Philanthropist Vahak Hovnanian Passed Away Aged 83

22 YEARS The Noah’s Ark #31 (1071) 1 September 2015 Published Since 1993

Weekly Newspaper HIGHLIGHTS ÜáÛÛ³Ý î³å³Ý ß³μ³Ã³Ã»ñÃ (³Ý·É. / ýñ³Ýë.) Philanthropist Vahak Hovnanian passed away aged 83

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In This Issue Opposition party rebuffs Sargsyan on Noyan Tapan Video Studio Constitution Talks p.3 is offering professional video and photography for indoor Armenia and Turkey share more and outdoor events such as weddings, birthday parties, than they sometimes realize: official events, seminars and conferences. Tel: 060 27 64 62 US Ambassador p.4 Address: Isahakyan 28, 3rd floor, Yerevan 0009 TUMOxAGBU Partnership To Launch Tumo Center In Stepanakert p.6 Noyan Tapan Printing House Philanthropist Vahak Hovnanian is offering coloured and black and white offset and digital passed away aged 83 p.18 printing of books, brochures, booklets, journals, etc with high quality and low prices Tel: 060 27 64 62 Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem Address: Isahakyan 28, 3rd floor, Yerevan 0009 to be performed in Stepanakert p.20 1 September #31 (1071) 2015 2 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS Armenia offers European Body Seeks Changes to send more In Armenian Constitutional peacekeepers Package to Lebanon The Armenian authorities have pledged to make "considerable changes" Armenia is ready to increase the num- in their draft constitutional amendments in ber of its soldiers serving in a United response to objections voiced by the Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon Venice Commission, officials from the led by the Italian military, Defense Minister Council of Europe body said on August Seyran Ohanyan said on August 26. 25. The three legal experts visited Yerevan just days after President Serzh Sargsyan formally approved a package of amendments drafted by a state commission that The Venice Commission members met was formed by him two years ago. It Serzh Sargsyan later on Monday. A state- would turn Armenia in 2018 into a parliament on the meeting released by the presi- mentary republic with a largely ceremoni- dential press office said the two sides al president and a much more powerful agreed that they have no "fundamental dif- According to the Armenian Defense parliament and prime minister. ferences" on the planned constitutional Ministry, Ohanian offered the additional "We had discussions in which we reform. It gave no other details of the talks. troop deployment at a meeting with Italy's made concrete points," one of the visiting Earlier this year, the Venice ambassador to Armenia, Giovanni Venice Commission experts, Christoph Commission said that it supports, in princi- Ricciulli, and Moscow-based military Grabenwarter, said of their talks with ple, Armenia's switch to a parliamentary attache, Brigadier-General Massimo President Serzh Sargsyan and members of system of government. Fogari. A ministry statement said he cited the presidential commission on constitu- While in Yerevan, the Council of "the already positive experience of joint tional reform. "We got the answers that Europe experts also held a meeting with service by Armenian and Italian peace- these concrete points will be taken on the parliamentary leaders of Armenia's keepers." The statement did not clarify how board." leading opposition parties, including the many additional troops Yerevan is ready to "From the wording [of the asnwers] Armenian National Congress (HAK), the dispatch to the UN Interim Force in we received, we firmly proceed from the most vocal opponent of the controversial Lebanon (UNIFL) deployed near the coun- assumption that there will be considerable reform. All of those leaders expressed seri- try's borders with Syria and Israel. The changes," Grabenwarter told a news con- ous concern at the proposed two-round Armenian military joined the UNIFL with ference. elections, saying that they would only ben- 32 soldiers in November. Another Venice Commission represen- efit the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Ohanian personally inspected the tative, Aivars Endzins, said they specifi- (HHK). Armenian contingent in April. He flew to cally called for the removal of a highly The HAK's Levon Zurabyan revealed Lebanon from Rome, where he held talks contentious amendment meant to ensure at that meeting that his party has turned with Italian Defense Minister Roberta that future parliamentary elections in down Sargsyan's invitation to meet and Pinotti and top executives of several Italian Armenia always produce a clear winner. It discuss the matter as part of his fresh con- defense companies. Ohanian's press office envisages a run-off vote between the two sultations with the parliamentary forces. reported afterwards tentative Armenian- top election contenders if no party or bloc Zurabyan also stood by the HAK's claims Italian agreements on joint manufacturing wins a majority of parliament seats in the that Sargsyan is pushing for the radical of military equipment. But it gave no first round of voting. change of constitutional order with the sole details. Ambassador Ricciulli was reported The Venice Commission objected to aim of clinging to power after completing on Wednesday to praise Italian-Armenian this unusual arrangement shortly after it his second and final presidential term in military cooperation and say that his gov- was made public last month. In a state- 2018. ernment is ready to deepen it. ment, it said that details of the electoral Sargsyan and his political allies main- Ohanian's first deputy, Davit Tonoyan, system must be spelled out in Armenia's tain that the parliamentary system would expressed Armenia's readiness to step up its electoral code, rather than the constitution. decentralize power and thereby speed up participation in UN peacekeeping missions Nevertheless, Sargsyan's commission Armenia's democratization. Asked by a around the world when he met with senior kept that clause in its final text which was reporter whether the Venice Commission UN officials in New York late last month. sent to the president and promptly agrees with this assertion, Grabenwarter Some 120 Armenian soldiers currently approved by the latter on Friday. Davit said, "The commission cannot guarantee serve in Afghanistan and 35 others in Harutiunyan, a member of the presidential that in two or three years democracy in Kosovo as part of NATO-led multinational panel, on Monday did not exclude that the Armenia will be in a better shape than it is missions. clause will be removed or altered. now."

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 3 Major Armenian party hints at support for constitutional changes ward," BHK spokesman Vahan Babayan nesses. The tycoon close to former told RFE/RL's Armenian service. President Robert Kocharyan initially resis- Babayan said that Serzh Sargsyan has ted the onslaught, calling Sargsyan's ouster accepted most of the BHK's proposals on "the greatest cause of my life." But he the constitutional reform and that the nom- caved in shortly afterwards, resigning as inally opposition party no longer thinks BHK chairman and ending his political that the president is keen to amend the activities altogether. Armenian constitution in order to prolong The BHK has since significantly toned Just months after threatening street his rule. "There is no such issue anymore," down its criticism of Sargsyan, while protests against President Serzh Sargsyan's he said. "We have nothing to say about [the claiming to remain in opposition to his controversial constitutional reform, the regime's] reproduction because we now administration. Its opposition credentials Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) said on think that this reproduction component is are increasingly questioned by Armenian August 26 that it is ready, in principle, to now eliminated." observers. back far-reaching amendments drafted by "Having examined the final [constitu- Serzh Sargsyan on Wednesday also met his administration. tional] package and presented our propos- with leaders of Dashnaktsutyun and The leadership of Armenia's second als, we are arriving at a conclusion that we Orinats Yerkir, two other opposition parties largest parliamentary party, until recently can create a document that could be accept- previously represented in his government. headed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, able for the society," added Babayan. Dashnaktsutyun is the only opposition made this clear immediately after a meet- As recently as in February, the BHK force to have officially endorsed his consti- ing with Sargsyan. and Tsarukyan in particular fiercely tutional changes so far. Orinats Yerkir has The meeting was part of his fresh con- opposed the reform drive jointly with more followed a more ambiguous line. sultations with the country's leading politi- radical opposition forces. Tsarukyan Two other, more radical opposition par- cal groups aimed at drumming up support organized a special conference for that pur- ties, the Armenian National Congress for Armenia's transformation into a parlia- pose on February 5. He threatened to top- (HAK) and Zharangutyun, continue to mentary republic envisaged by the draft ple Sargsyan with street protests if the lat- strongly object to Armenia's transition to a amendments. They began less than a week ter presses ahead with the controversial parliamentary system of government, say- after the amendments were formally constitutional changes. ing that would only enable Sargsyan to stay endorsed by Sargsyan and sent to the Serzh Sargsyan hit back hard a week in power after 2018. They have pledged to Armenian parliament for approval. later, lashing out at Tsarukyan at a meeting campaign against the corresponding con- "It was a fairly productive meeting, and with his political allies and ordering a gov- stitutional changes that are expected to be I think that we should keep moving for- ernment crackdown of his numerous busi- put on a referendum in November.

Opposition party rebuffs Sargsyan on Constitution Talks the invitation at a meeting of its govern- Armenia's transition to a parliamentary ing board in Yerevan. "We took into system of government are aimed at account the fact that our proposals made enabling Sargsyan to extend his rule at the previous meeting [with Sargsyan] beyond 2018. Both parties have pledged were not accepted and that the existing to campaign against their adoption at a [constitutional] draft is not acceptable to nationwide referendum expected in us," the party's deputy chairman, Armen November. Martirosyan, told RFE/RL's Armenian Several other opposition parties rep- Raffi Hovannisian's Zharangutyun service . resented in parliament, notably (Heritage) party refused on August 27 to "Mr. Hovannisian is aware of our Prosperous Armenia, have also expressed hold more talks with President Serzh decision," he said. "He took part in the concern at the proposed reform. Sargsyan, reaffirming its strong opposi- board discussion by using modern means However, they now seem ready to tion to sweeping constitutional changes of telecommunication." endorse it in return for government con- planned by him. Zharangutyun's U.S.-born chairman is cessions. Their leaders held separate Serzh Sargsyan offered to meet reportedly in the United States at the meetings with Sarkisian on Wednesday Zharangutyun leaders this week as part of moment. and Thursday. his final consultations with major Zharangutyun and another major The constitutional changes are also Armenian parties on a controversial con- opposition party, the Armenian National opposed by Armenian civic activists crit- stitutional reform initiated by him. Congress (HAK), have said all along that ical of the government and not affiliated Zharangutyun decided to turn down the draft amendments envisaging continued on page 10

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 4 www.nt.am POLITICS Armenia and Turkey share more than they sometimes realize: US Ambassador Highlighting the economic importance of the tourism sector through an online social network, occasional in-person gatherings and the value of cross-border cooperation, U.S. Ambassador allow tour operators from both sides to meet, share concerns, and Richard M. Mills, Jr. joined members of the Turkish-Armenian formalize agreements on joint tours. Tour Operators Network (TATON) during a meeting in Yerevan "Tourism plays an important role in economic development, on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. and when local communities cooperate economically, they broad- TATON developed as a result of USAID's "Bridges" project, en their horizons and share the benefits," Ambassador Mills said. an effort to develop economic activity on the cross-border region "Cross-border tourism highlights the commonality of communi- through tourism. The network's membership includes the most ties as much as it celebrates diversity. Armenia and Turkey share active travel companies and tour operators in the region. more than they sometimes realize: environment, history, and many "The Turkish-Armenian Tour Operators Network and its mem- aspects of culture." bers are working together to tackle the difficult task of cross-bor- USAID has been working with the Armenian tourism sector der cooperation," Ambassador Mills said. "One of the most effec- since the early 2000s. Primarily, it has focused on improving serv- tive drivers of cooperation is common business interests. This ice quality and building the capacity of Armenia's tourism sector. association's goal of promoting business and the business interests For the on-going "Bridges" project in Armenia, USAID part- of the local Armenian and Turkish communities is very laudable." ners with the AMAP (Armenian Monuments Awareness Project) Armenian and Turkish tourism operators already offer cross- Human Development NGO, best known for installing educational border tours. Turkish tour operators are part of an established signage at some of Armenia's most unique historic and cultural tourism sector seeking to add extensions to traditional Turkish tour tourist spots. packages. Armenian operators seek to expand their offerings to Prior to the creation of TATON, the "Bridges" project helped include multi-country tours. TATON facilitates collaboration on local partners to develop the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor such cross-border trips. Though TATON routinely operates through Greece, Turkey, Georgia, and Armenia. Armenian Army Medics Trained By U.S. Instructors

In what a senior U.S. diplomat called on August 28 a man- ever since it was set up in 2003. ifestation of "strong American-Armenian partnership," U.S. In 2007, the U.S. military provided the brigade with a military instructors have trained the first group of teaching per- mobile field hospital and trained over 40 Armenian medical personnel for the Armenian army's new paramedic school. sonnel to operate the $1.2 million facility. It donated more The 12 Armenian trainers of military medics completed a equipment to the hospital in the following years. three-month training course conducted by six U.S. officers with Mills spoke on Friday of a continuing deepening of "the a graduation ceremony near Yerevan attended by Defense strong American-Armenian partnership" in various areas, Minister Seyran Ohanyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia including defense and security. "This training is one more Richard Mills. example of our nations' mutual progress, our joint friendship, Speaking at the ceremony, Ohanian said the course has been and our strong trust and belief in one another," he said. "I know a "great opportunity" for Armenian military personnel to learn our partnership will strengthen as we continue to face interna- new skills and techniques for providing first medical aid to sol- tional challenges to security and stability that cannot be solved diers wounded in action. "You will now pass on your experience by any one country alone." and knowledge to our future paramedics," he said. U.S.-Armenian military cooperation appears to have been "You will save lives," Mills said for his part. "Thanks to you, largely unaffected so far by Western powers' standoff with more of your brothers and sisters in arms will return home from Russia, Armenia's main military ally, over the conflict in places that others fear to tread, dangerous places where you Ukraine. In particular, Armenian troops continue to regularly agree to go in the name of peace." participate in U.S.-led military exercises held in Europe. According to the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, the training The Armenian military has increasingly participated in such course followed a military curriculum used in the United States. exercises over the past decade in line with Yerevan's Individual "Thousands of pages of material were translated into Armenian, Partnership Action Plan with NATO. The cooperation frame- marking the first time the course has been offered in a language work commits Armenia to contributing troops to NATO-led other than English," the embassy said in a statement. "As a missions and implementing defense reforms meant to bring its result of this successful partnership, other nations are requesting armed forces into greater conformity with NATO standards. the U.S. military conduct similar courses in their native lan- As part of those reforms, U.S. military instructors have been guages." helping the Armenian army increase the number of its non-com- The U.S. training is primarily designed for soldiers of a spe- missioned officers serving on a contractual basis. About 50 cial Armenian army brigade that contributes troops to multina- Armenian sergeants underwent a weeklong U.S. training course tional peacekeeping operations abroad, notably the NATO-led near Yerevan last year. missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The volunteer unit has Ohanian's first deputy, Davit Tonoyan, visited Washington received considerable U.S. technical and material assistance continued on page 18

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 5 Armenian Oligarch Avoids Prosecution For Fresh Violence Air Armenia, which suspended its regular flights to a dozen destinations in Russia and Europe late last year, has millions of dollars in unpaid debts to several Armenian banks and other firms. Some of those banks took it to court earlier this year. Avetisyan was attacked the day after a British-registered but Ukrainian-based investment fund holding a 49 percent stake in Air Armenia pledged to invest an additional $68 million in the troubled carrier. In fresh comments to RFE/RL made over the weekend, the chief executive of the East Prospect Fund, Vladimir Bobylev, reiterated his strong condemnation of the violence, calling it an act of "savagery" and urging the Armenian authorities to prevent more such incidents. Even so, Bobylev stopped short of demand- Ruben Hayrapetyan, a controversial government-linked busi- ing Hayrapetyan's prosecution. "We hope that the matter will get nessman heading the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), will a solution acceptable to all parties," he said. not be prosecuted despite admitting beating up another entrepre- The fund manager further made clear that East Prospect will neur, law-enforcement authorities in Yerevan said on August 25. not reconsider its involvement in the Armenian civil aviation Armenia's Office of the Prosecutor-General said it will not sector after the assault. He said the company has already made press criminal charges against Hayrapetyan because of his "rec- significant investments in the Armenian airline and continues to onciliation" with the injured victim, Arsen Avetisyan. regard Avetisyan as a "person whom we trust." The development is certain to reinforce a widely held belief By contrast, Bobylev warned last week that Avetisyan's beat- in Armenia that influential tycoons close to President Serzh ing put the East Prospect investments in Armenia at serious risk. Sargsyan and notorious for violent conduct enjoy de facto immu- In that context, he avoided citing any possible dates for the nity from prosecution owing to their strong loyalty to the ruling resumption of Air Armenia flights. regime. The August 15 assault happened just over three years after a Avetisyan, who is the chief executive and majority share- brutal attack on several Armenian army medics who dined at holder of the Air Armenia airline, was assaulted and injured dur- Yerevan's Harsnakar restaurant owned by Hayrapetyan's family. ing an August 15 meeting with Hayrapetyan that centered on One of them, Vahe Avetisyan, died while two others were seri- some of the company's massive debts. He was hospitalized with ously injured after arguing with burly men working at the restau- a broken nose and other injuries as a result. Avetisyan's wife, rant. Izabella Melkumyan, appealed to President Sargsyan the follow- Avetyan's death shocked the nation, sparking angry protests ing day, saying that the lives of the businessman and his family by civic activists outside the restaurant as well as Hayrapetyan's members are in danger. nearby villa against what they saw as a manifestation of impuni- Avetisyan announced on August 20 that he has accepted a ty enjoyed by government-linked oligarchs. "reconciliation offer" made by his presumed attacker and will The outcry forced Hayrapetyan to resign as member of the not comment on the incident for now. He cited the need to save Armenian parliament and apologize to Avetyan's family. But he Air Armenia from bankruptcy. stayed on as FFA head, denying any involvement in the beating. In a lengthy statement released on Tuesday, the prosecutors Some media outlets accused him sanctioning or even ordering said that the Air Armenia chief has not lodged a formal com- the violence, however. In March 2014, six men thought to be plaint against Hayrapetyan because the two men have "made Hayrapetian's bodyguards were convicted of Avetyan's murder peace with one another." They said this gave them sufficient and sentenced to 12 years prison. legal grounds for not levelling assault charges against Hayrapetyan continued to face allegations of violent conduct Hayrapetyan. event after the Harsnakar incident. Later in 2012, he was accused The statement said the victim testified on August 19 that con- of beating up a doctor working for FC Pyunik, a football club trary to his wife's claims he was not kidnapped by the feared oli- controlled by him. In 2014, he allegedly verbally and physically garch and his bodyguards following the beating, which occurred abused a Pyunik player during a football match in Yerevan. in a Yerevan café located at the premises of the FFA's Football Hayrapetian denied those allegations through the FFA's press Academy. Therefore, it said, Hayrapetyan cannot be prosecuted service. on kidnapping charges either. Hayrapetyan, 52, has been a staunch backer of President According to the prosecutors, Hayrapetyan acknowledged Sargsyan throughout the latter's seven-year rule. The tycoon punching and repeatedly kicking Avetisyan when he was ques- holds sway in Yerevan's northern Avan suburb, putting him in a tioned by law-enforcement officials last week. They said the position to earn Sargsyan and the ruling Republican Party of tycoon confirmed that the violence stemmed from Air Armenia (HHK) many votes there. Armenian opposition groups Armenia's failure to repay an outstanding debt to one of his have accused him of bullying and attacking their local activists "friends." in the past.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 6 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights ECONOMY Central Bank moves to shore up Armenian currency The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) lost roughly half of its value against the has stepped up its hard currency interven- dollar and the euro over the past year. tions in an apparent effort to prevent a The ruble's depreciation has signifi- renewed depreciation of the national cur- cantly cut the dollar-denominated value rency, the dram, as a result of downward of vital remittances sent home by hun- pressures from Russia. dreds of thousands of Armenians working The CBA injected $50 million in the in Russia. Consequently, the dram came local currency market on August 26, a under strong downward pressures late sharp increase from the usual volume of last year, weakening against the dollar by political reasons. In particular, he pointed its interventions rarely exceeding several around 17 percent in October-December. to a constitutional referendum which million dollars a day. Exchange rate fluctuations in Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan plans to hold in The move followed a roughly 1.4 per- were particularly sharp in mid-December, November. cent weakening of the dram against the causing panic buying of dollars and "Over the past year, the most stable U.S. dollar registered since last weekend. briefly disrupting retail trade. The CBA currency [in the non-Baltic former Soviet The dollar-dram exchange rate had bare- managed to stabilize the currency market Union] has been the Armenian dram," ly changed since the beginning of this by sharply raising interest rates, tighten- Asatryan told RFE/RL's Armenian serv- year. ing minimum reserve requirements for ice (Azatutyun.am). "This should not The CBA did not give any reasons for Armenian commercial banks and crack- have been the case because the Armenian what was a massive dollar injection by ing down on what it called speculative economy is definitely not the most stable Armenian market standards. Analysts currency trading. The dram depreciated among these countries." believe that the move was designed to by only 1.6 percent from January through Asatryan also claimed that the author- shore up the dram amid a further depreci- the end of last week. ities risk further depleting Armenia's ation of the Russian ruble resulting from Bagrat Asatryan, a former CBA gov- modest foreign exchange reserves. "If a continuing decline in international oil ernor critical of the Armenian authorities, this is a continuous policy, if the Central prices. on Thursday criticized the latest Central Bank wants to set a particular exchange The ruble has fallen by around 13 per- Bank intervention, saying that the dram's rate, then that runs counter to both the cent against the dollar since the begin- exchange rate is "artificial" and that the bank's obligations and the interests of our ning of July. The Russian currency has authorities want to keep it unchanged for economy," he said. TUMOxAGBU Partnership To Launch Tumo Center In Stepanakert The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies in Stepanakert head of the Simonian Educational Foundation, Sam Simonian, is set to open its doors to students this October . and the head of AGBU Armenia, Vasken Yacoubian, will partic- Everything is about to change for the teenagers of ipate in the opening ceremony. Stepanakert. The Simonian Educational Foundation has part- AGBU will cover all operational costs of the center as well nered with the Armenian General Benevolent Union to open a as startup costs in the framework of the TUMOxAGBU partner- Tumo Center for Creative Technologies in the capital of the ship, while the government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh on the 2nd of September. The is providing the space in a historic building in the city center. The renovation of the space is made possible by a generous donation by Karabakh Telecom. The Stepanakert program is expected to cater to 500 to 1,000 students who will participate twice a week for two hours per session, gaining 21st century skills, and studying animation, filmmaking, web development and game development, as well as supporting skills such as 3D modeling, computer program- ming, music, photography and graphic design. Registration will start on the 14th of September, and students will begin their Tumo life during the first week of October. The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies is a free of charge after school program that started in Yerevan and subse- quently opened a location in Dilijan. The TUMOxAGBU partnership has already opened a branch in Gyumri and is expected to spread Tumo to other locations in Armenia and beyond.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 ECONOMY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 7 Armenia's population will decrease, UN Projects the ratio in the country is 5.4 workers per retiree whereas the medium variant projection defines the number will be 2.4 per one retiree in 2100 and the pessimistic projection sets the one per one variant. It will evolve into a huge social-economic burden for workers and put an end to the principle of generations' solidarity," Hayrapetyan said. With respect to the sex ratio in Armenia, Hayrapetyan said, "Now the sex ratio is 86 males to 100 females but this covers the whole population of Armenia. The population of Armenia will plunge million populations. The pessimistic vari- Meanwhile, among 0-19 olds males exceed to 1.8 million by 2100, the 2015 Revision ant projection states the population will females by 11.4," Hayrapetyan said. of World Population Prospects by UN proj- decrease to less than one million in 2100," Ruben Yeganyan prioritized migration ects. told a press conference at the. as a main factor determining these rates. UNFPA Armenia Assistant The world population is projected to "Now 30 thousand people annually emi- Representative Garik Hayrapetyan and reach 11.2 billion from current 7.3 billion grate from Armenia." In the coming years demographer Ruben Yeganyan shared by 2100. Asia will see a likely contraction Armenia's population is expected to insights on the results of the latest UN of the total population size. Europe will decrease by 12 thousand per year. report. suffer a decrease, with 646 million people Yeganyan added, however, that the UN According to a press release from the in 2100. The fastest-growing area is Africa projection could turn non-realistic. Media Center, the forecasts of demograph- where population is projected to reach 4.4 Yeganyan, though, does not consider the ic rates, Garik Hayrapetyan said, are made billion. Population growth in Turkey and presented rates unexpected and believes through average projections. Iran will remain high but they will also see the country should work to address the "Actually, projections are made by a decrease. issue, develop mechanisms to influence the optimistic, medium variant and pessimistic "A major concern for Armenia is the situation so that the projections do not scenarios. In 2100 Armenia will have 1.8 number of workers per retiree. Currently eventually come true. Armenian Government Claims Faster Growth volume of Armenia's foreign trade shrunk even more drastically in the same period. The government's first-half tax revenue was also down. Armenian analysts critical of the government will seize upon these decreases to question the credibility of the official growth rate announced by Abrahamian. They have already dismissed the premier's repeated upbeat statements on the economy made for the past few months. Both the World Bank and International Economic growth in Armenia reached The reported growth rate primarily Monetary Fund revised downwards their 4.4 percent in the first half of 2015 contrary resulted from an almost 15 percent surge in macroeconomic outlook for Armenia this to gloomy forecasts made by international agricultural production and a 5 percent rise spring, citing spillover effects of a deepen- lending institutions earlier this year, Prime in industrial output registered by the NSS ing recession in Russia. In June, the bank Minister Hovik Abrahamyan said on in the first half. The Armenian agricultural forecast a growth rate of only 0.8 percent, August 31. sector's strong performance was made pos- while the IMF said that the country will Abrahamyan cited the latest macroeco- sible by very favorable weather conditions. likely post zero growth in 2015. nomic data from the National Statistical Armenian agricultural exports rose by Abrahamyan insisted in May that the Service (NSS) during a weekly cabinet more 50 percent in physical terms January- Armenian economy will grow by "at least meeting in Yerevan. It shows that year-on- June. 2-3 percent." He said that the government year growth accelerated sharply from 2.5 However, these strong gains contrasted could even succeed in meeting its 4.1 per- percent in the first quarter of the year to 5.1 sharply with a 5 percent year-on-year drop cent growth target which was set late last percent in the second quarter. in retail trade. According to the NSS, the year.

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Price: 135.000 2.600.000 USD. 3583.Nork-Marash, Land-1100sq.m,2 storied USD 2035.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the building, bld-520sq.m,6 bedrooms,5 bathrooms, capitally 1698-Aram str., Newly built, 14/5, 62sq.m, 1 bed- 220sq.m.,1st line, facade-55m.,capitally repaired, h- repaired,heating system, AC, swimming pool, gar- room, capitally repaired, AC, security system, parking. 5m., cellar. Price: Negotiabel den. Price:1.350.000 USD. Price: 120.000 USD. 2013.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the building, 3432.Aygedzor, Land - 1021 sq m ,3 storied bld.- 265sq.m.,1st line, capitally repaired, heating system, 501 sq.m., 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, study, capital- cellar. Price: 1.300.000$ negotiable ly repaired, central heating, AC, boiler room gar- 2 ROOMS 2012.Mashtots Ave., 5/1,2, 140sq.m.,window den, swimming pool, sauna, garage, security sys- glasses, capitally repaired, AC. Price: 1.100.000$ tem. Price:1.000.000 USD 3003.Sayat-Nova str, 5/3, 105sq.m, 2bedrooms, negotiable 3576.Avan, Tsarav Akhbyur /near Botanical gar- stone building, capitally repaired. Price: Negotiable 2155.Mashtots ave., 3storied building, 540sq.m., den/, Land-560sq.m., 4 storied building-560sq.m., 1560.Northern Ave., Newly built,10/3, 130 sq.m., each floor-180sq.m, window glasses,parking. 4 bedrooms, 4bathrooms, a kitchen, office, capitally 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired,climate Price:3.600.000 USD repaired, heating system, swimming pool, garden, 2 control, parking. Price: 2020.Hr. Kochar str., car parking. Price: 850.000 USD 400.000 USD. Land-300sq.m,1st line, 3606.Avan, Tsarav Akhbyur/near Botanical gar- 2818.Northern Ave., 4storied building, den/, Land-1000sq.m.,3 storied building- Newly built, 3rd floor, 1080sq.m.,each floor- 750sq.m.,6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, 120sq.m, 2 bedrooms,2 270sq.m, h-3.6m,with- capitally repaired, heating system swimming pool, bathrooms,capitally out divisions, parkings, 3 garden, sauna, 2 car parking. Price-1.500.000 USD repaired, heating system, Ac, access. Price:1.400.000 3574.Blur, Land-779sq.m.,2 storied building- furnished. USD negotiable 720sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, study, capitally Price:400.000USD 1986.Cascade, Land repaired, heating system,sauna swimming pool, gar- 1156.Komitas Ave., 1000sq.m. 3storied den. Price: 2.000.000 USD Hambardzumyan str. 5/3, building1200sq.m., 3590 Blur, Barbyus str., Land-450 sq.m.,4 sto- 110sq.m, 2 bedrooms, capi- unfinished, parking. ried building-470sq.m.,3bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, tally repaired, heating sys- Price:1.000.000 USD. capitally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. tem, kitchen is furnished. 2167.Sayat Nova str., Price: 680.000 USD Price: 150.000 USD nego- newly built, 38sq. m, 3651.Blur, Barbyus str., Land-900sq.m.,5 storied tiable. capitally repaired. Price: building-800sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, capi- 2949.Aram str., Newly 200.000 USD tally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. built, 1st floor, 143 sq.m, 2 bedrooms, zero state, 2175.Tumanyan str, Ground and 1st floorof the Price:1.700.000 USD. Price: 2000 USD per sq.m. building, 600sq.m, ground floor300sq.m, 1st floor- 3401.Antarayin str, Newly built, land-700sq.m, 3 2300.Northern ave., Newly built, 6/2, 130 sq.m., 220sq,m, basement-80sq.m, - 1st line, zero level, 2 storied bld-690sq.m, 5 bedrooms, capitally repaired. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating entrances, facade-15m, 4 window glasses, capitally Price: 1.300.000 USD system, AC,parking. Price: 400.000 USD. reapired, heating system, AC, Price: 3500 USD per 3712 Cascade Newly built, land-450sq.m, 4 sto- sq.m, ried bld-600sq.m, zero state. Price: 550.000 USD 3 ROOMS 2172. Isahakyan str, 92sq.m, 1st line, 7 degrees above zero level, facade-9m, 2 window NEWLY BUILT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 3046.Amiryan str., Newly built, 9/9, 81sq.m.,with- glasses, h-3.20m, 2 halls, cabinet, bathroom, capital- out divisions. Price:Negotiable. ly repaired, heating system. Price: 450.000 USD 74.Cascade, Verin Antarayin. 136-315 sq m.,walls 3012.Aram str, Newly built, /7th floor, 136sq.m, 3 plastered, electricity, water, gas, euro windows,no bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating exploitation fees. Price:1200 USD per sq.m, parking system, AC, parking, facing to bulvar, Price:300.000 LANDS -15.000 USD. USD negotiable. 2122.Davitashen, 1800 sq.m., water, gas, electrici- 107.Monument, Verin Antarayin. inhabited, 8 2998.North Ave, Newly built, 9/6, 181sq.m, 3bed- ty, possible to sell separately 600 sq.m., and 1200 floors, gas, windows, street view -1000 USD per rooms, capitally repaired, climate control, parking, sq.m. Price: 150 USD per sq.m. sq.m., city looking -1500 USD per sq.m., parking - 4 Price: 700.000 USD 2121.Demirchyan str., 1338 sq.m.,building per- million USD preliminary. 2682.Aram Str., Newly built,13/6 187sq.m., 3 bed- mits. Price: 2million USD. 87.Sayat-Nova str., 21 floors, 3 bedrooms -188 rooms,2 bathrooms, 2 open balconies, capitally rea- 2013.Cascade. 1000 sq.m. building permits, first sq.m., 199 sq.m., Price 1900 USD per sq.m., 2 bed- paired,heating systen, 2AC, 2 garages, view to gar- line, gas, water and electricity possibilities. Price rooms have a beautiful sight - 117 sq.m., 120 sq.m., den. Price: 550.000 USD negotiable. 460.000USD 124 sq.m.,Price: 1700 USD per sq.m., climate con- 2958.Pushkin str., 5/2, 140 sq.m., stone building,4 1402.Hr. Kochar Str., 1100 sq. m.,facade -25 m. trol, gas. bedrooms,capitally repaired,heating system. Price: Price negotiable. 93.Kievyan str., Given to the operation in October Negotiable. 2090.Lori region, close to Stepanavan, Gyargyar 2011, 16 floors, walls plastered, windows, exterior 2895.Northern Ave., Newly built, 3rd floor, village, 6 hectares, forest 2 hectare has building per- doors, h -3, 15 m, gas,parking. Price: 1500- 300sq.m,3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally repaied, mits, 3 water source, electricity. Price: 100.000USD. 1600USD per sq.m,parking-12 000 USD. Possible climate control, AC. Price: negotiable 2406.Avan, Mher Mkrtchyan block, 1000 sq.m., with mortgage, for 13 years term. 2802.Amiryan str., Newly built,8/4, electricity, gas, water, the district is inhabited. Price: 94.Masiv. 3floors,8 flats,each flat has 3 bed- 166sq.m,3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally repaired, 30USD per sq.m rooms, 210 sq.m., parking. Price: negotiable. central heating,AC,security system. Price:320.000 2310.Monument, Babayan str, 1000 sq. m, 130.Antarayin str., 34 flats, 110-275 sq.m., 4 USD. facade-25m, privatized, Price:350 USD negotiable penthouses-200-275sq.m,available sevices-car 1104.Komitas Ave., Aram Khachatryan str., 5/2, 2107.Monument, 2400sq.m, building permits, wash, cleaning service, garbage removal service, 125sq.m.,stone bld, h-2.75m.,3 bedrooms, office, 2 building project. Price: 400 USD per sq.m. parking. Price: Negotiable bathrooms, old repair, gas, garage. Price: 130.000 2413.Ashtarak roadway, 1000sq.m, building 131.Busand str., commercial, office and resi- USD permits, building project. Price: Negotiable dential areas, penthouse, available sevices-car 2836.Pushkin str., 4/4,5, 400sq.m., 3 bedrooms, 3 2414.Demirchyan str. land-750sq.m., building wash, cleaning service, garbage removal service, bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, AC. permits. Price:750.000 USD. parking. Price: Negotiable Price: 460.000 USD.

1 September #31 (1071) 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 furnished. Price: Negotiable repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, swim- 1 ROOM 2277.Kievyan str. duplex, 4 bedrooms, 3 bath- ming pool, garden. Price: 2000USD. rooms, capitally repaired, with or without furniture. 1195.Nork, Armenakyan str., Land - 2000 sq.m, 2037.Baghramyan str., 5/2, 60sqm, 1 bedroom, Price: Negotiable. 4 storied bld.-520 sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 4bathrooms, euro repaired, gas, heating system, AC, modern fur- 2310 Busand str., Newly built, 190sq.m, 3bed- capitally repaired, heating system, sauna, gym, furnished,equipped. Price:negotiable rooms, 3bathrooms, capitally repaired, furnished, nished, swimming-pool, garden. Price: 4.000 USD 2189.Vardanants str., Newly built,24/12, 90 sqm, parking. Price: 2500 USD negotiable. 1 bedroom, capitally repaired, furnished, equipped. 2316 Northern Ave, Newly built,6th floor, 1142.Djrvej, Bagrevand community. Land-1000 Price: 1000 USD. 227sq.m.,4bedrooms, 2bathrooms, guest toilet, cap- sq.m., 3 storied bld.-700 sq.m., 5 bedrooms, 5 bath- 2099.Sayat-Nova Ave., 12/6, 1 bedroom, capital- itally repaired, furnished,parking. Price:2500 USD rooms, pantry, playing room, capitally repaired, no ly repaired,gas, heating system, AC, furnished, 2303 Hanrapetutyan str Newly built, 9/5, furniture/ can be furnished, if necessary /garage for equipped. Price:600 USD. 165sq.m, 3bedrooms,1bathroom, 1 guest toilet. cap- 2 cars. Price: 4 000 USD. 1972.Northern ave., 8/4, 80sq.m.,1bedrrom, 2 itally repaired, furnished, parking. Price: 2000 USD 1293.Nork-Marash, Land-1100sq.m,2 storied bld- bathrooms, open kitchen, capitally repaired, climate 2286.Sose str, Newly built, 12/2, 154sq.m, 3bed- 520 sq.m, 6 bedrooms,5 bathrooms, capitally control. Price: 1200 USD rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, furnished, repaired, heating system, AC, swimming pool, gar- 2171.Tumanyan str., Newly built, 5th floor, 94 equipped. Price: 1700 USD den.Price7.000 USD sq.m., 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, capitally repaired, 2257.Northern Ave., Newly built, 17/16, 160 327. Nork-Marash, Land-500sq.m.,4 storied central heating, furnished, equipped. Price: 1000 sq.m.,3 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, building-600 sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, capi- USD AC, parking. Price: Negotiable tally repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, 2367.Northern ave., Newly built, 9th flloor, 98 2021.Teryan Str., Newly built,9/8,9, 245 sq.m., 4 swimming pool, garden, sauna, 2 car parking. Price- sq.m., capitally repaired, heating system, furnished bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,capitally repaired, heating 4000 USD equipped. Price: Negotiable. system, furnished. Preliminary price: 3500 USD. 1306. Tsarav Akhbyur /near Botanical garden/, 2005.Northern Ave., Newly built,8/8, 130 sq.m, 3 Land-1000sq.m., 3 storied building-750sq.m., 6 bed- bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating rooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, capitally repaired, 2 ROOMS system, furnished, parking. Price: 2200 USD. heating system swimming pool, garden, sauna, 2 car 1723.Northern Ave., Newly built,8/4., 170 sq.m 3 parking, with or without furniture. Price:6000-8000 2302 North Ave, Newly built, 11/4, 137sq.m, bedrooms,3 bathrooms, open kitchen, capitally USD negotiable 2bedrooms,2bathrooms,capitally repaired, furnished, repaired, furnished, equipped. Price: 2000 USD. 1288. Tsarav Akhbyur /near Botanical garden/, parking. Price: 2000 USD 1981.Vardanants Str., Newly built, 14/14, 140 sq Land-560sq.m., 4 storied building-560 sq.m., 4 bed- 2295 North Ave., Newly built,16/15, m,3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, rooms, 4bathrooms, a kitchen, office, capitally 173sq.m.,2bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,capitally heating system, AC, 3 open baconies, furnished, repaired, heating system, furnished, equipped, swim- repaired, furnished. Price:5000 USD equipped,parking. Price: 2000 USD. ming pool,garden, 2 car parking. Price: 5000 USD 2290 Bayron str., Newly built, /5th floor, 220sq.m, 1793.Teryan str., Newly built, 8th floor, 260 1197. Blur, Land-779sq.m.,2 storied building- 2bedrooms, study, open kitchen, 2 bathrooms, capi- sq.m.,3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, study, capitally 720sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, study, capitally tally repaired, climate control,furnished, parking. repaired, climat control, parking, unfurnished (possi- repaired, heating system, sauna swimming pool, gar- Price: 4000 USD ble to furnish), Price: 3500 USD. den. Price:8000 USD 1780.Amiryan str, Newly built, /13th floor, 82 1720.Amiryan str., Newly built,16/10, 179 sq.m, 3 1312. Blur, Barbyus str., Land-450sq.m., 4 sto- sq.m, 2 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, ried building-470sq.m., 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, AC, furnished, equipped. capitally repaired, central capitally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price: Price: 1700 USD nego- heating, AC, cellar- 25sq.m, Negotiable tiable. with or without furniture, 1317. Blur, Barbyus str., Land-900sq.m.,5 storied 942.Teryan str. 4/3, 130 parking, Price 3000 USD building-800sq.m., 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, capi- sq.m.,2 bedrooms, capitally negotiable tally repaired, heating system, AC, garden. Price: repaired, heating system, 2195.Northern ave., Negotiable. furnishred, equipped. Price: Newly built, 3rd floor, 1323.Monument, Babayan str, Land - 400 sq.m, 3 1500 USD. 300sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 4 storied bld-300sq.m, each floor-100sq.m, 4 bed- 1950.Buzand/Mashtots bathrooms, 2 kitchens, cap- rooms, 4 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating sys- area. Newly built,8th floor, itally repaired,climate con- tem, AC, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable 163 sq.m.,2 bedrooms, 2 trol, AC, parking. bathrooms, capitally Price:5000 USD repaired,climate control, PREMISES 2261.Hin Yerevantsi, furnished, open balcony. /North Avenue/, Newly Price: 2500 USD. 2049.Teryan str, ground floor+basemnet, 1st built, 10/3, 124sq.m., 2 1681.Northern Ave., Newly built,6/2,130 sq.m.,2 line, 200sq.m, repaired. Price: 6.000 USD bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating 1693.Malatia-Sebastia 4 storied building, system, AC, furnished, equipped, parking. Price: system, AC,parking. Price: 2000 USD. 1200sq.m, each floor-300sq.m, 2 separate 1700 USD 1535.Busand str., Newly built, 7/4, 82sq.m,2bed- entrances, climate control, 2 elevators, basement, 2084.Tumanyan str., 4th floor, 200sq.m, 3 bedrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, AC, park- parking. Price: 15USD per sq.m. rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, climate con- ing, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable. 1526.Byuzand str., 5/semi-basement, 170 sqm., trol, parking. Price:5000 USD 2089.Northern ave., Newly built,8/6, 120sq.m.,2 4-5 degrees below zero level,window glasses, cellar 2252.Northern ave, 7th floor, 350 sq.m., 3 bed- bedrooms,2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, climate - 50 sq.m.,6 rooms, the largest is 30 sq.m., 2 rooms, 4 bathrooms, study, open balconies, capitally control, furnished, equipped. Price: 2500 USD entrances, 2 lavatories. Price 2000 USD per month, repaired, climate control, parking. Price Negotiable. 1738.Amiryan str., 8/8, 159sq.m.,2 bedrooms, 2 negotiable. bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating system, park- 1408.Zarobyan str., /parallel to Baghramyan ing. Price: Negotiable PRIVATE HOUSES str./, 2 storied building,600 sqm. ground floor- hall 1951.Busand str., Newly built, 13th floor, and kitchen,1st floor 5 rooms, bathroom, open bal- 122sq.m, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally 1335 Baghramyan str., Land-200sq.m, 3storied cony, capitally repaired, gas, heating system,park- repaired, climate control. Price: 2500 USD bld-300sq.m.,4 bedrooms, 3bathrooms,capitally ing. Price: Negotiable. 1406.Sayat Nova ave., 7/3, 110sq.m., 2 bed- repaired, furnished. Price: 3000 USD 1462.Teryan str., 3 storied building, 800 sq.m., rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally reapired, heating sys- 1336 Aygedzor, Land-1000sq.m, 2 storied bld- capitally repaired, AC, parking, Price: 10.000 USD. tem, furnished, equipped. Price: Negotiable 240sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathroosm,capitally 1945.Mashtots Ave., 5/1,2, 140sq.m., window 2109.Northern ave., Newly built,10/4, 137sq.m, repaired, furnished. Price:2000 USD glasses, capitally repaired, AC. Price: 8000 USD 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, central 1337 Davtashen Land-406sq.m,3 storied bld- 1943.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the build- heating, furnished, equipped, parking. Price: 2000 306sq.m, 4bedrooms, 2bathrooms, capitally ing, 265sq.m.,1st line, capitally repaired, heating USD. repaired, furnished. Price:3900 USD system, cellar. Price: 7000 USD 2243.Buzand str, Newly built, 17/4, 125sq.m, 2 1323.Monument, Babayan str, Land-400sq.m, 1868.Tumanyan str., Ground floor of the build- bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating 3storied bld-300sq.m, 4bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, ing, 220sq.m.,1st line, facade-55m.,capitally system, AC, furnished, equipped. Price: 2000 USD capitally repaired. Price: Negotiable repaired, h-5m., cellar. Price: 15.000 USD. Amiryan str, Newly built, 14/5, 120sqm, 2 bed- 1248.Aygedzor, Land - 1021 sq m ,3 storied bld. - 2087.Northern ave., Ground floor of the build- rooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally repaired, heating sys- 501 sq.m., 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, study, capital- ing, 100sq.m,1st line, zero level, capitally repaired, tem, AC, partly furnished. Price 2000 USD ly repaired, central heating, AC, sauna, boiler room window glasses. Price: Negotiable. garden, swimming pool, garage, alarming system, 2033.Abovyan str, 388sq,m, Ground floor of security system. Price: 8000 USD. the building, 3 degrees above zero level, windoq 3 ROOMS AND MORE 999.Aygedzor, Land -1000 sqm, basement + 2 glasses, h-3m.,basement-235sq.m, capitally floors- 310 sqm, capitally repaired, 4 bedrooms, 4 repaired, heating system, AC. Price: 15.000 USD 2353 V. Sargsyan str. 8/5, Newly built, 98sq.m, bathrooms, newly furnished, equipped, sauna, 2031.Vardanants str, 500sq.m, ground floor of 2bedrooms,capitally renovated, furnished, Price 1500 swimming-pool. Starting Price: 5000 USD. the building, 2 entrances, facade-20m, window USD 1094.Noy block, Land-450sqm, 2 storied building glasses, without divisions, ,basement-250sq.m, 2347 Teryan str. Newly built, 10/8, 320sq.m, - 220sq.m, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, capitally Price:8000 USD 3bedrooms, office, 3 bathrooms, capitally repaired,

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 10 www.nt.am SOCIETY 'Electric Yerevan' Organizers To Resume Street Protests An Armenian youth group that was behind the recent "Electric Yerevan" protests said on August 28 that it will resume campaign of "civil disobedience" next week, accusing the government of reneging on a pledge to subsidize the energy prices. Leaders of the group called No To Plunder said that while the tariffs remain unchanged for households for now, Armenian businesses are being forced to pay more for electricity used by them. They said this runs counter to President Serzh Sargsyan's assur- ances the government will "shoulder the whole burden" of the more than 17 percent price hike pending the findings of an emer- gency audit of Armenia's national power utility. Serzh Sargsyan made the statement on June 28, at the height of nonstop protests on a central Yerevan avenue that were organ- that the youth movement will resume its street protests on ized by No To Plunder and attended by thousands of mostly young September 1. But neither he nor Chibukhchyan disclosed details people. No To Plunder was pushed aside by other, more radical of the planned actions. They said only that the group might again activists after urging the protesters to unblock Marshal Bagramyan occupy Marshal Bagramyan Street leading to the presidential Avenue because of the concessions announced by Serzh administration building. Sargsyan. "He said nothing about not subsidizing small and medi- Meanwhile, it remains unclear who and when will conduct the um-sized businesses," argued Artush Chibukhchyan, one of the promised audit of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the group's leaders. loss-making utility owned by the Russian company Inter RAO. "Serzh Sargsyan has fooled the people and we must respond to The Armenian government has so far only commissioned a U.S. that on the street," Chibukchian charged at a news conference. consulting firm, Deloitte, to investigate and conclude whether the "Serzh Sargsyan wants to make electricity more expensive. He price hike sanctioned by Armenian state regulators in early June doesn't want to solve this problem." was justified. "We are resuming the street struggle," he said. "We have had a Observers believe that the energy tariff for households will not chance to see that issues are solved on the street. They [the author- rise at least until a referendum on constitutional changes seen as ities] won't do anything unless you put pressure on them." vital for President Sargsyan's political future. The referendum is Mihran Avagyan, another No To Plunder leader, announced expected to take place in November. Armenia, Belarus willing to deepen ties Opposition party ambassador would make efforts to fully rebuffs Sargsyan on realize the existing potential of the cooperation between the two countries in the eco- Constitution Talks nomic sphere, considering that the mem- From page 3 bership in the EAEU opens up new per- spectives for mutually beneficial partner- with any parties. Some of them formed ship. last month a pressure group called You According to the interlocutors, the par- Won't Pass It, pledging to try to scuttle ticipation of Armenia in the Eurasian inte- Sargsyan's initiative with rallies and gration processes would enrich the agenda other acts of "civil disobedience." They Igor Nazaruk, the newly-appointed of Armenian-Belarusian cooperation, ele- expressed readiness to join forces with Ambassador Extraordinary and vating them to a qualitatively new level of the HAK and Zharangutyun. Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus, development. You Won't Pass It announced on on August 28 handed over his credentials The RA President and the Belarusian Thursday that it will launch fundraising to President Serzh Sargsyan, President's ambassador agreed that active political dia- campaigns in Armenia and its worldwide Press Office reported. logue, boost of the economic and trade Diaspora in an effort to step up its activ- The RA President congratulated the relations, partnership in the humanitarian ities. The group said it needs money for Ambassador on the occasion of taking up and other fields were in line with the long- renting meeting halls, printing banners his functions and wished every success in term interests of the two countries and the and leaflets and other logistical needs. fulfilling his diplomatic duties. spirit of the friendly relations between You Won't Pass It leaders made clear Serzh Sargsyan underlined that the Armenian and Belarusian people. that they will not accept donations from bilateral relations between Armenia and At the meeting Ambassador Igor any party. "If we get funding from a party Belarus were developing in all dimensions, Nazaruk assured that during his tenure he or an individual pursuing political goals including the high level political dialogue would make the utmost efforts towards the we will become dependent on them," one and partnership on the level of executive strengthening and development of of them said. "But raising funds from the and legislative authorities. The President Armenian-Belarusian partnership based on public for logistical purposes will only expressed hope that the newly-appointed the historical friendly relations. create more public trust in us."

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 POLITICS www.nt.am 11 Armenia Scores High on Global Index: Perception vs. Reality place in the world in Economic Freedom, fact, perception is much more important and 70th in Personal Freedom! than reality, because people judge every- The reason I qualified Armenia's rank- thing on the basis of their own impression, ing as 'surprising' is that most people would regardless of how different it might be not have expected it to have such a high from reality. For example, in the past sev- The latest report of The Human score, given the persistent criticism of its eral years Armenia has been ranked higher Freedom Index for 152 countries gives leadership by Armenians within and out- than expected on several global reports. Armenia a surprisingly high score. The side the country. While it is true that the Yet, the Armenian government has never study was conducted jointly by the Cato Armenian government has many short- publicized these respectable rankings, Institute, Washington, D.C.; Fraser comings and deserves to be criticized, we thereby failing to create a positive image Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and should acknowledge that the authorities for the country which would attract tourists Friedrich Naumann Foundation for must be doing something right for Armenia and investors from around the world. Freedom, Berlin, Germany. The 108-page to outrank in The Human Freedom Index Many of the countries that Armenia comprehensive report ranks countries such influential countries as: outranks are much more prosperous, yet according to personal, civil, and economic Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, they fall far behind in The Human freedoms enjoyed by their citizens. Iran, Kuwait, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Freedom Index, which can only mean that The rankings are based on 76 distinct Arabia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Venezuela. a country's wealth - multi-billion dollar oil indicators grouped in 12 categories: Rule The only explanation for this dichoto- revenue in the case of Azerbaijan - does not of Law; Security and Safety; Movement; my between people's perception of guarantee affluence or freedom for its citi- Religion; Association, Assembly, and Civil Armenia and reality is that its officials have zens! Society; Expression; Relationships; Size of done a bad job of promoting the country's However, given Armenia's relatively Government; Legal System and Property positive accomplishments. Otherwise, high ranking, its leadership can no longer Rights; Access to Sound Money; Freedom most Armenians would not have such a use the excuse that the country's develop- to Trade Internationally; and Regulation of negative impression of their homeland. ment is handicapped due to limited finan- Credit, Labor, and Business. To illustrate this point, let's take cial and natural resources. Everything does The top 10 countries according to The Singapore, a country that successfully pro- not depend on money. Since Armenia is Human Freedom Index are: Hong Kong, motes its achievements and is universally ranked 17th on Economic Freedom, there Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, New praised as a model of good governance, is no excuse for it to be ranked 70th on Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland, rapid economic development, and prosper- Personal Freedom. The latter index could United Kingdom, and Sweden. The United ous living conditions. While there is no be improved greatly without costing the States is in the 20th place. question that this Asian Tiger has an state a single dollar. All it takes is caring According to the figures released last impressive record of accomplishments, it is government officials who are committed to week for the year 2012, Armenia ranks surprising that Singapore - ranked 43rd in improve the people's welfare. 53rd in the world, much higher than most the world - is only 10 places ahead of The biggest deficit of the Armenian of its neighbors: Azerbaijan (126th), Armenia in The Human Freedom Index. If leadership is not the lack of funds, but the Turkey (62nd), Iran (152nd); and slightly one pays attention to all the hype about lack of public trust. The authorities can behind Georgia (48th). Singapore, one would expect that country regain the citizens' trust by working dili- Armenia's impressive overall ranking to be ranked in the top 10, while Armenia gently to better their living conditions, and reveals an even more stunning score when should be ranked 100, given the constant only then, the public's positive perception one looks at the two major components of critical comments it receives. would match the reality of Armenia's glob- that ranking. Armenia occupies the 17th As they say, "perception is reality." In al rankings.

Taner Akcam releases new book on plunder of Armenian properties Turkish historian Taner Akcam has tute central pillars of the Turkish system of released a new book (with Umit Kurt) on property rights, retaining their legal validi- the plunder of Armenian properties. The ty, and although Turkey has acceded book titled "The Spirit of the Laws: The through international agreements to return Plunder of Wealth in the Armenian Armenian properties, it continues to refuse Genocide" examines the confiscation of to do so. The book demonstrates that geno- Armenian properties during the genocide cides do not depend on the abolition of the and subsequent attempts to retain seized legal system and elimination of rights, but Armenian wealth. Through the close that, on the contrary, the perpetrators of analysis of laws and treaties, it reveals that genocide manipulate the legal system to decrees issued during the genocide consti- facilitate their plans.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 12 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS International Day of the Disappeared: ICRC calls for more efforts to document fate of missing Governments and civil society must just not on the radar. Governments and do more to document the fate and where- other actors need to make sure it is on the abouts of people who disappear in con- agenda and do more to address the prac- flicts or other circumstances and give tical and emotional needs of the fami- stronger support to the families left lies," Pecassou said. behind, the International Committee of The disappearance of a loved one may the Red Cross has said. leave the family without economic sup- "Whether someone has disappeared port and often they will have to use up during war, or migration or a disaster, the their dwindling resources on the search suffering of the families remains," said for their missing relative. In many cases, Marianne Pecassou, who heads the the family does not want to declare a Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. This ICRC's team working on the missing. missing person dead and so for example, includes collection of biological refer- "It's essential to collect information that they can't access the person's property or ence samples from the close relatives of is available today on people who disap- salary. the missing, which would increase the pear, how and where they have disap- Families also suffer on an emotional probability of the identification of human peared, that might be useful at some point and social level - they might experience remains. in time to bring answers to the families," isolation, sadness and marginalization The ICRC also offers support of vari- said Pecassou, speaking as the world pre- and often need long-term support in order ous kinds, working on the ground with pares to mark the International Day of the to overcome these difficulties and regain the Armenian Red Cross Society and Disappeared on August 30. control of their lives. other local partners. Based on the needs But providing answers takes a long There are over 4,500 people regis- of these families, the ICRC's assistance time and is often not possible while a tered by the ICRC as missing in relation encompasses economic security pro- conflict is still ongoing. For some fami- to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, grams aimed at helping them improve the lies, there might never be a definitive including more than 400 in Armenia. The existing or establish new livelihoods, answer. And in the meantime, families ICRC supports the authorities in their provision of legal, medical and adminis- have a range of needs for support. efforts towards clarifying the fate of trative assistance, as well as emotional "All too often, especially in conflict missing persons and addressing the needs care and help with trying to find out ways situations, the problem of the missing is of families of the missing in Armenia, of remembering their missing loved ones. French Chef Says Armenia Can Capture Global Market with its Natural Products managed contribute to the preparations of the Jewels of Odzun festival, which will be held on September 12. According to Alexanian, Odzun is home to the "green gold," of Armenia. "Any species of herbs can grow in Odzun. There are 10 species of thyme and, interestingly, all those species can be grown here," Alexanian noted. In the communities that he has visited, Alexanian has tried to show people the value of the natural products of their French chef of Armenian descent, "Yes, I prepare Armenian dishes but I regions, not only for the Armenian mar- Alain Alexanian, transforms old tradition- always try to make some innovations by ket, but for markets abroad as well. al recipes into modern ones with his cook- moving a little away from the recipes of "All those species of herbs must be ing. He serves his French clients dishes our grandmothers which are very oily. It is exported, which will contribute to the inherited from his Armenian grandmother no longer accepted to prepare oily dish- solution of the issue of emigration. My with some changes and new innovations. es," Alexanian said, presenting examples aim is to explain [to] villagers how to uti- At a press conference hosted by of his recipes. lize that wealth," he added. Armenpress, Alexanian shared his vision Alexanian has been in Armenia since According to Alexanian, there is a of how Armenia can popularize and July and has been working in rural com- demand in Europe to utilize organic prod- spread the natural products grown in its munities, trying to boost the value of the ucts, and in Armenia, almost everything is soil. natural products unique to those areas. He natural and pure.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 POLITICS The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 13 Regional developments favorable to Armenia: Ara Papian The past summer was significant enues, Azerbaijan is aware that it has time from the point of view of regional until yearend to solve issues by force, the developments, says Ara Papian, Head expert said, adding, however, that of the Modus Vivendi Center. He con- resumption of war is unlikely. siders the current conditions in the "Azerbaijan is almost confident it region are most favorable for Armenia, won't succeed, while the losses may but doubts we'll be able to draw bene- exceed the expectations," he said. fits. "We have a favorable geopolitical sit- "What's happening in the region today uation, one that Armenia has not seen for is advantageous to Armenia," Papian told decades, but my concern is that we're not a press conference on August 31. Among going to draw benefits from it due to the benefits Papian noted the situation in future, the decreased oil prices are domestic political issues and because we Turkey (with the Kurdish movement and already favorable. Azerbaijan will be are not ready," Papian concluded. the perspective of creation of a new finally smashed, if the price per barrel Papian soothed all those worried state), the elimination of sanctions goes below $20. "Less money, less about the activity of the Islamic State. against Iran and its access to the interna- weapons," Ara Papian said. He also pre- "ISIS will hardly reach the borders of tional market. dicted serious economic and political Armenia. There are a number of interest- "Leaving aside the joint programs problems for the neighboring country. ed states and nations along that route Armenia and Iran can implement in the Along with the decreased oil rev- struggling against the group."

Armenian energy subsidy extended NKR forces avert a fresh

resume its "civil disobedience" infringement attempt actions on Tuesday. by Azerbaijan "This morning I discussed with the president of the republic the The Azerbaijani side undertook a fresh question of also supporting small infringement attempt in the eastern direction of the and medium-sized enterprises and line of contact between the armed forces of we decided to submit this draft to the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan at 01:40, government," Abrahamian told a August 28. The government extended its weekly meeting of his cabinet. electricity price subsidy to some He said small firms will pay the Armenian small businesses on old price for up to 250 kilowatts of August 28 ahead of new demonstra- power used by them each month. tions planned by the organizers of Entities exceeding that limit will be the recent "Electric Yerevan" covered by the higher tariffs, he said. protests. The number of businesses that The two-week protests forced the will benefit from the subsidy was not government to pledge to keep the immediately clear. Energy and tariffs, which were raised by 17 per- Natural Resources Minister Yervand cent in June, unchanged for con- Zakharyan suggested only that most sumers at least until the results of a of them will be cafes, restaurants special international audit of and other firms involved in the serv- Armenia's debt-ridden power distri- ices sector. bution network. Prime Minister The government decision failed The front troops of the NKR Defense Army Hovik Abrahamyan made clear ear- to satisfy No To Plunder, with one of averted the advancement of a 20-25-member group lier this month that his government the group's leaders, Maxim and forced the rival to retreat, incurring losses. No will subsidize the electricity used by Sargsyan, calling it "laughable." casualties are reported on the Armenian side. households but not corporate con- "This is yet another stupid thing with The Azerbaijani side also violated the ceasefire sumers. which they try to divide people," he regime 110 times overnight, firing 2,000 shots Abrahamian's statement prompt- said, adding that the protests planned from weapons of different caliber, including 60, 82 ed strong criticism from organiza- by the youth activists will therefore and 120 mm mortars. tions representing Armenian small go ahead as planned. The activeness of the rival was pressured as a firms and No To Plunder, a youth No To Plunder will gather sup- result of retaliatory actions taken by the NKR movement that launched the porters and members in a Yerevan Defense Army. "Electric Yerevan" campaign. The park on Tuesday to discuss its plan The Armenian forces keep control of the situa- group said late last week that it will of actions. tion all along the line of contact.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 14 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights POLITICS Exhibitions on Armenian Genocide to be featured at Istanbul Biennial

This year, there is a different kind of excitement leading up to Boghiguian, Hera Büyükta?ç?yan, Rene Gabri and Ayreen the Istanbul Biennial, a contemporary art exhibition held every Anastas that were exhibited in the Armenia Pavilion of the 56th two years and organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture Venice Biennial and the works of Sarkis that had a solo exhibition and Arts. People have worked on the biennial with confidence, and in the Turkey Pavilion will be exhibited in this year's Istanbul though it won't be opened till September 5, we can roughly make Biennial, it can be said that the saltwater doesn't only bridge two out what to expect, and we will be seeing lots of surprising proj- sides of Istanbul, but also reaches all the way to Venice and ects. Mihtaryan Monastery on San Lazzaro Island.

Rubbing salt into the wound Agos became a biennial venue The 14th Istanbul Biennial will begin with an exhibition titled As the opening of the Istanbul Biennial gets closer, it turns out "Saltwater." When the tight-lipped curator of the biennial, Carolyn that there are a lot of works that refer to the Armenian Genocide Christov-Bakargiev, and her team added the title to this year's and the developments that followed it. Michael Rackowitz's work, exhibitions, which refers to the source of life, geographical con- which was inspired by the fibrous plasterer Garabet Cezayirliyan, nection, the Bosporus and many other themes, the event that who made the ornamental work on buildings like Yildiz Palace begins next week became even more mysterious. and Emek Movie Theater, is one of them. Tracing the footsteps of The events of the 14th Istanbul Biennial, which will take place Cezayirliyan in Istanbul, Rackowitz combines his work with all over Istanbul, include works that have something to say about human remains from Vakifli Village, which is the last Armenian current issues and politics. As Bakargiev says, Turkey has plenty village in Turkey. Artist Francis Alys, who lives in Mexico City, of festering wounds. And this year's biennial intends to point at hails the bird species that no longer exist by imitating the sounds those wounds, though it cannot heal them altogether. In an inter- of the birds that lived in the Ani district of Kars once; in this way, view that she gave to Blouin Artinfo on August 18, Bakargiev he also calls out to the Armenians who were forced to leave that said: "This is almost a spiritual exhibition. These spirits come from region. Researching the lute player Hrant, and exhibiting the con- the ethnic cleansing that [were] carried against Armenians and ceptual sculpture that he made as a result of his research in the Greeks." And after the "dOCUMENTA (13)" exhibition that she Armenia Pavilion of the Venice Biennial, Haig Aivazian has pre- curated, she preferred not to be involved in large-scaled projects pared a performance for the Istanbul Biennial. for a while. As part of this performance, the choir of Beyoglu Uc Horan Church will perform a traditional song, which was also performed The sea that connects Istanbul to San Lazzaro by the lute player Hrant, in the Galata Greek Elementary School. A great part of the biennial consists of individual presentations In the project that Asli Cavusoglu developed for the biennial, red that are located in different places. This means Bakargiev pre- dye will be produced from insects-an Armenian technique that is ferred to organize a group exhibition that consists of solo projects. not used anymore. Using the old building of Agos and the Hrant Unusual venues like Trotsky's house on Prince Islands, Rumeli Dink Foundation as a project venue, Ayreen Anastas and Rene Feneri, stores, boats and parking lots will be used as exhibition Gabri will turn the spaces into a truth center by referring to the past venues, in addition to museums and art institutions which are the of the building. It should also be noted that the Anarad Higutyun usual destinations on the contemporary art route. The connection Building, which houses the Hrant Dink Foundation, is one of the between those venues is the saltwater that runs through Istanbul. biennial venues. Considering that the works of Haig Aivazian, Anna Agos, ISTANBUL Russian businessman German Sterligov detained at Domodedovo airport

Businessman German Sterligov has TASS. been detained at Moscow's Domodedovo As it became known on July 28, airport, TASS reports. Azerbaijan asked Interpol to put Sterligov "He arrived in Moscow from Yerevan on its international wanted list for the busi- at 5 p.m. on August 31 and was detained nessman's activities in Nagorno- upon crossing the state border," Sterligov's Karabakh. lawyer Artur Airapetov said. Azerbaijan has initiated criminal pro- He explained that Sterligov might have ceedings against Sterligov on charges of been detained because his name was on making open anti-government calls and the inter-state wanted list. for illegal crossing of Azerbaijan's state had stopped searching for Sterligov fol- The border guards detained the busi- border (articles 281.2 and 318.2 of the lowing a request from his defense lawyers nessman when he was crossing the Azerbaijani Penal Code, respectively). and recognized that the businessman's Russian state border, a police source told On August 23, Airapetov said Interpol prosecution by Azerbaijan was politicized.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 SOCIETY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 15 Baku Hints At Green Light for Armenian Soccer Star Germany's Sport1 TV channel, according to the AFP news agency. Mkhitaryan, who is hugely popular in Armenia, himself has not commented yet. He has been in impressive form lately, scor- ing eight goals in seven Borussia victories so far this season. UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino reportedly said on Friday that European football's governing body will do its best to ensure that the Armenian soccer star is able to play in his country's arch-foe. In its first official statement on the issue, the Azerbaijani government implied on Monday that it will not impede Mkhitaryan's arrival in Azerbaijan. "One of the features of football is that it's a The authorities in Baku signaled on August 28 that they will team game … Azerbaijan will be visited by a team, Borussia not deport or arrest Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Armenia's most famous Dortmund, rather than certain individuals," a spokesman for the football player, if he arrives in Azerbaijan to play in his German Foreign Ministry in Baku said, according to Azerbaijani news club's upcoming match against an Azerbaijani team. agencies. Mkhitaryan's Borussia Dortmund, one of Germany's strongest The official, Hikmet Hajiyev, also noted in that regard that sides, and Azerbaijan's Qabala were last week drawn together in more than 100 athletes from Armenia as well as ethnic Armenians Group C of the UEFA Europa League, a major club soccer tourna- competing for other nations participated in international sporting ment. The first of the two games between them is scheduled to be competitions held in Baku in the last five years. "Sports must not played in Azerbaijan on October 22. be used for political purposes," he said. Mkhitaryan's participation in that fixture has been a subject of "As for the list of undesirable persons, each case is viewed on intense media speculation due to the unresolved conflict over an individual basis," added Hajiyev. He referred to an official Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan's resulting reluctance to let Azerbaijani list of foreigners who are banned from visiting Armenians visit the country for international events. An Azerbaijan because of having travelled to Karabakh from Armenia Azerbaijani media outlet suggested last week that the 26-year without Baku's permission. The list is not known to include attacking midfielder could not only be denied a visa but also Armenian nationals. arrested at Baku airport because of an "illegal" trip to Karabakh in Hajiyev's statement came several hours after Armenia's gov- 2011. Some Qabala officials also hinted at such a possibility in ernment blamed official Baku for the speculation about their public comments. Mkhitaryan's potential troubles in Azerbaijan. "This ridiculous The speculation prompted concern from Borussia, which approach by the Azerbaijani side is not news because no individ- signed Mkhitaryan from Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk ual with an Armenian surname is allowed to visit Azerbaijan, in 2013 for a club record $32 million. "We hope this does not hap- which totally fits into Armenophobic propaganda officially spread pen. Henrikh is a super important player for us with his brilliant in that country," Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran performances in recent weeks," a Borussia spokesman told Balayan charged in written comments. Turkish Constitutional Court Accepts Lawsuit Submitted by Catholicosate Catholicosate hopes the ruling will come by the end of November. According to a spokesman of the Catholicosate, the consideration of the case will most probably start in September. "July was a holiday month in Turkey; one week was non- working. Starting from August 1, the Turkish courts have gone on leave. That's why the consideration of our claim has been extended. We think the consideration will start in September, and we'll already have the ruling in October-November," the spokesman said, adding that under the Turkish Constitution, the court must make a ruling in six months' time. According to the spokesman, additional documents were required from the Catholicosate, which means that the claim has The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia of the already been admitted by the Constitutional court. Armenian Apostolic Church, which filed a lawsuit with Turkey's The Great House of Cilicia filed a claim with the Turkish Constitutional Court over regaining ownership of its historic head- Constitutional Court on April 28, demanding the return of its for- quarters in Sis, has reported that the Turkish Constitutional Court mer headquarters and mansion in Sis, located in the territory of the has likely admitted the case and will soon begin reviewing it. The historic Armenian kingdom of Cilicia.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 16 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights SOCIETY Exhibition of Armin T. Wegner's photos opens in Stockholm The exhibition "Armin T. Wegner: eyewitness of the Armenian Genocide" was opened at the Armémuseum of Stockholm on August 25. The expo showcases around thirty photos taken by Wegner with author's notes and explanations. The exhibition was organized by joint efforts of the Embassy of Armenia in Sweden, the Armémuseum, and armenica.org organization as part of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration events in Sweden. The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr. Björn Söder, Parliamentary Group Leader of Christian Democrats Mr. Andreas Carlson, other MPs, Ambassadors accredited to Sweden, social, political and cultural figures, journalists, representatives of the Armenian community. Opening remarks were offered by the Director of Armémuseum Mrs. Eva-Sofie Ernstelle and historian Vahagn Avedian. The exhibition will be open for three months. The Armémuseum is one of the leading cultural institutions of Stockholm and is included in compulsory educational programs.

100 LIVES: An open letter to UN Secretary General developed the 100 LIVES initiative to remember and honor those whose selfless actions saved lives 100 years ago. The initiative seeks to share the remarkable stories of both saviors and survivors and celebrate the strength of the human spirit. As part of the initiative, we have established a new global humanitarian prize, the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. The Aurora Prize will be presented annually to humanitarians who put themselves at risk to enable others to survive and thrive. The Prize winner will receive a US$100,000 award, as well as a US$1 million grant to be donated to the charitable organization that inspired his or her work. Co-Founders of 100 LIVES initiative Ruben Vardanyan, This year, your World Humanitarian Day campaign is shining Noubar Afeyan and Vartan Gregorian sent open letter to UN the spotlight on humanitarians around the world and profiling Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: valiant Humanitarian Heroes. We are doing the same through the "It is with profound respect and gratitude that we join you on Aurora Prize. We want to recognize those individuals undertaking this World Humanitarian Day in honoring and commemorating life-?saving work around the world, often in difficult and danger- the humanitarians who have lost their lives in the line of duty. ous circumstances where others cannot or do not want to go. We For the three of us, the spirit of this day is deeply personal. As invite the public to submit nominations for candidates they believe Armenians, we are profoundly grateful to those individuals whose are deserving of this esteemed recognition through our online por- heroic acts saved lives during the Armenian Genocide. Their tal at www.100Lives.com/Prize. courageous legacy, like that of Special Representative Sérgio We hope that you will join us in promoting noteworthy nomi- Vieira de Mello, has motivated many to pursue humanitarian work nations so that modern-?day saviors can be honored in a manner and inspired us to recognize the sacrifices made by so many to that drives further good work. This can only raise public con- benefit the lives of others. sciousness to the issues that you face daily, and those that confront Out of a deep sense of indebtedness and appreciation, we the most vulnerable around the world today".

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 SOCIETY The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 17 Bone of prehistoric animal discovered in Lake Sevan Divers of “AYAS” Nautical Research Club have discovered a bone of a prehistoric animal in the bottom of Lake Sevan, at the depth of 5 meters. Results of anthropological research reveal that the stone is a part of the back- bone of an aurochs that lived before the ice age. Hundreds of artifacts found in the coastal zones of Lake Sevan are kept in the Institutes of Biology and Zoology of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, but the latest finding is the first to be recovered from the bottom of Lake Sevan.

Istanbul's new Armenian school to be inaugurated on September 28

Bakirkoy Municipality exempted the Armenian school from certain fees to smooth construction. "Members of the local council unanimously voted for the exemption," Ozdemir recalls. Despite such help from the municipality, Ozdemir says that financing was challenging for the community. The foundation depended on several fund-raising efforts to finish the job. To relieve some of the financial burden, the government added minority schools to a list of institutions eligible for state aid. In Turkey, the state partially aids students with financial difficulties so that they can enroll in private institutions. Minority schools are not categorized as 'private' institutions, but the government included them in the list, Ozdemir says. "We thank everyone who helped us to have this joyous Mesut Ozdemir has one month left to achieve his life-long moment: Ministers, mayors and the Armenian community…" dream: to open a new school for the Armenian community in Ozdemir says, adding that first day of the school year, September Istanbul, Anadolu Agency reports. 28, will be its official inauguration day. "I am very delighted to see the school is almost done. Moving Over 3,000 students currently attend Istanbul's 16 Armenian to a new building after 171 years makes us all happy," Ozdemir, schools. The Bakirkoy neighborhood on Istanbul's European side who is chairman of the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church Foundation, housed one small school which was constructed 170 years ago by tells Anadolu Agency. an Ottoman official, Hovhannes Dadyan. Construction on the project began three years ago. From the Across the decades, the Armenians of Bakirkoy depended on outside, it is not much different from other schools. Yet it is still that one school but, as their numbers increased, capacity became a unique: it is the first school that Istanbul's Armenian community is problem. Now the school has to accommodate 400 children - more building in Republican Turkey within a legal framework. than enough for the old building. The community opened schools in previous decades but these The new school has now more space to accommodate even were dependent upon special permission granted by prime minis- more than 400. Ozdemir says the school now is able to offer a ters. kindergarten service to the Armenian community; that will There are 22 minority schools In Istanbul; five of them are increase number of students to 500. Greek, one is Jewish, and the remaining 16 are Armenian. "We now have a bigger sports and conference hall," Ozdemir What made this latest project possible was a 2008 legal reform says, adding that parents and students toured the construction site brought forward by the government and pushed through parlia- to see what the school would be like and were excited for the ment. upcoming education term. The changes allowed minorities to acquire and renovate prop- New schools, bigger halls and new services not only pleased erties. The Turkish government also began returning previously Armenian students and parents but also broadened the communi- confiscated properties to minority communities. ty's expectation for the new generation. "We expect more qualified Such changes were welcomed and supported at the local level. people from this environment," Ozdemir says.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 18 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights SOCIETY Philanthropist Vahak Hovnanian passed away aged 83 Armenian businessman and benefac- the first Armenian churches in the United tor Vahak Hovnanian passed away on States to follow this tradition. August 31 aged 83 In 1969 Vahak and Hasmig Vahak Stephan Hovnanian was a suc- Hovnanians were honored for their cessful businessman, real estate develop- efforts with a Knighthood in the Order of er and philanthropist. His companies the Great House of Cilicia and as a Lady have developed over 5000 homes and of the Great House of Cilicia respective- several commercial properties through- ly, by His Holiness Khoren I, Catholicos out the United States. of Cilicia. In further service to the In 1959 Mr. Hovnanian and his broth- Armenian Church, Mr. Hovnanian served ers formed the Hovnanian Brothers as an Executive Member of the Board of Corporation. Together, they developed Directors for the Eastern Prelacy of the thousands of homes in New Jersey, until Armenian Apostolic Church of America going their respective ways ten years from 1973-1977. During that period he Armenia's economy, Mr. Hovnanian later. In 1969, Mr. Hovnanian organized also served as a U.S. National Delegate to insisted on considering tourism develop- his own real estate development compa- the World Council of the Armenian ment a top priority and successfully lob- ny, Hovbilt, Inc., which in the ensuing Church's Cilician Catholicosate in bied the U.S. Government to contribute years has developed many successful and Lebanon. to it. In May 2000, the RA Government award-winning residential communities. One of the greatest achievements of chartered the Armenian Tourism With growth came diversification and the Mr. and Mrs. Hovnanian was the found- Development Agency (ATDA), which formation of several affiliated companies ing of the Armenian School in New was funded by USAID, Mr. Hovnanian under the name of V.S. Hovnanian Milford, NJ, in 1976 which has been himself, and the Armenian Government. Group, Inc. which included Adelphia renamed in 1984 into Hovnanian School ATDA has raised international awareness Water Company, Adelphia Sewer in their honor. On the occasion of the about Armenia as a world class tourism Company, Hovnanian Realty, Clear Title school's tenth anniversary, Mr. destination. Agency, and Grandview Cable. In 1985, Hovnanian was named Prince of the In 1995, the Hovnanians endorsed Vahak and his son Shant pioneered a Armenian Apostolic Church by His Armenia's participation in the Venice multi-faceted broadband telecommunica- Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Biennale and initiated fundraising for the tions company by establishing Holy See of Cilicia, in Antelias Lebanon first Armenian Pavilion. They organized CellularVision, Inc., which has become (later His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos and chaired an international Ball held in later SpeedUS, Inc. of All Armenians of the Mother See of Venice where over 250 Armenians from A lover of "all things Armenian," Mr. Holy Etchmiadzin). around the world gathered to support Hovnanian dedicated himself to support- In keeping with his commitment to Armenia's entry into the international arts ing and preserving Armenian culture and education, Mr. Hovnanian raised hun- scene. While planning this event, they heritage, and revitalizing the independent dreds of thousands of dollars in the after- initiated the Kantz Foundation to support Republic of Armenia. Mr. Hovnanian math of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia young Armenian aspiring artists. together with his wife Hasmig played which he contributed to His Holiness Through the Kantz Foundation and the prominent role in promoting educational, Vasken I Catholicos of All Armenians to Vahak and Hasmig Hovnanian religious and cultural needs of the build a new school in the earthquake zone Foundation, they have supported over Armenian community in the Northeastern of Spitak. Since 1992, he and his wife 100 young artists from Armenia and out- United States. The couple has also been have been major benefactors of the side in their pursuit of prominent careers heavily involved in charity work. Hovnanian School's sister school in in the fine and performing arts. During 1960s, Mr. Hovnanian served Armenia - the Anania Shirakatsy In May 2000, Mr. Hovnanian founded as the President of the Board of Trustees Gemaran in Nork Massif. the Sayat Nova Award to stimulate and for St. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Mr. Hovnanian received numerous provide financial support to the songwrit- Church in Ridgefield, NJ. He initiated the awards throughout his career, which ers and composers of Armenia. In May celebration of Armenian holidays on their serve to highlight his commitment to the 2002, The Vahakni Award was initiated to precise day rather than on the closest Armenian community. inspire and support other artists in fine Sunday, designating St. Vartanantz one of Believing that tourism would boost and performing arts. Armenian Army Medics Trained By U.S. Instructors

From page 4 tinued U.S. assistance to the Armenian governmental organization, Epress.am late last month for what the Armenian peacekeeping brigade and the defense reported on Thursday that U.S. military Defense Ministry called regular "defense reforms implemented by Yerevan. aid to Armenia, including training and consultations" with senior Pentagon offi- Citing information provided by the education programs, has totaled $42 mil- cials. The latter reportedly pledged con- Defense Ministry to an Armenian non- lion over the past decade.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 The Noyan Tapan Highlights www.nt.am 19

Zodiac Weekly Forecast

Aries (March 20-April 19) Leo (July 22-August 21) Sagittarius (November 22-December 20) The archetypal couples, Venus and This month's Venus/Mars align- Mars, are meeting in the sky this ment brings you face to face with You have your eye on the big pic- week. Ordinarily this represents the your identity versus your relation- ture and it looks grand indeed. Others beginning of a new relationship. Mars ship. You must consciously evaluate follow your lead. A word of caution: is your avatar, your ruling planet. So how you will manage to meet your your optimistic attitude and belief a Venus (love) may be returning to personal needs and yet remain con- that you are right could cause you to your side for another try. Tread care- nected to the "other" in your life. If become arrogant. If you want others fully in this potential briar patch. someone is "returning" after a time to join your ride, give them a special S(he) may be looking for revenge, apart, this may represent another shot place on the wagon. Share the glory. though this motive could be truly at a relationship from the past that unconscious. had a similar issue. Capricorn (December 21-January 19) Taurus (April 20-May 19) Virgo (August 22-September 22) You are at a low both emotionally Venus is your ruling planet, so the Your sense of meaning and pur- and physically at this time. Though opening paragraph is particularly pose is punctuated during this period. you are normally prone to push your- important to you. The retrograde Your attitude is positive. Your ruling self, this is a better period to listen to conjunction occurs in your 4th house planet moves into the financial pic- your body and give it what it needs. of home, hearth, and family. A rela- ture this week. Your attention will be The "rules" are interfering with your tive or someone from your childhood drawn to organizing your accounts forward motion during this period. It may wish to get in touch with you. and records. You may discover one is frustrating, but it will soon pass. Perhaps your last experience of each or two mistakes made in the past that other was not so peaceful. This is a you can rectify now. Aquarius good time to rectify matters. (January 20-February 17) Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22) Gemini (May 20-June 20) This is a time of dramatically The scales fall from your eyes as challenging work. You are strug- Mercury, your ruling planet, an illusion is vaporized. This occurs gling with your semi-conscious moves into the sector of life related to in the territories of friendship, lovers, expectation of failure. Don't let it children, recreation, personal creativ- children, or yourself. (Yes, we carry beat you down. You are so much ity, and romance. Your attention will illusions about ourselves.) Nothing stronger than you know. The fear be focused in these areas through really has changed. You simply see may have manifested an opponent in Sept. and October. You are in your what is and what is not there. the outer world. But the true war is groove for several weeks. However, Whatever the disappointment, it is on the inside. Don't buy into the make choices carefully because short lived. You will recover quickly. Critics' point of view. It/he/she is a Mercury turns retrograde on Sep. figment from your past. 17th, suggesting a shift of plans. Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Pisces (February 18-March 19) Cancer (June 21-July 21) Your physical cycle is on a "low", There are vampires loose in the Give special attention to unusual so drive and handle tools carefully world and the Fish tends to attract messages or to new people who enter this week. Someone from your past them. If you have aged a bit, you your life during this time. A "teacher" returns to front and center in your probably have begun to smell them crosses your path in the form of a per- life. There seems to be a connection when they enter your vicinity. Those son, a book, or the right message that to your career in this meeting. who have not will be learning a les- will steer you in the next favorable Perhaps the returnee is someone you son soon. It's a required course for direction. Your mind turns to home, once worked with, but the relation- this sign. Save some energy for your- property and family now. Aspects are ship became more than that of co- self. Don't take over someone else's positive. workers. problem.

1 September #31 (1071) 2015 20 www.nt.am The Noyan Tapan Highlights Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem to be performed in Stepanakert Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem will be performed at the Revival Square of Stepanakert on September 1 in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and those, who lost their lives in the Atsakh war. Artistic director of the concert, world-famous opera singer Lyubov Kazarnavskaya says the choice should not surprise and worry anyone. "The undefeatable spirit of the Armenian people and culture, the revival and development of the nation - this is what the Requiem is about. This not the march of Verdi's mourning march on the Armenian soil, this is the height of the human spirit," Kazarnovskaya told reporters in Yerevan. "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon Artistic director of the concert, opera singer Lyubov Kazarnavskaya, them. May they rest in peace. These are speaks to reporters in Yerevan the most important words in the lyrics of eternal light," conductor Anatoly Levin The guests have said on many occa- the Requiem. We'll try to sing about that said. sions they don't worry about being included in Azerbaijan's "black list" because of the visit Nagorno Karabakh. When speaking about Armenia, Lyubov Kazarnovskaya uses the words "great" and "beloved." "I've grown up here. My father served here, I attended the school after Chekhov and lived at 32, Abovyan Street. This is the reason why I'm famil- iar with the Armenian culture praised by Komitas," she said. The concert of September 1 will fea- ture musicians not only from Russia, but also Serbia and Italy.

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