Armenia’s authorities are digging their own grave – Hayk Martirosyan

July 26, 2016 By administrator

In an interview with Tert.am, Doctor of Political Science Hayk Martirosyan spoke of the July 17 armed attack on a police building in Yerevan, resultant domestic political changes in Armenia, relations between political forces and society and public demand issued in Yerevan’s Khorenatsi street and other issues.

Mr Martirosyan, Armenia’s political forces were preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. Political parties were established, and political propaganda was under way. How much has the Sasna Tsrer group’s activities changed the game for political forces?

The group’s actions have complicated the situation for Armenia’s authorities. Society is now demonstrating string trends to tension, and political parties have proved their actual absence. The so called intellectuals moving in the ruling circles have shown their true worth as well. Armenia’s political arena is empty, while the only ruling political force is deeply hated. In the previous state of affair, Armenia’s authorities had to spare no effort to rig elections, whereas now they have to resort to reprisals. With discontent with you growing, and you lacking intellect and hardly tolerated, overtly doing what you once tried to conceal. And then you are overthrown because no one is going to tolerate more.

Political forces have a task of coming to or approaching power. How have the Sasna Tserer group’s actions influenced the authorities? What changes will authorities make?

We should realize that one either has intellect and knowledge or has not any. If the former, you can be capable of making right assessments and changes. Since it lacks in this particular case, no favorable expectations should be held. Armenia’s authorities are digging their own grave, and Sasna Tsrer is only of help to them.

What trends were observed in the public-political forces relations after July 17?

A total break, revelation and mutual exclusion. The political scene is exhausted, discredited and destroyed. What we see in Armenia is, as a matter of fact, the Communist-style one party model.

Mr Martirosyan, in the run-up to July 17, there was public discontent in the social media and on other platforms over the absence of a [political] force or leader ruling the crowd. [The Civil Contract party’s leader,] Nikol Pashinyan, made such attempt, but the society wouldn’t accept anyone. What public demand is after all being sketched now?

I find it hard to give an answer. If the [political forces] having adherents are dispersed and driven out of square, the street, which isn’t crowded as it is, will look even emptier. Pashinyan enjoys publicity, at least at the moment, so he is still able to attract people despite his party-backed agenda. Evidently, people reject this government, but they do not take to the streets for now to raise their voice. So to disperse the [political forces] at the moment would mean keeping the squares empty. Political analysts cannot fill the existing vacuum. Whether analysts or politicians, if people follow all this through computers at home their demands too, will be heard from their bedrooms.

How and to what extent did they manage or fail to make the situation work to their own advantage?

All political forces guide themselves by their own interests. What matters is to what extent the interests of the nation and the people are present there. What we hear in the Khorenatsi [street] is the interest of the people’s complaint. But the political forces aren’t there – just as they are absent from everywhere else. Whenever people just take to the streets to raise their demand, real changes become possible. Political forces then follow the people instead of proposing agendas. We do not have situations like this in Armenia. It may be possible sometime in the future, but today, we simply don’t have it.

First-ever geothermal power station to be built in Armenia

July 19, 2016 By administrator

Drilling works have launched for the construction of a geothermal power station in Karkar community of Armenia‘s Syunik province, the first-of-its-kind plant in the country.

In case the results of geological surveys carried out in the area are approved, a 30 MW geothermal power station will be constructed here with an annual production capacity of up to 250 million kilowatts of electricity.

The drilling works are co-financed by the Climate Investment Fund and the government which have provided $9 million and $2 million, respectively. Three wells with a depth of 1500 meters each will be dug. Based on the results, a final assessment of the area’s geothermal resource will be provided.

Accordingly, an international tender will be announced to find investors for the construction of the station, priority will be given to the participant offering the lowest price.

The construction of the plant is estimated at $100 million. It is an environmentally friendly and renewable energetic resource which can turn into a long-term source of electricity production in the event of correct operation.

Source; PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey: The archaeological site of Armenian Ani has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site

July 16, 2016 By administrator

ani-unesco The World Heritage Committee holding its 40th session from 10 July in Istanbul (Turkey) recorded during Friday’s session afternoon five new websites: a transboundary site (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia) and sites in Spain, Greece, UK and Turkey.

Cemeteries of medieval tombs Stecci (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia) – This serial has 30 sites, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the west of Serbia, Montenegro west and central and southern Croatia, which represent cemeteries and medieval tombs, or stecci specific to these regions. These cemeteries dating from the twelfth to the sixteenth century, are organized in rows, as was the custom in Europe since the Middle Ages. The Stecci are mostly carved in limestone. They have a wide variety of decorative motifs and inscriptions that testify iconographic continuities in medieval Europe and the oldest specific local traditions.

Archaeological site of Philippi (Greece) – The remains of this fortified city spread out at the foot of an acropolis located in the present region of eastern Macedonia and Thrace, on the old road that connects Europe Asia, the Via Egnatia. Founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian king Philip II, the city then develops as a “little Rome” with the creation of the Roman Empire in the decades following the battle of Philippi in 42 BC -C. the Hellenistic monuments such as the grand Theatre and the funeral heroon (temple) are then complemented by Roman buildings as the forum. The city later became a center of Christian faith after visiting the Apostle Paul in 49-50 AD. The remains of churches are an exceptional testimony of the primitive establishment of Christianity.

dolmens site of Antequera (Spain) – In the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, the site includes three megalithic monuments: the dolmen of Menga, Viera and the dolmen of the tholos of El Romeral and two natural monuments: the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal which are two visual cues within the site. Edified during the Neolithic and Bronze Age with large blocks of stone, these monuments form chambers and spaces covered with lintels or false cupolas. These three graves, buried under their original tumulus, are one of the most outstanding architectural works of European prehistory and one of the most important examples of European megaliths.

Archaeological site of Ani (Turkey) – The site is located north-east of Turkey on an isolated plateau, overlooking a gorge forming a natural border with Armenia. This medieval city combines residential structures, religious and military characteristics of a medieval town built over the centuries by the Christian and Muslim dynasties. The city reached its peak in the tenth and eleventh centuries AD when it became the capital of medieval Armenian kingdom of Bagratuni and derives its wealth of mastering the trade of one of the branches of the Silk Road. Later, under the Byzantine, Seljuk and Georgian sovereignty, it remains important hub status for trade caravans. The Mongol invasion and a devastating earthquake in 1319 marked the beginning of the decline of the city. Ani offers a wide panorama of the medieval architectural development through the presence of almost all architectural types that have emerged in the region between the seventh and thirteenth century AD

All caves Gorham (United Kingdom) – The steep limestone cliffs, located in the eastern part of the rock of Gibraltar, contain four caves with archaeological and paleontological sites attest to the presence Neanderthal, for a period of more than 125 000 years. This exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions of Neanderthals is reflected in particular by traces of hunting birds and marine animals for food and the use of ornamental feathers, and the presence of rock engravings abstract. Scientific research conducted at the site have already made significant contributions to debates on the Neanderthal and human evolution.

The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee will continue until July 20 under the chairmanship of Lale Ülker, Ambassador, Director General of Cultural Affairs and promotion abroad to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

with AFP

Saturday, July 16, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Armenian Gov’t Plans to Stimulate Domestic Manufacturing, Ban Turkish Imports

July 16, 2016 By administrator

Ban Turkish product YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Armenia’s government plans to ban imports of some Turkish goods as part of broader protectionist measures designed to boost domestic manufacturers, Economy Minister Artsvik Minasian announced on Friday.

Minasian said that the ban will initially apply to around 50 of 700 types of Turkish-made products imported to Armenia. Its imposition will mark the “first stage” of a government effort to stimulate the domestic manufacturing sector and thereby create more jobs in the country, he told reporters.

Outlining further protectionist measures planned by the government, Minasian said “If a particular product imported from any country hurts local manufacturers, drives them out of business, or limits the possibility of producing it here, we will use legitimate non-tariff methods [against its imports].”

The minister, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), did not specify what concrete form those non-tariff barriers will take. The government has announced no decisions to that effect yet.

Landlocked Armenia has long had a liberal trade regime with the outside world. It remains to be seen whether the trade protectionism heralded by Minasian will fall foul of its membership commitments to the Eurasian Economic Union or the World Trade Organization.

Minasian, whose party favors a hard line on Turkey, called for a full or partial ban on Turkish imports shortly after he was appointed as economy minister in March as a result of Dashnaktsutyun’s power-sharing deal with President Serzh Sarkisian.

According to Armenian government statistics, Armenia imported about $50 million worth of Turkish goods in the first five months of this year. With the Turkish-Armenian border closed since the early 1990s, the bulk of them reached the country via Georgia.

As part of its economic embargo imposed on Armenia out of solidarity with Azerbaijan, Turkey has also banned imports of all Armenian products.

Overall, imports of goods and commodities to Armenian stood $1.2 billion in January-May 2016. By comparison, Armenian exports totaled $657 million in that period.

Armenia looks to Iran to compensate for the suspension of Russian gas supplies

July 14, 2016 By administrator

gas iran It was announced Tuesday that Armenia has requested Iran to provide more natural gas at a one-month suspension of its gas imports from Russia, conducted via Georgia.

An operator of Georgian gas stopped deliveries of Russian gas to Armenia Sunday, citing the need for urgent repairs on a section of a Georgian pipeline extending to the Armenian border. The company announced that they will resume on 10 August.

Armenia buys about 80 percent of the gas used by its companies and its people to Russia. To compensate for the shortage, it was initially planned to use underground storage of gas just north of Yerevan.

However, the Armenian government decided to switch to emergency commands to Iran. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan phoned Tuesday to Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, ask for a sharp rise in gas deliveries from Iran to Armenia.

“Iran responded positively to the Armenian demand,” said a government statement. He did not reveal the volume of emergency gas imports from Iran by Abrahamian and agreed Jahangiri.

Armenia has imported up to 500 million cubic meters of Iranian gas each year since the construction in 2008 of a gas pipeline from the Islamic Republic. By comparison, the Russian gas controls to the South Caucasus countries amounted to almost 2 billion cubic meters.

With Armenia paying the Iranian gas with electricity it is expected that Iran will triple its gas export to Armenia after the construction of a third transmission line connecting the two neighboring countries. Work on the line, estimated at $ 120 million, should be completed in 2018.

Thursday, July 14, 2016,
Claire © armenews.com

Technological summer camp in Hankavan, Armenia

July 13, 2016 By administrator

Tech camp Technological summer camp is underway from July 11 to 25 for 600 schoolchildren from ages 9 to 13. The summer camp is organized by World Vision Armenia, Ucom and the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE).

Children from disadvantaged families of beneficiary communities of World Vision Armenia, as well as pupils of “Armat” engineering laboratories are attending the summer camp.

According to the UITE, the children exchange their engineering skills, master new knowledge and encourage each other.

In particular, the children are learning to program a line following robot. Besides, through teamwork they create 3D printers for Artsakh schools.

The participants also learn national dances in the tech camp.

Armenia Defense Army air defense forces detect Azerbaijani training flights

July 13, 2016 By administrator

azerbaijan training On July 13, at 08:26 Azerbaijan launched military training flights by planes and helicopters at the depth of 30 kilometers from the southwestern direction of the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

As of 11:00 a.m., 12 planes and 41 helicopters were involved in the training flights, according to the press release by NKR Defense Army.

“NKR air defense forces control Azerbaijani training flights through radiolocation firing and observation points and detect their actions alertly, reads the statement.

Yerevan: Golden Apricot presents first 360° educational film in Armenia

July 13, 2016 By administrator

On the sidelines of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, the first ever Armenian 360° educational movie, produced by Technology and Science, was presented in Yerevan.
Speaking to Tert.am, the company’s director, Vahe Shakaryan, said they produce movies for school-age children in an effort to facilitate their learning of different subjects.
“Films of the kind are in high demand abroad, so we must do everything possible to provide a free access to them . We are hopeful that by September, we will have at least three movies to screen in different schools. This movie is about astronomy; the next two movies will deal with biology and chemistry,” he explained.
The recent movie’s scenario, which was produced in Armenia, was written jointly by psychologists and pedagogues.
Shakaryan said the choice of disciplines focused on the subjects children normally have difficulty learning.
“Our purpose is to develop in the children a desire to return to books, making them delve deeper into the subjects they learn,” he said, adding that they are planning film screenings also in the regions.
The authors have prepared short-length movies (10-15 min.) not to bore the children.

Turkey Makes Overtures to Minorities, but Old Enmities Linger

July 13, 2016 By administrator

The unfinished Statue of Humanity, a monument to Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, in Kars, Turkey, in 2009. It was demolished in 2011. Credit Mustafa Ozer/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

By CELESTINE BOHLENJULY 12, 2016

(nytimes) KARS, Turkey — The history of this city, about 30 miles from the border with Armenia, may best be told through its former Armenian cathedral, the Church of the Holy Apostles, poised at the base of an imposing fortress.

Built in the 10th century by an Armenian king, it was turned into a mosque three times and once into a Russian Orthodox church. It was briefly resurrected as an Armenian church in 1919 before the modern secular Turkish state expropriated it in 1921, eventually turning it into a petroleum depot, then into a museum, then again into a mosque.

Now, it is mostly closed: Many Muslims go instead to a holier shrine next door. According to Armenian news reports, it might be converted into either a cultural center or even a church, but it is unclear who would come, given that virtually no Armenian Christians are left in Kars.

The city has experienced even more violent turnover than its cathedral. The Ottomans and the Russians were here — but also the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, the Georgians, the Persians and the Mongols. Populations were imported, expelled and massacred.

The Armenian genocide of 1915 was the region’s most chilling atrocity, but there were others as Muslims fled Russian-occupied territories in the late 19th century, and Christians later escaped the returning Turks.

These old enmities are never far below the surface. In the nearby city of Igdir, Turkey built a monument in 1999 to commemorate Turkish victims of 20th-century massacres. A gargantuan monument to Armenian-Turkish reconciliation was torn down in Kars in 2011.

Still, there are suggestions that history is finally getting its due. Signs at the ancient ruins of Ani, right on the border, acknowledge that the vast site was the capital of an Armenian kingdom in the 10th and 11th centuries with a population of 100,000.

Although Turkey continues to deny the Armenian genocide and threatens to punish countries — most recently Germany — that recognize it, attitudes toward its multiethnic population and its multilayered history loosened up in the early years of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 13-year rule, which he began as prime minister.

The Armenian question, once taboo, became a topic of academic seminars and open discussion.

“After a period of huge ignorance, people now know more, and once they know, you can’t turn back,” said Hugh Pope, an expert on Turkey at the International Crisis Group in Brussels.

Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist party, Justice and Development, operating in a majority-Muslim country, took a more lenient approach to minority rights in the early 2000s, when Turkey was actively pursuing membership in the European Union. “They are comfortable making concessions because they are the overwhelmingly dominant culture,” said Henri Barkey, director of the Middle East program at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

An Armenian church was reopened in 2010 on the shores of Lake Van, but services are held only once a year. The restoration of a synagogue in Erdine was completed last year, though the local Jewish community left long ago. Several minority languages — including Kurdish — have been taught in schools since 2013.

And yet, even these meager initiatives have been met with protests from parts of Turkish society. In 2010, a Turkish nationalist leader ostentatiously went to Ani to hold prayers at a ruined mosque to protest the reopening of the Armenian church on Lake Van.

And since 2013, as Mr. Erdogan tightened his authoritarian rule, initiating a campaign against Kurdish militants and a frontal attack against Turkey’s independent news media, his overtures to other minorities have diminished, according to Hamit Bozarslan, a Turkey specialist at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris. He cited the cancellation last year of a colloquium on the Armenian genocide at a Turkish university.

In an apparent attempt to break out of Turkey’s recent diplomatic isolation, Mr. Erdogan took a sudden initiative last month to improve relations with Israel and Russia.

But an opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, closed since 1993 over the conflict in nearby Nagorno-Karabakh, is not considered likely anytime soon.

“Erdogan has to be careful with what he does,” Mr. Barkey said. “There is still a lot of hostility between these groups.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/world/europe/turkey-armenia-kurds-kars.html?_r=0