Author: Kanayan Tamar

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: RECURRENCE OF THE LIBYAN SCENARIO IN SYRIA IMPOSSIBLE
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
30.05.2012 16:21

The coming week or two will become decisive for Syria, Director of
the Oriental Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences Ruben Safrastyan says.

“If the Assad regime and the opposition prove in the coming weeks
that they follow the peace program of UN-Arab League Special Envoy to
Syria Kofi Annan, it will be possible to avoid civil war. Otherwise,
dangerous developments are inevitable,” he said, adding that in the
opposite case the UN Security Council might discuss and further adopt
a document that will pave the way for foreign intervention in Syria.

Ruben Safrastyan considers that Russia will be trying to force or
persuade the Syrian leadership to follow Annan’s peace plan.

According to Safrastyan, there are factors other than Russia and the
United States, i.e. Iran and Turkey. As it is known, Iran is Syria’s
ally and supports the authorities. Turkey, on the contrary, has a
harsh position on Syria’s leadership. There also a third factor –
Hesbollah, which gents support from Iran and can interfere at a
certain point if the situation gets out of control.

Ruben Safrastyan rules out the recurrence of the Libyan scenario in
Syria. He is confident that the world has grown wiser. Everything
will be done to avoid such developments.

DEVALUATION OF ARMENIAN CURRENCY NOT ALARMING, EXPERT SAYS

tert.am
30.05.12

Devaluation of Armenian dram must not cause panic among the people,
being the result of factors from outside, economist Tatul Manaseryan
said, adding that it has no connection with Armenia’s policy.

The specialist said he believes the impact of foreign and domestic
signals are more of economic nature. Among the foreign impulses
Manaseryan noted the activation of US economy, its rise connected with
the economic bailout measures implemented by Obama’s administration.

“Agreed with economic competition, the euros’ positions are weakening.

It is taking place agreed with the financial crisis as well. Armenian
economy has been influenced by political processes and some seasonal
factors,” Tatul Manaseryan said.

However, Manaseryan was optimistic, saying though devaluation of
dram is being noticed, instead, the export tempos have reached 32%
in the first quarter of the year.

“Processes counter-balancing the devaluation of dram may be registered
in July. If no big blows are registered and the stable course and
the efficiency continue we will have less concerns connected with
dollar-dram exchange,” the speaker said.

NASSER KAZEMINY GRANTED TITLE OF HONORARY DOCTOR AT ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

tert.am
30.05.12

Rector of Armenian State Pedagogical University, professor Ruben
Mirzakhanyan granted title of honorary doctor and highest award of
the University to the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations
(NECO) president Nasser Kazeminy.

Kazeminy is in Armenia at the invitation of the country’s President
Serzh Sargsyan. He has already visited Armenian Genocide memorial
and Matenadaran.

He said together with his spouse and representatives of NECO they
spent wonderful days in Armenia.

“We really have talented Armenians in the United States, Armenians
having contributed to the change of the nature of the country’s
development,” he said.

“Education is important in every area. Armenia is a country that
managed to implement a wide-scale activity increasing its rating not
only in the region, but in the whole world,” he said.

Nasser Kazeminy is owner of more than two dozen computer and other
companies. He told how he moved to the Unites States from England
where he studied informatics. In the USA he managed to find job in
one of the best computer companies. Kazeminy said during the years
he reached new success expanding his business.

He said his success is explained with the high-quality education thanks
to which he managed to achieve his American dream. According to him,
Armenians may too make their Armenian dream come true but first of
all they should understand what they need.

“You have talent and a big history, it will promote the achievement
of the Armenian dream,” he said.

NKR PRESIDENT PROPOSES “HAYASTAN” ALL-ARMENIAN FUND TO BUILD COMMUNITY CENTERS IN KARABAKH VILLAGES

NEWS.AM
May 30, 2012 | 12:37

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan
on Wednesday attended session of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
Board of Trustees, which was held in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

President Sahakyan congratulated the participants on the 20th
anniversary of the Fund, noting that the organization has had an
invaluable contribution in the formation and development of the two
independent Armenian states, and in the broadening and deepening of
Motherland-Diaspora ties.

According to the President, it is impossible to imagine the NKR’s
socioeconomic development without assistance by the Fund, office of
the NKR President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Head of State proposed to include the projects of constructing
rural community centers into the 2012 program of “Hayastan”
All-Armenian Fund.

President Sahakyan considered the proportionate development of rural
areas as the key component for NKR’s strengthening, and stressed
that the construction of such centers will substantially contribute
to invigorating life in the countryside.

NKR President’s proposal was accepted and subsequently included in the
“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund’s 2012 telethon program.

WAS WITNESS AFRAID OF ARTAK’S KILLER?
Christina Ter-Matevosyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 13:05:15 – 30/05/2012

On May 29, the next court hearing of the case of Lieutenant Artak
Nazaryan’s murder took place in Tavush Marz court of first instance.

The witness was Arthur Lazarian of Syunik Marz. He has not attended
other hearings because he was working in NKR. Lazarian attended the
session accompanied by the chief of criminal investigation department
of Sisian Town Gagik Vardanyan. The companion of the witness handed
to the judge the request of the witness’s mother saying that her son
is persecuted by the parents of the defendants Kirakos Kirakosyan and
Manvel Mkhitaryan. The mother thus tried to ensure her son’s security.

Then, Attorney Ruben Martirosyan filed a motion but it was dismissed
by the judge. Another motion by the counsel for the prosecution
was dismissed. The dismissals caused a conflict between the judge
Mardanyan and the participants.

As a result the lawyers demanded resignation of the judge saying they
do not trust his honesty. But this motion was also dismissed.

This witness, just like the others, said he could not remember much.

He added that Nazaryan did sports and was a “strong officer”. Lawyers
Ruben Martirosyan recalled Lazarian’s interview with the RFE/RL
Armenian service on December 14 in which he said that he had been
beaten up by the military police officers and forced to sign under
an invented testimony. But Lazarian said that then the parents of
the defendants were there so he was afraid and lied.

The witness who spoke yesterday said he had been kept in the military
police department of Berd for 25 days and interrogated several times
a day during the first ten days, while there are reports of only of
8 interrogations. His brother Vardan Lazarian had also been kept in
the same cell who was not related to the case. The witness said he was
afraid because he thought the murderer was in freedom and could hurt
him. “I thought maybe someone wanted to take revenge on lieutenant
Nazaryan and killed him,” said the witness.

HRANT MELKUMYAN IS THE LEADER OF “ALBENA” INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT

ARMENPRESS
30 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian grandmaster Hrant Melkumyan
is the leader of “Albena” international chess tournament. In the
4th round in white figures defeating Hans Tikanen from Finland he
gained 4 points from 4 possible and with Bulgarian Ivan Cheparinov
shares 1st and 2nd positions in the international chess tournament
in Bulgarian city Albena. Armenpress was informed about this from
Armenian chess federation.

Hovhannes Gabuzyan defeating in white figures Tigran Petrosyan gained
3.5 points and has the 5th position. Grandmaster Vladimir Hakobyan in
this round played draw with Bulgarian Momcho Nikolov in white figures
and has the 8th position.

Turks argue over Armenian monuments without mentioning their authors (PHOTO)

May 28, 2012 | 17:17

The complex of monuments to Armenian pagan gods on the Mount Nemrut in
Turkey remains in the focus of tourists, visiting the state (photos).
Both the guides and the info-tables do not mention anything about
Armenians but only contain information about the names of Greek gods.

King Antiochus I, representative of the younger branch of the Armenian
royal Orontid Dynasty (Yervanduni), built a tomb and status to pagan
gods and himself on Nemrut Mount. The tomb where Antiochus I is
buried, is situated on the pick of the mountain.

Monuments to Aramazd, Anahit, Mihr, Tir and Vahagn, each of them of
about 9 m height, are situated to the West and East from the tomb.
Among the monuments of his own and the gods, Antiochus also built
statues of a lion and an eagle – the symbols of the kingdom – while
the images of Antiochus’ ancestors are pictured on the cliffs near the
monuments.

The complex, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List,
leads to a serious argument between Turkish Adiyaman and Malatya
provinces. The Nemrut is in the territory of Adiyaman, however,
Malatya administration believes that the monuments on the mountain
belong to their province.

As was reported earlier, unfavorable weather conditions, strong winds
and heavy frost, are damaging the monuments.

`We are worried that the statues may be damaged. I would have covered
them with my blanket if I could,’ Turkish Minister of Culture and
Tourism Ertugrul Gunay said.

According to the minister, they got many offers how to protect the
statues. However, neither the glass frame, nor the chemical liquid
would protect them from the strong winds. Thus, the best option will
be to transfer them to the nearest museum by helicopters, Gunay
believes.

Armenia, Kuwait to open new chapter in inter-parliamentary relations

news.am
May 28, 2012 | 18:58

Armenia’s Ambassador to Kuwait Fadey Charchoghlyan met with the head
of the Kuwait-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Ali Fahad
al-Rashid on Monday at the Kuwaiti Parliament.

The sides discussed issues on expanding bilateral inter-parliamentary
cooperation.

The Ambassador welcomed the quick establishment of the parliamentary
group at the Kuwaiti Parliament stressing it will give an impetus to
the development and deepening of parliamentary relations.

In his turn, Ali Fahad al-Rashid stressed the readiness of Kuwait to
open new chapter in cooperation and desire to visit Armenia to discuss
the cooperation possibilities and prospects.

Poor economy caused first republic’s collapse – historian

tert.am
13:41 – 28.05.12

Armenia’s first republic collapsed because of its poor economy,
according to Babken Harutyunyan, a history professor at the Yerevan
State University (YSU).

At a news conference on Monday, the expert was concerned to note at
Armenia’s present-day republic is also facing a similar problem.

`This is very important, so we must realize [the fact] and strengthen
our economy. It is necessary to create a powerful economy to prevent
the people from leaving the country,’ he said, highlighting the
importance of boosting manufacturing and export.

Another key factor, according to Harutyunyan, is the army which needs
a due attention.

`A nation that fails to care for its own army eventually pays for
another’s army,’ he noted.

`A powerful army is the first guarantor of a country’s existence,’
added Edik Minasyan, the dean of the YSU History Department.

Harutyunyan, however, was more inclined to stress the significance of
flexible policies.

`Our policies have to be flexible … and be governed by flexible
brains. It is important to be far-sighted,’ he said.

Comparing Armenia’s first and third republics, the historian noted
further that Armenia faced a road communication problem in both
periods.

Turkish state TV wants to participate in international festivals with
documentary on Yerevan

news.am
May 28, 2012 | 09:09

ISTANBUL. – The Turkish state-run TRT television will soon air a
documentary, entitled `Distant Neighbor,’ on Armenia’s capital,
Yerevan.

In an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter, who visited TRT
in Istanbul, the film’s creator Gulgun Cundubeyoglu noted that the
documentary pursues no political objectives and aims to present
Yerevan’s social and cultural life to foreigners.

`We will air the film on TRT, and, afterwards, we plan on taking part
in international film festivals,’ Cundubeyoglu said.

`Yerevan is a beautiful city. The film is great, too, and it has a
moving end,’ the documentary’s director Ozlem Okul added.

The shootings for the film were carried out in June 2011.

Armen Sargsyan, who represents Internews Armenia – which is a supporter
of the documentary’s shootings – , underscored that the film was shot by
state-run television, and added that the film’s director and crew were
amazed at Armenia’s state of development.