Author: nina hovnanian

’20 DETAINED’ AS ARMENIA POLICE BLOCK ANTI-GOVERNMENT MARCH IN YEREVAN

EuroNews, France
Nov 6 2013

06/11 14:45 CET

There have been clashes in the Armenian capital Yerevan between
police and anti-government protesters who were trying to march on
the presidential palace.

The march was blocked by police. Witnesses said around 20 people
were detained.

Some protesters were reportedly armed with sticks and firecrackers
which they threw at police, causing several injuries.

The march was led by a prominent opposition activist. Back in March,
Armenia’s Constitutional Court rejected complaints that the previous
month’s presidential election had been rigged.

The vote saw President Sarksyan re-elected to a second term but
independent monitors said the ballot lacked real competition.

ARMENIA TO EXPORT IT SERVICES TO IRAQ: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

21:13, 6 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia may provide
programming products to Iraq. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan stated it at the press conference with his
counterpart of Iraq Nuri Shaways held on November 6. “In addition to
the finished products, Armenia can export also services to Iraq. In
particular, I mean the various products in programming. Today we
have a similar experiment when the Armenian companies deliver such
services for the Government of Iraq,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated
as reported by Armenpress.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Armen Gevorgyan the Armenian organizations are interested in the
participation of the modernization of the energetic powers of Iraq.

Armen Gevorgyan sees possibilities in delivering construction services
as well. He pointed out that agricultural and food industry products,
juice and drinking water, as well as a great quantity of cigarettes
are exported from Armenia to Iraq. Gevorgyan assures that the variety
of the exported goods can be expanded including jewelry, construction
and other areas.

ARMENIAN CITIZEN DEMANDS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT, THREATENS TO SEW HIS MOUTH IF REFUSED – VIDEO

11.06.2013 19:05 epress.am

A resident of Etchmiadzin again began a sit-in outside the presidential
residence – this time with one of his small children.

Ashot Khudoyan yesterday sent a letter to the presidential staff
and RA General Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan. Speaking to Epress.am,
Khudoyan said when the letter is received, he will sew his mouth shut
and begin a week-long hunger strike.

“I will demand a meeting with you with my blood. I’m going to slit my
wrists. If after all this you don’t meet with me, then the President
and the General Prosecutor of Armenia are aware of the crime and take
no action against the perpetrators,” he said, addressing Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.

This is not the first time that Ashot Khudoyan has held a sit-in in
front of the presidential residence. On several occasions, he sat
outside the building with his wife and four young children. The last
time his protest was cut short because the children became ill and
a few days later, his brother died.

According to Khudoyan, the investigation into the will and testament
to his home is one-sided: the investigative body refuses to study
the facts and call to account those who committed the violation. He
is convinced that involved in the forgery of his grandfather’s will
were not only his sister, but also state employees, including those
working at the cadastre, and the investigative body does not want to
conduct an unbiased investigation.

RESTORATION OF RAILWAY CONNECTING ARMENIA AND RUSSIA IS NECESSARY: NIKOLAI RYZHKOV

17:36, 6 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. It does not matter how much the
restoration of the railway of Abkhazian part connecting Armenia and
Russia will cost, it must be carried out. The Russian co-chair of
the Armenia-Russia Inter-parliamentary Committee Nikolai Ryzhkov
expressed such a viewpoint highlighting that the main thing is to
make a political decision on the restoration.

“Georgia has a tough position in this connection and does not let
restore the railway passing through its territory. Here Armenia’s
role can be great in holding negotiations with Georgia,” Nikolai
Ryzhkov pointed out at the course of the press conference held after
the commission session in Yerevan today, Armenpress reports.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN ARMENIA TO BECOME FREE FROM 2014 – MP SAYS

YEREVAN, November 6. / ARKA /. Vocational education in Armenia will
become free beginning from 2014, according to Gagik Minasyan, head of
a parliamentary committee on financial, credit and budgetary affairs.

Speaking at a new conference today he said education in such
institutions will be funded by the government. He said the measure
will help citizens to get a specialty and find jobs at local labor
market. He also said that the 2014 draft budget calls for a 12%
increase in education spending, having earmarked 122.2 billion drams,
an increase of 14 billion from this year’s budget.

According to Armenian government’s 2014 draft budget, the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 5.2 %. The 12-month inflation
is projected at 4 % (± 1.5%). Also the government plans to collect
1.134 trillion drams in revenue and spend 1.244 trillion drams. The
resulting budget deficit is 110 billion drams. ($1 – 406.22 drams).

-0-

– See more at:

LEVON ZURABYAN: SERZH SARGSYAN AND HIS REGIME ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISORDERS IN YEREVAN

by Ashot Safaryan

Wednesday, November 6, 17:17

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and his regime are responsible
for the disorders in Yerevan, the head of the Armenian National
Congress parliamentary faction, Levon Zurabyan, said at today’s
press-conference.

He said that the Armenian authorities put the society in no way out.

For this reason, tension has grown and reached the pick. “It is
absolutely logical that at present people have been taking radical
measures and even breaking the law. They are in a deadlock and try
to find the way out of it”, – he said. He also added that yesterday
he met the chief of the Armenian Police, Vladimir Gasparyan, and put
a good word in for the detained young people, which have been already
discharged. Zurabyan said that ANC is not yet going to use the created
situation and the tension in the society for any actions. “Sargsyan’s
regime is on thin ice. We keep the hand at the pulse and will find
an opportunity for making changes in the country”, – Zurabyan said.

To recall, 4 policemen and 10 activists were injured as a result of
the clashes that followed a demonstration organized in the center of
Yerevan in support of activist Shant Harutyunyan, on 5 November.

Almost 20 activists have been detained. The clashes started at 05:30
PM when the demonstrators came across a police cordon. The police say
that the demonstration was not sanctioned. As was reported earlier,
the demonstrators were moving to Mashtots Park, when Shant Harutyunyan
tried to cross the street against the traffic lights. The police’s
attempt to stop him ended in a skirmish. Harutyunyan and his son were
detained. Some demonstrators began blowing up bottles with gasoline.

The police cordoned the road leading to the presidential palace.

Activist Argishti Kiviryan says that their actions were provoked by
policemen in civilian clothes. “They used such provocations in 1996,
2004 and 2008,” he says. Earlier Shant Harutyunyan organized a picket
in Liberty Square. He stood there with a poster saying “I am Declaring
a Revolution!”

CLASHES IN YEREVAN: 20 ARRESTED, 18 RELEASED

11.06.2013 17:39 epress.am

During and after the clashes in central Yerevan on Tuesday, police
detained 38 people, and, according to the police statement, criminal
proceedings under RA Criminal Code Article 316 Section 2 (“violence
against a representative of the authorities”) and Article 185 Section
2 (“willful destruction of or damage to property which was committed
by arson, explosion or other publicly dangerous method”) have been
launched.

Of those detained, 20 were arrested. They are as follows: Shant
Harutyunyan, Ashot Terteryan, Avetis Avetisyan, Tigran Petrosyan, Alek
Poghosyan, Liparit Petrosyan, Armen Hovhannisyan, Hayk Harutyunyan,
Vardan Vardanyan, Misak Araqelyan, David Lazarian, Albert Margaryan,
Anushavan Grigoryan, Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Hovhannes Ghazaryan, Sevak
Mnatsakanyan, Vahe Lazarian, Mkrtich Hovhannisyan, Manuk Hovikyan,
and Arman Mkhitaryan. While 18 people were called as witnesses.

According to the police, police officers received bodily injuries
during the incident, four of whom are hospitalized.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

November 5, 2013

___________________

New Sunday School Books Released

Curriculum is definitely a team effort. For each textbook, the Department
prepared a “scope-and-sequence” or outline of lessons, and writers drafted
the lessons in a constant back-and-forth with the project editor. The drafts
were read for language, grammar, accuracy of Scripture references and lesson
objectives. Then there was a final check with a clergy reader. (Even then,
revisions continue as teachers provide additional insights while actually
teaching from the material.)

Once the text was set, lay-out began along with the search for
photographs-already underway by contacting Sunday Schools for assistance.
The artist and designer of the entire We Believe series, Armen Edgarian, is
a prize-winning photographer and freelance designer, currently working for
the Wall Street Journal. A native of Iran, Armen spent long hours looking
for the right photos or composing them himself where necessary. Designing
for each grade level with the appropriate balance of Armenian and Christian
iconography was a challenge, but somehow each book achieved the perfect
blend.

While the new We Believe series has been the work of a number of textbook
writers and clergy working in close collaboration with project director
Elise Antreassian, these two books are the first that draw on talents from
the Western Diocese. Both Debbie Derderian (Grade Seven) and Yeretzgin Talin
Petoyan (Grade Two), are members of the Christian Education Council of the
Western Diocese (the CEC nurtures teachers and provides resources for the
Sunday Schools of the Western Diocese; Debbie is Chair) and long involved as
leaders and educators in the church.

The Writers

Yn.Talin Petoyan was born and raised in Burbank, California. A graduate of
St. Peter Armenian Church Sunday School of Van Nuys, she was preparing to
attend Law School when she decided to pursue her true calling of education.
In 2001, she earned both her California Teaching Credential and M.A. in
Elementary Education. Since then, she has taught grades K-3 in both private
and public schools.

Yeretzgin served as a counselor, dean, director and curriculum coordinator
for the Western Diocese Summer Camp Program and taught Sunday School for
over 20 years at various grade levels, serving as superintendent for 10 of
those years. Since 2009, she lives in Southern California with her husband,
Fr. Sarkis, pastor of St. Gregory Church in Pasadena, and their 6-year-old
daughter, Grace Shenorig Verjeen. One of her greatest joys and
accomplishments was leading 10 annual pilgrimages to Armenia with Fr.
Sarkis, which resulted in the participation of over 250 pilgrims and the
distribution of $360,000 in aid.

“The most gratifying part of drafting the curriculum was seeing a scope and
sequence outline blossom into a meaningful, creative, accessible, and
updated book for our youth. There were two challenges. The first was
establishing an exciting and interesting “hook” for each lesson, which would
serve as a catalyst for discussion and lesson topic. Once the hook was done,
the rest of the lesson fell into place beautifully.

The other equally challenging aspect was making sure that the lesson
material was age appropriate and inclusive of all children regardless of
where they were in their faith formation.

Having been a dedicated educator for so long, Yeretzgin is a passionate
spokesperson.”My deepest hope for our youth is that they will experience our
faith with passion. The Armenian Church should continue its mission, making
faith formation their number-one priority by providing exciting, engaging
and user-friendly messages for our children.”

Debbie Derderian (Grade Seven) describes her faith experience as having
spanned two unique cultures: the Roman Catholic where she was born, raised
and educated and the Armenian Orthodox into which she married at the age
of 19. She and her husband Bob eventually moved from their native New Jersey
to California where they became members of St. John Garabed Armenian Church
in San Diego.

Debbie has served as a Parish Council member, Ladies’ Society Chair, Parish
Youth Advisor, and Sunday School teacher and is currently the Superintendent
of Faith Formation for Children/Sunday School. She was a member of the
Summer Camp Committee and for the past 11 years a member of the Christian
Education Council. She received a Masters Certification in Catechesis
through the Diocesan Institute of San Diego.

She was recently appointed Parish Life Director at St. James Catholic Church
where she has worked since 2000. She and Bob are blessed with two children,
Robert and Dana, and 4 grandchildren.

Debbie is eloquent when it comes to the importance of Christian education:
“Jesus formed his disciples into a community of faith. He instructed them,
prayed with them, and showed them how to live… After his death and
Resurrection, they were commissioned, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
to go out and teach all nations. The faithful of the Armenian Church are a
link in that unbroken chain and responsible and privileged to witness a
Christian way of life!”

“Having the opportunity to participate in the creation of a faith-filled
curriculum for our children was wonderful… and a humbling experience. It
took much, much longer than I thought and I often felt that I lost
continuity lesson to lesson. However, seeing the finished product I realized
that I had a Divine partner speaking through my heart on each and every
page. I am most grateful to have had the opportunity to be a link in the
unbroken chain by proclaiming in print not what I know but Who I know!”

To order the new curriculum books, contact the St. Vartan Bookstore at (212)
686-0710.

###

Photos attached.
Photo 1: Circles of Faith (Grade Two) is comprised of 28 full-color
individual newsletter lessons.
Photo 2: Surprised By Joy: Discovering God (Grade Seven) is designed for
middle schoolers whose faith questions are explored in the context of real
life.

DECLINE OF CONSTRUCTION SECTOR MAIN OBSTACLE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS, Russia
November 2, 2013 Saturday 11:40 PM GMT+4

YEREVAN November 2

– The main reason for this year’s economic slowdown in Armenia is the
decline of the construction industry, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
said on Saturday, November 2.

“The main obstacle to economic growth is the construction sector, the
share of which in the gross domestic product is 12 percent,” he said.

In the first eight months of this year, the industry’s performance
indicators fell by 8.5 percent.

“Construction will be one of the government’s priorities in 2014,”
the prime minister said, referring specifically to housing purchases
with mortgage loans and the construction of economy class housing.

At the same time, Sargsyan noted increased export and improved quality
of products in the processing industry and stressed that reforms to
improve the business environment in the country would continue.

Armenia rose three slots in this year’s World Bank Doing Business
annual survey to 37th place.

UNDERWATER WIFI WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT – WITH AN ARMENIAN IN THE TEAM

20:42, November 5, 2013

Recently the global and tech media have been reporting about the
unprecedented success of “The Internet Underwater” project which is
implemented by a Buffalo University team, which is lead and directed
by Professor Tommaso Melodia. “The Internet Underwater” project has
developed an underwater wireless network, which unlike normal wi-fi,
uses sound waves instead of radio waves. If the project succeeds
it can have many benefits such as to detect tsunamis, offshore oil
and natural gas exploration, surveillance, pollution monitoring and
other ocean activities. During his interview Professor Melodia said:
“A submerged wireless network will give us an unprecedented ability to
collect and analyze data from our oceans in real time”. This project
can give thousands of possibilities to make improvements in different
areas, it can even be used in monitoring fish and marine mammals.

“Making the information obtained by this system available to anyone
with a smartphone or computer, especially when a tsunami or other type
of disaster occurs, could help save lives”, added Professor Melodia.

This is really a good news, but one of the most interesting parts of
this story is that one of Professor Melodia’s leading team member is
Hovhannes Kulhandjian, a young and talented Armenian, born in Gyumri,
Armenia. iTechnology.am was proud to connect to Hovhannes and to
bring his story for our readers.

Hovhannes was born in Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia. In
the year of disastrous earthquake he had to move to Georgia, then
when civil war started he moved to Egypt.

“Despite living most of my life outside my home country, thanks
to my parents, who always used Armenian at home, we have preserved
our precious mother tongue and our Armenian culture. In addition to
that, being involved in Armenian activities overseas has helped us to
preserve our roots and heritage.”, says Hovhannes. After completing
his secondary education he entered American university at Cairo. “We
Armenians around the world do value higher education and strive by all
means to support those students that cannot afford it. I would like to
mention that I am grateful to a number of Armenian scholarship funds.

Without their support I would not have been able to pursue my
professional ambitions.”, tells Hovhannes also indicating his family’s
influence on his career and educational ambitions.

After graduating with high honors from American University at
Cairo, Hovhannes was accepted in in the Ph.D. program in Electrical
Engineering at the University at Buffalo (UB), The State University
of New York (SUNY), specializing in Digital Signal Processing and
Wireless Networking. Currently Hovhannes is working towards my Ph.D.

degree in the Wireless Networks and Embedded Systems (WiNES) Laboratory
at University of Buffalo under the guidance of Prof.

Tommaso Melodia: “My research interests are in Underwater Acoustic
Wireless Sensor Networks. I am working on several projects that include
The Internet underwater, analog network coding for underwater acoustic
sensor networks, reconfigurable underwater acoustic networking testbed
design and secure underwater acoustic communications”, tells Hovhannes.

The recent achievement of the team was the test carried out at at Lake
Erie, near Buffalo. The research team dropped two 18kg sensors into
the water and then were able to use a laptop to transmit information
to them.

The new framework will solve that problem by transmitting data
from existing and planned underwater sensor networks to laptops,
smartphones, and other wireless devices in real time. “The Wi-Fi
radio signal transmits to the buoy, which converts it into acoustic
waves for the underwater sensors. It’s also bidirectional. Basically,
you talk to them and they talk to you.”,- said Hovannes Kulhandjian.

In the future, the team hopes the sensors could be used to help
detect and solve environmental issues. The team is going to present
the project during a conference to be held in Taiwan next month.

Follow iTechnology.am to learn more on “Internet Underwater” project
and on the achievements of Hovhannes.

Photos by: Douglas Levere