Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENPRESS PRESENTS NEW PROJECTS

15:12, 12 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenpress news agency from now
and then will welcome its readers with new projects. The oldest
Armenian news agency will come forth with various projects, meeting
the demands of the people of different preferences. “Retrospective”
project is seeking to find and present historical facts and events,
covered years before by Armenpress. The events will be covered in a
new way combining history and modern approaches.

“Yerevan bestseller” project presents the readers the list of the
books purchased most in capital Yerevan bookstores according to polls
launched by news agency started the end of January.

High estimating the importance of small and medium size enterprises,
each week Armenpress is introducing to its readers business stories
referring to various branches of the economy. Different economy
entities are hosted in “Doing Business”pages, there the heroes dwell
on their initiatives and give in detail information refer to their
business.

“Ararat -73 ” 40 years later” project issued once a week will present
interviews with the well known legendary football team sportsmen. They
are going to recall their football path victories, speak about current
achievements and future expectations.

FIELD EXERCISES START WITH INTELLIGENCE UNITS OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA

2013-02-12 17:23:19

Field exercises have been launched at the Kamhud highland training
center with intelligence units from the Russian military base stationed
in Armenia, reported.

More than 200 scouts will improve their skills in tactical, physical,
special, fire training and fighting at an altitude of 1,500 meters for
three weeks, the press service of the Southern Military District said.

The level of each scout’s individual training will be evaluated during
the course on concealed movement in the tactical field, spotting
reconnaissance patrols in the units and platoons, organization and
implementation of ambushes and raids, as well as the ability to
quickly overcome mountain slopes and ravines. For more effective
reconnaissance, soldiers will learn to use various optical and
opto-electronic devices for detecting objects belonging to an
imaginary enemy.

Special tactical exercises with live firing and tactical exercises
with a special reconnaissance battalion will be held at the final
stage of the field exercise. Upon completion of the field exercise,
the special and reconnaissance company of the military base will
undergo a two-week mountain training course.

ARFD OFFICIAL: TURKISH AUTHORITIES INITIATORS OF ANTI-ARMENIAN ATTACKS

February 12, 2013 – 16:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Recent attacks on Armenians in Istanbul prove the
ongoing anti-Armenian propaganda in Turkey, ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s
Armenian Cause Political Affairs Office Director said.

“Despite Ankara’s attempt to present the attacks as mere attempted
robberies, some circles in Turkey characterize them as acts of hatred,”
Giro Manoyan told a news conference.

“Turkish human rights defenders have released a report urging a probe
into the attacks. The atmosphere of fear in the country is further
exacerbated by pressure that local Armenians are subjected to,” the
politician said, forecasting a rise in anti-Armenian attacks on the
threshold of Genocide 100th anniversary, with Turkish authorities
as initiators.

On Dec 28, an 85-year-old Armenian woman was repeatedly stabbed and
killed in her home, with assailants carving a cross on her chest. On
Jan 6, three assailants tried to kidnap an elderly Armenian woman.

Other attacks include the Nov 2012 beating of an 87-year-old Armenian
woman, and a failed attempt to abduct an elderly Armenian woman on Jan
6. Three elderly Armenian women were attacked in Istanbul on Jan 22,
23 and 25.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH MOVEMENT TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW

ARMINFO
Tuesday, February 12, 14:44

A roundtable discussion on the 25th anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh
Movement will be held in the Press Center of Argumenty i fakty
newspaper in Moscow.

The organizers are the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth NGO, the Society
for the Scientific Study of the Caucasus and the International
Institute of Newly Established States.

During the event writer Kim Bakshi will present his new book “Spiritual
Treasures of Artsakh.”

Among the guests will be representatives of political parties and
analytical centers of Russia.

GEORGIAN CITIZEN HIT WITH AXE IN AZERBAIJAN’S BAKU

TERT.AM
15:32 ~U 12.02.13

A Georgian citizen has been attacked in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku
with an axe.

According to Georgia Online, the Georgian citizen has been engaged in
fight with a resident of Baku’s Lankeran region Taleh Bagirov. During
the brawl the Azerbaijani several times hit the Georgian on the head
with an axe.

The Georgian citizen is in hospital in grave condition. Bagirov has
been arrested, criminal case has been filed.

VOTE 2013: CANDIDATE ADMITS ONCE EMPLOYING TWO SUSPECTS IN HAYRIKYAN SHOOTING CASE

VOTE 2013 | 12.02.13 | 11:15

Vardan Sedrakyan, a maverick candidate in Armenia’s current
presidential election, has confirmed reports that the two men arrested
late last week on suspicion of committing an assassination attempt
against a fellow candidate, Paruyr Hayrikyan, had worked for him when
he was renovating his house.

The self-declared expert on Armenian epic poems, however, did not say
when and under what circumstances he hired the men. He also refused
to confirm further reports alleging that he had given a car to one
of them as a gift.

On February 8, the National Security Service (NSS) announced the
arrest of two men on suspicion of shooting and wounding Hayrikyan in
an armed attack on January 31. It said the suspects, identified as
Khachatur Poghosyan, 46, and Samvel Harutyunyan, 40, confessed to “the
murder attempt” after being taken into custody the previous day. The
statement issued by the NSS also described the two as unemployed men
“illegally residing in Yerevan”. It said they both were convicted of
drug trafficking in the past.

Talking to News.am on Monday Sedrakyan, who was little known to
the general public before his nomination to run for president late
last year, said, however, he did not want to speak further on the
matter until “the state makes a statement at the state level”. He
only suggested that he could not possibly have had any links to the
crime against Hayrikyan, saying that lots of people had worked for
him before.

In a televised interview aired on Monday, Sedrakyan also claimed that
authorities planned to arrest him after the end of the elections.

“Between February 22 and 25, when the results will be in and when
international observers will have been gone from the country,”
he claimed.

Hayrikyan himself gave contradictory comments in regards to the
identity of the shooter and theories regarding the crime. Still
before the announcement of the arrests, the 63-year-old Soviet-era
dissident pointed an accusatory finger at ‘Russian imperialism’
behind the attack, suggesting that the gunman did not have Armenian
features, but rather looked like a ‘European’. He later explained
that the comment on the ‘European’ features of the attacker was made
on purpose to mislead the criminals and help the law-enforcement
bodies to track them down. Hayrikyan did not appear to insist on the
‘Russian imperialism’ trace later.

ARMENIA-IRAN RELATIONS COULD SERVE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES: MOHAMMAD REISI

12:56, 12 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: There is a willingness to cooperate
with Armenia pertain to various fields aimed at developing the
relations between the two countries. Ambassador of the Islamic Republic
of Iran to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi had a briefing with the reporters
on February 12. Ambassador noted he is proud for these relations,
Armenpress reports.

“These relations may serve an example for other countries. I am ready
to care no efforts to further develop the cooperation. The heads of
the two countries show readiness in this issue”, Ambassador stated.

In the words of Ambassador there are numerous new projects, the
exploiting of railway is one of the major projects, which will further
contribute to the Armenia- Iran relations. According to the Ambassador
Armenia has all the opportunities to develop cattle breeding and
reportedly cooperation may be developed in that sphere as well. Yet
as of now there is no practical cooperation in that sphere”.

The relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia date for
ages. Those relations are friendly and based on mutual respect. The
relations between Armenia and Iran have recorded success in regional
and bilateral cooperation sphere in 2012. Mutual visits have been
paid by high ranking officials during the year.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL SAYS HE MAY BE DETAINED

TERT.AM
12:26 ~U 12.02.13

Vardan Sedrakyan, the presidential candidate better known to the
Armenian society as an epic expert, has shared his concerns of a
possible detention in a televised interview.

Speaking at a broadcast on the Yerkir Media TV channel (where he was a
guest), he addressed recent media reports seeking to find connections
between him and the individuals detained over the assassination
attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan, another opposition candidate.

Sedrakyan considered the reports a political order against him.

The candidate said he sees a political order behind such reports,
adding that he may be detained before February 25.

It comes after the local press said that the two suspects detained
over the assassination attempt, had earlier repaired Sedrakyan’s
house and summer cottage.

Asked whether he expected Hayrikyan to recall his claim for a vote
delay, the candidate claimed that Hayrikyan was aware of such a
development even before lodging his appeal with the Constitutional
Court.

The Armenian Constitution allows a presidential nominee to seek a
15-day vote postponement in case of insurmountable circumstances.

YOUNG TURKS’ POLICY CONTINUES IN TURKEY – ARF-D REP

13:31 ~U 12.02.13

The recent incidents in Turkey are mainly the reflections of the
existing Armeniaphobia and xenophobia. It is the continuation of
ideology of the Young Turks, Kiro Manoyan, head of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Political office, told a news
conference Tuesday.

“Though today the ruling party in Turkey is trying to present its
country in other atmosphere, the anti-Armenian policy there continues,”
he said, adding that the word Armenian may be accepted there as a
curse and no one will be subjected to responsibility for it.

The ARF-D rep said according to reports the atmosphere in Samatya
raises concerns as the Armenians there are really scared. There are
homes of Armenians on the doors of which are crosses and people are
afraid to open the door not to be attacked.

“At the same time there is a pressing atmosphere, with the
representatives of the Armenian community often saying that the
police is doing everything to press the criminals. While the fact
is that there was no state comment on the incidents with only police
relating to it and presenting the attacks on elderly Armenian women
as usual robbery cases,” Kiro Manoyan said.

The more we come closer to the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide,
the more these cases will grow in number.

“There is no need to reconcile, it is necessary to voice about the
existing atmosphere. The first responsible is the Turkish authority and
it is the result of the policy they are conducting. A very small circle
in Turkey condemns the attacks and tie them with genocide,” he said.

Manoyan said an all-Armenian concord should be formed over the issues,
which does not mean that all must say just one and the same thing,
but it is necessary to understand what we want.

GEORGE GARANYAN’S WIDOW ON HER HUSBAND’S LOVE TOWARDS ARMENIA

10:19, 12 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. George Garanyan’s name is linked
to the history of the Soviet jazz. His music sounds in more than
50 movies. Notwithstanding the legendary jazzman, People’s Artist
of Russia passed away from cardiac arrest at the age of 75 in 2010,
the musical heritage he left to the generations is inestimable.

“Armenpress” had a conversation with George Garanyan’s widow Nelli
Garanyan about the activity of the foundation after George Garanyan
and his love towards Armenia.

– In the end of 2012 George Garanyan’s foundation and “Accord” music
store initiated an action aimed to support the regional musical
libraries of Russia. Will the foundation implement programs in Armenia?

– Sure, we would love to cooperate with Armenia, but the matter is
that there is a lack of initiative. I personally have no contacts
with Armenia. Notwithstanding, George was dreaming about taking me
to Armenia and showing everything there. We would love to cooperate
with the Armenian society, cultural, and governmental figures and
give concerts in Armenia. Eventually the “Garanyan” family cannot be
against the cooperation with Armenia.

– Once Garanyan noted: “Look at my nose and you will know everything
about the Armenian element of my biography.” In addition he noted that
he is a master in making traditional Armenian tolma. What Armenian
traditions your family keeps until now?

– By all means I could not compete with him in making tolma. I
always follow attentively all the events in Armenia. For instance,
Sergey Manukyan is our favorite musician and George always used to
say that is one of the unique musicians to work on the international
level. As to the traditions, which are preserved in distant Armenian
villages, than I should say that they are not followed in our family,
as we have a modern family, although one cane find all the attributes
of the Armenian household in our family. We have two pictures with
Ararat hanged in our house. Actually he had a very gentle attitude
towards his Armenian roots and cherished immense love towards Armenia
and everything relating to Armenia.

– Did Your husband use any Armenian expression while talking to You?

– He used to say “tsavd tanem”. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW
IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Tatevik Grigoryan