Author: Kanayan Tamar

Alarm Signal: Construction waste dumped into Hrazdan River (video)

16:04 | September 5,2014 | Social

A construction company in Armenia has turned the Hrazdan River into a
dumping-ground for the disposal of construction waste.

“They are ruining the river bed, and the trees and the environment,”
EcoLur raises an alarm signal on its Facebook page.

Environmentalists wonder whether the Ministry of Nature Protection is
not aware of the situation in the river.

California Senate’s support is a significant event in the history of NKR

September 4 2014

According to Karabakh public figures, the California Senate’s decision
may promote the recognition of NKR by other American states. What
impact may the resolution passed by Californian Senate have on the
international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process? The discussion of this
question is underway since last week. “Aravot” asked the former NKR
deputy foreign minister, also Chairman of Public Council for NKR
Foreign Policy and Security, Masis Mayilyan, whether on the threshold
of the 23th anniversary of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, the
resolution passed by the California Senate regarding recognition of
the independence of Karabakh can be considered a signal aimed at
Azerbaijani authorities, towards whom the sentiments is becoming more
and more rigid associated with serious processes against the democracy
in this country. “California Senate’s decision tends to assess in the
overall progress as a recognition of Karabakh and approval of the
right of Artsakh people to self-determination by the legislative
bodies of the United States. As you know, California is already the
fifth state that passes the resolution about Artsakh. It is noteworthy
that California is one of the most influential entities in the United
States of America, and has the most developed economy. From this
perspective, the California Senate’s decision may promote the
recognition of NKR by other states of America. In addition, given
decision opens up great opportunities direct comprehensive cooperation
between Artsakh and the State of California,” mentioned Masis
Mayilyan. As for the influence of the resolution on recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence by the California Senate on settlement
of Artsakh conflict, the former NKR deputy foreign minister said that
still in 2007, they had offered to put the for the
Karabakh settlement into operation. “In other words, to conduct an
active and targeted work on international recognition of NKR parallel
to the process of the OSCE Minsk Group talks. And on April of 2010,
the Public Council for NKR Foreign Policy and Security applied to
Diaspora Armenian traditional parties and lobbying organizations
urging to come up with a process aimed at international recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I think that the progress in this direction
will facilitate the peaceful settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh
interstate conflict,” said Masis Mayilyan. Karen Ohanjanyan,
Coordinator of the Nagorno-Karabakh Committee “Helsinki
Initiative-92”, also Chairman of “Social Justice” political party, in
the conversation with “Aravot”, assessing the California Senate’s
resolution on recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,
mentioned, “The assistance to the efforts of Karabakh expressed by the
California State Senate towards establishment of a free and
independent state, in my opinion, is a more significant event in the
modern history of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh after the victory
in the war with Azerbaijan, for the ideas of self-declaration, freedom
and independence of Karabakh people. There are a number of factors
that have predetermined the adoption of such resolution on Karabakh by
supreme legislative body of the California state, and it is first of
all proportional with the work of the Armenian diaspora and Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry, but never with Nagorno-Karabakh and Karabakh
authorities who are not associated with the adoption of such
resolution in terms of the efforts for recognition of NKR
internationally.” According to Karen Ohanjanyan, the next factor is
associated with Azerbaijan. “Recently, the authoritarian regime in
Azerbaijan has started major attacks against the democratic
institutions of the country arresting a number of prominent civil
society leaders, which cannot cause a major concern to the
international community who are supports of ideas of freedom and
democracy, and finally, the recent close relations of Azerbaijan with
Russia causes an immense strategic and practical harm to the
geopolitical interests of the United States, and this risk affects the
European consumers for diversification of energy sources and
opportunities for Azerbaijan’s communication, which are used by the
United States and Europe for their political purposes,” mentioned the
Karabakh-originated human rights activist. Karen Ohanjanyan thinks
that with recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh by the
largest state of America, the U.S. has sent a clear message to
Azerbaijan and hinted on the reasons mentioned above. According to
Ohanjanyan, they “indirectly hope that Azerbaijan will understand the
reasons for such a move by the USA.” “At the same time, with regard to
recognition of the independence of NKR by different states, I’d like
to express a hope that like the NKR Foreign political ministry, so as
the current NKR leadership, will finally start working within the
format of commitments, which is granted to them by our people, and
like formerly, will start to become an outpost in negotiation process
on principles of Karabakh settlement, and will be able to one day de
jure formulate the historic victory of the Armenian nation,
internationally. In fact, not to forget to ultimately establish a
truly democratic state in Nagorno-Karabakh: on equality, freedom and
free economic grounds,” mentioned the Coordinator of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Committee “Helsinki Initiative-92”.

Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at:

New York City Street Named After Sergei Dovlatov

One of New york streets will be named after Russian writer Sergei Dovlatov

(c) RIA Novosti. Victor Melnik
16:07 05/09/2014

MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) — Sergei Dovlatov, a famous Russian
writer and Soviet dissident, will soon have a street named after him
in Forest Hills, New York City.

The organizers of the grass-roots campaign stated in their Change.org
appeal that they wanted “to commemorate Dovlatov’s legacy, to show
appreciation for his talent, and to express the enormous gratitude
from his readers.”

Their initiative started last December, and by April the group had
collected over 18,000 signatures and letters of support, which was
sufficient for the New York City Council to consider the application.
In June, the Council met and passed a bill to name a street after the
writer. On July 9, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed the bill into law. The
official opening ceremony will be held on September 7.

Dovlatov was born on September 3, 1941 in Russia to Jewish and
Armenian parents, grew up in St. Petersburg, and worked in a variety
of Russian and Estonian newspapers. He was friends with famous
dissident poets and writers, including Joseph Brodsky, Evgeni Rein and
Alexander Ney.

Dovlatov was expelled from the Union of Soviet Journalists for
publishing unauthorized literature. He soon immigrated to New York
City, where he wrote novels and short stories that were translated
into English. In the mid-1980s, The New Yorker magazine published
Dovlatov’s work, which resulted in him gaining notoriety and respect
among English-speaking readers.

His most famous books include non-fiction novels “The Zone”, “The
Suitcase” and “Sanctuary.”

Sergei Dovlatov is the first Russian writer to be honored with a
street named after him in New York City.

Austrian Foreign Minister due in Armenia

15:27 05.09.2014

Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs
Sebastian Kurz will pay an official visit to Armenia September 8-9 at
the invitation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Sebastian Kurz will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of the two countries will be followed by a joint press
conference.

Within the framework of the visit the Austrian Foreign Minister will
visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the
Armenian Genocide victims.

He will attend the opening of the Office of the Austrian Development
Agency in Yerevan.

“Armenia Expo 2014” trade and industrial exhibition opens in Yerevan

15:08 05.09.2014

“Armenia Expo 2014” 14th annual universal regional commercial and
industrial exhibition opened at “Yerevan-Expo” hall today. Greeting
the participants of the expo, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said: “I
see the organization of such exhibitions as the best platform for
establishing ties and presenting Armenia on the international economic
market.”

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of organization of
discussions parallel to the exhibition, which, he said, creates a
unique opportunity for local producers to establish new ties and set
the perspectives of cooperation. He voiced hope that the agreements
reached within the framework of the event would grow into long-term
and mutually beneficial business partnership.

The exhibition has brought together more than 70 local and foreign
companies, which represent Georgia, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Poland and
others.

Armenia’s industry output stood at 693.6 million drams in January-July

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. Armenia’s industrial output in the first
seven months of this year amounted to 693.6 billion drams, an increase
of 1.5% compared to the same period of 2013, the National Statistical
Service said today.

According to the statistics, processing industry accounted for about
64.6% of the total output, an increase of 5.8%, from the same time
span of 2013, worth more than 448.7 billion drams. The mining sector
slashed by 9.7% to 110.4 billion drams.

Supply of electricity, gas, steam and conditioned air in January-July
this year amounted to 124 billion drams, a decrease of 4.1%.

Supply of water, water treatment, waste water treatment and recycling
stood at over 10.46 billion drams, having increased by5.3% compared to
the same period of the year before. ($ 1 – 410.15 drams). -0–

Serviceman wounded in mine explosion in serious but stable condition

12:32 05/09/2014 >> SOCIETY

A contract soldier of Armenian Armed Forces was wounded in a mine
blast in Tavush province of Armenia, near the Armenian-Azerbaijani
border, on Thursday.

A spokesman for Armenian Defense Ministry told Panorama.am that the
47-year-old lieutenant is in a hospital in the city of Berd.

“Vardan Avagyan is in serious but stable condition,” Artsrun
Hovhannisyan said, adding that his condition is changing for the
better.

Vardan Avagyan is a resident of Norashen village in Tavush province.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIE
Les jeunes chercheurs abandonnent les emplois publics en raison de la
réforme des pensions

Des dizaines de jeunes spécialistes démissionnent des universités
d’Etat d’Arménie et des instituts de recherche afin d’être en mesure
de se retirer d’un régime de retraite national controversé présenté
par le gouvernement. Le nouveau système exige que les travailleurs nés
après 1973 versent pour leurs futures pensions des sommes équivalentes
à 10 pour cent de leur salaire brut à des fonds de pension privés
jusqu’à leur retraite. La réforme, initialement introduite en Janvier,
a rencontré une résistance farouche de la part de nombreux Arméniens
touchés, la plupart d’entre eux travaillent dans des firmes privées,
et a effectivement été bloqués par la Cour constitutionnelle en Avril.

Le gouvernement a réagi en modifiant la réforme des retraites
obligatoires que pour 65 000 d’employés du secteur public. Un projet
de loi approuvé par le parlement en Juin a permis aux gens travaillant
pour des entités privées de n’être touchés par le nouveau système qu’à
partir de Juillet 2017.

La grande majorité des salariés du secteur privé sont soupçonnés
d’avoir opté pour un report de trois ans. Mais ceux d’entre eux qui
ont aussi des emplois à temps partiel dans le secteur public se voient
refuser un tel choix, avec des autorités fiscales qui font des
déductions considérables de leurs salaires versés par les employeurs
privés.

Parmi eux sont de jeunes universitaires et scientifiques. Plusieurs
dizaines d’entre eux ont décidé de quitter les universités publiques
et les centres de recherche qui font partie de l’Académie nationale
des Sciences d’Arménie. Quatre de ces spécialistes avaient jusqu’à
présent enseigné au département de la microélectronique de
l’Université d’État d’ingénierie d’Arménie (SEUA), tout en ayant des
emplois bien rémunérés dans le secteur en plein essor des technologies
de l’information dans le pays. Le chef du département, Vahe Buniatian,
a admis lundi qu’il aura du mal à les remplacer par d’autres
enseignants qualifiés. Ara Simonian, le recteur de l’Université d’État
d’Erevan (UEE), a déclaré lundi qu’une douzaine de ses jeunes
professeurs également employées dans le secteur privé ont également
présenté leur démission. Il a dit que beaucoup d’autres sont prêts à
suivre le mouvement si les autorités ne parviennent pas à faire une
réforme pour eux avant la fin de cette année.

>.

Le recteur de l’UEE ne pouvait pas dire, cependant, quelle solution
concrète pourrait être proposée par le gouvernement.

> a
déclaré Tigran Grigorian, un jeune scientifique qui a quitté
l’Académie nationale des sciences. >.

vendredi 5 septembre 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

Chorrord Ishkhanutyun: French University urges staff to join party?

11:26 * 05.09.14

The paper says it has learned from sources that the French University
in Armenia forces all its employees to join the Rule of Law party with
absolutely no regard to the citizenship requirement enshrined in the
Law on Political Parties.

The move is said to be an attempt to make up for the flow from the
political force whose members’ numbers began decreasing sharply after
its leader, Arthur Baghdasaryan, resigned as the secretary of
Armenia’s National Security Council.

The paper cites Article 3 of the law, which says that a union allowing
membership of foreign citizens cannot be a political party. Hence, the
paper concludes, that Rule of Law has ceased to be a political party
after non-citizens of Armenia began to be registered as its
representatives.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 3 2014

Protraction of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict inadmissible, German MP says

3 September 2014, 20:44 (GMT+05:00)

By Sabina Ahmadova – Trend:

Protraction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
inadmissible, member of the German Bundestag (parliament), the head of
the Germany-South Caucasus parliamentary group, Karin Shtrents told
Trend.

She stressed that Germany supports the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the international law.

Shtrents added that another three members of the Bundestag will visit
Azerbaijan in coming days to discuss the prospects for cooperation, as
well as exchange views on the issues of mutual interest.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result
of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent
of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven
surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.