Author: nina hovnanian

`How Long Do We Have to Live and Work In a Foreign Country?’

Friday, 02 November 2012 11:37

`In Syria my husband dug holes with his own crane and besides our
everyday expenses we had an income of 30 thousand US dollars. But how
long do we have to live and work in a foreign country?’ Nazik Ohanyan,
who moved to the town of Kovsakan, Qashatagh region, from Syria three
years ago says with obvious uncertainty.

In 2000 Nazik’s husband Zhirayr Tonapetyan, displeased with his
business in Armenia, decided to visit Artsakh. He approved of the new
settlement and decided to move to Kovsakan with his family.

According to deputy Mayor of Kovsakan Gor Tovmasyan before the war in
Syria 6 Armenian families moved to Kovsakan, during the war 8 families
did.

The multi-flat house for the 6 families that moved to Kovsakan during
the war in Syria was repaired by the Toufenkyan fund, while the
construction material for the face-lift of the building was allocated
by the government,’ the deputy mayor says.

The Tonapetyans as well as most of the Armenians from Syria in
Kovsakan farm the land.

`We imported new machinery from Syria that enables to cultivate the
land better. My husband together with his friend Alishan cultivated
350-400 ha this year. Last year the Armenians from Syria sowed 900 ha
arable land,’ Lady Nazik says and adds that the government supports
them much with seeds and diesel fuel.

In answer to the question what problem of theirs is of top priority
Lady Nazik smiled and added, `We have no problem. We shall solve them
ourselves. I think only when my house will be like a real house. First
it was too difficult, when I saw the ruined houses I thought we would
not be able to adapt the place. But the next day as I saw my 7
children freely and happily running in the yard my heart was filled
with joy’.

Lady Nazik’s 18-year-old son Raffi says that he liked Kovsakan very
much, only the ruined houses seemed frightening first.

For me it was surprising how one may go out in worn-out clothes while
the local people got surprised `when I went out in clean clothes and
sprayed on with perfume. According to them there is no need to dress
neatly in Kovsakan,’ Raffi recalls.

Quite surprised at himself Raffi confesses that although there is
nothing special in Kovsakan he begins to miss it after ten days
wherever he goes.

Doctor Moushegh Aroyan, leaving his own clinic in Syria, has moved to
Kovsakan with his wife and children.

`I had decided to move to my homeland until the war began. I heard on
TV that immigrants are being supported, I called the corresponding
phone number and they confirmed the information. We are satisfied with
the present-day conditions, we have been provided with a flat. My wife
Silva and I got a job at the local hospital. Of course the conditions
here are quite hard but some time is needed to get accustomed to the
situation.’

However, the physician does not even think of returning to Syria. `I
moved here to stay for the rest of my life for my children so as we
live and create for our nation’.

At present another multi-flat house is being repaired by state funds
for other 6 Armenian families from Syria to settle in. In parallel
with the housing problem attempts are made to provide the settlers
with jobs.

Qnar Babayan

US ambassador visits Armenian church in Baku

17:05 – 04.11.12

US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar has issued a call for
protecting the cultural heritage in the South Caucasus region,
Contact.az reports.

The diplomat has particularly said that ever since being appointed an
ambassador he has started studying the country’s history and culture
and visiting, among other places, the monuments of Nakhichevan, to get
familiarized with the diverse cultural heritage sites.

According to him, the desecrated Armenian cemetery in Nakhicevan was a
topic of detailed discussions at meetings with Azerbaijani officials.
Morningstar regretted to note that the plans for his visit to the
region were frustrated for `security reasons’.

The ambassador stressed the importance of preserving the cultural
heritage in the region, considering it a key element for maintaining
peace.

He said he was encouraged by Armenia and Azerbaijan’s efforts towards
protecting each other’s cultural heritage. The diplomat also spoke of
his visit to Baku’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Church where he was
introduced to the Armenian church history, as well as Armenian books
and manuscripts.

According to the Azerbaijani website, employees of Armenian and
Azerbaijani archives are visiting Armenia next week to participate in
trainings.

The Armenian church of Baku was built in 1887. The cross on the
building’s top was removed by the Azerbaijanis in 1990.

ARMENIENS DE SYRIE
En Syrie, les 7 Arméniens otages des forces de l’opposition armée
seraient libérés

Selon le site Tert.am se fondant sur « des informations fiables » les
7 Arméniens enlevés par les groupes de l’opposition armée aux forces
gouvernementales dans un autobus sur la route reliant Alep à Beyrouth
sont libérés mais non rendus à ce jour à leurs familles. Lors de cette
opération 11 personnes se trouvant dans l’autobus étaient enlevés près
d’Alep. L’opposition armée réclamait du gouvernement syrien pour leur
échange la libération de 150 opposants. L’opposition avait donné un
délai de trois jours au terme duquel les 11 otages devaient être
exécutés. Il semble ainsi que cette affaire a eu une issue heureuse
avec la libération des otages.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 4 novembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

US SHOULD WORK TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN

The Hill
Nov 2 2012
DC

By Stephen Blank, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. –
11/02/12 11:00 AM ET

The violence plaguing the Arab world should move U.S. policy makers,
decision makers and experts to consider how and why the U.S. should
strengthen stable, pro-American governments in Muslim countries
against internal or external threats. Azerbaijan exemplifies such
states. Though it is still an emerging democracy, born from the
shadows of the Soviet Union, it has stood squarely with the U.S.

against terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Central Asia and throughout
the world, all at considerable risk to itself.

It has also fended off constant Russian and Iranian threats due to
its pro-American, pro-Western and pro-Israeli policies and confronts
serious problems and local threats. Not the least of these threats
is the possibility of a renewed war in Nagorno-Karabakh, one of the
world’s most implacable and dangerous frozen conflicts.

If war resumed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s recent
military and diplomatic exercises have served notice that no doubt
with Moscow’s and Tehran’s encouragement and help, that it would
attack Azeri pipelines that carry much-needed oil and gas to America’s
European allies. Azerbaijan’s domestic policies, while not perfect,
are also under attack from Iran. In 2012 alone, three separate Iranian
plots involving incitement through religious agitation to terrorism,
gun running and plots to assassinate Israelis in Azerbaijan were
uncovered and thwarted. Iran also regularly calls Azerbaijan’s
religious policies anti-Islamic and regularly threatens to attack
Azerbaijan if it hosted a U.S. base. Thus, Iran presents Azerbaijan
with a constant and genuine threat.

Moreover, Syria’s civil war and Iran’s deteriorating situation will
probably increase Azerbaijan’s strategic importance to the West. Also,
Syria’s civil war is putting enormous pressure on Turkey to intervene.

Numerous incidents between Turkey and Syria have already occurred while
this war has also spurred the deterioration of Turkey’s partnership
with Russia. Should Turkey intervene, Russia could conceivably
block gas sales to Turkey since Turkey receives 2/3 of its gas
from Russia. Azerbaijan, thanks to its recently improved ties with
Turkey and the 2011 bilateral decision to build a gas pipeline from
Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe (the Trans-Anatolian or TANAP
pipeine), could offer Turkey and Europe alternative gas sources to
resist Russian threats and blackmail.

Since 2010, if not earlier, Russia has steadily deployed large numbers
of combined forces in the Caucasus, allegedly to defend against a
projected Iranian counter offensive against the Caucasus should the
U.S. or Israel attack Iran due to its nuclear program. This argument
sounds illogical, for why should Iran add to its enemies if it is
attacked? But it represents a plausible pretext for threatening both
Azerbaijan and Georgia while entrenching Russia’s military there as
Russia strives to resubordinate the Caucasus to its dictates.

Meanwhile, Russia arms Armenia and continually pressures Azerbaijan
to deflect it from its pro-Western trajectory.

Under these circumstances, what should be done? In general, the U.S.
should make clear to Azerbaijan that it has its back.

First, in the domestic sphere, we should encourage Baku to undertake
the necessary liberalizing political, social, and economic reforms that
would strengthen its internal defenses against subversion under the
guise of religious agitation and increase the government’s legitimacy
and U.S. support for it.

Second, we must make clear to Moscow and Tehran that if they launch
a new aggressive conflict in the Caucasus, the costs they incur
thereby will be much more tangible and greater than in 2008. Since
Russian President Putin has admitted that the 2008 war with Georgia,
widely billed as an act of self-defense, was actually a preplanned
war of aggression from 2006 on, mere verbal warnings to Russia do
not suffice to deter further mischief here.

Third, the U.S. must inspire the EU to intensify its quest for a
dedicated pipeline to bring gas from the Caspian basin and Central Asia
to Europe and counter Moscow’s widely documented efforts to use the gas
weapon to subvert European unity, democracy, and the independence of
post-Soviet states. Whether it is the EU’s projected Nabucco pipeline,
the TANAP, or another worthwhile alternative there is no time to lose.

Fourth, Washington should simultaneously give unstinting support to
the Azeri-Turkish rapprochement, both for its own sake and because of
its implications for the Middle East and the Caucasus. This support
must, as a fifth point, coincides with a new, coordinated, and
truly vigorous effort to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan into a genuine
negotiation leading to an acceptable resolution of all the issues
growing out of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. All the interested parties
could guarantee this accord to reinforce regional stability. This
process, if successful, would stabilize the Caucasus, defuse Iranian
intrigues and Russian threats, open up Armenia to the world and give it
an option beyond Russia, while preventing hotheads from inadvertently
or deliberately inciting a war to impose their vision of a resolution
of Nagorno-Karabakah’s many issues.

The administration has hitherto treated the South Caucasus as an
afterthought or as an overflight issue on the road to Afghanistan.

Such neglect is dangerous and misconceived. The mounting threats in
the Middle East, Iran, and the Caucasus show how vital it is that
the U.S. strengthen pro-Western regimes like Azerbaijan. For if we
continue to neglect the Caucasus, this neglect will quickly become
malign. And malign neglect invariably generates not only instability
but also protracted violence.

Blank is a professor and head of the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic
Studies Institute at the Carlisle Barracks, PA

HRANT BAGRATYAN: PRESIDENT INSTRUCTS WHO IS LIABLE TO TAX AND WHO IS NOT

Mediamax
Nov 2 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Member of the ANC faction, former Prime Minister
Hrant Bagratyan said today that the Armenian President instructs who
is liable to tax and who is not.

Criticizing 2013 draft state budget, Hrant Bagratyan said that “various
economic sectors will keep being taxed unevenly, in particular,
the financial sector is not adequately charged”, Mediamax reports.

“The main share of the “shadow” comprises major organizations
interrelated with the state”, he said.

Hrant Bagratyan noted that the draft state budget doesn’t envisage
funds for ensuring economic growth. “According to my calculations,
the standard of living will reduce by 5 % in 2013 and by 5 % in 2014
upon the introduction of the compulsory accumulative pension system”,
he said.

Commenting on Armenia’s progress registered in “Doing Business”
ranking list, Hrant Bagratyan said that the considerable decline in
direct foreign investments best bears witness to Armenia’s investment
field this year.

PEARL JEWELLERY IN YEREVAN’S CAFESJIAN CENTER (PHOTO)

November 2, 12:51

YEREVAN.- Cafesjian Center for the Arts hosted a meeting with Dutch
jeweller Flor Clinkers famous for her pearl jewellery.

The jeweller spoke about pearls, gave advice how to take care of
natural and artificial pearls.

“There are certain symbiotic links between a woman and pearls. First
of all pearls look beautiful and elegant on a woman. Secondly, woman
skin gives pearls special glitter,” she said.

The meeting was attended by jewellers and those who appreciate pearls
jewellery. The jeweller also presented her new collection which will
be left in Armenia in the Cafesjian Center store. It is the only
store in Yerevan to represent Clinkers’ works.

NEWS.am STYLE

ARPI VARDANYAN APPOINTED THE DIRECTOR OF AGBU OFFICE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan hosted representatives of Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) Vazgen Yakubyan and Hovik Yordekyan who presented to the
Minister the newly appointed director of AGBU office in Armenia Arpi
Vardanyan. As Armenpress was informed from the Ministry of Diaspora,
Hranush Hakobyan congratulated the director on the occasion of the
appointment, noting that she was aware of Arpi Vardanyan’s activity and
highly evaluated it. Minister also stressed the productive cooperation
of the Ministry of Diaspora with AGBU.

During the meeting a list of the issues over Syrian Armenians and
their possible solutions has been discussed.

ARMENIAN NPP SUSPENDED FOR CAPITAL REPAIR TO BE RE-LAUNCHED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

arminfo
Friday, November 2, 15:31

The operating power unit of the Armenian nuclear power plant that was
suspended for capital repair on September 15 for a period till Dec 11
will be re-launched ahead of schedule, Ashot Martirosyan, Head of the
State Committee for Nuclear Security of Armenia, told media, Friday.

He said that the NPP was suspended for 85 days, but will be re-launched
in late November or early December due to high rates of repair. He
said that nuclear fuel necessary for refueling of the plant has
already been delivered.

Two power units of Russian model pressurized water reactor-440,
with capacity of 815 megawatt in total have been installed at the
Armenian NPP. The first unit was put into exploitation in 1976,
the second in 1980. At the beginning of 1989, the plant was closed
down for political ideas, and then the second unit was reactivated
because of acute energy crisis at the beginning of 1995. The share
of NPP is 40% of total energy generation in the country.

Ara Zerounian, longtime Detroit violin teacher, left world-class legacy

Detroit Free Press
November 2, 2012

By Mark Stryker, Free Press Staff Writer

The violin teachers who get all the glory are those at top
conservatories blessed with gifted students and prodigies. But the
unsung heroes of the trade are those who work with beginners, the
teachers who hear more clunkers than cadenzas but can ignite a
lifelong love for music – and sometimes inspire greatness.

There was never anyone better at this than Ara Zerounian, who died
Monday at age 86 at home in Ridgefield Conn., where he had relocated
from Troy in May. Mr. Zerounian had a Midas touch with young string
players, leaving a deep impression not only on music in Detroit but
the broad sweep of classical music in America. A striking number of
his former students became world-class musicians.

Mr. Zerounian, who taught for decades in the Detroit Public Schools,
filled his afternoons and Saturdays with private teaching, imparting
unimpeachable technical fundamentals and nurturing a passion for the
joy of music. He wrapped it all together with a kindly uncle’s
repertoire of hugs, jokes and gold-star stickers.

=80=9CHe was so patient and had such love for his students,’ said
violinist Ida Kavafian, his stepdaughter, whose first teacher was Mr.
Zerounian. `Between the patience, the solid technical command and his
love for kids and music, he gave students an incredible foundation.’

Sisters Ida and Ani Kavafian (also a violinist) enjoy major careers as
chamber musicians, soloists and teachers. But they are far from
Mr. Zerounian’s only star pupils. The honor roll also includes the
incomparable violist Kim Kashkashian, former Minnesota Orchestra
concertmaster Jorja Fleezanis (who now teaches at Indiana University);
Cleveland Orchestra principal violist Robert Vernon; Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra principal violist Michael Ouzounian and Utah Symphony
concertmaster Ralph Matson.

Ida Kavafian said that Mr. Zerounian had been in declining health for
the past year and died after a short illness. (Mr. Zerounian married
the Kavafian sisters’ mother, Peruz, in the late 1960s.)

Born in Detroit, Mr. Zerounian began playing violin as a child and
later switched to the viola. He was inspired to a career in music at
Cass Tech by the school’s legendary orchestra conductor Michael
Bistritzky. After serving in in the Army in World War II,
Mr. Zerounian attended Northwestern University on the GI Bill and
earned a master’s degree in music at the Eastman Conservatory.

He returned home to Detroit to start teaching in the public schools in
1952 at an annual salary of $2,900.

`It’s a special responsibility and a privilege to be in a position to
introduce children to music,’ Mr. Zerounian told the Free Press in
2001. `They’re so eager and enthusiastic. It’s inspiring to see their
reaction when they’re able to do something. When a conductor leads a
Mozart symphony, that’s very gratifying, but I’m happy if they play
`Mary Had a Little Lamb’ in tune.’

Mr. Zerounian also taught summers at the Interlochen Center for the
Arts. After retiring from the public schools, he served as principal
violist of the Warren Symphony from 1976-92 and the Pontiac-Oakland
Symphony from 1979-1992. His wife, a violinist who died in 1996, was
often concertmaster of these ensembles.

Mr. Zerounian is survived by his stepdaughters; a brother, and a
grandson. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, preceded by visitation
at 10 a.m., at the Armenian Congregational Church, 26210 W. 12 Mile,
Southfield. Visitation also from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday at Edward Korkoian
Funeral Home, 836 North Main St., Royal Oak.

Contact Mark Stryker: 313-222-6459 or [email protected]

SERZH SARGSYAN VISITS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ARMENIA’S ANCIENT HERITAGE

Panorama.am
01/11/2012

President Serzh Sargsyan visited on Wednesday archeological sites
of special significance for Armenia’s ancient heritage – a dwelling
on the territory of the historical capital Artashat, Shengavit and
Erebuni historical and scientific reserve museums, presidential press
service said.

The President of Armenia familiarized with the results of the
excavations and with the conditions and problems at the historical
sites. He conversed about that with the heads of the archeological
expeditions and officials responsible for the administration of
the sites.

Excavations at the one of the oldest Armenian capitals, Artashat,
established in the 180s BC on the territory of Lusarat comminity of
Ararat marz, according to the archeologists allow to recreate the
image of one of the largest economic and cultural centers of the
Ancient East and royal residence.

Shengavit, which is located in the south-western part of Yerevan
on the left bank of Hrazdan river, is one of the most significant
ancient sites of the Early Bronze Age (36-25 BC) in Armenia, where new
excavations and research are being conducted. After familiarizing with
the results of the archeological works, Serzh Sargsyan visited Erebuni
historical and scientific reserve-museum. He observed its permanent
exhibition and “Journey: Erebuni Yesterday and Today” temporary
exhibition. It represents on a small scale the scientific journey
taken by the ancient town- fortress, from regular excavations which
started 50 years ago, up until 2008 when the joint Armenian-French
excavations started.

At the conclusion of the visit to the ancient sites, at the Erebuni
museum the President conducted a meeting with the participation of the
RA Minister of Culture, officials responsible for the preservation of
the historical and cultural heritage, and experts. At the meeting, the
general situation with the archeology in Armenia, as well as programs
implemented jointly with the foreign partners were presented. Among
major programs of the last years, highlighted were excavations
in Areni, Verin Naver, prospects of development of the Metsamor
historical and scientific reserve-museum, excavation at the Erebuni
archeological site, issues related to the preservation and restoration
of the frescos. It was noted that the excavations envisaged by the
joint programs have been going on; significant research is being
conducted in the framework of these programs in laboratories abroad,
which, according to the experts, has considerably enriched and brought
qualitative changes to the original base for the studies of the remote
past of our highland.

Issues related to the improvement of the preservation works of
Armenia’s ancient heritage were also discussed at the meeting,
including restoration of archeological relicts, creation of
proper conditions for their preservation, establishment of modern
laboratories, building of the infrastructure making the archeological
sites more accessible which will boost tourism, propagation of our
archeological heritage and other issues.

Considering the fact that the raised issues are plenty and diverse,
the President of Armenia suggested the specialists of the area together
with the Ministry of Culture to conduct additional discussions and
identify most important areas, set priorities in order to find extra
means to solve the problems. Serzh Sargsyan assured that until now
allocations from the state budget for the archeological works have
been steadily increasing and said that the tendency will stay.

It was also underscored that the results of the archeological
excavations and research also constitute a solid and irrefutable
historical base for the scientific and political circles.