Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN FM: STEPANAKERT AIRPORT IS FOR CIVILIAN PURPOSES

TERT.AM
20:42 ~U 06.02.13

Photo by Photolur

Armenia’s foreign minister has responded to European parliamentarians’
concerns over the Azerbaijani authorities’ threats to shoot down the
civilian planes flying from the Stepanakert airport.

In comments to the information-analytical website News.am, Edward
Nalbandian said the issue has not been politicized by the Armenian
side, adding that the airport should serve only civilian and
humanitarian purposes.

His full comments are below:

“If those above mentioned two-three parliamentarians are genuinely
concerned about the negotiation process, then they should have at
least been interested in it, they should have been acquainted with the
approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Specifically on this
issue the Co-Chairs have on numerous occasions urged the sides to
reject any threat or use of force against civil aircrafts and that the
airport opening issue should not be politicized. But who is
threatening? Azerbaijan. Who is politicizing? Azerbaijan and those who
by the latter’s incitements are making these kinds of statements.”

If these parliamentarians are genuinely concerned about the security
and stability in the region, then why have not they ever expressed any
concerns about the bellicose rhetoric, warmongering policies of
Azerbaijan, about its provocative actions? What was their reaction
about the notorious Safarov deal? Those same parliamentarians were
either silent or were even justifying Azerbaijan, when the whole world
was unequivocally condemning Baku.

Why are those parliamentarians behaving like this? I think the answer
to this question we, as well as they themselves know very well.

Our position on this issue is very clear: Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
have never politicized and do not politicize the opening of the
Stepanakert airport. The airport in Stepanakert is only for civilian
and humanitarian purposes.

“Q’Animal Politico”: In Mexico New Conflict Is Brewing With Azerbaijan In Connection With Installation Of Another Monument

18:16 06/02/2013 ” SOCIETY

In the Mexican state of Guerrero new conflict is brewing with
government of Azerbaijan similar to the conflict concerning the
monument of Heydar Aliyev in Mexico City, the Mexican news site Animal
Politico reports.

“According to documents the “Animal Politico” holds, the Guerrero
Governor Angel Aguirre agreed to establish famous Azerbaijani poet
Nizami Gyanjev’s monument in Acapulco,” the site reports.

It says that it is stated in the letter signed by the Ambassador of
Azerbaijan Ilgar Muhtarov on May 17, in 2012.

Monument to Heydar Aliyev which was installed in one of the central
parks of Mexico City in August 2012 was removed by the decision of
the city authorities in late January.

Azerbaijan has spent about $ 5 million on the reconstruction of two
parks in Mexico City, after which it was allowed to install a monument
there. Several protests were held in the capital of Mexico during
which the participants claimed they did not want to see the statue of
a dictator, who had ruled thousands of miles away from their country,
next to the monuments of their heroes.

As a result, a special commission was formed which recommended Mexico
City to deinstall the statue of the former Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev, and noted that the government made a mistake by taking money
and allowing a foreign government to decide to which political and
historical figures should be rendered homage in Mexican capital.

In mid-January, Foreign Minister of Mexico gave absolute freedom to
the Government of Mexico City to make a decision concerning Aliyev’s
controversial statue. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Mexico Ilgar
Mukhtarov said that the Embassy has decided to appeal to international
organizations to get solution to the problem he even threatened to
break relations with the countries. In mid-January the Legislative
Assembly of Mexico City turned to the government of the city with an
appeal to deinstall the statue.

At the end of September 2012, in Canada, bust of Heydar Aliyev,
installed a year ago, was dismantled too, as the authorities of the
Niagara city considered it to be a statue of a dictator.

Source: Panorama.am

TOOK MILLION AWAY?

Today, environmentalist Yeghya Nersisyan was summoned to court for
the poaching case in Khosrov reserve. Note that environmentalists
had found remains of killed animals in Khosrov reserve.

Charges were brought against a certain Norik Sargsyan. According
to environmentalists, he was forced to plead guilty in return for
freedom. But he was detained and his wife was also charged. His wife
told environmentalists that their family received threats not to
reveal anything to public.

The cause was reported last autumn. Environmentalist Yeghya Nersisyan
proved with his GPS that the remains of animals were inside the reserve
and not out of it, as the minister of nature protection claimed.

After the revelation of the case, the minister was rumored to close the
reserve at all. And it immediately became clear that the “poachers”
are high-ranking officials who want to close the area and have fun
hunting there.

The president of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan features all
through the story. Press reports of different times prove he is keen
on the reserve and has already started the construction of a hotel
and a restaurant there. According to the original idea, the reserve
would have restricted access, and an entertainment park would be
created there where common mortals would have no access.

Recently Hovik Abrahamyan wanted to have a famous poacher in Ararat
region and his personal supplier of game nicknamed Nono appointed
as head of Khosrov reserve. His appointment failed due to a scandal
regarding this initiative.

As to the minister of nature protection Aram Harutiunyan, the press
reported the latter had paid a huge sum of money to Hovik Abrahamyan
for his appointment as minister.

In Armenia it is a usual practice to sell government posts. In
the case of Aram Harutiunyan and Hovik Abrahamyan, not only money
but also deals mattered according to which Harutiunyan should have
“privatized” Khosrov reserve for Hovik Abrahamyan. As of now, Aram
Harutiunyan has failed. In the meantime, Norik Sargsyan and his wife
are scapegoated. But who will ever believe that the poor guy Norik
may hunt in a place where no one has access.

17:04 06/02/2013 [footer_logo.png]  Story from Lragir.am News:

US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HOPES FOR OPENING OF CARREFOUR CHAIN OF HYPERMARKETS IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 6, 13:36

“Hear Carrefour wants to open in Yerevan. I used to shop there in
Brussels. Would be good for competition here. Hope it happens,” US
Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern wrote in his micro-blog on Twitter.

The entry of the large retail network of Carrefour hypermarkets, which
leaves an impression of an extended intrigue, has apparently ended in
departure of the French retailer from Armenia. According to the rumors
disseminated by some media, the leadership of Dalma Garden Mall in
the person of the well-known Armenian entrepreneur Samvel Karapetyan
has cancelled the contract with the European retail network Carrefour
on the lease of business premises for the hypermarket. According to
some media’s information, the key person “to be blamed for it” is
Samvel Alexanyan, the Armenian oligarch importing essential goods,
the owner of the large network of Yerevan City supermarkets.

Dalma Garden Mall says that is very busy and does not comment on this
information. The Armenian Office of Carrefour also keeps silence. It
is the long and insistent silence of both parties, as well as the new
wave of rumors in the mass media that make it doubtless that due to the
opposition of the oligarch-importers at power and the foreign investor,
one of the largest retail networks in Europe will not be admitted
to Armenia. The case with the French retailer Carrefour once again
demonstrates the strong monopolistic nature of the Armenian market,
which is totally closed for the external world.

To note, according to the reliable sources of the agency, the Carrefour
hypermarket in Yerevan was to work on the basis of a franchise owned
by a large U.A.E. developer Majid Al Futtaim Holding (MAF). “We
are already working in 13 countries of the world. We have recently
included several CIS countries in our portfolio, among them Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia”, MAF Chief Executive Officer said to
Russkiye Emiraty. The company has already opened its first Carrefour
supermarket in Georgia and is going to open a store in Azerbaijan. To
recall, at present MAF has already 45 supermarkets.

To note, by the number of its stores (over 15 thsd) Carrefour Group
(France) holds the first position in Europe and the second position in
the world. Carrefour hypermarkets’ assortment includes up to 80,000
food and non-food items. The total staff consists of over 400 thsd
people. Nothing has been said about the investments in the opening of
the hypermarket in Yerevan, however, experts estimated the investments
at 6-8 mln USD.

To note, by ArmInfo’s data, Majid Al Futtaim Holding (U.A.E.), the
Carrefour franchise holder, started to consider its possible entry
into Armenian market a couple of years ago. Observers think that the
opening of Carrefour in Armenia could have had a strong impact on
the competitive environment in the sphere of organized retail trade,
which is actually divided into 2 large networks owned by oligarch
parliamentarians.

BUSES FERRY METSAMOR NUCLEAR PLANT WORKERS TO “GREET” SARGSYAN
Grisha Balasanyan

16:25, February 6, 2013

President Serzh Sargsyan is making a campaign swing today through
Armavir Province.

Seeking re-election, Sargsyan has already stopped in Edjmiatzin and
will soon meet voters in the town of Armavir.

As we go to press, school pupils and state employees are being forced
to go out and meet Sargsyan.

We have credible information that employees at the Metsamor power
plant are being driven to Arnavir in buses.

AMBASSADOR OF POLAND TO ARMENIA: THE ATTEMPT ON A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA BECAME POSSIBLE AS AN ATMOSPHERE OF IMPUNITY WAS NOT ERADICATED IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO
Wednesday, February 6, 15:04

The assassination attempt on a candidate for president, the leader
of the National Self-Determination Union party, Paruyr Hayrikyan,
will undoubtedly affect summing-up of the forthcoming electoral
processes, Poland’s Ambassador to Armenia, Zdislav Rachinski, told
Haykakan Zhamank daily.

He said that the attempt on Hayrikyan was beyond logic, as he was
not the key opponent to be neutralized.

He said that the incident was a “blow” upon the image of the Armenian
authorities. “First, it clouds the bright spot of the forthcoming
election and ruins the myth about secure and well-fixed Armenia,
it also affects summing-up of the forthcoming election”, – the
ambassador said and added that even if the incident did not have
political motives, its consequences will be political. “Moreover,
I think that although such an incident could happen in any country,
nevertheless, it happened in Armenia, as an atmosphere of impunity was
not eradicated in this country… Let me tell you the case which you
may think is an anecdote… Somebody ransacked my residence. I had a
talk with a functionary which was responsible for security. He told
me: you know, this is not my business. I was shocked, as this high
rank official does not absolutely understand what is “statehood”, –
Zachinski said.

He also added that not everything was smooth in Armenia since gaining
independence. “The murders with political motives were not always
solved. For instance, let’s take the events of 2008. Nobody bore
responsibility. The atmosphere of all-permissiveness may make somebody
shoot…A politician cannot avoid responsibility for his activity.

Only a shortfall politician may think that it is possible to hide
a skeleton in his own wardrobe. I hope that this tragic event will
not affect the results of the election or the campaign”, Poland’s
ambassador said.

Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian, Public Relation Director
Kantari – Beirut
Email: [email protected]

Armenian Language in Beirut: Endangered or Not Endangered

On Thursday, January 31, 2013, Dr. Arda Jebejian, lecturer in applied
linguistics at the University of Nicosia, gave a presentation entitled
“UNESCO and the Armenian Language in Beirut: Endangered or Not
Endangered” for the first Haigazian University Cultural Hour of the
year 2013.

In her welcoming address, Dr. Arda Ekmekji, Dean of the Faculty of
Arts and Science, introduced the topic of endangered languages,
pointing out that Western Armenian has recently been added to UNESCO’s
list of “definitely endangered” languages, meaning that children no
longer learn it as their mother tongue.

Dr. Jebejian, herself a Haigazian alumnus, had conducted a pioneering
study on Armenian language use in Beirut, and shared some of the
highlights of her study with the audience. After outlining her
research methodology, Jebejian spoke of the visible gap between the
first two generations of Armenians in Beirut and the current
generation. Her study, she explained, showed an increasing reliance on
the three dominant languages of Lebanon at the expense of Armenian.

Jebejian then elaborated on the reasons for this language shift,
citing a desire to fit in, regarding Beirut as a “permanent home” and
exogamy, or Arab-Armenian marriages, as some of the major causes. To
illustrate her findings, her presentation was peppered with quotes
from her interviewees, ranging from ages 18 to 80.

Emphasizing that further research is needed to understand the future
of the Armenian language in Beirut, Jebejian appealed to the HU
Armenian Diaspora Research Center. She concluded her lecture by saying
that much work needs to be done, but ultimately preservation is
possible.

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session and the event concluded
with refreshments in the Mugar hall.

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +374 60 53 00 00
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Enhancement of the border management capabilities at Bavra –
Ninotsminda Border Crossing Point between Armenia and Georgia

Yerevan, 06 February 2013 – Today, UNDP in Armenia, the EU Delegation
to Armenia, the RA National Security Council and the State Revenue
Committee jointly presented the objectives and perspectives of the EU
funded and UNDP implemented “Enhancement of the border management
capabilities at Bavra – Ninotsminda Border Crossing Point between
Armenia and Georgia” project at an opening conference held at Tigran
Mets Hall of Marriott Armenia Hotel.

Representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of
Armenia, international organizations, as well as the responsible
authorities of the border management agencies from Armenia and Georgia
attended the event.

Panel speakers included Arthur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of the National
Security Council, Patrice Coeur-Bizot, UNDP Resident Representative
a.i., Ambassador Traian Hristea, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia,
and Gagik Khachatryan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the
RA Government.

The project, with an overall budget of EUR 1,403,000, will introduce
European standards of integrated border management at the
Bavra-Ninotsminda border crossing point on the Armenia-Georgia border
and facilitate trade, transit and enhanced movement of people across
the border.

As part of the initiative, capacities of Georgian and Armenian border
agencies’ staff at Bavra-Ninotsminda border crossing point will be
developed through professional skills trainings in a range of
subjects, including document security, risk assessment and profiling,
search techniques, international property rights and identification of
counterfeit goods, refugee law and asylum rights, shift management,
etc.

***

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build
nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of
growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground
in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and
local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. UNDP
in Armenia has been established in March 1993 and supports the
government to reach national development priorities and the Millennium
Development Goals by 2015.

***
The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to
gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies.
Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built
a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst
maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The
European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values
with countries and peoples beyond its borders”.

SEDA AZNAVOUR DEMENT LA CONVERSION A L’ISLAM DE SA SOEUR KATIA

jeudi7 fevrier 2013, par Jean Eckian/armenews

Le 27 janvier dernier, le site d’information armenien News.am,
publiait une brève annoncant de la bouche d’un politicien ayant requis
l’anonymat, que Katia, fille de Charles Aznavour qui l’accompagne
lors de ses concerts, s’etait convertie a l’Islam a la suite de son
mariage avec le jeune marocain Jean Rachid le 29 avril 2006.

Plusieurs journaux turcs s’etaient fait le relai de cette rumeur,
non verifiee, dès le lendemain. Sans confirmation ou infirmation de
la famille Aznavour, armenews n’avait pas donne suite.

Hier, 6 fevrier, sur sa page Facebook, Seda Aznavour a tenu a apporter
toute precision utile a ces allegations :

” Je veux annoncer a tous mes amis de FB que nous les Aznavour sommes
d’origine armenienne donc nes chretiens, plus exactement gregoriens
orthodoxes. N’oublions pas que l’Armenie est reconnue comme une des
premières nation chretienne et que nos ancetres sont morts pour leur
croyance et nous sommes très fiers de faire partie d’un peuple qui
jusq’a ce jour se bat pour garder ses racines intactes. Donc il ne
faut pas toujours croire ce qu’on lit dans les journaux et nous les
Aznavour nous ne convertirons jamais a aucune autre croyance que celle
qui est la nôtre sans pour autant ne pas respecter celle des autres.

D’ailleurs pourquoi renirions-nous notre heritage, c’est impensable
nous y tenons avec ferveur. Quand je pense qu’un homme comme mon père
a ecrit Ave Maria cela veut tout dire. ”

KIM KARDASHIAN APPEALS FOR BONE MARROW DONOR FOR COUSIN

Posted: Thursday 7 Feb 2013

KIM KARDASHIAN has launched a desperate appeal in a bid to find an
Armenian bone marrow donor for her sick cousin.

The pregnant reality TV star has penned an emotional plea on her blog
to help her cousin Cici, who has stopped responding to chemotherapy
treatment as she battles cancer.

In the post, Kardashian explains, “This is difficult for me to write,
but we really need your help. My cousin, Cici, has been battling
cancer for 17 years. She’s been going through chemo for such a long
time, but now the cancer is not responding to the chemo and she needs
a bone marrow stem cell transplant. This necessary procedure would
hopefully give our Cici many more years to live!

“What makes this more difficult is that the donor must be of Armenian
descent because Cici is Armenian. We are asking every Armenian who
reads this message to reach out to the bone marrow registry and sign
up so that we can find a match for Cici.”

Kardashian assures fans donating bone marrow is “not as scary as
it sounds” and has urged her followers to do all they can to raise
awareness of Cici’s plight.

She adds, “Please help our family’s plea by signing up and pray that
we all can save Cici’s life! Thank you guys!!! Please keep Cici in
your prayers.”

Her sister Khloe has taken to her Twitter.com page to echo Kim’s plea
and reveals the famous family has been tested as potential bone marrow
donors – but were not compatible.

In a series of posts, she writes, “I have never met any person in my
life who lives life to the fullest every single day! That’s my cici!

Always smiling. We have been praying for 17 years Cici and God has been
so great to us! We have been tested. Matches aren’t easy to come by.”