Armenianow

Battle cry: Karabakh war veterans in Armenia demand a new law and privileges

Gayane Mkrtchyan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A group of Karabakh war veterans in Armenia intends to apply to the National Assembly demanding the adoption of a law which would define privileges for them and therefore help them resolve their social problems.

An announcement on the matter came Monday by about 30 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with veteran issues.

June 29: International Day of Missing in Action is marked in Armenia

Gayane Mkrtchyan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan accompanied representatives of different organizations and relatives of Armenia’s Missing In Action to Yerblur’ Military Cemetery today (June 29) to commemorate International Day of MIA.

Some 300 soldiers are still unaccounted for as a result of the Karabakh war. The minister said there is a commission in his ministry charged with learning the whereabouts of any MIA. The work, Ohanyan said, is hampered by poorl relations with Azerbaijan.

And the Oscar goes to…. Armenia Public Television awarded “Unpleasant TV” title

Gayane Abrahamyan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A disagreeable title “Unpleasant TV Broadcast” was awarded to the Armenian Public television as was defined by most of the 110-member panel of judges in the first-ever contest of television channels in Armenian.

The panel of intellectuals held a monitoring in February-March this year of all 17 TV companies in Armenia, and by 74 votes it was decided that the most unpleasant is the Armenian Public Television’s broadcast. Armenia TV is in the second place according to “unpleasantness and vulgarism”.

Animated Armenia: Yerevan to host international animation film festival

Karine Ionesyan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Armenia will for the first time host an international animated film festival, October 3-6. ReAnimania, as it is named, will be held in Yerevan and will enable Armenian and foreign artists to present their art and participate in different specialized lectures. Organizers believe the festival will be instrumental in developing the sphere of animated film production in Armenia.

Outrage and Accusations: Armenia delegates up in arms over colleague’s PACE performance

Gayane Mkrtchyan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Heritage MP Zaruhi Postanjyan continued to feel the wrath of fellow Assembly members Tuesday (June 30) over her decision at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) last week to accept the signatures of the Azeri and the Turkish representations on a series of proposals connected to March 1, 2008 political unrest in Armenia.

Postanjyan’s proposal called for restoring the March 1 investigation by the fact-finding group of experts, the release of all “political prisoners” and for the PACE to continue monitoring the progress of the investigation.

No regrets: Armenia delegate defends her behavior at Strasbourg branded as “unpatriotic”

Georg Khachaturyan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

An opposition member of Armenia’s parliament serving on the delegation to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has dismissed claims by critics and political opponents that her move to secure Azerbaijani and Turkish signatures to a paper on Armenia was “unpatriotic”.

Zaruhi Postanjyan, representing the opposition Heritage party’s parliamentary faction, last week submitted to the PACE summer session a document calling on the Armenian authorities to use all steps to release the oppositionists imprisoned in the wake of last year’s post-election unrest that remained behind bars despite the recently declared amnesty as well as to reinstate the powers of the abolished group of experts conducting an independent probe into the circumstances of the March 1-2, 2008 events. Postanjyan also suggested that the co-rapporteurs on Armenia prepare a new report on the government’s compliance with the PACE resolutions by the time the body gathers for its winter session.

Televirtual Viewing: TV through internet to become available for viewers in Armenia

Georg Khachaturyan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Men in blue company uniforms have been busy these days installing long black cables along the streets of the capital of Armenia, laying the information highway for potentially tens of thousands of Yerevan residents to watch a different TV.

After signing a deal with one of the world’s leading suppliers in telecommunications, an Armenian internet provider company, Ucom, began Wednesday (July 1) a rollout to start delivering IPTV (or Internet Protocol Television) services to viewers in Armenia based on advanced technologies.

Culture and Corruption: Audit shows wrong doing by Armenia ministry and regional bodies

Gayane Abrahamyan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Armenian Audit Chamber, which twice a year audits state departments to see how State Budget money is spent, registered a recurrent misuse of about half a million dollars in the communities of Armavir Province, and at the Ministry of Culture of Armenia.

The most serious violation was revealed at the Ministry of Culture, where about 204 million drams ($570,000) was spent without any document.

Flower Power: Turks plan to decorate stadium with 70,000 carnations for Armenia soccer game

Suren Musayelyan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Turkey is preparing a large-scale floral greeting to Armenia’s national soccer team and few fans that will be traveling across the border for a return World Cup 2010 qualifier this fall, according to a Turkish newspaper report.

Turkey’s Today’s Zaman reports that 70,000 carnations will decorate the Turkey v Armenia soccer match that will take place in Kayseri’s Kadir Has stadium on October 14, “with two carnations put on each seat in the stadium, which has a capacity of 33,000.”

Golden Apricot: Sixth international film festival in Armenia promises some novelties

Karine Ionesyan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

With less than two weeks to go before the opening of Armenia’s best known international film festival, Golden Apricot, the mood among cinemagoers in capital city Yerevan appears festive not least due to numerous festival announcing banners as well as information conferences held by organizers.

The annual festival, to be held for the sixth time this year, opens on July 12 and will be held with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture and main sponsorship of VivaCell-MTS company. During a week the audience will be offered 110 films by directors from 40 countries participating in three categories – international feature films, documentaries, and the Armenian panorama.

Projects continue, relations strengthen: Iranian Ambassador to Armenia speaks of further cooperation between countries

Gayane Mkrtchyan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Iranian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Seyed Ali Saqqaiyan, speaking about the post-election developments in Iran, said the latest events will not have their influence upon Armenian-Iranian relations.

Those strategically important projects between the two countries will be continued, such as the construction of the railway and the construction of the oil pipeline (from the Iranian city of Tabriz to the Armenian station Yeraskh in Ararat province). Saqqaiyan added that Iranian specialists will arrive in Armenia to participate in a pipeline construction.

More punishment?: Armenian activist fighting for the rights of Armenians in Javakhk denied international attorney

Gayane Abrahamyan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A Georgian-Armenian political activist who was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment was not allowed to have a French-Armenian defense attorney, based on amendments to Georgian law stipulating that a Georgian citizen cannot be represented by a foreign attorney.

Vahagn Chakhalyan was detained in Georgia last April and charged with keeping weapons, for participating in mass disorder, and for resisting a police officer. Chakhalyan is an activist for the settlement of the problems concerning Javakhk, (Samtskhe-Javakheti), a mostly Armenian-populated region of Georgia.

Under-mining: Plant in southern Armenia resumes amid worker concerns

Karine Ionesyan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A copper-molybdenum plant in southern Armenia that ground to a halt last year influenced by the unfavorable world market situation and the broader global economic slowdown has resumed operations this week. But many on its current and former staff still have questions to ask to the administration.

The plant in Agarak, in the southern Syunik region of Armenia, started working again on July 1 after idling for about nine months.

Blocked roads and beaten activists in Armenia: Upcoming opposition rally provokes clashes

Gayane Mkrtchyan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

ArmeniaNow has received reports today of police interfering with travelers attempting to reach Yerevan.

In what appears to be a gross violation of the rights of free movement, police are stationed on highways linking the capital to the regions, from where participants are expected for today’s 7:30 p.m. rally by Armenia’s oppositionists.

TV bridge: Experts in Armenia, Georgia look back at Saakashvili visit

Georg Khachaturyan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Societies and political elites in Armenia and Georgia view positively last week’s visit by President Mikheil Saakashvili to Yerevan, said a majority of speakers during a teleconference between Yerevan and Tbilisi organized in both capitals this week.

On the Armenian end of the so-called TV bridge, Deputy Director of the Kavkaz Institute Sergey Minasyan argued that the Georgian president’s two-day visit to Armenia only confirmed the continuity of relations between the two nations.

“Hello. I am Nikol Pashinyan, and I came to be arrested”: Armenia oppositionist wanted by police surrenders and anticipates punishment

Gayane Abrahamyan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The passionate oppositionist and the editor of an ultra-oppositional newspaper who surrendered to police after 16 months of hiding may face at least 6-7 years of imprisonment, according to his lawyers.

Nikol Pashinyan, editor of ‘Haykakan Zhamanak’ (Armenian Times) who disappeared from Armenian public life after March 1, 2008 violence between police and opposition supporters was charged with organizing mass disorder and violence against authorities and with holding a public event in violation of law.

Sport: Armenia Ice Hockey delight amid summer heat

Suren Musayelyan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Yerevan will host World Division III Championships to be held next spring, according to the Ice Hockey Federation of Armenia.

The Federation’s Vice-President Hayk Jaghatspanyan told ArmeniaNow that preparations were being made for an official announcement of the details of the event scheduled for April 2010 in which the Armenian capital will for the first time play host to an international ice hockey tournament.

Rally Reality: Armenia opposition mood moderates as released 03/01 prisoners address crowd

Karine Ionesyan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

As leaders of the opposition, including those who recently emerged from prison under a general amnesty declaration, were speaking on stage Thursday evening in front of Matenadaran, Armenia’s ancient manuscripts museum, the public downstairs appeared to have found more reason to lend an ear to their passionate speeches.

Way for rail: Armenia getting back on commuter train track

Georg Khachaturyan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Russian managers of Armenia’s rail network have announced an imminent launch of a major commuter train service from Yerevan westward that they say will potentially open up new prospects for domestic rail traveling. Another service, they said, will provide holidaymakers with weekend trips to Lake Sevan.

A commuter train service between Armavir and Yerevan covering a distance of about 50 kilometers within 53 minutes will be inaugurated on July 10, according to a senior representative of the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) CJSC.

Freedom House Report Highlights Declines in Democratic Development