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AUGUST 18, 2012 THE ARMENIAN Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXIII, NO. 5, Issue 4250 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Armenian President Visa, Passport Requirements Sends Letter of Condolence to Iran Eased for Syrian Armenians YEREVAN (news.am) — President Serge Sargisian sent a condolence letter to his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, after a destructive quake ing that in order to get an Armenian pass - Hayastan All-Armenian Fund in Iran last week. The quake killed 306 and injured port they have to come back and forth to more than 3,000. Sets up Account for Aid Armenia several times. The government has “I am deeply sorry for the destructive quake that Coach Adam Krikorian approved a list of countries the citizens of Donations jolted Iran and claimed hundreds of human lives, Leads US Women’s Water which in some cases (especially during numerous injuries and destruction. We are with the YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — The govern - wartime) can get an Armenian passport for Polo Team to Golden Finish Iranians on this sorrowful moment and will be ment of Armenia has once again addressed the first time in diplomatic representations ready to support and overcome consequences of LONDON (Reuters) — The US won the issue of Syrian-Armenians who are suf - and consulates of Armenia in foreign coun - the quake,” the letter read. the country’s first gold medal in fering as a result of the civil war in Syria. tries. Lebanon and Syria are on the list of Four quakes measuring 6.2 to 6.6 on the Richter women’s water polo, going one better Under a new decree issued on Thursday, those countries. scale jolted north-west Iran near the Armenian bor - than they did in Beijing to finally the government gives an opportunity to all At the same time, negotiations are under - der on August 11. The quakes were followed by claim the sport’s top prize and end 12 Armenians who are citizens of a number of way between the government and Armavia aftershocks. years of painful near-misses for four- countries (including Syria) to get an Airlines to increase flights between Aleppo- The tremors were felt also in Armenia and entrance visa at border checkpoints of Yerevan to twice weekly. A weekly flight Artsakh. A 4.5-magnitude tremor was registered in Armenia. Previously citizens of other coun - also is carried out by Syrian Airlines. Both Armenia’s south and 3-4 magnitude in Yerevan. No tries with Armenian origin could get an have sold out all tickets up until casualties or destruction was reported. entrance visa only in official Armenian September. Armavia has been repeatedly diplomatic representations and consulates criticized for having a limited number of in foreign countries and only based on an flights and raising the ticket prices. The avi - Medieval Bridge of invitation from Armenia. ation company stated that the criticism is The government has also referred to the baseless, because unlike many European Garni Restoration concerns voiced by Syrian-Armenians, say - see FLIGHTS, page 2 Complete by November YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The bridge of Garni, built in the 11th century, will be operating by Armenian Assembly Welcomes Adoption of autumn. The restoration started on July 2. The work is anticipated to be completed by November. Artsakh Resolution by Massachusetts House The basis of reconstruction of this historical and Adam Krikorian was wearing all the cultural monument was put in September of last gold medals of the team. BOSTON — The Armenian Assembly of vice chair of the year by the memorandum “Keeping cultural values America recently issued a statement com - Elder Affairs by ambassadors” signed by Minister of Culture time Olympians Brenda Villa and mending Massachusetts state Rep. Committee and is Hasmik Poghosian and US Ambassador to Armenia Heather Petri. Jonathan Hecht (D-29th Middlesex) for also a member of the John Heffern. The US Embassy has dedicated They were coached by University of introducing a resolution titled “Supporting House Committee on $110,00 for the project. California Los Angeles’ (UCLA’s) Nagorno-Karabakh’s Right to Self- Post Audit and Adam Krikorian. Determination and Efforts to Develop its Oversight and the Russia, Armenia Agree The Americans beat Spain 8-5 in Democracy,” which was unanimously Joint Committee on the Olympic final last Thursday to adopted by the House of Representatives of Children, Families Gas Price Deal the Commonwealth of Massachusetts last and Persons with claim what is the counRtErUyTE’RsS PHfOirTO st State Rep. John Olympic water polo title since 1904 week. Disabilities. Hecht MOSCOW (Ria Novosti) — Russia and Armenia when they won the men’s event, while Hecht, who was elected state representa - “We appreciate the have agreed on prices for natural gas supplies to the Spanish secured the country’s tive in November 2008, was preceded in leadership of Yerevan, Armenian President Serge Sargisian said first medal in the sport since 1996. office by Armenian Assembly Board mem - Representative Hecht,” stated long-time last week. American goal-scoring ace Maggie ber Rachel Kaprielian. Hecht, a graduate of Assembly Trustee James Kalustian, who “I think we have come to an agreement about Steffens, 19, put away five to cement Harvard Law School, currently serves as see RESOLUTION, page 16 pricing for gas supplies. The price should be based her status as the tournament’s top on actual market price of gas taking into account ... scorer and a new force to be reckoned regional tariffs for the Armenian economy to main - with in the women’s sport. tain its efficient position,” Sargisian told reporters The youngster’s dazzling display in after talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir her first Olympics enabled her team - Putin. mates Villa and Petri to bask in the Armenian media reported in early July that golden glow at the top of the podium Russian gas giant Gazprom would raise prices after their three previous Games yield - for gas supplies to Armenia from the current ed two silvers and a bronze. $180 per 1,000 cubic meters to $280 from see GOLD, page 3 October 2012 and to $320 from 2013. Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan subsequently denied there would be Boxer David Hayrapetyan gas price increases. Wins Bronze for Russia LONDON (PanARMENIAN.Net) — On August 10, David Hayrapetyan of INSI DE Russia won the bronze medal, after losing to Thailand’s Kaeo Delegations from Cairo, Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Montevideo wave their flags at Pongprayoon in the Olympic men’s the AGBU 2012 World Games Opening Ceremony. 49 kilogram boxing semifinals. Bohjalian Young Athletes Make AGBU History at the Tour 19th World Games in Los Angeles Page 10 LOS ANGELES — In its almost 60-year history, the AGBU World Games has brought international youth to various global cities with the goal of reinforcing their commitment to the organization and lifelong friendships with peers, through good sportsmanship and teamwork. This July, more than 500 young athletes from INDEX Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Uruguay and the US gathered Arts and Living . 10 in Los Angeles. There, for one week that began on Saturday, July 28, they engaged Armenia . 2 in sports competitions, social events and excursions, all made possible by the AGBU Community News. 5 2012 World Games Committee and a network of more than 200 volunteers who had Editorial . 14 been working on the plans for nearly a year. International . 3, 4 David Hayrapetyan see GAMES, page 9 2 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 18, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenia Struggles to Cut Nicotine Habit tion about these changes. The anti- grams, using the Development and By Sara Khojoyan smoking activists were concerned that Integration group as intermediary. Shamshadin Honey to Be the bill’s hasty withdrawal coincided Fourteen NGOs received funding lobbying from the tobacco industry, between 2008 and 2011, although Exported YEREVAN (IWPR) — Armenian health which includes two of the top-10 tax - there are questions about their visibility officials say they have made some progress YEREVAN (Arminfo) — Honey from Shamshadin payers in Armenia. and effectiveness. IWPR tried to con - towards reducing the current high rates of will soon be exported to Europe, the United States “We are entirely convinced that the tact them, but none was listed in the smoking, but critics say hard-hitting legis - and Russia, said Hayk Chobanyan, founder of the tobacco businesses were against the phone directory or on the Internet. lation is slow in coming. Men are far worse Spiritual Revival of Tavush Foundation, the orga- bill,” Movsisyan said. “The public inter - Movsisyan said her coalition had repeat - offenders than women, and according to nizer of a festival of honey and berries, at press est must be kept clearly separate from edly contacted the president’s office for one survey done in 2010, more than 60 conference this week. business interests.” further information, but found it percent of males between the ages of 15 He said that the foundation has already signed Tobacco companies deny lobbying “impossible to find out what kind of and 47 smoke. several agreements with influential foreign compa- against the bill. Vahram Brutyan, who projects had been carried out with the “Smoking among men in particular is nies engaged in beekeeping. “However, the most works as spokesman for both Grand funding.” a public health problem,” said Arusyak significant agreements will be signed in autumn Tobacco and International Masis Tabak, A spokesman for the presidential Harutyunyan of the Coalition for a 2012,” Chobanyan said. said that the two companies would sup - administration was unable to tell IWPR Tobacco-Free Armenia.