Author: nina hovnanian

15 CHILD TRAFFICKING CASES REPORTED IN ARMENIA SINCE 2008 – EXPERT

14:17 ~U 12.06.13

An Armenian lawyer dealing with labor exploitation issues said
Wednesday that fifteen cases of child trafficking were reported in
the country in the past five years, with seven of them constituting
crimes of sexual exploitation

Speaking at a news conference, David Tumasyan, a member of a working
group adjunct to the Human Trafficking Council, said most of the
cases were registered in capital Yerevan, and in the regions of Syunik
and Tavush.

“Nine of the children are boys. and six are girls. There may certainly
be cases not known to the law enforcement bodies and even the society,
but it is necessary to note that the Law on Child Trafficking was
enforced in Armenia in 2003. I mean there were cases before that,
of course, but none have gone unpunished since 2003,” he said, adding
that the first case was revealed in 2008.

Asked whether the 15 known cases reflect the true situation with
trafficking in the country, Tumasyan answered that this form of child
abuse is a latent crime, not commonly made public by people. He said
the unreported cases are mostly those taking place in families.

“In one of the cases, for example, the abuser was the step-father of
the aggrieved child. Law enforcers knew about this only after they
had the medical institution’s report on a minor’s pregnancy,” he said.

Asked whether children selling flowers in broad daylight cannot
considered victims of trafficking, the lawyer said they still need
to study the sector thoroughly to find out whether that form of child
labor could be considered the worst.

“The fourth national action plan has placed a special emphasis on
that. It is not viewed as labor exploitation at present but they may be
considered a form of child trafficking in case of legislative reforms,”
said he.

The expert noted that one-sided orphans from socially disadvantaged
families are most often prone to becoming victims of trafficking.

Armenian News – Tert.am

HOW ARCHBISHOP KJOYAN IS RELATED TO DIAMOND PRODUCTION

Nikol Pashinyan of Armenian National Congress parliamentary group
said in the parliament today that the government promises to produce
buses in Armenia while it is unable to even import buses. We should
thank them for not promising to produce spacecraft.

He said the government hasn’t drawn relevant conclusions from the
failures of projects to render Dilijan a regional financial center,
to render Jermuk a tourism center, to render Gyumri a techno park, to
build Iran-Armenia railway. Pashinyan said that the government does
not provide the real image adding that the reality is that in 2012
pupils in Armenian schools were 18 thousand less, while the budget
performance report does not dwell on the birth rates, reduction of
flow of tourists, increase of suicides and suicide attempts.

Nikol Pashinyan says that Tigran Sargsyan and the government
presented someone called Ashot Sukiasyan, who was said to have
great possibilities in the diamond production, while no one knows
anything about him. Pashinyan says that the members of government
were impressed by Sukiasyan’s gift, a Bentley, to Archbishop Navasard
Kjoyan, who is the main actor in these deeds. Can anyone explain how
the Archbishop is related to the plans of the government to develop
the diamond production? Pashinyan asked adding that the grant of 10
million was transferred to the bank account opened by Tigran Sargsyan,
Kjoyan and Sukiasyan for the Dilijan International School project.

Pashinyan says this money disappeared.

Pashinyan said that the minister of finance said in this connection
that all the rumors are slander. Sure, the rumors on gas price increase
were also said to be slander, now we see if they were slander or not,
said Pashinyan brining many other examples many other examples. He said
he is going to vote against the budget performance because, unlike many
others, he is able to see the difference between slander and reality.

14:30 12/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ARMENIA THE MOST PEACEFUL COUNTRY IN THE REGION, ACCORDING TO GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2013

14:27 12.06.2013

Armenia is placed 98th in Global Peace Index 2013 (up from 115th last
year) among 162 countries.

In the annual report the Institute for Economics and Peace ranks 162
countries by measuring security in society, the extent of conflict
and the degree of militarization.

Countries are given scores on 22 indicators that measure internal
peace (e.g. levels of perceived criminality, number of police per
100,000 people and level of organised crime) as well as external
peace indicators (these include military expenditure as a % of GDP
and nuclear weapons capabilities).

The report also counts the cost of violence to the global economy –
and the sums are far from trivial. They estimate that the economic
impact of containing violence cost $9.46 trillion in 2012, equivalent
to 11% of global GDP.

Iceland, Denmark and New Zealadn top the list with Sudan, Afghanistan
and Somalia at the bottom.

The Global Peace Index 2013 places Azerbaijan in 126th position.

Turkey and Iran are ranked 134th and 137th respectively. Georgia is
139th, Russia is 155th.

YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY SETS SIGHTS ON RECONSTRUCTION OF ANOTHER 5 SQUARES AMID SCANDAL AROUND REPUBLIC SQUARE

ARMINFO
Wednesday, June 12, 13:52

Yerevan Municipality has announced another open architectural contest
for a conceptual protect of reconstruction of 5 squares in Yerevan:
Labor Square, Sasuntsi David Square, Brazil Square, France Square, and
Russia Square. Deadline for applications is Nov 15 2013. Architects,
designers, sculptors, creative teams of architects and related
professions, as well as architectural shops operating in Armenia may
apply for participation. The first place prize is 1 million drams. The
second place prize is 500,000 drams, and the third one – 250,000 drams.

To recall, the Municipality announced a similar contest for
reconstruction of the Republic Square, which aroused discontent of
architects. They say that reconstruction may damage the integrity
of the square. In addition, they say the given contest, sale of the
Foreign Ministry building and rumors on construction of an underground
parking are interconnected. Architects are also concerned over possible
overbuilding in the square.

“ARARAT 73” – 40 YEARS AFTER: ALEXANDER KOVALENKO IN MEMORIES OF HIS TEAMMATES

10:48, 12 June, 2013

The more we study the details regarding the triumphs of “Ararat 73”,
the more new and interesting facts and events come forth, which are
unknown for the contemporary footballers. “Armenpress” opens that
“golden page” in the history book of the Armenian sport.

Both the heroes and witnesses of the heroic triumph of “Ararat 73”
tell new details about the club’s achievements. This time the project
is dedicated to legendary Alexander Kovalenko.

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. “Kovalenko is not the legend of the
Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire USSR football
as well.” That’s how Alexander Kovalenko’s teammates briefly described
their friend. They all stated that Kovalenko was absolutely devoted
to the match; he loved people and always supported his friends. He
was a spirit of friendship of the team.

Alexander Kovalenko was born in 1943. Kovalenko played in different
positions ranging from the defender to forward. He was a famous
football-player, USSR champion, USSR cup holder. He was a legend
of the Armenian football. Kovalenko was considered one of the best
full-backs of the star team “Ararat-73” in 1973. He participated in
281 matches and scored 19 goals in his career.

Alexander Kovalenko died on April 1, 2002.

Nikolay Ghazaryan described Alexander Kovalenko as “a concrete wall”
of “Ararat”. Among other things Nikolay Ghazaryan underscored: “He
was our central backward and the fate of the entire defense depended
on this position. We never worried, when he was in the main squad. We
were confident that the defense is safe.

We remained friends beyond the boundaries of the stadium as well. We
used to go fishing together. The difference of our age was not so
substantial, but we considered him to be our elder brother.”

When Suren Martirosyan was telling us about his teammate, he seemed
to be addressing words of gratitude to Alexander Kovalenko.

Suren Martirosyan stressed: “Kovalenko is not the legend of
the Armenian football alone, but in the history of the entire
USSR football as well. Any team would love to have such a football
player. Physically he was very strong and robust and he could easily
eliminate the opponent’s attacks.

Kovalenko was our joy. When we used to come together on any occasion,
he was the first to appear on the dance floor, he was always in the
centre of the dancing hall.”

The legendary captain of the team Hovhannes Zanazanyan missed defender
Alexander Kovalenko – “Comrade Alexander”, very much.

Among other things he highlighted: “Kovalenko was a great man. He
was a worthy football player for all triumphs. Our rivals had to
face with an impenetrable wall, when he was in the field. He was a
very kind-hearted person. It’s also noteworthy, that whenever we met
journalists in foreign countries, he always proudly said that he was
an Armenian, a true Armenian.”

(THE FULL VERSION OF THE ARTICLEIS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

“Ararat” players’ memories about Alexander Kovalenko were gratefully
written down by Varvara Hayrapetyan

SERZH SARGSYAN VISITED RUSSIAN EMBASSY TO ARMENIA ON OCCASION OF RUSSIA’S DAY

12:50, 12 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan visited today the Embassy of the Russian Federation to
Armenia on the occasion of the national holiday – the Russia’s Day. The
Armenia’s President congratulated the Ambassador Ivan Volinkin and the
staff of the Embassy on the occasion of the holiday. As Armenpress was
reported by the Department for Mass Media and Public Relations of the
Armenian President’s Staff, Serzh Sargsyan sent as well congratulatory
addresses to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
and the Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.

In the congratulatory message to the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin, Serzh Sargsyan underlined that the
intergovernmental allied relations are actively developing between
Armenia and Russia. They are based on the friendship of the Armenian
and Russian nations and the aspiration of the two countries to build
a mutually beneficial cooperation.

In the congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the Russian
Federation Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan stated that in the history of the fraternal Russia
this holiday reflects the radical reforms in all the fields of the
life of the country and the population, which have been started more
than twenty years ago and have greatly contributed to the consistent
development of the Russian Federation.

The President of the Republic of Armenia wished success, peace and
prosperity to the high ranking authorities and the nation of the
Russian Federation.

AVETIK BUDAGHYAN’S FATHER WILL THINK WHAT TO DO NEXT

The Zhoghovurd Daily had an interview with Avetik Budaghyan’s father
Emil Budaghyan.

About 70 veterans rumored to be likely to take revenge for Avetik
Budaghyan’s death. The newspaper asked Emil Budaghyan about these
rumors who said that nothing similar has ever been said.

Asked whether he believes there will be a fair examination when Suren
Khachatryan is involved, and what they will do otherwise, Avetik
Budaghyan’s father said that in case the investigation is not fair,
he will think what to do next.

10:19 12/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

TRADE TURNOVER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND UKRAINE CAN INCREASE FOUR TIMES – EXPERT

June 12, 2013 | 12:12

Relations between Ukraine and Armenia are based on tolerance and
friendship. A clear evidence of this is a comfortable residence of
hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians in Ukraine and Ukrainians
in Armenia, director of Ukrainian institute on analysis and management
Ruslan Bortnyk told Analitika.at.ua.

He congratulated Ukrainians and Armenians with such a significant
anniversary – the 95th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations.

“However, the relationship between our two nations is much older,
and has at least a thousand-year history,” he emphasized.

Recalling that “Union of Armenians of Ukraine” NGO became the first
public organization in Ukraine, which was included in the register of
transparency of the EU, Bortnyk noted that this is not only a great
achievement of the organization’s leadership, but also evidence of
the highest level of cooperation between the Ukrainians and Armenians
in their joint efforts to achieve European living standards and the
development of civil society.

He noted considerable potential of Ukrainian-Armenian intergovernmental
and economic relations.

“Trade turnover between the two countries last year amounted to
about $230 million and may be increased at least four times due to
agricultural products, Ukrainian machine-building, development of
transport networks, and tourism,” he said.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA TO ATTEND ITE & MICE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPO IN HONG KONG

11:24 12.06.20130

On June 13-16, the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia will
participate at the ITE & MICE international travel expo in Hong Kong.

The expo is one of the biggest events put on by the Asian travel
industry. ITE is attended by over 600 tourism organizations and
government representatives from 50 countries.

NCFA’s participation in this major exhibition aims at continuing the
promotion of Armenia as a tourism destination in the Asian market;
while also establishing new tourism partnerships to promote tour
packages and contribute to the growth of inbound tourism.

NCFA delegation will conduct meetings with representatives of tourism
sector of Hong Kong to discuss the possibilities for bringing the
mutual tourism communications to a higher level.

MONTSERRAT CABALLE RECUE A SAINTE ETCHMIADZINE PAR LE CATHOLICOS KAREKINE II

Le Catholicos Karekine II a recu a Etchmiadzine, la celèbre
chanteuse d’opera, l’espagnole Montserrat Caballe. Cette dernière
etait accompagnee par Hasmig Boghossian, la ministre armenienne de
la Culture. Selon le communique de Sainte Etchmiadzine, Karekine II
a salue la visite de Montserrat Caballe en Armenie ainsi qu’a Sainte
Etchmiadzine, le c~ur de la spiritualite des Armeniens d’Armenie et de
la diaspora. Le catholicos armenien a egalement affirme que la presence
de la celèbre cantatrice en Armenie a provoque auprès de ses nombreux
fans un large mouvement de gratitude et de fierte. Montserrat Caballe
a de son côte affirme que son sejour au Haut Karabagh et en Armenie
etait ressenti comme un pèlerinage au c~ur d’un pays a très forte
civilisation chretienne. Montserrat Caballe a visite la cathedrale
Sainte Etchmiadzine, ainsi que le musee.

Krikor Amirzayan

mercredi 12 juin 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com