Author: nina hovnanian

TIGRAN PETROSYAN WON FIRST PRIZE OF GRAND EUROPE OPEN

10:49, 10 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS: The member of the Men’s chess team of
the Republic of Armenia, the Olympic Champion Tigran Petrosyan is
the leader of the Grand Europe Open. As Armenpress was reported by
the Armenian Chess Federation, the Armenian chess player scored 8
points out of 9 and solely took the first prize at the Grand Europe
Open that was over today in Albena, Bulgaria.

The Grand Europe Open Chess Tournament was launched on June 1. The
Tournament was organized by the assistance of the Bulgarian Chess
Federation. The Grand Europe Open Chess Tournament was attended by
150 chess players from about 30 countries of the world.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY SUGGESTS EMPHASIZING SOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT DURING ARMENIAN PRESIDENCY IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE

19:42, 11 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS: It is an important issue to clarify
on which approaches official and parliamentary diplomacy will be
built during all the discussions when any international organization
tries to have a role in the process of solution of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. “Armenpress” reports that about his said member of “Armenian
Revolutionary Front” Armen Rustamyan in the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia.

“Lately the Monitoring commission of PACE organized discussions
on so called “frozen conflicts”. There was a discussion about
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Such discussions are expected in future
too,” said Rustamyan adding that there is not a coordinated activity
in that direction yet.

In his words this problem is more than actual today. “I am sure that
Council of Europe can have a constructive involvement in the process
of solution if three necessary principles are kept.

At first not contradicting by words but by concrete action Council of
Europe must recognize fully the authorization of OSCE Minsk Group as
the only mediation mission. This is not always so and we must present
the facts on all such cases to this organization.

Second it is necessary that in all cases when in Council of Europe
is discussed an issue relating direct interests of Artsakh people the
presence of representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh in those discussions
must be secured. There are many such precedents in Council of Europe.

Council of Europe must secure the dominance of values declared by
itself, especially relating to Refraining from the threat or use of
force and elementary human rights.

And at last the best support to peaceful solution process will be if
Council of Europe encourages all three sides of conflict to restate
the Bishkek ceasefire agreement and sign a new treaty.

I hope that Armenia will use its presidency to make Council of
Europe have more constructive role in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,”
said Rustamyan.

MP PASHINYAN REFERS TO PRESS REPORTS LINKING PRIME MINISTER TO OFF-SHORE COMPANY
Grisha Balasanyan

During a talk by RA Finance Minister Davit Sargsyan regarding the 2012
state budget’s performance indicators, MP Nikol Pashinyan referred
to press reports linking Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to dubious
off-shore transactions.

Davit Sargsyan quickly retorted that such allegations were falsehoods
and that the prime minister had applied to the General Prosecutor’s
Office, requesting that it investigate how his name appeared on the
Cyprus registry document of a certain company.

MP Pashinyan shot back saying, “Rather than the GPO taking the
initiative and calling in the prime minister for questioning, the
prime minister took that step so that you can now declare that he is
being up front about everything and that answers will be forthcoming.”

Pashinyan continued that the GPO has never provided any answers to
any cases, starting with the events of March 1, 2008 up till now.

The opposition MP said that many government officials petition the
GPO just as a convenient ruse to deflect annoying questions.

“All they have to say is, the case is now with the GPO,” Pashinyan
noted.

ARMENIA EXPORTED ABOUT 30,000 SHEEP TO IRAN IN 2013: MINISTRY

YEREVAN, June 11./ARKA/. Armenia exported to Iran nearly 30,000 sheep
in June 2013, said Tuesday Ashot Hovhannisyan, head of veterinary
unit of Agriculture Ministry.

” I hope this year the sheep export to Iran will increase from a year
earlier to reach the volume of 2009-2011 -150,000 heads,” he said.

In 2012, Armenia exported only 61,000 sheep to Iran due to a 3-time
jump of USD against the Iranian currency, according to him.

Hovhannisyan added an average cost per sheep for export was nearly
$52,000.

He highlighted the export of sheep to Iran prompted sheep breeding.

“As you remember, when Armenia didn’t export sheep, it was difficult
to sell the heads here, and the farmers sometimes refused from sheep
breeding.

Fortunately, export of sheep encouraged the farmers and raised their
interest in sheep breeding,” he responded to ARKA.

Moreover, sheep export increased profits of farms and reduced mutton
cost in Armenia.

“Previously, 1 kg of mutton cost 4,000-4,5000, and now it is
2,800-3,000 drams,” he added.

Hovhannisyan clarified Iran prefers importing sheep from Armenia,
because Armenian sheep weigh 40-50 kg, whereas Georgian ones –
30-35 kg.

He also informed the number of sheep and goats in Armenia rose by
84,500 (14.3%) to 674,700 in 2012. ($1 – 411.94 drams). -0-

SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES PUTIN ON RUSSIA DAY

16:00 11.06.2013

President Serzh Sargsyan had a phone conversation with his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the Russian President and the brotherly
people of Russia on the upcoming Russia Day.

The Armenian President wished robust health and success to his Russian
counterpart and peace and prosperity to the Russian people.

Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin discussed issues related to the
deepening of relations between the two allied states and expansion
of cooperation in all spheres.

HAS BANK BUBBLE BURST IN ARMENIA?

Why did they suddenly start talking about the necessity to reduce
interest on loans in Armenia? Speaker Abrahamyan called to reduce
interests on loan in parliament.

It is clear that interest rates cannot go down by themselves. If
the Central Bank sets a refinancing rate at 8%, commercial banks
cannot lend money for less than 12%. But as in Armenia profits are
not controlled, there is no control on bank loans, banks bring rates
up to 24%. Why shouldn’t they try to get profits if they can?

As a result, Hovik Abrahamyan says, short-term loans with high interest
rates hinder economic development. This means that Armenia has become a
financial island, as Tigran Sargsyan had predicted five years ago. But
a financial island does not have an insurance pillow while the real
economy needs it. Otherwise, the financial bubble may burst soon.

The Central Bank itself boosts its reserves mainly due to the IMF
loan. Recently, however, the IMF said that they will stop projects
on concessional lending in Armenia, and the country will have to
learn how to keep itself on the water surface. This means that the
IMF will stop provision of reserves to the Central Bank. And as the
gold reserves were successfully sold a few years ago, and the fate
of pledged Eurobonds is unknown, there is only one way – to initiate
the development of real economy.

Apparently, this is the reason for Hovik Abrahamyan’s appeal. It has
become evident that the financial bubble in Armenia is about to burst.

In order to save the situation, the Central Bank may reduce sharply
the refinancing rate, forcing commercial banks to issue low-interest
loans and give people the possibility to create real economy.

It is not hard to guess how low-interest loans will be issued. Most
probably, the people who rule the economy will be the addressees of
those loans. These people have borrowed a lot of money and they have
a lot of privileges, such as low rates, long terms, governmental
guarantees and if they fail to pay off, the government will do it
instead of them. We can remember a lot of cases, such as Nairit
Company and its loan debts.

Five years of banking in Armenia can be considered closed. As always,
no one will be accountable for the fact that agriculture, building,
a number of other sectors of the real economy were destroyed for
the sake of inflating the financial bubble. Hundreds of thousands of
people were sent on earnings abroad after they got trapped in debt
bondage. The bubble is about to burst. And as usual, those who grow
grain, build buildings, produce products will again have to rescue
those who earn money from money.

Naira Hayrumyan 13:57 11/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, June 10, 2013

US AMBASSADOR AND MRS. HEFFERN VISIT AGBU HYE GEEN PREGNANT WOMEN’S
CENTER IN TALIN

On Saturday, May 18, US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, his wife
Mrs. Libby Heffern, Former Chairman of the AGBU Western District
Committee of California Haig Messerlian and AGBU Armenia Director Arpi
Vartanian visited the AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin.

During the Ambassador’s Diaspora Tour in the USA last December,
Ms. Sona Yacoubian, Chairperson and Founder of AGBU Hye Geen Southern
California, invited Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern to visit the AGBU Hye
Geen Pregnant Women’s Centers in Armenia and meet the expectant
mothers to better understand the realities facing women and their
families in Armenia’s regions today.

Ms. Yacoubian remarked, “The AGBU Hye Geen Committee welcomes the
interest and the appreciation shown by Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern. We
consider the Pregnant Women Centers in Armenia a priority. Healthy
newborns and healthy, educated mothers are essential to safeguard the
future of our homeland. I also thank Haig Messerlian and Arpi
Vartanian for their assistance in arranging this visit.”

Messerlian, Vartanian and Ani Aslanian, Project Coordinator of the
AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin, described the Center’s
activities, accomplishments and challenges. The 20 mothers-to-be were
delighted to share their impressions and have a frank discussion about
their everyday challenges. Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern, proud parents
of five children and grandparents to one child, welcomed the
opportunity to interact with the women, learn about their concerns,
and share their experience and ideas.

To date, AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Talin has served
close to 160 women and their healthy babies.

Mrs. Libby Heffern said, “It was wonderful to see so many Talin women
actively participating in the center. I really believe that proper
prenatal care is the most precious gift for their children.”

Ambassador Heffern stated, “Thanks to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union for its great work in Armenia. Its Women Centers all over the
country are prime examples of what AGBU does for the Armenian
people. Libby and I had a heart-warming visit to the center in Talin,
where we met two dozen pregnant women and discussed their lives,
families, challenges and opportunities.”

Several constructive suggestions were offered. AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant
Women’s Center Talin is already exploring ways to turn those ideas
into reality.

Messerlian, Vartanian and Aslanian thanked Ambassador and Mrs. Heffern
for their visit and enthusiasm, and expressed appreciation for their
support to Armenia and the Armenian people. Messerlian added that
their meaningful visit and conversation with the participants meant a
great deal and would be remembered by all for years to come.

The first AGBU Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Armenia was
established in 2002, in Gyumri, with the goal of improving the health
of pregnant women and reducing infant mortality rates and complicated
pregnancies. In 2006, the second Center was opened in Vanadzor. In
2009, the Talin Center was established, replacing the Gyumri
Center. In 2011, the Nora Injijian Center was launched in
Yeghvard. Most recently, the Arshagouhi Tavitian Center was opened in
2012 in Yerevan. Maintaining a constant number of 20 pregnant women
per site, the Centers have become a place for women to discuss
concerns, receive medical exams & pre-natal care, learn through
individual and group consultations with experts and form long-lasting
bonds with one another. These Centers have become possible through the
efforts of AGBU Southern California Hye Geen Southern California. To
date, the Centers have served over 1,400 healthy babies and
mothers. For more information about Hye Geen, visit

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit

Montserrat Caballe: Armenia an island of peace and love

June 9, 2013 – 17:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met a world famed
Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe following her visit to the Nagorno
Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.
The President hailed the famous opera singer’s bravery and
determination in travelling to Armenia and Artsakh.

The Armenian leader awarded an honorary order to Ms Caballe, who
thanked Sargsyan, calling Armenia an `island of peace and love.’

`You have a wonderful country whose people are string in spirit. I
have the best memories of Armenia and am certain that this visit won’t
be the last one,’ Ms Caballe said.

Film starring Aznavour to open Armenian film festival – RIA Novosti

13:37 – 09.06.13

A French crime drama featuring the world-renowned French-Armenian
singer and musician Charles Aznavour is going to open the 2013 Golden
Apricot Film Festival, RIA Novosti reported, citing an organizer.

The annual Armenian international film event will be held in capital
Yerevan for the tenth time this year. It will last from the 7th until
the 14th of July.

Aznavour is central character in `Shoot the Piano Player’, a 1960
drama directed by François Truffaut . The festival program includes
two more movies starring the musician, Tatevik Manukyan, the head of
the Festival’s International Department, has told the agency.

Armenian News – Tert.am

REVUE DE PRESSE
Oratorio pour une victime de la torture

Asli Erdogan a 30 ans lorsque, en 1996, elle abandonne une prometteuse
carrière de physicienne pour se consacrer à l’écriture. Six courts
romans – à peine 500 pages en tout – immédiatement salués par la
critique et les lecteurs de son pays, la Turquie, puis traduits dans
une dizaine de langues. Militante des droits de l’homme et des
minorités – arménienne et kurde surtout -, elle est considérée comme
l’une des grandes voix rebelles de la prose turque. Elle vit
aujourd’hui en Autriche, où elle s’est exilée pour fuir un incessant
harcèlement policier. Victime d’un viol, la colonne vertébrale blessée
par un coup de matraque lors d’une manifestation, elle souffre d’une
douleur chronique qui ne lui laisse pas de répit.

La douleur physique et la peur qu’elle engendre, Asli Erdogan les
connaît donc intimement et elle sait les mots pour les dire : « Rien
n’est aussi terrible qu’on le craint disaient ceux qui, connaissant
mal la nature humaine, se figuraient que la souffrance avait un début
et une fin… Ceux qui n’ont surplombé que des gouffres familiers et
n’ont jamais été emportés dans l’interminable sarabande de la peur. »
Cette douleur-là, thème récurrent de son oeuvre, touche à son acmé
dans son nouveau livre, Le Btiment de pierre. Le corps soumis à la
torture en est l’effroyable propos. L’entreprise littéraire est
périlleuse. C’est un défi lancé au pouvoir de l’écriture face à la
dislocation du langage que la torture produit ; privant l’homme de
parole, la réduisant à des cris et à des sons informes. « Ce qui
parlait en lui, c’était le langage des blessures, la solitude des
marchés, des rues, des chlits désertés, les histoires où nul ne
passe… C’était le langage des mots arrachés au mutisme, dans le halo
d’un silence infranchissable, et retournés au silence, mots que nul
n’entend ni ne désire », écrit-elle.

D’emblée, on sait. Voici un texte dicté par la plus stricte nécessité,
à la fois politique et personnelle. Asli Erdogan prête ses yeux et sa
voix à l’un de ses proches, disparu depuis plus de dix ans et dont
elle est convaincue qu’il est mort sous la torture. Le Btiment de
pierre est le récit halluciné de son calvaire dans cette prison où
sont emmurés opposants politiques, militants et gosses des rues,
voleurs et petits délinquants. C’est un récit éclaté, construit comme
un oratorio dont on entendrait les solistes et le choeur sans toujours
clairement les identifier, sans aucune description, jamais, de sévices
corporels. De paragraphe en paragraphe, le narrateur change, mais la
voix reste la même ; fusionnant celles du mort et du survivant, du
bourreau et de la victime, celles de l’homme devenu fou et de l’enfant
qui résiste.

« Le corps et la douleur ont leur propre langage que j’ai essayé de
capter à leur niveau le plus spirituel, explique Asli Erdogan au «
Monde des livres ». Je ne pense pas que la littérature puisse ou doive
pénétrer dans la chambre de torture. Et puis, je n’ai jamais su
raconter une histoire, la métaphore est ma signature. »

Porté par une écriture rarement rencontrée, alliage de brutalité, de
crudité et de poésie, Le Btiment de pierre est un alcool fort que
l’on absorbe d’un trait, chahutés entre nausée et ravissement,
abattement et vitalité, un texte qui donne à penser autant qu’à
éprouver. Comme le fait la grande poésie.

Article paru dans l’édition du 19.04.13

LE MONDE

Avec « Le Btiment de pierre », la Turque Asli Erdogan imagine, dans
une langue crue et poétique, l’horreur vécue par un proche dans une
prison de son pays

dimanche 9 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com