Armenian News... Armenia has joined in global vocal condemnation !!!
RFE/RL Report
Armenia Condemns Terrorist Attack In UK
May 23, 2017
Armenia has joined in the global chorus of condemnation of the
terrorist attack in the United Kingdom that claimed the lives of 22
people and injured dozens.
A suicide bomber struck at an American pop star's concert in
Manchester Arena attended by thousands of people, including
teenagers. According to reports, there are also children among the
victims.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian sent a letter of condolences to
British Prime Minister Theresa May today, showing Armenia's solidarity
with the UK.
"At this grave moment of loss, I express my support to you, the
friendly people of the United Kingdom and the families of the victims,
wishing fortitude and resolve, and a speedy recovery to the wounded,"
the Armenian leader wrote, according to his press office.
"Armenia strongly condemns such inhumane acts and is determined to
continue, through the joint efforts, to fight against violence and
terror," Sarkisian underscored.
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian also expressed Armenia's strong
condemnation of the Manchester bombing as he held a joint press
conference with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini after the latest
session of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council in Brussels.
Manchester is the city where many know Armenia by its soccer star,
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who plays for the local club, Manchester United.
In a Twitter post today Mkhitaryan wrote: "Stay strong, Manchester! My
thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by last night's
horrible attack."
RFE/RL Report
Armenia, Azerbaijan Exchange Blame Over Karabakh At Black Sea
Summit In Istanbul
May 22, 2017
Tatevik Sargsian
Representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan traded accusations over the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh during the 25th anniversary summit of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held in Istanbul on Monday, with
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voicing objections to the
speech of the Armenian deputy foreign minister.
Representatives of about a dozen countries participating in the
organization, including Armenia, made speeches at the opening of the
summit. According to Turkey's Dogan news agency, in a clear reference
to Armenia Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Oktay Asadov said in his
speech that "one of the members of the organization has not abandoned
its toxic ideology."
Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimian, responding to
Azerbaijan's representative, was quoted as saying that "the
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is not a place for
voicing accusations."
Turkish President Erdogan, for his part, reportedly agreed with this
statement of the Armenian representative, but added, addressing his
words to him: "No representative here has voiced accusations or
assessments. It was you who fully dedicated your speech to political
assessments."
According to the official website of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, in his speech at the BSEC summit Hovakimian criticized
Azerbaijan for its belligerent policies and for torpedoing peace
efforts of Armenia and international mediators in resolving the
protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Accusations, war rhetoric and unilateral maximalist demands cannot
resolve the conflict. It is possible to achieve progress in the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict if Azerbaijan abandons its
policy of the use of force and engages in good faith in the
negotiations within the framework agreed by the OSCE Minsk Group," the
Armenian diplomat, in particular, said.
The Armenian ministry reports that the BSEC summit in Istanbul adopted
an anniversary declaration where it reaffirmed the economic nature of
the organization.
ARKA, Armenia
May 22 2017
Survey reveals 34% of Armenians look at video surveillance at
May 22, 2017
Tatevik Sargsian
Representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan traded accusations over the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh during the 25th anniversary summit of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held in Istanbul on Monday, with
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voicing objections to the
speech of the Armenian deputy foreign minister.
Representatives of about a dozen countries participating in the
organization, including Armenia, made speeches at the opening of the
summit. According to Turkey's Dogan news agency, in a clear reference
to Armenia Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Oktay Asadov said in his
speech that "one of the members of the organization has not abandoned
its toxic ideology."
Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimian, responding to
Azerbaijan's representative, was quoted as saying that "the
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is not a place for
voicing accusations."
Turkish President Erdogan, for his part, reportedly agreed with this
statement of the Armenian representative, but added, addressing his
words to him: "No representative here has voiced accusations or
assessments. It was you who fully dedicated your speech to political
assessments."
According to the official website of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, in his speech at the BSEC summit Hovakimian criticized
Azerbaijan for its belligerent policies and for torpedoing peace
efforts of Armenia and international mediators in resolving the
protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Accusations, war rhetoric and unilateral maximalist demands cannot
resolve the conflict. It is possible to achieve progress in the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict if Azerbaijan abandons its
policy of the use of force and engages in good faith in the
negotiations within the framework agreed by the OSCE Minsk Group," the
Armenian diplomat, in particular, said.
The Armenian ministry reports that the BSEC summit in Istanbul adopted
an anniversary declaration where it reaffirmed the economic nature of
the organization.
ARKA, Armenia
May 22 2017
Survey reveals 34% of Armenians look at video surveillance at
public places as personal data protection problem
A survey conducted by Personal Data Protection Agency, an affiliation of the Armenian Ministry of Justice, has revealed that almost 34% of Armenians look at video surveillance in public places as a personal data protection problem, Shushan Doydoyan, the head the agency, told journalists on Monday.
"The problem is that video surveillance is often conducted by owners of private and public facilities not for ensuring security, but for watching employees or hearing their conversations, which is a violation of the relevant legislation.
She said depending on the degree of the violation of the law on personal data protection, entities could be punished by a fine in the amount of 50 to 500,000 basic salaries. According to her, it is necessary that every entity conducting video surveillance does it in accordance with the letter of the law.
She said few people know that they have the right to demand their video recording by surveillance cameras installed in public places (shops, pharmacies, market places ), and the owner must provide it within 5 days.
In turn, the acting minister of justice Artur Hovhannisyan noted that video surveillance is a method that allows to identify a person, and according to the Constitution of Armenia, everyone has the right to protection of personal data that must be processed either at the desire of the person himself or in accordance with the procedure provided by law.
He stressed that to avoid misunderstandings in the interpretation of the law, in public places there are notices warning that the area is under video surveillance because of security issues.
"Having entered such a place, a person is notified by the appropriate sign on the door. It means that he/she agrees to being videotaped and therefore it is legal. Otherwise, if no notice is provided, the persons making video footage will be fined for illegal collection of personal data," Hovhannisyan said. -0-
Smithsonian Magazine
May 22 2017
Explore an Ancient Cave City in Armenia
Residents lived in Old Khndzoresk up until the 1950s
By Jennifer Billock
In a rural corner of southeastern Armenia, livestock walk in and out of rooms carved into the cliffside, grazing among the ancient rock-hewn homes of Old Khndzoresk, a multi-level village built into the volcanic rocks. Archaeological evidence suggests habitation of the excavated caves goes back over a thousand years, ending only recently, in the 1950s. In the early 1900s, Old Khndzoresk was the largest village in eastern Armenia , housing about 8,300 residents in 1,800 homes. These homes had several rooms and were all stacked upon one another ; one house’s roof was the yard of the one above. The village also had seven schools, four churches, three dyeworks, several leather workshops and about 27 other shops. Residents were known to have traveled to and from different spots in the village through a series of hidden tunnels or by using ropes to climb to higher levels.
The origin of the name is up for debate. Folklore has two accounts : “khndzor” means apples in Armenian, so the village was perhaps named for the various apple trees growing there; or the name might have origins in “khor dzor,” meaning "deep canyon"—because of the cliffs the town was built into. Although researchers aren't exactly sure when the cave village was first built, written records dating to the 13 th century name it on a list of villages required to pay taxes to Tatev Monastery.
Aside from being a fascinating architectural sightseeing opportunity, Old Khndzoresk is a must for military history buffs. Mkhitar Sparapet—once a key leader of the rebellion during Armenia’s fight for liberation from Ottoman rule in the 1700s—is buried nearby. Villagers are said to have murdered him in 1730 , fearing the Ottomans would target their village if he was found hiding there. His stone tomb can be found at a 17th-century hermitage near the bottom of the gorge, slightly south of the old village.
In 1958, Old Khndzoresk’s residents moved out, having built a new village higher up the canyon. The exact reason is under dispute: Some say an earthquake in the 1930s devastated the village and left the cave dwellings unsafe, leading to a gradual departure. Others suggest the residents were forced to move by Soviet leaders, who deemed the caves uncivilized and wanted to source the rock as building material. Whatever the case may be, the families built and moved into their new town, aptly called New Khndzoresk. Today a 525-foot-long swinging suspension bridge hangs about 200 feet above the river, linking the two villages. It opened in 2012, built by locals with local materials and can be accessed by a path that leads from a viewing platform.
From the bridge, visitors can see the several historic churches once frequented by villagers, as well as a fountain, “Nine Children,” named for a local legend: Once, during an attack on Khndzoresk, women and children were needed to fight alongside the men . A widowed mother, Sona, was killed in battle, leaving behind nine children. After the attack, Sona’s father Ohan built the fountain—installing a bowl that looks like a woman’s breast. He christened the fountain with a single prayer: “I beg you sacred fountain, let the water of the fountain turn into milk and protect my orphaned grandchildren.”
Explore the town's architecture, landscapes and legends in this
A survey conducted by Personal Data Protection Agency, an affiliation of the Armenian Ministry of Justice, has revealed that almost 34% of Armenians look at video surveillance in public places as a personal data protection problem, Shushan Doydoyan, the head the agency, told journalists on Monday.
"The problem is that video surveillance is often conducted by owners of private and public facilities not for ensuring security, but for watching employees or hearing their conversations, which is a violation of the relevant legislation.
She said depending on the degree of the violation of the law on personal data protection, entities could be punished by a fine in the amount of 50 to 500,000 basic salaries. According to her, it is necessary that every entity conducting video surveillance does it in accordance with the letter of the law.
She said few people know that they have the right to demand their video recording by surveillance cameras installed in public places (shops, pharmacies, market places ), and the owner must provide it within 5 days.
In turn, the acting minister of justice Artur Hovhannisyan noted that video surveillance is a method that allows to identify a person, and according to the Constitution of Armenia, everyone has the right to protection of personal data that must be processed either at the desire of the person himself or in accordance with the procedure provided by law.
He stressed that to avoid misunderstandings in the interpretation of the law, in public places there are notices warning that the area is under video surveillance because of security issues.
"Having entered such a place, a person is notified by the appropriate sign on the door. It means that he/she agrees to being videotaped and therefore it is legal. Otherwise, if no notice is provided, the persons making video footage will be fined for illegal collection of personal data," Hovhannisyan said. -0-
Smithsonian Magazine
May 22 2017
Explore an Ancient Cave City in Armenia
Residents lived in Old Khndzoresk up until the 1950s
By Jennifer Billock
In a rural corner of southeastern Armenia, livestock walk in and out of rooms carved into the cliffside, grazing among the ancient rock-hewn homes of Old Khndzoresk, a multi-level village built into the volcanic rocks. Archaeological evidence suggests habitation of the excavated caves goes back over a thousand years, ending only recently, in the 1950s. In the early 1900s, Old Khndzoresk was the largest village in eastern Armenia , housing about 8,300 residents in 1,800 homes. These homes had several rooms and were all stacked upon one another ; one house’s roof was the yard of the one above. The village also had seven schools, four churches, three dyeworks, several leather workshops and about 27 other shops. Residents were known to have traveled to and from different spots in the village through a series of hidden tunnels or by using ropes to climb to higher levels.
The origin of the name is up for debate. Folklore has two accounts : “khndzor” means apples in Armenian, so the village was perhaps named for the various apple trees growing there; or the name might have origins in “khor dzor,” meaning "deep canyon"—because of the cliffs the town was built into. Although researchers aren't exactly sure when the cave village was first built, written records dating to the 13 th century name it on a list of villages required to pay taxes to Tatev Monastery.
Aside from being a fascinating architectural sightseeing opportunity, Old Khndzoresk is a must for military history buffs. Mkhitar Sparapet—once a key leader of the rebellion during Armenia’s fight for liberation from Ottoman rule in the 1700s—is buried nearby. Villagers are said to have murdered him in 1730 , fearing the Ottomans would target their village if he was found hiding there. His stone tomb can be found at a 17th-century hermitage near the bottom of the gorge, slightly south of the old village.
In 1958, Old Khndzoresk’s residents moved out, having built a new village higher up the canyon. The exact reason is under dispute: Some say an earthquake in the 1930s devastated the village and left the cave dwellings unsafe, leading to a gradual departure. Others suggest the residents were forced to move by Soviet leaders, who deemed the caves uncivilized and wanted to source the rock as building material. Whatever the case may be, the families built and moved into their new town, aptly called New Khndzoresk. Today a 525-foot-long swinging suspension bridge hangs about 200 feet above the river, linking the two villages. It opened in 2012, built by locals with local materials and can be accessed by a path that leads from a viewing platform.
From the bridge, visitors can see the several historic churches once frequented by villagers, as well as a fountain, “Nine Children,” named for a local legend: Once, during an attack on Khndzoresk, women and children were needed to fight alongside the men . A widowed mother, Sona, was killed in battle, leaving behind nine children. After the attack, Sona’s father Ohan built the fountain—installing a bowl that looks like a woman’s breast. He christened the fountain with a single prayer: “I beg you sacred fountain, let the water of the fountain turn into milk and protect my orphaned grandchildren.”
Explore the town's architecture, landscapes and legends in this
360-degree interactive map, created by 360 Great Armenia :
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/visit-ancient-cave-city-armenia-180962981/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/visit-ancient-cave-city-armenia-180962981/
No comments:
Post a Comment