Author: nina hovnanian

YEREVAN TO HOST INTERUNIVERSITY FESTIVAL OF FRENCH SONGS

April 04, 2013 | 16:00

YEREVAN. – The annual interuniversity French song competition-festival,
in which Armenia’s institutions of higher education participate,
will be held this year on April 12, at capital city Yerevan’s
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University.

The festival is held with assistance by the French Embassy in Armenia,
and within the framework of the La Francophonie days in the country.

A professional jury will evaluate the performances of the participants.

To note, this festival is held in Armenia since 2009.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

IWPR: AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ACTIVITY IN FACEBOOK

17:35 04/04/2013 ” SOCIETY

The social networking site Facebook is booming in Azerbaijan,
where more than a million people now use the site. They include a
new generation of opposition activists who are seen as a challenge
by officials accustomed to controlling the media, Shahla Sultanova
writes on the site of British IWPR.

According to the article some officials have proposed restricting
use of the site, but experts say Facebook is almost impossible to
regulate unless it is closed down altogether.

“Facebook’s mobilising power was seen in January, when the first
demonstration organised exclusively online took place. The protest
followed the death of Jeyhun Gubadov, an 18-year-old conscript soldier
who died just three months into his military service.

His mother was officially told that he died of heart failure, but
pictures of his body taken by family members showed clear signs of
injury. The images spread online, together with pictures of other
soldiers who died in non-combat situations, and videos of their
grieving parents, causing widespread anger,” the article reads.

According to the author the Facebook page called “Stop Soldier Deaths”
called for a protest on January 12, and within days more than 17,000
people had clicked to say they would attend.

“Although the actual protest was not that large – journalists estimated
that 3,000 people came – Professor Katy Pearce of the University
of Washington said that in a society like Azerbaijan’s, clicking
“attending” on a protest event was a significant step in itself,”
the article says.

“In today’s social media world, where your ‘attendance’ is visible to
the public and the government, this sign of support is meaningful,”
she said.

According to Sultanova, it was in any case a large protest by
Azerbaijani standards. In spring 2012, the opposition Popular Front
and Musavat parties called for protests on the eve of the Eurovision
Song Contest. Around 1,000 people attended the first demonstration.

“When fines were imposed on 22 participants in the January 12
demonstration, social networking sites again showed their power with
the “five qepik” campaign, in which sympathisers paid a tiny amount
each towards the penalties, which ranged between 300 and 600 manats,
or 380-765 US dollars,” the article says.

“More than 2,000 people donated during the campaign, the majority of
them Facebook and Twitter users,” Pearce said.

According to the article, the government used evidence gathered from
Facebook to justify the arrest of three members of the new opposition
youth group NIDA on charges of planning violent protests. Their arrests
on March 7 came just three days before another Facebook-organised
protest was due.

The author writes that, according to the web statistics site
socialbakers.com, Azerbaijan had 1,013,000 Facebook users in Azerbaijan
in February, over 12 per cent of the entire population, but heavily
concentrated in Baku.

“The popularity of Facebook gives anti-government activists access
to the kind of audience that the opposition newspapers Azadliq and
Yeni Musavat, with a circulation of just 10,000, could never reach,”
Sultanova writes.

As the article says, the authorities seem alarmed at the emergence
of Facebook as a tool for activism.

“National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov has said telecoms companies
should help monitor social networking sites, as they are being used
to recruit extremists. And Ramiz Mehdiyev, head of the presidential
administration, has alleged that certain international organisations
are paying and organising young people via social networking sites,”
the article says.

Immediately after the March 10 protest and the arrest of the
three NIDA activists, Fazail Aghamali, a parliamentarian from the
government-aligned Ana Vatan party, said officials should examine
whether social networking sites were a threat to national security.

Pearce said that to date, the Azerbaijani government did not seem to
have a firm policy on how to deal with the challenges that Facebook
might pose to it. The government uses social media to promote itself
as well, she said.

However, she added that as with the recent arrests of NIDA members,
“information disclosed on Facebook or any internet site – regardless
of privacy settings – can be used against people offline.

“Content monitoring and deep packet inspection [intense monitoring
of web traffic] is not impossible,” she said.

On March 10, in Baku, a mass protest against the deaths of soldiers in
the army in non-combat situation was held. The rally was dispersed by
the police; at least 60 people were detained. There were about 3000
protesters at Fountain Square. The number of participants increased
due to the relatives of the recruits killed in the Azerbaijani army.

Earlier, a similar protest was held on January 12 in 2013 and was
also dispersed by the police. Both protests were organized in social
networks.

Source: Panorama.am

ON WHOSE ACCOUNT “DIRTY” MONEY WILL GO

Every economy, company, household, country or global market needs
regular inventory. Otherwise it is impossible to calculate resources,
costs and investments. The impression is that the world is undergoing
inventory and disposal. The purpose is to reveal shadow money which
is dead because is not invested in future.

Everything began with the blast of banks in the United States and
Europe followed by corruption scandals in Russia and Cyprus, and now
the lists of owners of capital in the Virginian islands is leaked.

In this regard, it is important to note that the Russian
anti-corruption committee has a lot of records on money misappropriated
by Armenian and Russian officials in Armenia.

Armenia is one of the closest countries. Nobody knows how many
billionaires there are. Armenian billionaires on world lists are
not citizens of Armenia although there surely must be billionaires
in Armenia.

The Aravot Daily hinted that the Russian Anti-Corruption Committee
meant Robert Kocharyan. If it is true, and Russia is likely to unveil
corruption schemes which were backed by itself, Armenia will face
lots of problems.

Armenia is going through redistribution of property and economic
levers. Armavia, the national carrier, is bankrupt, changes are
expected in import of essential goods, and the Western capital is
expected to make big investments in the mining sector, owners of
banks are changing. All spheres with real money are changing owners.

It is hard to tell the logic though experts are speaking about
two options: one is the rivalry between Robert Kocharyan and Serzh
Sargsyan, the second is wider, the expansion of Western investments.

Most probably, however, Armenia is part of the global process of
inventory and disposal of dirty money.

The Armenian economy is like a knitted piece of cloth, and if you
pull a string, the entire system will be destroyed. In addition,
since the system is based on dirty money, after the collapse nobody
wants to protect dirty money by law. Therefore, no Russian businessman
or state-run company has applied to an international court to claim
back the money they lost in Cyprus, as Medvedev put it. Law will not
protect dirty money.

The clean-up is positive. The question is what will replace dirty
money.

Naira Hayrumyan 17:49 04/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN URGES AZERBAIJAN TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HISTORY

16:29 04/04/2013 » REGION

Iran is ready to use all its capabilities to assist Karabakh
resolution, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast
has told a news conference hosted by the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan,
Mehr news agency reported.

Asked to present Iran~Rs position on Baku~Rs claims for joining
the Iranian Azerbaijan (Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan and
West Azerbaijan) with Azerbaijan, Ramin Mehmanparast said, ~SThose
countries which make such unfounded claims have not studied the
history thoroughly. If they take a closer look at history, they will
see which region belongs to which country.~T

Referring to Karabakh issue, Mehmanparast said, ~SWe have discussed
this issue with the Armenian authorities. If the conflicting sides
show willingness, we are ready to use all our capabilities to move
in the direction of resolving the conflict.~T

Commenting on the deployment of Israeli military base near the border
between Iran and Azerbaijan, Mehmanparast said, ~SIsrael has no force
or capability to attack Iran. If Israel makes such historical mistake,
then its first mistake will be the last one.~T

As part of his visit to Armenia, spokesman of Iran~Rs Foreign Ministry
Ramin Mehmanparast has met with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian and visited Yerevan State University and
RA National Academy of Sciences.

Source: Panorama.am

AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL: DISTANCE IS NOT AN OBSTACLE IF THERE IS MUTUAL INTEREST

ArmInfo’s Interview with Marcela Maria Nicodemos, Ambassador of Brazil
to Armenia

by Marianna Lazarian

ARMINFO Thursday, April 4, 15:45

Mrs. Ambassador, during the March 11 2013 visit to Armenia, Brazil’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Vera Machado pointed out that Brazil is
interested in developing relations with Armenia. In what spheres is
Brazil going to cooperate with our country and at what level is the
legal and regulatory framework between the two countries?

During her visit to Yerevan, Brazil’s Vice Minister of External
Relations, Ambassador Vera Machado, and Armenian Foreign Minister,
Edward Nalbandian, discussed the current stage of bilateral relations.

The sides pointed out that there is a great potential between the two
countries to promote cooperation in various spheres. I should mention
that since the opening of Brazil’s Embassy in Armenia, in 2006,
our countries have established cooperation in a number of fields,
particularly, in the cultural area. For instance, the Embassy of
Brazil in Armenia sponsored the visit of important figures from the
Armenian community in Brazil to the Republic of Armenia.

Regarding the legal framework, currently there are two agreements in
force between our countries: the first one is in the area of culture
cooperation and the other is concerning the visa exemption for holders
of diplomatic and official passports. There are two Memorandum of
Understanding – i) on political consultations and ii) on sports and
youth cooperation – whose texts have already been agreed upon and await
signature. Besides, the two countries are negotiating agreements in the
area of technical cooperation, particularly in the areas of healthcare,
agriculture, education, and in the area of harmonization of customs
norms. Also, Brazil proposed to the Armenian authorities a draft
agreement on the performance of remunerated activities by dependents
of diplomatic, consular, military, administrative, and technical staff.

However, even without the proper legal framework in place, Brazil has
developed an extensive program of capacity building in the field of
civil defense in Armenia, which encompassed three visits of Brazilian
delegations to Armenia and two visits of Armenian delegations to
Brazil. In the meantime, Brazil also provided its support in the
field of emergency situations and environmental problems. In order to
mitigate the consequences of the environmental disaster in Noubarashen,
connected with spill of toxic waste, Brazil allocated nearly $100,000
to refurbish the toxic waste laboratory in the region and donated
a vehicle to the Ministry of Nature Protection. Brazil also made
donations to the Armenian Government through UNICEF to help overcome
the infant nutrition problems, especially in the most affected regions
of the Republic.

Vice Minister Machado and Minister Nalbandian came to an agreement that
the two countries have a big potential for cooperation, and that this
potential should be explored further. The exchange of the officials’
visits will contribute to that. It will allow studying possible spheres
of collaboration and working out new and more effective projects to
strengthen bilateral relations. Thus, we need to intensify the visits
of high level officials from Brazil and Armenia, to identify the needs
and put in place strong basis for strengthening the relationship. To
note, the contractual and legal framework between the two countries
also needs to be expanded, and, as I mentioned before, specific steps
are being taken in this direction.

The National Statistical Service of Armenia says that the imports of
goods made in Brazil grew by 11.8% in 2012 and totaled $93.2 mln. Will
the commodity turnover between the two countries keep on growing? May
Armenian products be exported to the Brazilian market in the future
given that the exports dropped to the zero level in 2012, according
to the same statistical data?

Brazil is ready to expand the cooperation if new prospects open. The
trade turnover between the two countries is rather low, and both
Minister Nalbandian and Vice Minister Machado mentioned it. By my data,
the volume of products exported to Armenia by Brazil totaled $34.2 mln
in 2012, which is not a high indicator. But this is connected with
the differences between the two countries. The problem is not only
in low export of Brazilian goods to Armenia, but also the exports of
Armenian products to Brazil.

In 2012, our exports to Armenia grew by 6.6% as compared to 2011,
while imports of Armenian goods to Brazil dropped by 89% as compared
to 2011 and totaled $19 thousands. The Brazilian products entering
the Armenian market remain the same – meat and meat products, sugar,
coffee and tobacco. Brazil is interested in the expansion of Armenian
exports, specially of products such as electric appliances, minerals,
and mostly molybdenum. I should also mention that Brazil has a big
demand for Armenian brandies. Undoubtedly, there are resources and
opportunities to increase the trade turnover between the two countries,
but there are also obstacles, first of all, the distance.

But everything can be overcome in case of mutual interest and efforts.

This was also pointed out during the meeting of the RA Minister
of Economy and Vice Foreign Minister of Brazil. For that purpose
the two sides should set up missions and organize mutual trade
forums to create the favorable conditions and to familiarize the two
countries with their economic potential. Certainly, we cannot force
the businesses to cooperate, but we can create favorable conditions
for them. The Government of both countries should support the business
circles in this matter by providing relevant business platforms for
cooperation. An arrangement to increase the trade turnover between
Armenia and Brazil could be designed and implemented. In this context
big opportunities for cooperation could be explored, but, certainly,
this can be reached through mutual efforts.

You have said that in Brazil you have a certain demand for the Armenian
brandy. Is the Armenian side doing anything to export it?

This is not for us to say. This initiative must come from Armenia.

Should there be a mutual interest, the Brazilian Embassy can help
to find partners in Brazil. We can just support initiatives but
not arrange them. There have been no such requests during my stay in
office. We have no information about the export of the Armenian brandy
to Brazil. There is a possibility that some Armenian businessmen might
have applied with such requests to the Embassy of Armenia in Brazil,
but as far as our Embassy is concerned, we have not so far been asked
to search for such partners in Brazil.

Have you received any requests from Brazilian businessmen for
organizing business in Armenia?

We have received lots of such proposals from both Armenian and
Brazilian businessmen, but we have no information about the outcome of
their negotiations – for companies do not usually inform us about their
talks. There was a case when one Armenian company asked the Brazilian
side through the Government of Armenia to find an investor in Brazil,
but while the Brazilians were looking for the partner, another country
was faster and found an investor who signed contract with that company.

In what international organizations do Armenia and Brazil cooperate?

And how effectively do they do it?

On an international level we cooperate mostly in the framework
of the United Nations. Naturally, we do not cooperate within
European organizations since we are not members to them. At the
UN we cooperate quite effectively and try to help each other where
necessary. Of course, your support here is bigger than ours as we
have more representatives to the UN than you have. We also try not to
hinder each other when one of us is not interested in some issue. So,
I can say that our countries enjoy quite successful cooperation.

Brazil is home to quite a big Armenian community. What role does it
play in your country’s social-political life? Do you have high-ranking
officials of Armenian origin?

The Armenian community of Brazil is quite active. We have about
40,000-45,000 Armenians, who live mostly in São Paulo, our most
prosperous state. They are actively engaged in our political, economic
and cultural life. In the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations
there are many Brazilian-Armenians, who are mostly diplomats, like
misters Ohanian, Bahadian, Arslanian, Karmirian, Gasparian who are
all quite influential people. We have a lot of active businessmen
of Armenian origin. One of the biggest of them is the Burmaians,
who are engaged in trade and finance.

Armenians are also very active in culture. One of the most popular
Armenians in this field is actor Stepan Nercessian, who visited
Armenia in 2009 on our invitation. We organized the screening of his
film. He met with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the Catholicos
of All Armenians and the Prime Minister. Nercessian is a member of
the Brazilian Parliament, where he actively promotes the interests
of the Armenian community. Also very popular in Brazil is actress
Aracy Balabanian, who performed the role of Dona Armenia.

Armenians are quite influential in Brazil, and we are proud that
in 2009 we were able to organize in Armenia an exhibition about the
first immigrants in Brazil. The story said that the key reason why
the man left his country for Brazil was his love for a woman. But,
to be more serious, the key cause was the WWI.

Our city of Osasco is the twin town of your Gyumri. When visiting
Osasco, the Mayor of Gyumri granted his Brazilian counterpart a cross
stone, which is now at one of Osasco’s public squares. Brazil has
all conditions for the local Armenians to preserve their culture. We
have Armenian churches, schools, and clubs. On the other hand, our
Armenians are fully integrated into our society.

You said there is a cultural contract contact between Armenia and
Brazil. What events are organized within the frames of this contract?

The screening of Brazilian films as well as musical presentations
was organized both in Yerevan and Gyumri. As for the organizing of
official Armenia’s Culture Days in Brazil, there was no such event,
as I know. The Armenian Embassy in Brazil should initiate and organize
such an event. Unfortunately, similar events are not planned be held
in Armenia in the near future, as our country has to cut its budgetary
funds, because of the global financial and economic crisis. However,
several separate events will be implemented over the current year. In
particular, the screening of Brazilian films, the week of the Brazilian
“capoeira” will be also held, during which Brazilian musicians and
dancers will perform for the Armenian audience.

Are the high level mutual visits scheduled between the two countries?

Such visits have not been scheduled yet. However, Brazil has a strong
wish to organize a high level visit to Armenia. The visit has been
already endorsed by the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil,
but the terms of the visit have not been specified yet because of
tight schedules of high ranked officials from both countries.

Thank you for the interview.

BAKU WELCOMES ANKARA’S DECISION TO CANCEL VAN-YEREVAN FLIGHTS

11:47 ~U 04.04.13

Turkey’s decision to cancel new flights between Turkey’s province
of Van and Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, which were expected
to start on April 3, is being greeted with enthusiasm by Azerbaijan,
Today’s Zaman reports.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Elman Abdullayev has
said that Ankara’s decision to cancel the flights, which were to
be operated by BoraJet, to its long-estranged neighbor, Armenia,
is of great importance for Azerbaijan. “There were some groups in
Azerbaijan that took opposition to the flights in question. They
would have been operated by a private company, but due to political
and economic conditions they won’t take off,” Abdullayev was quoted
as saying on Wednesday.

The flights between Armenia and Turkey would not have been the first
between the two countries. Armenia’s national carrier, Armavia,
operated flights between Armenia and Turkey before it filed for
bankruptcy last month. Van-Yerevan flights were scheduled to run
twice-weekly and meant to boost bilateral tourism and trade.

Commenting on Turkey’s outstanding support for Azerbaijan in the region
Abdullayev said: “In this case the role of Azerbaijan’s strategic
ally, Turkey, is very important, as Ankara’s pressure on Yerevan is
necessary,” he said. “We have always felt Turkey’s support and for
that we are thankful to Ankara.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN CALLS ON ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO STOP “FIGHTING FOR POSITION”

ARMINFO
Thursday, April 4, 13:17

At today’s political meeting of his supporters the leader of the
Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian called them to come to the Liberty
Square on 9 April and make their contribution in the fight got the
new Armenia.

“That day Armenia, Diaspora and Artsakh will be at the Square.

Together we are the army to save our native land. April was a month
of the genocide for us. Dear motherland, wait a little bit, and April
will be a month of rebirth. I call on Serzh Sargsyan, for the love of
Armenia, to stop the race for power. The people have won and he should
leave the presidential race”, – Hovannisian said. At the same time,
he invited President Sargsyan also to come to the Liberty Square on
9 April. He also applied to the people not to have expectations from
him, as everything is in the hands of the people themselves.

To note, the inauguration of President Serzh Sargsyan will take place
on 9 April. At the same day Raffi Hovannisian’s supporters are going
to organize Hovannisian’s inauguration at the Liberty Square.

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS TO BE SPECIAL GUEST IN TASHIR 2013

10:06, 3 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS: Tashir 2013 National Award annual
ceremony will take place at the State Kremlin Palace on May 18. As
Armenpress Moscow correspondent was reported by Tashir PR Director
Marina Gaze, the main surprise of the anniversary gala Tashir 2013
will be a special guest – the most popular Latin artist in the world,
the famous singer Enrique Iglesias.

“My fans from Russia and the CIS have always given me a warm welcome
and support, and I am honored to speak at the Kremlin Palace on Music
Award Tashir 2013, – said the special guest of the gala concert singer
Enrique Iglesias.

Tashir-2013 – a national award for excellence in the field of Armenian
musical culture, aimed at supporting the best representatives of the
Armenian art in the world. The brightest musicians from around the
world will gather for a concert stage at the State Kremlin Palace,
to provide viewers a special show of the Russian capital, combining
classical and modern musical culture.

The program of the gala concert on the occasion of the award of Tashir
– 2013 will be attended by stars from Russia and Europe: Margarita
Pozoyan, Nikolai Baskov, Sofia Rotaru, Avraam Russo, Christina
Aguilera, Love Assumption, and world-renowned musician Jivan Gasparyan.

Among the prominent representatives of modern Armenian music culture
will be: Awarded Grammy and World Music Awards Arto Tunjboyajian and
avant-garde folk-jazz band of Armenian Navy Band, participants of
Eurovision in 2008 and 2009, the singer Sirusho, and the popular folk
duo Inga and Anush Arshakyans. Real decoration of the program will
be a performance of famous artists of the musical “Notre de Paris”
Helene Segara and Patrick Fiori.

Especially for the award “Tashir 2013â~@³ composer Tolibkhon Shahidi
unveils his new work Dialogue Rhapsody for piano and orchestra on the
theme, tone of Aram Khachaturian, dedicated to the 110th anniversary
of the great Armenian composer.

The world premiere will be performed in pianist Vazgen Vartanian and
the Russian State Symphony Orchestra of Cinematography by People’s
Artist of Russia Sergey Skripka.

Beginning in 2006, the prize Tashir always goes with broad national
scale and is famous for its entertainment. Over the years the award
has won great success in Moscow public and attracted a total of more
than 40,000 spectators and more than 5 million viewers.

Leading award ceremony in 2013 will be: Victoria Lopyreva, Garik
Martirosyan, Andrei Malakhov and Tatiana Gevorgyan. Gala concert
to mark the awarding of the Prize TASHIR – 2013 will be broadcast
on public television Armenia TV live and will be available to all
residents of Armenia.

In 2013, Prize Tashir-2013 will be presented in such categories as
“Best Duet”, “Best Singer”, “Best Singer”, “Breakthrough”, “Friend
of Armenia.”

GC Tashir – a multi-holding company, established in 1999 by Samvel
Karapetyan, brings together more than 200 companies involved in
construction, manufacturing, energy, finance, trade, catering, etc.

The total number of employees is more than 45 000 people. The total
portfolio of facilities built or under construction – more than 4.1
million square meters, including more than 2.4 million square meters
shopping and entertainment centers.

WE’LL STEP BY STEP OPEN WAY TO SUCCESS, SAYS EX-CANDIDATE SAYS (LIVE)

11:39 ~U 03.04.13

Former presidential candidate Raffi Hovhannisian said in Abovyan on
Wednesday that he is ready to reaffirm the people’s real victory in
the February 18 election.

“We’ll step by step open the people’s way, and our program,” he said,
noting that the moment of truth has arrived for both himself and the
people, as well as the political parties.

The opposition Heritage party’s leader promised to always stand by
supporters, appreciating the efforts for forming a union among people
with different beliefs and different track records.

The politician ended his speech with words of praise for the Abovyan
residents’ love and respect for the law.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

12:24

Hovhannisian says ready for struggle throughout the year

Visiting the town of Nor Hachn as part of his regional tours,
Hovhannisian spoke of his popular movement, saying that he is ready
to persist with the struggle throughout the year.

The civic movement implies struggle at any time of the year, no
matter whether it is spring, autumn or winter, the ex-candidate said,
addressing the crowd.

“Say whatever you want, but anyone printing the lie and repeating the
error has to face the court of the Armenian nation’s justice and our
people’s rights,” he said, condemning election rigging practices.

ARNOLD STEPANYAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE CREATION OF NEW ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION ON CHURCHES ISSUE

10:50, 3 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. The Head of “Multinational Georgia”
organization Arnold Stepanyan does not exclude the creation of new
Armenian-Georgian commission, which will be engaged in the issue of
the Armenian churches in Georgia. In a conversation with “Armenpress”
Arnold Stepanyan stated that presently there is a commission under
the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, where a number of Georgian and
Armenian representatives have been involved. The commission is in
charge for the restoration of the Armenian churches. Arnold Stepanyan
has also been included in the aforesaid commission. Among other things
Stepanyan noted: “Currently cleaning of St. Norashen Church is in
progress. There was a library in the church and a number of books
have been taken out, but we don’t know whom we should give them. We
have already turned to the academy of sciences. The issue of St. Minas
Church is much more serious.” In addition Arnold Stepanyan stated that
one of the citizens has dug a basement in front of the church and
appropriated it. Stepanyan complained to the corresponding bodies,
but they said that the procedure of appropriation was conducted in
accordance with the law. Also Stepanyan emphasized: “I demanded on
a meeting with the prosecutor and had a meeting with him. I am going
to meet him again, and if the issue remains unsolved I shall convoke
a meeting in the commission.”