about the contract and the fact that I will not be
receiving a pension when I am old. My grandfather’s pension isn’t
enough to buy bread."
Karine said that she spent a long time unemployed and that many of
her friends are unable to find even a job like hers.
"In a situation of unemployment people agree to any conditions to
earn money,’ said Hermine Avetisian, a lawyer with the public
organisation Against Legal Abuse. `Many people do not care about
their own health, if they manage to find a job. They are content that
they can earn the money to satisfy at least their basic needs."
Donara Nazarian, 46, says she is distressed that her two daughters
spend all day working in a shop – but concedes that she can’t see any
alternative. She has been unemployed for many years, her husband
earns only 20,000 drams (55 dollars) a month and the money the two
young women bring in is vital for the family.
"For two years now, they have come back from work so tired that the
only thing they are able to do is to sleep," said Donara.
Officials targeting exploitation by employers concede that the
sanctions they have at their disposal at the moment are quite weak.
Satenik Dabaghian, spokesperson for Armenia’s state labour
inspectorate, said they had exposed 2,300 cases of illegal employment
practices last year and fined all the employees concerned.
"Unfortunately, punishment for this violation is not very strict, a
fine of only 100,000 drams (290 dollars)," said Gurgen Malkhasian,
deputy head of the inspectorate. `I think it is impossible to fully
eliminate this in the near future due to social and economic
problems. However, I think that the creation of the state labour
inspectorate is a major step towards resolving the problem.’
The state labour inspectorate was set up 18 months ago by the labour
ministry to protect workers’ rights and provide free consultation for
employees.
Gagik Bleian, head of the labour department in Armenia’s labour and
social affairs ministry, said that his department has recently
submitted a new draft law to the government proposing tougher fines
of 1,000 dollars for employers who break the law.
However, opposition parliamentary deputy and former prime minister
Vazgen Manukian believes legislation is not the answer.
"Our legislation is not bad but the problem is that it does not
work,’ he said. `People are afraid of losing jobs, as half of the
people who are able to work cannot find jobs; the courts are corrupt;
and trade unions are idle. That’s why people agree to work like this
and keep silent or else they emigrate.’
Lilit Harutiunian is a freelance journalist based in Yerevan.
FOUR FOREIGN CITIZENS RECEIVE STATUS OF REFUGEES IN 2006 IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, 645 foreign citizens
submitted applications to RA Territorial Government Ministry Staff’s
Migration Agency’s Department of Refuge Seekers. 623 out of the
applications were submitted for receiving temporary refuge, 22 for
receiving status of refugees. As agency head Gagik Yeganian said at
the January 31 press conference, four persons were given status of
refugees. 275 out of those seeking for temporary refuge are citizens
of Iraq, 279 Lebanon, 69 Israel. It was mentioned that all applicants
seeking for temporary refuge and being in Armenia are given right of
refuge for one year.
In G.Yeganian’s words, the number of people seeking for refuge almost
doubled in 2006 as compared with the previous year.
AZG Armenian Daily #018, 01/02/2007
Hrant Dink Murder
DISCOVERY OF THE VERY DETAILS OF THE HRANT DINK’S
MURDER IS A HOLY TASK OF TURKEY’S AUTHORITIES
On Janury 24, Recep Tayip Erdogan, Priem Miniaster of
Turkey, meeting witrh the widow of Hrant Dink, Rachel
Dink, and the Constantinopole Patriarch Mesrob II
Mutafian, severely criticized the Turkish nationalists
and said that violence and murder can by no means
serve to the benefit of a nation. To this the
National-Republican Part of Turkey replied that Turkey
is a nationalistic country and nationalism is the
foundation of the Turkish statehood. "For sure we are
nationalistic and we love our nation. Let no one think
that he can humiliate the honor and pride of our
nation," declared party leader Deniz Baykal. The Prime
Minister on January 30 made a second statement, which
said that the turkish people must be vigilant of the
threat against the peace, security and the integrity
of the State. He warned that such evil intentions can
be easily hidden under the banners of patriotism. He
concluded that discovery of the very details of the
Hrant Dink’s Murder is a Holy Task of Turkey’s
law-enforcement bodies.
KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS: "SURB NERSES SHNORHALI" ORDERS GIVEN TO MIKAYEL
HAROUTIUNIAN AND SEYRAN OHANIAN
ETCHMIADZIN, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Surb (Saint) Liturgy was
celebrated at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on January 28 on the
occasion of the Army Day and 15th anniversary of the Armenian Army. The
Liturgy was celebrated by His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians. The officiating priest at mass was Bishop
Ararat Galtagchian. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information
Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, an official reception
also took place at the Patriarchate during which the Catholicos of All
Armenians decorated RA Armed Forces Headquarters General Chief Colonel
General Mikayel Haroutiunian and NKR Defence Minister Lieutenant
General Seyran Ohanian with the "Surb Nerses Shnorhali" high orders of
honour of the Armenian Apostolic Surb (Saint) Church.
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Jan 27 2007
Gul reproves Douste-Blazy on French passage of Armenian bill
The New Anatolian / Paris
27 January 2007
Meeting with his French counterpart in Paris on Thursday, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul expressed criticisms and concerns about the
French Parliament’s passage of a bill last October to penalize people
who question the Armenian genocide claims.
"France is following the wrong path in relations with Turkey," Gul
told French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy on the sidelines of the
International Donors Conference held in Paris. "The French
Parliament’s passage of the Armenian bill was in nobody’ interest."
Underlining the damage done to relations between Ankara and Paris by
the passage of the Armenian bill, Gul said, "Relations with France
could have been better."
The French Parliament voted last October in favor of an Armenian bill
that introduces prison terms of up to one year and fines of up to
45,000 euros to those who question the genocide claims. The bill must
be approved by both the other house of the French legislature and the
president in order to become a law.
Foreign Minister Gul also met with U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
on the sidelines of the conference. While the latest developments in
Iraq and Lebanon and the fight against terrorism dominated Gul’s
talks with Rice, reconstruction efforts and further contributions by
Turkey and Germany to the development of Lebanon dominated Gul’s
talks with Steinmeier.
ARF Washington Sebouh Committee
AYF Washington Ani Chapter
ANC Greater Washington Chapter
4906 Flint Drive
Bethesda, MD 20816
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2007
Contact: Serouj Aprahamian
Email: [email protected]
Washington DC Area Armenian Americans Condemn Assassination of
Hrant Dink
Vigil at Turkish Embassy Calls for Armenian Genocide Recognition;
End to Repression of Free Speech in Turkey
WASHINGTON, DC Some 100 Armenian Americans from throughout the
Greater Washington DC area braved the snow and freezing
temperatures on Sunday, January 21, to honor slain Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and call on the Turkish Government to end its
92 year international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial. The
vigil was organized the ARF Washington Sebouh Gomideh, ANC of
Greater Washington, and AYF Washington Ani Chapter.
The crowd gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy just two days
after Dink, a respected journalist and free speech advocate, was
gunned down outside his "Agos" newspaper office in Istanbul,
Turkey. Dink had long been persecuted by the Turkish government
for his calls for Armenian Genocide recognition, and was convicted
last year for "insulting Turkishness" under Turkey’s notorious
Article 301 law restricting free speech. Nobel prize winner Orhan
Pamuk, publisher Ragip Zarakolu and novelist Elif Shafak are just
some of the many writers who have also been prosecuted according to
the same repressive law.
During remarks at the vigil, AYF Ani Chapter chairman Serouj
Aprahamian stated, "Many are saying that Dink was killed by
ultranationalists who considered his statements to be insulting
Turkey’s honor and threatening its unity. But this is not just the
position of some so-called ‘ultranationalists’; it is the official
position of the Turkish government which prosecuted and condemned
Dink for his stance on the Armenian Genocide." Aprahamian
continued to note that,"It is the shameless policy of Genocide
denial perpetrated by Ankara which is the real problem and that is
what we must continue to fight against."
Other speakers at the vigil included ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of the Soorp Khatch
Armenian Church, who led the vigil participants in prayer in memory
of Dink. In a statement issued immediately upon news of Dink’s
assassination, Hamparian noted that, ""Hrant Dink’s murder is
tragic proof that the Turkish government – through its campaign of
denial, threats and intimidation against the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide – continues to fuel the same hatred and
intolerance that initially led to this crime against humanity more
than 90 years ago."
Earlier on Sunday, Fr. Aktavoukian had held a special requiem
service in memory of Hrant Dink at Soorp Khatch Church.
#####
Photo Caption:
Photo1.jpg: Washington DC area Armenian Americans urge Turkish
government to end international genocide denial campaign in wake of
Dink assassination.
Photo2.jpg: Armenian Americans protest Article 301 and 305
repression of free speech restrictions, under which Dink was
prosecuted prior to his murder.
Permission of NKR authorities needed for sending mission to Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.01.2007 19:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The permission of the NKR authorities is the only
one essential for sending a mission meant for establishment of trust
in Karabakh, said RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian when
responding to PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question. In his words,
Yerevan closely watches the latest initiatives led by Mr Mingarelli,
the director of the EU office for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus
and Central Asia "The RA Foreign Ministry expects the projects under
discussion to lead to peaceful agreement. We give a positive estimation
to Europe’s engagement in the region, specifically the EU’s interest
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Karapetian said.
Earlier, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus said that
the EU is ready to send a mission to Nagorno Karabakh if Baku issues
an appropriate permission.