Author: Kajoyan Gevork

UN FESTIVAL POUR CELEBRER LES LITTERATURES ARMENIENNES

La Croix

18 Oct 2011
France

Pour les vingt ans de l’independance de ce pays a la culture très
ancienne et a l’histoire tourmentee, le Centre national du livre
organise un festival itinerant sur les lieux de la diaspora.

Ils sont venus d’Armenie, bien sûr, mais aussi des Etats-Unis,
d’Argentine, de Lituanie, d’Estonie et de Roumanie, où la diaspora
armenienne s’est dispersee au fil du XXe siècle. Ils se sont retrouves
a Marseille dimanche 16 octobre, reunis a bord de l’Orient-Express
pour un tour de France particulier ponctue de concerts, de lectures,
de debats et de rencontres avec le public, a Valence, Avignon, Lyon
et Paris, où leurs ancetres s’implantèrent dans les annees 1920,
se specialisant dans la confection ou la bonneterie.

Ces vingt ecrivains ont en partage une terre et une histoire encore
trop meconnue du grand public, malgre les prises de positions de
certains intellectuels, comme le Turc Orhan Pamuk, en faveur de la
reconnaissance du genocide armenien qui fit 1 500 000 morts en 1915.

Mais ils ont aussi et avant tout une culture actuelle vivante et riche
a faire connaître, avec une vision et des perspectives differentes
selon qu’ils vivent encore en Armenie ou a l’etranger.

Ce sont a la fois cette identite commune et ces differences que
le Centre national du livre a voulu offrir a la reflexion avec un
festival herite du principe des Belles etrangères, favorisant le
dialogue et a terme la publication en France d’~uvres armeniennes.

” Armenie, Armenies ” souhaite eclairer par la litterature,
roman ou poesie, la facon dont se sont operees les differentes
reconstructions memorielles après l’abîme de 1915, explique
Alexis Lacroix, animateur de plusieurs debats. Le president du CNL
Jean-Francois Colosimo a souhaite avant tout susciter une reflexion
sur la manière dont se construit une identite diasporique a l’heure
de la mondialisation, imaginant pour cela une manifestation itinerante
et pluridisciplinaire. ”

Reconstruction memorielle et diversite creatrice La programmation
indique une grande diversite creatrice, la richesse d’une culture faite
de litteratures d’expressions armenophone, francophone, hispanophone
et anglophone, sur les cinq continents. Le dialogue instaure par le
festival montre comment l’identite armenienne s’est construite dans
le monde et se diffracte encore aujourd’hui.

Ainsi, lors du debat du 17 octobre, intitule ” Survivre a l’histoire
“, qui reunissait Daniel Arsand et Vahram Martirosyan, ce dernier
a-t-il explique que son rapport a l’histoire n’etait pas exclusivement
centre sur la mediation de 1915, mais aussi et de plus en plus sur les
enjeux des echanges avec d’autres pays voisins, tournes vers le futur.

La demarche de Daniel Arsand, ne en France, est differente. Il vient de
publier un très beau roman racontant les massacres d’Adana en Turquie
en 1909, ne du besoin de rendre a son père armenien les mots dont il
avait manque (Un certain mois d’avril a Adana , Flammarion).

Il a explique durant ce debat n’avoir pris conscience que recemment
de l’importance de la part armenienne en lui, heritee de son père,
malgre une enfance bercee par cette culture, dans la region lyonnaise.

” Cette communaute s’est très bien integree a l’epoque, souligne-t-il,
et cela tout en gardant ses coutumes, sa cuisine, son eglise et sa
langue. On les a appeles ” les Occidentaux du Moyen-Orient “. Je suis
extremement touche par les retours que je recois de lecteurs autour des
debats. C’etait très important pour moi a travers ce livre de decrire
precisement les choses, l’histoire et la culture, mais aussi les
attentes que ce peuple avait en partage avec n’importe quels hommes et
femmes dans le monde, dans un quotidien pourtant impregne de peurs. ”

” Le puzzle d’un monde perdu ” Pour d’autres, le festival est
l’occasion de connaître des lieux foules par leurs ancetres. Ainsi,
dans l’eglise armenienne du Prado a Marseille, le poète americain
Peter Balakian a rendu un vibrant hommage a son grand-oncle Grigoris
Balakian, eveque des Armeniens du Sud de la France, auteur de memoires
eclairants, Le Golgotha armenien , evoquant ” le puzzle d’un monde
perdu “.

” Certains des ecrivains invites ne parlent pas armenien mais se
retrouvent dans une complicite culturelle, explique Antoine Kassan,
programmateur du festival. Comme Peter Balakian decouvrant de nouveaux
elements sur ses origines familiales. Chacun peut discerner ce qu’il
y a d’armenien ou d’universel dans son identite et son ecriture. C’est
cet echange qui est fructueux, et donne l’envie au public de decouvrir
cette culture. La lecture lundi soir 17 octobre a La Criee a Marseille
de textes de la tradition poetique, par Daniel Mesguich et Arevik
Martirossian, a recu un accueil très chaleureux. ”

À mi-parcours, le festival a deja recu un large echo bien au-dela de
la communaute armenienne. Il se terminera samedi 22 et dimanche 23
octobre avec des projections de films d’Atom Egoyan, Robert Guediguian
et Sergueï Paradjanov a Paris. Avant cela, une grande soiree aura
eu lieu jeudi 20 a la Bellevilloise a Paris avec des lectures et un
concert du groupe rock Deleyaman, suivie le lendemain d’une journee
de debat au CNL vendredi et d’un hommage au journaliste Hrant Dink,
conclu par le concert de Soghomon Komitas, ” Voix intemporelles “,
a la Maison de la Radio.

” Armenie-Armenies “, jusqu’au 23 octobre

Auteurs invites : Karen ANTASHYAN (Armenie), Daniel ARSAND (France),
Ana ARZOUMANIAN (Argentine), Peter BALAKIAN (USA), Krikor BELEDIAN
(France), Viken BERBERIAN (USA), Denis DONIKIAN (France), Henrik EDOYAN
(Armenie), Vahe GODEL (Suisse), Vahagn GRIGORIAN (Lituanie), Violet
GRIGORYAN (Armenie), Hovhannes GRIGORYAN, (Armenie) Raymond KEVORKIAN
(France), Gohar MARCOSSIAN (Estonie), Michel MARIAN (France), Vahram
MARTIROSYAN (Armenie), Gaïdz MINASSIAN (France), Claire MOURADIAN
(France), Marc NICHANIAN (USA), Chouchanik THAMRAZIAN (Armenie),
Ara TORANIAN (France), Varujan VOSGANIAN (Roumanie).

Informations sur les reservations et programme complet :

ANDRE MANOUKIAN REVIENT AVEC MELANCHOLOGY!

GreatSong

18 oct 2011

Andre Manoukian publiera le 31 octobre prochain son troisième opus
baptise “Melanchology”. Il fera suite a “So In Love” paru en 2010 et
“Inkala”, son premier album sorti en 2008.

Pour ce nouvel album, l’ex jure de la Nouvelle Star a decide ”
d’explorer ses racines armeniennes avec du Jazz”. Cela a donne
naissance a Melanchology, une etude toute personnelle en douze thèmes,
où le jazzman a voulu ” exprimer sa tristesse en musique, en pouvant
jouer avec et l’ecouter par la suite” a t-il declare, d’ailleurs pour
lui”cela nous guerit de notre propre melancolie”.

“C’est en fouillant vraiment la musique armenienne, que j’ai decouvert
la profondeur de ce sentiment “, a-t-il explique.

Pour ce nouvel opus, Andre Manoukian s’est entoure de grands musiciens
tels que: Christophe Walemme, avec lequel il avait deja travaille sur
“So In Love”, ainsi que de Stephane Huchard a la batterie ou encore
le saxophoniste Herve Gourdiankian

Andre Manoukian sera le 5 decembre prochain a l’Alhambra de Paris,
le 17 mars 2012 aux Arènes De L’agora a Evry et le 26 mai a C.c. La
Passerelle a Fleury Les Aubrais.

Ecoutez Melanchology d’Andre Manoukian!

FRANCE-TURQUIE : POUSSEE DE FIEVRE

Le Monde

18 oct 2011
France

Les relations franco-turques connaissent une nouvelle poussee de fièvre
et, comme a chaque fois depuis 2001, c’est sur la question du genocide
armenien que les deux pays s’echarpent. En Turquie, elus politiques
et commentateurs fustigent a l’unanimite “les lecons d’histoire”
proferees debut octobre par Nicolas Sarkozy, depuis Erevan a 40 km de
la frontière turque. La Turquie doit “regarder son histoire en face”,
a lance le president francais : elle doit reconnaître le genocide
des Armeniens, commis en 1915-1916 par le gouvernement nationaliste
Jeune Turc, dans un Empire ottoman en pleine debâcle.

Cette sortie etait premeditee : “Je vais lancer une grenade
degoupillee”, avait prevenu M. Sarkozy dans l’avion. Mais elle n’a
aucune chance d’etre suivie d’effets positifs de la part d’Ankara
qui, a chaque injonction, se braque un peu plus. Ce n’etait de toute
facon pas le but recherche, ces mots etaient destines a un public
franco-armenien. La reconnaissance par la Turquie doit intervenir
dans un delai reduit, a exige M. Sarkozy, le temps de la campagne
presidentielle, en somme. “Si la Turquie ne le faisait pas, alors
il faudrait sans doute aller plus loin”, a-t-il poursuivi, faisant
reference a une proposition de loi penalisant la negation du genocide,
votee par l’Assemblee nationale en 2005 puis enterree par le Senat.

Nicolas Sarkozy se rallie aujourd’hui au projet socialiste qui
punirait toute personne reconnue coupable de negation du premier
genocide du XXe siècle. En avril 2007, a la veille de son election,
il avait deja fait le serment de s’attacher “enfin a lutter en France
contre toute approche negationniste du genocide armenien”.

Pourtant, un mois plus tard, le conseiller diplomatique de l’Elysee,
Jean-David Levitte, envoye en mission a Ankara, se montrait rassurant
devant les responsables turcs : “M. Sarkozy s’assurera que la
proposition de loi meure au Senat”, aurait-il declare, selon un
telegramme diplomatique americain revele en 2010 par WikiLeaks. C’est
très concrètement ce qui s’est passe. Les organisations armeniennes de
France se sont estimees trahies. Dans la communaute, environ 450 000
personnes, ces nouvelles promesses de campagne sont donc accueillies
avec la plus grande prudence.

Le but pour M. Sarkozy semble surtout de ne pas laisser le champ libre
a son futur adversaire socialiste. A cet egard, Francois Hollande a
un temps d’avance car son engagement en faveur de la reconnaissance
du genocide armenien ne date pas de sa candidature a l’Elysee. Dès
1998, du temps où il occupait le poste de premier secretaire du Parti
socialiste, il avait convaincu Lionel Jospin, alors premier ministre,
de laisser le Parlement legiferer.

La loi reconnaissant le genocide de 1915 fut votee en 2001. Sans
surprise, le candidat socialiste a l’election presidentielle soutient
aujourd’hui le projet de penaliser la negation de ce crime contre
l’humanite, dans le prolongement logique de la loi Gayssot. Depuis
ce temps, M. Hollande qui s’etait rendu en Armenie en 2007, est
reste très proche de la Federation revolutionnaire armenienne,
la FRA Dachnaktsounioun, le parti nationaliste armenien (membre
de l’International socialiste) qui structure, encadre la diaspora,
et mène un lobbying agressif sur le terrain politique, pour faire
avancer sa cause. “Nous avons avec lui des relations de proximite
et d’intimitepolitiques exceptionnelles”, a declare Mourad Papazian,
le dirigeant de la FRA Dachnak en Europe, qui a appele a voter pour M.

Hollande lors de la primaire du Parti socialiste.

Ce n’est pas la première fois que la “question armenienne” fait
irruption dans une campagne electorale francaise. La grenade a, en
fait, ete degoupillee dès 1998, avec le depôt a l’Assemblee nationale
d’une proposition de loi en faveur de “la reconnaissance du genocide
de 1915”. Sa ratification, en 2001, avait entraîne une campagne de
boycottage antifrancais en Turquie. Le combat legislatif avait alors
ete porte, a l’Assemblee comme au Senat, par des parlementaires de
tous bords, elus a Marseille, dans la vallee du Rhône ou dans la
banlieue sud de Paris, tous issus de circonscriptions abritant une
forte communaute armenienne. Non sans arrière-pensees electoralistes.

Depuis que le sujet est a l’agenda parlementaire, plusieurs historiens,
dont Pierre Nora qui preside l’association Liberte pour l’histoire, se
sont eleves contre les “lois memorielles” qui, selon eux, risquent de
verrouiller tout debat historique. Pour Hubert Vedrine, “ce n’est pas
par des lois ou des injonctions que l’on fera changer la Turquie”. Les
defenseurs de la loi opposent a cet argument une position ethique,
une reconnaissance inconditionnelle de la realite du genocide armenien,
comme c’est le cas pour la Shoah.

Une hierarchie de fait s’est installee entre les differents genocides
du XXe siècle. Or, au nom du principe d’egalite devant la loi,
les citoyens francais d’origine armenienne reclament une protection
legale. Mais, a l’evidence, la reflexion doit d’abord se degager de
tout opportunisme electoral, sous peine de perdre toute credibilite.

Elle doit bien sûr s’ecarter de toute pression, qu’elle emane d’Ankara
ou des groupes politiques qui contrôlent la diaspora armenienne,
sans apparaître comme une sanction contre la Turquie. Elle doit
surtout s’effectuer dans une meilleure comprehension des dynamiques
qui traversent la societe turque, où le mot genocide n’est plus
totalement tabou.

WIKILEAKS: TURKISH AUTHORITIES ARE TOO DISTURBED WITH PROGRAMS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Times.am
Oct 18 2011

Here is another document released by scandalous Wikileaks about
Turkish policy towards Armenian Genocide, which Times.am presents
without any changes.

“Turkish MFA Deputy Director General for Security Affairs Sakir
Torunlar called us in April 18, under instructions, to express concern
about a program they had heard would be aired on Iraqi TV station Al
Hurra soon regarding allegations of Armenian genocide. Torunlar said
that, were this a commercial station with advertisers, it might be
understandable, but al Hurra appears to be congressionally funded.

This was neither the appropriate time nor the appropriate audience,
he emphasized, for such a film. If it made it into the Turkish press,
the reactions would be very unpleasant. Deputy U/S Haydar Berk,
in a separate meeting, made similar points to the Ambassador.

¶2. (SBU) We shared information that the Turkish desk in Washington
had been in touch with the programmers, who had reviewed the film
for balance. We stressed that it would be the station’s call, not
the Embassy’s or the State Department’s. We noted that there is an
issue of freedom of the press.

We pointed out that these sorts of issues will continue to arise until
Turkey and Armenia take concrete steps toward normalizing relations.

¶3. (SBU) Comment: The MFA’s attention to detail shows continuing
Turkish sensitivities on this issue. It is one of the prisms through
which they view the world and will continue until the sore is lanced.

We hope that can occur after parliamentary elections later this year
and formation of a new government with a fresh mandate.

END SUMMARY”.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PROJECTS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE COMPLETED, SAYS PUTIN

Tert.am
18.10.11

There should be no doubts that all the Russian-Armenian joint projects
will be completed fully, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has
said at a meeting with his Armenia counterpart Tigran Sargsyan.

“I would like to emphasize that the Armenian-Russian bilateral economic
relations do not develop badly,” said Putin at the meeting that took
place in Kostantinovsky Palace in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday.

“Russian capital investments in Armenia’s economy are on the increase
to a total of $3billion in your country. We are now working to improve
Armenia’s transport system,” said Putin.

Further, he reminded that the investments by the Russian gas monopoly
Gazprom make a total of $1.6 billion in Armenia.

“There should be no doubt that the joint bilateral projects will be
completed fully. I am glad for our meeting that will contribute to
the further, development of relations with Armenia,” said Russia’s
strongman Putin.

Tigran Sargsyan, in turn, thanked Putin for the reception and said
there is a good dynamics in Russian-Armenian relations.

“Russian companies feel safe in Armenia. There are more than 1200
companies with Russian capital in our country with their growth rate
being satisfactory,” said Sargsyan.

“The exporting potential of the companies with Russian capital
is gradually increasing, and that is very gratifying,” said he,
adding that the profitability of those companies has reached its
highest level.

“I would like to emphasize that our joint projects are being
successfully implemented and there are no failed ones,” said Tigran
Sargsyan, who also thanked Putin for the $500 million loan Armenia
received from Russia in 2009.

LARIJANI DEPARTS ZURICH FOR TEHRAN

IRNA
October 18, 2011
ZURICH

Zurich, Oct 18, IRNA – Majlis speaker Ali Larijani, after delivering
speech in international security and peace committee of the 125th
meeting of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) departed here for Tehran
on Tuesday evening.

Larijani, heading a parliamentary delegation, arrived in Bern on
Sunday to attend the 125th meeting of IPU.

During his stay, Larijani met with Swiss president, parliament speaker
and cantons speaker and discussed issues of mutual interest with them.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Larijani also met with
counterparts from Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Colombia, Armenia, Iraq,
and Bosni-Herzegovina and discussed bilateral ties and international
developments with them.

FINANCE MINISTER: WB FINDS ARMENIA’S FOREIGN DEBT STABLE

/ARKA/
October 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign debt stability is
estimated as satisfactory in the World Bank’s report on Armenia’s
public expenditure, tax and budgetary consolidation and recovery,
Armenian Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan said Tuesday answering
ARKA News Agency’s question.

The WB has prepared this report jointly with Armenian finance ministry
and the state revenue committee.

The report briefly presents macroeconomic situation in Armenia and
analyses latest developments related to the country’s foreign debt
and their impacts on tax and budgetary consolidation putting special
emphasis on the necessity to enlarge revenue and enhance effectiveness
of expenses.

“As a whole, the debt is controllable, but it doesn’t mean that we
can, for example, double it and that this debt will remain in a good
state also under no stable economic growth,” Gabrielyan said at a
news conference.

He said that the WB analysis contains the results of some stress
tests conducted to reveal possible debt problems, if any.

The report also states that taking into account that Armenia formed
a wide tax-budgetary deficit and low level of state debt while
resisting the crisis, it can be stated that the country is in need
of tax-budgetary consolidation, which however shouldn’t be ensured
at the account of stable economic growth.

World Bank Country Director Yvonne Tsikata, speaking at the same news
conference, said that Armenia faced additional expenses, and it was
the price the country has paid to ward off the crisis. This situation
is usual for the East Europe and the Central Asia.

That is why, she said, the report considers foreign debt dynamics,
stresses the necessity of fiscal consolidation and recommends to
narrow deficit and to take certain steps putting special emphasis on
budget revenue.

Tsikata refrained from macroeconomic forecasts saying it is quite
difficult to predict something amid the current volatility in East
Europe’s economies.

According to the latest official statistical reports, Armenia’s total
debt amounted to AMD 1455.4 billion in late June. Of this amount,
AMD 185.6 billion was domestic debt and AMD 1269.8 billion or $3442.6
million was foreign debt. ($1 = AMD 375.4).

RPA MEMBER SAYS SERZH SARGSYAN’S WIN IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE OF TOP PRIORITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 18, 2011 – 13:59 AMT

Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is determined to win the
absolute majority at parliamentary election as well as secure Serzh
Sargsyan’s victory in presidential race, according to RPA member.

“RPA is a leading political force in Armenia. We aim to win absolute
majority at next parliamentary campaign with people’s support,”
Gagik Melikyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

“Securing Serzh Sargsyan’s victory at presidential race is our ultimate
priority,” Melikyan said.

A WEEK OF MARKETING IN THE FRAMES OF THE PROGRAM “PHILLIP KOTLER IN ARMENIA: 11.11.11” TO START FROM NOVEMBER 11

/ARKA/
October 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. A week of marketing in the frames of the
program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia: 11.11.11” starts from November
11, said Program Manager Armen Sargsyan during the meeting with the
students of Armenian institute of tourism.

“Representatives of large companies from 15 countries – Russia,
Ukraine, Georgia, Iran and Turkey will participate in the conference.

Exhibitions will be organized where their experience in marketing
will be presented”, said Sargsyan.

Master classes of world marketing guru Phillip Kotler will be
conducted separately for the categories of registered persons –
students, pupils, marketing specialists and corporate executives.

During the visit of Kotler to Armenia regional center of marketing
of Phillip Kotler will be opened where population of Armenia and its
regions can be trained.

“The center assumes post-graduate training of marketing specialists
who can pass a two-year or more intensive course of marketing”,
said Sargsyan.

This structure will become a new opportunity for representing Armenia
in the region as a center of high quality education.

Prior to Kotler’s visit, from September, organization of conferences
and a talk-show on TV on marketing issues is envisaged.

Over 2 thousand marketing and management specialists and businessmen
from Armenia, as well as about 500 guests from Russia, Belarus, Iran,
Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Finland and Austria
will participate in the conference.

The program “Phillip Kotler in Armenia 11.11.11” initiated by AMA
aims at a certain activation in this sphere.

The program should provide dynamic development of Armenia and transfer
from extensive economy to developed and prosperous economy. It
also aims to change perceptions about the role and importance of
marketing in Armenia, introduction of new modern business rules with
new marketing tools, including programs Kotler-Marketing 3.0.

>From November 7-12, 2011 in Armenia with the support and cooperation
of the authorities of AMA will be held a week of marketing, which
will bring together about 2000 representatives of large regional and
international marketing organizations, including from Iran, Turkey,
Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

HANDMADE BUSINESS: SELLING BIJOU THOROUGH ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS BECOMES POPULAR TREND IN ARMENIA
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN

ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 14:42

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow intern

Online social networks, particularly Facebook, that have grown to
have their own place in Armenia in recent years, have become a unique
business platform where many youngsters take their first steps.

There are more than two dozen pages and groups of people on Facebook
who deal with handmade works, and present their collections, making
them accessible for potential consumers.

Enlarge Photo

Though there is a special place in Yerevan, called Vernisage, an
open-air market of handmade items, however, many young people prefer
to do their small business on online social networks, which is free
from taxation and other problems of different nature.

“About a year ago I started making and painting earrings, armlets,
necklaces and posting their photos on Facebook. There were many
responds. Now I have more than 30 orders a month, and my works are
priced from 1,500 drams (about $4) to 8,000-10,000 drams (about $
21-$26) depending on the size and complication of the order,” says
22-year-old Alla, who is a trained specialist in international affairs.

Wooden and clay necklaces, armlets and other accessories presented
online have evoked some great interest. On the one hand they promote
the demand in handmade works, and on the other hand by their existence
they push poor quality, artless and sparkling jewelry out of the
market.

“About seven-eight years ago very few people made bijouterie, because
it was not properly appreciated here, there were very few people who
were interested in it. Many people saw no value in works made of wood,
plastic materials, and they did not ‘waste’ their money on them.

However, recently, maybe because of the Internet’s being so accessible,
this work has become more appreciated, and the business has become
quite profitable,” says 24-year-old architect-designer Mariam, who
now makes puppets instead of handmade bijouterie.

Mariam, who made her first puppet for her friend leaving for the
United States, has already made more than 100 puppets, which are
unique souvenirs.

Prices of her puppets range from 3,000 drams (about $8) to 20,000
drams (about $53) depending on the size and complication of the
presented character.

Lusine Ghazaryan, 36, resident of Armenia’s remote Artik town,
started making pillows and bed accessories, painting them herself
when her first baby was born.

“When my baby was born, I decided to make her pillow and coverlet by
my own hands. First, I did it to get self-satisfaction, but later
I saw that people are interested in what I make, and I decided to
expand my activities,” says Lusine, who is a painter by profession.

Currently many people are into making handmade objects, and in spite
of the fact that from the very beginning they all have done it for
their pleasure and self-expression only, now they can earn money
applying the talent of their own hands. They sell their creations
both through new and modern channels (Internet and social networks)
and old and traditional means (at shops).

There are shops of handmade works in Yerevan; the Univermag shopping
center opened in one of Yerevan’s central streets joined them just
a few months ago. This two-story small shop was founded when a few
friends were united around the idea of “creating an art platform”. All
samples put up for sale in the shop are handmade and created in
Armenia.

“There are quite interesting handmade works here, which cannot be
found in common shops. This shop is a unique place for exhibiting
and selling works created by people who are interested in handmade
objects. This shop also develops taste,” says Melik Karapetyan,
director of the Univermag shopping center.

The shopping center, which cooperates with about 60 authors, has a
so-called ‘author’s day’, when every Wednesday the shop hosts one
of authors who collaborate with it, giving them an opportunity to
present their works personally and communicate with visitors.