Author: Kanayan Tamar

ANGER AS TRADERS CLEARED FROM YEREVAN STREETS
Naira Melkumyan

IWPR
August 23, 2011
UK

Authorities accused of victimising small businesses while leaving
large ones untouched.

The authorities in the Armenian capital Yerevan have begun demolishing
street stalls and kiosks, in what opposition politicians allege is
a step designed to protect large supermarkets from competition.

Workers backed up by police units dismantled several stalls in the
city’s Central and Arabkir districts last week, without even giving
owners a chance to remove goods from display.

Leva Hakobyan said he was ruined after losing the kiosk where he sold
souvenirs and cosmetics in Arabkir district.

“I took out a bank loan until 2015 to start a business. I’ve paid
all my taxes and kept up with the repayments all this time, but how
am I going to pay the bank now?” he asked. “This stall supports two
families. I have all the requisite documents and a license. How can
they just take our property and destroy it?”

The city authorities say they are not going to extend current
stallholder licenses, except for newspaper sellers. They argue that the
stalls and kiosks break planning rules and make the capital look ugly.

“If there’s an order to remove stalls on these streets, then that order
will be carried out,” city hall spokesperson Shushan Sardaryan said.

The campaign to clear street traders off the streets has been going on
since the beginning of the year, under mayor Karen Karapetian. (See
Yerevan Street Sellers Protest Trading Ban.) So far over 900 of the
nearly 4,000 stalls and kiosks have gone.

The issue has become politicised as opposition parties take up
the stallholders’ cause. The city authorities are dominated by the
governing Republican Party. (See Armenian Opposition Seizes on Street
Traders’ Anger.)

Opposition politicians say Karapetian’s predecessor as mayor gave
stallholders permission to remain until next year, so the current
administration cannot simply cancel that arrangement.

“They cannot deem that a document saying stalls in Arabkir district
can remain until 2010 is illegal. If the mayor says they were built
illegally, then everyone must answer for it, from the former mayor
downwards,” Stepa Safaryan of the Heritage party said.

Arevik Ghazaryan, who owns a flower stand on Mashtots Avenue, said
she had been assured she would have a guaranteed pitch until 2015
and had made her plans accordingly.

“We are asking them not to take our work away from us, not to create
unemployment, and not to bankrupt us,” she said. “Is the aesthetic
improvement for which the mayor has decided to destroy these stalls
worth depriving people of work and reducing their circumstances?”

Safaryan accused city officials of lulling stallholders into a false
sense of security by suggesting their premises would not be removed
immediately. They deny this, insisting they kept traders informed of
their plans.

The opposition Armenian National Congress, ANC, has accused the
government of eliminating competition on behalf of its allies in
big business.

A statement from the ANC said that there was a policy to “concentrate
trading in the supermarkets and large shops belonging to oligarchs”,
and that the authorities were ignoring the social consequences –
“the future of thousands of people, an increase in social tensions,
and extra impetus for emigration”.

The city authorities have insisted they are not against small
businesses. Mayor Karapetian told a government meeting that stalls
would only disappear from central streets where they blocked pedestrian
traffic or looked unsightly.

“I don’t think the owners of kiosks on central streets are
impoverished, so the mayor’s office has no obligations to them,”
he said. “There was a deadline… We don’t have to offer them an
alternative [site] or compensation.”

The mayor added that in cases where traders needed help, local
officials were under instructions to provide financial compensation,
job offers, or alternative sites.

At a recent meeting with stallholders, Arabkir district government
chief Edgar Musheghyan offered them new sites, but they dismissed this,
saying they would have to pay for the relocation out of their own
pockets, and the sites on offer would not attract any passing trade.

Armenia’s human rights ombudsman has stepped into the fray, saying
the demolitions were unlawful and marred by violations of human rights.

Among the concerns raised by the ombudsman’s office were the failure
to notify stallholders of demolitions in advance, and the use of
force by police drafted in to help.

The ombudsman urged the mayor’s office to remember that Yerevan
belonged to everyone, not just to the wealthy.

“Several recent urban renewal initiatives have had a negative effect
on disadvantaged sections of the population, and benefited only those
with a medium to high standard of living,” the watchdog concluded.

The Heritage party and the stallholders say they are considering
what to do next. This may include protests outside the offices of the
president and the city mayor. Heritage has also urged the speaker of
parliament to recall legislators from their summer break to debate
the issue.

Hovsep Khurshudyan, an analyst with the Armenian Centre for National
and Strategic Studies, says targeting street traders is manifestly
unfair.

“Of course the city should be beautiful and construction standards
adhered to,” Khurshudyan said. “But is it really only stalls that
affect this? What about big shops on the streets, or cafes in green
areas? Nothing gets done about them, and that’s because there are
big businessmen behind them. That’s double standards.”

Naira Melkumyan is a freelance journalist in Yerevan.

RUSSIAN CEMETERY VANDALISED IN AZERI CAPITAL
Seymur Kazimov

IWPR
August 23, 2011
UK

No suggestion that race or religion is involved, just neglect of the
Russian minority’s graveyards.

Police in the Azerbaijani capital Baku are investigating the
desecration of Russian graves in a case that has highlighted the poor
state of the dwindling minority’s cemeteries.

Natalya Narizhnaya visited the cemetery in Surakhani district on July
18 to lay flowers on the graves of her relatives, only to find that
several had been damaged and the headstones smashed.

She says that while initially reluctant to take up the case, police
eventually took the complaint seriously.

The incident caused a storm on the internet after the Russian website
carried a story headlined “Orthodox graves destroyed
in Azerbaijan”, hinting that the vandalism might be the work of ethnic
or anti-Christian bigots in this predominantly Muslim country.

Hajibala Eyvazov, speaking for the Surakhani district authorities,
denied such suggestions, saying that the falling numbers of ethnic
Russians had left cemeteries abandoned and neglected.

“We don’t have the people or the money to guard the cemetery,” he
said. “The graves there are mainly very old. The surviving relatives
left the country long ago, so the cemetery gets very few visitors and
is left unattended. We’ve frequently urged the Russian community to
care for the cemetery, but they haven’t responded.”

Svetlana Ivanova, head of the Russian community in Surakhani, said
the Azerbaijani government needed to step in as local people were
unable to keep the cemetery in good shape.

An IWPR journalist who visited the cemetery noted that Orthodox crosses
on graves had not been destroyed, making this unlikely to be the work
of religious extremists, but confirmed that the Russian section of
the cemetery looked unkempt and derelict, particularly when compared
with the area where ethnic Tatars – a Muslim group from Russia –
were buried.

Elkhan Shahinoglu, head of the Atlas think tank, agreed that the
damage looked more like the handiwork of vandals than of bigots.

“I don’t think the destruction of graves in the old cemetery was some
sort of planned, deliberate act…. This dreadful act was probably
carried out by a bunch of hooligans,” he said. “In Azerbaijan –
particularly Baku, which prides itself on its international character –
there’s never been animosity towards Russians. The Russian language
is still very important in Baku, and every second person speaks
it beautifully.

“So it wouldn’t be right to ascribe the destruction of graves to
ethnic animosity. But there is a need to find and punish the culprits
as quickly as possible, otherwise common hooliganism carried out by
people who hold nothing sacred could take on a political aspect.”

Before 1991, when Azerbaijan was still part of the Soviet Union,
cemeteries were maintained by local government, but funding has
declined since then and many graveyards have fallen into disrepair.

This applies particularly to Russian graveyards, because large numbers
of this community have emigrated to Russia itself. The 2009 census
showed that around 120,000 remained in Azerbaijan, compared with around
half a million – a tenth of the republic’s population – in the 1970s.

“There are very few of us left here here,” Ilya Maximov, 63, said.

“Many Russians left Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. It was a tough time
– the collapse of the Soviet Union was followed by poverty and war
[in Nagorny Karabakh]. Many chose a better life and left their homes.”

But Azerbaijani as well as Russian cemeteries could also do with
better upkeep.

Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, a theologian and head of the DEVAMM organisation,
which campaigns for religious rights, said the government does not
assign enough money to protect graveyards.

“The Alley of Honour and the Alley of Martyrs are exceptions,”
he said, referring to memorial complexes in the centre of Baku. “In
other cemeteries, the relatives of the deceased have to look after the
graves. So old graveyards with few visitors are in disarray. And people
of ill will take advantage of this and do whatever they want there.”

The Tatar section of the Surakhani cemetery is in a better state
because relatives care for it, but is still vulnerable.

“We do it voluntarily,” Maksud Ahmadjanov, appointed to oversee care
of the Tatar graves, said. “But local people throw their rubbish into
the cemetery. We can’t seem to explain to them that this is a very
bad habit. We are left having to clean up as much of the rubbish as
we can.”

Seymur Kazimov is project officer at the Azerbaijan Media Centre.

DECREASE IN BIRTH RATES, RISE IN DEATHS: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ARMENIA

epress.am
08.23.2011

The time when Armenia will have more deaths than births is not far,
said demographer Ruben Yeganyan at a press conference in the Armenian
capital today.

Yeganyan noted that the total birth rate coefficient in Armenia is
1.7 whereas the standard is 2.1, which shows how many children a
woman has throughout her reproductive age.

“At the international level, there’s a drop in birth rates. The factors
for this drop are mainly the rise in standards of living and increase
in education levels,” he said, noting, however, that the situation
in Armenia is markedly different.

According to the expert, the drop in birth rates in Armenia is due
to the deterioration of socioeconomic standards in the country.

“In the 70s and 80s, the birth rate was almost stable. However,
in the 90s, the situation radically changed, the reasons of which,
unlike internationally, were the socioeconomic conditions and the
huge wave of emigration. If there’s no state intervention, if this
country doesn’t improve in economic, social and moral terms, the
current state policy in the demographic sector will be considered
simply a nervous contraction,” he said.

The demographer expressed his concern for what is in store for Armenia
if such trends continue.

“This process will continue rapidly, the age structure of the
population will change, which, by the way, has already changed:
if we judge by international standards, we are considered to have
an aged population – we have reached a level of nearly 12% of our
pension-age population, which is a very high level. Then, in both
political and economic terms we will weaken, we will dwindle. If
there is no intervention, the processes will carry on irreversibly,”
said a concerned Yeganyan.

ONLY PARK IN ARMAVIR TO BE REPLACED BY A BANK AND CHURCH

epress.am
08.23.2011

Apparently the Armavir Town Park where tree felling and rapid
construction have taken place since May 2011 is not actually a park,
according to official documents, say Armavir Park supporters, reads
a statement by local environmental organization Ecolur.

According to Armavir’s new city plan, the park is a territory that
falls under the jurisdiction of Armavir Municipality and not a park.

Currently, the park has been sold and there are plans to construct
a bank, church and veterinary pharmacy on the land.

Armavir residents are unaware of the public hearings of construction
projects in progress in the park territory, reads the Ecolur
statement. In this regard, EcoLur has contacted Armenia’s Ministry
of Nature Protection with the following questions:

On what grounds has the RA Ministry of Nature Protection permitted
tree felling in the only public park in the town of Armavir and
constructed buildings?

When were the public hearings on building projects held?

Which companies are carrying out the construction?

Has the RA Ministry of Nature Protection given the green light to
these projects? If yes, “please provide us with the copy of these
conclusions and minutes of public hearings.”

EXPERT CONCERNED OVER ARMENIA’S DEMOGRAPHY

Tert.am
23.08.11

At his meeting with journalists Aug. 23, the demographer Ruben Yeganyan
addressed the problem of “latent depopulation.” “We are going to have
more deaths that births soon,” he said.

The current birthrate is 1.7 in Armenia instead of 2.1 necessary for
natural reproduction of population.

“The present natural population growth is temporary. The situation
will change in a few years because of more deaths and fewer births,”
the expert said.

Socio-economic problems are the major reason for decline in birthrate.

Emigration accounts for 25 to 30 per cent as well. This tendency will
go on developing unless the government interferes, and the population’s
age structure may change. Referring to some research Yeganyan said
that Armenia is rated as a country with an ageing population.

“The government’s interference is a must,” he said. Supporting only
families with many children will not resolve the problem- large
families constitute a very small share of Armenia’s population.

Starting families should be encouraged, he said.

HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK: ARF-D BUREAU FREE OF AMERICANS

Tert.am
23.08.11

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) has two
large “branches” – the ARF-D in the American West and the ARF-D in
the American East.

For years the two have played a decisive role in the ARF-D’s
activities. First, they have been the primary source of financing.

Secondly, their strong ties with the political elite of the world’s
number one democracy have made the structures influential. The two
have for years “directed” the Armenian electorate in the United States
and played an important role in the Armenian lobby’s activities. Due
to the aforementioned factors, the US Dashnaks have been members of
the ARF-D Bureau.

However, the General Meeting of U.S. Dashnak organizations this June
had Vigen Hovsepyan and Haik Oshakan leave the Bureau.

That was the first sign of tension between the U.s. Dashnaks and the
current ARF-D leadership, particularly, Hrant Margaryan and his team.

The public did not take notice of the changes in the ARF-D Bureau
membership. On the other hand, the statement issued by the ARF-D
office in the American West proved “a bolt from the blue” as it was
severely critical of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

In its statement issued last week, the ARF-D Bureau expressed its
disagreement with U.S. Dashnaks thereby fueling the doubts concerning
the U.S. Dashnak structures’ tasks o separating from both Armenia’s
incumbent authorities and the ARF-D Bureau.

Rumor has it that at the General Meeting in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia,
which was held behind closed doors, the U.S. delegation was severely
critical of the ARF-D bureau’s activities over recent years.

ANOTHER ARMENIAN CHURCH VANDALIZED IN GEORGIA

news.am
Aug 22, 2011
Armenia

TBILISI. – Another Armenian church was vandalized in Georgia. This
time it was Church of Surb Etchmiadzin located in the capital, Tbilisi,
which was consecrated by Armenian Catholicos Karekin II two months ago.

On August 19 evening two young people, supposedly drunk, entered the
Armenian church. Two sellers of candles and cleanup woman labeled
their behavior as arrogant and disrespectful, Armenia-based Yerkir
Media television reported.

One of them started to turn over the pages of the Holy Book placed on
the sanctuary tearing off one of the pages. He also sat down on the
chair of bishop. Women tried to call young people to order and finally
ousted them from the church. Young people tore off the announcements
installed on the doors and burnt them down.

Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan said they had appealed to police. Diocese of
the Armenian church intends to appeal to Georgia’s Internal Ministry
and other structures and file a note of protest to the Georgian
Orthodox Church.

Mirzakhanyan said young people’s behavior is a result of the recent
amendments made to the legislation providing for legal status to the
religious minorities of Georgia. The legislation sparked anti-Armenian
sentiments.

The Armenian diocese of Georgia plans to issue a statement on the
incident. Earlier Georgia’s ombudsman was informed. A month ago unknown
left inscriptions insulting Armenians on the walls of a hotel located
near the Surb Etchmiadzin church.

US POLL: KIM KARDASHIAN’S DIAMOND HEADPIECE: LOVE OR HATE IT?

US Magazine

Aug 22, 2011

It wouldn’t be a true Kardashian event without some major glitz
and glam.

Kim Kardashian stunned in a strapless, custom-made ivory wedding gown
by Vera Wang at her nuptials with Kris Humphries in Montecito, Calif.

on Saturday. To complement the elegant dress, the 30-year-old bride
added a sparkling diamond headpiece to her veil.

FIRST PIC: Kim Kardashian’s wedding dress!

“She looked very Armenian, like an Armenian princess,” a source at
the wedding told Us Weekly.

The typically over-the-top reality superstar kept her makeup (done
by celeb makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic) surprisingly simple with
smoky eyes, full brows, pink blush and glossy pink lips. The only
over-the-top touch: what appeared to be several sets of false lashes.

VIDEO: See Kim Kardashian’s wedding video!

A couple days before the wedding, another insider told Us that
Kardashian “wants to be the most polished, elegant version of herself
and [look] timeless.”

PHOTOS: Kim’s other white-hot looks!

Tell Us: What do you think of Kardashian’s diamond-drop headpiece?

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPION THINKS OF COACH CAREER

news.am
Aug 22, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Weightlifting world champion Nazik Avdalyan currently feels
recovered after a car crash several months ago but it is evident that
she will not return into professional sport this year, Avadlyan told
Armenain News-NEWS.am.

“The doctors say that I am still in recovery phase and do not advise
me to train. They do not fully guarantee that I will not suffer new
injuries once I return to training. In short, my training is big
question so far but I think of coaching career,” said Avdalyan.

Avdalyan got into road accident on Gyumri-Vanadzor highway on April
26, this year. She received several grave injuries of spinal column.

“INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING ARMENIAN PEOPLE TO PEACE, SERZH SARGSYAN CALLS THEM TO RADICALIZATION”

Toda.Az
Aug 22, 2011
Azerbaijan

Statements, made by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting
of the youth movement “Together” at Lake Sevan, saying that he wants
to put an end to all the agreements that were reached in the peace
process over Nagorno-Karabakh, which began with the Prague process
and continued with preparation of the renewed Madrid principles,
told Trend First Secretary Press Service of the MFA of Azerbaijan
Elman Abdullayev.

Urging the young Armenian people to continue the occupation of
Azerbaijani territories, President Sargsyan again officially showed
real intentions, which are far from peaceful, Abdullayev said.

“Instead of encouraging their people to peace, Sargsyan calls them to
radicalization, what absolutely contrary to the statements President,
co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, the presidents of Russia – Dmitry
Medvedev, France – Nicolas Sarkozy, United States – Barack Obama.

Making such statements, Sargsyan reveals its true purposes, and
demonstrate, that he is not search of way to peace and does not want
to change its non-constructive position.

President Serzh Sargsyan, speaking at a meeting with members of the
youth movement “Together” at Lake Sevan, said that the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved peacefully “Interfax”,
reported.

“Sooner or later Karabakh will be recognized, no one doubts, Serzh
Sargsyan said. The sooner it happens the better it will be for all
including Azerbaijan”.