Author: nina hovnanian

MAN HANGS HIMSELF LEAVING NOTE IN ARMENIA

news.am
August 03, 2012 | 17:22

HRAZDAN. – Garni village in Armenia’s Kotayk Region registered a
suicide case on Thursday. The village resident, 60-year-old Boris
Babayan has committed a suicide by hanging himself in own home.

Armenian News-NEWS.am discovered that the law enforcement agents
have revealed a note on the site. ‘Please do not accuse anyone for
my sacrifice,’ the note read. A handwriting examination is appointed
to find out who the author of the note is.

According to another similar case, an Alapars village resident,
in Armenia’s Kotayk Region, Samvel Galstyan was declared lost since
Tuesday. His body was found on Thursday in a ruined building. It was
cleared out that he hanged himself, but the reasons are still unknown.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA CONDUCTS EYE SCREENINGS FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: In June-July 2012, American University
of Armenia’s Garo Meghrigian Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology
College of Health Sciences continued its annual eye screenings among
socially vulnerable and orphaned children. As Armenpress reports citing
AUA Press service, this time it went to Mary Ismirlyan Orphanage. It
currently serves 90 children. Sixty six children were available for
detailed eye screening.

Among them, 23 children were found to suffer from different types
of refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and
astigmatism. Twelve children were prescribed eye glasses which were
distributed to them for free by Meghrigian Institute. Forty-four
children were diagnosed with more serious eye conditions such as
infections, allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, amblyopia,
retinal dystrophy, blefaritis and eyelid chalasion. All children
with eye diseases received medical assistance from AUA’s Meghrigian
Institute.

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent
university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 1991, AUA is
affiliated with the University of California. Through teaching,
research, and public service, AUA serves Armenia and the region
by supplying high-quality, graduate and undergraduate education,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting democratic values.

TURKISH SEX BLACKMAIL SUSPECT COULD FACE 11 YEARS IN PRISON

Panorama.am
03/08/2012

Two Turkish men, Orhan Okumus and Baris Okumus, brothers, appeared
before Istanbul court on charges of pushing an Armenian woman to
suicide.

Narine Lazarian, 24, Armenian citizen, moved to Turkey 4 years ago
for work, was subjected to sexual blackmail and committed suicide on
February 28.

According to Turkish website Haberturk, the first hearing of Narine
Lazarian’s suicide case took place at an Istanbul court. The suspects
pleaded not guilty, demanding a release.

Narine’s mother, Nune Lazarian, also attended the hearing.

According to the website, the court indictment carries a maximum
penalty of 11 years in prison for Orhan, who faces charges of
infringement of an individual’s private life, blackmail and pushing
to suicide. As to Baris, if convicted, he could face 2-5 years behind
bars for infringement of an individual’s private life and blackmail.

SYRIAN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE THROUGH FOREIGN SUPPORT – EXPERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 3, 2012 – 17:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Syrian conflict won’t get settled without
external influence on the balance of power between Syria’s authorities
and rebels, Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.

Ruben Safrastyan noted rebels’ victory over Bashar Assad through
foreign military engagement and the authorities’ victory after foreign
forces halt assistance to the rebels as the two possible development
scenarios.

Dwelling on the possibility of peaceful settlement of the conflict,
the expert ruled out the possibility of compromise, with the problem
having stepped into a new stage.

Mr. Safrastyan further stressed the importance of UN – Arab League
envoy to Syria Kofi Annan’s statements on resigning his post,
President Barack Obama’s instruction to U.S. intelligence agencies
to offer assistance to Syrian rebels for the conflict resolution.

“Annan proved that the further peacekeeping activities on Syria have
no perspective,” he said.

THE FOREIGN TRADE OF ARMENIA INCREASED BY 8.3 PERCENT

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: The volume of industrial production in
Armenia in June of current year has been 91 960.5 million AMD and in
first half of the year 501 477.5 million AMD. This index has increased
by 13 percent in comparison with the last year. Armenpress was informed
from Statistics Service of the Republic of Armenia that the rate of
economic activity has increased by 7.8 percent in comparison with last
year. The volume of gross output in June has been 53 443.5 million AMD.

The volume of construction works in Armenia in June has been 36 219.9
million AMD. The rate of the first half of current year has decreased
by 6.7 percent in comparison with the last year. The volume of trade
has been 173 450.4 in June and there is a growth of 2.4 percent. In
June there was provided service costing 88 450.4 million AMD. The
volume of services for January-June has increased by 12 percent. The
index of consumer prices has increased by 2.2 percent in the first
half of this year.

Average monthly salary for the first six months of the year has
increased by 6.2 percent. The foreign trade has been 462.7 US dollars
or 191.1 billion AMD. For the first half of this year the same index
has decreased by 8.3 percent. The volumes of export in June have been
122.8 US dollars or 50.6 billion AMD. For the period January-June of
this year the rate has increased by 13.5 percent.

NKR MFA: NKR HAS SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO RECEIVE MIGRANTS IN ITS TERRITORY

Panorama.am
03/08/2012

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection
with the note spread by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the OSCE,
concerning the alleged resettlement of the NKR territories, draws the
OSCE and its country-members’ attention to the propagandistic character
of the given document, which aims to deceive the international
community and destabilize the negotiation process and the situation
in the region.

In spite of the obvious fact that the NKR has its sovereign right
to receive migrants in its territory, the spread misinformation
is absolutely groundless, and the results of the monitoring on the
situation in these territories, carried out by the OSCE Assessment
Mission in 2010, can prove it.

As for the report by the OSCE Fact-Finding Mission in 2005, which
the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan refers to, we consider necessary
to remind that according to the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen, the mission did not find out “any clear organized
resettlement” and “did not determine that the resettlement resulted
from a deliberate policy.”

In this context, we consider necessary to once more draw the attention
of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe to the fact
that Azerbaijan continues the policy of resettlement in the Shahumyan
region, Getashen subregion and the other NKR regions, being under
the occupation of Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan has over the years
withheld its consent to carry out such a monitoring in these regions,
which testifies to the unquestionable fact of their resettling and
cannot but provoke the OSCE and other international organizations’
serious anxiety.

As for the attacks of the official Baku concerning the July 19
presidential elections in the NKR, attended by representatives from 22
countries as international observers, including the OSCE, members of
European Parliament, and recognized as free, just, transparent and
meeting the international standards, similar attitude is another
proof of the fact that Azerbaijan with its totalitarian regime,
where the power passes from father to son, where “the elections” –
are just a show and farce, cannot respect democratic values, human
rights and freedom, as well as the principle of the electiveness of
the authorities on the basis of real expression of citizen’s will.

WORKING GROUP TO INVESTIGATE DEATH OF ARMENIA WOMAN PREGNANT WITH FIFTH CHILD

news.am
August 03, 2012 | 13:03

YEREVAN.- Armenia’s Halth Minister Derenik Dumanyan instructed to
set up a working group to hold an investigation into a death of
43-year-old pregnant woman from Jrashen village.

A representative of health ministry confirmed information for
Armenian News-NEWS.am saying the details will be made public after
the proceedings are completed.

Police said a forensic examination is underway, law enforcers are
studying medical documents.

A mother of four children Hratsin Malkhasyan went to Grigor Narekatsi
medical center on July 28. Then, she was transported to Erebuni medical
center where she died. Rumor has it that the woman had heavy bleeding.

WILL U.S. HELP ARMENIAN SYRIANS?

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:32:52 – 03/08/2012

The Armenian service of RFA/RL reports that two months ago, the House
Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Foreign
Operations Appropriations Bill outlining U.S. funding and policy
priorities abroad, including Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee notes the developments in the
Middle East pose more challenges to the Christian population. Listing
the Armenians among the endangered ethnic minorities, the U.S.

committee urges the Secretary of State to provide humanitarian aid
and move.

According to Elizabeth Chuljian, spokesperson for the Armenian
National Committee of America, no concrete sum is mentioned but an
urge to support the Armenian and Christian minorities.

The U.S. congressmen call on the U.S. State Department to work with
the neighboring countries of Syria for them to accept refugees.

The aforementioned bill needs to be agreed with the Senate
Appropriations Committee, which for its part has worked out its own
foreign aid bill which does not envisage support to the Armenians. The
session to discuss the bill is scheduled this month. According to
Elizabeth Chuljian, Armenian lobbyists are working to ensure the
incorporation of this point in the final version of the bill.

ARMENIAN EXPERT CALLS FOR MEDIA CAUTION ABOUT SYRIA COVERAGE

tert.am
03.08.12

With the situation in Syria remaining politically tense, any abrupt
statement by the Syrian- Armenians or the Armenia may pose a hazard
to our compatriots in the country, an Armenian orientialist has said.

Director of the Oriental Studies Institute Ruben Safrastyan warned
reporters on Friday that the Syrian-Armenians are often unwilling to
hear their problems voiced, having very objective reasons for that.

“The media outlets have to refrain from abrupt statements in this
period. The military operations in Aleppo are not likely to pose a
threat to the Armenian districts at present. Our compatriots will
try to remain in their houses in Syria until the end [of the struggle].

They have big concerns that they may lose everything they came by
over the course of years,” he said.

Asked what position Armenia should take on the issue, Safrastyan
answered that the country has to make its contribution in the current
peacemaking efforts.

“But evaluating the situation around Syria, we see that Armenia
is small country to play its role. The important thing for us is
to demonstrate cautiousness. We have to take a realistic stance on
our position in the region,” he said, adding that he is in favor of
Armenia’s pro-active policies over the Iranian issue.

Safrastyan noted in the meantime that country’s position on the
Syrian-Armenians should be convincing enough to make them feel that
Armenia really gives them support.

“They must know that there is a country which, despite being small
and not powerful, will do everything within its power to stand by them.

Any Armenian should pin hope on his or her home country. People should
have a belief that their country exists,” he added.

1000 CITIZENS GOT POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION IN ARMENIA IN ONE YEAR

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS: 368 applicants entered relevant
educational institutions in order to get postgraduate education in
2011, the total number of students during the year makes 1054 people.

Out of 47 educational institutions providing postgraduate education,
14 make high education institutions , 39 institutes of the National
Academy of Sciences, scientific organizations have share in 3,
National Statistics Center of the Republic of Armenia told Armenpress.

144 graduating students have come forth with their defense thesis:
118 students taking present and 26 extra- mural courses.

There are 9 doctoral education organizations in the Republic of
Armenia according to 2011. 45 people studied in Doctoral, 42 out of
which free of charge basis.