Armenian Street Festival Videos and News
July 2012
(lots of familiar faces in all three, be patient for start of first))
Video report prepared by Zarouhi Arzoumanian
Another link:
Lebanon's Olympic table tennis family - video
Table tennis player Tvine Moumjoghlian, 22, is one of only two athletes from Lebanon
to qualify for the London 2012 Games. Her father, Raffi, was Lebanese ping-pong
champion from 1974 to 1989. He has dedicated his life to coaching his three children
from an early age, despite a severe lack of state funding in the sport and outbreaks of
sectarian violence
RFE/RL Report
Police Toughen Charges Against Restaurant Assault Suspects
Sargis Harutyunyan
02.08.2012
The Armenian police have toughened criminal charges against six men
arrested for beating up to death a military doctor at a Yerevan
restaurant in June, it emerged on Wednesday.
The men, most of them security guards working at the Harsnakar
restaurant, were initially charged under one article of the Criminal
Code dealing with deliberate physical injuries. They risked between
five and ten years' imprisonment.
Arsen Ayvazian, a high-ranking official from the police Inspectorate
General of Criminal Investigations, told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am) that investigators formally accused them on Tuesday of
three counts of assault that could result in lengthier prison
sentences. One of the accusations relates to violent attacks resulting
in deaths.
Ayvazian attributed the police decision to the fact that the victim,
Vahe Avetian, died in hospital about two weeks after the June 17
incident.
Avetian and two other army medics were beaten up at Harsnakar and
hospitalized in still unclear circumstances. The police have been
facing calls from opposition groups and civic campaigners to prosecute
only the assailants but the restaurant's government-linked owner,
businessman Ruben Hayrapetian. Police investigators say there is no
evidence of Hayrapetian's direct involvement in the incident.
About 30 protesters gathered outside the Inspectorate General of
Criminal Investigations later on Thursday to again express concern
about what they say is a possible police cover-up of the high-profile
crime. They also voiced support for two lawyers representing Avetian's
family.
The lawyers, Tigran Yegorian and Lusine Hakobian, on Wednesday accused
the police investigators of refusing to give them copies of the
criminal case in breach of Armenian law. Yegorian and Hakobian visited
the powerful police unit during the demonstration. They said
afterwards that they were finally given access to the documents.
2.5 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRIKES NAKHICHEVAN-ARMENIA BORDER
Panorama.am
02/08/2012
A 2.5 magnitude quake struck Nakhichevan-Armenia border Wednesday,
August 1, 22:54 local time. It is reported that the quake occurred
16 km west of the town of Kajaran. The tremors were measured at 3-4
in the epicenter.
The quake's hypocenter was located at a depth of 5 km. According to
preliminary reports, in Kajaran, the tremors were measured at 2-3,
National Seismic Protection Service of Emergency Ministry said.
AZERBAIJANI ANTI ARMENIAN TEXTBOOK EXAMINATION TO BE IN
THE AGENDA OF PACE AUTUMN SESSION
ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 2, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: The autumn session of Parliamentary
Assembly of Council of Europe is scheduled to take place October 1-5.
As PACE Armenian delegation member "Prosperous Armenia " faction
representative Naira Zohrabyan told at the briefing with Armenpress,
though the staff of the delegation is not approved, it is going
to comprise RPA - Davit Harutyunyan, " Rule of law" party - Mher
Shageldyan, RPA member Vahe Hovhannisyan is set to substitute the main
staff. "As long as the composition of the delegation is not finally
confirmed, I can say nothing about the rest members. The agenda is
also not approved, yet it is defined, that the issues pertain to
Azerbaijani political prisoners is going to be envisaged in autumn
session" Zohrabyan came forth with.
In addition, Armenian delegation member is set to send a document
to Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, demanding
international expertise of Azerbaijani textbooks. " I have raised the
question still during July session, stressing Azerbaijani textbooks
directly propagandize hatred towards Armenians. As samples I brought
Russian translation of the texts, where Armenians are described
as murderers for Azerbaijani people. Those examples together with
relevant translations will be sent to Human Rights Commissioner in
coming two weeks" Zohrabyan noted.
In the words of the interlocutor a draft calling EC member states
draw a special attention to school textbooks, in order they would not
comprise xenophobia, racism and religious hatred was circulated in July
session . In this regard we want to show off, if drafts are ratified,
then the initiators should be consistent in their fulfillment:
reportedly Azerbaijan brings up its generation with hatred towards
Armenians. I am going to attach a letter written by an Azerbaijani
woman to the document .The author of the letter is afraid her child
will grow sadist by being brought up with the vivid samples of hatred
towards Armenians depicted in the school textbooks" Zohrabyan stated.
PACE summer session took place on June 25-29.Conditioned to the
formation of new Assembly Armenian delegation participated by
its former composition of the delegation: delegation head Davit
Harutyunyan, members of Armen Rustamyan, Naira Zohrabyan, Artsruni
Aghajanian, while the team substitute made : Zaruhi Postanjyan ,
Grigori Margaryan, Hermine Naghdalyan, Armen Melikyan.
The themes on the growth of crisis, racism, xenophobia and extremism
in Europe were thoroughly discussed during PACE summer session. The
issue of EC member states political prisoners was also touched upon,
in this regard PACE legal commission adopted a report on "Azerbaijani
political prisoners' existence" which is scheduled to be envisaged
at PACE autumn session.
SURB KHACH CHURCH TO HOST LITURGY IN SEPTEMBER
ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 1, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: Preparatory works pertain to the
launch of religious ceremony scheduled to take place in September,
Van's lake Surb Khach Church have already been started.
As Armenpress reports citing Haberler.com Turkish web site, the
ceremony is set to kick off 2012 September 9. On this occasion Van's
deputy Governor Atay Uslu has organized a meeting, in the course of
which the details related to the scheduled ceremony were envisaged.
Van's Holy Cross Church is the only one in the historical territory of
Armenia, where the cross on the dome was raised after the restoration.
In accordance with the decision accepted by the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism, it is allowed to conduct religious ceremony at church
once a year.
Surb Khach built by Vaspurakan reign King Gagik I 915-922 is located
in the largest island of Van lake. Architect of the Church is Trdat.
ARMENIAN HONEY HAS HIGHER QUALITY THAN THE FOREIGN ONE
ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 1, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: This year was not so favorable for
honey production and breeding bees. Representative of Armenian
agricultural ministry Ashot Hovhannisyan told Armenpress that this
year is expected to receive almost 4000 tones of honey which is not
bad rate for last 3-4 years but in general average rates have been
recorded during current year.
Last year also was received 4000 tones of honey and in comparison
with the rates of last 10 years honey production has increased by 30
percent. All regions of the Republic are involved in honey production.
In internal market the price of honey is 3000-3500 AMD. "I can not say
clearly why the price is so stable. The bee breeders define the primary
cost 1500-1600 AMD, and selling cost remains unchanged during last
10 years. Before that it was sold for 2500 AMD" mentioned Hovhannisyan.
He also mentioned that Armenian honey has great value and is not worth
than the foreign one. By taste it is even better. Despite this fact
Armenian honey is not competitive in European countries. "In European
countries Turkey and China sell honey for 2-2.5 Euro and our honey
is three times expensive" says Hovhannisyan.
Ministry of Agriculture already implements steps in order to export
Armenian honey to European market. At present Armenian honey is
exported only to Russian Federation and in little amounts.
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