Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
E-mail: Alla Asatryan, Marketing and Office Manager
96 Sarmen St., 0019 Yerevan, RA
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Tel: +374 10 52 47 12
Mob: +374 77 555 002

8 Families will Meet the Christmas in their New Homes.

The Metal Containers are in the Past.

On December 24, 2014 in the Taron 3 District of Vanadzor city, Lori Region
took place the opening and dedication ceremony of the multi-apartment
building for 8 families who had been living in metal containers for almost
30 years. After so many years of hardships today’s reality seemed
unbelievable for these families. Today they received the greatest gift for
Christmas and the New Year.

“Words can’t describe the life we lived there, in that metal container for
23 years. Sometimes it seemed we lived outside; during heavy rains
everything in the metal container was covered with water as the roof was
thoroughly deteriorated, in summers it was very hot and in winters – like
in the refrigerator. Today is the happiest day in our life; after long
years we will meet the New Year in a decent home” said Gayane Ulibekyan in
tears.

In 2008 the President of the Armenian Relief and Development Association
(ARDA), an American-Armenian philanthropist, Steve Lazarian, initiated the
program to assist the families living in metal containers in Vanadzor city,
Lori region. The trilateral partnership between ARDA Charitable Foundation,
Vanadzor Municipality and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia plans to build
96 houses. Already 48 families have shifted from metal containers into
ecologically healthy homes. This is already the 4th phase of the project
and 8 more families will replenish the list of those happy families.

“The forth and probably the most successful phase of our joint program is
finished. The 74% has been donated by ARDA Charitable Foundation, the 11%
– by Vanadzor Municipality. The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has done
the 15% investment in the form of long-term, interest-free mortgage loan.
In total 72 million AMD was spent. As a supplementary gift by ARDA
Charitable Foundation, each apartment has been furnished with kitchen
furniture, a gas heater, a cooker and a water heater,” said ARDA
Charitable Foundation Director, Hrahat Stepanyan.

”Housewarming is a beginning of a new life, of new opportunities; it is
the reliable basis of future. Every family is the part of our society. The
more stable and successful is the family, the healthier is the society.
Still there are many families waiting for their dream home. We work for
them not to wait too long,” said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

These homes are built using a new technology of polystyrene foam block and
local construction materials. The construction started in the spring of
2014. The eight families, as well as local and international volunteers
participated in the home construction process.

HER HOME IS AMERICA, BUT HER HEART IS WITH ARMENIA

Herald News (Passaic County, NJ)
December 22, 2014 Monday

by John Petrick, Staff Writer; Email: [email protected]

You don’t know what homesickness is until you’ve looked into the
eyes of a 3-year-old, torn from his ravaged homeland, suddenly in an
American hospital bed recovering from surgery.

Alice Movsesian will never forget helping young victims of the
devastating 1988 earthquake in her parents’ native Armenia by
organizing hundreds of surgeries for some and helping to arrange
adoptions for others, all right here in America.

“It was difficult because the children were so sick, and most of them
were only 3 or 4. They were more frightened than anything else. But
they learned to love us,” said the long-time Armenian activist and
Cliffside Park resident. “I’m in contact with many of them today.

They’re married now and have children of their own. I’m even the
godmother of a few of them. Some are not in Armenia anymore, but
in other places. We have Skype now, which makes life a lot easier,”
she added with a laugh.

The Armenian National Committee honored Movsesian at its Eighth Annual
Eastern Region Banquet on Dec. 7 at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel
in Manhattan for her decades of dedicated service to the Armenian
community. Movsesian received the Vahan Cardashian Award, named
after the Yale-educated lawyer who put aside his New York practice
to establish the Armenian Committee for the Independence of Armenia.

Born and raised in New York City, she began her career as a bookkeeper
for a textile firm whose owner recognized her talent for business. He
insisted she go to college and even paid for her education. After she
attended Hunter College and New York University, Movsesian moved on
to several other textile and apparel firms in New York City, rising
through the ranks until she retired as a chief financial officer.

The 82-year-old said her impulse to volunteer her time and talents
toward the Armenian cause was just in her blood. Her father,
a machinist, came to America in 1912 amid rumors that turmoil was
brewing in Armenia and that it might be a good time to get out. Her
mother fled eight years later. Both lost their entire families in the
Armenian genocide of 1915. The period of 1915 to 1917 is regarded
by Armenians and most Western historians to have been filled with
state-sponsored mass killings. Turkish authorities, however, maintain
that the deaths were the result of a civil war coupled with disease
and famine, with casualties incurred by both sides. Historians estimate
the death toll ranges from 600,000 to more than a million.

“I came from a family who wanted freedom and independence. I am a
very good American. I am an American first. But I speak the [Armenian]
language. I can read and write it. I was brought up with both American
culture and Armenian culture. My parents wanted me to know where I
came from. I did come from a family that was very patriotic,” she said.

Next year’s 100th anniversary of the genocide cannot be underplayed,
she says. Even in her acceptance speech when honored earlier this month
by the Armenian National Committee, she noted, “We are entering into
the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The Turks tried
to remove us from the face of the earth — but we prevailed.”

As politically and culturally aware of her roots as she has always
been, most of Movsesian’s service to her community began later in
life. “I had retired. This was just the next step,” she said. When
the earthquake of 1988 occurred, she said, “My people, my heritage,
were bleeding. I don’t know. I just had to help them.”

After the initial wave of emergency medical assistance to hundreds
of earthquake victims, Movsesian helped to coordinate more than 400
open-heart surgeries for Armenian children traveling to the U.S. By
1991, Movsesian and her team of volunteers created a pediatric
heart department at the Michaelian Institute in Armenia. Through the
institute, Armenian doctors and nurses came to America for training,
with top U.S. specialists traveling to Armenia to educate both new
and seasoned medical workers in the latest surgical techniques.

In 1993, Movsesian helped establish the Nork Marash Medical Heart
Center in Armenia, which performs surgery for both children and adults.

“Alice is a pillar to the Armenian-American community here in New
Jersey. Her lifelong commitment and dedication to the Armenian cause
should serve as an example to all those involved in humanitarian
outreach,” said Karine Birazian Shnorhokian, board member of the
Eastern Region of the Armenian National Committee of America. “Whether
touching the lives of those in need of medical care, working on
legislation promoting Armenian genocide recognition, or serving as
a volunteer in some capacity with the community, she still continues
to persevere. In her eyes, the work is never done, and at the end of
the day, she continues to ask herself, have I done enough?”

While honored to receive the recognition, Movsesian said, it makes
her a little uncomfortable. “I’m not the kind of person who looks
for praise,” she said. “I do these things for myself.”

ARMENIA’S NOC SEES NO REASON FOR BOYCOTTING FIRST EUROPEAN SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, December 23. / ARKA /. The National Olympic Committee (NOC)
of Armenia sees no reason for boycotting the first European Summer
Olympic Games to be held in Azerbaijan, secretary general of Armenian
NOC Hrachya Rostomyan said today.

“As for the games in Baku, at this moment the NOC sees no reason
for refusing to participate. All the problems, both professional and
safety-related are resolved at this stage,

ZHOGHOVURD: GEORGIA TO LIFT VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR ARMENIANS

10:26 * 23.12.14

The Georgian visa rules, which restrict the Armenian citizens’
residence in the country to a maximum period of 90 days, are reportedly
going to change in the near future.

It comes after Georgian-Armenian lawmakers urged Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan to raise the question at talks with his Georgian colleagues,
says the paper.

The premier reportedly addressed the issue in the course of his
recent visit to the country, pointing to the concerns of the
Georgian-Armenians (some of whom Republic of Armenia citizens).

Citing its sources, the paper says that a high-ranking Armenian
official recently promised renewed procedures in a phone conversation
with Samvel Petrosyan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly. The
paper notes further that thousands of Georgian-Armenians recently
obtained Armenian citizenship to facilitate their departure for Russia
as employment migrants.

COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION’S FIRST HUMANITARIAN CENTER TO OPEN IN ARMENIA IN 2015

YEREVAN, December 23. /ARKA/. The Collective Security Treaty
Organization’s first humanitarian center will be opened in Armenia
in 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at a session
of the organization’s Collective Security Council, as a correspondent
of Novosti-Armenia reported from Moscow.

“A network of humanitarian centers of the CSTO is being built with
active support of Russia, and the first will open in Armenia,” Putin
said. “A similar center will open later in Kyrgyzstan’s territory.”

—–0—–

PUTIN: KYRGYZSTAN SIGNS DEAL TO JOIN EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

(c) Sputnik/ Alexei Druzhinin
BUSINESS
16:54 23.12.2014(updated 17:13 23.12.2014)

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that that Kyrgyzstan signed
a deal to join the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union.

(c) SPUTNIK/ ALEKSEI DRUZHININ Eurasian Economic Union to Continue
Work With US Despite Tensions: Official MOSCOW, December 23 (Sputnik)
-Kyrgyzstan signed a deal to join the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic
Union Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“The treaty on Kyrgyzstan’s accession has just been signed. We
are convinced that the membership of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan in the
Eurasian Economic Union corresponds with core national interests of
these countries,” the Russian leader said.

ZHAMANAK: GOVERNOR’S BROTHER-IN-LAW TO BE APPOINTED DEPUTY GOVERNOR

At the suggestion of Harutyun Sargsyan – the newly appointed governor
of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor province, member of the Republican Party of
Armenia – Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan relieved deputy governor
of the province Aram Grigoryan of his position.

‘Zhamanak’ paper writes that the governor already has a candidate for
the vacant post – his own brother-in-law Vasil Aslanyan who became
acting mayor of the city of Vayk following Harutyun Sargsyan’s
appointment as governor.

23.12.14, 11:54

ARMENIA MUST SETTLE ACCOUNTS IN AMD-RUB TERMS – ARTVIK MINASYAN

15:21 * 23.12.14

In an interview with Tert.am, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary group member Artsvik Minasyan
commented on the latest developments on Armenia’s financial market
last week.

According to him, the government should draw a number of lessons. He
proposed certain solutions.

One of the solutions is that, with 70% dollarization of Armenia’s
economy, should use AMD-RUB principle in effecting payments for a
number of products, including gas, which could prevent a rise in the
gas price on the border.

“Solution one: we all have made sure that it is the Russian ruble
that caused the greatest shock. It means that we should use AMD-RUB
principle in the case of substantial part of our trade with Russia.

Specifically, with respect to gas import, it is obvious that our
intergovernmental agreement must envisage deals in RUB and AMD terms,
not in USD terms.

“Secondly, Armenian-Russian trade turnover. In the case of essential
products for Armenia, we must achieve the aim of settling accounts
in RUB terms,” Mr Minasyan said.

“Gas imports are anchored to the USD formula, which must be replaced
with the RUB formula, which will not have any effect inside our
country. Gas-filling stations settle accounts in USD terms, which
affects ordinary Armenian citizens. And since an amount of currency
comes to Armenia, it can be predictable. But when we arrange deals
in terms of a third currency – the US dollar or Euro – we actually
shift the global economic burden onto our economy.”

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expect such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the increased price for Armenia. We are,
after all, in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot
raise the price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This
offers advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expect such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the increased price for Armenia. We are,
after all, in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot
raise the price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This
offers advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

Asked to comment on Gazprom Armenia’s earlier promise to ask the
Public Services’ Regulatory Commission to revise the tariffs, Minasyan
said he expects such a move to prevent a possible hike. “With this,
we’ll prevent a hike in the natural gas prices, at least in the short
run. Gazprom has to nonetheless raise the gas price for Russia to
justify the reasons behind the hike for Armenia. We are, after all,
in the same economic area. And that means Gazprom cannot raise the
price on its own because of changes in the Dollar rate. This offers
advantages to our country and state.

Addressing the need to recover the economy, Minasyan stressed the need
of investments as a sustainability tool. “Hence, our country has to
create an investment protection committee to make foreign currency
investments possible. Stock companies today cannot release shares
in a foreign currency. As a result, a foreign investor who wants to
make a payment for a share in Euros or [US] Dollars in the frameworks
of an investment project has to exchange with Drams in order to pay
the money. He or she thus actually incurs the risk and has to either
insure it by paying more for the investment or remain in the risk
zone. All two scenarios result in a negative decision in terms of
investments. We have sectors which we have artificially restricted.

And those restrictions have caused a 70% dollarization, which means
70% of our economy is based on a foreign currency. This implies that
we ourselves have weakened the Dram. So it fulfills no function as
a matter of fact. And if a currency fulfils no function at all, it
easily assumes the function of a weak means of overturn,” he explained.

ARMENIAN ART EXHIBIT TO FEATURE AT FRESNO ART MUSEUM

Monday, December 22nd, 2014
John Altoon, Seaview Series, 1964, pastel on paper, courtesy of the
collection of Joan and Jack Quinn, Beverly Hills, Calif.

FRESNO, Calif.–The Fresno Art Museum will present “Tradition,
Legacy, Culture,” an exhibit featuring works by Armenian artists to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The show
will open Jan. 23 with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and continues through
April 26. Admission to the opening reception is $10 for non-museum
members and free for members; admission during normal museum hours
is $5 for non-members and free for members.

With pieces on loan from various art galleries and personal
collections throughout the country, the exhibition includes the works
of John Altoon, Varujan Boghasian, Ara Dolarian, Charles Garabedian,
Arshile Gorky, Khachik Khachatouryan, Ed Marouk, Rueben Nakian,
Varaz Samuelian, William Saroyan, and Arminee Shishmanian.

“Each of these artists has achieved international and regional renown,”
remarked museum coordinator Carol Tikijian. “Each experienced the
Armenian Genocide on some level and each remained unstoppable in
their drive to create, leaving the world richer in its understanding
of the complexities of life through their art.”

While many will immediately recognize color and forms of Gorky as
well as the works of those artists with a local connection–including
Dolarian, Marouk, Samuelian, Shishmanian and, of course, Saroyan–it
is the discovery of newer and less familiar personalities that promises
to be equally compelling for visitors to this historic exhibit.

Additionally, the 11 artists encompass a wide range of media and
style–from the surrealism of Boghosian’s assemblages to the classic
imagery of Garabedian’s bold paintings to the contemporary expressions
of Khachatouryan’s bronze and stainless steel sculptures.

The art exhibit is part of a series of activities promoted by the
Armenian Genocide Centennial–Fresno Committee, which includes
representatives from the religious, educational, social, and
political organizations of the Central Valley. The group’s goals are
to commemorate the 1.5 million martyrs who perished at the hands of
the Ottoman Turkish government; to educate others about the Armenian
Genocide and historical injustice; and to inspire people to overcome
adversity through the story of the survivors’ of the Armenian
Genocide. For more information, visit the AGC–Fresno Committee’s
website or Facebook page.

HIDDEN DANGERS OF LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL’S GOLD MINE. CYANIDE

Lragir.am
Country – 22 December 2014, 15:36

People who are concerned about the environmental issues in Armenia
one more time got convinced that the environmental examination in our
country does not serve its intended purpose, but only automatically
confirmd the political decisions that have been made for realizing
this or that program. Another evidence of this was the environmental
impact assessment report #76 given on October 17, 2014 by the Ministry
of Environmental Protection of Republic of Armenia (RA) to the mining
complex working draft presented by Lydian International/Geoteam CJSC.

There was no professional analysis and evaluation of the environmental
hazards of this mega and disastrous project done by the ministry
experts, but there was only a documentation study done and a ten-page
summary was established which doesn’t give much information to
the public.

As the authorized state bodies did not do their duties assigned to
them by the laws and decisions of the RA, we have to reflect on the
uncontrolled dangers of Amulsar mine in series of analytical short
articles, so that the public will be informed of the true situation.

In these first series of articles we will present the hidden dangers
of the method of sodium cyanide heap leach gold and silver mining.

Sodium cyanide (NaCN) is an extremely strong and fast-acting toxic
substance, which penetrates into human organism within 2-4 hours and
causes a painful death. For an adult only 0.3 grams of cyanide is a
deadly quantity. If it passes to the lungs through breathing it will
cause almost instant death within a minute.

“Geoteam” CJSC owned by Lydian International Limited, registered in
offshore zone, is planning to carry out the extraction of gold using
this highly toxic substance, only 1km away from Arpa River which feeds
the whole Vayots Dzor region, 1.2 km away from the nearest village
settlements Gndevaz and 7.6 km away from Jermuk rehabilitation center.

We should note that 2000 tons of sodium cyanide and 1,000 tons of
hydrochloric acid (HCl), will be used per year and, 18 000 tones
of cyanide, or 60 billion lethal dose during the nine years of mine
operation.

Let’s try to understand how reliable is this method and what advantages
and disadvantages it has and in general, why to use cyanide? Cyanide
leaching method has been used for more than 100 years, but only in
the last 30 years it got to be widespread, due to the possibility of
large volumes of ore processing as a result of installation of the
so-called closed systems.

Only the application of this method makes it a profitable deal to
operate mines with less than one gram per ton gold content (in the case
of Amulsar it’s 0.7-0.8 g / t). And this is the only and most important
reason why Lydian / Geoteam have chosen this method of extracting gold.

But behind the cyanide leaching method serious primary and secondary
risks are hidden which in many cases are uncontrollable. Primary
risks include fires in cyanide warehouses, accidents in technical
constructions, the emissions of toxic solvents, natural disasters,
terrorist acts and other related accidents, the consequences of which
can be very serious both for people and the environment.

The catastrophic consequences of cyanide related incidents in different
parts of the world over the last 20-25 years only confirm this claim
(Romania – 2000, 2004, Kazakhstan – 2011, Kyrgyzstan – 1998, 2004,
Russia – 1998, 2009, 2012, Ghana – 2006, Turkey – 2011, Japan 2013,
Mexico – 2014, USA, Canada, etc.).

As for the secondary risks, their nature is much more complex and
their negative impact stays forever. During the operation the gold
and silver containing ore is being crushed and as a result all of the
elements or metallic and non-metallic compounds are extracted. This
mass is processed by cyanide and water mixture, and as the result of
the chemical reaction gold is disconnected. However, cyanide comes
into reaction not only with gold but also with ore-free and many
other materials, elements and heavy metals, which result in nitrates
and other chemical compounds. In the case of Amulsar the ore contains
many precious and heavy metals such as cobalt, copper, iron, nickel,
mercury, zinc, tungsten, bismuth, chromium, lead as well as harmful
toxic elements such as arsenic, selenium, beryllium, cadmium, which
will stay in the waste and in the future will pollute and endanger
both the environment and people’s health as well as ecosystems.

Currently, the scientific world has not come up with a means of
neutralizing these compounds and hazardous wastes that are dumped
directly into the environment and forever remain as a “gift”
for generations to come. Therefore, the extraction of gold or
silver through the use of cyanide is only profitable if the mining
company does not pay any fees for the generated waste. If the future
generations attempt to neutralize the compounds and hazardous wastes,
then it will most likely cost them a lot more than the profits
generated from extraction and sale of gold. Residents of Armenia
will receive 100 million tons of extraction waste containing heavy
metals and toxic elements as a “gift” in return for 60 tons of gold
extracted from the Amulsar mine.

In response to the 2000 Romanian Baia Mare cyanide spill that resulted
in an environmental disaster, the European Parliament and the European
Council adopted Directive 2006/21/EC, which discusses the management
and regulation of waste generated by the extractive industry. Article
13 clearly prohibits the deposit of waste containing more than 10
grams of weak acid dissociable cyanide per ton into the environment.

In accordance with the requirements of Article 14, the extractive
companies are required to provide financial guarantees for clean-up,
rehabilitation and restoration of the contaminated areas after the
closure of the mine. Of course, these and many other liabilities set
by international standards have been neglected by Lydian International
Limited, Geoteam and Armenian public authorities.

We conclude that the extraction of gold through the use of cyanide is
not effective for mankind, and to permit the construction of cyanide
heap leach in the immediate vicinity of rivers and settlements is
simply insane, and the resulting effects on the environment and mankind
is not possible to predict nor to manage, not to mention the daily
environmental pollution occurring as a result of the gold extraction.

And we keep hearing verbal promises, such as “Nothing is going to
happen, “This is a safe technology, “We are working in accordance with
the international standards”, etc. Can they guarantee safety? Are we
obligated to listen to them? How can people exposed to this danger
sleep peacefully? It seems the longing for immediate profit has
blinded everyone and for the sake of profit they are ready to “play”
with cyanide. Yes, to “play” with cyanide, because it is with the
help of cyanide that they can get more money.

Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF)