Armenian News

YEREVAN TAKES OVER AS WORLD'S BOOK CAPITAL

Voice of Russia

April 22 2012

Picked by UNESCO, the Armenian capital Yerevan has formally taken

over from Buenos Aires as the world's book capital. It will hold the

title for the next 12 months.

This year marks five centuries since an Armenian scholar based in

Venice started printing books in Armenian. Book printing in Armenia

started in 1771 in a monastery outside Yerevan.

WELSH CLERGYMAN ISSUES "FROM CARMARTHEN TO KARABAGH" 

BOOK

PanARMENIAN.Net

April 23, 2012 - 16:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The mysterious disappearances of King Arthur and

Wales' foremost rebel Owain Glyndwr have a remarkable similarity

with that of one of Armenia's greatest heroes, according to a leading

Welsh clergyman.

Wales Online reports that Canon Patrick Thomas, the Vicar of Christ

Church Carmarthen and Chancellor of St David's Cathedral, is the

author of a highly praised new book which finds numerous similarities

between Wales and Armenia.

On Monday, April 23, From Carmarthen to Karabagh will be launched in

the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff.

In recent years close ties have been established between the two

countries, prompting Canon Patrick to visit Armenia for the first

time in 2005. He immediately fell in love with the country and kept

going back, becoming increasingly aware of the parallels and contrasts

between Armenia and Wales.

His book has a unique structure: each chapter has an introduction,

three sections focusing on related themes from Armenia and a final

section that points out relevant similarities with Wales.

In a section about Welsh and Armenian heroes, Canon Patrick writes:

"Some heroes are meant to vanish leaving no known burial place."

"Moses is an obvious Biblical example. In Welsh tradition two of

our greatest warriors similarly disappear: King Arthur and Owain

Glyndwr.The burial place of King Arthur is a mystery, as is that

of Owain Glyndwr. "The legend that haunted the popular imagination

told of an encounter between Owain and the abbot of Vale Crucis,"

writes Canon Patrick.

"The latter had gone out in the early morning mist to say his prayers

when he met the fugitive hero. Owain rebuked the cleric for getting up

too early. The abbot replied that Owain himself had risen too early by

100 years. From this grew the feeling that Owain (like Arthur before

him) would one day return. He too was said to be sleeping with his

warriors in a cave - perhaps one of those in which he had hidden

during his years on the run," he writes.

"In Armenia a similar role was given to Pokr Mher, the last of the

wild heroes of Sassoun, whose exploits form a part of the national

epic. Pokr Mher and his horse disappeared into the Rock of Van and,

so the legend goes, remain there."

Canon Patrick also writes movingly about the murder of more than a

million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey during the First World War - an

event recognized officially as a Holocaust by the National Assembly

for Wales, but not by the UK Parliament.

The book has been praised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan

Williams, who writes in a foreword: "Patrick Thomas' distinctive voice

- learned, thoughtful, compassionate and witty - has become more and

more widely known and appreciated through his writings about Wales and

the imaginative legacy of Christian faith in Wales. His love affair

with Armenia began, as he tells us, some six years ago, and it has

worked itself out through many visits, through passionate advocacy and

through a deep immersion in the culture of this extraordinary nation.

Unsurprisingly, he finds analogies with another small and mountainous

country, jealous of its language and its heritage. And in these pages

he introduces us to some of the most poignant and beautiful literature

of the Armenians, shaped as it is by a history of appalling suffering."

Archbishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic

Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland, writes: "Those of us who know

Canon Patrick well know that through his passion to learn more about

the culture and history of Armenians and pursue the parallel between

the Armenian and Welsh people, he has earned the right to be an

honorary ambassador of the Armenian people to the rest of the world."

>From Carmarthen to Karabagh by Patrick Thomas is published by

Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.

EFFIGY OF ARMENIAN "OLIGARCH" PARADED THROUGH YEREVAN 

IN MOCK FUNERAL

hetq.am

14:52, April 23, 2012

A group of civic activists paraded an effigy of an "oligarch" around

the streets of downtown Yerevan yesterday in a mock funeral procession.

The procession proceeded from Mashtots Park to Opera Square and then

down through Northern Avenue to Republic Square, eventually winding

back at the park.

The coffin' followed by around two hundred "mourners" elicited curious

glances from passersby out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Many

actually believed that the procession was for real and had to be

convinced otherwise. A few even joined the march in support.

When asked who was being carried on the coffin, held aloft on the

shoulders of the activists, the answer given was "Olik Garkhyan";

a play on the word oligarch.

Anahit Mousheghyan, one of the activists, said that the procession

was symbolically not only burying the oligarchs of Armenia but the

mentality of greed and injustice that they spawn.

The activists said that the high-rise buildings along Northern

Avenue, the cafes that encircle the Opera and the commercial kiosks

now illegally being constructed in Mashtots Park, are all symbols of

the oligarchic system dominant in Armenia today.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN: THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ARE 

COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST THEIR COUNTRY

APA

April 21 2012

Azerbaijan (please note origin of this article)

Baku - APA. "One million people have left Armenia due to

Kocharian-Sargsyan regime.

This can be compared only with the genocide and deportation of

Armenians in the Ottoman Empire," leader of Armenian National Congress

(ANC), ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan said during the rally in

Yerevan, APA reports quoting Armenia Today.

"The persons, who want the world to recognize the Armenian genocide,

are committing similar genocide in their country. Charles Aznavour,

who was appointed as ambassador by Serzh Sargsyan, says this," first

president of Armenia underlined.

He also said corruption is the negative consequence of the government's

activity. He said according to the results of various international

studies in Armenia, the level of the shadow economy constitutes 2/3

of the real economy.

"Actually, only 1/3 of the revenues are included into the budget,"

he said.

Ter-Petrosyan underlined that if these funds had been included into

the budget, pensions and allowances, could have been doubled, military,

scientific expenses, salaries could have been tripled.

"These persons, who plunder their country, wish to defeat Azerbaijan,"

Ter-Petrosyan said.

Ex-president underlined that police and courts make deals with

criminals and the claimant is found guilty. The soldiers are tortured,

beaten, killed, incited to suicide.

Levon ter-Petrosyan criticized the international proposals (Madrid

principles) put forward for the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and

underlined that ANC will do its best to change them. He considers

that this is just a "diplomatic trick" to mask the return of Nagorno

Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

"The proposed principles must show who will organize the referendum

on self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh and who will participate

in this referendum. If these issues are not solved, the referendum

will be nothing but a trap to deceive the Armenian people," he said.

RESTORATION OF ST KIRAKOS CHURCH OF DIYARBERKIR STOPPED

tert.am

23.04.12

The reconstruction of historical Armenian Surb Kirakos Church in

Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır has costed more than

expected as a result of which no money has remained for the restoration

of nearby constructions, CNNturk reports.

The 100kg-weight bronze bell prepared in Moscow and the restoration

of the church costed about 2 million Turkish lira.

The dome with 29-meter gold cross built by an Armenian master in 1883

was bombed for being higher from the minarets of surrounding mosques.

The church sank into oblivion after migration of Armenians from

Tigranakert. In 2010 the restoration of the church launched but the

works have stopped for already a month.

Armenian Genocide commemorated in London

April 21, 2012 - 22:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - About 300-350 people took to the streets in London

on April 21 to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian

Genocide and protest Turkey's policy of denial.

The demonstrators carried Armenian and British flags and chanted

`Never Again', `Recognize the Armenian Genocide' and `We Want

Justice.' Some were holding photographs of the slain editor of Agos

weekly, Hrant Dink.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from the scene, officials

from the Armenian embassy in London also joined the protesters, who

demanded inclusion of the story of the Armenian Genocide in the UK

school curriculum.

The march ended at The Glorious Dead Memorial where the participants

laid flowers and offered a prayer.

A liturgy will be served in Surb Eghishe Church on April 22.

Wales-Armenia Solidarity - Book Launch and Armenian Genocide Petition

Wales-Armenia Solidarity

Book Launch “From Carmarthen to Karabagh, a Welsh Discovery of Armenia " (23rd April)

and

Presentation of Armenian Genocide Day Petition to the National Assembly (25th April)

This coming week promises to be one of the most important for Welsh Armenians.

On Monday , the launch of Canon Patrick Thomas’ new book " From Carmarthen to Karabagh, a Welsh discovery of Armenia" will take place at the Temple of Peace, Cardiff. This thoughtful and informative book focuses on the similarity and affinity between the two nations. The author is a well known and respected priest and broadcaster who lives in Carmarthen and travelled extensively in Armenia.

Attendees will gather at the Genocide Monument in the garden of the Temple. Key persons present will include the Archbishop of Wales, the Ambassador of Republic of Armenia, Bishop Vahan of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the historian Mike Joseph, as well as Barra O'Tobin from the Irish Community in Wales. Neil McEvoy, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council will be present at the Genocide Monument, and invitations have been sent to all the Welsh Assembly Members.

Displays will highlight the country, history and culture of Armenia. The Canon will sign copies of his book and interviews have been arranged with the press.

On Wednesday, a petition will be presented to the Petitions Committee of the National Assembly calling for the 24th April to be officially denoted as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in Wales. The majority of the National Assembly Members (including all four members of the Petitions Committee) have already signed a Statement identical to the wording of the Petition.

The First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government, Carwyn Jones has already been consulted on the content of the petition. It is likely he will oppose the aim as it contradicts the official line of the Labour Party in London. Nevertheless , we are confident of a good result, as the only argument that the Welsh Assembly Government has so far been able to present, is that commemorating victims of the Armenian Genocide is a foreign policy issue for the UK government, while commemorating the victims of the 1939-45 Holocaust and other genocides falls outside any such policy. The majority of Assembly Members have already rejected the UK foreign policy argument, so the main issue will probably be who has the power to denote special days for the Welsh calendar, the Assembly or the Assembly government.

Armenian News

How Russia Intends to Divide Armenia

Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 16:09:24 - 19/04/2012

New circumstances and intentions of Russia and other states in the

region are being revealed. Now there is no doubt that Russia builds up

its relationship with Armenia on the establishment of relations with

Azerbaijan and Turkey.

More and more distinct are Russia’s plans on the Karabakh issue, which

includes the following – complete withdrawal of the Armenian forces

from Karabakh, return of five, later all the seven regions to

Azerbaijan, return of the so-called Azeri refugees, deployment of

Russian peacekeepers in the conflict area, in fact in Karabakh, and

absolute disregard for the issue of status are put off for ten and

more years.

This is clearly another division of Armenia between the partners. In

the 20s and 40s Russia tried to attract Turkey to its side, enjoying

the anti-imperialist moods in Anatolia but always got a poke on the

nose instead of better access to the Black Sea channels.

So will be now but not immediately, of course, though there is always

enough time for experiments to destroy Armenia again. Interestingly,

as at other times, the excited Armenians will expect Russia to handle

their destiny. During the visit of Dmitri Medvedev to Yerevan tens of

thousands of Armenians, holding posters and Russian flags, went on the

so-called square of Russia and expressed their loyalty to the Russian

president who wants to suffocate their homeland, reduce it to the

level of mockery of the world.

Russia was waiting and planning the use of the Karabakh resource in

its policy. According to more advanced Russian political scientists

integrated with the government agencies, Russia received nothing from

the cooperation with Armenia, and further cooperation in such a

bilateral mode is meaningless. It is openly told to their Armenian

colleagues whom they have known for many years.

The leading specialists of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies,

the Institute of CIS, experts immediately advising the Russian

president administration keep to this opinion in one form or another.

As to Medvedev, he is considered as a leader of the Azerbaijani lobby

in Russia. The Russian president’s relations and interests are close

enough to insist on this.

In Russia, too many high-ranking officials are identified as

Azerbaijani lobbyists, and later on as people who hold one government

post or another. There are too many “oilmen” and “gasmen” in the

Russian government. Here are the political views.

Along with strategic and tactical interests of Russia which involve

the plans on the Karabakh issue, purely commercial interests indeed

have an important role, of large-scale character, of course. Russia is

an important supplier of weapon to Azerbaijan, and the Americans and

Turks are not indifferent to it. This is a complicated game, and

beyond Russia’s power which though tries to establish new

relationships in the world remains isolated and blocked by states.

In the region a lot seems confused and uncertain, new scenarios might

be expected which one cannot even doubt about. For the time being,

though, certain circles in Moscow are making efforts for cardinal

review of allies and partners of Russia in different regions, and

Armenia may not notice the crucial moment in this politics after which

the situation will be irreversible.

In any case, the ethnic lobbies as such are too insignificant to doubt

they have a serious role. It is only partly known who is involved in

the fulfillment of these interests. Currently a number of American and

British journalists in Moscow are intensively developing this

scenario. One day it will float, one day.

ARMENIAN MPS DEEM "SKIPPING" PARLIAMENT MEETINGS NATURAL

PanARMENIAN.Net

April 13, 2012 - 20:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - This week, the subsequent four day meeting of

Armenian National Assembly didn't take place over lack of a quorum.

Perhaps, the parliamentarians were so busy with the election campaign

that they completely forgot about their direct responsibilities i.e.

legislative activity, with more disciplined MPs having joined the

traditional truants this time.

PanARMENIAN.Net tried to learn the MP's opinion about the sabotage of

the parliament's operation during a traditional National Assembly

briefing. Orinats Yerkir's parliamentary group leader Heghine

Bisharyan, voicing regret over the frustration of the four-day meeting,

urged against blaming the MPs. She added that even their European

counterparts note that the same occurs in their countries in the

midst of election campaign.

ARF Dashnaktstyun member Artsvik Minasyan didn't deem skipping

the four-day meeting disgraceful, either. Moreover, in response to

PanARMENIAN.Net reporter's remark noting that MPs are paid for their

legislative activity, Mr. Minasyan dubbed the parliamentarians'

salary as their constitutional right. Either he didn't understand

the question or he thinks the MPs' salary comprises the payment for

their propaganda for won re-election.

As always, the head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)

parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan stood out for his eloquence. To

the same question he answered that "MPs are paid for communication

with the public". Having no time during their term of office for

that, they sensed such a great desire to communicate with public upon

completion of their terms that the even the National assembly rules

and constitutional commitments couldn't keep them back.

As for the parliamentary groups of Prosperous Armenia and Heritage

parties, their representatives didn't attend the briefing.

In conclusion, it remains to remind the MPs of their direct

responsibility i.e. legislative activity, for which they are paid for

and of the need to ensure active work in parliament throughout the five

years of their term of office, and not during the election campaign

with various vows. After all, their pledges serve a single purpose-

to ensure another opportunity to skip National Assembly meetings.

Sale of votes has become a tradition in Armenia

arminfo

Saturday, April 14, 13:12

 19.7% of the voters are ready to sell their votes during the May 6

parliamentary elections. This has already become a tradition in

Armenia, representative of the Exit Poll Social Research Center Levon

Andreasyan told journalists on Friday.

The survey held by the Center among 2,710 people in Yerevan and

regional centers Mar 22-Apr 8 on the request of the Black Sea and

Caspian Region Institute of Political and Social Research has shown

that 9.4% of the voters will vote because they believe in the promises

given during the election campaign, 12% because their friends or

relatives have asked them to, 16.6% because they are in opposition and

19.7% because they hope to get money for their voters.

"This is very dangerous as the last group may become a tool in the

hands of external forces," Andreasyan said.

According to the Center, five of the nine running parties will pass

the 5% barrier - the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous

Armenia, the ARFD, the Armenian National Congress and Heritage - of

whom the RPA and Prosperous Armenia will secure more than 50% of the

votes.

Two streets of Marseille to have Armenian names

news.am

April 14, 2012 | 04:14

Two streets in Marseille, France, will be given names of Armenians

Maurice-Torgom Ter-Merkerian and Edmond Piroumian, Nouvelles d`Arménie

reports. The two Armenians were volunteers in the French Forces of the

UN Nuclear Chief Meets Armenian Leaders, Inspects Metsamor Plant

Emil Danielyan

18.04.2012

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog inspected the nuclear

plant at Metsamor and discussed with Armenian leaders their plans to

delay its decommissioning during a visit to Armenia on Wednesday.

Official news sources in Yerevan said Yukiya Amano, the director

general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was also

briefed on the Armenian government's ambitious project to replace the

aging Soviet-era facility by a new plant meeting modern safety

standards.

`You are planning to extend the nuclear plant's life span and then

halt and decommission it,' a government statement quoted Amano as

telling Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian. `At all those stages, our

agency is obliged to assist Armenia in carrying out that work

smoothly.'

`Armenia is committed to further deepening our productive cooperation

with the IAEA,' Sarkisian said. `The government is paying a lot of

attention to ensuring safe exploitation of the atomic block.'

Amano discussed the matter at a separate meeting with Energy Minister

Armen Movsisian. A statement by Movsisian's ministry said they looked

into ongoing efforts to enhance the plant's `level of safety and

physical protection' as well as `technical assistance' for the

decommissioning process.

Amano and other IAEA officials accompanying him familiarized

themselves with the safety measures when they visited Metsamor after

the meeting with Movsisian. According to the ministry statement, they

inspected various units of the plant generating about 40 percent of

Armenia's electricity.

Metsamor's sole functioning reactor was supposed to be shut

down by 2017, in time for the planned construction of a new and more

powerful facility at the same site more than 30 kilometers west of

Yerevan. But with the ambitious project clearly falling behind

schedule, the Armenian government has indicated that the current plant

will operate longer than planned despite lingering domestic and

international concerns about its safety.

Amano discussed the project estimated to cost $5 billion with

Sarkisian, Movsisian as well as Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. He

was reported to call for `joint efforts to ensure a high degree of

transparency' in its implementation.

`The prime minister assured him that Armenia is interested in that and

ready to continue to act in an open and transparent manner,' the

government's press office said. It said Sarkisian also told Amano that

the government has already drawn up a `timetable for measures to

extend the existing nuclear plant's operations and ensure its safety.'

The long-standing concerns over Metsamor's safety were rekindled last

year by grave accidents at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear

plant. The authorities in Yerevan responded by initiating a two-week

inspection of Metsamor by IAEA experts.

The Vienna-based watchdog's ad hoc Operational Safety Review Team

(OSART) concluded in June that the plant poses an `acceptable' level

of risk to the environment and can, in principle, operate beyond its

design life span.

VOTERS IN ARMENIA'S ASHTARAK GET BRIBES IN CASH, ON SPOT - NEWSPAPER

news.am

April 18, 2012 | 06:23

YEREVAN. - In the lead-up to the parliamentary elections, the ruling

coalition's Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is collecting people's

passports in Ashtarak city, too, Yerkir daily writes.

"An Ashtarak resident told the newspaper that, in the case when the

RPA was offering AMD 5,000 [approx. US$ 13] for one passport, now the

'bet' has sharply increased by first becoming AMD 10,000 [approx. $26]

and then AMD 15,000 [approx. $38].

The citizen who spoke with us told that the RPA is unable to 'restrain'

the people and collect the passports by even offering AMD 15,000.

The Ashtarak residents demand the money in cash and on the spot,

not on the day of the elections.

Most of them decided to give their passports, take the [election]

bribe, but to vote for whomever they wish," Yerkir writes.

40 SCHOOLS IN SHIRAK REGION NEED RENOVATION

ARMENPRESS

APRIL 18, 2012

GYUMRI

GYUMRY, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. In accordance of the approved funds

of the state Budget 2012 Gyumry city's "Mush 2" district, Akhurik,

Ashotsk, Aregnadem villages' new schools construction is scheduled

to finish. Besides the construction of these schools until the end

of the year repair work will be conducted in Gusanagyugh, Harich ,

Mets Mantash, Anushavan villages' schools. Edward Simonyan Shirak

Marzpetaran's staff Urban Management Architectural Department head told

Armenpress reporter that all the constructions should be taken into

operation this year, besides Ashotsk village school, which according

to the contract will be completed 2013 May. This year state budget

allocated 2 billion 193 million AMD for school construction."Despite

ongoing works more than 40 schools in Shirak region need repair. These

are mostly schools dating 1988 and later; where no reconstruction

work was conducted till now" Edward Simonyan highlighted.