Author: Kalantarian Kevo

REVEREND MICHAELYAN. “THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH THROUGHOUT EUROPE WOULD BE REPROACHED, DO YOU WANT IT?”

November 15 2013

“Tearing up from 4 sides is going on. It is a hard time for the
Apostolic Church, today. I do not know why many people think that the
church should act as self-defense. It is a wrong position. Yes, there
is a mistake, but we have to be next to them, the Armenian nation,
to be able to resolve every issue. We must support the church, and not
take a stance and say, they must do this, they must do that. What shall
we do? The church is for people, isn’t it? The church is the people,
not just the Catholicos. Imagine there’s no man in the church, will
there be a Catholicos? Whom is the Catholicos for? For the people.” –
so commented Rev. Armen Mikaelyan, Head of Aragatsotn office of the
Armenian Missionary Association, pastor of the Armenian Evangelical
Church, in the conversation with Aravot.am with regard to the criticism
to the Catholicos. According to him, people should have a respectful
attitude toward the Catholicos and the clergymen, in general, “On
seeing mistakes, it should not bring charges. The Apostolic church
is not a power structure. Yes, we have given a lot into their own
hands, we have given, and we require, but it does not have a serious
leverage over Missionary, Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witnesses or over
the other one. Today, I have a more powerful lever than the apostolic
church. Today, I can speak freely, to blame, but it has no right to
do so. If it blames, the relevant European Commission will come and
they will answer for it. They have signed agreements…

this is complicated, do you understand? We are a church of the
21st century. And you should clearly realize that there is Venice,
the Venice Commission, there are committees, there is a signature,
there is Europe. Even if they oppose to many things, they can not. Of
course, they can not. This should be gradually, it is not a daily
thing. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, if the Apostolic church
did not make a reasonable step, the Apostolic Church in all over
the Europe, all over the world will be blamed, do you want it?” To
our question, in other words, we must not talk about mistakes, not
to voice them to avoid diminishing the role of our church in the
international arena, he replied, “Indeed, we need to remain in the
international role and move our righteousness and justice forward.”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

Read more at:

EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTE DISMISSES AZERBAIJANI MISINFORMATION

November 15, 2013 | 16:16

YEREVAN. – The European Ombudsman Institute’s office refuted
misinformation spread by Azerbaijan as a result of cooperation of
Armenian and KArabakh ombudsmen.

The European Ombudsman Institute issued a statement[
] dismissing article on the Innsbruck incident posted on the website
of Azerbaijani Ombudsman.

The statement says that “it was not correct, that Mr. Yuri Hayrapetyan
was removed from the conference.”

“The EOI informs to this website-article, that it is not correct,
that Mr. Yuri Hayrapetyan was removed from the conference. Mr. Yuri
Hayrapetyan has not been removed from the conference. Correct is
that the Secretary General in the official meeting of the Genaral
Assembly has not allowed political statements. Mr. Yuri Hayrapetyan,
Human Right Defender of Nagorno Karabakh is an official “INDIVIDUAL”
member of the EOI – European Ombudsman Institute since many years,”
reads the statement responding to the Azerbaijani reports.

DON’T LOSE THE BALL IN THE SEA

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 14 2013

TANIL BORA

Last year in June, I wrote about the Cyprus national team that was
made up of Greeks, Turks and Armenians in the 1950s. And also, that
the Cypriot Turkish football was desperately seeking to be isolated.

There was an important development last week; the Cyprus Turkish
Football Association (KTFF) “joined” the Cyprus Football Association
(KOP). Expectation: To open doors of contact for Turkish Cypriot
teams and football players.

In an inquiry from the daily Yeni Duzen, 12 of the 14 presidents of
the teams playing in the Super League of Northern Cyprus said they
supported this initiative in principle. Only one said he would consult
the executive committee and Lefke was against it. Teams of the first
and second league also supported this move unanimously. Chair of the
Kucuk Kaymaklý team Ali Baþman said the sustainability of Turkish
Cypriot football was in question otherwise. Mormenekþe club’s poetic
chair Metin Menekþeli and head of Genclik Gucu team Mehmet Yenice
both refer to “belonging to the world.” Head of team Cihangir,
Karavezirler said, “We are fed up with playing internally.” Head
of Bostancý Baðcýl team Besim said the football they were playing
internally was no longer motivating.

Researcher Okan Daðlý, Ph. D., said, “Sports fans, players and the
clubs are all fed up with the status quo. They are giving messages that
they would consent to everything.” He added that people are totally
outraged, especially when Turkish teams are playing with Greek Cypriot
teams, saying “Why are we the spectators all the time?” They believe
that, in football, if the status quo is overcome, this will bring us
one step closer to realizing the hope that “Greek and Turkish Cypriots
achieve something together one day.”

As can very easily be guessed there is a nationalist reaction
against this development. Daily Volkan published a headline,
“Political treason.”

Okan Daðlý mentioned the expectation arising from the cooperation
between KOP and KTFF could create a platform for inter-club relations.

When I hear this I remember that in Cyprus, football has developed
into a politicized network.

APOEL and Anorthosis were the teams of nationalists. Omonia of
the Communist Party played with a mixed squad of Turks, Greeks and
Armenians. You can still see today the swastika in the stands of one
and the hammer and sickle in the other.

This divide also existed among Turkish society. Doðan Turk Birliði
and later the real Cetinkaya were the national teams of the Turkish
“partitionists.” Turk Eðitim Kulubu and Limasol Turk Ocaðý were left
inclined. The Turk Ocaðý was even raided by the Turkish Cypriot
counterinsurgency because its roots were from a dock worker-labor
union base. It was relegated from the Super League last year. I don’t
know their current inclination. The world of hope: Would the newly
formed political friendships and solidarity be reflected among the
clubs as was done so previously?

Serkan Seymen, who I owe my interest and knowledge of the history of
Cyprus football, told me a little anecdote: when the British rule ended
in 1960 in Cyprus, one of the colonial administrators was consoling
himself, saying, “This island is so small to play football that we
always lose the ball in the sea.”

I hope the Cypriots are able to see that they can play without losing
the ball.

Tanýl Bora is a columnist for daily Radikal in which this piece was
published on Nov. 13. It was translated into English by the Daily
News staff.

JAZZ PIANIST BLENDS GENRES AT SOHO

Daily Nexus, Univ. of California in Santa Barbara, CA
Nov 14 2013

Posted by Robert Johnson on November 14, 2013 at 5:00 am

On Nov. 11, Armenian-born jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan played SOhO
in Santa Barbara as part of his first major U.S. tour. Hamasyan,
commonly billed and referred to just as Tigran, was backed by bassist
Christopher Tordini, drummer Arthur Hnatek and vocalist Areni Agbabian,
who also played the synthesizer.

Tigran, who was born in Armenia in 1987 and lived there until he was
16, bases a large portion of his music off of his country’s native
folk music. He often uses musical scales and modes native to Middle
Eastern and Southeast Asian music not generally found in Western music.

Walking into SOhO, I found myself in a dim and intimate setting that
quietly whispered “jazz.” Even though the band took to the stage 15
minutes later than expected, their opening number was one of the
most spectacular things I’ve ever seen. Having never listened to
any of Tigran’s music before, I was not sure what to expect beyond
Armenian influences.

The character of Tigran’s native country was unmistakable, and yet
it was well blended with elements of jazz and pop that kept the sound
out of a single genre. As the opening number continued, it gradually
got heavier until suddenly the band transitioned into a heavy metal
groove reminiscent of bands like Meshuggah and Opeth. As the 25-minute
long tune ended, I realized that Tigran isn’t your grandfather’s jazz
pianist, but rather a musician firmly influenced by the 21st century
who blends together genres old and new to create jazz like nothing
you’ve heard before.

For the second tune of the set, Tigran invited the band’s vocalist to
the stage. Agbabian vocalized melodic lines instead of singing lyrics.

This, combined with her soprano vocal range, made her sound like a
cross between Enya, Bjork and Sigur Ros frontman and vocalist Jonsi
Birgisson. Even with Agbabian creating vocals, there still was a
definite metal feel that pervaded the atmosphere, blending with the
pop and Middle Eastern influences.

The show continued along a similar vein of jazz amalgamation, with
Tigran’s melodic lines expertly vocalized by Agbabian over metal
grooves played by Tordini and Hnatek while Tigran improvised over
the wall of sound like a true virtuoso.

After their set, the band left the stage but returned again for an
encore. Tigran took center stage and began playing a tune similar to
Indonesian gamelan music while the band played a techno groove. After
some Armenian lyrics by Tigran and Agbabian, the band went into
overdrive and finished off the night with 10 minutes of dubstep,
amounting to a rich, 15-minute long encore.

At the end of the night, the band’s one-hour 48-minute Santa Barbara
debut was a clear demonstration of jazz’s status as a cultural mixing
pot of a musical genre. As much as he is touted as an Armenian jazz
pianist, Tigran irrefutably fuses together multiple disjunctive genres
to create music that proves that jazz is not only a tradition but an
ever-fluctuating force that will continue to adapt to, and inspire,
the tastes around it.

Photo Courtesy of Tigran Hamasyan

A version of this article appeared on page 8 of the Thursday, November
14, 2013 print edition of the Daily Nexus.

UKRAINE ‘SAVED’ ARMENIA’S FACE: ARMENIAN MP ON CUSTOMS UNION AND 2014 BUDGET

11.14.2013 20:01 epress.am

During discussion of the 2014 state budget in Armenia’s National
Assembly today, MP Alexander Arzoumanian opined that it is a
“hypothetical budget” because it’s not yet known whether the
international loans included there will be provided to Armenia or not.

The MP’s concern was associated with Armenia’s decision to join
the Russian-led Customs Union and the wish to “whip up in a frenzy”
the harmonization of Armenian legislation with the Customs Union.

“We know that our economy is more liberal and our customs duties are
lower. Now we buy what we what; soon, we’ll be forced to buy what
they put before us. By the way, I want to congratulate all of us,
that Ukraine has postponed signing the [EU] Association Agreement –
it makes us save face a little bit. Calculated in your budget are
anticipated European investments, but we can sure only of the funding
of current programs,” he said.

In response, Chair of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Financial
-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gagik Minasyan said that the 2014 draft
budget is, after all, only a draft. “Regarding the loans, I can’t
agree. I strongly believe that our European partners place importance
not on form but on content; therefore, they won’t stop funding [us]
after our decision.”

According to him, the constant refrain of either Customs Union
or European integration (that is, the implication that they are
irreconcilable) doesn’t help the task at hand.

PEOPLE’S PARTY LEADER JOINS FREEDOM-FIGHTERS’ STRUGGLE

20:46 ~U 14.11.13

Chairman of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan has joined the
freedom-fighters (participants in the Nagorno-Karabakh war) who are
holding regular rallies in Freedom Square.

“We will never get changes through elections. They are rigging
elections. We have to struggle to the end,” he said.

“I have come here because the people trust freedom-fighters. I trust
them too. Freedom-fighters are honest to the people.”

He called on the freedom-fighters to show their strength because
“we are with you.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

ROSATOM AND ARMENIA TO COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS OF ARMENIAN NPP IN EARLY 2014

November 13, 2013 | 20:17

YEREVAN. – The Russian state nuclear energy corporation (Rosatom)
and the Armenian side will complete diagnosis of the Armenian NPP in
early 2014, Energy Minister said.

As a result, budget for modernization of the NPP will be determined,
after which the Russian side will grant a loan, Energy Minister Armen
Movsisyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“Credit must be given in a very short period of time,” Minister noted.

Funds will be used to extend the deadline for operation of the Armenian
NPP from 2016 to 2026.

As previously noted by Vahram Petrosyan, the secretary of presidential
council on nuclear energy safety, the restoration of a stations with
the same reactor is estimated at $120-160 million

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: “NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM IS AS IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY AS IT IS FOR AZERBAIJAN”

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2013

[ 13 November 2013 16:04 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. “Nagorno-Karabakh problem is as
important for Turkey as it is for Azerbaijan.

We continue our unconditional support to Azerbaijan for the peaceful
solution of the problem,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said at the press conference following the 3rd meeting
of Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council,
APA reports.

Erdogan said that they have excellent relations with Azerbaijan and
underlined the highest level of relations in the political sphere. He
also noted that trade turnover increased between the two countries:
“We will achieve $15bn trade turnover in 2020. The relevant ministries
are working in this direction. We can take joint steps in the field
of defense industry. In line with the responsibility of being one
nation we are making decisions in politics.”

Turkish Prime Minister also touched on visa issue and said economy
ministers will deal with this issue.

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES RUMORS OF CESSATION OF ARMS SUPPLIES TO AZERBAIJAN

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
November 13, 2013 Wednesday

Baku/12.11.13/Turan:

Israel’s Foreign Ministry denied publication in the Armenian media
that Israel allegedly suspended arms supplies to Baku. According to
these publications, referring to the Swiss Agency ISN, Russia put
pressure on the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and obtained suspension of
supplies of certain elements of offensive weapons. The reason stated
Russia’s reluctance to change the balance of power in the region.

“No any changes happened in this area, no appeals came from the Russian
side. NO one changes the agreement,” the portal IzRus Foreign Ministry
was told by the spokesman Yigal Palmor regarding the information of
the Swiss news agency.

Israel is one of the largest sellers of arms to Azerbaijan. Thus,
in recent years the country supplied to Baku various weapons and
communications systems amounting $1.6 billion -02D-

WB SUPPORTS ARMENIA IN CREATING JOBS

RIA Oreanda, Russia
Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda)
November 13, 2013 Wednesday

Washington. OREANDA-NEWS . November 13, 2013. The World Bank Board
of Executive Directors approved a USD 72 million loan for the First
Development Policy Operation (DPO) for Armenia to support reforms
aimed at promoting macroeconomic stability, improving the business
environment, and enhancing the economys resilience to shocks through
measures to improve sustainability.

This is the first DPO in a series of three operations, supporting the
Government of Armenia in meeting its strategic objectives, including
stronger job creation, which is Armenias overarching development
challenge. The Operation is designed to help Armenia reduce poverty
and promote shared prosperity through growth enhancing reforms.

This Operation initiates the programmatic series that will complement
Armenias development vision, says Jean-Michel Happi, World Bank Country
Manager for Armenia. The proposed new series shifts the focus from
mitigation against crisis vulnerability to a medium-term agenda for
strengthening growth drivers. The Bank is committed to support the
efforts of the authorities in meeting those challenges.

The Operation is anchored on two pillars. The first pillar is aimed at
strengthening competitiveness through critical business climate and
public administration reforms. These are expected to contribute to
job creation through reducing the costs of doing business for firms,
expanding access to credit to SMEs, and increasing opportunities for
employment and job creation through increased trade and connectivity
within and outside Armenia. Public administration reforms supported
under this pillar will also contribute to a more inclusive access
to services, more efficient use of resources, and sound policy
formulation.

Through the second pillar, the DPO will enhance the Armenian economys
resilience to shocks and long-term stability by creating fiscal space,
supporting enhancements to the social protection system, more inclusive
access to public goods and services, and protection of the environment.

In preparation of the first loan disbursement, the World Bank assisted
the authorities in merging two inspection agencies, enhancing the
operations of the credit reporting system, increasing the flexibility
of recruitment and promotion of professional staff and discontinuing
the mandatory periodical attestations, improving competition and
transparency in civil aviation, clarifying aspects of the new funded
pension system, reviewing tax exemptions and excise rates, increasing
coverage of the Family Benefits Scheme, and submitting to parliament
a new Environmental Impact Assessment law.

Over the medium term, the Operation will help the authorities to:
i) reduce the burden on businesses from inspections by downsizing
inspection agencies by 50 percent; ii) improve the efficiency and
transparency of credit reporting, the collateral regime and bankruptcy
framework for better access to credit for SMEs; iii) increase the
attractiveness of the Civil Service for professional staff; iv) expand
efficiency and transparency of the public administration through a
wider and secure application of e-government systems; v) increase
productivity and transparency of customs operations; vi) improve
financial sustainability of drinking water and irrigation agencies;
and vii) ensure regular maintenance of more than 60 percent of roads.

This development policy operation supports a package of reforms
designed to spur consistently higher growth of the Armenian economy,
says Ulrich Bartsch, World Bank Senior Country Economist and Team
Leader of the project. We are helping the Armenian government
in meeting the challenge of job creation through enhancing the
competitiveness and sustainability of its economy.