Author: Kanayan Tamar

HERITAGE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEMBER READY TO JOIN TIGAN KARAPETYAN’S UNION

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 13, 2011 – 15:41 AMT

Member of Heritage parliamentary group Vardan Khachatryan said he
plans to join people’s union of Tigran Karapetyan.

Khachatryan told journalists that he hails the initiative on
establishment of the third political force. According to him, it will
contribute to “purification” of Armenia’s political field, since now
“we face troublous times.”

The union may become a political force, but everything depends on
people’s support, concluded Khachatryan.

BANK VTB (ARMENIA) AWARDS 500,000 DRAMS TO RECIPIENT OF 100,000TH VISA CARD

/ARKA/
May 12, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 12, /ARKA/. Russian-owned Bank VTB (Armenia) has awarded
today 500,000 Drams (about $1,343.21), to Khoren Abrahamian, an
employee of the South Caucasus Railways company, who received the
100,000-th Visa Electron card was issued in 2001 March in Yerevan.

‘The issuance of 100,000 cards is a landmark achievement, evidence of
the bank’s successful implementation of a strategy that was designed
to develop this business in Armenia. It is also an indication of a
high demand of our services,’ Mher Grigorian, deputy CEO of the bank,
said at the awarding ceremony.

He said Visa payment cards issued by VTB Bank (Armenia) are convenient
for making quick purchases both in Armenia and around the globe.

Holders of Visa cards may also count on various bonuses and up to 40%
discounts at about 200 trade outlets in Armenia

Irina Kamkhadze, a manager for promotion of Visa cards in Armenia,
Georgia and Moldova, said the cooperation between Visa and VTB Bank
(Armenia) helps also Armenia develop its economy through boosting
cashless payments.

Bank VTB (Armenia) is owned fully by Russian Bank VTB. It runs 68
branches in Armenia, the largest network of branches across the
country.

CONTROL CHAMBER HEAD POINTS OUT PROGRESS IN ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES’ WORK

/ARKA/
May 12, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. On Thursday, Ishkhan Zakaryan, head of
Armenia’s Control Chamber, presenting the 2010 activity report to
members of the National Assembly, pointed out some progress Armenian
communities have reached for recent years.

“There are also areas where no progress is seen, but positive changes
are visible in communities, since many irregularities there have been
caused by unawareness of the law,” he said.

He singled out transition to cashless payments among achievements
and said that this transition has lessened corruption risks.

Speaking about inspections conducted in 2010, Zakaryan said that they
had revealed ineffective and purposeless spending of communities’
budgets, unjustified increase in prices for construction and shoddy
building as well as faults related to property tax payment and usage
of natural resources.

“Unrealistic calculations in forming budgets and absence of many
objects from lists were found out in almost all the communities,”
he said.

Speaking about social area, the head of the chamber said that things
are desperate here.

In particular, lists of social beneficiaries are inaccurate – there
are many dead people in them. There are also people living abroad
for ling years.

Zakaryan said that provision of medical conclusions to disabled people
as well as the work of social services of the Labor and Social Welfare
Ministry, Yerevan Municipality and provincial administrations would
be under intense scrutiny.

The control chamber has also found out numerous faults in procedures
of alienation of buildings and compounds of preschool establishments
as well as problems in science and education segments.

Faults have been found also in development of mines.

Certain faults have been revealed in spending of loans.

There are some legislative obstacles are among major problems here.

The thing is that the law on banking secret gives room for hiding
some information. That is why the chamber has access to incomplete
information.

Zakaryan said that the results of the inspections have been sent to
the Prosecutor General’s Office.

FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA GOVERNOR HOSTED BY PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

Aysor.am
Thursday,May 12

President Serzh Sargsyan received Italian delegation led by
Friuli-Venezia Giulia region Governor Renzo Tondo, President’s press
office reported.

Serzh Sargsyan stressed that Armenia seeks to expand comprehensive
cooperation with Italy and attaches importance to political dialogue,
interparliamentary relations, cooperation in the sectors of trade
and economy, education and culture, tourism. S. Sargsyan stressed the
importance of developing decentralized cooperation between Armenian
and Italian local authorities welcoming strengthening of contacts
between Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the Tavush region of Armenia.

Governor Renzo Tondo noted that Italian entrepreneurs have arrived
in Armenia with him to promote ties between business circles and to
discuss the prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation.

GEORGIANS BUILDING OFFICE ON RUINS OF ARMENIAN CHURCH
Kristine Aghalaryan

hetq
08:30, May 11, 2011

A new office building that will house the Samtskhe-Javakh Regional
Administration in Georgia is being constructed on the ruins of the
Holy Savior Armenian Apostolic Church in Akhaltskha.

Local Armenians say that the church once housed the diocese and that
Archbishop Karapet Bagratouni is buried on the grounds.

Holy Savior was built in 1883 and operated as a church till 1953 when
Russian troops were deployed in Akhaltskha. The Russian military then
erected an officers’ headquarters on the remaining church foundations.

Construction workers at the site, some who refused to give their names,
said told Hetq that they weren’t ripping down the old structure but
merely slicing off a layer or two to restore it to its original shape
when it was the officers’ headquarters.

MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC HOSTS “MUSIC OF ARMENIA” CONCERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 12, 2011 – 14:40 AMT

Manhattan School of Music hosted the “Music of Armenia” concert, which
started with a heartfelt performance of Makar Yekmalian’s Ov, Hayots
Ashkharh (Oh, Land of Armenia), according to the Armenian Reporter.

Sopranos Caroline Braga, Christine Price, Kim Foxen, and Caroline
Dunigan, and tenors Jose Ruiz, Robert Murphy, Dorian Balis, and Michael
Anderson – none of whom is Armenian – showed that they had put much
heart and soul into their preparation of Yekmalian’s masterpiece.

Dr. Karine Poghosyan, the concert organizer and an accomplished
pianist, served as conductor.

Next on stage was eight-year-old Zoe Pian-Chowdhury on piano,
performing Aram Khachaturian’s Folk Dance.

Two beautiful pieces by Komitas, Ay aylughs (My red handkerchief)
and Chinar es (Tall as a poplar tree) were brought to life by Sophia
Steger on violin and Christopher Tong on piano.

One of the most unusual performances of the evening was Komitas’s Kele
Kele (Walk, walk), arranged by Dr. Poghosyan for saxophone and piano.

The talented duo of David Antabian and guest soprano Talene
Tchorbajian, who studies at the Manhattan School of Music with Kelly
Sawatsky, performed the beloved Krunk (Crane).

Jack Heaphy and Stephanie Tse gave the piano duo rendition of
Khachaturian’s beautiful Adagio, the love duet from the ballet
Spartacus.

David Antabian then returned to the stage to perform Arno Babajanian’s
Elegy in memory of Aram Khachaturian and Khachaturian’s Toccata.

President Sargsyan Invited Meeting with Agro Processing Companies

Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda)
May 10, 2011 Tuesday

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . May 10, 2011. President Serzh Sargsyan invited
today a meeting with the participation of the management of Armenias
largest agro processing companies. At the meeting with the leaders
of a dozen of the processing companies from the capital and marzes,
which was held at the Yerevan Beer Ltd, present were the RA Ministers
of Agriculture, Finance, and Chairman of the State Revenue Committee,
who presented problems existing in the area of agro purchases and
processing, reforms carried out in the areas of tax and customs
administration, which will touch different spheres, including creation
of favorable conditions for the development projects for the private
enterprises engaged in the area of agro processing.

At the outset, the President noted that his meetings with the major
enterprises and taxpayers are intended to discuss directly with the
businessmen their problems, talk about the present and the future of
the enterprises working in different areas, and speak about their
cooperation with the government. According to Serzh Sargsyan, at
these meetings he has been stressing the importance of working with
the State Revenue Committee and, in general, importance of the entire
process pertinent to tax collection. When I say process, I dont mean
just the entries into the state budget, but rather simplification
of the process, relieving the businesses of unduly burden with the
expectation that the entrepreneurs will consciously do their best
to fulfill their tax obligations, since we dont have other sources
of revenue to pay pensions, wages and defense expenses. Thats why,
in this process we take every precaution not to create risks related
to budget spending.

After the meeting with the leaders of the mining industry and the
bankers, I felt it would be right to hold the next meeting with the
leaders and owners of the processing enterprises because we meet every
year, talk about purchases of agricultural produce and interaction
with the farmers. However, I believe such meetings would be more
efficient if they are held not in the end of summer or beginning
of fall, when it becomes necessary to organize the entire purchase
process, when there is time pressure and it becomes impossible to
solve certain problems but rather now, when the time is right for us
to discuss the problems which your companies face.

I am well aware that youre conducting regular meetings with the Minster
of Agriculture. He was once working in your area, thus I trust hes
fully aware of the problems existing in that particular area. I am also
confident that cooperation of especially processing companies with
the government, precisely, with the Ministry of Agriculture, will be
more efficient. Our agreements are intact and the government, first
of all the Ministry of Agriculture will support you in the process.

The Ministry of Agriculture will be your willing partner on all issues,
and in fall, as we noted at our last meeting, the state will stand
by the farmers.

We have been constantly highlighting the importance of some issues,
and today I would like to articulate them once again so that we dont
forget them. First, it is unacceptable when you sign contracts with
the farmers but later, when circumstances change the quantity of the
produce, etc., start certain discussions related to the prices. It
looks somewhat odd when in two neighboring regions, which do not
differ much, we observe different prices for agricultural produce. I
dont think, its right. I believe the right approach is to start with
the contract signing, so that folks understand the price their produce
will be purchased by; it will also be easier for you to make up your
future programs.

I realize that each product has, so to speak, two prices: one for the
seller, the other for the buyer. The buyer wants to get it for less,
the seller wants to sell it for more. But in both cases, the farmers
as well as the businesses should be able to fix a reasonable price,
so that next year the farmer is interested in growing that produce,
and you, on the other hand, are able to purchase produce for the next
year and sell it with profit. This process must be a two-way street.

I believe that even if not this year, then certainly next year, we
should be able to ensure that all businesses, processing companies
have preliminary assessment of the quantities of the produce to be
purchased and consequently, have contracts. Contracts are essential. I
assure you, that if we are able to sign contracts with the farmers
on the quantity of the produce, next year the quantities of produce
will increase. The number of processing companies is growing, their
capabilities are increasing, and thank God, demand is great too.

Probably, we should be able at some point to solve the issue of
circulating assets so that the wheel spins faster. Every processing
company I spoke with says that there is no problem with selling,
save, of course, for some unforeseen force major situations and the
fact that because of the crisis, the cognac sales have dropped. But it
looks like we are approaching the highest – 2008 level of sales. What
I mean is that you also have a mission to promote the production of
agricultural products not only to process more produce, export it
and have profit but also because the production will have a dramatic
impact on inflation. And this is a significant factor.

We have agreed with the Prime Minister that he will be pursuing this
issue personally until fall. In fall, we will come together with
the Prime Minister and, of course, the Minister of Agriculture and
review the results. I trust, at that time we will be able to talk
more precisely about the conducted works and about certain results
in the context of the entire year.

Just like other meetings, our todays meeting is attended by the
Chairman of the State Revenue Committee. I believe, in his remarks Mr.

Khatchatrian will also touch upon the reforms which are being
implemented in the structure today and speak about the problems that
exist in the area you represent. As I have already noted, these changes
are aimed at the regulation of the field, are aimed at freeing you
from unnecessary red tape so that you spend less time in arranging
your relations with the Committee and spend your valuable time for
producing more goods, President Sargsyan said at the meeting with
the leaders of the major processing companies.

Afterwards, the participants of the meeting discussed with the
President of Armenia problems existing in the area which impede its
development. They also made proposals to address them.

Before the meeting, at Yerevan Beer Ltd President Serzh Sargsyan
familiarized with the working process at the factory and its
development programs, toured the agricultural produce storing,
processing and juice producing units.

BROADCASTERS SUBMIT APPEAL TO EBU

oikotimes.com

May 12 2011

Armenia’s representative at Eurovision 2011 song contest and other
four participants filed an appeal to the European broadcasters
noting that semi-final was not well broadcasted in some European
states and they failed to send messages. Armenian representative’s
manager told Armenian Newsthat the Armenian delegation will receive
a response tonight. He also said that the problem was widely covered
by German media.

As Armenian News reported earlier, Armenia’s representative at
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Emmy did not qualify for the Grand Final.

The First Semi-Final of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest took place
in the Dusseldorf Arena, with 10 out of 19 countries qualifying for
the Grand Final. Armenia has been participating in a song contest
since 2006.

TURKEY’S LAST ARMENIAN VILLAGE

Southeast European Times
May 12 2011

By Alexander Christie-Miller for Southeast European Times in Vakifli
— 12/05/11

On the surface, it’s hard to see why anyone would leave Vakifli.

Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, the village is a peaceful,
idyllic spot, its clean Mediterranean air infused with the scent of
orange blossom.

But its 135 inhabitants have a special reason to keep their tiny
community alive: theirs is the last Armenian village in Turkey to
survive the devastating massacres during World War One in which as
many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

As with many other villages across Turkey, the decline of income from
agriculture coupled with the temptations of urban life mean Vakifli
is inexorably shrinking.

“We are very few, and we are getting old,” said Berc Kartun, the
village’s mayor. “All the young people leave. Young people finish
university and now they’re looking for something else to do.”

Vakifli owes its unique survival to a mixture of bravery and luck. In
1915, the Ottoman Empire’s ‘Young Turks’ government ordered that all
Armenians in Turkey be deported to the Syrian desert.

For most, this was a death sentence, and the inhabitants of Vakifli
and five other villages in Hatay province that now lie by the Syrian
border armed themselves and took to the mountains.

Around 5,000 people held out for 53 days on the summit of Musa Dagh,
which overlooks Vakifli, resisting Ottoman forces’ attempts to
dislodge them.

Running low on food, they caught the attention of a passing French
warship by hoisting a banner, and were rescued and taken to Allied
refugee camps before returning at the end of the war when Hatay was
under French mandate.

When the province returned to Turkish rule in 1939, five of the
villages opted to migrate to Lebanon, with only Vakifli remaining.

“We’re proud of this history,” said Panos Capar, a 79-year-old orange
farmer. “We fought in the past, and now everybody has to accept us.”

Now they are fighting again. Over the past 15 years the population
declined from around 180 people to its present number, with many
moving to Istanbul.

It is a picture reflected across Turkey. In 1990, about half the
country’s population was classified as rural, but this figure had
dropped to just below 32% by 2008.

Oranges are Vakifli’s main crop, and in 2004 a co-operative was
established. All producers in the village agreed to start growing
organically to try to boost profits. A small village stall sells
locally produced wine, liquors, preserves and soap to a steady trickle
of tourists.

“I think we will survive,” said Capar. “Young people are planning to
make investments here to attract tourists — a restaurant and other
things — but it’s step by step and it won’t happen at once.”

Vakifli’s residents bear the added burden of living in a country
deeply uneasy with its religious and ethnic heritage. Starting in
1915, the large Armenian minority in Anatolia was massacred and almost
entirely driven out.

More than 20 countries recognise the killings as genocide, but Turkey
fiercely disputes the label, saying many Turks were also killed and
there was no intention to exterminate the Armenians.

Related ArticlesLoading”The culture of the new Turkish state was
based on the denial of diversity,” said Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a lawyer
and prominent human rights activist.

“They were trying to create a homogenous society, which didn’t reflect
the reality of Anatolia… Because Turkey has never confronted its
past we haven’t been able to get rid of racist tendencies.”

But in Hatay, which has a rich ethnic mix of Arabs, Turks, Alawi
Muslims, and different Christian denominations, Vakifli’s residents
say they feel at home.

“In Hatay there are many ethnicities and we have been living here a
long time,” said Cem Capar, a 33-year-old veterinarian who was born
in Vakifli but now lives in the nearby town of Samandag.

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com.

CRITICIZING EMMY FOR EUROVISION IS BETRAYAL – ARMENIAN SINGER

news.am

May 12 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian singer Emmy’s failure at Eurovision 2011 was due
to poor performance of another singer who performed as back vocal,
said Armenian singer Shushan Petrosyan.

Petrosyan considers that criticism over Emmy is nothing but betrayal,
as she performed well.

“I cannot understand how one can criticize clothes, hair and such
things. That attitude is a betrayal. What do you want, the girl is
just 22,” she emphasized (Emmy was born in 1984, she is 27 – ed.).

Shushan Petrosyan stressed she advised Emmy not to participate in
the contest. She also commented on performance of Eurovision 2010
Armenian delegate, singer Eva Rivas. Petrosyan compared Rivas with
bubble gum from overseas.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Armenia’s representative at
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Emmy did not qualify for the Grand Final.