Author: Kanayan Tamar

ANGRY SPOUSES: WIFE OF SEROP DER-BOGHOSSIAN RENEGING ON PAYMENTS

hetq
12:56, August 30, 2011

A group of women have written to Madeline Tashjian, wife of Serop
Der-Boghossian now being tried for pedophilia, complaining that their
husbands, employees of the Akhtala Mining Company, haven’t received
their monetary bonuses as promised.

In the letter, a copy of which was forwarded to Hetq, the women write,
“You would think that the employees of the company are to blame for
the horrendous crimes of her husband, and now enraged, she is taking
out her revenge on our husbands.”

The wives note that in April 2010, Serop Der-Boghossian cut the
wages of a group of workers by 10%, promising that the company would
pay this amount in the form of bonuses if they fulfilled the mine’s
production targets.

They say that these targets were twice achieved by March 2011 and
that Mr. Der-Boghossian paid the workers as promised.

“However, due to reasons unknown to us, Madeline has refused to pay
our husbands these amounts even though the ore production targets
were reached in April, May and June of this year,” the letter reads.

The wives also claim that Mrs.Tashjian has nullified the bonus
agreement signed by her husband and will not increase wages by the 10%
in question.

They say that the monthly bonuses only amounted to 10,000 – 15,000
AMD; a small expense for the company but a sizeable chunk of income
for their families.

The angry spouses also say that they believe that the money is being
used to pay off the boys implicated in the paedophilia case regarding
their testimony in court.

On August 19, Hetq telephoned Metal Prince Ltd., the mining company
owned by Serop Der-Boghossian, to get their side of the story.

We were told to submit our questions in writing, which we did that
same day.

Receiving no response, we telephoned again today.

Liza, the same woman, picked up the phone and told us that this was
an internal issue and that we might not receive any formal response.

After pressing her a bit more, Liza said that the company’s public
affairs spokesperson was away on vacation. He would be the one to state
whether or not Metal Prince would respond to our list of questions.

Five minutes later, Liza called up Hetq to say that the spokesperson
would be returning on September 5.

YSU HAS 693 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OF STATIONARY EDUCATION

ARMENPRESS
15:22, 30 August, 2011
YEREVAN

Six hundred ninety-three first-year students will get stationary
education at Yerevan State University in academic year 2011-2012. They
have mainly preferred the following faculties: “Armenian Philology”,
“Law”, and “History”. Rector of Yerevan State University Aram Simonyan
told today a press conference that like the previous years, this year
too there is a lack of interest in natural sciences. According to
him, there will be some natural professions in the new academic year,
which will not have a first year.

Aram Simonyan noted that though the small number of the applicants
has originated some issues, nevertheless, they are less than it was
expected. “It is joyous that irrespective of the number of students,
the number of the places for state order has been maintained. This is
a very important decision, which will allow to surely look ahead and
to solve the raised issues more successfully,” said the YSU rector,
assuring that because of the current financial difficulties no change
of fee has taken place, and so will be continued in the upcoming years.

YSU rector attached importance and positively assessed the circumstance
that today culture of cooperation between Armenian universities has
developed and put at a high level. “Now we solve a lot of issues
through joint discussions,” he said.

Referring to the issue whether Mr. Simonyan does not fear the
competitive situation created between universities, Aram Simonyan
said half-jokingly and half-seriously that they feel competitors’
breath every day and it helps them to be in good forms always.

In the new academic year the university work will start at 09:00 am,
and the classes – 09:30. “Result of this change will be seen only in
December, but I do not think that the issues will be solved so easily,”
he said.

YSU RECTOR SAYS STEPS TO BE UNDERTAKEN TO ELIMINATE CORRUPTION

ARMENPRESS
15:23, 30 August, 2011
YEREVAN

Yerevan State University has started serious fight against corruption
and bribery. Rector of the university Aram Simonyan told the
reporters today that the university has worked out and confirmed
an anti-corruption program within the framework of which monitoring
is being conducted, sittings are being summoned and steps directed
toward the elimination of the mentioned phenomena are being discussed.

The main tool of fighting against corruption, according to Simonyan,
is the increase of the level of awareness of students, provision of
information about the processes. According to him, the adoption of
the decision that during each exam a student may enter and hear the
answer of his/her friend is addressed to it. This will exclude the
corruption risks. “Of course steps are being carried out but we will
be happy to see these phenomena reduced”, Simonyan said.

Simonyan noted that the issue of the YSU still remains the age
of professors. “The aging threats all the universities”, he said,
adding that it will be good if at least one young professor enters
each chair of the university.

FRESHMAN CRISIS AT ARMENIA’S LEADING HIGHER SCHOOL

Tert.am
30.08.11

A number of departments of Yerevan State University (YSU) have a
lack of students this academic year, YSU Rector Aram Simonyan told
journalists Aug. 30. Moreover, a number of faculties of science,
particularly physicomathematical departments, will not have first-year
students.

“We have not had many entrants this year,” Simonyan said. He pointed
out that the YSU administration has taken necessary measures. “I think
all the higher schools will overcome the problems. Higher education
will be funded this year as well irrespective of the student numbers,”
he added.

This year, 693 entrants have been admitted to Yerevan State
University. This number does not include foreign students. Most
of them have been admitted to the faculties of history, philology,
Armenian studies and law. Simonyan said that the tuition fee I to
remain unchanged.

IS THERE KHACHATUROV AT ALL?
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:22:33 – 30/08/2011

The role of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces is as
important in terms of management of the army contingent as that of
the Defense Minister. The Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces
of Armenia is Yuri Khachaturov.

Has this official ever tried to make public remarks about the situation
in the army, tragic events and army reforms in general? Is there a
Chief of General Staff of the Army in Armenia or not? What is Yuri
Khachaturov doing?

No doubt, along with responsibility of the Defense Minister, the
issue of responsibility of the Chief of the General Staff should also
be raised.

Moreover, the organization and daily operation of the army is enabled
through the Chief of the General Staff, so he is directly responsible
for the organization of life in the army.

Hence, a public demand of resignation of the Chief of the General
Staff of the Armed Forces should be set forward given he fails to
give a convincing and grounded clarification on tragedies happening
in the army every now and then and fails to take steps to prevent
further tragedies.

Although, apparently, the time for explanations is over, and if the
Chief of General Staff had something to tell the society or could do
something to prevent crimes, he would have said and done it.

Consequently, it is obvious to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief that
it is high time he considered replacement of the Chief of General
Staff of the Armed Forces.

Although, I wonder if it will be enough. This step should be the
beginning of replacement of generals of the Armenian army. The later it
happens, the more lives of Armenian young men will be under threaten.

RETURNING PROPERTY TO ARMENIANS BY TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS PURPOSE TO CALL OFF ATTENTION OF WORLD COMMUNITY FROM ARMENIAN ISSUE

arminfo
Tuesday, August 30, 16:05

Turkey has not changed its harsh position regarding Armenia. It is just
trying to hide its aggressiveness via certain gestures of “kind will”,
political expert Levon Shirinyan said at today’s press-conference when
commenting on the decision of the Turkish authorities about property
returning to the Armenian and Jewish communities.

He also added that by such a step Ankara is trying to gain the
reputation of a civilized state as well as to call off the attention
of the world community from the Armenian issue. Actually, as he said,
the Turkish military and political elite did not depart from its
anti-Armenian stance. As for the property returning to the Armenians,
Shirinyan said it is a halfway measure, which does not allow to hope
for radical changing in the policy of Ankara.

To recall, on 28 August the Turkish government adopted a decision
to return the confiscated property to the Christian and Jewish
organizations.

ARMENIA EXPO 2011 SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER

news.am
Aug 29, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN.- The Armenian capital will host Armenia EXPO 2011 eleventh
regional universal trade-industrial exhibition on September 16-18.

This year’s exhibition is dedicated to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence and presents country’s economic achievements.

Armenia EXPO will embrace almost all fields of economy and will bring
together over 180 local and foreign companies, including those from
Russia, Belarus, Iran, the UAE, Germany, Georgia, Turkey, China,
Poland and Italy.

The exhibition provides a great opportunity to present new
technologies, systems and new solutions in different fields.

ISRAELI DEPUTY FM: “WE NEVER DENIED THE ARMENIAN TRAGEDY, BUT WE DO NOT WISH TO BECOME PARTY TO THE CONFRONTATION”

Mediamax
Aug 29, 2011
Armenia

Photo: http://www.infosurhoy.comDanny Ayalon Exclusive interview of
the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to Mediamax

– What should Israel and Armenia do to take their relations to a new
level? There is an impression that none of the sides is willing to
make steps for a real rapprochement although both sides claim there
are no major political disagreements.

– First of all, I hope that the impression that both sides are not
interested in taking steps to bring themselves closer together is a
false one. Indeed, from our viewpoint there are no weighty problems
in our bilateral relations, but in order to give those ties solid
content we need to operate in a number of spheres:

– First, through mutual high-level visits; – Second, through cultural
and scientific exchanges; – Third, through the improvement of our
economic and commercial ties.

The order is not essential, but that we work as one; while we have
an ambassador (albeit, non-resident) in your country, Armenia has no
parallel representation in Israel. Clearly, an Armenian ambassador in
Israel could also do much on his part to create a closer relationship
between both countries.

– In a recent interview with us Israeli Ambassador to Armenia quite
frankly spoke about the absence of an Armenian Ambassador in Israel,
event non-resident Ambassador. Have you discussed this issue with
your Armenian counterparts and what is their response?

– In this context I have to mention a matter that was raised by
your side at the highest levels; apparently Armenia prefers to see
first and foremost the establishment of a permanent Israeli embassy
in Yerevan. As I see it, I would reverse the order, in other words
strengthening the relations between each other will lead to greater
interaction and will in turn create the need to establish a permanent
embassy. The joint work today of non-resident ambassadors from each
country would result in the need to establish permanent embassies in
both countries.

– Armenian President visited Israel with non-official visit in early
2000, but Israeli President or PM never came to Armenia. What is
the reason? And do you think that such top-level visit could become
possible in the near future?

– The visit of Armenia’s President in 2000 was carried out within
the framework of the visit of scores of leaders who came to the Holy
Land to mark the millennium. While we certainly do not belittle the
importance of that visit, it is different from a bilateral State
Visit. Furthermore, the visit of a high-level personage from Israel
is certainly reasonable and I see no impediment to it.

– Israel does not recognize the Armenian Genocide because of the
political reasons and “realpolitik” as your Ambassador told us.

However, don’t you think that if such an approach could be “acceptable”
in case of U.S., Britain and other states, Israel should stand over
them as it knows better then everyone what it means – to try to kill
a nation?

– It is no secret that the mass murder of the Armenian people during
the First World War is a most sensitive matter and as a people that
also suffered from persecution and murder we are especially sensitive
to that. However, since the subject, most regrettably, has become
political, it needs to be handled with great care. Israel has never
denied the Armenian tragedy, but we do not wish to become party to
the confrontation between Turkey and Armenian on this important issue.

– Please tell us about the current state of Turkish-Israeli relations.

Do you see any room for improving them soon?

– I do not consider it appropriate to refer within the framework
of an interview to the Armenian press to Israel’s relations with a
third country.

– The number of Armenian tourists visiting Israel is growing. Is it
possible to facilitate the visa regime for the Armenian citizens?

– The subject of the visas of Armenians who arrive in Israel is being
examined by us these very days, in keeping with the recommendations
brought by our ambassador following his last visit to your country. We
hope that a solution will soon be found.

– Maybe both sides could implement some joint cultural projects? For
instance, maybe some artists from Armenia can come and perform in the
Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem for all the people living in the city –
Jews, Arabs, Armenians, etc? Are you ready to consider such ideas if
there are made by the Armenian side?

– I have already replied to the idea that you are suggesting in the
first part of my answer to the first question: cultural exchanges are
an integral part of relations between countries and we, of course,
would be happy to host Armenians here in Jerusalem and everywhere
else in Israel. For our part we have already brought a number of
Israeli artists to Armenia, including within the framework of the
last reception we held in celebration of Israel’s Independence Day.

BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA HINDERS DEVELOPMENT OF BORDER AREAS IN TURKEY

news.am
Aug 29, 2011
Armenia

MOSCOW. – The blockade of Armenia, to some extent hinders the
development of border areas in Turkey, senior research fellow, center
for international security institute for international economics and
international relations Stanislav Ivanov told at the interview with
Voice of Russia.

He believes that Turkey still has supporters of the incumbent Turkish
PM Erdogan, which means that ratification of Zurich protocols may be
on the agenda of the next convocation of the parliament.

“Turkish government has the right to include those protocols into
the agenda of the new parliament, thus, they can be on the agenda in
October. Turkish business and government circles have supporters
to normalize relations with Armenia and to develop bilateral
trade-economic, transportation and other cooperation,” believes Ivanov.

Moreover, the blockade of Armenia by Turkey not only harms Armenia’s
economy, but to some extent hinders the development of border areas
in Turkey.

Currently the relations with Azerbaijan are more important for
Turkey. Ankara has not only close economic but also military-technical
ties with Baku. Besides, Baku reacted extremely negatively for
concluding the Zurich protocols. Thus, the Turkish side deliberately
postpones the solution of the issue.

USAID RENOVATES COMMUNITY IN ARMENIAN VILLAGE

news.am
Aug 29, 2011
Armenia

The USAID-funded Small Scale Infrastructure Program (SSIP), implemented
by the Cooperative Housing Foundation International (CHF) and its
partner Shen NGO, marked on Monday the renovation of the Shahumyan
Community Center in the Lori region of Armenia.

The Community Center occupies part of the ground floor of a five-story
residential building, constructed in 1978. The Center suffered
damages in the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake and was eventually
closed down. The Center, which had not been in use for over 20 years,
required a complete renovation. CHF replaced the doors, windows, and
flooring, plastered and painted the walls, and renovated the restrooms.

The total area renovated was 180 square meters. The community center
is now operational and will host a library, chess-room, computer-room,
recreation room and management office.

The USAID/Armenia Mission Director noted that apart from the Shahumyan
community center renovation project, USAID’s efforts in the Lori
region also include the renovation of a kindergarten in Haghpat,
a gas distribution system in Ayroum, and the implementation of water
distribution systems in Lernantsk, Artsni and Lori Berd.

On a country-wide scale, by November 2011 the program expects to
have completed 58 infrastructure projects and will have provided more
than 47,000 days of employment. In addition, 800 Armenians will have
obtained short-term employment, and over 140 persons will have gained
permanent employment at facilities rehabilitated by SSIP.