Author: Kajoyan Gevork

UNSPECIFIC THREAT

February 7 2013

Tens of thousands of Armenians have left Armenia in the past 5 years.

The opposition says 200 thousand, the government says 100 thousand, it
is not important; even the second number is huge for a small country
like ours. The current government led by the president is primarily
responsible for that. However, it seems to me that political and
social figures,intellectuals, commentators, in a word, all of us ~V
the people on whose words something depends ~V don~Rt do ~Sour part~T
to soften that phenomenon. It seems it is more important for us to
win ~Ssociety~Rs approval,~T so to say, take an attitude pleasing
society, ~SThis people have widened their necks, and the poor people
are suffocating, leaving their homeland~T etc. Thus, our citizens have
completely freed themselves of the obligation to act independently,
stay here, in Armenia, and fight; the fact that they are leaving the
country is not criticized, moreover, it is presented almost like a
manifestation of civic bravery, ~SWhat else can people do?~T

We, journalists, talk about the result every day, sometimes several
times a day. All participants in big or small rallies, regardless of
whether their demands are legitimate or illegitimate, threaten with
emigration at the end of every speech or interview. For example, taxi
drivers want to park where they like and don~Rt want speed guns and
cameras to record their violations. And if they don~Rt reach their
goal, they say, ~SWe will leave this country.~T Those who have stocks
and whose boss has refused to give them dividends also claim that
they will emigrate, if they don~Rt get the money they are entitled
to. None of us has ever gotten a receipt from dentists in return for
the money we had paid, and thus, their income is out of any control,
but when the government suggests that they pay for being a dentist,
they oppose and say that they will leave the country in that case. The
same applies to vendors, victims of the state needs, and other citizens
who have problems. There really are problems, and they must be solved.

However, whom do they threaten? The government? Does it care much
about emigration?

~EThe electrical strain in my house has been 170V on average during the
whole winter, as a result of which the washing machine can be turned on
only after 1 a.m. If the company that is operating the electrical grid
doesn~Rt fix this problem during February, I will probably emigrate.

ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

SOME DANCE TO REMEMBER …

Sayat Nova’s Journey Through Time aims to preserve Armenian culture and heritage

BY VICTOR SWOBODA, GAZETTE DANCE CRITIC

FEBRUARY 7, 2013 12:03 PM

Sayat Nova performs Apo Ashjian’s Journey Through Time.

Photograph by: Viken Karaguesian , .

MONTREAL – With its latest show, the Boston-based Armenian folk-dance
ensemble, Sayat Nova, might well surprise those who think of folk
dancing as grinning villagers prancing in lederhosen. The first half
of the show called Journey Through Time depicts Armenia’s 4,000-year
history of early paganism, defiant Christian faith, bloody battles
and indomitable survival. One tableau showing a massacre of Armenians
by Turks comes with a parental advisory notice.

Company founder and chief choreographer Apo Ashjian has heavily
stylized the violence, of course, to make it palatable on stage. But
his decision to tackle the harshest moments of Armenia’s history shows
how seriously he takes the company’s aim of “preserving and promoting
Armenian culture.” Spectators will get some inkling of Armenia’s role
as a cradle of Western civilization.

“Ashjian starts with a strong dance showing pagan Armenian symbols,
then through important points of Armenian history, accepting
Christianity, the battle of Vartanantz against the Persian empire,
then to (the massacres of) 1915,” said Raffi Migdesyan, a Montrealer
who in 1986 regularly travelled to Boston with three other local
dancers to rehearse and dance with the newly formed Sayat Nova.

One number uses a love song by the 18th century troubadour, Sayat Nova,
after whom the company was named, who wrote about his forbidden love
for a princess and his consequent banishment.

The show’s second half is a medley of vigorous and lyrical Armenian
folk dances along the lines of the entertaining show that Sayat Nova
performed in Montreal in 2004. These include the highland Kochari,
and the Yarkhoushda, a militant dance with clapping and stomping.

“Sayat Nova was a community dance group when we started,” recalled
Migdesyan. “Now it’s much larger, younger and more professional. When
I first came, three dancers were pregnant. Now their kids are dancing
in the group!”

The troupe’s dancers were trained at Ashjian’s own school, Abaka,
where more than 100 students age 3 to 16 are enrolled. Ashjian’s
three grown children will be among those performing in Montreal.

A self-supporting troupe aided by volunteers and donors, the company
produces its own brilliant array of costumes.

“Every single costume is traditional, authentic,” said Migdesyan. “If
you touch the material, you’ll say it feels like a rug.”

Ashjian recorded the show’s music using bands in Armenia, again to
ensure authenticity.

“You can be entertained and at the same time learn something about
the history and music of one of the world’s oldest cultures,”
Migdesyan said.

Sayat Nova, Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. at Centre Pierre-Peladeau, 300 de
Maisonneuve Blvd. E. Tickets, $20-$50. Call 514-279-3066.

Read more:

ARMENIA WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO TRIPLETS

NEWS.AM
February 07, 2013 | 17:53

YEREVAN.- An Armenia women gave a birth to triplets in capital Yerevan
on Wednesday morning.

Doctor from Erebuni medical center Davit Abovyan confirmed reports
for Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Mother gave birth to three boys after IFV. Parents named three boys
Hovhannes, Alex and Edmond. Their mother will be discharged from
hospital in several days.

OFFICIAL LETTER OF MOD OF AZERBAIJAN ADDRESSED TO FORMER HEAD OF NKR DEFENSE MINISTER CIRCULATES IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

Panorama.am
07/02/2013

Aynur Imranov, the deputy head of Public Relations of the “Umid Party”,
spread in social networks the official letter of Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry written on July 25, 1993 and addressed to the Ministry of
Defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In the letter the Minister of
Defense of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev takes responsibility with the former
defense minister of NKR Samvel Babayan to cease hostilities for three
days and to give the Heads of State opportunity for holding a meeting.

As the site “Faktxeber.com” reports, publication of the document,
which witnessed the recognition of NKR by official Baku in 1993,
as well as the existence of correspondence between the Ministry of
Defense of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Defense of the NKR aroused wide
public attention in Azerbaijan. Functionary of “Umid” Party in his
comments said, “If Abiyev recognized NKR in 1993, why do they lie to
the people of Azerbaijan by holding fake negotiations?” Imranov also
noted that the Azerbaijani authorities simply throw dust in the eyes
of the public.

It is noteworthy that the information about the contents of this
letter was published in Azerbaijani media in July 1993. Last year,
another document was published by the Armenian side confirming the fact
of recognition of the NKR by Azerbaijan. The then acting President of
Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, on the 3rd September, 1993 signed a document
N 171, which states: “The Azerbaijani leadership authorizes the Deputy
Chairman of the Supreme Council A. Dzhagilov to hold negotiations on
organizing meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh
(NKR).”

GALLUP POLL SAYS 59% OF ARMENIAN VOTERS UNHAPPY ABOUT ECONOMIC SITUATION

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. A public opinion poll conducted by
Gallup International Association showed that 35% of respondents
believe Armenia’s economic situation is bad and 24% say it is very bad.

The poll’s sample is 1,080 adults aged above 18, living in Yerevan
and in the regions of Armenia, including rural communities, in the
period from February 2 to February 5. The sampling error is 3%.

Head of Gallup International Association Armenia office Aram
Navasardyan reports that only 3% of respondents say the country’s
economic situation is good, another 36% say it is intermediate.

Household income is good for 9% and very good only for 1% of the
respondents. Some 60% believe their household income is average, 21%
say it is bad and 9% of the respondents say it is very bad.

The differences in assessments depend not only on the situation in the
country, but also on private transfers from abroad, Navasardyan said.

Only 10% of the respondents are completely satisfied with life; 21%
are not satisfied, 37% are rather satisfied than not, 31% is rather
unsatisfied.

In responding the question whether they will live worse or better in
a year, 40% of respondents say “at the same level”, 21% believe “a bit
better”, 13% “a bit worse”, 6% “much worse” and 4% “much better”. 17%
of the respondents found it difficult to answer the question.

52% approve of the job Serzh Sargsyan doing as president and 38%
disapprove.

Parliament’s approval level is 31% of the respondents and disapproval
56%.

31% of the respondents approve of what the government is doing and
54% disapprove.-0-

HAYRIKYAN MAY SEEK POSTPONEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
17:20 07.02.2013

Although presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan’s health condition
is satisfactory, he has experienced acute pain in his arm since last
night, Karo Yeghnukyan, who is responsible for public relations
at Hayrikyan’s campaign headquarters, told “Radiolur.” Even the
painkillers do not help cease the pain.

Hayrikyan has not been able to use his right hand since the surgery.

Doctors say the nerve had been damaged and was to recover in a week.

As for the decision not to apply to the Constitutional Court to
postpone the vote for two weeks, Yeghnukyan said when making the
statement, they were confident Hayrikyan would not have health
problems.

Representative of Hayrikyan’s campaign headquarters said the
law-enforcement bodies have worked well as regards the technical
component of the investigation: they have interrogated the neighbors,
have placed cameras, but they make no statements.

Yeghnukyan said they still have time to apply to the Constitutional
Court, adding that he does not exclude the option.

200,000 PEOPLE LEFT ARMENIA DURING SERVING PRESIDENT’S TENURE – PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER

NEWS.AM
February 08, 2013 | 11:02

YEREVAN. – In the case of a free, fair and transparent election,
Armenia will have a new president. Presidential candidate, opposition
Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian stated this during a press
conference on Friday.

He noted that he respects all the other presidential contenders that
have contributed to Armenia’s establishment.

“The truth is paramount. Let no one begrudge that I am saying
emigration refers to him and his predecessors. Armenia lost 200,000
people during the five years of his [that is, the ruling Republican
Party candidate, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan’s] governance. His
predecessors likewise cannot vaunt, since emigration started during
their time [in office],” Hovannisian noted.

The presidential hopeful has no doubt that, in the case of a free,
fair and transparent election, Armenia will have a new president.

“If there is no runoff [in the forthcoming election], it means the
country is being destroyed. There are [election] violations; they are
widespread. And if the people come out of the somnolence, they will
triumph,” Raffi Hovannisian stated.

ZHOGHOVURD: ARMENIAN PM HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH RUSSIA

10:19 08/02/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

The Russian government has informally declared Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan persona non grata after he spoke against Armenia’s
membership to the Customs Union in a recent interview, Zhoghovurd
reports, citing well-informed sources.

Tigran Sargsyan, however, denied these rumors when contacted by
Zhoghovurd, saying: “I want to disappoint you because unlike my
previous interviews, this one presented the position of our authorities
in a more detailed and comprehensive way. Your assessments are far
from being real.”

Source: Panorama.am

EKREM EYLISLI URGES FOREIGN DIPLOMATS TO READ THE BOOK FOR WHICH HE IS SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT BY AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES

11:28 08/02/2013 ” SOCIETY

Deprived of personal pension of the President of Azerbaijan and the
honorary title of “National Writer” the Azerbaijani writer, author of
the novel “Stone Dreams” Ekrem Eylisly appealed to foreign diplomatic
missions in that country with a call to read his work because of which
he is being subjected to harassment by the authorities of the country,
Azerbaijani news agency “Turan” reports.

“For more than two weeks, the subsidiary media of Azerbaijani
authorities hold a moral terror campaign against me because of my
novel “Stone Dreams”. Uncoordinated mass actions are being held in
front of my house, my books are being burnt, an unjust pressure is
being put on my family members,” Eylisli’s statement reads.

According to Eylisli this is an unprecedented event in the social
life of Azerbaijan during the last 100 years and he has no doubt that
it is being carried out by the authorities. “I consider this as an
unprecedented example of intolerance towards freedom of speech and
expression by the power-holding structures,” Eylisli notes.

In this connection, the writer refers to the foreign diplomatic
missions in Azerbaijan – Embassies of U.S., UK, Germany, France,
Russia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium
and other countries, as well as to the EU, the OSCE and the Council
of Europe and asks to read his novel and to express their attitude
towards it.

Ekrem Eylisli is national writer (since 1998) and Honored Artist of
Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan “Istiglal”
(2002) and the order of “Shokhrat” for his outstanding merits in
Azerbaijani literature. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine
“Friendship of Nations” was published his novel titled “Stone Dreams”
in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku
in 1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks
positively about the Armenian people and their culture.

After the publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe
pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally next
his home, his issue was discussed in the parliament of Azerbaijan,
MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of citizenship and
deport from Azerbaijan. Many people “blamed” Eylisli in his Armenian
origin, etc.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA-IRAN RELATIONS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE: AMBASSADOR MOHAMMAD REISI

10:02, 8 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenpress had an interview with
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi
over Armenia-Iran relations in 2012, 2013 forthcoming developments,
and joint economic, cultural and touristic cooperation.

-How do you estimate 2012 regarding the development of Armenian-Iranian
relations? What achievements were recorded during the year which
further contributed to the strengthening of Armenian-Iranian relations?

-The relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia date for
ages. Those relations are friendly and based on mutual respect. The
relations between Armenia and Iran have recorded success in regional
and bilateral cooperation sphere in 2012. Mutual visits have been
paid by high ranking officials during the year.

– According to you what achievements Armenia-Iran relations will
register during 2013?

– Efforts aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation will continue this
year as well. Joint efforts will cover almost all the branches seeking
to further develop and deepen the current level of relations. Islamic
Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia are determined to continue
their cooperation without the intervention and influence of a third
party. The relations between Armenia-Iran have a bright future and
will be targeted to establishing peace and stability in the region.

– What developments do you foresee in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement?

-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is extremely complicated, meanwhile it
has a solution. Islamic Republic of Iran has constantly contributed
to the regulation of regional conflicts and settlement of disputes
and we consider regional issues have relevant solutions and by the
help of joint efforts they can be settled. Reportedly the solution of
the conflict is possible only through peaceful way and in compliance
with the international norms and principles. By the will of the sides
Islaimic Republic of Iran is is ready to contribute to the peaceful
settlement of the conflict.