Author: Toneyan Mark

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT VISITS "MIASIN" YOUTH MOVEMENT’S ACTIVISTS

ARMENPRESS
Aug 27, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
visited today the activists of "Miasin" ("Together") Youth Movement
encamped on the shore of the Lake Sevan. The president walked in
the territory of the camp and had a separate conversation with the
leaders of the movement and their guests.

The leader of the movement Hakob Hakobyan said that this camp event
is part of "Miasin-2009" educational gathering of activists of the
movement, leaders of cooperating organizations. The main goal of the
event is to unite the people who were not close before coming to the
camp and did not know each other, and here they are becoming a core,
a fist which will promote the solution of issues in the country,
support to the reforms. "If we succeed in it we will be able to
contribute to the development of our country," Hakobyan said.

About 500 young people in the 16 to 25 age range from Armenia, Artsakh
and Javakhq encamped from August 24 till tomorrow. "Different classes
have been organized for the participants, the established terms are
quite strict and in case of violation of the rules twice they leave
the camp," the leader of the movement was telling to the president
presenting the life in the camp.

Member of State Duma, leader of the "Young Russia" movement
Maxim Mishchenko, hosted by the Armenian activists, noted that
they established cooperation with "Miasin" from 2008 and 25-member
delegation of the Armenian youth movement participated in the "Seliger"
All-Russian forum and since then close cooperation between the two
movements continues.

Mishchenko is conducting workshops for the activists of the
movement. "We are trying to convey our political experience, we tell
what issues the youth in Russia faced during its consolidation,"
Mishchenko said, adding that the workshops refer to geopolitical
situation, youth movements, mechanisms and systems of organization of
united group. "Here I have seen such young people who wish to change
something, to change the world around them. It is very great that
the movement is backed by such career-oriented young people," he said.

NOT TO HAVE MORE VICTIMS
HAKOB BADALYAN

mments&pid=14997
13:46:51 – 27/08/2009

In Armenia the mindset has formed that those who are against ceding
territories in Karabakh are against the settlement, and those who speak
about the necessity of compromise and concession of the liberated
territories to Azerbaijan in return for the status of Karabakh or
the choice of it, are considered as supporters of settlement. Due to
this mindset there is a division between people who are reluctant to
resolve the Karabakh issue and people who want to resolve.

This division is obviously artificial, at least because the honesty
of the political forces adhering to one viewpoint or the other is
highly relative, and the public opinion is a secret because in Armenia
and Karabakh no serious and independent survey has been carried out
to understand finally what the society thinks about the process of
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, to know what the society wants,
why, how, what is a settlement in their vision, and so on. In this
sense, the division of the Armenian political sphere into those who
want settlement and those who do not want settlement is artificial,
and generally it is not known what Armenia wants.

It is not distinct what settlement of conflict means to Armenia
and Karabakh, the timing, the scale, the prospect, the purpose, the
meaning of settlement, whether the status quo is not a resolution
and why. After all, decades ago the issue had been solved when
Nagorno-Karabakh joined Azerbaijan with the status of an autonomous
region. At that time, not many seemed to protest, and even the
Armenians and Azerbaijanis lived side by side for decades. But we know
what happened in 1988 or a little earlier. At that time the autonomous
region of Nagorno-Karabakh seemed to be protected by the Constitution
and legislation of the Soviet Union. But in the end there was a need
to protect the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh and to guarantee
the security of the people of Karabakh by weapon.

Maybe the international law is higher that the Soviet law by one degree
or several degrees. However, high or low, they have an essential
similarity, in both cases they are written on paper. Consequently,
there is no confidence that years after the present settlement of
the Karabakh conflict no serious threat to the security of the people
of Karabakh will occur, and the only guarantee of security will not
be weapon. Which is romanticism then? To trust paper and lay down
the "weapon", that is the liberated territories, or to keep that
strategic resource later not to have to guarantee security at the
cost of new victims?

EXPERT: TYING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS TO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS UNJUSTIFIED

/ARKA/
August 25, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, August 25. /ARKA/. Tying the Armenian-Turkish relations
to the Karabakh peace process is artificial and unjustified, head
of European Integration organization Karen Bekaryan told a press
conference in Yerevan Tuesday.

"Turkey became a hostage of "one nation, two states" principle it
announced itself. Artificial linkage between the two processes is
based on this principle," the expert said.Bekaryan believes that once
Turkey ties the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations with the
Karabakh problem Armenia will stop the negotiations.

"No government in Armenia, despite the internal political
manipulations, will negotiate with Turkey in this case. There are
things that come first," Bekaryan said.

Bekaryan stressed that the West came to a consensus on the
issue. Repeated statements about the necessity of unconditional
settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations and OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs’ statement about inadmissibility of Turkey mediation in
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process prove it, Bekaryan said.

HSBC BANK ARMENIA CEO: BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AMD RATE WILL STAY WITHIN 360-380 AMD/1 USD

ArmInfo
2009-08-25 20:31:00

ArmInfo. By the end of this year the AMD rate will stay within 360-380
AMD/1 USD forecasted by the Central Bank of Armenia, says CEO of HSBC
Bank Armenia Tim Slater.

Today, five months after the Mar devaluation, the CB is keeping the
AMD rate within the planned range. This may encourage the customers
to convert their USD savings into AMD.

To remind, on Mar 3 the USD rate jumped from 307 AMD to 375 AMD.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

August 24, 2009
___________________________________

PRIMATE CONSECRATES NEW BAPTISMAL FONT, HONORS PARISHIONER AT ST. MARY
CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, DC

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington D.C.,
on the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God, Sunday, August 16.
The day also marked the church’s name day.

Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and performed the
"Blessing of Grapes" ceremony. The Primate also blessed and consecrated the
church’s new baptismal font, dedicated this year in memory of Yerchanik
Bolat and Philipe and Oghda O’Gulian.

The font, completed and installed at the church last month, is a project
years in the making. Money for the font had been donated by the O’Gulians in
their lifetime. This year, Yerchanik Bolat’s family contributed the
additional funds needed to bring the project to completion.

A name day luncheon followed in the church hall, where guests were invited
to partake of madagh, donated and prepared by Mrs. Verjin Bolat and her
children.

During the luncheon, Archbishop Barsamian presented the Primate’s Award to
Mr. Ghazaros Ghazarian in appreciation of his devoted service to the
Armenian Church.

"Ghazaros has dedicated his energy and enthusiasm to numerous activities,
becoming a familiar and beloved presence in the community," the certificate
said. "With his wife Hasmig, he has been an example to others, inspiring
them to embrace the treasures of the Armenian heritage, and the sweetness of
God’s love."

Mr. Ghazarian has been an active member and supporter of the St. Mary Church
for more than two decades. He currently serves as head usher during
services.

"Ghazaros has been involved with the church for decades now, since he came
to this country from Jerusalem," said the Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, pastor
of St. Mary. "He is very dedicated and very humble."

Mr. Ghazarian said he was surprised by the recognition extended to him by
the community.

"The extent of Der Hayr’s and Srpazan’s appreciation really amazed me," he
said. "That made me very proud."

Musical selections were performed by Mr. Ervand Kristosturyan and Ms. Vivian
Shakarian. Dr. Hratch Semerjian served as Master of Ceremonies.

###

Photos attached.

Photo 1: The Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Mrs.
Hasmig Ghazarian, and Mr. Ghazaros Ghazarian at St. Mary Church.

Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian consecrates the new baptismal font at
St. Mary Church, with the Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan assisting.

AS THE ARMENIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE TAKES THE STATE FAIR STAGE, TRADITIONS COME FULL CIRCLE
by Lou Ann Matossian

08-20-as-the-armenian-dance-ensemble-takes-the-sta te-fair-stage-traditions-come-full-circle
Thursday August 20, 2009

Local troupe to perform Sept. 5 at the "Great Minnesota Get-together"

Saint Paul, Minn. – Armenian dance in Minnesota goes back more than
a century, not quite as long as the Minnesota State Fair, which marks
its 150th anniversary August 27 through Labor Day. These two venerable
traditions – one modest, the other gargantuan – will meet on Sept. 5,
when the Armenian Dance Ensemble takes the stage at one of the largest
state fairs in the country.

Led by director-choreographer Naïry Digris, the St. Paul-based folk
troupe will present regional Armenian dances in four half-hour
performances. The general State Fair ticket price includes free
admission to the noon, 1:30, 3:00, and 4:00 p.m. shows in the
International Bazaar area of the fairgrounds.

"Since its founding in 1990 under the auspices of the Armenian Cultural
Organization of Minnesota, the Armenian Dance Ensemble has evolved
into a strong, self-sufficient, and organized entity," says Ms. Digris,
who also teaches Armenian dance in the lively Twin Cities international
dance community along with her husband, Ensemble member Terry McGibbon.

Now in its second generation, the Armenian Dance Ensemble aims to
preserve the regional dance traditions of historic Armenia, teach
them to interested Armenians and non-Armenians, and enhance community
awareness of Armenian heritage, history, and culture through music as
well as staged and narrated performances. Dancers of varying abilities,
ages, and ethnic backgrounds are welcome.

Following in their mother’s graceful footsteps, Natasha and Alarica
Hassett grew up with the Armenian Dance Ensemble. The sisters now dance
professionally with Minneapolis avant-garde companies – Natasha as a
co-founder of Catalyst and Alarica as a member of Ballet of the Dolls.

Today’s ensemble includes Bradley and Mitchell Erickson and their
mother, ACOM President Cynthia Reimers Erickson, descendants of a
North Dakota Armenian pioneer family.

Armenian dance arrived in Minnesota with turn-of-the century immigrants
from Kharpert and Sepastia. Their daughters staged the earliest known
public performance in 1932 at the original Festival of Nations – now
a long-running St. Paul multicultural institution in its own right –
and later generations carried on the custom.

With plenty of Festival of Nations experience under its embroidered
belt, the Armenian Dance Ensemble debuted at the State Fair in
2002. This year, the Festival of Nations is sponsoring the State Fair
stage where the troupe will take its second bow.

Some 1.7 million people are expected at the twelve-day celebration
of all things Minnesotan, which boasts an average daily attendance
of about 140,000.

And on September 5, in the graceful turn of a veil, traditions will
come full circle.

FIRST SWINE FLUE CASE IN TURKEYS

News.am
10:38 / 08/21/2009

In Chile A/H1N1 virus (referred to as "swine flu") spreads, being
firstly detected in turkeys, Reuters reports.

The outbreak in two farms, 75 miles west of Santiago is controlled now,
and World Organization for Animal Health was notified of the case.

Note: The Geneva-based World Health Organization declared H1N1 a full
pandemic in June and the virus has now spread to some 180 countries,
causing at least 1,462 laboratory-confirmed deaths. The WHO says the
pandemic is unstoppable.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT POSTPONES THE DATE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MEGHRI HYDRO POWER PLANT

ARKA
Aug 21, 2009

YEREVAN, August 21, /ARKA/. Citing the political situation in Iran
the Armenian government has decided at its regular session today to
postpone the date for construction of a hydro power plant near the
town of Meghri, on the River of Arax, separating Armenia from Iran.

Armenia and Iran had agreed to build two power plants on the Arax
River which are supposed to become the most powerful hydro power
plants in the South Caucasus. On the Armenian side the plant will
be near the town of Meghri and on the Iranian side near the town of
Karachilar. Each will have the capacity to produce 800 million KWh
of power annually.

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said today the decision
was forced because the administration of Iranian president Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, following the latest presidential election, has not yet
formed a new government.

The minister said the deadline for selecting an investment company,
signing a relevant contract with it, as well as allocation of a land
plot for the future plant, that were originally scheduled for the
third quarter of 2009, will be extended into the fourth quarter. The
license will be granted to the power plant in 2010.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan suggested that a protocol be passed
in addition to the decision to ensure the financial stability of the
power grid sector.

0We need to pass the protocol to not allow rise of electricity price
for end consumers and besides, it is necessary to cover financial
gaps in the sector at the expense of government-run power plants in
Vorotan, Yerevan and the nuclear power plant,’ he said.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN VISITED TODAY SCULPTOR LEVON TOKMAJYAN’S STUDIO

Tuesd ay, 18 August 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited today sculptor Levon
Tokmajyan’s studio. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister
of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan and Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan.

Sculptor Levon Tokmajyan presented a sculptural group, entitled Alarm
and memorizing those Armenian intellectuals from Constantinople who
fell a prey to the Genocide of Armenians perpetrated in the Ottoman
Empire. Tigran Sargsyan got acquainted with the preliminary version
of the work. Supported by the State, the sculptural group is dedicated
to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

BAD WORK

y&pid=14956
17:19:31 – 19/08/2009

The 16.3 percent economic decline in Armenia is due to bad work
in the last quarter of 2008. The government had estimated economic
growth but 20 percent decline was reported, says the ex-president
of the Central Bank Bagrat Asatryan. He says current growth in trade
and services is conditioned by the shade economy. However, soon this
resource will expire too.

Asatryan said in 2010 there may be growth in agriculture and industries
but these are optimistic estimates. At best, the economic growth of
Armenia will total 1.5 percent next year.

Bagrat Asatryan thinks the influence of the Russian economy on the
Armenian economy will be deciding on which it depends greatly. Only
if at least 3 percent steady economic growth is reported in Russia,
in 2011 our economy will start stabilizing.

Presently there is no anti-crisis program. The cause of the
present situation is that the government reported a double-digit
economic growth relying on remittances and loans from international
organizations. Therefore we have a sick economy now. And now we are
receiving loans to overcome this crisis. It turns out that we are
trying to cure the illness with the cause of the illness, Bagran
Asatryan says.