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

Starting this year, the Armenia government will launch the “Yervan Mero rehabilitation Project”, to improve and reform public transport services in the capital of Armenia, with financing from The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The financing agreement was signed today by RoA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and ERBD Yerevan Office Head, Valeriu Razlog. The total project cost is estimated to be up to EUR 16.63 million. On top of the Bank’s 5 million EUR loan, the European Investment Bank will kick in with a loan of EUR 5 million and the EU’s Neighborhood Investment Facility has approved a grant in the amount of EUR 5 million. According to the EBRD, the project would primarily benefit lower-income groups, who rely on the poorly maintained metro system.

While the Sukiasyan family business empire has recently suffered setbacks in Armenia, it appears that outside of Armenia, the commercial fortunes of brothers Khachatur and Saribek are taking off.

During the period of March 1, 2009 to March 1, 2010, “Media Consult”, a firm owned by the family recorded gross sales of 51.2 million Euros. The company, which specializes in internet commerce, security technology and digital publishing systems, has already signed 180 million Euros of commercial contracts with its partners and customers. »»»»»

President Serzh Sargsyan has sent a message of condolence on behalf of the Armenian people to Turkish President Abdullah Gul regarding the earthquake that hit Turkey the other day and to the families that lost relatives and loved ones.

In this installment in our series focusing on foreign ambassadors serving in Armenia, we talked with Hans-Jochen Schmidt, appointed Ambassador of the Federal republic of Germany to Armenia in October, 2009.

Prior to his Yerevan posting, Mr. Schmidt headed the OSCE Minsk Office. During his long and distinguished career in the German diplomatic corps, he has served in Cairo, St. Petersburg and Kiev. »»»»»

Hetq is starting a series highlighting various members of the RoA National Assembly. This week we would like to bring to your attention MP Hrant Grigoryan who represents District 20 in Armavir Marz.

For the past month, Hetq reporter Natasha Harutyunyan has attempted to organize an interview with MP Hrant Grigoryan. He has never made a speech on the floor of parliament and once told a reporter that he doesn’t give interviews. »»»»»

Japanese Scholar Researching Post WW II Armenian Repatriation

Rumour has it that you can bump into more than a few interesting and unusual characters at an opposition rally here in Yerevan. That’s exactly what happened on March 1, when by pure serendipity, I bumped into Takayuki Yoshimura. »»»»»

Flower vendors in Alaverdi about the slow trade today, despite it being International Women’s Day. Mrs. Neli, who sells her colourful flowers from a small store next to Sayat Nova Square told us that business had dropped from previous years.

Rasident Razmik Mouradyan said he still hadn’t bought a gift for his wife. “I’ve been running late, but I’ll pick up a few flowers for her on the way home.” »»»»»

RoA President Serzh Sargsyan’s congratulatory message commemorating “Women’s Day”

Dear fellow Armenians,

On the occasion of this beautiful Women’s Day,  I address our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and colleagues. Dear women, it is with great love that I congratulate you on this wonderful spring holiday. »»»»»

Norayr Mouradkhanyan, head of the Police Department’s Division of Passports and Visas, stated today that 4,323 individuals received RoA citizenship in 2009, 2.5 times more than during the past eleven years.

When asked how many of these had received dual citizenship, Mr. Mouradkhanyan answered that the law regarding this status only came into effect at the end of 2007 and that citizenship status only started to be granted as of 1997. He said that during the ten years since 1997, 1,735 received citizenship and this number shot up to 1,554 during 2008 alone, the first year that dual citizenship was granted. Mr. Mouradkhanyan said that most of the 1,554 involved dual citizenship status.

ARF MP Ara Nranyan stated today that there were many pensioners in Armenia 65 years and older who are able and willing to work and said he personally supported the idea of pushing back the mandatory retirement age to 67.

When asked by this reporter why the age for receiving pensions had been set at 63-67, when it was a known fact there are no jobs for most people in Armenia over the age of 60, MP Nranyan said that he was convinced that most people in this age bracket would prefer to work rather than sitting at home and collect the paltry pensions now afforded them. While supporting a later retirement age, MP Nranyan qualified his statement by saying that new employment must be created for these people in the private sector.

On Sunday, February 28, His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Catholicos Patriarch of Armenian Catholics, on behalf of His Holiness Benedict XVI, awarded St. Gregory the Great Order medals  to Bedros Terzian and Vahe Jazmadarian, both members of the Board of Trustees, in recognition of their longtime contribution  to humanitarian efforts in Armenia. The same medal was also awarded to Swiss-Armenian benefactor Vahe Gabrache.

The awards ceremony was attended by a distinguished roster of guests from different countries including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Italy Mr. Ruben Karapetian, Armenian catholic bishops. The grandiose ceremony took place after the Sunday mass in the Armenian Catholic Convent of Rome.

RoA Prime Minister publicly admonished Agricultural Minister Gerasim Alaverdyan during a government session for a lacklustre and unacceptable work record. PM Sargsyan declared that his government would no longer tolerate such behaviour in his cabinet, saying that the president had the directed government officials to expose shortcomings and deficiencies in their ranks. »»»»»

Humanity has existed from time immemorial and during the past 20,000-30,000 years gas was never burnt. Now look at what’s happening. People in Armenia are all emotional; they want to burn gas. Go to your homes and burn cow dung.”

The above statement was made by RoA MP Vardan Postanjyan during a press conference after it was declared that the price of gas would be going up. »»»»»