Torrential rains of the last few days have caused the waters of the Debed River in northern Armenia to overflow its banks. As a result, the Armenian Copper Programme’s “Metalurg” athletic field in the town of Alaverdi has been flooded out and a bulwark protecting fields and gardens of local residents has also been washed away.

This scene is an annual occurrence at the start of spring. The Debed River, due to snow melt and spring rains, overflows its banks and floods area homes and fields.

RoA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today introduced the newly appointed Minister of Emergency Situations, Armen Yeritsyan, to ministry staffers.PM Sargsyan expressed gratitude to ex-Minister of Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan, noting that he had assumed office at a very responsible period, when the ministry was just forming.

Mher Shahgeldyan congratulated Mr. Yeritsyan on his new appointment and wished his successor well. Mr. Shahgeldyan stated that he would be taking on a new challenge, that of strengthening the political apparatus of his party “Orinats Yerkir” to fulfil its stated mission. »»»»»

A roundtable discussion took place today in Yerevan regarding the launch of a 1 million Euro grant project designed to reduce violence against children in Armenia.

The three-year project is fully funded through European Commission and will be implemented by World Visiosn Armenia. »»»»»

For the second day in a row, residents of the southern Armenian town of Kapan have been forced to buy their drinking water in bottles. Water flowing from residential taps is dark brownish in color. This is a recurring problem with the advent of heavy spring rains and melting snow run-off that gets into the water supply.

This year, temperatures have warmed earlier than usual and the Gyard and Adjabadj springs, the major Kapan water sources, have been affected. Heavier than normal flows have disrupted normal operations at the local Geghva filtering station. »»»»»

If you want to see Robert Fisk do battle with two Genocide deniers live on RT television go to “Cross Talk on Genocide: Turkey’s Burden.  

It’s a fairly lively debate but Fisk wins hands down. What’s interesting is how these Genocide deniers, and others, come across on TV, totally unconvincing and stilted.

Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan today officially launched the fourth “One nation, one culture” festival today. Unlike the previous years, the events will take place throughout the year.

Thousands of guests are expected to arrive in Armenia within the framework of the festival. Four hundred applications have already been received from 11 countries.

Glendale Hills, the construction company whose apartments built in Gyumri for families left homeless by the earthquake were described as ‘inhabitable” by President Sargsyan, is refusing to answer any questions posed by Hetq.

Hetq has covered the issue of faulty construction practices by the firm in the past regarding its work in Gyumri and in Spitak, where it is constructing 300 apartments. We asked Baghdasar Mheryan, who heads the public affairs division of the RoA Ministry of Urban Development for clarification as to whether the government would take legal or punitive measures against Glendale Hills. »»»»»

The widow of writer Gurgen Mahari is too proud to ask for assistance despite hard times

“It hurts me when people say, ‘We respect her because she’s the wife of Gurgen Mahari’. If I can’t be appreciated on my own, then I have no need for the name of anyone else, if I have nothing of value that commands respect,” said Antonina Mahari, the wife of noted Armenian writer and poet Gurgen Mahari. »»»»»

Will Erhan Arik Succeed in Pricking the Conscience of Fellow Turks?

Erhan Arik was born in Ardahan, Turkey, and lived there till he turned thirteen. His ancestors were Meskhetian Turks who hail from the region now known as Samtskhe-Javakheti in southern Georgia. Erhan now lives in Istanbul but visits Ardahan every year. He has many close Armenian friends. »»»»»

Charles Lonsdale: “Not only open borders, but more open atmosphere in Armenia”

“I look back now and recall that there was a big sport field behind our house and how we used to run there. When I compare this to Yerevan I see how little opportunities there are for Armenian kids to play outside and then I really appreciate my childhood, how happy and lucky we were”, Charles Lonsdale says, recounting his childhood. »»»»»

Tomorrow, bailiffs from the Compulsory Enforcement Service are scheduled to evict the family of Anna Pamboukhchyan form their house on Nor Aresh Street.

What happened is that Sonia Tovmasyan, who resides in the U.S., filed a court suit claiming that her brother’s wife, Anna, had illegally taken possession of the house. The court ruled in favour of Tovmasyan. »»»»»

The “Orinats Yerkir Party” (Rule of Law) has officially confirmed that the RoA Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan and the RoA Minister of Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan, both party members, have been dismissed.

Party Press Secretary Susanna Abrahamyan has said that Manuk Vardanyan will be nominated as Minister of Transport and Communication and Armen Yeritsyan as the Minister of Emergency Situations. Artur Baghdasaryan, leader of Orinats has said that he will hold a press conference tomorrow.

During 2009, there were 1,238 drug related crimes and 130 legal infractions reported by the RoA Organized Crime Division.

This is a marked rise from the 763 crimes and 22 infractions reported during 2008.

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch bestowed the Women of Courage Award to Mariam Sukhudyan, a young Armenian human rights activist and a leader of SOS Teghut, an environmental defense organization.

“This award recognizes an Armenian woman who has demonstrated exceptional courage, innovation, and leadership in the pursuit of equality, opportunity, and justice,” Ambassador Yovanovitch declared at yesterday’s ceremony at the U.S. Embassy. »»»»»

Kapan’s outlying neighborhood of Barabatum has gone without its own garbage dump for many years. Residents throw their trash out wherever they please, usually in nearby ravines or roadside gullies.

One of these convenient dumps is situated near the municipal cemetery. To read more in Armenian and see some truly disturbing photos go to Banali.hetq.am