Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN AND BRITISH CHARITIES CELEBRATED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

By:Armenian Weekly
Mon, Jun 20 2011

LONDON, United Kingdom-His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales hosted
a historic Anglo-Armenian charity event in support of Armenian and
British charities at Buckingham Palace on June 15. Project initiator
and main benefactor Armen Sarkissian, former Prime Minister of Armenia
and President of Eurasia House International, welcomed more than 250
guests from around the world with His Royal Highness.

(L to R): HRH The Prince of Wales, Levon Sayan, Charles Aznavour,
and Armen Sarkisisan.

Members of the royal family, dignitaries, world-renowned political,
cultural and civic leaders, and senior executives of global
corporations attended this unique charity event. Prime Minister of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, and Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan were
among the guests of honor.

“It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to welcome you all to
this very special occasion at Buckingham Palace,” said the Prince of
Wales in his remarks and expressed his thanks to all the donors of
“Yerevan My Love” and Dumfries House.

The evening started with a reception, following by a unique concert
especially put together on this occasion. World renowned soprano Renee
Fleming and violin virtuoso and conductor Maxim Vengerov, took part in
the programme, along with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London) and the
Bach Choir. In addition to Handel, the choir sang most moving pieces
from the Armenian liturgy, Surb, Surb and Hayr Mer by Makar Ekmalian.

As a tribute to “Yerevan My Love,” Vengerov played Komitas’s Krung
for the first time in his musical career, captivating the emotions of
the audience. Renee Fleming enthralled the audience not only with her
superb and mesmerizing voice, but also with her poignant remarks. A
banquet followed in the magnificent Picture Gallery of the Palace.

“Yerevan My Love” is a heritage-led regeneration project dedicated to
preserving architecturally significant buildings in Yerevan and putting
them to use to improve the life experience of disabled children,
young people and disadvantaged families. Following the successful
fundraising in 2010, three buildings in the vicinity of St.

Hovhanes Church in the Kond neighbourhood of Yerevan are being built
and reconstructed. Three additional architecturally significant
buildings will be reconstructed in the Old Yerevan neighbourhood as
part of the second phase of “Yerevan My Love project,” supported by
the fundraising this year.

In his eloquent remarks, Armen Sarkissian highlighted the role of
every individual in the preservation of culture and heritage and the
universality of culture. He said, “It is a privilege for me to thank
you each and every one of you for your contributions, for your support
and, most important, for sharing a belief that culture and heritage
are part of our soul and we have to pass it on to the next generation,
to our children.”

The Prince of Wales underlined that “the evening is also an occasion
to strengthen the strong ties and friendship between Armenia and the
United Kingdom. He said, “I have long admired Armenia as the oldest
Christian nation in the world, with its unique architectural heritage.

It is so heartening that the ‘Yerevan My Love’ project is preserving
and continuing traditional Armenian architecture and craftsmanship.”

Dumfries House is a unique house in South-West Scotland which
had retained much of the furniture commissioned for it from Thomas
Chippendale. A few years ago The Prince of Wales forestall the separate
sales of the House and its contents to private bidders. He has since
assured that the House and its unique collection of furniture are
preserved for the British nation and future generations.

Armen Sarkissian thanked His Royal Highness for his visionary
leadership and foresight in many critical issues facing not only
Britain but also the entire globe. “We thank him for his full support
and cooperation in making this night a very special occasion,”
said Sarkissian. He pointed out that “the international array of
participation is a wonderful example of global cooperation in charity
and heritage preservation.”

DAVIT BABAYAN SAYS FORMAT OF NK NEGOTIATIONS DISTORTED

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 20, 2011
YEREVAN

The expectations from the trilateral meeting of the presidents of
Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in Kazan are not big, head of the NKR
information department Davit Babayan told Armenpress, explaining
that the negotiation process is passing in a distorted format –
without direct participation of Nagorno Karabakh.

At the same time, the latter noted that Artsakh welcomes any meeting
that can somehow have positive impact on preservation of stability
in the region. “The NKR must be direct participant of the negotiations.

Currently a strange situation has been created when an attempt
is being made to regulate the issue or come to consent without
full participation of one of the parties. The main guilty of it
is Azerbaijan as thanks to its unconstructive position the current
strange situation has been created”, Babayan said.

Nevertheless, he finds that a general scenario of the conflict
settlement may be worked out in Kazan.

“In 2012 active political period is expected in Artsakh, Armenia,
Russia, the USA and France as a result the NK conflict settlement
process will slow down”, Babayan said.

Two from the 6 candidates refused to take part in the elections for
the mayor of Artashat

14.06.2011 | 10:48 | | Noyan Tapan | Politics

(Noyan Tapan – 14.06.2011) Two candidatures from the six ones refused
to take part in the elections for the mayor of Artashat held on June
3. The two candidates are Vardan Mnatsakanyan and Mesrop Petrosyan.
They are non-party.

As Tatev Ohanyan, press secretary of the Central Electoral Commission
informed Noyan Tapan, 4 candidates are nominated for the post of the
mayor: Mayor, Republican Gagik Mouradian, Director of the Car school
Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, president of `Forest Seafood ” Tadevos
Tadevosyan, and Kajo Grigoryan working nowhere.

L’Humanité, France
Vendredi 17 Juin 2011

Le spécialiste des Guerres

Gérard Chaliand, né en 1934 dans le village d’Etterbeek, à Bruxelles,
est un géostratège et aventurier français d’origine arménienne. Il est
spécialiste de l’étude des conflits armés et des relations
internationales et stratégiques. Ses axes de recherche concernent
essentiellement les conflits irréguliers (guérilla, terrorisme), dont
il est devenu l’un des plus éminents spécialistes et théoriciens
mondiaux. Il est également écrivain, historien, poète et traducteur,
auteur d’une cinquantaine de livres. Successivement maître de
conférences à l’ENA, enseignant à l’École supérieure du Centre
européen d’étude des conflits, Gérard Chaliand est conseiller auprès
du Centre d’analyse et de prévision du ministère des Affaire
étrangères, et professeur dans de nombreuses universités d’autres
pays. Son engagement anticolonialiste au sein de Partisans, revue dont
il est l’un des fondateurs au moment de la guerre d’Algérie, puis de
Révolution africaine le conduit à vouloir comprendre le monde à partir
du terrain. Acteur de la guérilla avant d’en devenir un théoricien, il
est l’un des spécialistes des problèmes politiques et stratégiques du
monde contemporain.

Ahmadinejad talks with Azeri, Armenian counterparts over phone

Tehran, June 19, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed issue
of mutual interests as well as regional developments over phone with
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh
Sargsyan on Sunday.

According to the presidential website, during the separate telephone
conversations, the Iranian president discussed expansion of mutual
relations and cooperation as well as regional developments inlcuding
the issue of terrorism.

During the telephone conversations, the Iranian president called for
collective cooperation among regional countries to uproot terrorism.

Prime Minister of Armenia: Investments from Diaspora a direct way to
development of tourism and economy in general

ARMINFO
Friday, June 17, 17:06

Armenia is a favorable environment for Diaspora’s investments and
business. In this light, investments by our compatriot in opening of a
new hotel complex in the resort village of Hankavan can be exemplary
for others, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the
ceremonial opening of Ani Resort Hotel in Hankavan, Thursday. Minister
of economy, members of the government and heads of the local
self-government attended the opening ceremony.

American businessman Armenian by origin Sedrak Achemyan and his son
Arthur Achemyan opened the new hotel complex in the area of the former
sanatorium Erebuni.

“I am happy to attend such event on my arrival from London where the
key topic of discussed with big businessmen of the Armenian Diaspora
was development of economy in Armenia through investments. Opening of
this complex has become possible only thanks to our compatriot who
decided to make his investments in Armenia,” T. Sargsyan said.

The prime minister said opening of such hotels makes Armenia a more
attractive country for tourism, which is in harmony with one of the
government’s prior task i.e. development of tourism.

“Another important factor is that our partner from Diaspora invests in
the region and not in Yerevan, which is in harmony with another our
task – proportional territorial development,” Tigran Sargsyan said.
The premier is sure that the guests of Ani Resort will enjoy high
quality services and rich nature of Hankavan.

For his part, S. Achemyan said that investments in the hotel complex
he named after his daughter Ani totaled $7.5 million. “In Armenia it
is necessary to develop villages, and promote activity of villagers. I
am happy to make a contribution to development of this part of Kotayk
region,” he said. “Together with my son we plan to build similar
resort complexes also in other regions,” the businessman said. He said
that almost all the rooms at Ani Resport have already been reserved.

Construction of Ani Resort located 55km from Yerevan was launched in
2008 and involved nearly 2000 people from, Hankavan and the nearby
villages. The hotel has 40 rooms and 12 cottages for at least 140
people.

The cost of a room is 25,000-90,000 drams. The hotel has also an
up-to-date conference hall for 80 people. There are two football and
volleyball pitches, a tennis court, swimming pool, gym, playground,
game zone, and restaurants. An ice-rink will be built at the hotel and
a farm producing agricultural products.

Hankavan is situated on the picturesque bank on the River of Marmarik
on 1900m above sea level.

By data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia in the Q1 2011
the number of tourists visiting Armenia grew 22.1% versus the same
period of 2010 to 113515 people. Tourists that visited Armenia in Q1
2011 stayed at 43 hotels versus 33 in for Jan- Mar 2010. A total of
17436 tourists used hotel services (up 75.6%), the other 96079 people
stayed at their relatives or rented flats (up 15.7%).

Are you trying to move mountains?

08:30 pm | June 17, 2011 | Politics

Member of “Sardarapat” Movement, film director Tigran Khzmalyan is not
too interested in what kind of document Serzh Sargsyan will be
presented with in Kazan and is sure that the Armenian people won’t
allow the execution of any document that is not in the country’s
interests.

“Armenia can’t accept any concession. The phrase “mutual concessions”
is a word game. They are demanding concessions from Armenia, but we
shouldn’t be afraid of anything. We must understand our interest,
dignity and the price. We shouldn’t allow the entrance of foreign
forces. I call on using judgement, and I’m not referring to those who
will represent Armenia in Kazan,” Tigran Khzmalyan today told “A1+”.

According to him, for the past twenty years, the Armenian authorities
have had a strange working style when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution.
“Armenia has tricked the world so much that even Armenians have
convinced themselves that the NK is a separate state. That was the
first administration’s genius discovery. The second and third regimes
decided to do everything without Karabakh, and now they are in trouble
and say they should ask Karabakh. This is all leading to a crisis.”

Tigran Khzmalyan proposes to solve the issue in the most correct way,
that is, to accept that Artsakh is one of Armenia’s provinces.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s declarations on accelerating the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, Mr. Khzmalyan said:

“Unlike Armenia’s leadership, Azerbaijan is thinking about the future.
It realizes that there will no longer be a petroleum boom ten years
later and the country will lose money. That is why they have begun to
rush, but Armenia is in no rush.”

After learning about Serzh Sargsyan’s response to the HAK’s proposal
for dialogue, Tigran Khzmalyan said:

“Did he really respond? He simply smirked and asked whether the HAK
was trying to move mountains. The people’s energy at the square and
some people’s “smart” policy turned the river into a stream, the drops
of the stream filled into a half-empty cup, but Serzh Sargsyan said he
didn’t need that cup.”

Opposition MP says anti-social laws push her to frequent speeches

13:36 – 19.06.11

The bills proposed in our parliament very often fail to meet the
public demand, and what’s even more, conflict with the public
interest, says an opposition MP.

`My frequent speeches at the National Assembly are conditioned by the
fact that the legislative proposals not only fail to meet but also
conflict, very often, with the public interest,’ Larisa Alaverdyan of
the Heritage party faction in parliament told Tert.am.

Her statement came after a recent parliament monitoring (available at
), which gave the ranking of MPs
depending on the frequency of speeches in parliament. Alaverdyan, who
was Armenia’s first human rights defender, topped the list.

Dwelling further on the reasons of her frequent speeches, the MP noted
further that Heritage is a small faction, a factor that obliges its
members to speak more often at parliamentary hearings.

`If our faction were a little bigger, there would be fewer speeches
probably,’ she said.

Alaverdyan said her experience in different spheres is yet another
factor causing her to speak more to voice various proposals.
`Frequent speeches imply I have my own opinion on different bills,’ she said.

Tert.am

POETE DISPARU
Il y a 40 ans le poète Barouïr Sévag disparaissait sur une route d’Arménie

Il y a 40 ans, le 17 juin 1971, sur une route d’Arménie, disparaissait
Barouïr Sévag, le plus grand poète arménien de la seconde moitié du
XXe siècle. Comme chaque année anniversaire de sa disparition, de
nombreuses manifestations dédiées au poète se déroulèrent en Arménie.
Né sous le nom de Barouïr Ghazarian, le poète préférait prendre le nom
de Barouïr Sévag en souvenir du poète Roupen Sévag, disparu lors du
génocide de 1915.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 19 juin 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

HAUT KARABAGH
Bakou a violé à 250 reprises le cessez-le-feu
le long de sa frontière avec le Haut Karabagh

Lors de la semaine écoulée, Bakou a violé à 250 reprises le
cessez-le-feu le long de la frontière entre le Haut Karabagh et
l’Arménie. Des armes de divers calibres furent utilisées. Plus de 1
700 projectiles furent émis par les Azéris en direction des positions
arméniennes avec une plus grande intensité le 12 et le 14 juin. Les
forces arméniennes de Défense de la République du Haut Karabagh ont à
chaque fois répliqué pour « faire taire l’ennemi ». Fort heureusement
les Arméniens n’ont enregistré aucun blessé.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 19 juin 2011,
Krikor [email protected]