Author: Kanayan Tamar

JANUARY-JUNE DATA ON ARMENIAN CITIZENS TRAVELING TO TURKEY

August 08, 2013 | 00:04

ANKARA. – A total of 26,569 citizens of Armenia headed to Turkey from
January to June 2013.

The number of Armenian citizens that visited Turkey between these
months grew by 3.6 percent-or by 921 people-as compared to the same
time period in the year past, Armenian News-NEWS.am ascertained from
Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.

A total of 6,068 citizens of Armenia visited Turkey in June alone,
which is 2.64-percent more than the same time period last year. A
total of 5,912 citizens of Armenia had visited Turkey in June 2012.

To note, a total of 70,956 Armenian citizens had traveled to Turkey
in 2012.

“TONATSUYTS” FOLK THEATER TO PARTICIPATE IN ITALIAN FESTIVAL

17:33, 8 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS: “Tonatsuyts” Folk Music Theater will
participate in the international festival “Folklore for peace” to
be held in the cities of Alatri and Norma, Italy. As reported by
Armenpress, the Head of the theater Hasmik Baghramyan noted that in
Italy the theater will present Armenian songs and dances.

“Tonatsuyts” Folk Music Theatre was founded in 2007 with a goal of
revival and dignified presentation of the Armenian early music and
traditional festivals to the world. The concerts are provided on
weekly bases and are opened to everyone, who is ready to not only
enjoy the music, but also actively participate in it.

“Tonatsuyts” Folk Music Theatre participated in numerous festivals
and concerts. During one of them, the Italian tourney, they presented
“Armenia on the crossroads of peace” project, which was successfully
adopted by the annual conference in Atina, on August 7, 2011 and was
included into “Folklore per la pace” program.

In 2010, During “Natale in sieme” international folk festival the
group successfully presented its “Avetis” program, devoted to the
celebration of the revived Armenian Christmas songs and rituals
to the Italian society, thus contributing to the promotion of the
Italian-Armenian cultural exchange projects.

In 2009, together with IFAM Studio, the theater produced the “Avetis”
documentary film. In 2008 being recognized and sponsored by the
Ministry of Culture, “Tonatsuyts” performed the recreated festivals
of the Armenian New Year. Since 2007, the theatre has created numerous
concert program, upgraded its costumes and decorations.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO FACILITATE IRAQI CITIZENS’ ENTRY TO ARMENIA

16:10 08/08/2013 ” SOCIETY

The Armenian government extended by one year the validity of the
decision on granting RA passports to citizens of Lebanon and Syria
at RA diplomatic missions and consulates.

Also, in his remarks at the cabinet meeting, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan said that it is necessary that the Armenian Foreign
Ministry discuss the issue of granting visas to Iraqi citizens and
present the respective proposal.

“There is a huge tourism potential in Iraq and therefore we need to
facilitate Iraqi citizens’ entry to Armenia. We should discuss with
the Civil Aviation Department the operation of direct flights. We will
discuss this issue with the ministers in one week,” Mr Sargsyan said.

Source: Panorama.am

LIDUSHIK TO SING WITH TAMARA GVERDTSITELI IN CRIMEA

14:48, 8 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Popular young singer Lidushik (Lida
Arakelyan), who introduced Armenia in “Junior New Wave” contest in
2011, will perform a duet with prominent singer Tamara Gverdtsiteli
at Crimea’s “Artek” Concert Hall within the framework of “Junior New
Wave 2013” song contest. In a conversation with “Armenpress” Lidushik
stated that she and Tamara Gverdtsiteli will perform “Mom’s Eyes”
song. The song received confirmation on August 8.

The nine-year-old Elina Cholakhyan, representing the Republic of
Armenia at the international contest of young singers of popular music
New Wave Junior 2013, left for Simferopol on August 7 at night with
her mother. From there the Armenian delegate will leave for the Crimea,
where the final selection of the songs will be held on August 18-20.

“Notwithstanding the fact that Elina is very excited, she is ready
to represent Armenia at the contest and is leaving in a good mood”,
– said Marina, Elina’s mother, to the Armenpress correspondent.

Aguilera’s song “Hurt” and Niloo’s “Ola-Ola” were selected as an
international hit, but Elina prefers the Aguilera’s song.

On the second day of the contest the delegate of our country will
perform the song “Return” from the repertoire of Varduhi Vardanyan.

In the New Wave Junior 2012 the Armenian representative Sona
Gyulkhasyan took the second prize.

The Armenian delegation will visit the Crimea on August 11. The
broadcast right in Armenia belongs to the Armenia TV Company.

In 2008-2009 New Wave Junior was carried in Moscow “Cosmos”. In
April 2010 a Memorandum of holding the contest under the patronage
of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich at the International
Children’s Center “Artek” was signed. In 2011 the Organizing Committee
of the contest decided to change age category of the participants,
that is, from 8 to 13 years. In 2012 New Wave Junior celebrated its
fifth birthday.

Every year, more than 7,000 children and adults from around the world
come to the International Children’s Center “Artek” to the contest
New Wave Junior. The International contest of young singers of popular
music New Wave Junior has an extensive regional program.

Selection rounds are held in all the federal districts of Russia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine,
Estonia, Finland, China and many other regions.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST PAID PARKING INEVITABLE IN ARMENIA – OPINIONS (VIDEO)

13:38 08.08.13

The Yerevan City Hall’s decision to introduce fees for car parking
has raised a wave of protest among both drivers and civic activist,
as well as political figures.

Activists are preparing for a civil disobedience campaign to which
the drivers express support.

It is now several days the plan is being actively discussed in
Yerevan’s Mashtots Park. Ani Kaghinyan, an activist speaking to our
correspondent, said their efforts will succeed in case drivers are
willing to join the campaign. “It is our sidewalk, and belongs to the
Yerevan residents. So no company has a right to earn money on that,”
she said, considering a public revolt inevitable.

The new procedure will be effective beginning September. No fees will
be charged from drivers who park cars for less than five minutes.

Under the new rules, the payment will be made without cash. Drivers
can also opt for short message texting services.

Addressing the problem, the former presidential candidate Andrias
Ghukasyan said he considers civil disobedience absolutely possible.

“We see the society does not find the decision legitimate; people
have no idea of what service they get in return,” he said.

Styopa Safaryan, a member of the opposition Barev Yerevan (Hello
Yerevan) bloc, said those disputing the measure have to do everything
within their power to prove their standpoint. “I cannot express
disobedience; if there are people who do, it is their right,” he said.

Safaryan, who is a secretary of the opposition Heritage party,
didn’t rule out the possibility of a civic campaign either. “We have
received several acts for fines. If they announce now that they will
be effective beginning September, for example, that won’t leave the
citizens satisfied either,” he added.

The politician noted that an earlier protest in front of the
municipality saw each driver holding over 40 acts. “If we see people
complaining every day, then it is time to make calls for refusing to
pay,” he said, promising support to the people.

All the drivers speaking to Tert.am expressed willingness to protest
the new measure. Some were concerned, however, that they will be fined
and face tough sanctions, but they too promised to join the campaign
in case there is a unanimous decision.

“I never park my car at those stations; this is how I express my
protest,” an elderly driver told our correspondent.

ARMENIAN RULING PARTY PRESENTS ITS CANDIDATE FOR VACANT MP SEAT

August 07, 2013 | 19:26

YEREVAN. – Former Kapan mayor Armen Karapetyan will be nominated
as a candidate of the ruling party in Election District No. 38 of
Syunik Region.

The regional council of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) made a
decision during the meeting held on Wednesday, former Syunik Governor
Suren Khachatryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

His nomination will be confirmed by the RPA executive body.

The MP seat from Election District No. 38 remained vacant when Vahe
Hakobyan, who was elected into the parliament from this district,
was appointed Syunik Governor on July 11.

The early parliamentary elections at Election District No. 38 will
be conducted on September 29.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT EXTENDS TENURE OF HEAD OF ARMENIAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF

August 07, 2013 | 17:06

YEREVAN. – With a decree by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan,
the tenure of Yuri Khachaturov, Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces
General Staff, is extended.

“Guided by the Constitution of Armenia, [and] based on Armenia’s law
on Military service, I hereby decide:

“To extent, from July 30, 2013 to May 1, 2017, the military service
of the Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff, Colonel
General Yuri Khachaturov,” reads the President’s respective decree,
informs the Presidential Press Office of Armenia.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

DAVID BABAYAN: AZERBAIJAN IS RULED BY MADMEN

16:48 07/08/2013 ” REGION

Azerbaijan’s steps are absolutely beyond logic because it is impossible
to imagine how a state could publish a list of personae non gratae
including world renowned people, head of Artsakh President’s press
office David Babayan told Panorama.am in an interview.

The Azeri Foreign Ministry has published a list of people declared
personae non gratae over visits to Nagorno Karabakh. The list includes,
among others, 14 deputies of the Russian parliament, 14 members of
the French parliament, eight deputies of the European Parliament,
five reporters from the German ZDF television station, deputies of the
Iranian, Slovakian, and Argentinean parliaments, Russian economist
Victor Sheinis, member of the UK’s House of Lords Baroness Caroline
Cox, Russian political scientist Sergey Marcedonov, director of
the Institute of CIS Countries Konstantin Zatulin, reporter for the
Washington Post in Moscow Will Englund, Reporter for the New York Times
Anastasia Taylor Wint, popular opera singer Montserrat Caballe, and
former EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

“That list very much resembles the lists published in Nazi Germany
including the names of those who were considered enemies of Fascism.

Azerbaijan is ruled by madmen, so it’s useless to comment on their
moves,” Babayan said.

“Perhaps Aliyev believes that by publishing such lists, he will prove
his strength, but actually it has absolutely different effect.

Artsakh’s international repute is growing, which obviously angers
Azerbaijan. To say it simply, Azerbaijan builds nothing else but
Fascism,” he concluded.

Related: Azerbaijan announces list of personae non gratae

Source: Panorama.am

YEREVAN GOT RID OF CHIEF ARCHITECT WITH MEGALOMANIA

Interview with Sarhat Petrosyan, architect

Sarhat, yesterday it became known that Tigran Barseghyan accepted the
offer to take on the position of chief architect of Yerevan. Do you
think it is related to public pressure, TI’s statement or was Narek
Sargsyan found to be the best candidate for head of the Architectural
Committee?

It is hard to make evaluations before official information comes.

However, if it is true, it deserves only a positive evaluation. In
fact, with the appointment of Tigran Barseghyan as chief architect
Yerevan gets rid of the chief architect with megalomania. This
appointment is also important because over the past 15 years Yerevan
has not had a chief architect with experience in design. It will
help treat the lack of confidence in this institution. I am saying
this though I think it is time to eliminate this position altogether
because it is anachronism.

As to the new position created for Narek Sargsyan, like the institution
of the chief architect, it fully fits his regressive and authoritarian
style, and I can imagine what efforts have been made to achieve such an
illogical decision that to some extent is not in line with the spirit
and concept of the Constitution and legislation of Armenia. And if the
same controversial personality is appointed head of an institution
which theoretically has a higher status and a national level, it
means that public pressure and the ongoing investigation helped his
professional growth…

Should we expect essential changes in Yerevan? You have stated that
the junta of architects is awarded most contracts.

As I said it is early to consider the new appointment and make
evaluations. However, this decision will appease tension relating
to the City Hall and resume the dialogue betweenYerevan people and
professionals. I hope the notorious junta of architects will not be
able to affect the new urban policy and it will be more transparent
and understandable and, most importantly, professionalism will be in
the first place.

What concerns and expectations do you have from the Committee?

I think either the people who promoted the idea of the committee
did not read my proposal till the end or did not understand it
because it contained some key recommendations that are mandatory
for implementation of this idea. As I said, the entire conversation
is about urban planning, not architecture, because the ongoing
professional processes and the Armenian legislation are not related to
architectural activities. Such a reform that repeats the soviet time
State Building and involves the person to blame for the outrageous
urban planning of the past 15 years and his team will be another waste
of taxpayer money, and what is more important, the sector will be
further concentrated in the hands of the junta. Let’s not rush though
and wait to see what functions the committee will perform. Personally,
I have no hopes that our problems will be solved if not get worse…

Siranuysh Papyan 16:52 07/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARMENIA’S LAW ON GENDER EQUALITY HAS INACCURACIES – NEWSPAPER

August 08, 2013 | 06:48

YEREVAN. – A provision-where the term “gender” was considered
an acquired conduct-in Armenia’s Law on Equal Rights and Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men has raised a lot of uproar in the
social networks, Hraparak daily reports.

“The interesting thing is that [non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia
Party] PAP MP Naira Zohrabyan made the initiative to correct this
error.

“In the meantime, the law is a joint proposal by the [coalition
government’s junior partner, Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party] RLP
[National Assembly (NA)] Faction and former Labor and Social Affairs
Minister, PAP member Arthur Grigoryan, [and] it was passed in the
parliament and voted on by the same PAP.

“Besides the fact that the PAP member likewise has had a contribution
in this term, the law was at the NA since 2011 and it passed three
[NA] discussions, but no one opposed to this term,” Hraparak writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am