Author: Kanayan Tamar

MINING CONTROVERSY: EXPLOITATION POSES THREAT TO JERMUK, ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN

News | 08.10.13 | 17:14

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, responding to Jermuk residents’
letter of concerns, said that if Amulsar open gold mining project
causes environmental damage, it won’t be carried out.

Amulsar Mountain, 170 kilometers southeast of Yerevan, is on the border
of Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces, where 248 plant species grow,
six among them are in the Red Book of Armenia. The fauna includes 60
species of mammals, 12 species of reptiles, two species of amphibians,
and five fish species. Environmentalists warn that all of it will be
lost should the mine be exploited.

The Amulsar project implementer is Geoteam LLC, its 100 percent shares
belonging to British Lydian International Limited, registered in a
Channel Island offshore account.

Ecolur NGO leader Inga Zarafyan says there are two water reservoirs
near Amulsar – Ketchout and Spandaryan (2 km from the mountain),
which is the country’s second biggest reservoir with 257 million
cubic meter capacity.

“We believe it poses a serious threat to Jermuk resort town and its
more than 6,000 population, because it is only 12 km away from the
peak of Amulsar,” says Zarafyan.

The law on Lake Sevan prohibits any activities in the area that could
be damaging for its ecosystem.

According to Artur Grigoryan, member of Teghut Protection Civil
Initiative, on July 18, 2013, the government adopted a decree,
clarifying the concept of Sevan water basin, and the segment of
Amulsar to be exploited as a mine falls under the area of direct
impact, where any damaging activities are prohibited.

Environmentalists say the open gold mining would generate lead, which
affects the nervous and circulatory systems in humans leading to high
mortality rates in the given area, and can also cause mal-development;
cyanides could cause severe respiratory damage as fine dust spreads
by 30 km, accumulates on plants, and through food chain reaches humans.

Geologist Ruben Yadoyan says there is no mine that could be exploited
without affecting the environment, regardless of how well-guided they
are by the international standards. He says Jermuk is a very delicate
juncture of six-seven mines, which can shift its course should there
be a slight shake.

Geoteam company told RFE/RL that the company spent 3 years, 3 months
and around $3 million on the social and environmental impact assessment
of exploiting Amulsar gold. The environmental expertise has been
completed and will be available after its translation into Armenian.

Speaking about British investments in Armenia British Ambassador
in Armenia Jonathan Aves said they would like it if more British
companies invested in Armenia.

“Lydian International leads the list of companies working with us and
encouraging investment here. It is a common knowledge that they are
planning to exploit the Amulsar gold mine. We believe the project will
be very profitable for Armenia,” said the British diplomat. “The
project implementation would not only create new employment
chances and spur the growth of tax revenues of the state budget,
but also demonstrate to western investors that companies meeting the
international standards can successfully operate in Armenia.”

Jermuk, one of Armenia’s landmarks, is an international resort. The
basin where healing mineral waters originate, enjoys a status of a
hydrological preserve and is among the areas under special protection
in Armenia. Investments are made in Jermuk to develop tourism, as
well as the network of mineral water resorts.

ARMENIAN CHURCH READY TO ANNOUNCE SAINTS: BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANYAN

12:13, 8 October, 2013

ETCHMIADZIN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS: During the Bishops Synod of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, held recently at the Gevorkyan Seminary
Events Center Auditorium, the attendants touched upon different
issues and challenges of the Armenian Church. One of the reporters
on the modern challenges was Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who agreed to
highlight the works of the Bishops Synod.

– Mr. Galstanyan, which are the issues covered by the Bishops Synod?

– The Bishops Synod of the Armenian Apostolic Church discussed mainly
two important issues – the ritual procedure of the baptism board and
the re-establishment of the tradition of canonization in the Holy
Armenian Apostolic Church. Then we discussed the current challenges
concerning our nation, towards which the Church should have certain
attitude and make steps.

I think that the Synod was historical, taking into account the
re-establishment of the tradition of canonization. It has been for
already 500 years that our Church has not announce saints and now
this sacred tradition will be restored. I and, I am certain, my
spiritual brothers, feel that responsibility, honor and blessing to
be the happy generation and the carriers of our Holy Church’s life
and blood continuity. (THE FULL INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

GARRY KASPAROV ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR FIDE PRESIDENT

09:20 ~U 08.10.13

On Monday night in Tallinn (Estonia) Garry Kasparov announced his
candidacy for the 2014 FIDE Presidential Elections.

The 13th World Champion aims to “revitalize FIDE with a focus on
serving the national federations and raising the commercial profile
of chess worldwide,” Chessvibes.com reported. Among Kasparov’s team
members are the current FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong, and
chess maecenas Rex Sinquefield of St Louis.

Garry Kasparov announced his candidacy for FIDE President on Monday
night at a special reception in the ballroom of the Swissôtel Tallinn,
in Estonia’s capital, where the 84th FIDE Congress is currently taking
place. In front of over a hundred delegates and (FIDE) officials,
Kasparov proudly presented his team which consists of members from
the USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

ARMENIAN OLYMPIC CHAMPION DECLARED BEST COACH IN BULGARIA

17:36 ~U 08.10.13

Armen Nazaryan, the Armenian Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling,
has won the Best Coach title in Bulgaria.

He was honored with an award in capital Sofia on Tuesday together
with a trainee, Ivo Angelov, who has been declared a champion in a
wrestling competition in the 60kg weight class.

Since Armenia’s gaining independence, Nazaryan appears to be the
only Armenian champion who moved to Bulgaria in the late 1990s to
successfully continue his career as a representative of that country.

MEXICAN AMBASSADOR HANDS HIS CREDENTIALS OVER TO ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

14:52, 8 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The newly appointed Ambassador of
the United Mexican States to the Republic of Armenia Ruben Alberto
Beltran Guerrero handed his credentials over to the President of the
Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

The Mass Media and Public Relations Department of the President’s
Office informed “Armenpress” that President Serzh Sargsyan
congratulated the Ambassador and stated that he is hopeful that the
newly appointed Ambassador will spare no effort for the development and
strengthening of the interstate relations between the two friendly
countries. The sides laid a heavy emphasis on the significance
of regular mutual visits and active ties on various levels in the
bilateral and multilateral formats as well.

Among other things the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan underscored that Armenia wants to develop relations with
Mexico and the intention to establish resident Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia to Mexico is t prove that.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

ONE OF SIX DEFENDANTS IN HARSNAQAR CASE PLEADS GUILTY

by Nana Martirosyan

ARMINFO
Tuesday, October 8, 17:50

One of the six defendants in the Harsnaqar case Norayr Hayrapetyan
has pleaded guilty.

He said that he is tormented by pangs of conscience and is tired to
lie. “Vahe Avetyan swore at me and I hit him. I was beating him alone.

Perhaps I gave him a fatal injury. I couldn’t imagine that his
condition was bad or I would’ve taken him to hospital. He wasn’t
answering my questions, he was just groaning,” Hayrapetyan said.

On Sept 10 prosecutor Artur Davtyan demand that the defendants in
the Harsnaqar case be sentenced to 13 years in jail and a 100,000
AMD fine each.

Norayr Hayrapetyan, Arman Khachatryan, Garik Margaryan, Arman
Baghdasaryan, David Adamyan and Artur Babloyan (some of them were
bodyguards of MP Ruben Hayrapetyan) beat to death military doctor
Vahe Avetyan in Hayrapetyan’s Harsnaqar restaurant on June 17 2012
just because Avetyan was not properly dressed and dared to joke.

ARMENIA LAUNCHES PROJECT TOWARD FIBER PRODUCTION FROM BASALT

October 08, 2013 | 14:06

YEREVAN. – A program has been developed in Armenia toward starting
fiber production from basalt raw materials.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan noted the
abovementioned during Tuesday’s National Assembly hearings devoted
to the country’s mining industry.

In his words, such fibers are widely used in economy toward replacing
metals.

The world’s leading Chinese companies are engaged in this project. It
is planned to build a respective Armenian-Chinese joint enterprise,
but the technological chain is not fully developed.

Movsisyan informed that the aforesaid joint venture will manufacture
pipes, fittings, etc.

Armenia’s market, however, is very small, and this has caused caution
among private investors, since additional logistics costs arise in
the case of exports.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

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TALYSH INTELLECTUAL: AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES KILL TALYSHS TO SILENCE VOICES OF PROTEST

18:48 08/10/2013 ” SOCIETY

“The security forces of Azerbaijan strictly controls the Talysh,”
Fanous Talysh writer Allahverdi Bayrami has stated in the Iranian
arannews.ir site.

The Talysh intellectual has touched upon the Azerbaijani elections in
the exclusive interview given to Iranian Talysh radio and has stated,
“Most of the Talysh of Azerbaijan supports the candidate of the
oppositionist party of National Council, but the question is whether
the ruling power will allow to take the votes given to Jamil Hasanly
out of the ballot boxes.”

Allahverdi Bayrami has touched upon the Talysh problems and has added,
“Unfortunately the fact of Azerbaijan being a non-democratic country
does not allow the opposition to voice its protest; the Azerbaijani
security forces strictly control the Talysh. If the Talysh speak of
their problems then the authorities will arrest or kill them thus
creating an atmosphere of fear in order to silence the others.”

Ali Akram Hummatov, who was President of the Talysh-Mughan Republic
(1993), had arrived at Yerevan State University (YSU).

At the presentation ceremony of a master’s program “Talysh Studies”
developed by the YSU Sub-department of Iranian Studies, the leader of
the Talysh national movement made a speech, in which he discussed
the problems of the Talyshs in Azerbaijan. “In Azerbaijan, the
Talyshs are deprived of basic rights. We are not respected; we are
being extirpated, with a policy of assimilation being implemented
against us. They at the same time declare that we are brothers. This
is illogical.

We want to write and read in the mother tongue. In response to our
demands, they (the Azerbaijani authorities) openly say,” You, the
Talyshs, have no future, you must be assimilated”, Hummatov said.

Speaking about the possibility of declaration of an independent
state by the Talyshs, the national figure said: “We were mistaken. We
didn’t realize certain things. We considered Azerbaijan our homeland
and were even prepared to give up our lives for it, but the homeland
should also defend us with might and main, and if it refuses to do it,
then we have our homeland and we will build our homeland – Talyshstan”.

“Our youths already have self-consciousness. No one can stop us
anymore. We will speak in Talysh and struggle for our independence,”
Hummatov stated.

“Studies of the Talysh language, culture and history to be conducted
by the YSU Sub-Department of Iranian Studies are extremely important
in terms of raising awareness of the Talysh people,” Hummatov said,
adding that thanks to programs broadcast by The Voice of Talyshstan
radio station from Artsakh, many Talyshs, including Hummatov himself,
began to learn Talysh.

The Head of the YSU Sub-Department of Iranian Studies Prof. Garnik
Asatrian made a speech, discussing the problems of Talysh studies. In
his words, much work has been done in recent years in order to promote
Talysh studies: two conferences of experts in Talysh studies were
held in 2005 and 2011, a number of books about the history and culture
of the Talysh people have been released, and The Voice of Talyshstan
radio station was launched in 2013.

During his visit to Armenia Ali Akram Hummatov has expressed wish
to visit Artsakh where he had had a meeting with the NKR NA Speaker
Ashot Ghulyan and NKR FM Karen Mirzoyan.

The Talysh politician has answered to the question posed by a
journalist during the interview given to Artsakh Public TV, whether
the Talysh will fight again in case if war occurs, “God forbid! I
don’t want the Talysh to be engaged in that war. I call on them from
here. It will not be our war. We do not need it. I also call on the
other peoples. Why to endanger our life given by God in a war, which
will bring us nothing?”

Source: Panorama.am

PAPER CHIEF EDITOR URGES LEGAL STATUS FOR ISTANBUL’S ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE

October 8, 2013 – 16:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The much-anticipated democratization package unveiled
by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has raised the hopes
of non-Muslim groups; however, some community members have underlined
the need for more focused solutions for their decades-old concerns,
Today’s Zaman said.

“The democratization package includes promising reforms and has
paved the way for more steps to be taken regarding our problems; yet,
the existing points are insufficient to address our main concerns,”
said Ara Kochunyan, editor-in-chief of the Zhamanak newspaper, an
Armenian weekly.

Commenting on the content of the package to Today’s Zaman, Kochunyan
stated the main demand of the Armenian community is the provision
of a legal status for the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul. “The
democratization package does not offer a specific solution to our
problem. However, we attach importance to the continuation of the
pro-democratization environment created within the last 10 years,”
noted Kochunyan.

In late September, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan
unveiled a long-anticipated package of reforms designed “to strengthen
democracy and keep on track a fragile settlement process” to end the
conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according
to Today’s Zaman.

He said the reform package is a critical step to stop bloodshed
in Turkey.

The most important reforms include removing restrictions of wearing
Islamic headscraves, possibility of education in mother tongue,
restoration of original names of villages, districts and provinces that
existed before 1980, sweeping changes in law on political parties,
possibility of lowering 10 percent electoral threshold in entering
Parliament, improving assembly freedom and other small rights for
religious and ethnic minorities.

Other changes were related to law on political parties. Erdoðan said
parties who exceed 3 percent of votes in general elections will get
necessary state funding. According to Turkish law, parties need to
receive at least seven percent to be eligible for state funding.

Moreover, the reforms bring more freedom for citizens to become party
members. Erdoðan said the package envisages lifting obstacles that
restrict citizens to become members of political parties.

Another drastic and much-expected reform is education in schools in
another language. The reforms will make it possible for students to
receive education in their mother tongue in educational facilities.

The schools will able to deliver education in languages besides the
official Turkish language, the prime minister said.

YEREVAN AIRPORT’S ROUND BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED? – NEWSPAPER

October 08, 2013 | 08:15

YEREVAN. – One of Armenia’s best architectural structures, which
was bestowed an award in Paris, will soon be demolished, Zhoghovurd
daily reports.

“This refers to the round building of [capital city Yerevan’s]
Zvartnots [International] Airport.

“Company proprietor, Argentinean-Armenian [businessman] Eduardo
Eurnekian plans to demolish this structure, which was considered an
object of pride for Armenia’s residents. In his view, the building
is not operational in terms of safety.

“In the meantime, Nagorno-Karabakh [Republic General] Department of
Civil Aviation Head Dmitri Adbashyan strongly opposes the demolishing
of the round building.

‘”Why should anything old be demolished? They can use this building
for our people, [and] the passengers. There are specialists; you need
to speak with them, to discuss as what is the time-worn percentage
of the building, and whether it should be demolished, or just be
strengthened and repaired,'” Zhoghovurd writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

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