21 YEAR The #7 Noah’s Ark (1047) 16 February 2015 Published Since 1993

Weekly Newspaper HIGHLIGHTS ÜáÛÛ³Ý î³å³Ý ß³μ³Ã³Ã»ñà (³Ý·É. / ýñ³Ýë.) Serzh Sargsyan begins crackdown on Tsarukyan

In a dramatic riposte to mounting the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) possibility of his prosecution on February pressure from Gagik Tsarukyan, leader out of parliament, ordered tax 12 President Serzh Sargsyan moved to kick audits of his businesses and warned of the continued on page 3

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16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 2 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS Embattled Tsarukyan calls for 'immediate' regime change Responding to a government crackdown, Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukyan on February 13 urged supporters to take to the streets and topple President Serzh Sargsyan with sustained protests. Tsarukyan said he is undaunted by the prospect of losing his parliamentary immunity from prosecution and tax inspections of his numerous businesses which were ordered by Sargsyan the previous night. "I am taking up the gauntlet and am going to fight till the victory," he told an emergency meeting with senior BHK figures. "A new situation has emerged since yesterday and it requires a solution. I believe that the only solution is a complete regime change by means of pre-term presidential elections," he declared in uncharacteristically straightforward remarks publi- selves have "stolen billions of dollars from the people" during cized by the BHK after the meeting. their seven-year rule which he called disastrous for the country. "I am now calling for a nationwide mobilization pursuing a Tsarukyan also claimed that Serzh Sargsyan declared a single goal: to achieve Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and get rid "war" on him after he refused to back Sargsyann's plans to of this government of evil through all legal political methods amend the constitution and turn Armenia into a parliamentary such as nonstop rallies, marches, demonstrations, disobedience republic. He said Sargsyan has gone as far as to offer him to and so on," he said. become the country's next, largely ceremonial president in "This regime must be immediately ousted and we must turn return for his endorsement of the constitutional reform. this inglorious and shameful page of our history," added "I categorically rejected this anti-state approach because the Tsarukyan. man responsible for Armenia's regress cannot have such ambi- The tycoon, who leads Armenia's second largest parliamen- tions," Tsarukyan went on. The planned reform is aimed at tary force, did not set any dates or give other details of street enabling Sargsyan to stay in power in a different capacity for the protests planned by him. He said he will meet with his two main rest of his life, he charged. opposition allies, former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serzh Sargsyan lashed out at the BHK leader, reputed to be Zharangutyun party leader Raffi Hovannisian, later in the day to close to his predecessor Robert Kocharyan, just days after discuss "a full set of joint steps." The meeting began in the after- Tsarukyan publicly warned him to drop the reform plans or face noon. an opposition push for "regime change." In a statement circulat- In his speech, Tsarukyan also brushed aside Sargsyan's ed earlier this week, the BHK and several other, smaller oppo- claims that he is unfit to govern Armenia and has long evaded sition groups said that a referendum on Sargsyan's constitution- taxes. He said the Armenian president and his cronies them- al amendments would spark nonstop anti-government protests. Armenian opposition leaders in crisis talks The leaders of three leading Armenian opposition parties announced no joint moves on February 13 after discussing their possible response to a harsh govern- ment campaign unleashed against one of them, Gagik Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan met separately with the leader of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), Levon Ter-Petrosian, and Zharangutyun (Heritage) party leader Raffi Hovannisian the day after President Serzh Sargsyan ordered a crackdown on his extensive business interests and demanded his ouster from the parliament. None of the three opposition leaders jointly campaign- ing for regime change in Armenia made the trio will present its further actions to the Tsarukyan, Ter-Petrosian and public statements after those meetings. public," a spokeswoman for Tsarukyan, Hovannisian decided to hold a trilateral "Discussions in this format will contin- Iveta Tonoyan, told RFE/RL's Armenian meeting on Sunday even before Sargsyan ue for one or two more days, after which service . continued on page 4

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 3 Serzh Sargsyan begins crackdown... From page 1 lous that Gagik Tsarukyan has big polit- enforcement officials and other mem- ical ambitions," he went on. "Surely bers of the presidential National Serzh Sargsyan lashed out at his for- intelligent people in his entourage Security Council will meet on Friday to mer coalition partner in a speech full of understand deep down that such an indi- decide "what to do about those rumors." derogatory descriptions of Tsarukyan, vidual's being part of the political elite Tsarukyan has also been a member including his infamous "Dodi Gago" of a country at war poses a real danger. of the council mainly comprising top nickname, delivered before senior "Can you imagine Gagik Tsarukyan state officials. Sarkisian ousted him members of the ruling Republican Party reading a speech at the Council of from the body in a decree that was made of Armenia (HHK). Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, public immediately after the HHK The unusually harsh attack marked a which is followed by questions from meeting. further escalation of tensions between deputies, including Azerbaijani and Senior HHK figures who attended the Sargsyan administration and the Turkish ones? It's difficult and terrible the meeting voiced strong support for BHK that began after a gathering of to imagine that." the president's open confrontation with opposition forces organized by Sargsyan claimed that he now feels Tsarukyan that may also lead to a show- Tsarukian last week. The tycoon used sorry for having for years ordered his down with Kocharyan as well. Eduard the gathering to step up his criticism of loyalists to tone down their reactions to Sharmazanov, the HHK spokesman, the government's track record and, more "nonsense" coming from Tsarukyan. said that the tycoon has "crossed the importantly, warn Sargsyan against "My mistake must be corrected," he line." "Ignorance, populism and dema- amending the Armenian constitution. said. "Quickly, thoroughly and clearly. goguery have no place in politics," Sargsyan again defended his desire Nobody has the right to stop or hesitate Sharmazanov told a late-night news to turn Armenia into a parliamentary anymore." conference. republic, dismissing allegations by the The president stated in that regard "Gagik Tsarukyan is a political dis- BHK and other opposition groups that that Tsarukyan has attended only 4 of ease which must be cured as soon as the reform is aimed at enabling him to the 145 parliament sittings held in 2013 possible," charged Karen Avagyan, an stay in power after the end of his second and 2014. The absenteeism seems to be HHK lawmaker. and final presidential term in 2018. But sufficient grounds for stripping him of Both Avagyan and other presidential he stopped short of explicitly announc- his parliament seat, he said, adding: allies insisted that the crackdown ing the next stage of the reform process "Our deputies tomorrow will start tak- ordered by Sargsyan does not amount to that would pave the way for a national ing steps necessary for ending this ludi- political persecution. They were also referendum on constitutional amend- crous situation." careful not to attack Kocharyan. ments. Sargsyan went on to cite long-run- The ex-president too has been Instead, a furious Serzh Sargsyan ning "unverified reports" implicating increasingly critical of the Sagsyan made clear his intention to drive Tsarukyan in large-scale tax evasion. "I administration. The Armenian media Tsarukyan, who controls the second am calling on the prime minister of has for years speculated about his immi- largest faction in the Armenian parlia- Armenia to instruct corresponding bod- nent political comeback. ment, out of politics. He said the former ies to thoroughly and meticulously Education Minister Armen arm-wrestler, who became one of the check the veracity of those reports and Ashotyan, who is also the HHK's country's richest men during his prede- publicize their findings," he said. deputy chairman, said that unlike cessor Robert Kocharyan's rule, lacks Serzh Sargsyan said the BHK leader Tsarukyan, Kocharyan is a true "politi- the intelligence, skills and education to is also rumored to have set up a "mech- cal figure." But Ashotyan also pointedly govern Armenia. anism for a professional cover-up of echoed a widely held belief that "The political actor Gagik many crimes." He did not specify those Kocharyan was behind the establish- Tsarukyan has become a scourge for our crimes, saying only that senior law- ment of Tsarukyan's party in 2006. country," he declared. "And that is natu- ral. An individual who controls mecha- Noyan Tapan Press-Center nisms necessary for participating in Noyan Tapan Press Center holds different discussions, press confer- political processes but has low mental ences, round tables, teleconferences, seminars each week which ability automatically becomes an obsta- are broadcast live on the Internet. We invite you to take advantage cle to any development." of the Center, as well as to place your banner in our Press Room. "It is tragic and, in a sense, ridicu- Tel: 060 27 64 62. Address: Isahakyan 28, 3rd floor

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 4 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS Sefilyan: Automobile Yerevan hopes for U.S. presence march towards Karabakh aimed to at Genocide Commemoration President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed raise awareness, not hope that senior U.S. officials will visit Armenia on April 24 to attend official com- create tensions memorations of the 100th anniversary of Despite opinions that the plans of a the Armenian genocide, the new U.S. radical opposition group, Founding ambassador in Yerevan said on February Parliament, to stage an automobile march 13. towards Nagorno-Karabakh was aimed at The envoy, Richard Mills, held his first creating tensions there, leader of the move- news conference at the U.S. Embassy after ment seeking a change of regime in handing his credentials to Sargsyan. He met the worst atrocities of the 20th century." Armenia before the "Centennial of the with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan Both Obama and U.S. Secretary of Armenian Genocide" Zhirayr Sefilyan on February 12. State John Kerry pledged to explicitly rec- insists on the opposite, emphasizing that Mills said both Serzh Sargsyan and ognize the genocide when they ran for pres- their aim was to keep Karabakh residents Edward Nalbandyan stressed the impor- ident in 2008 and 2004 respectively. "aware" of their campaign. tance of high-level U.S. presence at the According to his office, Serzh Sargsyan On January 31, dozens of Founding official ceremonies in Yerevan that will reaffirmed his commitment to deepening Parliament activists took part in the march mark the genocide centenary. "I will con- Armenia's ties with the United States. They as part of their campaigns. They were met vey that to Washington," he said. already "occupy an important place" on the by Karabakh police and plainclothes men Sargsyan's office confirmed that the Armenian foreign policy agenda, he said, on the Goris-Stepanakert highway near upcoming centenary commemorations praising the U.S. role in international Berdzor and were turned away. A number were on the agenda of the meeting with efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh of activists were beaten up and about two Mills. But it gave no details. conflict and promote broader regional secu- dozen of their vehicles were damaged. Official Yerevan has reportedly sent rity. "We were not going to Artsakh for no invitations to dozens of world leaders. It is A statement released by the office said reason, as we evaluate the situation very clear whether any high-ranking U.S. offi- the two men also discussed ongoing efforts critical, we could not but go and tell the cials are among them. to agree a new U.S.-Armenian deal meant people about our concerns, especially after U.S. President Barack Obama has to facilitate bilateral trade and investments. Armenia became a member of the declined to describe the 1915 mass killings Mills told reporters that the issue will be a Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) Artsakh of Armenians in Ottoman Empire as geno- major focus of his tour of duty in Armenia. completely appeared in the air, in an indef- cide in his annual statements issued on But he stressed that the onus is on the inite status, and if we do not point at the April 24. He has used instead the Armenian Armenian authorities to attract more U.S. danger from today on and if the people are phrase "Meds Yeghern," or Great Calamity, investments by improving the domestic not aware of the danger, we will lose to honor the 1.5 million victims of "one of business climate. Artsakh," Sefilyan, one of the prominent veterans of the Karabakh war, told Armenian opposition leaders in crisis talks reporters Wednesday, on his first public appearance since the day of the incident in From page 2 tions." It also said that he will bear full which he was among those activists who responsibility for "possible extreme devel- were injured in the violence. moved to effectively drive the leader of the opments in the domestic political life." The Founding Parliament spread a Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) out of In his speech,Serzh Sargsyan also said statement, urging the public to take to the politics. They were expected to discuss that he will convene a meeting of his streets on April 24 and win over the renewed anti-government demonstrations National Security Council to discuss the regime. On the same day, April 24, in Yerevan and other parts of the country. possibility of launching criminal investiga- Armenians in Yerevan and elsewhere in The HAK and Zharangutyun shed no Armenia and abroad will be marking the tions into allegations about tax evasion and 100th anniversary of the Armenian light on the opposition trio's next steps in other "crimes" committed by Tsarukyan. Genocide. separate written statements that strongly The presidential body met on Friday "That day we invite everyone to the condemned Sargsyan's angry speech evening. street with an aim to not return home until against Tsarukyan delivered on Thursday In his opening remarks at the meeting, we get rid of the regime. There were mis- evening. Serzh Sargsyan spoke of the "use of suspi- understandings regarding that day, many "Serzh Sargsyan's speech is vulnerable cious financial resources for political pur- think that we will be trying to confuse peo- in the legal, political and moral senses," poses," saying that it poses a threat to ple, that is not true, we will take part in the read the HAK statements. Ter-Petrosian's Armenia's national security. He did not ceremonies as well, but we will not be sat- party accused the president of ordering elaborate. isfied with that only, we will start a process "political repressions" against one of his According to Sargsyan's office, senior which will enable us to get rid of this sys- principal rivals. tem," Sefilyan said. government and law-enforcement officials Sefilyan expressed confidence that in Zharangutyun, for its part, said sitting on the council agreed on a "com- the near future Armenia will finally get rid Sargsyan has no right to lambaste political mon approach" to addressing the alleged of today's government and it will be opponents because he has been the coun- threat. The office did not disclose any con- replaced by "clever and young forces". try's president "as a result of rigged elec- crete measures approved by them.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 ECONOMY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 5 Tax Fight: Business owners vow to continue resistance against controversial proposed law organization must be raised from 58 billion AMD and be more than 100 billion AMD. Working with new principles must be a voluntary practice for business owners," Norik Sahakyan, the head of Armenian Producers' Development Center NGO said. "And lastly, in the adopted version of the law there is a point that inspectors can at any point realize inspections, this must be extracted, as it increases corruption risk," he added. Sahakyan said that they urged the government to pay visits at department stores and shops instead of office discussions. "You must listen to the people, rather than conduct office discussions. Those who make laws in offices cannot imagine what it feels like working at a store, on a cold ground floor." As a result of pressure the enforcement of sales tax law has twice been postponed. The second time the government mediat- Small and medium business owners say they will continue ed the National Assembly in the end of this January, after mass fighting against the enforcement of a controversial sales tax law protests. and will demand that together with the government solutions be "We tell the PM that we expect help from you, so that we found for the law that has twice been postponed already. search and find solutions from the current situation," Sahakyan Small and medium business owners will defend their rights said, adding that more than 700 stores have closed as a result of within the "Confederation of entrepreneurs", representatives of the tax change. Tigran Hovhannisyan, head of the Car which told reporters on February 10 that they turned to the gov- Importers' Union was present at the meeting and said that they ernment with four suggestions. are unified and they will win, "because no matter how much "Firstly, the section regarding gold must be separated and misunderstanding there has been, they continued the fight for discussed separately. And then, annual sales threshold of the six months and achieved success." Curbing Inflation: CB raises key interest rate to check price increases from Russia. Although the dram's Khachatryan, an economist affiliated with exchange rate remained stable in the fol- the opposition Armenian National lowing weeks, the refinancing rate reached Congress party. 9.5 percent on January 21, with the CBA Armenian commercial banks also seem citing "high inflationary expectations" to lack confidence in the strength of the fuelled by the weaker dram. dram. Many of them are said to have sig- Explaining the latest rate increase, the nificantly limited lending or even frozen it CBA said that consumer prices in the coun- altogether. try went up by an average of 2.5 percent in Gevorg Gharibyan, a farmer from the January, translating into an annual inflation southern Armavir province, on Tuesday The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) rate of 4.3 percent. It forecast that inflation claimed to have been unable to secure a raised its benchmark interest rate for the will rise further in the coming months bank loan worth only 200,000 drams third time in less than two months on before easing by the end of the year. ($420). He said he has approached five Tuesday despite its assurances that the In a statement, the bank said that the banks and been turned down by all of them domestic financial system is stabilizing effects of the exchange rate fluctuations, on the grounds that the dram's exchange after sharp exchange rate fluctuations which disrupted wholesale trading and rate is now unpredictable. observed late last year. banking operations in December, are now "They know that I repaid 3.5 million During a meeting of its governing being "gradually neutralized." drams in loans last year but still won't lend board, the CBA set the refinancing rate at Some analysts said the fresh rate hike me 200,000 drams," Gharibyan told 10.5 percent, up by 1 percentage point. means that the authorities in Yerevan are RFE/RL's Armenian service. The minimum cost of borrowing in still worried about a renewed weakening of "We have stopped extending loans," Armenia stood at 6.75 percent as recently the Armenian currency. "Since the Central confirmed an official at one of those banks. as in December. It was raised to 8.5 percent Bank's main mission is to keep inflation "We do accept loan applications. It's on December 23 following a considerable under control, it is artificially raising the just that the consideration process now depreciation of the national currency, the cost of lending in order to prevent the takes a bit longer," insisted a representative dram, resulting from falling remittances dram's depreciation," said Vahagn of another bank.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 6 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights ECONOMY Eurasian Economic Union, Vietnam free trade zone deal may be signed in 2015 An agreement concerning a free trade nent regulatory body of the Eurasian zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, and Vietnamese author- Economic Union (EEU) could be signed ities agreed on the main provisions of the in the first half of 2015, a press service deal. representative from the Eurasian Apart from Vietnam, the EEU is in Economic Commission (EEC) told talks with a number of other countries Sputnik. interested in signing a deal with the union. "The discussion of main provisions "Joint research groups are set up with According to EEU Trade Minister was completed in December. Discussion Israel, with India and Egypt coming up Andrey Slepnev, the creation of a free concerning the possibility of signing the next," the representative told Sputnik. trade zone between the union and agreement in the first of half of the year is The EEC also confirmed the possibil- Vietnam could increase the trade flow currently underway," the press service ity of a free trade agreement with China from the current level of $4 billion to $10 representative said. but noted that talks with Chinese authori- billion a few years after the agreement On December 15, the EEC, a perma- ties were at a very early stage. comes into force. Armenia ranked 78th in 2015 World Press Freedom Index Armenia is ranked 78th out in 180 The 2015 World Press Freedom Index countries in the 2015 World Press Freedom highlights the worldwide deterioration in Index with a score of 28.43. freedom of information in 2014. Beset by Top of the list, as so often, are three wars, the growing threat from non-state Scandinavian countries: Finland, which has operatives, violence during demonstrations been in first place for five years in succes- and the economic crisis, media freedom is sion, followed by Norway and Denmark. in retreat on all five continents. At the other end of the scale, The World Press Freedom Index has The aim of the index is to measure free- Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, in been published ever year since 2002 by dom of information in 180 countries. It last place, were the worst performers. Reporters Without Borders, an internation- reflects the degree of freedom that journal- Other countries in the region are placed al nonprofit organization registered in ists, news media and netizens (Internet citi- as follows: Russia - 152nd, Georgia - 69th, France that defends freedom of information zens) enjoy in each country, and the efforts Turkey - 149th, Azerbaijan - 162nd, Iran - and has consultative status with the United made by the authorities to respect and 173rd. Nations and UNESCO. ensure respect for this freedom. U.S. lauds 'real' progress in Armenia's democratization Armenia has made major progress in democratizing its political system and improving its human rights record in the last several years, according to a senior U.S. State Department official. "The fact is that Armenia has a truly multi-partisan parliament and that there is real debate in the media. There is freedom of assembly in Armenia. There is a society where people are free to express their views," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin told the Armenian service of the Voice of America in an interview. "We want to support that by working together with the author- ities," Rubin said this week. "I think that Armenia has had real Obama said that he expects from Sargsyan "continued achievements in this area in recent years." improvements in democracy and the economic reforms." "Your The remarks are in tune with Washington's largely positive reelection presents opportunities to advance the relationship assessment of Armenia's last parliamentary and presidential elec- between our two countries," he wrote. tions held in 2012 and 2013 respectively. President Serzh Sargsyan Sargsyan received no congratulatory message from Obama's received congratulatory letters from President Barack Obama and predecessor, George W. Bush, when he became president in an Secretary of State John Kerry after his disputed reelection. even more disputed election in 2008.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 7 EU Official Urges 'Thorough' Probe Of Armenian Attacks The EU Delegation already expressed concern at the vio- lence in a December statement issued after five Armenian oppositionists were beaten up in separate incidents. All of them had actively participated in anti-government demonstra- tions organized by the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Zharangutyun parties in September and October. The opposition trio accused the Armenian authorities of orchestrating the violence for political purposes. The authori- ties denied any involvement. They have still not arrested any- one in connection with those incidents. The EU statement said that failure to punish perpetrators of the attacks could deepen "a sense of impunity" in Armenia. Two more well-known government critics have been assaulted in Yerevan since then. A senior European Union diplomat urged the Armenian One of them, a BHK activist, was kidnapped by masked authorities on February 12 to properly investigate a spate of vio- men and beaten up for several hours on Saturday. The BHK, lent attacks on opposition activists which have heightened politi- which is the country's second largest parliamentary force, cal tensions in Armenia. blamed the Armenian government for the attack. The govern- "This kind of violence has to be thoroughly investigated," said ment angrily denied the allegations and warned the party led Traian Hristea, the head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan. "We by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan against exploiting the inci- will be very much looking forward to the result of the investiga- dent. tions." Tsarukyan on Thursday promised a $100,000 reward for Hristea argued that human rights and democracy are on the anyone who would help identify "the organizers and perpetra- agenda of the EU's dealings with the Armenian authorities. "We tors" of the attack on Artak Khachatryan. He announced the have permanent contact with our [Armenian] colleagues and we reward through a spokeswoman after meeting with the chief of put questions to them," he told reporters. "We look at how these the Armenian police, Vladimir Gasparyan, to discuss progress issues are being dealt with." in the ongoing criminal investigation into the incident. Kocharyan's return to Yerevan 'unrelated to political tensions'

Kocharyan's political future has been the subject of intense media speculation in Armenia in the last few years. The ex-president, who handed over power to Serzh Sargsyan in 2008, has fuelled expectations of his imminent return to active politics with his criticisms of the current government's track record. Commentators have suggested that he would heavily rely on Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the second largest in parliament, in his bid to return to power. Citing an unnamed former senior official in the Kocharyan administration, the Yerevan daily "Haykakan Former President Robert Kocharyan flew back to Armenia late Zhamanak" said early on Thursday that the ex-president will on Thursday shortly after the upsurge in political tensions between announce his comeback if Serzh Sargsyan presses ahead with the Armenian government and a key opposition force. a constitutional reform fiercely resisted by the BHK and other Kocharyan's spokesman, Victor Soghomonyan, flatly denied on opposition forces. February 13 any connection between his return and the announce- Sargsyan defended the planned reform in a landmark ment of a government offensive against Gagik Tsarukyan, an oppo- speech delivered later on Thursday. He also lambasted sition leader reputedly close to the ex-president. Tsarukyan in unusually strong terms. Kocharyan has not yet Soghomonyan told the Yerevan.Today.am website that reacted to the speech. Kocharyan travelled to Europe and booked a return flight for In his most recent public statement made late last month, February 12 two weeks ago. "Robert Kocharyan's return to Yerevan Kocharyan called for an end to Sargsyan's "political monop- is in no way connected to yesterday's political events," he said. oly" and other "radical changes" in the country.

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Price: Negotiabel den/, Land-1000sq.m.,3 storied building- Š1674. Abovyan str., 2nd floor,70sq.m., 1 bed- Š2013.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the building, 750sq.m.,6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, cap- room, capitally repaired, heating system. Price: 265sq.m.,1st line, capitally repaired, heating system, itally repaired, heating system swimming pool, gar- 135.000 USD cellar. Price: 1.300.000$ negotiable den, sauna, 2 car parking. Price-1.500.000 USD Š1698-Aram str., Newly built, 14/5, 62sq.m, 1 bed- Š2012.Mashtots Ave., 5/1,2, 140sq.m.,window Š3574.Blur, Land-779sq.m.,2 storied building- room, capitally repaired, AC, security system, park- glasses, capitally repaired, AC. Price: 1.100.000$ 720sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, study, capitally ing. Price: 120.000 USD. negotiable repaired, heating system,sauna swimming pool, gar- Š2155.Mashtots ave., 3storied building, 540sq.m., each floor-180sq.m, window glasses,parking. 2 ROOMS Price:3.600.000 USD Š2020.Hr. Kochar str., Land-300sq.m,1st line, 4sto- Š3003.Sayat-Nova str, 5/3, 105sq.m, 2bedrooms, ried building, 1080sq.m.,each floor-270sq.m, h- stone building, capitally repaired. Price: Negotiable 3.6m,without divisions, parkings, 3 access. Š1560.Northern Ave., Newly built,10/3, 130 sq.m., Price:1.400.000 USD negotiable 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired,climate Š1986.Cascade, Land 1000sq.m. 3storied build- control, parking. Price: 400.000 USD. ing1200sq.m., unfinished, parking. Price:1.000.000 Š2818.Northern Ave., Newly built, 3rd floor, USD. 120sq.m, 2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,capitally Š2167.Sayat Nova str., newly built, 38sq. m, cap- repaired, heating system, Ac, furnished. itally repaired. Price: 200.000 USD Price:400.000USD Š2175.Tumanyan str, Ground and 1st floorof the Š1156.Komitas Ave., Hambardzumyan str. 5/3, building, 600sq.m, ground floor300sq.m, 1st floor- 110sq.m, 2 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating 220sq,m, basement-80sq.m, - 1st line, zero level, 2 system, kitchen is furnished. Price: 150.000 USD den. Price: 2.000.000 USD entrances, facade-15m, 4 window glasses, capitally Š3590 Blur, Barbyus str., Land-450 sq.m.,4 sto- negotiable. reapired, heating system, AC, Price: 3500 USD per Š2949.Aram str., Newly built, 1st floor, 143 sq.m, ried building-470sq.m.,3bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sq.m, capitally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price: 2 bedrooms, zero state, Price: 2000 USD per sq.m. Š2172. Isahakyan str, 92sq.m, 1st line, 7 Š2300.Northern ave., Newly built, 6/2, 130 sq.m., 680.000 USD degrees above zero level, facade-9m, 2 window Š3651.Blur, Barbyus str., Land-900sq.m.,5 storied 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating glasses, h-3.20m, 2 halls, cabinet, bathroom, capital- system, AC,parking. Price: 400.000 USD. building-800sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, capi- ly repaired, heating system. Price: 450.000 USD tally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price:1.700.000 USD. 3 ROOMS LANDS Š3401.Antarayin str, Newly built, land-700sq.m, 3 storied bld-690sq.m, 5 bedrooms, capitally repaired. Š3012.Aram str, Newly built, /7th floor, 136sq.m, 3 Š2122.Davitashen, 1800 sq.m., water, gas, electric- Price: 1.300.000 USD bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating ity, possible to sell separately 600 sq.m., and 1200 Š3712 Cascade Newly built, land-450sq.m, 4 storied system, AC, parking, facing to bulvar, Price:300.000 sq.m. Price: 150 USD per sq.m. bld-600sq.m, zero state. Price: 550.000 USD USD negotiable. Š2121.Demirchyan str., 1338 sq.m.,building per- Š2998.North Ave, Newly built, 9/6, 181sq.m, 3bed- mits. Price: 2million USD. NEWLY BUILT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS rooms, capitally repaired, climate control, parking, Š2013.Cascade. 1000 sq.m. building permits, first Price: 700.000 USD line, gas, water and electricity possibilities. Price Š74.Cascade, Verin Antarayin. 136-315 sq m.,walls Š2682.Aram Str., Newly built,13/6 187sq.m., 3 460.000USD plastered, electricity, water, gas, euro windows,no bedrooms,2 bathrooms, 2 open balconies, capitally Š1402.Hr. Kochar Str., 1100 sq. m.,facade -25 m. exploitation fees. Price:1200 USD per sq.m, parking reapaired,heating systen, 2AC, 2 garages, view to Price negotiable. -15.000 USD. garden. Price: 550.000 USD negotiable. Š2090.Lori region, close to Stepanavan, Gyargyar Š107.Monument, Verin Antarayin. inhabited, 8 Š2958.Pushkin str., 5/2, 140 sq.m., stone building,4 village, 6 hectares, forest 2 hectare has building per- floors, gas, windows, street view -1000 USD per bedrooms,capitally repaired,heating system. Price: mits, 3 water source, electricity. Price: 100.000USD. sq.m., city looking -1500 USD per sq.m., parking - 4 Negotiable. Š2406.Avan, Mher Mkrtchyan block, 1000 sq.m., million USD preliminary. Š2895.Northern Ave., Newly built, 3rd floor, electricity, gas, water, the district is inhabited. Price: Š87.Sayat-Nova str., 21 floors, 3 bedrooms -188 300sq.m,3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally repaied, 30USD per sq.m sq.m., 199 sq.m., Price 1900 USD per sq.m., 2 bed- climate control, AC. Price: negotiable Š2310.Monument, Babayan str, 1000 sq. m, rooms have a beautiful sight - 117 sq.m., 120 sq.m., Š2802.Amiryan str., Newly built,8/4, facade-25m, privatized, Price:350 USD negotiable 124 sq.m.,Price: 1700 USD per sq.m., climate con- 166sq.m,3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally Š2107.Monument, 2400sq.m, building permits, trol, gas. repaired, central heating,AC,security system. building project. Price: 400 USD per sq.m. Š93.Kievyan str., Given to the operation in October Price:320.000 USD. Š2413.Ashtarak roadway, 1000sq.m, building 2011, 16 floors, walls plastered, windows, exterior Š1104.Komitas Ave., Aram Khachatryan str., permits, building project. Price: Negotiable doors, h -3, 15 m, gas,parking. Price: 1500- 5/2, 125sq.m.,stone bld, h-2.75m.,3 bedrooms, Š2414.Demirchyan str. land-750sq.m., building 1600USD per sq.m,parking-12 000 USD. Possible office, 2 bathrooms, old repair, gas, garage. Price: permits. Price:750.000 USD. with mortgage, for 13 years term. 130.000 USD Š94.Masiv. 3floors,8 flats,each flat has 3 bedrooms, Š2950.Aram str., Newly built, 5th floor, 176 sq.m, PRIVATE HOUSES 210 sq.m., parking. Price: negotiable. 3 bedrooms, office, zero state, Price: 310.000 USD Š130.Antarayin str., 34 flats, 110-275 sq.m., 4 Š2836.Pushkin str., 4/4,5, 400sq.m., 3 bedrooms, penthouses-200-275sq.m,available sevices-car 3 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, AC. Š3348.Blur, Barbyus str. Land - 800 sq.m, 3 storied bld.-700 sq.m, 4bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, capitally wash, cleaning service, garbage removal service, Price: 460.000 USD. parking. Price: Negotiable Š2990.North Ave., Newly built, 11th floor, 295sq.m, repaired, climate control. Price: 1.2 million USD Š3146.Aygestan, Land-500 sq.m., 5 storied bld- Š131.Busand str., commercial, office and resi- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, capitally repaired, climate dential areas, penthouse, available sevices-car wash, control, parking. Price: Negotiable. 765 sq.m.,each floor-180 sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 5 bath- rooms, study, capitally repaired, hjeating system,ele- cleaning service, garbage removal service, parking. vator. Price: 2.300.000 USD. Price: Negotiable

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 FOR RENT The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 9 YOUR CHOICE IS OUR CHOICE www.mrealty.am (010) 564631 (010) 562181 [email protected] 12 G. Lusavorich str., Yerevan, Armenia Š2257.Northern Ave., Newly built, 17/16, 160 negotiable. 1 ROOM sq.m.,3 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, Š1142.Djrvej, Bagrevand community. Land-1000 AC, parking. Price: Negotiable sq.m., 3 storied bld.-700 sq.m., 5 bedrooms, 5 bath- Š2037.Baghramyan str., 5/2, 60sqm, 1 bedroom, Š2021.Teryan Str., Newly built,9/8,9, 245 sq.m., 4 rooms, pantry, playing room, capitally repaired, no euro repaired, gas, heating system, AC, modern fur- bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,capitally repaired, heating furniture/ can be furnished, if necessary /garage for 2 nished,equipped. Price:negotiable system, furnished. Preliminary price: 3500 USD. cars. Price: 4 000 USD. Š2189.Vardanants str., Newly built,24/12, 90 sqm, Š2005.Northern Ave., Newly built,8/8, 130 sq.m, 3 Š1293.Nork-Marash, Land-1100sq.m,2 storied bld- 1 bedroom, capitally repaired, furnished, equipped. bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating 520 sq.m, 6 bedrooms,5 bathrooms, capitally Price: 1000 USD. system, furnished, parking. Price: 2200 USD. repaired, heating system, AC, swimming pool, gar- Š2099.Sayat-Nova Ave., 12/6, 1 bedroom, capital- Š1723.Northern Ave., Newly built,8/4., 170 sq.m 3 den.Price7.000 USD ly repaired,gas, heating system, AC, furnished, bedrooms,3 bathrooms, open kitchen, capitally Š327. Nork-Marash, Land-500sq.m.,4 storied equipped. Price:600 USD. repaired, furnished, equipped. Price: 2000 USD. building-600 sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, capi- Š1972.Northern ave., 8/4, 80sq.m.,1bedrrom, 2 Š1981.Vardanants Str., Newly built, 14/14, 140 sq tally repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, bathrooms, open kitchen, capitally repaired, climate m,3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heat- swimming pool, garden, sauna, 2 car parking. Price- control. Price: 1200 USD 4000 USD Š2171.Tumanyan str., Newly built, 5th floor, 94 Š1306. Tsarav Akhbyur /near Botanical garden/, sq.m., 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, capitally repaired, Land-1000sq.m., 3 storied building-750sq.m., 6 bed- central heating, furnished, equipped. Price: 1000 USD rooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, capitally repaired, Š2367.Northern ave., Newly built, 9th flloor, 98 heating system swimming pool, garden, sauna, 2 car sq.m., capitally repaired, heating system, furnished parking, with or without furniture. Price:6000-8000 equipped. Price: Negotiable. USD negotiable Š1288. Tsarav Akhbyur /near Botanical garden/, Land-560sq.m., 4 storied building-560 sq.m., 4 bed- 2 ROOMS rooms, 4bathrooms, a kitchen, office, capitally repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, swim- Š2302 North Ave, Newly built, 11/4, 137sq.m, ming pool,garden, 2 car parking. Price: 5000 USD 2bedrooms,2bathrooms,capitally repaired, furnished, Š1197. Blur, Land-779sq.m.,2 storied building- parking. Price: 2000 USD 720sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, study, capitally Š2295 North Ave., Newly built,16/15, repaired, heating system, sauna swimming pool, gar- 173sq.m.,2bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally repaired, ing system, AC, 3 open baconies, furnished, den. Price:8000 USD furnished. Price:5000 USD equipped,parking. Price: 2000 USD. Š1312. Blur, Barbyus str., Land-450sq.m., 4 sto- Š2290 Bayron str., Newly built, /5th floor, 220sq.m, Š1793.Teryan str., Newly built, 8th floor, 260 sq.m.,3 ried building-470sq.m., 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2bedrooms, study, open kitchen, 2 bathrooms, capi- bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, study, capitally repaired, cli- capitally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price: tally repaired, climate control,furnished, parking. mat control, parking, unfurnished (possible to furnish), Negotiable Price: 4000 USD Price: 3500 USD. Š1317. Blur, Barbyus str., Land-900sq.m.,5 storied Š1780.Amiryan str, Newly built, /13th floor, 82 sq.m, Š1720.Amiryan str., Newly built,16/10, 179 sq.m, 3 building-800sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, capi- 2 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, AC, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, central tally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price: furnished, equipped. Price: 1700 USD negotiable. heating, AC, cellar- 25sq.m, with or without furniture, Negotiable. Š942.Teryan str. 4/3, 130 sq.m.,2 bedrooms, capital- parking, Price 3000 USD negotiable Š1323.Monument, Babayan str, Land - 400 sq.m, 3 ly repaired, heating system, furnishred, equipped. Š2195.Northern ave., Newly built, 3rd floor, storied bld-300sq.m, each floor-100sq.m, 4 bed- Price: 1500 USD. 300sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, cap- rooms, 4 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating sys- Š1950.Buzand/Mashtots area. Newly built,8th itally repaired,climate control, AC, parking. tem, AC, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable floor, 163 sq.m.,2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally Price:5000 USD repaired,climate control, furnished, open balcony. Š2261.Hin Yerevantsi, /North Avenue/, Newly PREMISES Price: 2500 USD. built, 10/3, 124sq.m., 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, cap- Š1681.Northern Ave., Newly built,6/2,130 sq.m.,2 itally repaired, heating system, AC, furnished, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating equipped, parking. Price: 1700 USD Š2049.Teryan str, ground floor+basemnet, 1st line, system, AC,parking. Price: 2000 USD. Š2084.Tumanyan str., 4th floor, 200sq.m, 3 bed- 200sq.m, repaired. Price: 6.000 USD Š1535.Busand str., Newly built, 7/4, 82sq.m,2bed- rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, climate con- Š1693.Malatia-Sebastia 4 storied building, rooms, capitally repaired, heating system, AC, park- trol, parking. Price:5000 USD 1200sq.m, each floor-300sq.m, 2 separate entrances, ing, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable. Š2252.Northern ave, 7th floor, 350 sq.m., 3 bed- climate control, 2 elevators, basement, parking. Price: Š2089.Northern ave., Newly built,8/6, 120sq.m.,2 rooms, 4 bathrooms, study, open balconies, capitally 15USD per sq.m. bedrooms,2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, climate repaired, climate control, parking. Price Negotiable. Š1526.Byuzand str., 5/semi-basement, 170 sqm., 4- control, furnished, equipped. Price: 2500 USD 5 degrees below zero level,window glasses, cellar - 50 Š1738.Amiryan str., 8/8, 159sq.m.,2 bedrooms, 2 PRIVATE HOUSES sq.m.,6 rooms, the largest is 30 sq.m., 2 entrances, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, park- lavatories. Price 2000 USD per month, negotiable. ing. Price: Negotiable Š1408.Zarobyan str., /parallel to Baghramyan str./, Š1951.Busand str., Newly built, 13th floor, 122sq.m, Š1335 Baghramyan str., Land-200sq.m, 3storied 2 storied building,600 sqm. ground floor- hall and 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, climate bld-300sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 3bathrooms,capitally kitchen,1st floor 5 rooms, bathroom, open balcony, control. Price: 2500 USD repaired, furnished. Price: 3000 USD capitally repaired, gas, heating system,parking. Price: Š1406.Sayat Nova ave., 7/3, 110sq.m., 2 bed- Š1336 Aygedzor, Land-1000sq.m, 2 storied bld- Negotiable. rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, heating sys- 240sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathroosm,capitally Š1462.Teryan str., 3 storied building, 800 sq.m., cap- tem, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable repaired, furnished. Price:2000 USD itally repaired, AC, parking, Price: 10.000 USD. Š2187.Northern ave., Newly built, 9/5, 120 sq.m., Š1337 Davtashen Land-406sq.m,3 storied bld- Š1945.Mashtots Ave., 5/1,2, 140sq.m., window 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, capitally reapired, fir- 306sq.m, 4bedrooms, 2bathrooms, capitally repaired, glasses, capitally repaired, AC. Price: 8000 USD nished, equipped. Price: 2.200 USD furnished. Price:3900 USD Š1943.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the building, Š2109.Northern ave., Newly built,10/4, 137sq.m, 2 Š1323.Monument, Babayan str, Land-400sq.m, 265sq.m.,1st line, capitally repaired, heating system, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, central 3storied bld-300sq.m, 4bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, cap- cellar. Price: 7000 USD heating, furnished, equipped, parking. Price: 2000 itally repaired. Price: Negotiable Š1868.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the building, USD. Š1248.Aygedzor, Land - 1021 sq m ,3 storied bld. - 220sq.m.,1st line, facade-55m.,capitally repaired, h- Š2243.Buzand str, Newly built, 17/4, 125sq.m, 2 501 sq.m., 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, study, capitally 5m., cellar. Price: 15.000 USD. bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating repaired, central heating, AC, sauna, boiler room Š2087.Northern ave., Ground floor of the building, system, AC, furnished, equipped. Price: 2000 USD garden, swimming pool, garage, alarming system, 100sq.m,1st line, zero level, capitally repaired, win- Š Amiryan str, Newly built, 14/5, 120sqm, 2 bed- security system. Price: 8000 USD. dow glasses. Price: Negotiable. rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating sys- Š999.Aygedzor, Land -1000 sqm, basement + 2 Š2033.Abovyan str, 388sq,m, Ground floor of the tem, AC, partly furnished. Price 2000 USD floors- 310 sqm, capitally repaired, 4 bedrooms, 4 building, 3 degrees above zero level, windoq glasses, bathrooms, newly furnished, equipped, sauna, swim- h-3m.,basement-235sq.m, capitally repaired, heat- ming-pool. Starting Price: 5000 USD. ing system, AC. Price: 15.000 USD 3 ROOMS AND MORE Š1094.Noy block, Land-450sqm, 2 storied building - Š2031.Vardanants str, 500sq.m, ground floor of 220sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally the building, 2 entrances, facade-20m, window Š2303 Hanrapetutyan str Newly built, 9/5, repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, swim- glasses, without divisions, ,basement-250sq.m, 165sq.m, 3bedrooms,1bathroom, 1 guest toilet. cap- ming pool, garden. Price: 2000USD. Price:8000 USD itally repaired, furnished, parking. Price: 2000 USD Š1195.Nork, Armenakyan str., Land - 2000 sq.m, 4 Š2027.Sayat Nova str, 95sq.m, ground floor of Š2286.Sose str, Newly built, 12/2, 154sq.m, 3bed- storied bld.-520 sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 4bathrooms, the building, 2 entrances, 7 degrees above zero rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, furnished, capitally repaired, heating system, sauna, gym, fur- level, 4 window glasses, capitally repaired. Price: equipped. Price: 1700 USD nished, swimming-pool, garden. Price: 4.000 USD 4.000 USD

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 10 www.nt.am POLITICS EU 'still reflecting' on future ties with Armenia The European Union and Armenia 2013 to make his country part of the trade have yet to agree on a new legal frame- bloc comprising Russia, Belarus and work for their closer relations that would Kazakhstan. The EU abandoned the not run counter to the South Caucasus planned accord, saying that it is "not com- country's recent accession to a Russian-led patible" with membership in the EEU. alliance, according to officials in Brussels. Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler, a senior "We are still reflecting together with EU official coordinating the bloc's Eastern Armenia on how to take our relations for- Partnership program, said this week that ward in the light of Armenia's obligations Sargsyan's volte face "closed many doors" made similar comments last month after to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)," to Armenia's closer cooperation with the talks in Brussels with Foreign Minister said Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU. Edward Nalbandian. Hahn said the EU the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Armenia's Deputy Economy Minister "should make best possible use" of the ill- Mogherini. Garegin Melkonyan said in December that fated Association Agreement. "It needs to "Clearly, an Association Agreement is Yerevan and Brussels began exploring this be adjusted in order to reflect the new con- now out of the question and we need to summer the possibility of an alternative text but the substance of its political part I find new ways of developing our relations arrangement for closer Armenia-EU ties. hope should be kept," added. by fully respecting the obligations that both Melkonyan said they could sign "in the Neither Kocijancic nor Schumann- sides have," Kocijancic told reporters at the near future" a deal that would contain not Hitzler commented on the possibility of EU headquarters in the Belgian capital. only political but also economic provisions such a deal. Schumann-Hitzler said only The EU and Armenia were on track to of their ill-fated Association Agreement. that it is up to Yerevan to decide how far it sign such an agreement until President The EU commissioner for European wants to go in the process of European Serzh Sargsyan's unexpected decision in neighborhood policy, Johannes Hahn, integration. Ter-Petrosian blasts Armenian Genocide Declaration tion at the genocide memorial in Yerevan Ottoman Armenians but also "overcome on January 29. consequences of the genocide." In that con- The document calls on the Turkish state text, it refers to the 1920 Treaty of Sevres to "face up to its own history and past" by that envisaged Armenian control over much ending its long-running denial of the geno- of what is now eastern Turkey. cide. Ter-Petrosian claimed that this amounts In an extensive article published in the to territorial claims to Turkey which succes- pro-opposition daily "Chorrord sive Armenian governments have avoided Ishkhanutyun," Ter-Petrosian described this until now despite pressure from nationalist call as a meaningless "ultimatum" which is groups at home and especially in the not fraught with any negative consequences Diaspora. The Sargsyan administration's for Ankara. "How many times should be it "drastic U-turn" will make the normaliza- Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian said that recognition of the Armenian geno- tion of Turkish-Armenian relations even on February 11 strongly criticized President cide is a matter for the Turks, rather than us, more unlikely in the foreseeable future, he Serzh Sargsyan and leaders of Armenian the Armenians?" asked the man who served said. Diaspora organizations for urging Turkey to as Armenia's first president from 1991- The declaration in question says that recognize the 1915 Armenian genocide in 1998. commission experts are now working on a the Ottoman Empire. "Other states can call and do call on "package of legal demands" to be addressed Ter-Petrosian also claimed that their Turkey to face up to its own history. But to the Turkish government. But it does not "pan-Armenian declaration" issued late last Armenia must in no case do the same specify whether they will include territorial month commits official Yerevan to laying because that would harm its dignity and not claims. claim to vast swathes of land in eastern contribute at all to the normalization of Vigen Sargsyan, the presidential chief Turkey that were populated by Armenians Turkish-Armenian relations," said Ter- of staff involved in the commission's work, until the genocide. Petrosian. He stood by his past statements could not say on January 30 when those The declaration was adopted by a high- that Ankara would recognize the genocide experts will come up with concrete recom- level commission planning and coordinat- only after such a normalization followed by mendations. "We have set no concrete time ing upcoming commemorations of the an "atmosphere of trust" between Armenia frames as to when that group should come 100th anniversary of the tragedy. The com- and Turkey. up with its final package," he told a news mission is headed by Sargsyan and com- The ex-president was even more critical conference aimed at stressing the impor- prises other senior Armenian state officials, of another declaration passage which says tance of the declaration. the top clerics of the Armenian Apostolic that Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora It remains to be seen whether the Church and Diaspora leaders. Serzh will strive to not only get more countries to planned legal claims will run counter to the Sargsyan personally read out the declara- condemn the slaughter of 1.5 million continued on page 11

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 POLITICS www.nt.am 11 Prof. Auron Blasts Israel's President for Calling Armenian Genocide a 'Massacre' Nebuchadnezzar? Did I, a Jew, forget that English." Prof. Auron went on to disclose I am a Jew? I also asked myself if I have that Pres. Rivlin had told him personally the right to weep over the tragedy of my that "he had not changed his opinion, but people only, and whether the Prophet that he cannot declare it [genocide] as Jeremiah did not shed tears of blood for President of Israel. This, I can under- Armenians as well?'Avshalom Feinberg stand. But, in the last minute before the Israel's President Reuven Rivlin gen- wrote that exactly 100 years ago - 100 speech, somebody, probably from the erated a major controversy after his years of hesitation and denial! But in the Foreign Ministry of Israel, maybe even January 28 speech at the UN General Land of Israel of that time, in the the Foreign Minister of Israel, Avigdor Assembly in New York. Jerusalem where I was born, no one Lieberman, told him to include this terri- As Speaker and member of the denied the massacre that had taken place. ble sentence: 'Is our struggle, the struggle Knesset (Parliament), Rivlin had led the The residents of Jerusalem, my parents of this Assembly, against genocide, effec- struggle for many years to have Israel and members of my family, saw the tive enough? Was it effective enough then recognize the Armenian Genocide. But, Armenian refugees arriving by the thou- in Bosnia? Was it effective in preventing after becoming President, like Pres. sands - starving, piteous survivors of the killing in Khojalu?'" Obama, Rivlin has been reluctant to calamity. In Jerusalem they found shelter Prof. Auron continued his criticism: reconfirm his principled position on this and their descendants continue to live "Mr. President, you used the name of issue. there to this day." Khojalu in the context of genocide. You Last month, Pres. Rivlin delivered a Distinguished scholar Yair Auron, know well the difference between geno- powerful speech at the UN General Professor at Open University of Israel, cide and massacre. … Who proposed to Assembly's annual International Day of was irate at his President's choice of you, Mr. President, who asked that you Commemoration in Memory of the words, despite his personal friendship make this terrible error? You do not use Victims of the Holocaust. Regrettably, with him. Auron is a long-time advocate the term genocide regarding the Israel's President made two serious of Armenian Genocide recognition by Armenian Genocide itself. Using the errors. He called the Armenian Genocide Israel and author of several books on this term genocide, in the context of one vil- a massacre and, to balance those com- subject. He is currently teaching at the lage in Nagorno-Karabagh, as if it was ments, referred to the Azeri deaths in American University of Armenia. genocide, is unacceptable…. You do not Khojalu during the (Karabagh) Artsakh On January 31, while I was delivering dare to use the term genocide regarding war. a lecture on the Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Genocide, and you define Here is an excerpt from Rivlin's UN the newly-opened Komitas Museum in the massacre of this village, that I am sure remarks: "In 1915, when members of the Yerevan, Prof. Auron approached me and you did not know its name just a few Armenian nation were being massacred, asked if he could address the audience. minutes before [your speech], as geno- Avshalom Feinberg, a leading member of After obtaining my consent, he read a cide. It is sacrilegious, and by it, you Nili, the Jewish underground which personal statement, titled: "Apology to betray the legacy of the Holocaust and its cooperated with the Allies during the my Armenian brothers": victims." First World War, wrote the following, and "The President of Israel, Reuven The righteous professor concluded his I quote, 'My teeth have been ground Rivlin, made a remarkable speech with heartfelt remarks by pledging: "Let me, down with worry, whose turn is next? very touching sentences, identifying hon- my Armenian brothers, apologize in my When I walked on the blessed and holy estly and profoundly with the suffering of name and on behalf of many Israeli Jews. ground on my way up to Jerusalem, I the Armenian people. But, intentionally, We are with you. We will not stop our asked myself if we are living in our mod- he did not use the term Armenian struggle till Israel recognizes the ern era, in 1915, or in the days of Titus or Genocide, neither in Hebrew nor in Armenian Genocide." Ter-Petrosian blasts Armenian Genocide Declaration From page 10 2009 Turkish-Armenian protocols that committed Sargsyan's government to explicitly recognizing Armenia's existing border with Turkey. The U.S.-brokered protocols never went into effect due to Ankara's failure to have them unconditionally ratified by the Turkish parliament. Sargsyan has so far ignored opposition and Diaspora calls for Yerevan to formally annul them.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 12 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS New Hampshire House of Representatives drops pro-Azerbaijani measure

The pro-Azerbaijan lobby suffered emailed legislators, pointing out to New Hampshire's democratic tradi- yet another political setback on February Azerbaijan's increasing aggression tion that even a regime as flagrantly cor- 12, as the New Hampshire House of against Armenia and Artsakh and recent rupt as Aliyev's is allowed to operate Representatives blocked passage of HR anti-US actions, including President freely within our open society," the letter 6, a deeply flawed measure that sought Aliyev's crackdown on the U.S. funded read. "But that does not mean that the to undermine Nagorno Karabakh's free- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and citizens of our state need to remain silent dom and cover-up ongoing anti- pro-democracy civil society groups. in the face of meddling by foreign lead- Armenian aggression by President Ilham The Aliyev regime's repression of free ers who neither respect our rights nor Aliyev's dictatorial regime, reported the speech has been widely covered in the share our values - especially when they Armenian National Committee of Wall Street Journal, The New York try to export their intolerance to our America - Eastern Region (ANCA-ER). Times and broadly condemned by shores." "The New Hampshire House of human rights groups. Concerns about the HR 6 became Representatives lived up to its 'Live Free "The democratic principles and val- clear early in the Committee considera- or Die' motto today, refusing to succumb ues of the Granite State prevailed today. tion process, when the Legislative to President Aliyev's international cam- We appreciate that our elected represen- Affairs Committee voted 8-0 to urge the paign to subvert Artsakh's right to self- tatives heard our concerns loud and House to kill the measure. When efforts determination," stated ANCA-ER Board clear," stated ANC Merrimack Valley were discovered to undermine that rec- Chairman Stephen Mesrobian. "We are Co-Chair Ara Jeknavorian. "We are ommendation, New Hampshire pleased that New Hampshire joins grateful to all our local activists who Representative Gary Azarian reached Colorado, Mississippi, South Dakota, immediately took action, enabling us to out to fellow legislators, describing Tennessee, Hawaii, and Wyoming in collectively stop this measure. The Azerbaijan's historic massacres against refusing to aid and abet Azerbaijan's mobilization capacity of our community Armenians in 1918 and again during the thuggish regime." is inspirational, and a testament to our Sumgait, Baku and Kirovabad pogroms The ANCA-ER worked closely with commitment to justice and freedom." from 1988 - 1990. The measure was the ANC of Merrimack Valley and the Just two days prior to the vote, the then pulled from the calendar and later New Hampshire Armenian community ANC Merrimack Valley penned a pow- blocked by an overwhelming majority. to educate legislators about the dangers erful open letter, published in The "It is unfortunate that the Azeri of this flawed resolution. Local Armenian Weekly, urging legislators to regime keeps trying to mislead legisla- activists, with the support of Armenian tread with caution when considering the tures across the United States via manip- Americans across the U.S., called and pro-Aliyev measure. "It is truly a tribute ulation, misinformation and instigation of hatred towards Armenians," said Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the U.S. "We constantly see Baku's efforts to rewrite history and avoid responsibility for its aggression against Artsakh, as well as for crimes against its own population. We are grateful to the ANCA ER team and all New Hampshire Armenians for prompt and coordinated efforts to inform members of the NH State legisla- ture of the historical facts". The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Eastern United States. Working in coor- dination with a network of offices, chap- ters, and supporters throughout the Eastern United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-ER advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 13 Erdogan accuses Armenia of rejecting Turkey's peace hand University. attempt to overshadow the 100th anniver- Erdo?an attended the event as part of sary of the 1915 events. his official visit to Colombia on Feb. 10 and "We would like them to come and be in said "what the Armenians did against the Çanakkale on April 24, to breathe in that Turks and what the Turks did against the atmosphere and try to understand that hap- Armenians 100 years ago has not been pened among our hundreds of thousands of properly discussed." martyrs. But they didn't do that," he said. "We have made an effort to fix relations "They once again blocked the peace and with Armenia and to open a new page," the dialogue with their statement violating Turkish President Recep Tayyip Turkish president said. "Unfortunately, our courtesy protocols," he stated, vowing "not Erdogan has called on Armenia to examine peace hand has always been rejected by the to give up on our efforts for peace and dia- the 1915 events through the lens of science influence of Armenian diaspora." logue." and not politics, while also expressing his In January, the Turkish president sent "We will continue to approach this issue reproach over the rejection of Turkey's invi- invitation letters to more than 100 leaders, under the light of history and science, not tation to representatives of the county to including Armenian President Serzh with propaganda, perception games or ugly attend war commemoration ceremonies, Sargsyan, to participate in the ceremonies international politics," he stressed. "We the Hurriyet Daily Newsreports. on April 24 marking the centenary of the will not give up in our efforts for peace and "Let us remove the 1915 events from Battle of Gallipoli in Çanakkale, which dialogue with respect to the 1915 events," the area of politics and refer to science and coincides with the day of remembrance for Erdogan said. scientists," Erdogan said during a sympo- the Armenian victims of the 1915 events. "This year is the 100th anniversary. We sium on the topic, co-organized by Bogota Sargsyan reportedly denounced are still reiterating our sincere call," he Externado University and Ankara Erdogan's invitation as a "short-sighted" added. Armenian artist to represent Turkey at 2015 Venice Biennale Turkish-Armenian artist Sarkis, a ingenuity with such a subtle critique of children's fingerprints and the musical globally prominent figure in conceptual history as deftly as Sarkis. This undertak- piece specifically composed by Jacopo art, will be presenting a new installation ing opens up a space in which the poten- Baboni Schilingi with meticulous direc- that delves into the genealogies of cul- tial of art will be reanimated. Against the tion by Sarkis. tures, beliefs and histories at this year's current landscape of deep uncertainties, it It is quite significant that the Istanbul Venice Biennale, the curator of the exhi- is our intention to unfurl a proposition Foundation for Culture and Arts (?KSV) bition, Defne Ayas, announced Tuesday, that reveals Sarkis's profound concern for chose Sarkis to represent Turkey in Today's Zaman reports. humanity. With and through his intense Venice in 2015, the 100th anniversary of Titled "Respiro," the installation will and perfectionist oeuvre - especially with the atrocities committed against be the sole work at the Pavilion of Turkey his magnum opus in the making - and Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. at the 56th International Art Exhibition, thanks to his rich arsenal of visual, archi- "While asking myself with whom I can la Biennale di Venezia, curated by Okwui tectural, and musical apparatus, we will swim across the cultures, beliefs and his- Enwezor and scheduled for May 9 be able to tune into hidden signals and tories best, I thought about Defne, who through Nov. 22. frames encrypted in mediated images and also has a similar relationship with Emphasizing the importance of 2015 visions; dig deeper into our contemporary Turkey; she lives abroad but is very con- at a news conference on Tuesday in lived experience; most likely hurt but nected to here [Turkey]. I'm like that too. Istanbul, Ayas stated that it is a great also hopefully heal. The focus is the I never considered myself in diaspora. pleasure to work with Sarkis. transformative power of art, as well as Hrank Dink once said, 'diaspora is a big "He is designing the pavilion like a timelessness and the timeliness of his town in Anatolia' and I live in it too," theater stage: objects, images, ideas and oeuvre," Ayas added. The exhibition's Sarkis said. Sarkis will also be joining codes are coming together. We will be title means "to breathe" in Italian and the artists at the Pavilion of Armenia at the seeing how his perfectionist talisman is artist gave a detailed account of his initial Biennale to commemorate the centennial. taking us through the intuition, irrational, impulses to create it after his visit to the He insists that "Respiro" is not about that supraliminal and post-logic in the archi- historic building in which the pavilion is topic, "it is something beyond history." tectural design as well," Ayas, who is the located. He spoke about the installation The 56th Venice Biennale will take director and curator at the Witte de With of mirrors, stained glass panes, and two place between May 9-Nov. 22 and two Center for contemporary art in rainbows made out of neon lights -which simultaneous installations by Sarkis will Rotterdam, said. he describes as a "moment of insanity" - also take place both in Istanbul and "Few artists have combined artistic the planets that will be created by seven Genoa.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 14 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS LIFE 100: Master Armenian artists, post-genocide, and LA based contemporary exhibition The life100 art exhibition, to be held at the Brand Library Art Galleries in Glendale, California March 14 -May 1, 2015, will uplift, inspire and empower visitors by showcasing over 30 mas- ter Armenian artists and 20 contemporary Armenian artists from Los Angeles, whose stories represent the impact of the Armenian Genocide from over 15 countries, Massis Post reports. The exhibition and related programming is conceived and and cinema. The selection of works was a grueling process, but the curated by the life100 Organizing Committee in coordination with committee succeeded in gathering works from the finest names in the City of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department and the Armenian art." The works on view come from Southern California United Armenian Council for the Commemoration of the private collections and galleries and represent master artists such Armenian Genocide/LA. asArshile Gorky, John Altoon, and Minas Avetisyan, as well as The exhibition is a never before seen look at the collective some of the best local Armenian artists including Joanne Julian, works of Armenia's Master Artists, and celebrates the contribution Aram Saroyan and Vahe Berberian. of artists of Armenian descent toward re-establishing cultural To commemorate this landmark exhibition a catalogue will be identity and building creative spirit for the future, highlighting published featuring brief biographies of all the artists and beauti- their resilience, strength and creativity in the face of adversity. ful reproductions of their work. Essays by renowned curator and "There has always been a strong Armenian presence in the art former LAWeekly art critic Peter Frank, scholar Mike Harutunian, world. It is now time to recognize the works of these talented indi- and art historian Neery Melkonian will discuss the impact the viduals during the milestone anniversary of the Armenian Armenian Genocide had on culture, creativity and the emergence Genocide," states Aida Navasargian, life100's Director of of new art and artists, as well as examine the significant role artists Marketing. "There are various mediums which exemplify of the Armenian diaspora have played in the history of modern art. Armenia's contribution to the visual arts. In addition to painting, The catalogue will serve as an artistic, historical and celebratory we have strived to include sculpture, mixed media, installation, memoir. It is something visitors and proponents of art will cherish. Armenian Genocide exhibit in Burbank Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of of Holy Etchmiadzin during the Armenian mass deportation of the Armenians from Armenian National Institute (ANI), will Genocide. The exhibit also examines the all across Ottoman Turkey to the interior present the exhibit "The First Refuge and vital leadership role played by the clergy of the Syrian Desert where hundreds of the Last Defense: The Armenian Church, during the Armenian Genocide especially thousands perished from hunger, thirst, Etchmiadzin, and the Armenian Genocide" the all-important intervention of His and slaughter. on February 18 and 19 at the Zorayan Holiness Catholicos Gevorg V Sureniants Dr. Rouben Adalian has had a distin- Museum at the Western Diocese of the in alerting world leaders about the mas- guished career and is noted as a specialist Armenian Church, 3, Burbank, California, sacres, effectively issuing the first "early on the Caucasus and the Middle East. Dr. Massis Post reports. warning" of an impending genocide. "The Adalian holds a PhD in History from the The exhibit was created by the documents effectively demonstrates the University of California, Los Angeles. Armenian National Institute, the Armenian sacrifices of the Armenian clergy," stated Among other places, he has taught at the Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), the Primate, "thousands, among them sev- Elliott School of International Affairs, and the Armenian Assembly of America eral primates in Western Armenia and George Washington University; School jointly, in cooperation with the Mother See other parts of the Ottoman Empire, paid of Foreign Service, Georgetown of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian the price of martyrdom for their faith dur- University; and School of Advanced Genocide Museum Institute in Yerevan, ing the Armenian Genocide." International Studies, John Hopkins and the Republic of Armenia National The exhibit provides ample evidence University. Archives. The exhibit consists of 20 panels of the aid extended by fellow Armenians "The First Refuge and the Last with over 150 historic photographs docu- to the refugees fleeing Ottoman Turkey Defense: The Armenian Church, menting the role of the Armenian Church as the Young Turk regime pursued its Etchmiadzin, and the Armenian during the Armenian Genocide. path toward the destruction of the Genocide" is the second digital exhibit His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Armenians. At the epicenter of this out- released by ANI, AGMA, and the Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, pouring of aid was Etchmiadzin, the pri- Assembly. The first exhibit, "Witness to reports that this lecture and presentation by mary destination of the Armenians flee- the Armenian Genocide: Photographs by Dr. Rouben Adalian, is a part of a series of ing the massacres along the border the Perpertrators' German and Austro- Diocesan events dedicated to the 100th regions of the Ottoman Empire. With tes- Hungarian Allies" was released in 2014, commemoration of the Armenian timony from survivors and witnesses, the and a third exhibit, " The First Genocide. exhibit reconstructs this particular chap- Deportation: The German Railway, the The Primate noted that the exhibit ter of the Armenian Genocide, a chapter American Hospital, and the Armenian explains the importance of the Mother See often overlooked in the context of the Genocide ," was issued this January.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 SOCIETY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 15 Armenia seeks more visible presence in Indonesia: Ambassador As a whole, what can Armenia offer I would say the older generations of Indonesia and vice versa? Armenians are more familiar with Indonesia The main Indonesian imports are cof- due to its history with the Soviet Union. But fee and rattan furniture, which are popu- the younger generation knows more about lar because of our long nice summers. the tourism. Our trade volume is not big but we are However, not many Armenians visit also researching the distance our products Indonesia mainly because of technical visa need to travel […] and are still looking at problems. Indonesia has no embassy in other things that can be traded as well. Yerevan, and those who wish to get one There are certain fields that are currently need to cross over to the Indonesian Armenia is a relatively new face on the being discussed. Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, so it's not a con- Indonesian diplomatic scene, having With a growing middle class in ducive process. Meanwhile, Indonesians are opened an embassy here in late 2013. As a Indonesia, what tourism potentials can able to obtain a visa on arrival upon reach- whole, Indonesian awareness and interac- be offered? ing Armenia. tion with part of the former Soviet republic Armenia offers a rich, diverse history What other bilateral issues can be dis- has been minimal at best. Armenian and fascinating nature, being a small and cussed between the two countries? Ambassador to Indonesia Anna mountainous country. Our culture had We are trying to promote legislative Aghadjanian talked to The Jakarta Post's been historically centered on Christianity cooperation because they are crucial in rep- Dylan Amirio on Armenia's determination due to the fact that [the Kingdom of] resenting their people. Legislative diploma- to promote more visible ties with Indonesia. Armenia was the first country to adopt cy has a more widespread constituency and Question: What can Armenia do to Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. can sometimes be more important than the boost its presence in Indonesia's diplo- Besides old churches, monasteries diplomacy I do. matic scope? and temples that are preserved and still Armenia went through reform after its Answer: It's not really about boosting standing, you can also trace the heritage independence from the Soviet Union and Armenian presence but rather letting of different cultures and empires, includ- Indonesia was also reforming itself in its Indonesians know that we exist. I under- ing the Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, own way. We're going through the same stand that Armenia has not been part of Roman etc. process and trying to achieve the same Indonesia's main geopolitical focus. How is Indonesia perceived by goals. One of my plans is to conduct a meet- Therefore, my task is to raise awareness in Armenian eyes and ears? ing with members of the legislature or acad- both countries about each other. We have Bali is already familiar to Armenian emicians [from the two countries] to com- been working with various government ears, but as much as it happens with many pare their experiences. institutions and academia to discover oppor- of my colleagues from foreign nations Aside from that, we must focus on peo- tunities and trying to create cooperation at here, I still hear a lot of that "Bali is ple-to-people cooperation. No matter how regional levels. Indonesia" thing. cliché that may sound, but it is the truth. ETIHAD AIRWAYS Named 'Airline Of The Year' At Aviation 100 Awards which saw the national flag carrier quan- ward to future accomplishments in 2015 tum leap its level of growth, innovation and beyond as we continue to grow, with and service. In 2014 the airline launched support of our employees, our equity part- 10 new routes including three in North ners and the industry." America, and injected significant invest- Philip Tozer-Pennington, Managing ment into new equity partnerships. Editor of Airline Economics, said: "The Last year, Etihad Airways also revealed Aviation 100 Awards are the airline indus- a brand new look with new livery, uni- try's largest votes-based awards with over forms and onboard offerings, with its first- 11,000 professionals voting over a period of-kind 'Residence by Etihad'™ concept from October 2014 to January 2015. In the Etihad Airways, the national airline of changing the face of luxury commercial air case of the Airline of the Year Award, votes the United Arab Emirates, has clinched top travel. from banks, investors, law firms, analysts, honours at the 2015 Aviation 100 Awards, James Hogan, President and Chief manufacturers and airline senior execu- organised by Airline Economics magazine. Executive Officer of Etihad Airways said: tives decide which airline team has been The prestigious awards are voted for by "We are immensely proud that the achieve- best-in-class during 2014. " the industry and recognise outstanding ments we made in 2014 have been recog- Caption: Etihad Airways' Group achievement in the aerospace sector, with nised by our peers in the industry. These Treasurer Ricky Thirion with the Airline of Etihad Airways claiming the coveted awards remind us of the significant the Year award at the Airline Economics 'Airline of the Year' title. progress the airline has made in such a Aviation 100 awards ceremony in Dublin, The awards follow a milestone year, short space of time. We are looking for- Ireland.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 16 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights SOCIETY Canadian Armenian Anya Pogharian invents $500 dialysis machine with at-home potential Seventeen-year-old Anya Pogharian's high school science proj- ect could end up changing the way dialysis care is delivered, CBC reports. After poring over online dialysis machine owner's manuals, she developed a new prototype using simple technology. While machines currently cost about $30,000, hers would cost just $500 - making it more affordable for people to buy and have at home. Pogharian was inspired by volunteering at a hospital dialysis unit. When she was assigned a high school science project, she chose to work on a new kind of dialysis unit. She spent 300 hours on her invention - well above and beyond the mandatory 10 hours. Dialysis is the process of cleaning waste from the blood. It's typ- ically used for people who have kidney disease. The treatment takes her invention with real blood. about four hours a couple times per week. "All the population will benefit from that kind of instrument that Pogharian said she wanted to find a way to improve the proce- will reduce medical care cost, hospitalization stays. Basically, it's a dure, which can be hard on patients. great idea," said Louis Thibault, director of applied research at "It takes a lot of energy out of them," said Pogharian. "They're Héma-Québec. very tired after a dialysis treatment." Pogharian said she hopes one day, her invention will be used "You wouldn't have to make your way to the hospital, which is overseas. a problem for a lot of patients. It's not necessarily easy to make your "Ten per cent of patients living in India and Pakistan who need way to the hospital three times a week, especially it you have limit- the treatment can't afford it or can't have it in any way. It's not acces- ed mobility," she said. sible. So that motivated me." Her project has earned her a slew of scholarships and awards. But Pogharian says she's focusing on doing well on her CEGEP Now, Héma-Québec has offered her a summer internship, to try out midterm exams. Eurovision 2015: Armenia to be represented by artists from all five continents Armenia has come up with a new and innovative idea for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest: The country will be repre- sented by artists from all five continents. The project will be called Genealogy, and they will sing Don't Deny in Vienna, Eurovision's official website reports. Peace, unity and tolerance - that will be the key message of the Armenian entry in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Inspired by the symbol of a for- get-me-not flower and of Building Bridges, the slogan of the contest, a wholly new concept was born. Taking into account numerous requests of the Armenian diaspora, five musicians from Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and Australia, all of Armenian origin, will be part of the band Genealogy. The idea is to unite a new generation of Armenians on stage whose families once spread all over the world in the year 1915.

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 17 "KAAR-MED" PRIVATE CLINIC CENTER FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH

The Private Clinic "KAAR-MED" has been function- ing on the market for medical services for more than 15 years. The Clinic is located in Warsaw (10 Bitwy Warszawskiej street) close to the centre of the city within easy reach of Dworzec Zachodni railway sta- tion and other city communications networks. Our Patients can use a private parking located directly at the entrance to the Clinic with special places for ambulance and disabled people. Clinic is fully adapted and friendly for wheelchair users. The Clinic specialisation is gynaecology and obstetrics including full pregnancy care, "one day surgery" and aesthetic medicine procedures as well as plastic and cosmetic gynaecology. "KAAR-MED" employs gynaecologists and physicians of all special- isations who have clinical experience gained in lead- ing Warsaw hospitals. We offer a wide range of laboratory, microbiolog- ical and genetic tests, diagnostic imaging techniques (USG) including prenatal tests such as pregnancy ultrasound, prenatal imaging findings, Harmony Prenatal Test, Doppler ultrasonography tests and many others. The "KAAR-MED" Clinic is fully outfitted with the latest medical equipment used for diagnosis and treatment of the entire range of gynaecology and obstetrics diseases: - Voluson ultrasound imaging system (pictures) - Toschiba ultrasound imaging system - Colposcope - Cryosurgery machine - Electrocoagulation apparatus - ELLMAN Pelleve Unit (radio frequency surgery and wrinkle reduction system) - Other equipment by "Aesculap" and "Stainless" companies Our clinic fulfils all the official norms (stated by the Direction of the Health Minister of Poland of 02.02.2011) concerning professional, technical and sanitary conditions for health care organizations. We are looking forward to see You in "KAAR- MED" Clinic and shall do out best to make You feel comfortable, safe and professionally treated here. 10 Bitwy Warszawskiej, 02-362 Warsaw, Poland

Information and registration: +48 22 823 04 52 +48 22 201 90 95 + 48 50 910 74 05

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 18 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights SOCIETY WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? Enjoy your leisure

16 February 20 February 19:00. I'm Marrying an American Woman. Play | Russian Drama Theater 17:00. The New Adventures of The 19:00. APO, Massimo Mercelli & Irina after K. Stanislavski Three Piglets. Directed by Samson Zakyan. Concert dedicated to the 100th 19:00. Suzanne, Suzette and Jacqueline Stepanyan. Choreographer: Sevag anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. + 3 men. Comedy in 2 acts. Play | Avakian. Musical | State Musical Artistic Director and Principal Yerevan Drama Theater after H. Chamber Theater Conductor: Eduard Topchjan. Concert | Ghaplanyan 19:00. Hover State Chamber Choir: National Academic Theater of Opera and 19:00. Albania+. Pessimistic comedy. Presentation. Artistic Director: Sona Ballet after A. Spendiarian Author and director of the play: Ara Hovhannisyan. Concert | Chamber 19:00. Valentine's Day Show. Concert | Yernjakyan. Play | Yerevan State Music House after Komitas Elite Plaza Hotel Chamber Theater 19:00. Hover State Chamber Choir: 19:00. Love Stir. Play in 2 acts. Play | 17 February Presentation. Artistic Director: Sona State Theater of Musical Comedy after Hovhannisyan . Concert | Chamber H. Paronyan 11:00. The Invincible Rooster. Author: Music House after Komitas 19:00. Insomnia. Stand Up - Comedy. Hovhannes Tumanyan. 19:00. State Ensemble of Soloists. Hovhannes Davtyan. Humor, parody, Director/Producer: Ervand Manaryan. Artistic Director and Conductor: Zaven stand-up comedy | State Puppet Theater Play for kids | State Puppet Theater after Vardanyan. Concert | Chamber Music after H. Tumanyan H. Tumanyan House after Komitas 19:00. The Family of Orphans. Lyrical 19:00. State Ensemble of Soloists. 19:00. National Chamber Orchestra of Comedy in 2 acts. Gurgen Khanjyan. Artistic Director and Conductor: Zaven Armenia. Artistic Director and Principal Play | National Academic Theater after Vardanyan. Concert | Chamber Music Conductor: Vahan Mardirossian. Concert G. Sundukyan House after Komitas | Chamber Music House after Komitas 19:00. Don Juans in Amrseille. Staging 19:00. Irina Allegrova. Concert | Sports 22 February and adaptation: Narek Duryan. Play | & Concert Complex after K. Russian Drama Theater after K. Demirchyan. 12:30, 14:00, 15:30. Wheel of Fortune. Stanislavski 19:30. Richard Clayderman. Concert | Based on Hovhannes Tumanian's tales. National Academic Theater of Opera and Staging: Armen Elbakyan. Play for kids | 18 February Ballet after A. Spendiarian State Marionette Theater 20:00. Philip Band. Concert | Stop Club 13:00. Tower-Room. Play for kinds. S. 11:00, 13:00. The Tailless Fox. Author: 20:00. Latin Big Fun Party. 2 Dance Marshak. Play for kids | Russian Drama Hovhannes Tumanyan. Staging: Ruben Instructors + get your special Cuba Libre Theater after K. Stanislavski Marukhyan. Play for kids | State Puppet with 40% discount. Concert | Stop Club 14:00, 16:00. Larky Mooky. Play for Theater after H. Tumanyan 21:00. Another Story Band. Alternative kids | State Puppet Theater after H. 19:00. Don Juans in Amrseille. Staging folk rock and Russian rock. Concert | Tumanyan and adaptation: Narek Duryan. Play | Stop Club 14:00. Beauty and the Beast. Children's Russian Drama Theater after K. 21:00. Rena De (acoustic duo). St. Musical Fun Show. Director: Armen Stanislavski Valentine's Day with Rena De. Concert | Margaryan. Play for kids | State Musical 20:00. Love Bridge. Musical "Love Stop Club Chamber Theater Bridge", a mega-show in Yerevan. 21:00. Stop Band. Concert | Stop Club 16:00. Magic Ball. Children's Musical Musical | State Theater of Musical .Author: Ara Yernjakyan. Director of the Comedy after H. Paronyan 21 February play: Lusine Yernjakyan. Play for kids | Yerevan State Chamber Theater 19 February 12:00. Cinderella. Author: Charles 18:00. Du-Dum the Wise Man and the Perrault. Staged by: A. Miridjanyan. Play Ignorant. Play for kids | State Puppet 16:00. That Same Huri. Author: for kids | State Musical Chamber Theater Theater after H. Tumanyan Hovhannes Tumanyan. 12:30, 14:00, 15:30. The Real Friend. 19:00. Lunar Monster. Play | Russian Director/Producer: Ruben Babayan. Play Musical performance. Staging: Anna Drama Theater after K. Stanislavski for kids | State Puppet Theater after H. Elbakyan. Play for kids | State 19:00. The Prime Minister's Counselor, Tumanyan Marionette Theater the Opposition Leader's Secretary and... 19:00. Aunt from Paris. Comedy. Play | 13:00. The Wolf and Seven Goatlings. a Dead Body. Comedy in 2 acts. Ray State Puppet Theater after H. Tumanyan Play for kids | Russian Drama Theater Cooney. Play | Yerevan Drama Theater 19:00. Classmates. Y. Polyakov. Play | after K. Stanislavski after H. Ghaplanyan Russian Drama Theater after K. 14:00, 16:00. Road Adventures. Author: 19:00. Eastern Dentist. Operette in 2 Stanislavski Samvel Grigoryan. Director/Producer: acts. Authors: Artemi Ayvazyan, Hakob. 19:00. Scotch & Whisky. Optimistic Larisa Mangasarova. Play for kids | State Paronyan. Play | State Theater of comedy. Director of the play: Arshaluis Puppet Theater after H. Tumanyan Musical Comedy after H. Paronyan Harutiunyan. Play | Yerevan State 15:00. The New Adventures of The 19:00. Barekamutyun State Dance Chamber Theater Three Piglets. Directed by Samson Ensemble. Dance | National Academic 19:00. Mrs. Ministress. Comedy in 2 Stepanyan. Choreographer: Sevag Theater of Opera and Ballet after A. acts. Play | State Theater of Musical Avakian. Musical | State Musical Spendiarian Comedy after H. Paronyan Chamber Theater 19:00. The Family of Orphans. Lyrical 18:00. An Armenian's Fate. Play for kids Comedy in 2 acts. Gurgen Khanjyan. | State Puppet Theater after H. Tumanyan Play | National Academic Theater after G. Sundukyan

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 SOCIETY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 19 Zodiac Weekly Forecast ARMENIAN POETRY

Aries (Mar. 20--Apr. 19) : Libra (Sep. 23--Oct. 22) Varouzhan Khastour

This is a time during which you are A female coworker or client may be Expectation asked to devote energy to your healing, of more help than you expected. This And I? Just now I picture whether on an emotional or physical person has a warm heart and has some that word level. You may be tending to yourself or things to teach you. Give heed to And even feel it to a friend. You could be encountering advice, direction, or suggestions to any- with my frozen fingers someone else in your life with similar one who crosses your path. It may on which the cold has only tried to paint issues and you may be helping each other. serve you well. the colour red.

Taurus (Apr. 20--May 19): Scorpio (Oct. 23--Nov. 21) : It is snowing. Howevever, that word extends through the snowflakes A woman, whether known or a The need for healing on an emotion- and accumulates unendingly on my stranger, may surprise you with her com- al or physical level is prominent now. path. passionate way of responding to your Your child and/or your lover need your needs. Meanwhile you are walking a compassion. If not other people, then O my God, I am tired, tired tightrope with regard to a relationship. Is you need that compassion. Cut yourself of this monotonous, solitary white it better to commit or run away? some slack here. where that word has eyes, but it is not a simply given thing Gemini (May 20 -- June 20) : Sagittarius (Nov. 22 --Dec. 20): to see inside itself. No storm can blow so fast Mercury, your ruling planet, turns You may be caught between a rock that robs from us that dreamful word, for instance, while waiting at the bus- direct this week and complications you and a hard place this week. One or stop have experienced in recent weeks may more family members are in need of your lips yellow from the cigarette begin to become untangled. Activities your time or services. You probably smoke, involving the law, publishing, higher edu- cannot handle this and cover your own and, missing the bus’s countenance, cation, or travel are given a Go signal at needs, too. Some weeks are like that. you even dream last! of the rattle of your grandfather’s cart, Capricorn ( Dec 21 -- Jan 19) : your day is shattered, Cancer (June 21--Jul y 21) : and the formula of nerves Now that Mercury is turning direct, only remains in x’s... During the next couple of weeks it you may be able to unravel a knotty would serve you well to attend social problem that has caused confusion in A whole generation has, in its eyes, the misery of war gatherings and generally put yourself "out your personal accounts or income. It and a cracked century in its palm there." One or more people are likely to will take a couple of weeks but you as that word enter your life who can help you make the should be much more clear soon. has struggled and conquered and retreat- connections that need to come next on ed... your path. Aquarius (Jan. 20--Feb. 17) : Is it necessary to speak about the lover, Leo (July 22 --Aug. 21): See the lead paragraph on the home about the fatally sick man page for information on the "last who is sure of his death You and your Significant Other are at chance" new moon, which occurs in yet loves life with all his heart, odds over what is the best way to manage your sign on the 15th. Think carefully or is he just fooling himself? a task. If your partner is not involved, about what needs to change, maybe in a It is snowing, then the conflict may be entirely within hurry, in order for you to proceed for- I am getting a cold from my cold yourself. Ask for the opinion of someone ward. and understand the inner sense you trust to help you out of the snare. of the word ‘expectation’, Pisces (Feb. 18--Mar. 19) : the synonym of which, Virgo (Aug 22--Sep. 22) : in the name of patience, Pisces is a sign that always assumes gnaws at the light of my eyes. In recent weeks, while your planetary it is invisible. Sometimes you can ruler, Mercury, has been retrograding, you move around without notice, but not at Where are you? have probably torn into your files, closets, this time. There are strong energies at O my God, I am tired, tired, or other things requiring organization. So work in your sign and everyone will be and want to suffocate you may have a mess. But now you can aware of what you do here. Maintain these words. find the right places for all those lose your compassion and you won't go Translated by "things" to belong. wrong. Lusine Avetisyan

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 20 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights Charles Aznavour talks about his parents and his past Legendary French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour has many projects, dreamsand is full of passion. The 90- year-old singer says it’s not time forhim to go on pension yet, writes the French La Provence. LaProvence’s correspondent sat down for an interview with therenowned artist, talked about his par- ents and his love for Franceand Armenia. As “Armenpress” reports, onlaprovence. com it ismentioned that Aznavour is one of the world’s most famous artistsof Armenian descent, as well as a composer, singer, actor andauthor of several books. In an interview with La Provence, Aznavour shared the story ofhow his par- ents traveled from Greece and reached France. Hementioned that his father had a course, my parents didn’t force us to pre- country was facing difficulties. I once Russian passport that helped himboard an serve Armenian traditions and didn’t even thought to myself-I have the potential and- Italian ship and go to Thessaloniki along try to stop us from doing so,” hementioned. can do something for my homeland. with all therefugees of that area. Aznavour said his parents had Nansen People would tell me ‘Oh! You returned to “In the beginning, my father would passports and talked about the friendship your home’, and I would tell them earn money by singingfor immigrants. He with Manouchian. ‘Mycountry is France’,” the singer men- sang in Armenian, Russian and Hebrew. Of “I got to know Armenia better when the tioned.

President of the NT Media Holding: E-mail: [email protected], URL: www.nt.am The Noah’s Ark Tigran Harutyunyan Address in 28 Isahakian Str., Yerevan, 0009, RA. Editor-in-Chief of the Media Holding: Tel.: (+374 60) 27-64-62 Gayaneh Arakelyan Armenia: (+374 60) 27-64-61 HIGHLIGHTS Director of the Weekly: Address in Masion De L' Armenie, Paris 17e - 95 Marina Harutyunyan Bld. Gouvion, France. Weekly Newspaper, Since May 4, 1993. France: The publisher: NT Holding LTD. Chief Correspondent:Gourgen Khazhakian Tel.: (+33) 01 43 59 66 72 Circulation: 1500 print copies and Proofreader: Susanna Mkrtchian Address in 1146 E. Lexington Dr., #112, Glendale, CA, USA, 91206. 15.600 copies by e-mail list in PDF format ISSN 1829-0604 USA: Registration certificate and the date: 273.110.00512, 15.12.1995 Tel.: (+1 818) 646 10 72

16 February #7 (1047) Š 2015 Price: 1000 dr.