Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AYF DONATES COMPUTERS TO ARTSAKH

asbarez
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

After packaging the computers at the AYF offices in Glendale

GLENDALE-Each year the Armenian Youth Federation administers its Youth
Corps program in Armenia and Artsakh, a 6-week initiative consisting
of Diaspora volunteers running free summer day-camps for children. The
impact of this year’s program was recently extended beyond its summer
months, with the delivery of two brand new computers and a laptop
for the local AYF Youth Center in Stepanakert.

“The AYF is committed to educating and empowering Armenian youth
in both the Homeland and the Diaspora,” stated AYF-Western Region
Chairman David Arakelyan. “Our programs in Armenia and Artsakh are
geared toward helping young men and women acquire the skills and
resources necessary to succeed in the 21st century.”

This past summer, while working in Artsakh, Youth Corps volunteers
had the opportunity to visit and interact with fellow AYF members in
Stepanakert. They were quickly inspired by the level of commitment
and motivation they saw in the youth there, who were working on
important educational, cultural, and political programs. However,
despite having renovated offices provided by assistance from AYF
France, the Youth Center lacked any functioning computers-a luxury
we tend to take for granted here in the US.

The volunteers relayed this information back to the Central Executive
and requested support for their ungers in Stepanakert. Upon arriving
back home and participating in the AYF Alumni Camp Weekend in August,
it was decided that the proceeds from the event would be used to
purchase new computers for the Stepanakert Youth Center.

The three new computers were hand delivered to their new home two
weeks ago.

“We are hoping,” says Arakelyan, “that this small donation will assist
the kids in Stepanakert in achieving their goals.”

Through both its Youth Corps program in the summer and other proactive
initiatives throughout the year, the AYF strives to continue playing
a direct role in the nation-building process in Armenia.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and
most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United
States working to advance the social, political, educational, and
cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.

US APPRECIATES ARMENIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL PEACE

armradio.am
18.10.2011 17:47

On October 18 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received
Rose Gottemoeller, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control.

Greeting the guest, Edward Nalbandian hailed the fact that the
comprehensive cooperation between Armenia and the United States
includes also the field of arms control and attached importance to the
visit of the delegation, noting that it provides a good opportunity
to exchange views on security and arms control.

Rose Gottemoeller underlined that “the US highly appreciates Armenia’s
contribution to the maintenance of international and territorial
security and attaches importance to the cooperation with Armenia in
that sphere.”

Edward Nalbandian noted Armenia continues to view the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) as one of the pillars
of security and stability in Europe and stresses the necessity for
modernization and implementation of the treaty.

In this context the Armenian Foreign Minister called the attention
of the guest to Azerbaijan’s continuous violations of the commitments
envisaged by the Treaty and the constant threats of use of force.

ISSUE OF PARTICIPATION OF POLISH COMPANIES IN MODERNIZATION OF “NAIRIT” TO BE NARROWED DURING THE YEAR

/ARKA/
October 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Issue of participation of a number of
Polish companies in the implementation of large-scale investment
program in the Armenian plant of chloroprene rubber “Nairit” will be
solved during a year, said Ambassador of Poland in Armenia Zdzislaw
Raczinski in the press-conference on Tuesday.

Armenian Energy and Natural Resource Minister Armen Movsisyan announced
in June that the wish to participate in the tender of operator on
the implementation of investment program of “Nairit” expressed three
Polish companies.

“Final results will be announced not soon as we speak about large
amounts”, said Raczinski.

Secretary of National Security Council Artur Baghdasaryan said
that Armenia and Poland have already agreed on the further steps in
strengthening cooperation in economy.

Earlier Movsisyan said that modernization of the Armenian plant
“Nairit” to bring it into line with international standards will
require about $400-500 million investments.

He said that the volume of international liabilities accumulated by
the plant, including CIS Interstatebank is assessed $120-150 million,
and internal liabilities towards Armenian banks – about $20-25 million.

Scientific-Research company “Nairit’ was monopolist of chloroprene
rubber in the territory of USSR. In 1989 it was closed due to ecologic
reasons. The work in the plant was partially re-started in 1992-1993.

In 2001 production capacities were removed from “Nairit’ necessary
for the production of chloroprene rubber . In 2006, 90% of shares
of the company was sold to British consortium Rainoville Property
Limited for $40 million. The remaining 10% of shares belongs to the
government of Armenia.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS DECIDE TO FIGHT FOR LAKE SEVAN ON THEIR OWN

arminfo
Tuesday, October 18, 18:21

The environmentalists and green activists have decided to fight for
preservation of Lake Sevan on their own. “Our impression is that the
official departments responsible for the Sevan and for maintenance
of its ecosystem have got so much tired of the lake problems that
they no longer pay attention to even the most serious alarm signals”,
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said in her interview with ArmInfo.

She pointed out that over 20 enterprises are working near the Sevan,
among them an asphalt plant, as well as the Geghamet Plus company,
which is chopping dunite and peridotite raw at Shorzha deposit.

“The activities of Geghamet Plus have resulted in the throw of
chromiferous dust into the lake. Our officials, even the high-ranking
ones, are not going to implement their own mission. This automatically
means the death of Lake Sevan”, Zarafyan stressed.

She recalled that this is not the first year that the environmentalists
are paying attention to the low quality of cleaning activities near
Lake Sevan under the water raising level program.

“Expensive equipment from Finland has been acquired to get rid of the
underwater timber, however, this does not change the situation. The
equipment only operates in the areas near the summer cottages of
oligarchs and representatives of power. And almost nothing is being
done, for instance, near Tufenkian Hotel”, the expert said.

The rivers running into the Sevan also pollute the lake. “They are in
a horrifying state. There is everything in these rivers, including
effluents and elementary garbage. They are constantly speaking of
some garbage recycling plant and some special dump. Some projects are
being worked out, some money is allocated, but in practice everything
remains the same”, Zarafyan said.

She also pointed out the fact that Lake Sevan has lacked commercial
fish stock for several years. “Last year, just for the fun of it, we
visited the restaurants near the Sevan, and all of them had whitefish
in their menus, whereas fishing was banned. In the restaurants the
small whitefish costs 3,000 AMD – it is more expensive than the
trout and even the meat. This means that there is no fish any more”,
she said.

To solve the unresolved problems of the lake, the environmentalists
have decided to join forces and launch SOS-Sevan campaign.

“We want to apply to all the instances, to the top leadership of the
country, and to the international organizations. We are glad to say
that our foreign colleagues do not keep aloof. For instance, we have
already received a response from an environmental organization of
Kyrgyzstan”, Zarafyan said.

ASSISTANCE TO IT AND SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS ARE ARMENIA’S PRIORITIES IN COOPERATION WITH EBRD

/ARKA/
October 18, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 18. / ARKA /. Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian
received October 17 a delegation of EBRD Board of Directors.

Present were EBRD Regional Director for Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus
Paul-Henri Forestier and Head of EBRD Yerevan Office Valeriu Razlog,
the government press office told ARKA.

It said the delegation is in Armenia to discuss issues of mutual
interest, get a first-hand view of Armenia’s economic position and
specify the Bank’s strategic priorities in our country. Welcoming the
guests, Tigran Sarkisian said that the meeting is a nice opportunity
to discuss the path covered together and, what is more important,
the way ahead. Thanking the Premier for reception, the delegation
congratulated him on Armenia’s independence 20th anniversary.

Sarkisian then briefed on the current status of Armenia’s economy.

Speaking on the lessons learned from the global financial and economic
crisis, he made a point of economic diversification in Armenia by
curbing the “shadow economy” and implementing a business environment
improvement reform. In this context, he stressed that the formation of
a small and medium-sized enterprise-brokered middle class is the key
to combating corruption and introducing democratic values in Armenia.

Concerning the fight against corruption, Tigran Sarkisian said that a
new law will be effective as of January 1, 2012, under which 500 top
officials will be required to submit income declarations including
details on family members and other relations. He emphasized the
importance of having an ethics commission supposed to deal with the
assets owned by public officials. According to Tigran Sakisian,
greater public control may help reduce corruption risks through
enhanced transparency in the activities of decision-makers and other
State officials.

During the exchange of views that followed, the parties looked at
the steps underway in a number of spheres. In this connection, the
Prime Minister dwelt on his government’s efforts aimed at ensuring
equal conditions for economic competition, improving tax and customs
administration and reducing the scope of “shadow economy.”

With reference to the EBRD’s new country strategy for Armenia, Tigran
Sarkisian prioritized the need for boosting small and medium-size
enterprise and start-up businesses in the sphere of information
technologies. The meeting agenda also featured discussion of regional
issues. Pointing to the strength of Armenia’s reform capacity,
the guests reiterated the Bank’s readiness to support reforms in
our country.

The head of government thanked the EBRD Business Support Office for
assistance with the inspection and business environment improvement
reforms, as well as for the Bank’s support in the launch of the small
and medium-size enterprise development council.

ARMENIAN HAIRDRESSER WINS SILVER AT INDIVIDUAL WORLD HAIRDRESSING CHAMPIONSHIP IN MILAN

Tert.am
18.10.11

On October 4, in Paris, the Organization Mondiale Coiffure (OMC),
announced the winners of its first Individual World Hairdressing
Championship.

Thirty-nine hairdressers participated in the championship.

Rafael Mikaelyan, an Armenian from Sochi, Russia, won an OMC Silver
Medal – his “Violin” proved the second best in the Fantasy Hairstyle.

It is the fourth time that Rafael has taken part in the World
Hairdressing Championship. Last December his “Piano” was the 5th
in Paris.

Rafael studied law and has a bachelor’s degree. He was born in
Abkhazia, but he is living in Sochi now.

In an interview with the Yerkramas newspaper, Rafael said he considers
Armenia his homeland. “I want Armenia to set a fashion in beauty and
style for many countries. I think I am making my modest contribution
to the beauty industry in my homeland,” Rafael says.

“INVESTIGATORS PRESSURE EYEWITNESSES”

05:12 pm | Today | Social

Lawyers suggest making deals with the culprits by releasing them in
exchange of receiving important information.

“This means that a person wants to give an important testimony, but
is guilty for another act and wants compensation in exchange of his
testimony that may serve as a basis for liquidating the fight against
huge crimes,” lawyer Ara Ghazaryan told “A1+”.

He thinks sometimes certain prisoners can be released to catch
“bigger fishes” and create an efficient system to fight against
organized crime based on that principle.

The Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor Office conducted a study on the
protection of eyewitnesses’ rights with support from the OSCE and
released the results of that study today.

“The issue of eyewitnesses’ protection is seriously troubling,”
the researchers concluded.

Head of Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor Office’s legal division Tatev
Matinyan mentioned that the researchers had monitored 17 investigative
bodies in Lori, Tavush and Shirak provinces.

“No monitored investigative division had a separate room for
interrogation. The eyewitnesses are interrogated in the investigators’
offices,” Tatev Matinyan mentioned.

Public monitoring groups have no permission to enter those rooms and
can’t control them.

The investigative departments also don’t have waiting rooms, which
is a mandatory condition by law. “Eyewitnesses wait for hours in the
investigators’ offices and agree with them on what testimonies that
they have to give,” the lawyer mentioned.

The lawyers certify that eyewitnesses are subject to violence in
the investigators’ offices as well. According to the lawyers, what
is troubling is the fact that the tortured person raises his voice
about the violence that has been committed, but then denies it.

“Eyewitnesses are called to the prosecutor’s office and are subject
to violence, imposed to deny their previous testimonies and not to
complain anymore,” lawyer Tatev Matinyan says.

FIGHTING FOR TRCHKAN: ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE MINISTRY TO BAN HYDRO CONSTRUCTION ON PROTECTED WATERFALL
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
18.10.11 | 11:14

Environmentalists in Armenia continue to campaign against the
construction of a hydropower plant (HPP) at a waterfall on the border
of the northern provinces of Shirak and Lori. Construction of such
a facility, meanwhile, is underway.

Members of a pressure group, “Let’s Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall”, on
Monday sent a letter to the Ministry of Nature Protection demanding an
immediate end to the construction at the waterfall which is recognized
as a specially protected area.

Trchkan is the tallest and most abundant waterfall in Armenia (25.5
meters) and, according to environmentalists, the construction of an HPP
at the top of the waterfall may prove disastrous for the waterfall’s
existence. Environmentalists point out that the Ministry of Nature
Protection has violated the law by providing a positive environmental
conclusion to the HPP’s construction in an area, which is a protected
monument of nature since 2008.

During a meeting with reporters on Monday Ministry of Nature Protection
official Harutyun Harutyunyan, in fact, did not deny that the Ministry
“was wrong”. He said that “it happened independently from the Ministry”
and now the Ministry, together with the parties concerned, is trying
“to find a right way.”

“Now it has turned out that on the one hand there is the specially
protected area, on the other hand is a businessman who has all the
legal documents and wants to carry out the construction project. The
Ministry of Nature Protection has the goal of not affecting the values
of the Trchkan waterfall, that is the abundance of its waters, etc,
and that an HPP be built, and we now think of how to minimize this
damage,” said Harutyunyan.

According to the Ministry representative, the HPP will work only
during spring months when waters of the waterfall are in a larger
amount. Environmentalists, however, are skeptical in this respect.

“We can name five such waterfalls, one of which, Shakeh, has already
become humpbacked. We take students to the Shakeh waterfall and must
pay to the HPP owner to open the water valve and he will do so only
if he wishes. We want to develop tourism, but it can’t be developed
this way. Compensation should be given to the man [the owner of the
Robshin company building the HPP], or else he should show his good
will and let the waterfall alone,” says leading environmentalist
Karine Danielyan, who heads the For Sustainable Human Development NGO.

Danielyan is inclined to think that the Ministry wants to preserve the
waterfall. She suggests the HPP be built at the foot of the waterfall.

The Ministry official, however, says this will be more costly for
the station owner.

Member of the “Let’s Preserve the Trchkan Waterfall” initiative,
environmental expert Armen Vermishyan says on Facebook that Nature
Protection Minister Armen Harutyunyan wants to meet with them.

Harutyunyan, in his turn, informed the public that the Ministry is
inviting all interested parties to participate in public hearings.

THE STATEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN RESPONSE TO THE ALLEGED TERROR PLOT IN WASHINGTON

Noyan Tapan
18.10.2011

The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic
Republic of Iran in response to the alleged terror plot in Washington:

– At a news conference on October 11, 2011, U.S. Attorney General
claimed a plot had been foiled involving men allegedly linked to the
Islamic republic of Iran to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. and
that a person named Mansour Arbabsiar has been arrested in connection
with the said plot.

– The arrested suspect allegedly involved in the plot has lived in
the United States for the past 16 years and has had no link to Islamic
Republic of Iran entities. Unilaterally announcing accusations against
an American citizen residing in the U.S. without showing documentation
and creating a media wave against Iran is in no way compatible with
legal logic, and can only be a purely media and political show.

– Based on legal norms, if there is any claim against any other
government, the U.S. government should submit the accused person’s
information to the other country and request cooperation. However and
despite a clear request from I.R. Iran and contrary to international
conventions, the U.S. government has not taken any action in this
regard.

– Obvious contradictions mentioned above and the fact that American
officials have offered no specific evidence linking the plot to I.R.

Iran, have made professional experts and seasoned political figures in
the world (including those in the U.S.) to question the possibility of
such a plot per se – let alone attributing it to another government –
and some have even found it laughable.

– The accusations were put together by an obscure, anonymous secret
agent based on statements, guesses and suppositions by individuals
involved in drug smuggling! No admissible proof has yet been offered
and such baseless allegations would never stand up in a proper,
neutral courtroom.

– In the last three decades more than 16000 Iranian citizens including
Iranian scientists and senior officials have been assassinated and
even a number of Iranian diplomats have fallen victim to terrorist
attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran as one
of the main victims of terrorism and in line with the Islamic values
it so staunchly adheres to, is opposed to the killing of innocent
people and has always been a front-runner in fighting terrorism on
the international scene. This is while the U.S. governments have never
stopped to support some terrorist groups active against I.R. Iran.

– The last three decades have shown that I.R. Iran and its governments
have never failed to live up to their responsibility of contributing
to international and regional peace and stability as a top priority
for their foreign policy.

– Islamic Republic of Iran’s strategy on Islamic world and Arab
countries particularly the neighboring states and Saudi Arabia is based
on peace, brotherhood, and all-out cooperation aimed at developing
and deepening the dignity and security inside the sensitive regions
of the Middle East and Persian Gulf.

– The Foreign Ministry of I.R. Iran vehemently and categorically
denies the accusations made by U.S. officials and reminds everyone
that such illogical allegations are parts of an immature scenario and
political show and are nothing but a media smear campaign created
by Washington in an attempt to divert international attention from
the Islamic Awakening in the region, as well as the current protests
hitting the country and to justify the continuation of the failed
illegal actions taken by the U.S. against I.R. Iran. Needless to
say, the U.S. government is responsible for escalating tension and
undermining international security through its propaganda campaign
against I.R. Iran.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia

ARMENIAN FM RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED US AMBASSADOR

news.am, Armenia
Oct 17 2011

YEREVAN.- Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern
presented on Monday his credentials to Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian.

Foreign Minister expressed hope that he will contribute to further
development and expansion of Armenian-American friendly relations.

In his turn Heffern stressed that the U.S. administration attaches
major importance to development of all-around cooperation with Armenia
assuring he will spare no effort for strengthening of bilateral
relations, foreign office~Rs press service reported.

The sides discussed a number of issues related to bilateral ties,
as well as implementation of U.S. government~Rs programs aimed at
Armenia~Rs development. They exchanged views on regional issues
as well.

In this context Minister Nalbandian gave appraisal of U.S. work in
the OSCE Minsk Group.