Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN WOUNDED FROM THE BULLET OF SNIPER IN ALEPPO

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 24, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian was wounded from the bullet
of the sniper in Nor Gyux district of Aleppo on October 24. Armenpress
was informed from Jirair Reisian, adding that the wounded was Ghazar
Ghazaryan. Reisian also informed that the bullet had seriously damaged
the leg of the wounded. Ghazaryan underwent a surgery after being
hospitalized and now his life is out of danger. The sniper was trying
to fire at another Armenian but luckily didn’t succeed.

Recently civilians have been in danger especially in Not Gyux area
because of the snipers. So the civilians are urged to be careful and
stay away from the dangerous places.

Referring to the second Armenian plane with humanitarian aid Reisian
noted that the Aleppo emergency body is doing all the possible to
carry the cargo and transfer it from the airport.

More than 30000 people have been killed during the Syrian clashes
lasting more than 18 m

PRELACY HONORS THREE EXTRAORDINARY HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS

Posted by Florence Avakian on October 24, 2012

Banquet benefits ‘Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief’

NEW YORK-Three extraordinary life-saving humanitarian actions were
remembered and honored by the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America on Sun., Oct. 7, at the elegant New York Palace
Hotel. The honorees included Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, the Near East Relief,
and the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians. The
awards were to have been presented by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia, during his pontifical visit to New York,
which was cancelled due to the critical situation in Syria.

2012Banquet01 250×300 Prelacy Honors Three Extraordinary Humanitarian
Actions

Marit Greve, the granddaughter of Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, accepts the
award from Archbishop Oshagan. (Photo by Zenop Pomakian)

“We who are here stand on the shoulders of previous generations who
sacrificed their life and energy so we could enjoy the fruits of this
country,” stated master of ceremonies Judge Sarkis Teshoian (RET) in
his introductory remarks. Many Armenians who survived the genocide
“ended up in Syria where today Armenian lives are at risk, as well
as their churches, schools, and institutions. This is therefore the
second reason to be here. We have an obligation to help our brothers
and sisters in Syria,” he declared strongly.

Karen Jehanian, the co-chair of the Pontifical Visit National
Steering Committee, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Executive
Council. She succinctly described the mission goals of the Prelacy and
noted that alongside its primary mission to transmit the teachings
of Christianity, the Prelacy “preserves history, educates our young
people, provides comfort to those in need, and seeks to give us a
future that is rich in culture, spirituality, and faith. By your
presence here today, by the contribution you make to your parish or
community, you are being true to that faith and upholding the noble
values of those who gave the Armenian people life-giving humanitarian
aid when most needed.”

Proceeds of the event will benefit the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief,
a joint united effort of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Eastern
Prelacy), the Armenian Catholic Eparchy, the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), and the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).

Core values of all religions

In a powerful message transmitted through video, Catholicos Aram
stated, “Helping those who are marginalized is the core value of all
religions. All those who share their resources with those in need
are worthy of the highest respect by humanity. Helping others is not
just sharing material resources. It is sharing the moral partnership
to empower those who are powerless. Helping our people is crucial. We
have a large community in Syria that is critically exposed.” As he paid
tribute to the three honorees with words of praise and thanksgiving,
he asked everyone “to pray for all the suffering around the world.”

2012Banquet02 300×200 Prelacy Honors Three Extraordinary Humanitarian
Actions

Shant Mardirossian, chairman of the Near East Foundation, accepts
the award on behalf of Near East Relief. (Photo by Zenop Pomakian)

Nansen Passport

As Judge Teshoian introduced the honorees, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
presented the special awards that were designed and prepared by
Richard Dikran Tenguerian. The first presentation was made to Dr.

Fridtjof Nansen, the world-famous Nobel laureate, scientist, diplomat,
humanitarian, and explorer. As the League of Nations high commissioner
for refugees, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the displaced
victims of World War I. One of his major initiatives was the “Nansen
Passport” for stateless people, a certificate that permitted stateless
people, including thousands of Armenian survivors of the genocide,
to travel freely. Nansen continued his humanitarian efforts on behalf
of refugees and stateless people until his death in 1930. Archbishop
Oshagan presented the award to Nansen’s granddaughter, Marit Greve,
who traveled from Norway for the occasion. “We are a people who know
how to die in order to live,” said the Prelate passionately, as Greve
approached the podium.

In her remarks of appreciation, Greve, who has been to Armenia and
is aware of the deep respect that Armenians worldwide hold for her
grandfather, said, “One of the great disappointments for my grandfather
was that he couldn’t do as much as he wanted to do for the Armenian
people. Tonight was a wonderful experience, and I really feel very
honored to represent my grandfather. I thank you, and am so proud to
be with you tonight,” she said to a standing ovation.

Near East Relief

The second honoree was the Near East Relief, which was formed because
of the clarion call of Henry Morgenthau, Sr., the American ambassador
to Turkey who realized the Turks were carrying out a “campaign of
race extermination.” The Near East Relief made possible the dramatic
rebirth of the Armenian people and became the model for future
relief and charitable organizations in the United States. Hundreds
of orphanages were established by the Near East Relief and it was
noted that the site of one of those orphanages in Antelias, Lebanon,
became the central headquarters of the Holy See of Cilicia.

2012Banquet03 300×200 Prelacy Honors Three Extraordinary Humanitarian
Actions

Hourig Papazian Sahagian accepts award on behalf of ANCHA. (Photo by
Zenop Pomakian)

Shant Mardirossian, the chairman of the Near East Foundation (successor
of Near East Relief) accepted the award and paid homage to those who
formed Near East Relief and the thousands of relief workers. “If the
perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide represented the worst of mankind,
then the relief workers must be the inverse.

When people were forced from their homes into the desert, they provided
shelter. When there was famine, they provided food. When schools and
churches were destroyed, they helped rebuild new ones.

When businesses and properties were confiscated, they provided
vocational training. When women and children were abducted and forced
into slavery, they went door-to-door and emancipated them. Most of
all, when others sought to destroy life, they saved it.” A standing
ovation paid tribute to this organization that, in the Prelate’s words,
“saved a nation.”

ANCHA

The American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA)
was founded by George Mardikian, who received the U.S. Medal of
Freedom from President Harry Truman, and Suren Saroyan, who received
recognition from President Lyndon Johnson. ANCHA mobilized large
segments of the community to raise funds to help thousands of Armenians
in Displaced Persons camps in Europe after World War II.

Sixty-two ANCHA offices around the United States, staffed by hundreds
of volunteers and backed by massive grass roots efforts, set the
foundations that ultimately rescued thousands of Armenian. Over the
span of half-a-century, ANCHA rescued and assisted tens of thousands
of Armenians from Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“It’s a legacy of generosity, caring, and sacrifice by ANCHA
volunteers,” declared Archbishop Oshagan as he presented the award to
Hourig Papazian Sahagian, the daughter of Arpi Papazian, a longtime
volunteer and leader of ANCHA in New York, which was a central hub
of the organization.

“The refugees came by boat, by plane to St. Illuminator’s Cathedral,
where they were greeted,” Papazian Sahagian related. “My mother
was able to direct their pathways to other parts of the United
States.” Describing her mother as a “generalissimo,” she related how
her mother unabashedly recruited friends and family to help.

Papazian Sahagian paid tribute to all of the volunteers who worked
for years-some, like her mother, from the very beginning of ANCHA
to its end. Another ovation greeted her heartfelt remarks and the
request that those in the audience who were sponsored by ANCHA to rise.

Closing the deeply inspiring program with his benediction, the Prelate,
who had also given the invocation, again paid tribute to the three
heroic honorees. “We are here because they gave the Armenians hope
and life. Dr. Nansen, will be a friend of the Armenians forever; the
Near East Relief, the first model American charitable organization,
literally saved a nation; and ANCHA came to the rescue of Armenians
in distress, who otherwise would have been lost,” the Prelate
said. “Today, as we honor and thank them, we remember our brothers
and sisters in Syria, our first diaspora community. When we continue
the tradition of helping our people, we will experience the same
satisfaction our parents did.”

Dignitaries introduced during the evening included Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, vicar of the Prelacy; Dr. and Mrs. Movses Abelian, United
Nations Security Council affairs division director; Ambassador Garen
and Mrs. Nazarian, permanent representative of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations; Jack Mardoian, Esq., and Richard Sarajian,
Esq., former chairmen of the Prelacy Executive Council; Dr.

Raffy and Mrs. Vicky Hovanessian, vice-chairman of the Diocesan
Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern);
Hagop Kouyoumdjian, chairman emeritus of Armenia Fund USA, and former
treasurer of the Prelacy’s Executive Council; Khoren Bandazian,
Esq., chairman of Armenia Fund USA and chairman of the Joint United
Committee for the Centennial Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide;
Dr. Hratch Zadoian, author of Our Brothers’ Keepers: The American
National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians, vice president emeritus
of Queens College, and former vice chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive
Council; Sue Aramian, benefactor of religious, activist, and charitable
projects in Armenia and the diaspora; Dr. Antranig Kasbarian, chairman
of the Central Committee of the ARF; and Aram Cazazian and Noubar
Megerian, co-chairmen of the New York Banquet Committee.

Unforgettable event

A complimentary copy of Our Brothers’ Keepers: The American National
Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA) by Dr. Hratch Zadoian was
given to attendees. This recently published book, as well as earlier
published works about Dr. Nansen and Near East Relief, are available
for purchase at the Prelacy’s Book Store.

The special awards presented to the honorees were designed and prepared
by Richard Dikran Tenguerian. Constructed in two levels, the bottom
level is black symbolizing the dark past with a map of the historic
Armenian cities where the genocide occurred. The map is a replica of
the granite map on the face of the Martyrs’ Altar in St.

Illuminator’s Cathedral. The top level is clear glass, symbolic of
a bright future, with images of the major monuments dedicated to the
genocide etched on the glass.

The memorable evening began with beautiful renditions of the American
and Armenian national anthems by mezzo-soprano Solange Merdinian,
and ended with the stirring and joyous singing of “Giligia,” by all.

A gallery of photographs can be viewed on the Prelacy’s web page at

MORE ARMENIAN VICTIMS IN SYRIA NO COINCIDENCE – EXPERT

tert.am
24.10.12

More Armenians are being killed in Syria, which is no coincidence,
the political analyst Sergey Shakaryants told journalists on Wednesday.

According to him, the Syrian opposition has proved that they want to
incite Christians thus causing confessional strife.

“It is wrong on Syrian Armenians’ part to try to remain neutral. It
has come to attempts to involve Armenians in the whole matter,”
Shakaryants said.

Armenians should have warned they were establishing control over their
settlements, and anyone that attempted to attack would lose his life,
the expert said. In cooperation with the Syrian authorities, Armenians
should issue warnings. “I do not think the authorities will object,”
Shakaryants said.

As to whether such behavior is fraught with new problems for Syrian
Armenians, he said: “The more fear you show the easier you are
devoured. In 1915 Armenians were bending their heads…”

Armenians in Syria and Lebanon must announce consolidation of their
forces.

“They [the outposts] try to prevent attacks on big centers and cultural
heritage. But if the gunmen do not spare mosques, the fate of Christian
churches is clear,” Shakaryants said.

The expert stressed that Syrian Armenians are the Armenians that left
Western Armenia with arms and do not have slavish thinking.

CONGRESS DEFENDING KOCHARYAN
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 12:45:00 – 24/10/2012

The Armenian National Congress decided to raise a very important
issue for the whole Armenia – redistribution of property. The head
of the Congress parliamentary group, Levon Zurabyan told RFE/RL that
Serzh Sargsyan, after reelection, will try to seize the property from
Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan and Prosperous Armenia Party.

Why did the issue on the redistribution of property occur now? After
all, Serzh Sargsyan has been the president for five years already,
and if he wanted, he could have seized Kocharyan’s and Tsarukyan’s
properties during the first term. Moreover, he could have deprived
his potential competitors of financial levers.

If Serzh Sargsyan hasn’t done it yet then, why should he do it after
reelection? Actually, Congress is becoming the advocate of the property
of Kocharyan and Tsarukyan. Does this mean that Congress approves
the legitimacy of their properties? After all, Congress leaders
have stated more than once that the national wealth was usurped
during Kocharyan’s term and that the oligarchs accumulated all their
richness again during his term of office. Now, Congress is going to
defend the oligarchic property.

The important is not Congress’s position but the reasons which make
Zurabyan speak about Kocharyan’s property. Sure, it may be a trick
with the aim to cause a conflict between Kocharyan and Sargsyan. But
it seems very primitive to be a trick. Rather, certain circles started
speaking about the upcoming redistribution of property and now everyone
wants their share.

The redistribution of property, as a rule, happens after a new
authoritarian regime comes to power. It didn’t happen in Armenia.

Initially, Serzh Sargsyan was very weakened by the March 1 events,
the pressure of the opposition and the international community. Then
he didn’t want to ruin relations with Robert Kocharyan hoping they
would agree on the second term.

It seems they did, and now nothing can hinder Sargsyan to start
the redistribution. Moreover, he has enough power. Congress was not
supposed to defend Kocharyan’s or Tsarukyan’s property but to state
about the necessity to restructure the property and nationalize the
illegally appropriated objects etc. But Congress didn’t do that,
actually, leaving the national wealth to Kocharyan and Sargsyan
without voicing the rights of the society to the usurped property.

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY CONTINUES OPERATION VIA GEORGIAN RAILWAY DESPITE GEORGIAN RAILWAYMEN’S PLANS TO GO ON STRIKE: SCR CJSC

arminfo
Wednesday, October 24, 12:05

The trains of the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) keep running via the
Georgian Railway despite the Georgian railwaymen’s plans to go on
a strike on October 24. They demand higher wages and better work
conditions, SCR CJSC Spokesperson Vahe Davtyan told ArmInfo.

“By our data, it is the locomotive drivers that plan a strike, not the
entire infrastructure of the Georgian Railway,” the spokesperson said.

In compliance with the agreement with the Georgian Railway, Armenia
has a right to use the infrastructure of the Georgian Railway.

“No problems with freight activity or passenger traffic have been
reported yet,” Vahe Davtyan said. Armenia is connected to the world
trough the only operating railway via the territory of Georgia. The
Georgian railwaymen plan a strike on October 24. Earlier, the employees
of the company told media that the minimal salary of railwaymen in
Georgia is 270 laries (nearly 160 dollars).

INVENTOR OF MODERN BOXING BELT INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Posted by Lilly Torosyan on October 25, 2012

America’s favorite nonagenarian may be Betty White, but in the boxing
world one man has stepped into the ring to challenge this title. Ardash
Sahaghian, the originator of the modern boxing belt, lives a life
away from the spotlight and is unknown to most of the boxing world
and fans. On Nov. 8, Sahaghian will finally be inducted into the New
Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, after over 30 years of silent contribution.

SARTONK1 300×200 Inventor of Modern Boxing Belt Inducted into Hall
of Fame

Ardash Sahaghian

Humble beginnings

Born in Romania to a family that escaped the Armenian Genocide,
Sahaghian worked various odd jobs when he was younger-from grocery
store clerk to cobbler-until he became a trained jeweler, following
in his brother’s footsteps. Because of the communist policies, the
brothers got in trouble when a watchmaker revealed to the authorities
that “Sahaghian” was the owner of the gold used to fashion the
watch parts. Ardash took full responsibility for his brother’s
jewelry business, as his brother was newly married and frail. He was
subsequently arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. His mother, upon
witnessing the interrogation and torture, died of anxiety and trauma.

The decision to leave for America was not a very difficult one,
he says.

The journey took Sahaghian and his wife, Nazeli, to various countries,
including Brazil and South Africa. In South Africa, Sahaghian served as
the foreman of a factory, and despite the rampant racism and apartheid
at the time, treated his black employees as his equals-even driving
them home and going to their bars. “It’s his MO,” his grandson,
Edward Majian, proudly states. “For him, it was always nothing more
than just getting the job done and treating everyone with fairness
and respect,” he continues.

>From 1975 until the early 1980’s, the boxing belts began to take on
their final designs. Sahaghian’s skills as a craftsman jeweler were
vital to creating such detailed, intricate pieces. Despite his success
in this field, the process of transitioning from a jeweler to a boxing
belt designer was unexpected and quite sudden for the inventor.

Transition to designing

Once in the United States, Sahaghian worked in a tool and dye factory,
but a serious injury left him incapacitated and unable to walk for
months. After a slow recovery, he sought a job that would allow him
to work on a jewelry bench. He happened upon a jewelry designer named
Philip Valentino, Sr., who was impressed with Sahaghian’s ability
to create filigree pieces, as well as to design his own creations,
which were sold to companies such as Tiffany and Co.

Valentino, an avid boxing enthusiast, invited Sahaghian in the late
1970’s to redesign old boxing belts and create completely new designs
for the up-and-coming boxing organizations. “It was the work of this
period that ultimately became, and remains, the industry image to
this day,” explains Majian. With the exception of the WBC, every
organization at the time used the belts that Sahaghian created at
Valentino’s fabrication shop in New Jersey.

SARTONK3 300×200 Inventor of Modern Boxing Belt Inducted into Hall
of Fame

Majian (L) and Sahaghian

“Looking back, I see that it was a natural change for me. It fit,”
Sahaghian tells the Weekly. “These belts are like big pieces of
intricate jewelry, or sculptures. It was not such a big change for me,
just bigger than what I did. And I see that it was what I needed.

They became my biggest creations.”

“I worked with small jewelry all my life. Of course, when [Valentino]
invited me to create big designs, I said I could do it. I was used
to working small-working big was easy for me. So, I accepted his
invitation and got to work,” he adds.

Sartonk Designs

Four years ago, Majian founded “Sartonk” Designs (derived from the
Armenian “zartonk,” meaning “renaissance”), continuing the tradition
of designing belts that have adorned virtually every world champion
since 1976, including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Arthur Abraham, and
in order to deter the plagiarizers that had been calling Sahaghian’s
work their own for decades. “Up until four years ago, no one really
knew who made the belts, so I founded the company to preserve my
grandfather’s legacy,” Majian explains.

“Sartonk’s mission is to restore the dignity of getting a boxing
belt. It is not sold to the public, as everything is made specifically
for the men and women in the ring. We’ve tried to use Sartonk as
a vehicle for having a positive influence on peoples’ lives, which
drives us to do more.” The company offers the Ali-King Award, named
after Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King, Jr., to “promote writing
and critical thinking skills in young boxers,” says Hasmig Tatiossian,
Sartonk’s executive manager and director of community affairs.

Sahaghian’s designs are used by most major boxing organizations
worldwide, such as the World Boxing Association (WBA), the
International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing
Organization (WBO).

SARTONK7 300×200 Inventor of Modern Boxing Belt Inducted into Hall
of Fame

Sahagian at work.

His advice to young aspiring Armenians of the next generation is to
“do what you love to do, and do it for that reason. Don’t worry too
much about recognition or not getting recognition. There were many
times when I didn’t think anyone would ever know-that my work might
be lost, but that did not stop me from creating. And, in the end,
you never know.”

Internationally recognized boxing referee and International Boxing Hall
of Fame inductee Joe Cortez expressed his excitement at Sahaghian’s
long-awaited induction. “I’m happy he’s finally inducted. He’s one
of the individuals who should have been inducted years ago. He’s
a master, creator, and legend. Without him, we wouldn’t have these
belts,” he said. “In my heart, he’s a people’s champion, a champion
of the champions.”

For more information about Sartonk Designs, visit
or

POLITICAL EXPERT: INTRIGUE OF FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WILL BE WHETHER PROSPEROUS ARMENIA WILL HAVE ITS OWN CANDIDATE OR WILL SUPPORT SERZH SARGSYAN

arminfo
Thursday, October 25, 17:36

The intrigue of the forthcoming presidential elections will be whether
Prosperous Armenia will have its own candidate or will support Serzh
Sargsyan, Director of Caucasus Institute, political expert Alexander
Iskandaryan said during a press- conference on Thursday.

“If the party does not nominate its own candidate, the outcome of
the elections will be easy to predict. The only real rival to Serzh
Sargsyan is the leader of the party Gagik Tsarukyan. Today he is being
seriously pressured, but he will hardly give in,” Iskandaryan said.

UNION OF CONSUMERS’ RIGHTS PROTECTION: COLLAPSE OF THE BUILDING IN KHANJYAN STREET IS THE FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST CASE

arminfo
Thursday, October 25, 16:43

The collapse of the building in Khanjyan Street is the first but not
the last case, Chairman of the Union of Consumers’ Rights Protection
Armen Poghosyan told ArmInfo.

“Total lawlessness rules in the Armenian Ministry of Urban Development,
and we face such lawlessness and outrage at every turn.

The collapse of the building is an obvious violation of the
construction standards. Unfortunately, if anyone in our country
wants to build anything, he easily neglects the existing standards
and laws and does not obey them. Moreover, these people not only fail
to observe the existing laws, but also try to dictate and impose the
laws that are profitable to them”, the expert said.

In the meantime, Poghosyan said with indignation that Armenia has
a construction inspectorate, which, in fact, does not carry out
its obligations.

To note, a new building in Khanjyan Street in the center of Yerevan
collapsed Oct 25, injuring 11 people. 9 were taken to hospital.

REACHING OUT CONTINUES TO SYRIA: AID RELIEF AND DONATIONS CONTINUE FOR EMBATTLED ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
News | 25.10.12 | 14:53

Fund-raising, as well as food and medication donations continue in
Armenia and Diaspora in support of Syrian-Armenians who have found
themselves in a dire situation because of the civil war.

Due to the efforts of “Help Your Brother” initiative by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, a second flight carrying
two tons of relief supplies (powdered milk and medications) for
crisis-ravaged Syria left Armenia this week aboard a Syrian Airlines
flight headed to Aleppo.

Through this initiative more than 45 tons of food supplies have been
contributed by many in Armenia in the course of the past two months,
a week ago the first shipment with 14 tons of humanitarian supplies
was delivered to Aleppo.

Coordinator of the initiative Lilit Galstyan says they only consider
shipment of humanitarian supplies by passenger aircraft, because there
is no other option (Syrian Airlines reach Aleppo via Iran and Iraq).

“Turkey has closed its airspace for Syria, Armavia Armenian airlines
have stopped flights to Syria, so this is the only way. It’s a
passenger plane, hence after loading passenger luggage we send as
much as there is space left,” Galstyan told ArmeniaNow.

She informs that numerous organizations and individuals continue
joining the initiative with their contributions. VivaCell-MTS telephone
operator is running an sms-donation campaign, by which more than
6,300 subscribers have donated 200 drams (50 cents) each.

Galstyan says the initiative will further hold campaigns in support
of the Syrian Armenians who have moved to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

The solid Armenian community started leaving Syria early this year
because of the civil war when the clashes between the opposition and
the government troops reached Aleppo, where the majority of Armenians
live. By Diaspora ministry data, there are now some 3,000 Syrian
Armenians in Armenia, and the death toll of Armenians in Syria is up
to three dozens. The majority of the refugees say they are planning
to return to their homes in Syria once the war is over. There are no
definite data on the number of remaining Armenians in Syria.

Two major charitable organizations – the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU) and Hayastan All-Armenian Fund – have joined the efforts
to help Syrian Armenians.

AGBU announced on Wednesday that Union delegates and guests to its
recent Assembly meeting in Yerevan, had donated $250,000. Earlier AGBU
allotted one million dollars to take care of Syrian-Armenians’ needs.

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has stated its decision to spend 10 percent
from this year’s donations on assistance to Syrian-Armenians.

VIVACELL-MTS SUPPORTS ORRAN IN BUILDING 3-STORY BRANCH PREMISE IN VANADZOR

Panorama.am
24/10/2012

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, informs on the
opening solemn ceremony of the Orran-Krikorian new block in Vanadzor.

The new building is situated in the heart of the town and is to serve
children of economically deprived families, as well as lonely and
helpless elderly. The center was built with the generous support
of CIPS NGO (a winner of a grant program held by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Italy), British-Armenian benefactors Krikor and
Anna Krikorian, VivaCell-MTS, and other generous benefactors.

The Orran Vanadzor branch was established in October 2009 with the
support of the Open Society Institute and VivaCell-MTS. Prior to the
completion of the construction of the new center, Orran operated out
of leased premises. Orran was able to realize its dream of having a
comfortable center of its own because of the generosity and cooperation
of a number of individuals and organizations. Currently there are
55 children embraced by the program. The new center will allow the
inclusion of many more beneficiaries.

“It is a priceless feeling to see happiness in people’s eyes especially
those that have endured the harshness of life. Children have all the
right to be properly sheltered and covered, they should only experience
love and warmth and above all this is our duty as adults to make this
a reality,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

In the morning the center will serve as a soup kitchen for the
elderly. In the afternoon, the children will come to the center at
the completion of their classes. Here the children will receive a
nutritious hot meal and help from Orran’s experienced and skilled
teachers. The center will provide the children the opportunity to
learn skills and trades, visit cultural sites, meet renowned people and
spend their vacations at summer camp. The children are also provided
with vocational training and assisted to find a job.

VivaCell-MTS supports Orran also by donations during the annual charity
dinners. Today the organization hosted its 7th dinner during which
VivaCell-MTS donated AMD 90 million as well as an apartment for a
needy family, company’s press service reported.