Author: Kalantarian Kevo

NUMBER OF TOURISTS DOUBLES AFTER CROSS WAS INSTALLED ON ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TURKEY

news.am
July 13 2011
Armenia

The number of tourists in the Turkish province of Van doubled after
a cross was installed on Armenian Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island.

The local department of culture and tourism says 10,000 visited
Van museum in 2009, while 23,932 people visited Akhtamar Island and
another 9,376 – the Van castle, Cihan news agency reports.

“In 2010 Akhtamar Island was visited by 30, 804 people. Over recent
six months the number of visitors totaled 25,500 ,” the statement says.

On September 19, 2010 the first liturgy in 95 years was held in Surb
Khach church, the cross was installed on September 30.

BAKO SAHAKIAN A SALUE L’ACTION DES MEDIATEURS
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 13 juillet 2011

Dans une interview a RFE/RL reprise par Jamanak, le ” President ”
du HK, Bako Sahakian, a salue l’action des mediateurs, en soulignant
qu’ils se sont engages a negocier un règlement juste du conflit
et a s’investir davantage pour empecher une nouvelle guerre. Il a
declare dans le meme temps que l’armee du HK est prete a affronter
une possible tentative de l’Azerbaïdjan de recourir a la force. Il
a egalement reaffirme qu’aucun accord de paix signe par l’Armenie et
l’Azerbaïdjan ne peut etre mis en ~uvre sans etre approuve par le HK.

” Nous sommes profondement convaincus que les mediateurs sont sincères
dans leurs intentions. Durant toutes ces annees, nous avons evolue en
etant convaincus que la communaute internationale et en particulier
les co-presidents du Groupe de Minsk s’efforcent de maintenir cette
paix relative et parviendront a une solution pacifique definitive.

Cette paix relative est de loin preferable aux hostilites militaires,
et je pense que les co-presidents poursuivront leurs efforts et
mèneront des travaux supplementaires pour maintenir cette situation “.

D’après B. Sahakian, le processus de paix restera dans l’impasse tant
que l’Azerbaïdjan fera preuve d’une ” position non-constructive ” et
menacera de mettre fin au conflit par la force. ” Nous sommes obliges
de [le] prendre en compte et de ne pas exclure la possibilite que
l’Azerbaïdjan passe un jour de la parole aux actes “, a-t-il poursuivi,
appelant les mediateurs, ainsi que la communaute internationale a
changer de position vis-a-vis de l’Azerbaïdjan et a recourir, si
necessaire, a des actions contraignantes. B. Sahakian a souligne que
le Haut-Karabagh doit etre directement associe et avoir le dernier
mot dans ces negociations. ” Tout en saluant la participation de
l’Azerbaïdjan et de l’Armenie aux negociations et en exprimant notre
gratitude a l’Armenie, nous avons toujours affirme que dans ce cadre
[existant], il est impossible de parvenir a un accord “.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

EXPERT: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA NOT IMPORTANT FACTOR IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM

Trend Daily News
July 11, 2011 Monday 5:18 PM GMT +4
Azerbaijan

The results of the presidential elections in Russia in 2012 will not be
an important factor in Moscow’s efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Russian political analyst Mikhail Remizov said.

“I would not overestimate Moscow’s possibilities to influence the
parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as the main problem is the
lack of even an exemplary model of settlement,” he told Trend.

“Additional incentives of mediators would make sense only if this
model was on the negotiating table. But it does not exist because
the positions of the parties are mutually exclusive while clarifying
the circumstances.”

He added that, in this respect, mediation can not be very effective,
except in terms of preventing the escalation of military conflict,
but not in the sense of reaching the agreement on legal resolving
the territorial dispute.

“I do not see any perspectives of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in the nearest future,” the expert said.

However, Moscow would continue making efforts to reconcile the two
friendly countries – Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“It does not depend on domestic political circumstances in Russia,
including the upcoming presidential elections,” he said.

Russia is not interested in the two countries being at war. Thus,
this is a big problem for Russia in many ways, he said.

President Medvedev has prepared a message to Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, following discussions
held in Kazan. The message includes proposals on the visions of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, recently discussed at a meeting
of the three presidents with representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev, Dmitry
Medvedev, and Serzh Sargsyan discussed the basic principles of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in Kazan. The ninth meeting ended
without reaching agreements on the basic principles of the settlement.

The sides noted the progress towards this goal in a joint statement.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently continuing peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: July 10, 2011
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Email: [email protected]

BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA: SUPPORTING THE FOLLOW-ON EXPERIENCE IN ARMENIA

When designing the concept of Birthright Armenia from scratch in 2003, there
was great excitement of starting something so new and unique, and being able
to push ideas across traditional diasporan community lines. Utilizing the
total freedom it had to think outside the box, Birthright Armenia gave birth
to the concept of sponsorship of youth to Armenia for immersion-style
professional internships and study abroad programs. It launched with
aspirations to make it more commonplace for youth from all over the world to
be living and working toward a common good, side-by-side with their peers in
the Republic of Armenia.

Now almost eight years later, it is exciting to see how the Birthright
Armenia concept is taking hold. The non-profit organization continues to
expand services to larger numbers of participants, as it reaches deeper and
wider into unknown pockets of Armenian communities of youth across the
globe, all the while growing its existing alumni base. Most refreshing of
all are the results taking shape in meaningful and impactful ways, that are
actually seen and felt, propelling the organization that much closer to one
of its longer-term goals, namely mental repatriation.

The “R” word. Returnees.

To date, 525 young adults in the alumni association have received Birthright
Armenia sponsorship of their volunteer experience in Armenia. Eight percent
of the alumni base has already made the personal choice to return to Armenia
for a longer-term, follow-on experience. With professional and personal
connections behind them resulting from their prior internships, 40 alums to
date have made the commitment to start anew as returnees, choosing to spend
that next step of their young adult lives in Armenia.

Surely there are a variety of motivational issues that come into play when
making such a decision to move to Armenia. But to hear it directly from
them, their true passion and belief in what they are embarking on resounds
loud and clear. Most want to know how these young people are making the
transition to Armenia work.

Some Birthright alums opt to continue working unpaid in their existing job
placements, while others are lucky to be offered paid employment to continue
on. The vast majority has found a nice niche for themselves, securing
employment in their field of interest. Liliya Djaniants (USA), Nigel Sharp
(UK), Nyree Abrahamian (Canada), Gregory Bandikian (USA) are fortunate
examples of alumni who are currently working in their chosen sectors of
architecture, IT, marketing and business respectively. Bandikian, 27, the
most recent Birthright Armenia returnee, arrived in Armenia in mid-April of
this year, and within one week landed a salaried job he is thoroughly
enjoying. Bandikian comments, “I first came to volunteer in 2006. Ever
since I moved to Armenia a couple of months ago, I can see just how fast
Armenia is changing… and the important part is that it’s moving in the
right direction!”

Then there are those who have also married, and have started their own
families or have given birth to their own projects in Armenia. Mher Azezian,
Raffi Kortoshian, Cristina Manian, Jeffrey Paretchan, Gabriel Meghruni, Areg
Maghakian and Nyree Abrahamian met their spouses while doing Birthright
Armenia, and three are currently raising their children in Yerevan.

While a small number of the Birthright Armenia returnees are still
aggressively pursuing that “right” job opportunity, they sustain themselves
economically with side jobs tutoring English, other foreign languages, or
other part-time employment. The thought process is that it is easier to
find a job in Armenia if you are already “in” Armenia. Alum Zaruhi
Avetisyan, who was a paid translator living in Moscow, has been looking for
translation work. “It’s not easy to start doing the same work right away,
because you’re a new person in the market. You have to reestablish yourself
and it takes time,” she says.

There is a running list of alums by the dozens, curiously and carefully
looking on from afar, awaiting their own turn to make it back to Hayastan.
Most importantly, they have started the thought process of balancing,
reflecting and taking steps to help make their vision of living and working
in Armenia a reality. Birthright Armenia staff is eager to help them in
every practical way. Vrej Haroutounian sees it this way: “Birthright
Armenia participants are leaders, they are the youth that took the
initiative to leave their status quo, to reach out to Armenia, and to create
their realities based on their own core values. Armenia, in a way, is the
New Frontier, a place where people can squeeze their brows, lean shoulder to
shoulder with each other, and in a few years look back with pride and say
‘We did this together’.

Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland and
diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of Armenia’s
daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through work, study
and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense of Armenian
identity. For more information, or to make an online donation, please visit
our website at

Americans for Artsakh
c/o NKR Office
1334 G St, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 223-3440

Americans for Artsakh (AfA) is pleased to announce the successful
completion of its first summer humanities program for university
students. Participants gathered together in Stepanakert from Artsakh
State University, Mesrob Mashtots University, and Yerevan State
University for a special two-week intensive academic program that
offered courses in a range of social science-related subjects. The
program was sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union. Mesrob
Mashtots University and the VITA non-governmental organization provided
training venues for the classes.

Academic Coordinator Asbed Kotchikian, as well as local coordinators
Arshak Balayan, Hamazasp Danielyan, and Gayane Vardanyan brought
together leading scholars from the United States, Canada, and Armenia
for this unique pilot program. Courses were taught in political science
theory, anthropology, gender studies, and other related subjects. In
addition, visiting specialists from Armenia gave lectures in media, art
and art theory, civil society, Armenia-Diaspora relations, and conflict
resolution. Local representatives from the Halo Trust landmine removal
organization, the Armenian Relief Society, and the Naregatsi Art
Institute provided overviews of their programs in Artsakh.

Beyond the theoretical aspects of the program, short seminars were held
in résumé and application writing, social networking, and other
practical skill-building techniques. At the end of the program, the
students were divided into four groups and gave presentations on select
topics to the whole group, after which they were challenged in question
and answer sessions about the details of their work.

The students’ final evaluations indicated great satisfaction with the
program as a whole, and especially with the instructors. Several
participants noted that they wished the course had been longer and hope
that similar projects will be organized in the future. “The program was
very useful and we learned a lot,” remarked Astghik Baldryan, a
participant from Armenia. “We could not have imagined a better
organized and implemented curriculum.” Nare Avagyan, a participant from
Artsakh, said that “The instructors were excellent, and I hope more of
my classmates will participate next time.”

Students and faculty also had opportunities to socialize outside the
classroom. The group organized excursions to the village of Khndzoresk,
as well as Tatev Monastery in southern Armenia, and were able to
experience Tatev’s new aerial tramway. Towards the end of the program,
the staff organized meetings with other AfA alumni (some of whom also
participated in this year’s project) to offer previous and current
participants opportunities to share their experiences and discuss ideas
for further cooperation.

For more information about Americans for Artsakh, go to

FINCHANNEL.COM: ARMENIA HAS THE MOST DEVELOPED FISH MARKET IN THE REGION

Panorama
July 12 2011
Armenia

“Armenia is more developed in terms of fish production than the other
countries in the region – Georgia and Azerbaijan. Namely, Armenia
consumes ten times more fish feed compared to Georgia, meaning it
has ten times bigger production” finchannel.com writes.

According to recent statistics, total fish imports both live and
frozen were up to 26 million USD in Georgia in 2009, and 30 million
USD in 2010. While export is 5-6 times less, the total export of fish
both live and frozen amounted to 5 million USD in 2009 and 7 million
USD in 2010.

finchannel.com writes in regards to fish production and export,
Armenia has the most developed market in the region. The field could
not be developed in Azerbaijan due to the bad conditions of the water.

RUSSIAN AND US PRESIDENTS DISCUSS SITUATION ESTABLISHED IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT’S SETTLEMENT

APA
July 12 2011
Azerbaijan

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh -APA. A telephone conversation was held
between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack
Obama.

APA reports quoting the Russian President’s official website that
the regional and global problems including the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict were discussed during the conversation.

As the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries, Obama and Medvedev
exchanged view on the situation established in Karabakh’s regulation.

Obama highly assessed Russian leader’s efforts in this direction,
especially Kazan meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents. At
the same time both sides expressed the intention to continue taking
the coordinated steps in order to facilitate the search of peaceful
solution to the problem in Baku and Yerevan. The presidents also
discussed the other bilateral and international issues.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is being on a visit to
Washington.

He will meet with his American counterpart Hillary Clinton and discuss
many issues including Karabakh’s regulation.

US AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

vestnik kavkaza
July 12 2011

Russian and US Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama
havediscussed coordination of efforts to settle regional and
internationalproblems in a telephone conversation, the Kremlin reports.

Obama praised Russia for its efforts and the trilateral summit of
theRussian, Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Dmitry Medvedev,
IlhamAliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, in Kazan.

The meeting in Kazan saw discussions of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (from Russia, USA,
France) werealso at the summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
visitedBaku and Yerevan on July 7-8 and handed over proposals for
settlingthe conflict.

Medvedev talked about Russia’s intensive work with the UN and
theAfrican Union to resolve the crisis in Libya. Negotiations
for apeaceful political dialogue will continue. Russian Foreign
MinisterSergey Lavrov will visit Washington in the near future.

The sides also discussed Russian membership of the WTO.

Medvedev and Obama agreed to compare notes more often and
continuedevelopment of cooperation.

WHO EMBEZZLED $2.7 MILLION? ACCUSED WANTS PROOF

The trial in the criminal case against Hayincassatsia CJSC employees
Anahit Grigoryan, Satenik Sargsyan, Aghavni Khachatryan, Armine and
Arman Grigoryan, and Sargis Danielyan continued in the Court of First
Instance of Arabkir and Qanaqer-Zeytoun Administrative Districts of
Yerevan on Monday.

Note, it’s been over a year that Anahit Grigoryan and Satenik Sargsyan
have been in the Abovyan penitentiary. During one of the previous
lawsuits, the representatives of the accused motioned to change the
precautionary measure since both have serious health issues; the court,
however, did not sustain the motion.

Grigoryan’s attorney Varduhi Elbakyan, speaking to Epress.am Monday,
said this criminal case is launched on an opinion of Armenia’s
Central Bank.

“The Central Bank came to the opinion that Anahit Grigoryan embezzled
around one billion drams [around $2.7 million USD] between 2003 and
2009. Let me say, that during that entire time, inspections were
carried out and at no time was a breach uncovered by either the
auditors or the tax inspectorate,” she said.

Only the plaintiff’s representative, Hayincassatsia CJSC lawyer
Liana Mkhitaryan, was examined during Monday’s trial. The defense
asked Mkhitaryan where she got the information that she gave at her
pre-trial testimony that Anahit Grigoryan stole that money.

Mkitaryan said that was how it was written in the investigator’s
decision. Asked whether anyone guided her while writing her testimony
and who was present at the time, Mkhitaryan said accused Armen
Grigoryan and an additional 4 people were present while she was writing
her testimony, while the investigator showed her how to write it.

Anahit Grigoryan also directed several questions to the witness,
who promised a comprehensive response at the next court hearing.

In addition, Grigoryan made a statement in court which she noted,
“Absent in the investigation materials are inspection acts invoked
in the work of any Central Bank working group and written findings
based on expert justifications by any inspection organization, the
finance ministry, the tax inspectorate, the labor inspectorate, the
pension fund, the state registry and other state bodies, as well as
any auditing organization regarding the veracity of the embezzlement
of one billion drams. I hope that until I give my testimony in court,
a written document by any substantiated inspection organization
testifying to the embezzlement of one billion drams will be finally
shown to me.”

At the end of the trial, Grigoryan’s attorney said that no
substantiated motion put forth by the defense has been sustained by
Judge Levon Avetisyan and the entire trial process is dictated from
orders above.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY A SOURCE OF SHAME
By Sara Khojoyan

Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR
CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, No. 599,
July 11, 2011
UK

IWPR EDITORIAL COMMENT

Corruption and tax evasion have increased inequality.

When my foreign friends ask me to tell them about Armenia, and
particularly its economy, I always tell them the same things –
the country is corrupt, business is closely linked to government,
and the ruling elite does all it can to make sure things stay that way.

The Armenian economy lies in the hands of a few politicians. The
businessmen sitting in parliament and other state institutions may
not be the legal owners of the big companies, but everyone in Armenia
knows who really controls what.

It is never very nice to have to explain this to friends from abroad,
but an article in Forbes magazine assessing the economies of 117
countries all round the world has made me dread it all the more. The
magazine’s extensive examination assessed national wealth, inflation
figures for the last three years, as well as the International Monetary
Fund, IMF, forecast for next year.

“With a mediocre growth forecast for the next few years, this
landlocked former Soviet republic, dependent upon Russia and Iran
for virtually all of its energy supplies, is struggling to keep up
with the rest of the world,” Forbes said in its summary of Armenia.

Taking all that into account, it decided that Armenia had the
second-worst economy in the world this year, saved from being last
only by Madagascar. That assessment provoked a great deal of anger
in Yerevan.

One reader commented on the Armenia Now website that the Forbes
article was nothing more than “expensive toilet paper”.

“They used to call Armenia the ‘Caucasian tiger’, and now they’re
calling it the world’s second-worst economy,” wrote another commenter.

“Hopefully, Armenians will realise that these ‘prestigious’
organisations like the World Bank, IMF… only say whatever serves
their interests and their assessments don’t necessarily reflect
the truth.”

I had some sympathy for those who posted these remarks and with other
angry Armenians, because the Forbes article was so embarrassing. But
emotions aside, the magazine had a point – all the indicators it
assessed have been very bad for at least three years.

Over this time, prices have risen by 50 per cent, while external debt
is now 40 per cent of gross domestic product and rising. Meanwhile,
the rate of economic growth, which was in double figures before the
financial crisis, is now negative.

Government’s projects that we hear, week after week, are improving
our lives in reality change nothing. Only medium-sized and small
businesses have the potential to make the situation better, and no
attention is paid to them.

Many people in Armenia genuinely struggle to buy even food every day.

Often people cannot afford cheese or meat for months on end, while
there are schoolchildren who get clothes just twice a year: once for
the beginning of the school year and a second time for the winter. And
I myself have seen how miserable they are when their parents cannot
pay for their school books on time.

In Armenia, many of our top businessmen-politicians like to do charity
work, to win support among people like this. They will pay for buses to
take students to university, or sponsor a sport club. Once elections
are near, the scale of their charity grows enormous, as they start
handing out thousands of dollars to hospitals and cultural centres
or to people with health or social problems.

And yet Armenians increasingly realise that the charitable donations
handed out by these individuals – who are not legally allowed to
combine business activities with holding a seat in parliament –
represent a tiny fraction of the taxes they should be paying.

I believe that if in fact they were to pay taxes in full, the average
public-sector wage could be raised from its current level of under
100 US dollars a month.

The nation is tired of all this, but at the same time, the ranks of
the opposition parties are becoming ever thinner.

At the time of the 2008 presidential election, the Armenian National
Congress, ANC, had so many supporters who were full of hope and thought
they could get rid of the government if only they tried hard enough.

Some people never liked the ANC leaders, who led Armenia in the 1990s,
saying they were just a different set of wealthy rich hypocrites and
what’s more, that it was they who established the oligarchic system
in the first place. Even their supporters are now turning away from
them, because – people say – they do nothing but talk, and are now
even in dialogue with the government.

Now there is no leader or party that people are prepared to follow as
they did in 2008. Exhausted voters are prepared to accept a 20 or 30
dollar handout a supposed philanthropist, so as to be able to afford
bread and cheese at least for a couple of days.

And meanwhile, our economy resembles nothing so much as a big,
empty balloon.

Sara Khojoyan is IWPR’s acting country director in Armenia.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those
of IWPR.