Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Culture of poverty is being formed in Armenia

Sat, 06/01/2013 – 15:45

“From year to year along with the social, political and economic crisis
children are becoming more vulnerable’ today, on International Children’s
Day, First Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan told the reporters.

According to the latter, children in Armenia continue to remain vulnerable;
despite the fact that the family kept the child worship, which often has an
adverse effect on the upbringing.
“Social inequality affect the children a lot, especially in rural areas the
situation becoming worse with every year,” says first human rights defender
and adds that, according to her, this is a signal, because alongside with
this the negative social habit is formatting. Society is getting used to
seeing a begging child in the street or a child not going to school due to
the lack of appropriate clothing and with this the culture of poverty comes
to us.

Larissa Alaverdyan also mentioned with regret that there are cases in
Armenia when father gets in sexual conduct with the child. “Today it seems
that it is propagated that the notion of morality is also relative.”

According to the speaker, the courts are quite forgiving to those cases and
according to her there is a need for legislative change.

Author:
Factinfo

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 31, 2013 Friday 09:50 PM GMT+4

Medvedev, Armenian prime minister meet in Minsk

MINSK May 31

– Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisyan at a bilateral meeting in Minsk on Friday that
Armenia’s desire to integrate into the Customs Union was important for
Russia.

“Armenia wants to participate in this process, which we consider
important. We should only find a proper format for this cooperation,”
Medvedev went on to say. He suggested discussing the aforesaid issues
as well as the state of trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries.

The Armenian prime minister said in turn that Yerevan had a clear-cut
stance on integration with the Customs Union. “We have no doubts,”
Sarkisyan said. “We should start solving technical issues already now,
namely what steps we should take and in what pace we should move
forward,” the Armenian premier added.

Sarkisyan said he had met Viktor Khristenko, the head of the Eurasian
Economic Commission, in Minsk earlier on Friday to discuss a
Memorandum of Integration into the Customs Union.

“We understand that we should urgently prepare this memorandum, get
the president’s approval for it and sign the document,” Sarkisyan went
on to say.

The Armenian prime minister also told Medvedev about his talks with
Sergei Kiriyenko, the head of the Russian State Corporation for Atomic
Energy (Rosatom) on financing the construction of a new unit of the
Armenian nuclear power station. The sides discussed the possibility
for Armenia to enter financial markets to find resources for the
station.

ARS Eastern Region Holds Regional Seminar in New York

May 30, 2013

On March 18, the `Erebouni’ and `Mayr’ Chapters of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) hosted the ARS Eastern Region seminar at the St.
Illuminator’s Cathedral Hall in New York. More than 85 members from
the `Agnouni,’ `Ani,’ `Artemis,’ `Bergen County,’ `Erebouni,’
`Lousintak,’ `Mayr,’ `Shakeh,’ `Soseh,’ and `Spitak’ Chapters
participated in the seminar.

Seminar group photo
His Holiness, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
declared 2013 `The Year of the Armenian Mother.’ The ARS Eastern
Regional Executive Board dedicated the seminar to the Armenian Mother,
who is the pillar of our national existence, having sacrificed herself
throughout our history.

ARS Eastern USA Board member Sevan Kolejian welcomed the guests and
gave opening remarks, during which she spoke about the important role
that Armenian women, our mothers, have played in strengthening and
preserving our cultural identity. She thanked St. Illuminator’s
Armenian Cathedral Pastor, Father Mesrob Lakissian, who generously
donated the use of the hall for the seminar.

ARS Eastern USA chairwoman Ani Attar addressed the attendees and
thanked them for making the effort to participate in the seminar,
contributing greatly to its success. Attar quoted from Hovhannes
Shiraz’s `Mayr-s’ poem:

Mer houysi toorn eh mayrs / Mer dan madurn eh mayrs / Mer hatsn ou
choorn eh mayrs / Mer teghn ou jarn eh mayrs / Mer dan jerakn eh mayrs

We salute and honor our Armenian mothers for the heroes they are and
their continual dedication to the needs of the Armenian people in
Armenia and the diaspora, she said.

Attar then introduced Dr. Chris Garo Sassouni, the son of Vicken
Sassouni, and grandson of Garo and Leola Sassouni, who made a
presentation on the life of Leola Sassouni.

Chris Sassouni was unaware of the importance his grandparents had
played in shaping Armenian history. His grandmother, Leola (who
changed her name from Hripsime), was a fedayee who fought alongside
her male counterparts as an equal. She was an excellent horsewoman and
marksman. Leola fought at the crucial battle of Sardarabad; she had
given birth to her first child just two months prior. In addition to
her fighting skills, she was instrumental in navigating to safety
10,000 Armenian orphans of the genocide. She instituted the `Benag me
geragoor’ program and was a founder of the Armenian Red Cross, which
was later renamed the Armenian Relief Society. Garo Sassouni was a
Minister in the first Republic of Armenia. When the family later
immigrated to the United States, Leola remained active in the ARS. The
Watertown `Leola Sassouni’ Chapter was named after her.

Chris Sassouni received a standing ovation from the attendees, not
just in gratitude for his informative presentation, but in honor of
his grandmother. Leola Sassouni was a true Ungerouhi of the highest
order.
Seminar participants were then treated to a delicious lunch, prepared
by the host chapters. After lunch, Attar introduced the second guest
speaker, Bared Maronian, a documentary filmmaker and four-time
regional Emmy Award winner who has produced four Armenian films. His
latest work is `Orphans of the Genocide,’ which contains original
footage of the genocide, taken from mostly German archives. It depicts
the tragedy as it played out, especially for the children.

Maronian is currently working on another documentary film, entitled
`Women of 1915.’ This project is in its beginning stages but will
bring to life the lives of the many courageous women who sacrificed
their own comfort and safety for that of others.
In appreciation, both Sassouni and Maronian were presented with the
most recent edition of the `Atlas of Historical Armenia,’ published by
the Armenian National Education Committee.
Father Lakissian offered his inspiring words and commended the ARS for
its work. He blessed the attendees with a closing prayer.

The ARS Regional Board of Directors thanked the organizers of this
very successful seminar, and also thanked the 80 members who made the
effort to attend, many traveling for hours to participate. It was a
wonderful day of camaraderie, reinforcing the purpose of the ARS, and
honoring those who came before us.

PACE President: Turkey should accept Armenian Genocide and face reality

15:27, 1 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS: Turkey should recognize the Armenian
Genocide to face its own history and make a significant step towards
the membership in the European Union. This was stated to Armenpress by
the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Jean-Claude Mignon.

`I think that Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide. That
would be one of the most important steps towards its membership in the
European Union. Turkey should accept the committed genocide and face
the own history and reality’, – said Jean-Claude Mignon. The President
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that
there were quite many victims and human tragedies committed by
Turkey. `The Armenian Genocide is a global tragedy, which should be
recognized’, – said the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe Jean-Claude Mignon.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Jean-Claude Mignon visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on June 1 to
commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The high-ranking
guest laid a wreath to the Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of
the innocent victims of the Genocide and flowers to the Eternal Fire.

Jean-Claude Mignon made a note in the record book of the Genocide
Museum Institute: `Thank you for this touching visit to the Memorial
perpetuating the sad memory of the innocent victims of the Armenia
Genocide. Every day the European Council struggles not to allow the
repetition of such a tragedy’.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Jean-Claude Mignon arrived in Armenia to participate in the sessions
of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe, launched in Yerevan on May 31.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a
declaration on the Armenian Genocide on April 24 of the years of 1998
and 2001. `Today we commemorate the anniversary of the first genocide
of the 20th century and pay tribute to the memory of the innocent
Armenians fell in the massacre directed against the humanity’, – says
the PACE Resolution of April 24 1998.

300 instances of Azeri ceasefire violation reported May 26-June 1

June 1, 2013 – 18:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 300 instances of ceasefire violation by Azeri armed
forces were reported at the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan from May 26-June 1.
Azerbaijan fired over 1200 shots from various caliber weapons towards
Karabakh positions, NKR defense army’s press service reports.
Artsakh defense army forces continued with their military duty in line
with ceasefire principles, taking necessary steps to protect the
frontline.

Most of job seekers In armenia are women : Labor Ministry

YEREVAN, June 1./ARKA/. As of 1 May, women make up most of those
individuals who are looking for a job in Armenia, said Tadevos
Avetisya, head of labor and employment department at Labor and Social
Affairs Ministry.

`Women account for 49, 800 out of 70, 200 job seekers in Armenia.
Young people account to 18, 200,’ he told reporters in Novosti
International Press Center on Saturday.

As of 1 May 2013, there are 60,200 unemployed individuals. Some 10,683
people receive an unemployment allowance

Avetisyan added nearly 3,760 had been employed in terms of the state
program from January to May , which was 6.4% higher from the same
period a year earlier. Of them 1,100 are young people.

`As to the vacancies, they account to 3,250 as of 1 May, which is by
93% higher from a year earlier. The blue-collar vacancies account to
1,850, and white-collar ones -to 1,400,’ he said.

According to him, till the end of the year nearly 1,500 individuals
will have been included into the training program for the disabled and
unemployed.
In addition, four career fairs have been already held in Armenian
regions to ease an unemployment, he noted.

`We anticipate to hold another seven career fairs next year in the
capital and the regions in terms of the state program,’ he responded
to ARKA. -0-

Iskander-M missile systems already in Armenia

18:47 =95 02.06.13

Iskander-M mobile theater ballistic missile systems produced and deployed
by the Russian Federation are in Armenia. The Defense Ministry source has
confirmed the information to RFE/RL.

The Russian Iskander-M cruises at hypersonic speed of 2100-2600 m/s (Mach
6-7) at a height of 50 km. The Iskander-M weighs 4615 kg, carries a warhead
of 710-800 kg, has a range of 400-480 km, and achieves a CEP (Circular
error probable) of 5-7 meters. During flight it can maneuver at different
altitudes and trajectories and can pull up to 20 to 30 G to evade
anti-ballistic missiles. For example, in one of the trajectory modes it can
dive at the target at 90 degrees at the rate of 700-800 m/s performing
anti-ABM maneuvers.

Syunik governor gives testimony at Goris police department

15:46 – 02.06.13

Governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatryan is in Goris police in
connection with the shooting near his house, Shamshyan.com reports.

The website says he is giving testimonies within the filed criminal case.

One person was killed, another two were wounded as a result of the
shooting near the governor’s house shortly after the midnight on June
2. The murdered person is Avetik Budaghyan, ex mayoral candidate. His
brother and bodyguard of Suren Khachatryan were wounded. Artak
Budaghyan’s condition is assessed as grave.

Armenian News – Tert.am

TURQUIE
Erdogan somme les manifestants d’arrêt immédiatement, dit qu’il fera
respecter l’ordre

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a sommé samedi les
manifestants de la place Taksim d’Istanbul de cesser immédiatement
leur mouvement et assuré que la police resterait sur place pour y
maintenir l’ordre, au deuxième jour d’un violent mouvement de
protestation contre son gouvernement.

Je demande aux protestataires d’arrêter immédiatement leurs
manifestations (…) pour éviter plus de dommages aux visiteurs, aux
piétons et aux commerçants, a déclaré M. Erdogan lors d’un discours à
Istanbul.

La police y était hier, elle y est de service aujourd’hui et le sera
encore demain parce que la place Taksim ne peut pas être un endroit où
les extrémistes font ce qu’ils veulent, a-t-il poursuivi sur un ton
ferme, assurant qu’il prendrait toutes les mesures nécessaires pour
assurer la sécurité des personnes et de leurs biens.

Le chef du gouvernement a également affirmé qu’il ne retirerait pas le
projet d’aménagement urbain à l’origine des manifestations d’Istanbul.

Nous allons reconstruire la caserne militaire prévue dans le projet et
qui cristallise la colère des opposants de ce projet, a déclaré M.
Erdogan.

De nouveaux affrontements ont éclaté samedi dans le centre d’Istanbul
entre la police et les manifestants, au deuxième jour de l’un des plus
importants mouvements de protestation dirigé contre le gouvernement
islamo-conservateur turc depuis son arrivée au pouvoir en 2002.

dimanche 2 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

TURQUIE
Turquie : les manifestations ont atteint un niveau inquiétant

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a relevé samedi le défi
lancé contre son gouvernement par les manifestants qui affrontent la
police depuis deux jours à Istanbul en promettant de faire revenir
l’ordre et de maintenir le projet urbain à l’origine de la
protestation. De son côté, le président Gül a fait part du `niveau
inquiétant` atteint par ces manifestations. La police turque s’est
retirée samedi en milieu d’après-midi de la place Taksim, au centre
d’Istanbul.

Au deuxième jour d’un des plus importants mouvements de contestation
depuis l’arrivée de son parti au pouvoir, en 2002, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan est sorti de son silence pour sommer les centaines de
personnes qui ont repris dans la matinée les échauffourées avec les
forces de l’ordre de rentrer dans le rang. `Je demande aux
protestataires d’arrêter immédiatement leurs manifestations (…) pour
éviter plus de dommages aux visiteurs, aux piétons et aux
commerçants`, a-t-il lancé. Sur un ton très ferme, le chef du
gouvernement a promis de ne pas laisser le chaos régner sur la place
Taksim, le coeur de la contestation. `La police y était hier, elle y
est de service aujourd’hui et le sera encore demain parce que la place
Taksim ne peut pas être un endroit où les extrémistes font ce qu’ils
veulent`, a-t-il dit.

Comme un défi aux manifestants, le Premier ministre a également
confirmé le projet d’aménagement urbain à l’origine de leur
protestation. `Nous allons reconstruire la caserne militaire` de
l’époque ottomane prévue dans le projet et qui cristallise depuis des
mois la colère des urbanistes, architectes, écologistes ou riverains.
Saisi par ces opposants, un tribunal administratif d’Istanbul a
suspendu vendredi cette partie du projet, qui prévoit également le
remplacement d’un petit parc et de ses 600 arbres par un centre
culturel et/ou un centre commercial. État de siège

Après quelques heures de répit, les affrontements qui ont embrasé le
centre de la mégapole turque vendredi ont repris en milieu de matinée,
mais avec moins d’intensité que la veille. A plusieurs reprises, la
police a fait usage de gaz lacrymogènes et de canons à eau autour de
la place Taksim pour disperser des petits groupes qui ont riposté par
des jets de pierre, ont constaté des journalistes de l’AFP. D’autres
échauffourées ont été signalées un peu plus tôt dans un autre quartier
de la ville, Besiktas, lorsqu’un groupe de plusieurs centaines de
personnes qui s’étaient rassemblées sur le versant anatolien de la
ville pour rejoindre la place Taksim a traversé l’un des ponts qui
enjambent le Bosphore et s’est retrouvé nez à nez avec la police. Là
aussi, la police les a dispersés à grand renfort de gaz lacrymogènes.
Les grands axes qui mènent à la place Taksim ont été été bouclés très
en amont par la police, dont le déploiement a plongé certains
quartiers dans un quasi-état de siège.

Les rues ont été rendues aux passants et aux nombreux touristes, mais
de nombreux commerces, dont les vitres ont été brisées lors des
violences, ont préféré rester porte close. Les éboueurs de la
municipalité ont commencé à la mi-journée à vider les rues de tous
leurs débris et à démanteler des barrages faits de mobilier urbain.
Des dizaines de manifestants ont été blessés au cours des
affrontements de vendredi, Amnesty International évoquant pour sa part
`plus d’une centaine` de blessés. Le dernier bilan officiel a été
rendu public vendredi en fin de journée par le gouverneur de la ville
Huseyin Avni Mutlu, qui s’est contenté d’indiquer que 12 personnes
étaient toujours hospitalisées et qu’au moins 63 autres avaient été
interpellées. Dérives autoritaires

Le mouvement est parti vendredi à l’aube avec l’intervention musclée
de la police pour déloger quelques centaines de militants qui
occupaient depuis trois jours le parc Gezi, sur la place Taksim, pour
y empêcher le déracinement de 600 arbres dans le cadre d’un projet
d’aménagement urbain très contesté. Ameutés par les réseaux sociaux,
les militants associatifs ont afflué pour prêter main-forte aux
manifestants et surtout dénoncer la politique du gouvernement
islamo-conservateur au pouvoir depuis 2002. `Nous sommes devenus un
poing`, a lancé samedi à l’AFP Ataman Bet, en ramassant les débris de
la vitrine brisée de son café proche de la place Taksim. `Tout le
monde est venu. Des gens de gauche, de droite, même des partisans
d’Erdogan. Les gens sont en colère, je suis fier d’eux`, a-t-il
ajouté. `Cela n’a plus rien à voir avec le parc Gezi`, a renchéri Agah
Üner, un étudiant de 23 ans. `Nous en avons marre de toute la pression
qui vient du régime.` `Ce règne autoritaire doit cesser, a renchéri
Sermin Erdemci, un employé de banque de 37 ans. On ne peut pas réduire
les masses au silence, nous voulons vivre dans une Turquie laïque.`

Si le revenu par habitant a triplé en Turquie depuis 2002, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan est accusé de dérives autoritaires et de vouloir
`islamiser` la société turque. La semaine dernière, le vote d’une loi
restreignant la consommation et la vente d’alcool a ainsi suscité
l’ire des milieux libéraux. Dès vendredi soir, la contestation partie
d’Istanbul s’est propagée à d’autres villes du pays, comme à Izmir
(ouest), Antalya (sud) ou la capitale Ankara, où des incidents ont
opposé la police à des manifestants qui voulaient marcher sur le
parlement. L’opposition politique a pris le relais de ces critiques en
s’affichant avec les protestataires. `Nous voulons la liberté et la
démocratie dans notre pays`, a lancé samedi le président du Parti
républicain du peuple (CHP), Kemal Kiliçdaroglu.

dimanche 2 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com