Author: Kanayan Tamar

REALITY AND NECESSITY

BY VACHE THOMASSIAN

Our groups’ time in Gyumri is quickly coming to an end, and before
we make our way to Shushi I want to reflect on the city of Gyumri
and its current condition. Gyumri is Armenia’s second largest city
and in a lot of ways it’s a microcosm of Armenia.

There exists governmental corruption, widespread poverty, and
infrastructural neglect. Sadly, remnants of the 1988 Spitak earthquake
can still be seen, from the collapsed steeple of — Sourp Amenaprgich
Church, to the countless families still living without running water
and electricity in domiks throughout the city. However, the city
also has incredible natural beauty, rich history, friendly people,
and a bright new generation, who are proud Gyumretsis.

During our time in Gyumri I conducted an extremely informal survey
amongst people in the city; kids, adults, really anyone I could have
a five minute conversation with. When I asked them about what they
saw as the city’s most important needs here were the most consistent
responses:

1. Roads- the roads in Gyumri are abhorrent. To a naïve eye, they
look almost impassable. To a local, it’s a norm that they have become
accustomed to ever since the 70’s/80’s when the last repaving took
place. Potholes, boulders, and pits exist where asphalt should,
especially in the residential areas, making it a journey to get
anywhere.

2. Street lights- the city has incredible architecture, and natural
beauty, but walking around in the evenings is difficult because most
street lights are non-functional or non-existent. The general gloom
leads the city to become a ghost town after dusk.

3. Trash disposal- just teaching kids in our camp that it’s not okay
to throw the wrappers of their sandwiches on the floor in the yard
of our school was an ordeal, especially when they routinely watch
trash just getting burned nearby. The idea of an organized trash
pickup that comes a certain day of the week and takes the trash to
a proper disposal area, along with public trash bins, doesn’t exist
and is the reason behind rampant littering.

It sounds really simple when it’s written down like this. It would
make perfect sense for the local government to invest in fixing the
roads in the city, which in turn would increase accessibility and
ease of transportation (car and foot). It’s a no-brainer to put in,
or repair street lights, which would increase public safety and give
life to the city outside Republic Square. And it would seem logical
to set up a system of trash pick-up and disposal which would increase
sanitation and beautify the city. But sadly it’s not that simple.

New York City in the 1980’s was in the grips of one of the worst crime
epidemics in its history. This wave declined in the 1990’s and one of
the theories to explain the phenomenon is called the “broken window
theory”. The crux of the theory says that simple societal problems
coupled with neglect can have a far reaching impact. For example, a
broken window in a building which is left unrepaired will lead people
walking by to think that no one cares, and no one is in charge. Soon
enough more windows will be broken and the sense of disorder will
spread. Things like unpaved roads, non-functional street lights,
and lacking sanitation are equivalent to broken windows, and are an
invitation to anarchy.

In New York, city officials began by targeting the subway system.

They began by cleaning up all the graffiti, then moved on to busting
fare-beaters and drunks. Arresting those who rode the subway without
paying, and those disturbing the peace inevitably meant arresting
people with outstanding warrants, and people carrying illegal weapons,
and this led to an eventual drop in crime. The result was that by
1996 New York City became the safest big city in America.

Thankfully, Gyumri does not have serious issues with violent crime,
but the same changes New York saw can be replicated here. The point
is that seemingly small changes can bring about revolutionary change.

In a city like Gyumri, properly addressing the issue of roads, lights,
and sanitation can lead to an increase in civic pride and a brighter
future.

What is needed is the will to do so.

Visit the Youth Corps Blog to read and find out more

OFFICIAL: ARMENIANS, GREEKS MUST JOIN FORCES AGAINST TURKISH DENIAL POLICY

June 27, 2013 – 22:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenians and Greeks must join forces against
Turkish policy of the Genocide denial, deputy parliament speaker said.

On Thursday, June 27, Eduard Sharmazanov met with the ex-speaker
of Greek parliament, the head of an Armenia-Greece friendship group
Apostolos Kaklamanis.

At the meeting, the ex-speaker hailed friendly ties with Armenia,
noting that in 1996 his country’s parliament unanimously recognized
the Armenian Genocide.

Sharmazanov, in turn, spoke of the genocide of Armenians, Greeks,
Assyrians and other Christian nations in the Ottoman Turkey, noting
that the National Assembly urged the parliaments worldwide to recognize
the genocide of Christian nations, including Pontic Greeks.

MONEYVAL: THERE ARE GAPS IN LAWS OF AZERBAIJAN AIMED AT COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING

17:31 27/06/2013 ” ECONOMY

There are gaps in the laws of Azerbaijan aimed at combating money
laundering and terrorist financing. The Committee of Experts on the
Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of
Terrorism (MONEYVAL) has today made public an annual report.

APA’s Europe bureau reports that the report contains a large
evaluation analysis on money laundering and financing of terrorism
in Europe. The organization noted the achievement of the recent
considerable progresses in the member states, highly assessed the
adoption of new draft laws and implementation of legal reforms towards
anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

MONEYVAL also notes its main recommendations in the report.

The organization calls on judicial, police and security service
systems to combat effectively, increase punitive measures such as
the confiscation of property against money laundering and create
deterrent effect against these activities. According to the report,
money laundering by one third of organized criminal networks is not
solved and the committers remain unpunished.

According to this assessment, there are some deficiencies in the
six countries – Azerbaijan, Croatia, Georgia, Republic of Moldova,
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. The President
of the organization called on the delegations of the abovementioned
countries to eliminate these gaps. Minor issues of both deficiencies
which have not been tackled by the amendments will be addressed during
the on-site visit to Azerbaijan taking place in 2014.

Addressing the presentation of the annual report, Executive Secretary
to MONEYVAL John Ringguth stated that they cooperated with Azerbaijan
for several years: “We will discuss the problems regarding Azerbaijan
during our visit to the country next year.

Moreover, we will make another evaluation report on Azerbaijan
next year.”

The report says that Armenia has continued to work on the basis of
a specific action plan to address the deficiencies identified and
the recommendations formulated in the mutual evaluation report. As
a result, a revised package of 15 draft laws, including revisions
of the AML/CFT Act and the Criminal Code, has been presented to the
National Assembly for adoption. It also says that there have been
positive steps on the implementation of the criminalisation of money
laundering and case law has gradually developed in Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am

20 YEARS AGO ARMENIANS LIBERATED MARTAKERT

06:03 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Martakert, a province in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, was liberated
on June 28, 1993, after several months of retreat. Armenians should
learn lessons from the Artsakh war and Martakert Battle, says literary
critic Vardan Devrikyan, a participant of the battle.

The biggest lesson to be learned is that any conflict between the
government and the opposition affected the protection. Another
surprising thing was that the more strained relations were in the
capital, the more harmonious it was to cooperate on the frontline,”
Devrikyan said advising to forget about the relations between the
authorities and opposition when protecting the borders of the country.

Between September and February 1992, when the Armenian forces retreated
and left Martakert, Azerbaijanis came and settled there.

Vardan Devrikyan says it is characteristic of Azerbaijan to populate
the occupied territories which is not the case with Armenians.

“Armenians never returned to villages where the enemy had stepped.

Shushi is another example,” says the literary critic.

“Matakert Battle also taught us that it is rather difficult to return
something you have lost so easily. Within two months we lost Shahumyan
and Martakert and only ten months later we were able to win it back,”
Devrikyan concluded.

BLOOMBERG RATES ARMENIA FOURTH MOST IMMORAL COUNTRY

YEREVAN, June 27. / ARKA /. Armenia was ranked fourth in the list
of most immoral countries in the world by Bloomberg analysts. The
analysts studied indicators of 57 countries. To determine the degree
of immorality, Bloomberg picked the following averages: the amount of
alcohol for every adult citizen of the country, the number of smoked
cigarettes, the prevalence of drug use (percentage of residents using
drugs aged 15 to 64 years), and the total losses from gambling as a
percentage of GDP.

Bloomberg analysts found that an average Armenian drinks 13.6 liters
of alcohol a year, smokes 1,620 cigarettes and squanders 1.65% of
GDP on gambling. Some 3.5 percent of the population smokes cannabis,
0.3 percent uses opioids, 0.5% uses amphetamines and ecstasy and
0.1% cocaine.

The Czech Republic has been announced the most immoral country while
impoverished Zambia has been announced the most innocent. The Czech
republic was followed by Slovenia, Australia, Armenia, Bulgaria,
Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus and Greece.

According to the study, the residents of Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela
consume relatively little drugs. -0-

– See more at:

CATHOLICOS ARAM I APPRECIATES IRAN’S SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN PEOPLE IN KARABAKH ISSUE AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

16:38 27/06/2013 ” ANALYSIS

Catholicos Aram I appreciates Iran’s support for Armenian people in
Karabakh issue and Armenian Genocide recognition

Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Aram I appreciated Iran’s
support for the Armenian people in the Karabakh issue and the Armenian
Genocide recognition at a meeting with the representative of the
Iranian Supreme Leader, Tehran-based Armenian newspaper Alik reported.

According to the newspaper, Catholicos Aram I received Iranian Supreme
Leader’s adviser Gholam Ali Naimabadi on June 25. Iran’s ambassador
to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi was also present at the meeting.

Naimabadi conveyed the good wishes of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei and expressed his appreciation about the relations
between Iran and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia as
well as about Iranian Armenians.

Referring to the Armenian community of Iran, Ayatollah Naimabadi
mentioned the positive attitude of Imam Khomeini and Ali Khamenei
to Armenians.

Catholicos Aram I, for his part, welcoming the representative of
Iran’s Supreme Leader, spoke of the relations and dialogue between
the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and Iran which are
based on mutual respect. The Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
expressed his appreciation for the special attitude of the Iranian
government to the Armenian community.

The two also discussed regional developments, in particular the
situation in Syria and Lebanon. Catholicos Aram I appreciated Iran’s
support for the Armenian people in the Karabakh issue and the Armenian
Genocide recognition.

Related: Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia congratulates Iran’s new President

ARMAVIR FARMERS SLEEP IN FRONT OF FACTORIES

Large queues in front of Noyan factory in Armavir Marz. Farmers brought
their apricots to the factory, but the queues of five km have been
there for a couple of days. Farmers sleep on the way to the factory.

The farmers say that the factory does not accept the apricot during
the whole day, which results in long queues. The other reason is that
farmers from Ararat and Aragatsotn regions also came to Armavir,
because as they say, in their region they are unable to sell their
fruit.

Recall the ministry of agriculture promised to farmers that the
hail-damaged apricot would be bought by Noyan Company which, though,
buys good quality apricots at the same price as the damaged ones.

Farmers say there is no company to export the fruit, the Georgians
are not allowed to come to buy and for little money they have to
sleep in front of the factory and endure these humiliating conditions.

16:29 28/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

IRANIAN CLERIC CALLS FOR WAR AGAINST KARABAKH?

June 28, 2013 – 16:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During a meeting with members of an Azeri
nationalistic alliance, representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader
Ali Khamenei stated that Nagorno Karabakh “should be returned to
Azerbaijan”.

“This is Iran’s official position,” Muhammad Mujtahid Shabistari
said, adding that Iran “is ready to support the Muslim population of
Nagorno Karabakh.”

“Karabakh, as Palestine, is a part of Islamic land,” he said. “We
should cultivate patriotism across the entire Muslim world, especially
in Shiite Iran and Azerbaijan.”

RUSSIAN POLITICAL EXPERT: VLADIMIR PUTIN PREVENTED DAMASCUS’S SEIZURE PLANNED FOR DEC 2012

ARMINFO
Friday, June 28, 15:19

President of Russia Vladimir Putin held Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan from a military operation against Syria, Russian political
expert, Professor Igor Panarin told ArmInfo.

He said that the latest anti-governmental manifestations in Istanbul
and other big Turkish cities were organized by external forces that
were displeased with Erdogan’s refusal to war against Bashar Assad.

“Actually, Damacus’s seizure was planned for December 2012 with
Erdogan to have had the key role in it. However, negotiations were
held between Putin and Erdogan at the given period of time and I think
Turkey certainly changed its stance after those negotiations. I’d like
to see the reasonability reigning in the Turkish elite in order the
latter refrains from participating in the anti-Syrian plots,” the
politician said.

Panarin shares the view that one of the targets for the Turkish
mercenaries warring on the side of the Syrian terrorists, the
so-called armed opposition, is the Armenian community, the successors
of the Armenians that survived the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
in early 20th century.

“I think it is a delicate global game. The Islamic extremists are
killing first of all the Christian population, both the Catholics, who
number nearly 2 million people in Syria, and Armenians,” he said.

TIME HAS COME FOR ARMENIA TO MAKE SERIOUS DECISIONS – NEWSPAPER

June 28, 2013 | 08:31

YEREVAN. – Political analyst Konrad Zasztowt of the Polish Institute
of International Affairs spoke with Zhamanak daily, the latter reports.

“Concerning the need for a foreign policy vector selection for Armenia,
he said the time has come for Armenia to make serious decisions.

“As per the Polish analyst, [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan
reaffirmed in Warsaw that he wishes to continue the policy which
Armenia’s politicians continue for over twenty years. This is about
the policy of complementarity; that is, good relations with both
Russia and the West.

“In the international affairs analyst’s conviction, however, the
economic integration processes are impossible to continue with this
precept,” Zhamanak writes.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am