Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIE-CULTURE
L’écrivain et scénariste Vrej Israélian s’est donné la mort

L’écrivain, dramaturge et scénariste arménien Vrej Israélian s’est
suicidé. Hier la police a retrouvé à son domicile rue Vagharchian, le
corps de Vrej Israélian. Selon certaines informations il souffrait
d’un mal incurable. Il aurait mis fin à sa vie à l’aide d’une arme à
feu. Né le 2 avril 1949 à Erévan, il avait été couronné du prix
Derenig Demirdjian décerné par l’Union des écrivains d’Arménie pour
son livre « Donabéd ». Vréj Israélian avait travaillé de nombreuses
années au à la radio et télévision d’Arménie ainsi qu’à la revue «
Hayréniki Tsaïn » (1979-1981), « Sovédagan Hayastan » (1982). De 1993
à 1999 il était rédacteur au journal « Hay Zinvor » du ministère
arménien de la Défense. Ses `uvres avaient paru régulièrement au
mensuel littéraire « Karoun ». Il était l’auteur de nombreux scénarios
de films tels que « Mahaberdner », « Kayl », « Aratchin Kidz », «
Antranig », « Mahits aratch ou hédo ».

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 15 juin 2013,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

STATE DISGRACE

Speaker’s Open Game Against Prime Minister

Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan seems to be playing an open game against
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Listening to Ishkhan Zakaryan, head
of the Control Chamber, and learning from him about budget misuse and
squandering, the speaker announced that the prime minister has a lot
to do. Abrahamyan is amazed to hear about robbery, and the head of
government has a lot of work to do.

Of course, one is amazed that the speaker is amazed who used to be
deputy prime minister for many years. It is not news that the state
budget is robbed. Mildly speaking, it would be ingenuous to be so
ingenuous as to think that financial misuse began after 2008. So,
Hovik Ahrahamyan should not have been surprised by either misuse or
lack of prosecution.

Otherwise one can be amazed that as deputy prime minister Hovik
Abrahamyan never brought up the issue of targeted spending of the
budget. Similarly, the officials of Armenia need not be surprised at
each other because they are all chained together to the same boat.

The boat is small, however, and it cannot take them all, so the
representatives of the authorities are increasingly competing.

Recently Hovik Abrahamyan has also chided the banks for high interest
and short terms for loans, obviously targeting Tigran Sargsyan,
the guardian of the banks of Armenia, especially when he was the
president of the Central Bank.

This system is in a controversial situation. On the one hand, steady
growth is maintained, on the other hand, the banks are cut from the
rest of economy and confined to the role of a savings bank rather
than that of financing the economy. On the one hand, a separate
system has been set up successfully with a high-level organizational
culture where intellectual jobs are created, and relations are set
up. On the other hand, it is resembling a state within a state, and
the impression is that as soon as the banks integrate with the real
economy, they will collapse. And what will happen if otherwise they
do not integrate? What is the long-term goal of this greenhouse system?

Instead, the goal of the internal competition in the government is
outlining clearly. Competition will intensify ahead of the presidential
election 2018 when the second term of Sargsyan ends. Both Hovik
Abrahamyan and Tigran Sargsyan are contenders. For the time being,
Tigran Sargsyan has more real influence within the system than Hovik
Abrahamyan.

What is the indicator? The foreign policy. For any other normal country
the indicator would be domestic policy. However, as the processes
are not autonomous, and the country’s resources have been wasted to
the bottom, Armenia is totally ruled by geopolitical developments.

It is a real threat to national security but it is the reality which
will last till at least 2018. So, without a breakthrough in the
civil sector and the opposition, the internal developments will be
determined by foreign influence.

In this regard Tigran Sargsyan has so far successfully proceeded
along rapprochement with the West, marking time in the relations with
Russia and refraining from abrupt steps, and at the same time winning
overMoscow with semi-steps. If his success lasts till November, the
pre-signed Association Agreement with the EU will be a milestone for
Tigran Sargsyan’s success in internal relations after his reappointment
as prime minister.

So, his opponents, including Hovik Abrahamyan, need to hinder
Sargsyan. This is a convenient time for that because the inefficient
economic policy of the government has aggravated the social situation,
plus the offshore scandal which Tigran Sargsyan has not been able to
deny. What he said in parliament aroused even more questions.

It is not a surprise that Hovik Abrahamyan does not want to miss the
moment and catch Tigran Sargsyan because if the Association Agreement
is signed in the current correlation of forces, after pre-signing
Hovik Abrahamyan will be left out of the list of “contenders”, even
if social tension and interests on loans remain high.

However, independent from the motivation of his actions, the questions
that are asked in parliament, including interest rates and budget
robbery by officials are more urgent and important than the score of
Tigran Sargsyan-Hovik Abrahamyan game.

Hakob Badalyan 12:02 14/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA RECOMMENDS BRYZA TO REFRAIN FROM STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH DISCREDITING HIMSELF

Friday, June 14, 12:38

New ‘sensational discovery’ by former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
ex-ambassador of USA to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza on the Karabakh
conflict and the Armenian-Turkish relations arouse at least surprise,
says Hovhanness Sahakyan, Secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia.

Sahakyan spotlighted Bryza’s statement that the Madrid Principles
of the conflict’s resolution contain a condition on restoration of
economic relations between Armenia and Turkey.

“Who but Bryza, who was a co-chair of the OSCE MG, must know that
Turkey is not mentioned in the Madrid Principles even as a geographical
name,” the parliamentarian said.

He is shocked with Bryza saying that murder of the Armenian officer
Gurgen Margaryan by Azerbaijani serviceman Ramil Safarov disappointed
Armenians.

“Such statement is beyond any human values. It is surprising that he
speaks of that vicious murder so calmly without any condemnation,”
Sahakyan said recommending Bryza to refrain from dilettante and
paradoxical comments on the Karabakh issue and the Armenian-Turkish
relations not to discredit himself in future.

L’ARMENIE DOIT CHANGER LA STRUCTURE DE SON ECONOMIE POUR POUVOIR FAIRE FACE AUX DEFIS REGIONAUX

L’ensemble de la presse fait etat de la session du Conseil de securite
nationale convoquee par le President Sarkissian sur les questions
d’approvisionnement energetique et de renforcement institutionnel des
regions. Le chef de l’Etat a reconnu que l’Armenie est confrontee a des
defis economiques importants en depit de perspectives de developpement
favorables. En 2012, a-t-il souligne, la croissance economique s’est
elevee a 7,2% et un taux relativement eleve est prevu en 2013 avec une
inflation contenue. Le President Sarkissian a insiste sur la bonne
performance que traduisent ces resultats comparativement a ceux des
pays voisins, y compris ceux riches en hydrocarbures.

Classe au 23ème rang parmi 188 pays ayant enregistre une croissance
positive, l’Armenie ne peut toutefois s’en satisfaire : ” Nous
devons moderniser chaque domaine de notre economie sur le fond comme
sur la forme “. Selon le chef de l’Etat, d’ici trois ou quatre ans,
l’environnement de la region sera en pleine mutation et le pays doit
s’y preparer : ” Les experts anticipent un fiasco azerbaïdjanais
a moyen terme. La diminution des revenus du petrole et l’enorme
gaspillage d’argent public finiront par avoir raison de sa puissance
“. Et d’ajouter qu’optant pour la dictature, le regime de Bakou occupe
le peuple en l’entretenant dans ” la haine de l’ennemi armenien ”
alors qu’il est ” mine de l’interieur et que sans aucun doute la
vague de mecontentement a son encontre ira croissant en depit des
emprisonnements… Les jeunes azerbaïdjanais commencent a surmonter
leur peur…Et demain est proche “. L’Armenie doit donc continuer a
moderniser et a diversifier son economie en prevision des nouveaux
realignements regionaux.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 7 juin 2013

vendredi 14 juin 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

ARMENIAN PRIEST REFUTES REPORTS ON OFFSHORE BUSINESS

17:46 ~U 13.06.13

Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, Vicar at the Ararat diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, refutes the press reports on his diamond
business.

A press release by the Ararat diocese addressed the “offshore scandal.”

Archbishop Kchoyan said that he would never continue as minister of
the Armenian Apostolic Church if he had any business. It runs counter
to his principles, the press release says.

As regards the reasons for his not applying to law-enforcement
agencies, Archbishop Kchoyan said that it runs counter to his
conception of an Armenian clergyman.

He also refutes the rumors about his presence at a meeting of the
state committee on the development of the diamond-cutting industry.

Archbishop Kchoyan condemns any speculations on his contacts with
Ashot Sukiasyan.

Although he appreciates values of democratic society, he believes
that abuse of freedom of speech poses threats to champions of this
very freedom.

At the Armenian Parliament’s meeting on Wednesday, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan refuted reports on his involvement in the
“offshore scandal.”

YERKRAPAH VOLUNTEERS GET LEGAL STATUS DEFINED

20:45 ~U 13.06.13

A draft law on defining the status of the volunteers’ union Yerkrapah
(defender of land) was on the agenda of the Armenian cabinet’s special
session in Armavir on Thursday.

The bill, together with the draft law proposing social security
guarantees for servicemen and their families, had been submitted by
the parliament members Manvel Grigoryan, Sedrak Saroyan and Samvel
Farmanyan, the Government’s Press Office reported.

The authors proposed, in particular, defining the concept “yerkrapah”
and granting it a status, as well as equalizing the social guarantees
for the union’s members to those intended for servicemen.

FFA PRESIDENT REFUTES RUMORS OF ARMENIA VS. MALTA MATCH FIXING

June 13, 2013 – 14:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Football Federation of Armenia President Ruben
Hayrapetyan refuted rumors suggesting he fixed the Armenia vs. Malta
World Cup qualifying match.

“I’m ready to resign, should people demand my resignation. I suggest
the accusers meet me personally and discuss the issues of concern. I
saw some posts in social networks suggesting I was the one to pick the
lineup for a game vs. Malta and that I fixed the match. If I can harm
Armenian football in any way, let those people tell me so personally,”
Hayrapetryan told a news conference.

As he noted, Armenian squad was punished for overestimating their
abilities ahead of the game. However, they rehabilitated themselves
as a capable team they are in a game vs.Denmark, he said.

Armenia lost to Malta 0:1 in a June 7 home match; in a Denmark-hosted
World Cup qualifier the team smashed the hosts 4:0.

LOST & FOUND IN ARMENIA

Washington Post
June 13 2013

‘Lost and Found in Armenia’ movie review
By Sean O’Connell
Friday, Jun 14, 2013

Jamie Kennedy is mistaken for a Russian spy in this broad, silly and
dated mistake of a movie.

While vacationing in Turkey, the American son of a powerful U.S.
Senator accidentally parasails into the neighboring country of
Armenia. Mistaken by local government officials to be a Russian spy,
the man is mercilessly interrogated by his captors until a beautiful
female student breaks through the language barrier and comes to
his aid.

Convince someone along the lines of Daniel Craig or Clive Owen to
take the lead role and you’ve got the makings of a globetrotting
political thriller. Cast third-rate comedian Jamie Kennedy, though,
and you end up with “Lost and Found in Armenia,” a broad, silly,
dated and insensitive mistake of a movie co-written and directed by
Gor Kirakosian.

“Lost and Found” resembles those lowbrow, one-joke comedies Pauly
Shore used to crank out near the end of his film career, just to stay
employed – something like “Jury Duty” or “In the Army Now.” Kennedy
stars, but the majority of the movie leans on a mixture of Russian,
Azeri-Turkish and Armenian performers speaking in their native tongue.

As a result, “Lost and Found” relies heavily on subtitles.

Unfortunately, reading the film’s immature jokes doesn’t make them
funnier.

Kennedy plays Bill, a senator’s son whose heart recently was broken
by a girl we never meet. His best friend, George (Dave Sheridan),
coaxes him to go on vacation to Turkey, where Bill is expected to
forget this shrew and start living life again. But the aforementioned
parasailing accident carries our clueless protagonist to Armenia,
where he contends with a village of suspicious peasants and eventually
befriends a beautiful college student named Ani (Angela Sarafyan).

Sarafyan, it should be noted, is strikingly beautiful, with an angular
face and feline eyes that convey concern and empathy when she has
to educate Bill on the hardships of life in Armenia. Because she’s
the only person in Armenia who understands English, she’s tapped to
be Bill’s translator and, obviously, his love interest. Kennedy,
meanwhile, isn’t asked to do much beyond reacting to a series of
idiotic sequences with a dumbfounded stare. He has that down pat.

Kennedy might be the only recognizable face in the ensemble, but he
largely takes a back seat as “Lost and Found” wastes chunks of time
on the cartoonish physical antics of the Armenian townsfolk. Grandpa
Matsak (Mikael Pogosyan) acts as the town’s inept interrogator, prone
to shouting at Kennedy or hitting him with a boot. Ahmed (Serdar
Kalsin) is the camouflage-sporting village leader, who views himself
as the local dictator and suspects Bill as being part of a larger
espionage scheme.

These aren’t characters. They are one-note spoofs of cookie-cutter
“foreign” stereotypes even Yakov Smirnoff would dismiss as tedious.

The last time this style of hackneyed cultural humor generated
significant belly laughs, episodes of “Hogan’s Heroes” were an
audience’s only options. Forty years ago, Peter Sellers might have
been able to squeeze laughs out of this tone-deaf material.

But we’ve evolved, both as a society and as an audience. Specifically,
we’ve seen Sacha Baron Cohen eviscerate imbalanced international
relations in bitingly sarcastic comedies such as “Borat” and “The
Dictator.” By comparison, “Lost and Found” isn’t quaint. It’s obsolete.

O’Connell is a freelance writer.

Zero stars.

Unrated. At AMC Loews Rio 18. Contains adult language and some scenes
of violence. 100 minutes.

,1251096/critic-review.html

ARMENIA SET TO SELL POWER PLANTS TO US INVESTOR

Business New Europe
June 13 2013

bne
June 13, 2013

The Armenian government is in talks with US-based power company
ContourGlobal over the sale of three major hydropower plants that
together account for almost 40% of the country’s capacity.

ContourGlobal said in a statement quoted by Armenian media on June 12
that negotiations are at an advanced stage and commercial terms are
being finalised. The company added that the purchase price for the
three power plants on the Vorotan River in the southeastern Syunik
province would be “very significant”.

Financing for the deal “will be sourced from outside of Armenia using
a combination of ContourGlobal’s own resources and those of prestigious
international financial institutions,” the statement continued. The US
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the International
Finance Corporation are expected to support the deal.

ContourGlobal plans to invest in renovation of the generating equipment
at the three power plants, which were built 30-40 years ago, and
have suffered from a lack of investment in recent years. However,
the three plants have combined capacity of more than 400MW, almost as
much as the Metsamor nuclear power plant which accounts for around 40%
of Armenia’s electricity generation.

Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsisian recently denied that
Yerevan planned to sell the hydropower plants to Russia in return
for a discount on gas imports. Should the deal with ContourGlobal
go ahead it will see a major US investment into a country and sector
very much seen as Moscow’s territory.

Complicating matters further, Yerevan is also looking at the
possibility of importing gas from Iran, following a hike in Russian
gas prices. Iranian gas exports face US-led international sanctions
due to concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES FOR COMPUTER ATTACKS

Bloomberg
June 12 2013

By Jordan Robertson – Jun 12, 2013 4:44 AM GMT+0300

Armenia ranked 4th on Kaspersky’s list of countries with the highest
percentage of computer attacks. The security company found that 56
percent of its users there faced online assaults.

About 61 percent of Armenia’s population, or an estimated 1.8 million
people, were online last year, according to Internet World Stats.