Armenian News
ArmInfo
Armenia's population to decline twofold within the next 40 years, an
expert thinks
2010-05-06 16:18:00
ArmInfo. Armenia's population will decline twofold within the next
40-45 years, said Director of the Center for Human Reproduction Eduard
Hambardzumyan.
According to him, one should expect such results if the birthrate in
the country remains at the current level. He said that in the world
rating Armenia holds the 205th position by the general birthrate
level. Hambardzumyan did not rule out the possibility that in the near
future Armenia will face the so-called social sterility when women
will refuse to give birth to children for the sake of education and
career. For instance, in France the average age of women having first
children is already 31. "I think a similar trend will be observed in
Armenia",- said Hambardzumyan.
For his part, Gayane Avagyan, chief specialist at the mother and child
health care department of the Armenian Health Ministry, pointed out
that over the past 20 years the case of secondary sterility in Armenia
fell in number. For instance, in 89-90s of XX century it made up
21.4%, 10 years later - 28.5%, and in 2008-2009 - 11.5%. Some growth
is observed only in natural sterility - 3.2%, 3.4% and 5.3%
respectively. Avagyan said that sterility in Armenia is mostly caused
by the obstruction of uterine tubes, hormonal dysregulations of the
reproductive function, and endometriosis.
At the same time, it was pointed out that these diseases are subject
to treatment, and if they are diagnosed in due time, the results may
be extremely favorable. As regards male sterility, one managed to gain
positive results thanks to the measures aimed at health care. "In
1998-99 of XX century the natural male sterility made up 3.3%, and the
secondary one - 15.2%, 10 years later these indices declined to 2.7%
and 2.6% respectively",- she said.
expert thinks
2010-05-06 16:18:00
ArmInfo. Armenia's population will decline twofold within the next
40-45 years, said Director of the Center for Human Reproduction Eduard
Hambardzumyan.
According to him, one should expect such results if the birthrate in
the country remains at the current level. He said that in the world
rating Armenia holds the 205th position by the general birthrate
level. Hambardzumyan did not rule out the possibility that in the near
future Armenia will face the so-called social sterility when women
will refuse to give birth to children for the sake of education and
career. For instance, in France the average age of women having first
children is already 31. "I think a similar trend will be observed in
Armenia",- said Hambardzumyan.
For his part, Gayane Avagyan, chief specialist at the mother and child
health care department of the Armenian Health Ministry, pointed out
that over the past 20 years the case of secondary sterility in Armenia
fell in number. For instance, in 89-90s of XX century it made up
21.4%, 10 years later - 28.5%, and in 2008-2009 - 11.5%. Some growth
is observed only in natural sterility - 3.2%, 3.4% and 5.3%
respectively. Avagyan said that sterility in Armenia is mostly caused
by the obstruction of uterine tubes, hormonal dysregulations of the
reproductive function, and endometriosis.
At the same time, it was pointed out that these diseases are subject
to treatment, and if they are diagnosed in due time, the results may
be extremely favorable. As regards male sterility, one managed to gain
positive results thanks to the measures aimed at health care. "In
1998-99 of XX century the natural male sterility made up 3.3%, and the
secondary one - 15.2%, 10 years later these indices declined to 2.7%
and 2.6% respectively",- she said.
HUMAN RIGHTS ANALYSIS: PUBLIC OPINION IN 'PARTLY FREE'
ARMENIA BECOMING MORE INFLUENTIAL
Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
04.05.10
In the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report, Freedom
House again gives Armenia a 'Partly Free' status. The global rights
watchdog's Freedom of the Press report, meanwhile, ranks Armenia among
countries where media are 'Not Free'. (Both reports are available on
the organization's website www.freedomhouse.org).
The last time Freedom House ranked Armenia among countries with
'Partly Free' media was in 2002, the year when independent TV station
A1+ was controversially taken off the air.
As it was before, experts note a low level of the influence of public
opinion on the policies of the government, but say that public opinion
in Armenia is now expressed more freely and assertively.
The 2008 presidential election marred by violence and force used
to quell the street protests of the opposition were followed by a
public wave, especially noticeable in the human rights protection
field. The events of recent months provide many facts on how under
the influence of public opinion the authorities had to abandon their
earlier decisions, and authoritarian methods of government.
The opposition in Armenia had focused its efforts in the human rights
sphere on getting jailed oppositionists released from prison. And
under public pressure the authorities released more than 130 people.
The opposition still continues to struggle for the release of another
14 of its members and supporters who, it says, remain in prison for
their political views.
Social networks play a special role in raising public awareness.
Despite the apparent lack of organized social structures, raising
a wave of protest may be a matter of hours thanks to the Internet
and social networks online. The human rights website www.hra.am
has also played its part. The internet community appears to be the
vanguard of the human rights movement. Discussions unfold in blogs,
in e-newspapers and social networks and this debate results in human
rights initiatives.
Under the pressure of public opinion, a resident in the village of
Katnaghbyur in Armenia's Tavush province Sasha Davtyan was cleared of
charges in a controversial case in which police alleged he had raped
his own daughter. His daughter stated in court that police officers
had used violence against her and forced her to slander her father.
Now human rights activists are advocating for the policemen responsible
for that to be brought to justice.
The protest against the demolition of the open-air theater of Moscow
Cinema and construction of a church in its place has also become
a major public action. Recently, the President-affiliated Public
Council told the government to reconsider the decision.
Students have been noticeably more active and have attempted to defend
their interests by staging protest actions. Upon the initiative of the
movement "We Are the Owners of this City" students are now pursuing the
collection of signatures against construction in Student Park, which
is located between the National Library and the Agrarian University.
It was also under public opinion pressure that Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan last week apologized for misleading the public on the
circumstances of the death of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan in police
custody. A police officer in Charentsavan was arrested in connection
with that case and charged with torture after information of human
rights activists was published in the press.
It remains to hope that public activity will lead to a greater
influence of society on decision-making, as according to classical
rules, democracy is based on rule by the people.
ArmeniaNow
Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
04.05.10
In the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report, Freedom
House again gives Armenia a 'Partly Free' status. The global rights
watchdog's Freedom of the Press report, meanwhile, ranks Armenia among
countries where media are 'Not Free'. (Both reports are available on
the organization's website www.freedomhouse.org).
The last time Freedom House ranked Armenia among countries with
'Partly Free' media was in 2002, the year when independent TV station
A1+ was controversially taken off the air.
As it was before, experts note a low level of the influence of public
opinion on the policies of the government, but say that public opinion
in Armenia is now expressed more freely and assertively.
The 2008 presidential election marred by violence and force used
to quell the street protests of the opposition were followed by a
public wave, especially noticeable in the human rights protection
field. The events of recent months provide many facts on how under
the influence of public opinion the authorities had to abandon their
earlier decisions, and authoritarian methods of government.
The opposition in Armenia had focused its efforts in the human rights
sphere on getting jailed oppositionists released from prison. And
under public pressure the authorities released more than 130 people.
The opposition still continues to struggle for the release of another
14 of its members and supporters who, it says, remain in prison for
their political views.
Social networks play a special role in raising public awareness.
Despite the apparent lack of organized social structures, raising
a wave of protest may be a matter of hours thanks to the Internet
and social networks online. The human rights website www.hra.am
has also played its part. The internet community appears to be the
vanguard of the human rights movement. Discussions unfold in blogs,
in e-newspapers and social networks and this debate results in human
rights initiatives.
Under the pressure of public opinion, a resident in the village of
Katnaghbyur in Armenia's Tavush province Sasha Davtyan was cleared of
charges in a controversial case in which police alleged he had raped
his own daughter. His daughter stated in court that police officers
had used violence against her and forced her to slander her father.
Now human rights activists are advocating for the policemen responsible
for that to be brought to justice.
The protest against the demolition of the open-air theater of Moscow
Cinema and construction of a church in its place has also become
a major public action. Recently, the President-affiliated Public
Council told the government to reconsider the decision.
Students have been noticeably more active and have attempted to defend
their interests by staging protest actions. Upon the initiative of the
movement "We Are the Owners of this City" students are now pursuing the
collection of signatures against construction in Student Park, which
is located between the National Library and the Agrarian University.
It was also under public opinion pressure that Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan last week apologized for misleading the public on the
circumstances of the death of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan in police
custody. A police officer in Charentsavan was arrested in connection
with that case and charged with torture after information of human
rights activists was published in the press.
It remains to hope that public activity will lead to a greater
influence of society on decision-making, as according to classical
rules, democracy is based on rule by the people.
ArmeniaNow
MUSLIM BOARD: ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS DID NOT VISIT
MARTYRS LANE IN BAKU
News | 04.05.10 | 14:51
Media Mistake Says Echmiadzin: Karekin II did not visit memorial
to Azeris
The Caucasus Muslims Board has released a statement saying that His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
was not among dignitaries participating in a memorial ceremony to
Azeri soldiers at a Baku cemetery last week during a world religious
summit. Nor did he make a separate visit to the place as alleged in
Azeri media reports.
The statement comes a day after the Church Holy See in Echmiadzin
refuted reports in Baku media which said His Holiness had attended. At
question was whether it would be appropriate for the head of the
Armenian Church to participate in honoring the memory of slain soldiers
who fought against Armenians.
According to the Board's statement, an employee of Sheikh-ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazadeh provided false information to local media. The
statement says the employee has been punished for disseminating the
false report.
ST CROSS OF AKHTAMAR STILL WITHOUT CROSS
Panorama.am
04/05/2010
A holy mass will be served on September 12 in historic Armenian Church
of St Cross in Akhtamar Island, town of Van. After long negotiations,
Turkish Government authorized a liturgy once a year.
It's important to mention that the church is open as a museum after
the reconstruction of 2007, "Hurriyet" paper reported.
Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, the chairman of Armenian patriarchate of
Polis said the liturgy is of great significance for the Armenians
spread all over the world. Thousands of Armenians are expected to
arrive in island to attend the holy mass. Hotels in the town of Van
are almost booked for the tourists.
It's worth mentioning that the dome of the church lacks its cross.
Archbishop Ateshyan said the cross is in the museum. "We want cross
and the name of the church to be on the top. We hope it will be fixed
until September 12," Archbishop said.
News | 04.05.10 | 14:51
Media Mistake Says Echmiadzin: Karekin II did not visit memorial
to Azeris
The Caucasus Muslims Board has released a statement saying that His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
was not among dignitaries participating in a memorial ceremony to
Azeri soldiers at a Baku cemetery last week during a world religious
summit. Nor did he make a separate visit to the place as alleged in
Azeri media reports.
The statement comes a day after the Church Holy See in Echmiadzin
refuted reports in Baku media which said His Holiness had attended. At
question was whether it would be appropriate for the head of the
Armenian Church to participate in honoring the memory of slain soldiers
who fought against Armenians.
According to the Board's statement, an employee of Sheikh-ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazadeh provided false information to local media. The
statement says the employee has been punished for disseminating the
false report.
ST CROSS OF AKHTAMAR STILL WITHOUT CROSS
Panorama.am
04/05/2010
A holy mass will be served on September 12 in historic Armenian Church
of St Cross in Akhtamar Island, town of Van. After long negotiations,
Turkish Government authorized a liturgy once a year.
It's important to mention that the church is open as a museum after
the reconstruction of 2007, "Hurriyet" paper reported.
Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, the chairman of Armenian patriarchate of
Polis said the liturgy is of great significance for the Armenians
spread all over the world. Thousands of Armenians are expected to
arrive in island to attend the holy mass. Hotels in the town of Van
are almost booked for the tourists.
It's worth mentioning that the dome of the church lacks its cross.
Archbishop Ateshyan said the cross is in the museum. "We want cross
and the name of the church to be on the top. We hope it will be fixed
until September 12," Archbishop said.
RFE/RL
EX-MILITARY OFFICIAL JAILED FOR SCANDALOUS LEAK
04 May 2010 18:52
RFE/RL -- A former senior Defense Ministry official was sentenced to
two years in prison on Tuesday for disclosing a secret government
order that sanctioned the Armenian military's involvement in the
suppression of the 2008 opposition protests in Yerevan.
A district court in Yerevan also gave a one-year suspended prison
sentence to one of Armen Sargsian's former subordinates, Lyusia
Ayvazian, who admitted giving him a copy of the order signed by then
Defense Minister Mikael Harutiunian.
It was published by the pro-opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" last
December. Sargsian, who headed the Defense Ministry's construction
department until September 2008, and Ayvazian were arrested shortly
afterwards. Sargsian subsequently admitted leaking what the authorities
consider a state secret to the paper.
Harutiunian's written directive was issued in February 2008 immediately
after the outgoing President Robert Kocharian ordered Armenia's top
security officials to thwart what he called attempts by opposition
leader Levon Ter-Petrosian to "seize power by illegal means." Kocharian
referred to non-stop demonstrations staged by Ter-Petrosian following
the hotly disputed February 19 presidential election.
The directive placed Armenia's armed forces on high alert and ordered
the Defense Ministry to form special groups of officers and hand
them weapons. Harutiunian also instructed the then commander of the
army's Yerevan garrison, General Yuri Khachaturov, to form a special
command structure with essentially unlimited control over military
units stationed in and around the Armenian capital.
Ter-Petrosian's Armenian National Congress (HAK) denounced the leaked
document as illegal, saying that the so-called "administration of
garrison commander" effectively assumed the powers of the army's
General Staff in violation of Armenia's constitution. The Armenian
government rejected these claims in a February letter to the opposition
alliance.
Both Sargsian and Ayvazian pleaded guilty to criminal charges leveled
against them as their trial got underway on April 23. "I am asking
you to take into consideration my background, family situation and
hand down a just verdict," Sargsian told the judge in his final court
speech on Tuesday.
The plea fell on deaf ears, with the court deciding to free only
Ayvazian. Sargsian's lawyer, Hovik Arsenian, condemned the ruling,
saying that his client is no more guilty than the other defendant
and should have been treated accordingly.
"We are seeing a violation of not only judicial but ethical norms,
which means that the prosecuting side is executing an order and doesn't
care about the defendant's reputation and health condition," Arsenian
charged in a bitter verbal exchange with the chief trial prosecutor,
Aram Amirzadian.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service moments later, the lawyer
denounced the high-profile case as "fabricated." He said Sargsian
pleaded guilty only in the hope of avoiding imprisonment.
EX-MILITARY OFFICIAL JAILED FOR SCANDALOUS LEAK
04 May 2010 18:52
RFE/RL -- A former senior Defense Ministry official was sentenced to
two years in prison on Tuesday for disclosing a secret government
order that sanctioned the Armenian military's involvement in the
suppression of the 2008 opposition protests in Yerevan.
A district court in Yerevan also gave a one-year suspended prison
sentence to one of Armen Sargsian's former subordinates, Lyusia
Ayvazian, who admitted giving him a copy of the order signed by then
Defense Minister Mikael Harutiunian.
It was published by the pro-opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" last
December. Sargsian, who headed the Defense Ministry's construction
department until September 2008, and Ayvazian were arrested shortly
afterwards. Sargsian subsequently admitted leaking what the authorities
consider a state secret to the paper.
Harutiunian's written directive was issued in February 2008 immediately
after the outgoing President Robert Kocharian ordered Armenia's top
security officials to thwart what he called attempts by opposition
leader Levon Ter-Petrosian to "seize power by illegal means." Kocharian
referred to non-stop demonstrations staged by Ter-Petrosian following
the hotly disputed February 19 presidential election.
The directive placed Armenia's armed forces on high alert and ordered
the Defense Ministry to form special groups of officers and hand
them weapons. Harutiunian also instructed the then commander of the
army's Yerevan garrison, General Yuri Khachaturov, to form a special
command structure with essentially unlimited control over military
units stationed in and around the Armenian capital.
Ter-Petrosian's Armenian National Congress (HAK) denounced the leaked
document as illegal, saying that the so-called "administration of
garrison commander" effectively assumed the powers of the army's
General Staff in violation of Armenia's constitution. The Armenian
government rejected these claims in a February letter to the opposition
alliance.
Both Sargsian and Ayvazian pleaded guilty to criminal charges leveled
against them as their trial got underway on April 23. "I am asking
you to take into consideration my background, family situation and
hand down a just verdict," Sargsian told the judge in his final court
speech on Tuesday.
The plea fell on deaf ears, with the court deciding to free only
Ayvazian. Sargsian's lawyer, Hovik Arsenian, condemned the ruling,
saying that his client is no more guilty than the other defendant
and should have been treated accordingly.
"We are seeing a violation of not only judicial but ethical norms,
which means that the prosecuting side is executing an order and doesn't
care about the defendant's reputation and health condition," Arsenian
charged in a bitter verbal exchange with the chief trial prosecutor,
Aram Amirzadian.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service moments later, the lawyer
denounced the high-profile case as "fabricated." He said Sargsian
pleaded guilty only in the hope of avoiding imprisonment.
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