Author: Kajoyan Gevork

PAGAN RITUAL HELD ON MOUNT NEMRUT

Daily Sabah, Turkey
July 4 2014

A group of 34 Armenian tourists held a religious ceremony after they
watched the sun rise over the spectacular Mount Nemrut in Adıyaman. As
a part of their Anatolia tour, the pagan tourists arrived to the
district of Kahta, where Mount Nemrut is located. The group climbed to
the top of the mountain reaching up to 2,606 meters. Armenian people
residing in Kahta accompanied the tourists.

The religious ceremony led by a priest known as a “kurm” started with
heating a number of knives in a special bowl. It ended in roughly an
hour after the rites were completed, and then the participants were
offered some tastes of traditional Armenian cuisine. In his statement
to reporters, tourist Gagik Hayrabetyan said Mount Nemrut and Van
province are two important sacred places for Armenian pagans. “For
us, Mount Nemrut symbolizes peace. We will continue our religious
ceremonies every year on this divine landscape,” he said.

The group includes people from different professions such as
businessmen, authors, soldiers, doctors and musicians. The Armenian
tourists wished peace for all mankind. As one of the most popular
travel destinations, Mount Nemrut is the temple-tomb and house of
the gods built by the late Hellenistic King Antiochus I of Commagene.

ACCOUNTING OF CONFISCATED TURKISH CHURCHES SOUGHT

Glendale News Press, CA
July 4 2014

Area’s Armenian community leaders applaud as bill passes through the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Brittany Levine July 4, 2014 | 11:11 a.m.

Armenian community leaders in Glendale and Burbank are cheering
this week as a congressional bill that calls for an accounting of
confiscated Christian churches, monasteries, and other religious
properties in Turkey and their eventual return to their former
Christian owners has transcended an initial hurdle.

The bill, called the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act,
passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last week. Although the
bill has several more steps to go, including getting on the schedule to
be reviewed by the full House of Representatives, Armenian community
leaders are inspired by its progress, tying it to a larger fight for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-18 at the hands of the
Ottoman Turks.

“The issue of the genocide has been muffled. It has been muted,”
Armen Hovannisian, president of the Armenian Bar Assn., said by phone
this week. “This is a wonderful change, a breathtaking inspiration.”

Although American government officials have individually recognized
the genocide, American presidents and Turkish leaders have not.

Hovannisian said the bill was a welcome sign as Armenians worldwide
will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the genocide next year.

Turkish authorities, though, denounced the bill.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry lashed out last week, condemning the
bill in a statement for its “groundless criticism, false information
and baseless accusations on the situation of Christian heritage in
Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

The statement goes on to describe bill proponents as “anti-Turkish
circles in the U.S. Congress” and no matter how far it goes, it is
“null and void as far as Turkey is concerned.”

It’s not unusual for Congress to pass a bill requesting action from
another nation that may be adverse to the initiative, Hovannisian said.

According to the bill, introduced by Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York), Christian communities have faced many
obstacles to regain control over stolen and confiscated properties,
some of which have been destroyed or converted into mosques, storage
facilities or museums. Although Turkish authorities have worked to
return some properties in the past, there is more to be done, the
bill states.

In addition to the Armenian Bar Assn., Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Western Prelacy headquartered in La Crescenta, Rev. Joseph Matossian,
minister to the Armenian Evangelical United of North America based in
Glendale, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church of North America located in Burbank and the
Armenian National Committee of America supported the bill.

“With profound thanks and gratitude we salute this righteous and bold
decision by the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” Mardirossian said
in a statement Thursday. “With hopeful anticipation we look forward
to the day when our sacred properties are returned to their rightful
owners and all religious and ethnic minorities can live in peace
without threat of persecution.”

Matossian echoed his optimism.

“It’s not a show. Hopefully it will proceed, but it needs to be
pursued. Perseverance is important, focusing on the issue is important
and marching forward,” he said. “I believe in going all the way. You
just don’t start the match or tournament or something just to stop
as it gets a little tough.”

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ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PREMIERS TO MEET IN SOCHI SOON

YEREVAN, July 3. / ARKA /. Armenian and Russian prime ministers, Hovik
Abrahamyan and Dmitry Medvedev, will meet on July 11 in Sochi, Russia.

Abrahamyan said that he will discuss a wide range of issues with his
Russian counterpart.

He also didn’t rule out that agreements may be signed for changing
rules of Armenian citizens and labor migrants’ staying in Russia’s
territory.

The two countries’ governments are now discussing the draft
agreements. -0—

– See more at:

DES AVANTAGES FISCAUX POUR LES PME AFIN DE SAUVER DE NOMBREUSES ENTREPRISES

ARMENIE

Le gouvernement a lance une baisse de l’impôt sur le chiffre d’affaires
afin de soutenir les petites et entreprises familiales. Si cela n’aide
pas leur nombre a augmenter cela va sûrement permettre de ralentir
leur diminution ce qui a ete le cas au cours des dernières annees,
disent les experts.

A la fin de la semaine dernière, le Parlement a approuve un train de
mesures legislatives afin de faire des changements et des ajouts a
la loi sur >, en liberant les
entreprises familiales des impôts et une baisse des impôts pour les
petites entreprises de 3,5 a 1 pour cent.

> a
declare Karen Chilingaryan, le chef de centre Consumers Consulting
aux journalistes.

Avec la creation de conditions plus rentables pour les petites
entreprises l’annee prochaine le gouvernement devrait mettre en place
un contr̫le plus important sur les factures Рa partir de mises en
garde, jusqu’a forcer a payer la TVA après la quatrième infraction.

Cependant M.Chilingaryan ne voit pas cela comme un problème, parce que
le gouvernement propose egalement des mecanismes. >.

Pour continuer son soutien aux petites et moyennes entreprises
(PME), le gouvernement envisage des moyens de fournir aux PME
des caisses enregistreuses d’une nouvelle generation gratuites ou
avec compensation, qui seront finances pour les entreprises avec
un maximum de chiffre d’affaire de 100 millions de drams a declare
le vice-ministre des Finances Armen Alaverdyan lors de la session
du gouvernement.

Les efforts du gouvernement sont orientes vers l’activite economique en
Armenie et afin de surmonter la baisse des indices de l’environnement
des affaires au cours des dernières annees.

Selon les donnees de la Banque centrale, meme si en 2013 les
indices d’activite de l’entreprise armeniens etaient de l’ordre
de la stabilite, cela n’a pas encourage les hommes d’affaires a
investir et developper leur entreprise. Comme raison de la baisse
des investissements au cours des deux dernières annees, les hommes
d’affaires ont mentionne la baisse de la demande interne, la
legislation fiscale et la concurrence interne.

En outre, au cours des recentes annees les entreprises ont non
seulement echoue a se developper, mais elles ont aussi ferme. Selon
le Service National de la Statistique, en Armenie en 2012, il y avait
19 022 centres commerciaux de vente au detail, en 2013 plus que 17
091, près de 2000 en moins. Plus precisement, au cours d’une annee,
plus de 1 500 magasins et 400 stands ont ferme.

Par Sara Khojoyan

ArmeniaNow

vendredi 4 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

NOUVEAU SITE SCIENTIFIQUE SUR LE LAC SEVAN

ARMENIE

Arminfo, Armenpress, Panorama.am et plusieurs chaînes de television
rendent compte de la presentation aux medias, a l’occasion d’une
conference de presse dans cette Ambassade, du site internet en trois
langues (francais, anglais et armenien) elabore
par l’Ambassade de France, la Fondation humanitaire suisse KASA, en
concertation avec l’Academie des sciences d’Armenie. Le projet vise
a faire connaitre le lac, ses richesses, les problèmes ecologiques
qui se posent mais aussi de debattre la question de son avenir et de
favoriser la recherche de solutions de developpement durable. Le site,
principalement destine aux scolaires, propose un contenu pedagogique
sur l’environnement du lac Sevan (faune, flore, histoire, economie
du lac, industrie) et intègre des outils innovants comme un jeu de
societe interactif. La presentation officielle du site aura lieu en
septembre prochain sur les bords du lac.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 27 juin 2014

vendredi 4 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE MUSEE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN ACCUEILLE UN FESTIVAL DU FILM

ARMENIE

L’Institut- Musee du Genocide armenien d’Erevan a ouvert son premier
festival de cinema international en matière de films religieux,
nomme Fresco Film Festival.

Le directeur du Musee Hayk Demoyan a presente le film hollywoodien
“Auction of Souls”, le premier film sur le genocide armenien, lors
de l’ouverture du festival du film. Le film a ete produit par Oscar
Apfel et a ete projete une première fois le 16 Fevrier 1919, a l’Hôtel
Plaza a New York. Le film est base sur le livre “Ravished Armenia”,
un documentaire sur la vie d’Arshaluys Martikanyan qui a ete temoin
du genocide armenien a Chmshkatsag.

Le festival du film mettra en vedette sept films sur le genocide
armenien et l’Holocauste en provenance d’Israël, d’Armenie et d’Italie.

jeudi 3 juillet 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

AHAR.AZ: SON OF BAKU MAYOR, WHO IS ACCUSED OF HAVING TIES WITH WAHHABIS, IS ARRESTED OR HAS FLED THE COUNTRY

12:34 02/07/2014 ” LAW

Information is spread in Azerbaijan that allegedly the son of the mayor
of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov – Israfil Abutalibov, who is suspected
of having ties with the Wahhabis, has been arrested or has fled
the country.

According to the Azerbaijani news portal “Axar.az” a reliable source
told that last week during the joint operation of the Ministry of
National Security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan
held in “Lezgi mosque”, located in the historic city of Baku, Israfil
Abutalibov was arrested.

The portal notes that for a long time, the Azerbaijani media write
that Israfil Abutalibov helps Wahhabis to immigrate to Syria and to
fight against the governmental troops. It is noted that during the
operation in the “Lezgi mosque” the law enforcement officers had
questioned the believers about Israfilov Abutalibov.

According to the article, on June 20 the MNB officers and the Interior
Ministry of Azerbaijan arrested 20 Wahhabis in “Lezgi mosque.” This
information was confirmed by the ministries.

Israfil Abutalibov was arrested on charges of supporting Azerbaijani
Wahhabis, who want to join the terrorist group “Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant”, as well as of funding them and of establishing ties
with terrorist groups. It is also noted that during search held in
prayer-place of the Salafis in Baghdad a huge amount of money was
found, this served the main reason for his arrest.

However, as the portal notes, Secretary Hajibala Abutalibov denied
information that the mayor’s son was arrested or had fled the country.

Source: Panorama.am

YEREVAN THERMAL POWER PLANT READY TO LAUNCH COAL-BASED ENERGY GENERATION

YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. The Yerevan thermal power plant is ready to
start producing electricity from coal if coal supplies are available,
general director of the plant Hovakim Hovhannisyan told reporters
on Tuesday.

Coal-fired generation ahs been already tested at the plant, he said.

Hovhannisyan also said the company kept testing the coal firing
during a year, using both gas and oil products. The studies led to
new developments that allow getting the best results, he said.

The firing with the use of electronic plasmatrons proved to be
efficient, and the production capacities was tested from several
hours to 24-hour mode during a month, Hovhannisyan said.

According to the general director, the new method provided 4,500-5,000
kilocalories per kilogram, which is a quite high value. The highest
level is provided by gas – 8,200-8,300 kilocalories. According to
earlier plans, the Yerevan thermal power plant was to start coal-fired
energy generation from Karabakh in 2013. Coal supplies will allow
operating two power units, 50 megawatt each.

The Yerevan thermal power plant was modernized and equipped with
a new steam-gas unit of combined cycle and was re-commissioned in
April 2010. Total rated capacity of the new plant is 271.7 megawatt;
the production output is 242 megawatt and thermal output is 434.9
gigajoules-hours. -0–

– See more at:

ELECTRICITY TARIFF RISE DEBATE: CRITICS SPURN SARGSYAN REQUEST FOR SUBSIDIES TO POOR FAMILIES

SOCIETY | 02.07.14 | 11:03

RELATED NEWS

Price Hike for Power: PSRC decision causes public discontent

President Serzh Sargsyan’s request that the government provide
subsidies to socially vulnerable families after a rise in electricity
tariffs planned next month has been brushed aside by some opponents
as a “show”.

In a letter to Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan sent on Tuesday, soon
after the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) authorized
a second rise in electricity tariffs in just over a year, Sargsyan
suggested “funding ways for cushioning the impact of electricity
price increase on poor families”.

According to the government press service, the prime minister
instructed the ministers of finance, economy and labor and social
affairs to draft a decision to increase family allowances for about
105,000 socially vulnerable families. The decision is to be submitted
to the Cabinet meeting on July 3.

Argishti Kiviryan, who was one of the participants in the Tuesday
protest near the PSRC office, discarded the president’s step as
“mockery”, since the rise, according to him, took place upon the
direct instruction of the authorities.

Talking to A1 Plus, the activist lamented the fact that few citizens
had gathered near the PSRC office. He said only an active position
of Armenian citizens can help solve problems. “Had we been a few
thousand people down there, the commission wouldn’t have been able
to raise the tariff,” he argued.

UNE INTERVENTION RUSSE INUTILE POUR L’ARMENIE

Conflit du Haut-Karabagh

L’Armenie n’a pas besoin de l’intervention militaire de la Russie
ou d’autres allies de l’ex bloc sovietique pour faire face a
l’augmentation des violations du cessez-le-feu dans la zone de
conflit du Haut-Karabagh, a declare hier le ministre de la Defense,
Seyran Ohanian.

“Je ne pense pas que la situation soit telle que nous devrions faire
appel a l’Organisation du Traite de securite collective (OTSC)”,
a affirme Ohanian, se referant au pacte de defense dirigee par la
Russie, dont l’Armenie est membre.

“L’armee armenienne se renforce de jour en jour et elle est en mesure
de relever toute seule les defis azerbaïdjanais “, a t-il declare
lors d’une conference sur la securite internationale a Erevan.

Ohanian a commente les plaintes deposees par des experts armeniens
sur l’echec de l’OTSC a reagir aux violations mortelles de la treve
sur “la ligne de contact” autour de Karabagh et de la frontière
armeno-azerbaïdjanaise. Le nombre de ces incidents de tirs semble
avoir augmente en juin, entraînant la mort de quatre soldats armeniens.

En outre, plusieurs villages frontaliers de la province de Tavush
nord auraient essuye des tirs exceptionnellement forts de la part de
l’armee de l’Azerbaïdjan la semaine dernière. Bakou a accuse Erevan
de ces tensions accrues, en disant que les Armeniens eux-memes ont
ouvert le feu sur les villages azerbaïdjanais a travers la frontière.

Ohanian a minimise ces incidents, en disant que l’armee armenienne
est suffisamment forte pour dissuader l’Azerbaïdjan de redemarrer
une guerre a grande echelle pour le Karabagh.

Le ministre, qui a joue un rôle majeur dans la guerre entre l’Armenie
et l’Azerbaïdjan de 1991 a 1994, a declare de facon similaire l’an
dernier que la Turquie, plus que l’Azerbaïdjan, est la raison pour
laquelle l’Armenie accueille une base militaire russe. Il dit que
la presence des troupes russes empeche l’armee turque d’intervenir
directement dans le conflit du Karabagh.

Ohanian a note en meme temps hier que si Erevan ne cherche pas
une aide directe de l’OTSC, la ville s’attend a ce que l’alliance
militaire dirigee par la Russie denonce publiquement les violations
de la treve de l’Azerbaïdjan. Il a dit qu’il l’a clairement demande
a Nikolay Bordyuzha, le secretaire general de l’OTSC, quand ils se
sont rencontres a Erevan la semaine dernière.

Valery Semerikov, l’adjoint de Bordyuzha qui a egalement pris part a
la rencontre a Erevan, a insiste pour que l’organe executif de Moscou
de l’OTSC ne neglige pas le conflit du Karabagh.

Interroge sur ce que l’organisation fera en cas d’une nouvelle guerre
armeno-azerbaïdjanais, Semerikov a dit : “Une menace pour un Etat
membre de l’OTSC est une menace pour l’ensemble de l’organisation.”

Mais il a ajoute que la decision finale devrait etre prise par de
concert entre les six Etats membres de l’OTSC.

Deux d’entre eux, le Kazakhstan et le Kirghizistan, ont a maintes
reprises soutenu les resolutions pro-azerbaïdjanaises sur le Karabagh
adoptees par les Etats islamique et turque.

mercredi 2 juillet 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com