Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SOCHI MAYOR VOWS TO INSTALL GENERAL ANDRANIK MONUMENT

June 6, 2014 – 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Mayor of Sochi vowed to install a monument to
legendary military commander Andranik in the village of Nor Luys,
the vice-president of the Union of the Armenians of Russia said.

According to German Ananyants, with the authorities’ consent procured
and formalities observed, to install a monument, only a written
agreement is to be provided. As he further noted, though the exact
date is unavailable, the monument will be unveiled in the near future.

Ananyants further cited non-observation of Russian legislation behind
the scandal that occurred back in 2011, when the authorities of
Sochi district’s Volokonka ordered to take down a statue to Andranik,
scheduled to be unveiled soon, LifeArmenia.com reported.

In 2011, what was to bring together 5,000 to 6,000 Armenians from
around the Krasnodar region of Russia and Abkhazia for a community-wide
May 28 celebration turned sour when local authorities ordered the
Armenian community to bring down a statue of General Andranik, which
was to be unveiled for the event.

According to members of the Armenian community in Sochi, local
authorities said that the statue must come down, or it will be
demolished.

The authorities explained their decision saying that the unveiling of
the statue might anger Turkey, which could refuse to take part in the
construction of facilities for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.

NAZARBAYEV: TURKEY MAY BECOME ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

June 06, 2014 | 19:40

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev invited Turkey to join
Eurasian Economic Union as an associate member, president’s press
service reported.

“Eurasian Economic Union is open for other states, for example Turkey
and other countries may become associate members of the Union in the
near future,” Nazarbayev said during the briefing summing up Summit
of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking Countries.

Kazakh President noted that Armenia and Kyrgyzstan plan to join the
Union, while other states are showing interest in development of
trade with the alliance.

SCIENTIST: SAMSUNG INTERESTED IN ARMENIA-PRODUCED SOLAR PANELS

June 06, 2014 | 13:32

YEREVAN. – World famous Samsung company is showing interest in
Armenia-produced solar panels for new washing machines, Armenian
researcher said.

Vahan Hamazaspyan, the author of Armenia’s geliofication program, said
the talks with the company continue. Meanwhile, on July 22 a group
of researchers plan to open a pilot solar station not far from Yerevan.

“The new power plant should be built as soon as possible for the
national interests. If we use the entire solar potential, it is
sufficient for several nuclear power plants,” Hamazaspyan said.

He claims the cost of solar energy taking into account new
technologies may reach 0.3 dram kilowatt hour, which will lead to
boosting competition, industry and agriculture. In particular, 10 –
25 percent of the cost of production of dried fruit – or about $1
per kilo – is spent on electricity and gas.

“A solar station requires only one-time costs. I think it is very
important for our farmers,” he said.

NEW MEDIA PLATFORM LAUNCHED TO SHARE STORIES OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

16:01 06.06.2014

Nagorno-Karabakh

International Alert, as part of the European Partnership for the
Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK), has
launched a joint platform called Unheard Voices that presents reports
by local journalists on the experiences of people living in frontline
communities on either side of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict divide.

The purpose of Unheard Voices is to ensure that the voices of
ordinary people from frontline communities are heard both at home
in their own societies and on the other side of the divide. It also
provides journalists from the region with a platform for professional
development and peer dialogue in order to bring alternatives to
belligerent narratives that dominate mainstream media.

The reports are available in Russian on the Unheard Voices Facebook
page (here) and also on local media websites.

Unheard Voices is a result of collaborative thinking among the
journalists who share an understanding of the importance for the most
vulnerable to have a voice. Here we present human stories from people
living close to ‘frontlines’, from refugees and IDPs – about the issues
they face, living in conditions of ‘no war-no peace’. The stories
allow the reader to discover the real lives behind the enemy images.

Since 2011, within EPNK International Alert has been working with
local mid-career journalists of leading media outlets who cover the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This initiative builds on the residential
schools for journalists from the region, the third of which was held
in London in March 2014.

Unheard Voices forms part of the European Partnership for the Peaceful
Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK), an initiative
funded by the European Union and carried out by International Alert.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan: With the help of constitutional reforms Serzh
Sargsyan is trying to cause a split among the four opposition parties

ARMINFO
Thursday, June 5, 19:34

With the help of the constitutional reforms Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan is trying to cause a split among the four opposition forces,
the first President of Armenia, the leader of the Armenian National
Congress Levon Ter- Petrosyan said in an interview to ilur.am.

In Ter-Petrosyan’s opinion, Sargsyan’s arguments that the reforms will
promote economic growth, democracy and prosperity are not logical.
“Does he mean that the current Constitution prevents the ruling regime
from developing the economy or helps it to rob its people, to rig
elections, to send to jail political rivals and to force thousands of
citizens to leave their country? Of course, it doesn’t. So, who can
guarantee that this situation will not continue after the reforms?”
Ter-Petrosyan said.

He does not believe Sargsyan when he says that he is not going to run
for one more term as President. “I am against the idea to turn Armenia
into a parliamentary republic. I am sure that Sargsyan will take up
the post of Speaker of the Parliament and will continue ruling the
country as the ‘secretary general’ of the ruling Republican Party,”
Ter- Petrosyan said.

One more reason why Sargsyan has started the constitutional reforms is
his wish to distract the political and public forces from the key
problems of their country. “Sargsyan has tried to cause a split among
the four opposition forces by suggesting the idea of a bipolar
political system. It was a hint for Prosperous Armenia Party that if
they took his side, he would share the parliament with them. But the
opposition forces have proved to be wiser and have appeared with a
joint agenda,” Ter-Petrosyan said.

Shooting in Yerevan: Shots fired by Yerevan mayor advisor’s son – Shamshyan

Saturday, June 07, 2014

Last night the Armenian police received information about a shooting
at the intersection of P. Sevak and Ulnetsi Streets in Yerevan.

Upon arrival on the scene, policemen found out that one of the men
involved in an argument in the yard of house No 74 on Ulnetsi Street
fired several shots into the air. Police found three 9 mm cartridge
cases and a bullet at the scene.

An investigation is underway.

According to Shamshyan.com, the son of ex-head of Yerevan’s
Kanaker-Zeytun district, Yerevan mayor’s current advisor Araik
Kotanjyan fired the shots. The police are looking for him.

FRANCE-AZERBAÏDJAN-TURQUIE
Total cède 10% du gisement gazier de Shah Deniz à la compagnie
publique turque Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO)

Le géant pétrolier français Total va céder à la compagnie pétrolière
publique turque Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO), sa participation de 10%
dans gisement gazier de Shah Deniz II (Azerbaïdjan) pour un montant de
1,5 milliard de dollars.

Depuis plusieurs mois Total désirant se désengager, avait des
discussions avec la compagnie publique turque Turkish Petroleum Corp
(TPAO). Cette dernière qui possédait jusqu’à présent 9% du gisement va
donc détenir 19%. .

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 7 juin 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Haykakan Zhamanak: Nothing concrete about Nairit Plant

11:55 07/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstyan is optimistic about
resumption of Nairit Plant’s operation. However, he did not say
anything concrete, according to Haykakan Zhamanak.

“Since last September, Armenia has been conducting negotiations with
Russia’s state oil giant Rosneft on resumption of plant’s work. It
became known on September 3, when Armenia announced its decision to
join the Customs Union. Since then, when asked about Nairit’s fate,
officials always reply that negotiations are underway, which casts a
doubt on success of the talks,” the newspaper notes.

Source: Panorama.am

THE HISTORY HIDDEN IN BEYOGLU

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
June 5 2014

(Photo: Today’s Zaman)

June 05, 2014, Thursday/ 15:32:54/ GULCAN BAÄ~^IRKAN / ISTANBUL

Beyoglu has hosted a number of historic buildings for decades.

However, we are often unable to appreciate these buildings because of
the hectic nature of life. We are simply unaware of the architectural
beauty these buildings have to offer.

Those who visit the Yeditepe area will inevitably set foot in Beyoglu,
which hosts Ä°stiklal Street, Taksim Square and Galata Tower;
this is a district of entertainment, culture and art. Every street
has a different and unique story. Beyoglu stands tall, despite the
rapid passage of time, with its theaters, cinema halls, restaurants,
hotels, old book sellers, malls and other urban assets. However, its
old apartments generally go unnoticed. Their architectural uniqueness
and unusual makeup is not noticed by the viewers at all. Though some of
them are still inhabited by regular residents, most of these buildings
are abandoned.

Suleyman Faruk Göncuoglu, an art historian, has the following to say
about these structures: Ä°stanbul experienced some major changes in
architecture in regards to general residential buildings in the 19th
century. The architectural structure of the buildings was radically
affected by the increase in the number of Western people in Ä°stanbul
after the Crimean War ended in 1856. The non-Muslim newcomers mostly
preferred taller buildings with triangular and gothic motifs. Images
and figures were placed outside of windows in these buildings to make
sure that evil spirits would stay away from the home. In the buildings
of Beyoglu, it is possible to observe traces of the ancient Greek idea
that a structure should defeat man. This is one of the reasons for
the buildings’ flamboyant look. We also can see that balconies are a
point of interaction in the buildings and that they add vibrancy to
the exterior structures. The windows were built to be tall and the
bathrooms were shared by residents. Brick from Karaagac was used in
the construction of the tall stone buildings. Brick factories were
then built in Kartal and Maltepe.

Three famous passages of Ragıp Pasha

Ragıp Pasha, one of the favorites of Sultan Abdulhamid II, made quite
a fortune after he was promoted to vizier. He built three passages
in Beyoglu, named after the three continents where the Ottoman state
had established rule: Anatolia, Rumeli (European part of Turkey) and
Africa. The first of this trio was Rumeli Passage, made in 1890. The
Anatolian one was built in the neo-classical style and the African
Passage, made in 1906, was the first passage to include studio
apartments in Turkey. This passage was made into four separate blocks.

Dogan (hawk) Apartments

The Dogan (hawk) Apartments were made in 1892; the initial owners of
these renowned apartments were the Helbigs from Belgium. The architect
of this baroque building is unknown. There are 49 apartments in the
building, which are separated from each other thanks to its U-shaped
blueprint. French-style bars and two-piece guillotine windows are
distinctive characteristics of the building. Kazım TaÅ~_kent, who
bought the building in 1942, named the apartments after his son,
Dogan. The building also served as a venue for a number of film
productions.

Mısır (Egypt) Apartments

One of the first concrete buildings, the Mısır (Egypt) Apartments
were constructed by Egyptian Governor Abbas Halim Pasha in 1870. Hovsep
Aznavuryan, an Armenian, was the architect of the building, which
was used by Halim Pasha during winter. Most of the materials used in
its making were brought from France; the building, whose front faces
Ä°stiklal Street, grabs ones attention with its gorgeous balconies,
lounges, statutes on the facade and large windows on the first floors.

The building, standing adjacent to the Catholic Church of St. Antoine,
was transformed from a mansion into an apartment complex. The
apartments were leased as residential houses and offices. The building
hosted a number of celebrities, including famous Turkish poet Mehmet
Akif Ersoy.

Narmanlı Han

Narmanlı Han welcomes you when you turn onto İstiklal Street.

Commissioned by the Russians as an embassy building in 1831, the
building was made by Giusseppe Fossatti, who also restored the Hagia
Sophia. Narmanlı’s architectural design is different from other
buildings on Ä°stiklal Street. It sits in a large area; until the
construction of the Russian Consulate building, Narmanlı Han served
as an embassy residence and a prison as well. In 1933, it was sold
to the brothers Avni and Sıtkı Narmanlı, who leased the building
to artists.

The tenants in the building included famous poets and writers including
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, Bedri Rahmi Eyupoglu and Aliye Berger.

Botter Han

If you see a building adorned with interesting flower motives while
walking down Ä°stiklal Street, you are seeing Botter Han. One of the
things that makes this place interesting is that it was the first
fashion house in Turkey. The building was commissioned by Jean Botter,
Sultan Abdulhamid II’s tailor, and it was made by the famous architect
Raimondo Tommaso D’Aronco, who used tulips and roses in the exterior
design of the building very generously. The building, an initial
example of art nouveau in Ä°stanbul, was adorned with work akin to
the style of the Vienna Sessation. Opened in 1901, the lower parts
of the building served as a fashion house and the upper parts were
designed to be leased. Botter, who was influential in Ottoman fashion
for three decades, moved to Paris after the fall of Abdulhamid II.

Aleppo Passage

The Aleppo Passage, which hosts theaters, cinema halls and stores,
was made by the Hacar family, who were from Aleppo, in 1885. It is
also known as Beyoglu Passage, named after the Beyoglu Movie Theater
in the lower floor of the building. Sureyya Ä°lmen Pasha bought the
building in 1920. The Pera Circus, which was next to the building,
was destroyed in a fire. Afterward, Campanaki, a Greek architect,
built a theatre next door: the Varyete Theater. The Aleppo passage
was demolished, except its front. It still remains, reflecting what
was once there.

Hidivyal Palace

Hidiv, which literally means chief vizier in Arabic, was the official
title of the Ottoman governors appointed in Egypt. Hidivyal Palace
was owned by one of these governors’ families. The building, made in
1841, was used as a hotel for a long time. The palace, the first hotel
where European motifs and tones were used in Turkey, was converted
into a passage used for business in 1950.

Atlas Passage

Situated opposite Aleppo Passage, Atlas Passage hosts the famous Atlas
Movie Theater. The building was owned by Armenian banker Agop Köceyan.

It was first built as a family mansion. The ground floor of the
building was once used as a stable for horses. The building is made
of stone and cast iron and has been modified significantly over time.

KARAPETYAN LEAPS INTO STARDOM WITH BOSTON BALLET

ARTS | JUNE 5, 2014 1:45 PM
________________________________

By Tom Vartabedian

BOSTON — As a young lad of 8 pursuing ballet, the girls laugh
and giggled when they saw Avetik Karapetyan in leotards. Today,
he has the last laugh. This is his second year as a soloist with
the Boston Ballet, appearing in productions such as “Swan Lake” and
“Sleeping Beauty.”

The virtuoso performer is wrapping up an appearance in a show called
“Etudes” through May 18 before enjoying a respite through the summer
months. He looks back on those formative years and smiles at the
irony. If anything, the growing pains were much like a “Billy Elliott”
scenario where young boys are thought to be more suited for boxing
and soccer than the pas de deux.

“They told me to undress into my underwear,” he recalls. “I was a
little embarrassed by it. Over time, you grew accustomed to it.”

Swimming was his destiny in Armenia. At 8 months, he was already
churning water as people watched incredulously. By 5, he was winning
competitions throughout Yerevan. Of course, having a father as a
champion swimmer in the Soviet Union didn’t hurt matters.

Then came boxing and karate, much to dad’s displeasure. Through
friends, Karapetyan turned to the world of the arts. He qualified
for an artistic school and slowly made his way to auditions. One step
led to another.

All it really took was one performance of Aram Khachaturian’s
“Spartacus” and he was hooked for life.

“In Armenia, there were very few opportunities for male dancers,” he
noted. “Whatever talent there is becomes dispersed. If they all stayed
in their country, it would be one of the best companies in the world.

The opportunities have led to a wonderful career with a great ensemble
in Boston,” he said.

After graduating from the Yerevan National Ballet Company in 2003
under the direction of Hovannes Divanyan, he was invited to study
at the Heinz-Bosl Ballet Company of Munich where he trained with
Alexander Prokofiev.

Upon graduating in 2005, he worked in Vienna for a year before dancing
with the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm.

Among his many awards were first place medals in the 2012
International Istanbul Ballet Competition and the 2009 Rome Primo
Ballet Competition. Other notable credits include “Romeo and Juliet”
and “Don Quixote.”

Two years ago, he was offered a contract by The Boston Ballet after
an audition. There just happened to be an opening for a soloist and
he landed the role. Sharing the joy were his parents and two siblings
in Yerevan. They keep in touch constantly through social media.

Armenians like Sossy Jeknavorian and daughter Ani, a former dancer,
were taken aback after attending a performance of the Boston Ballet.

They noticed Karapetyan’s name in the program and decided to introduce
themselves. The family has endeared itself to the dancer, even taking
him snowmobiling.

“I meet Armenians at the stage door and they tell me how proud they
are to see me perform,” he says. “People are e-mailing me all the
time. They want to know the person behind the Armenian name dancing
with one of the world’s leading companies,” he noted.

He added that he has made contact with Apo Ashjian and attended a
rehearsal of the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Greater Boston.

“It’s just amazing to see what Apo does for these dancers in promoting
our heritage,” Karapetyan points out.

A typical day in Boston runs eight hours with classes and rehearsals.

Spare time is spent inside a gym to relax and keep fit.

With no car, Karapetyan meanders around the city aboard his bike,
weaving in and out of traffic.

At 5-9, 145 pounds, an extra pound or two could throw the body off
kilter for the 38-year-old. Punishing. Grueling. Yet, incredibly
rewarding. It’s been a life that knows no boundaries, simply a leap
of faith.

“When I do ‘Swan Lake’, I feel like I’m in another world,” he admits.

“Hard work and determination ultimately pays off. When I’m on that
stage, I feel like I’m representing not only myself but Armenia
as well.”

He concluded, “I look forward to the day when I’ll return to Armenia
and dance.”

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