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Economy ministry: incident in Harsnakar restaurant unlikely to mar
Armenia's image
YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. Mekhak Apresyan, chief of Armenian economy
ministry's unit in charge of tourism development, speaking Wednesday
in Novosti International Press Center, expressed hope that the brutal
incident in Harsnakar restaurant belonging to Armenian Football
Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan, where three military doctors
were assaulted and severely beaten two weeks ago and one of them, Vahe
Avetyan, 35, died in the hospital of fatal injuries, would not tarnish
the country's reputation.
According to the information released by online sources, Avetyan has
been beaten by Hayrapetyan's bodyguards.
`International practice has showed that tourism is very sensitive
about various phenomena, such as instability in a region, diseases or
martial law as well as regular incidents,' Apresyan said. `I hope this
incident will not deter tourists from traveling to Armenia.'
On Tuesday, Ruben Hayrapetyan stepped down as a member of Armenia's
parliament, since he feels moral responsibility for the death of
Avetyan.
The incident has sparked public outcry either inside the country or
outside of it.
In recent days, civic activists staged a series of protest actions
demanding to prosecute all those guilty of Avetyan's death.
Today protesters gathered outside the parliament building.
Representatives of the National Assembly's Zharangutiun (Heritage) and
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun factions joined
today's protest organized by the opposition Armenian National Congress
bloc.
Yesterday, the Armenian Association of Political Science issued a
statement condemning violence against the military doctors and called
on Hyrapetyan to stop his political activity.
Armenia's Internet community has submitted a petition to UEFA and FIFA
urging these organizations to support their demand that Ruben
Hayrapetyan resign as president of Armenian Football Federation. -0-
Armenia's image
YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. Mekhak Apresyan, chief of Armenian economy
ministry's unit in charge of tourism development, speaking Wednesday
in Novosti International Press Center, expressed hope that the brutal
incident in Harsnakar restaurant belonging to Armenian Football
Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan, where three military doctors
were assaulted and severely beaten two weeks ago and one of them, Vahe
Avetyan, 35, died in the hospital of fatal injuries, would not tarnish
the country's reputation.
According to the information released by online sources, Avetyan has
been beaten by Hayrapetyan's bodyguards.
`International practice has showed that tourism is very sensitive
about various phenomena, such as instability in a region, diseases or
martial law as well as regular incidents,' Apresyan said. `I hope this
incident will not deter tourists from traveling to Armenia.'
On Tuesday, Ruben Hayrapetyan stepped down as a member of Armenia's
parliament, since he feels moral responsibility for the death of
Avetyan.
The incident has sparked public outcry either inside the country or
outside of it.
In recent days, civic activists staged a series of protest actions
demanding to prosecute all those guilty of Avetyan's death.
Today protesters gathered outside the parliament building.
Representatives of the National Assembly's Zharangutiun (Heritage) and
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun factions joined
today's protest organized by the opposition Armenian National Congress
bloc.
Yesterday, the Armenian Association of Political Science issued a
statement condemning violence against the military doctors and called
on Hyrapetyan to stop his political activity.
Armenia's Internet community has submitted a petition to UEFA and FIFA
urging these organizations to support their demand that Ruben
Hayrapetyan resign as president of Armenian Football Federation. -0-