Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN-KOREAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
16.09.2011 18:06

Political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Korea were held in Yerevan today.

During the meeting the parties discussed a broad range of bilateral
interest, particularly reciprocal high-level visits, intensification
of trade-economic and cultural ties, expansion of the legal framework,
as well as the cooperation within international organizations.

Reference was made to regional issues, as well. In that context
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Manasaryan presented the
latest developments in the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue.

NEW ANIMATED CHILDREN’S TV SERIES HOPES TO RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN ARMENIA

epress.am
09.16.2011

An animated TV series for children called “Berd Bears” launched at
Yerevan’s Moscow Cinema today. An initiative by Homeland Handicrafts,
the Berd Women’s Resource Center and KassArt Studio, the TV series
aims to raise environmental awareness among not only children but
also adults.

The idea behind the Berd Bears originated from Homeland Handicrafts,
the founder of which, Timothy Straight, was encouraged to visit Berd –
a village in the northeastern Armenian marz (province) of Tavush just
9 kms from the Azerbaijani border – by local Peace Corps Volunteer
John Hart in March of this year. Once Mr. Straight saw an example
of a bear knitted by local women, the idea for producing more teddy
bears for sale was born.

According to an earlier blog post on the Homeland Handicrafts website,
“For us, the joy is not only the fact that these are fabulous bears,
but that we are providing work to several women in Berd who have not
earned a penny of their own in ten years.”

Prompted by the success of the Berd Bear initiative, Mr. Straight then
approached Vrej Kassouny of KassArt Studio with an idea to launch an
animated TV series.

The cast of the series includes Archo the Bear (voice by Arsen
Grigoryan), Arsho the Bear (played by popular Armenian actress Irina
Danielyan), Kar-Kar the Crow (the “evil villain” played by Vigen
Stepanyan), Meghu the Bee (by well-known Armenian singer Aramo)
and Titer the Butterfly (also played by Irina Danielyan). Archo
the Bear has one ear bigger than the other, one eye bigger than the
other and the stomach that’s off to the side, but what’s important,
as Mr. Kassouny pointed out, is the focus on inner beauty rather
than external beauty.

Introducing the concept at the launch today, Mr. Straight described
how growing up, he would watch programming that taught children not
to pollute, to conserve water and electricity and generally keep the
environment clean. It is with this in mind that the creators hope to
make the “Berd Bears” TV series available to Armenian audiences.

Asked whether he thinks that Yerevan or Armenia is so polluted that
drove him to suggest such a TV series, Mr. Straight responded in the
negative, saying that it is a lack of environmental awareness that
exists in Armenia rather than any apparent pollution.

However, to illustrate his concern, Mr. Straight recounted an episode
of a family who got out of a car at the side of the road in Noravank.

The young boy, with an empty cola bottle in his hand, asked his
mother what he should do with it. His mother simply said, “Throw it
on the ground.” And so it is, as one attendee pointed out, that the
“Berd Bears” TV series is not only for children, but also for adults.

Mr. Kassouny, in turn, when asked whether the team had approached local
TV stations to air the series, said there has been “great interest”
but nothing concrete has come through yet. Today’s launch included a
demo of what’s in store for television audiences – if the series is
picked up and receives financial backing.

Mr. Straight noted that they will be contacting TV stations, mobile
(telecommunications) companies and embassies for support. The team
expects to wrap up pre-production by the end of this year and begin
fundraising soon. If all goes well, they hope to have the series
ready by early spring of next year.

RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVES VISIT ARMENIAN CAPTIVES IN AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Sept 16 2011
Azerbaijan

On September 15, representatives of the International Committee of
the Red Cross visited 3 Armenian soldiers and 5 civilians captured
in Azerbaijan.

The statement came from spokesperson for ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan
Shahla Gahramanova.

According to her, four ‘Red Cross’ letters and photos were delivered
to them, 6 “Red Cross” letters were taken from them.

Armenian citizens Yegishe, Ruzanna, Alfred, Gayane and Petros
Gevorkyans are members of one family. They crossed the Azerbaijani
border on January 2010.

Two of the captives – Ohan Arutunyan and Gevorg Tovmasyan passed into
the Azerbaijani side in May 2009, Karen Arutunyan in July 2009. They
expressed their desire to be sent to the 3rd country.

ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO GATHER 500 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 50 COUNTRIES

news.am
Sept 16 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia-Diaspora conference will bring together 500
representatives from 50 countries.

As the press service of the Diaspora Ministry informs Armenian
News-NEWS.am, in the opening ceremony of the Pan-Armenian
conference the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of
Nagorno-Karabagh Bako Sahakyan will deliver speeches.

Patriarchal blessing will be given by Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, and Catholicos of Cilicia Aram First.

Within the framework of two-day conference on Armenia’s 20th
anniversary, the reports of the ministers, experts, the media
representatives, and political parties activists will be also
delivered.

Four thematic sessions are scheduled: “The language and education”,
“The youth problems”, “The Genocide’s 100th anniversary” and
“The new mechanisms of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.”

FAMOUS VODKA OF KARABAKH IN BAKU

Panorama
Sept 15 2011
Armenia

Famous vodka of Artsakh is being regularly bought by some Azeris,
Samvel Hambartsumyan, the director of a Russian-based company which
purchases vodka of Artsakh, says. Pia.az e-publication quotes the
director of the company saying that they don’t want any contract to
be signed with them.

“Our product gets to Baku through smuggling,” said Hambartsumyan. Some
other Armenian products can also be found in Baku.

“Bizim yol” paper writes that female clothes produced by “Artsakh”
company are being sold in “Bina” trade center, Baku.

“Not only clothes but coffee, wine and some other Armenian products can
be found in Baku. It seems that it’s natural when Armenian products
are sold in Azerbaijan,” said the chairman of “Union of independent
consumers” to “Bizim yol”.

POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE WILL QUIT IF TER-PETROSYAN COMES TO POWER

Tert.am
15.09.11

Armenia’s Police Chief Alik Sargsyan has said he will quit his
position, if former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan comes to power.

Speaking to reporters at a briefing, Sargsyan said he had a position
during previous administrations too, but will not work with them
again over differences in views between them.

“I worked also during previous administrations. I had a position
during Mr Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s term in office … But I will not
work any longer,” said Sargsyan.

“I am at the same time a private citizen. And everybody has the right
to work or not to work. I still want to work and I work. I may later
not want to,” explained he.

Alik Sargsyan further said that he may be fired any time, but he
continues to work as there is no such decision.

“There is no such decision,” added Alik Sargsyan.

ZOHRAB MNATSAKANYAN – DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
SEPETMBER 15, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SPETEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: On today’s decree of President
Serzh Sargsyan Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was relieved from the commitments
of RA permanent representative to the Council of Europe.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that with another decree of
the president, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has been appointed Deputy Foreign
Minister of Armenia.

SERZH SARGSYAN: WE MANAGED TO SHAPE AN ECONOMY WHICH NOURISHES AND ARMS ITS SOLDIER

ARMENPRESS
SEPETMBER 15, 2011
YEREVAN

Having very modest resources and living in conditions of blockade
for two decades, we managed to shape an economy, which nourishes and
arms its soldier, and provides the dignified life of its teacher,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said today during a reception for
businessmen organized at Karen Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex
on the eve of Independence Day.

According to the Armenian President, independence has brought a new
economic system with new perspectives and new challenges. As he said,
many traditions have been restored, new ones have been developed
and the increase of level of social responsibility is becoming a
constant process.

“We should remember and never forget that without independent Armenia,
neither big companies nor millionaires would exist today,” he said.

“It is well known that we have proclaimed a social state by
constitution; it is also known that social state still remains a goal
and has not become yet a reality, which cannot be discussed. Though
state and other organizations have made an enormous work in this
sphere, we must confess that the two decades were not enough for
solution of numerous issues of this sphere, but this is not an occasion
of discouragement at all,” Serzh Sargsyan stressed.

VOLUMES OF FINANCING BY TWO AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND USA WILL BE INCREASED IN TOTAL BY $16 MLN.

/ARKA/
September 15, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 15. /ARKA/. Volumes of financing by two agreements
between Armenia and the USA will be increased in total by $7.3 million
and $8.7 million respectively.

Relevant decision about making amendments in the agreement “On
supporting more competitive and comprehensive private sector” and
“On increasing efficiency of healthcare and social services” as of
2010 was adopted in the government decision on Thursday.

During the meeting, Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan said
that the essence of the amendments is in the increase of financing
in the frames of the existing support program.

Particularly, total volume of financing in the first agreement is
proposed to increase from $15.4 million to $22.7 million, or by
$7.3 million.

“The programs targeted at macroeconomic stability, financial sector,
support to private sector and competitiveness will be financed”,
he said.

Davtyan said that the second agreement envisages to increase the
total size of financing by about $8.7 million – from $9.3 million to
$18 million.

“Among the spheres to be financed are: healthcare and social programs
on the increase of quality of social services and protection of
vulnerable population”, he said.

These directions are already mentioned in the existing agreements.

Additional financial means are provided for the implementation of
the programs in the next years.

“These traditional programs implemented by USAID will be significantly
increased”, he said.

IRAN PRESIDENT DECLARES BROTHERLY TIES WITH BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 15, 2011 – 17:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Nothing can affect the brotherly ties between
Azerbaijan and Iran, President of the Islamic Republic Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said in the frontier city of Parsabad.

Ahmadinejad added that Iran supports Azerbaijani independence, Trend
News reported.

The Iranian president visited the Ardebil Province near the border
of Azerbaijan as well as Khalkhal, Kovsar, Nir; visits to Bilyasuvar,
Parsabad, Germi, Meshkinshahr and Namin are on president’s agenda.