Month: October 2019

                                        Monday, 
Global IT Forum Starts In Armenia
        • Emil Danielyan
Armenia -- A panel discussion is held during the World Congress on Information 
Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
More than 2,000 technology professionals, business executives and government 
officials from around the world are taking part in the latest World Congress on 
Information Technology (WCIT) that began its work in Yerevan on Monday.
The three-day forum is held under the aegis of World Information Technology and 
Services Alliance, a global consortium of national IT associations. It will 
feature more than a dozen keynote speakers and over 80 prominent panelists.
The participants include senior executives of tech giants like Google, Siemens 
and Ericsson as well as Armenian-American celebrities such as reality TV star 
Kim Kardashian, the Reddit social media platform’s co-founder Alexis Ohanian 
and rock musician Serj Tankian.
Armenia -- A sign at the entrance to the main venue of the World Congress on 
Information Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
Kardashian arrived in Yerevan early on Monday together with her children and 
sister Kourtney. Organizers have said that she will speak, both as a “special 
keynote speaker” and panelist, about “how decentralized technologies have 
democratized the worlds of entertainment, media, and journalism.”
Armenia is using the WCIT conference to promote its burgeoning IT industry that 
employs some 15,000 engineers and generates more than 6 percent of the 
country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian touted the industry’s achievements and tax 
breaks granted to it by the current and former Armenian governments in his 
speech at the opening session of the conference. “As a result, the IT sector 
grew nearly fivefold over the past seven years, boasting a sustained 20-25 
percent annual growth,” he said.
“Hosting such a major event is a great honor and pleasure for us, because it is 
a great opportunity to talk to you and to the international community about our 
strategy to make Armenia a high-tech country,” declared Pashinian.
Armenia -- An exhibition is held as part of the World Congress on Information 
Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
“I hope that this truly memorable event will change a lot in the technology 
world’s relations with the Republic of Armenia,” he added.
The Armenian tech sector is dominated by local subsidiaries of U.S. 
corporations as well as a growing number of homegrown firms. Some of them, 
notably the U.S. software giant VMware, are among the sponsors of the 2019 WCIT.
VMware’s chief operating officer, Rajiv Ramaswami, met with Pashinian later in 
the day. He noted that the number of IT engineers working at his company’s 
Armenian branch has increased more than tenfold, to 200, since it was opened in 
2010.
“We are very happy to invest in human talent which is available in Armenia,” 
Pashinian’s press office quoted Ramaswami as saying. “We have only one request 
to you: please increase human talent, invest in technology education.”
Armenia -- The Armenian branch of the U.S. software firm VMware takes part in 
the annual Digitec Expo in Yerevan, October 6, 2018.
A shortage of skilled personnel is widely seen as the main challenge facing the 
local IT sector. Industry executives have long complained about the inadequate 
quality of education at IT departments of Armenian universities. Many of their 
students require additional training after graduation.
In a bid to alleviate the problem, an Armenian organizer of the WCIT, the Union 
of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), has opened over the past decade over 
284 engineering labs in schools across the country. They offer schoolchildren 
extracurricular robotics and computer programming courses mostly financed by 
the government. The Armenian Education Ministry announced last week a sharp 
rise in government funding for the UATE which will be used for doubling the 
number of those labs by the end of this year.
Global IT Forum Starts In Armenia
        • Emil Danielyan
Armenia -- A panel discussion is held during the World Congress on Information 
Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
More than 2,000 technology professionals, business executives and government 
officials from around the world are taking part in the latest World Congress on 
Information Technology (WCIT) that began its work in Yerevan on Monday.
The three-day forum is held under the aegis of World Information Technology and 
Services Alliance, a global consortium of national IT associations. It will 
feature more than a dozen keynote speakers and over 80 prominent panelists.
The participants include senior executives of tech giants like Google, Siemens 
and Ericsson as well as Armenian-American celebrities such as reality TV star 
Kim Kardashian, the Reddit social media platform’s co-founder Alexis Ohanian 
and rock musician Serj Tankian.
Armenia -- A sign at the entrance to the main venue of the World Congress on 
Information Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
Kardashian arrived in Yerevan early on Monday together with her children and 
sister Kourtney. Organizers have said that she will speak, both as a “special 
keynote speaker” and panelist, about “how decentralized technologies have 
democratized the worlds of entertainment, media, and journalism.”
Armenia is using the WCIT conference to promote its burgeoning IT industry that 
employs some 15,000 engineers and generates more than 6 percent of the 
country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian touted the industry’s achievements and tax 
breaks granted to it by the current and former Armenian governments in his 
speech at the opening session of the conference. “As a result, the IT sector 
grew nearly fivefold over the past seven years, boasting a sustained 20-25 
percent annual growth,” he said.
“Hosting such a major event is a great honor and pleasure for us, because it is 
a great opportunity to talk to you and to the international community about our 
strategy to make Armenia a high-tech country,” declared Pashinian.
Armenia -- An exhibition is held as part of the World Congress on Information 
Technology in Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
“I hope that this truly memorable event will change a lot in the technology 
world’s relations with the Republic of Armenia,” he added.
The Armenian tech sector is dominated by local subsidiaries of U.S. 
corporations as well as a growing number of homegrown firms. Some of them, 
notably the U.S. software giant VMware, are among the sponsors of the 2019 WCIT.
VMware’s chief operating officer, Rajiv Ramaswami, met with Pashinian later in 
the day. He noted that the number of IT engineers working at his company’s 
Armenian branch has increased more than tenfold, to 200, since it was opened in 
2010.
“We are very happy to invest in human talent which is available in Armenia,” 
Pashinian’s press office quoted Ramaswami as saying. “We have only one request 
to you: please increase human talent, invest in technology education.”
Armenia -- The Armenian branch of the U.S. software firm VMware takes part in 
the annual Digitec Expo in Yerevan, October 6, 2018.
A shortage of skilled personnel is widely seen as the main challenge facing the 
local IT sector. Industry executives have long complained about the inadequate 
quality of education at IT departments of Armenian universities. Many of their 
students require additional training after graduation.
In a bid to alleviate the problem, an Armenian organizer of the WCIT, the Union 
of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), has opened over the past decade over 
284 engineering labs in schools across the country. They offer schoolchildren 
extracurricular robotics and computer programming courses mostly financed by 
the government. The Armenian Education Ministry announced last week a sharp 
rise in government funding for the UATE which will be used for doubling the 
number of those labs by the end of this year.
Trial Judge Denies Bias Against Kocharian
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Judge Anna Danibekian presides over the trial of former President 
Robert Kocharian and three other former officials, Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
The judge presiding over the trial of Robert Kocharian dismissed on Monday his 
lawyers’ claims that she is biased against the Armenia’s arrested former 
president and must therefore recuse herself from the case.
The lawyers voiced the demands after the district court judge, Anna Danibekian, 
twice refused to release Kocharian from custody last month.
Danibekian took over the trial from another judge, Davit Grigorian, who ordered 
Kocharian’s release in May. Grigorian was controversially charged with forgery 
and suspended in July.
The lawyers petitioned Danibekian to free Kocharian and drop coup charges 
brought against him after Armenia’s Constitutional Court declared 
unconstitutional on September 4 a legal provision used by investigators against 
their client. Danibekian ruled on September 17 that the Constitutional Court’s 
decision does not apply to the former president. Three days later she also 
refused to grant him bail.
“You have a negative biased attitude towards Kocharian,” one of the defense 
lawyers, Hayk Alumian, told Danibekian on Monday.
Armenia -- Former President Robert Kocharian (R) talks to his lawyer Hayk 
Alumian during his trial, Yerevan, October 7, 2019.
Alumian accused her of deliberately and illegally delaying decisions on 
petitions submitted by Kocharian’s legal team in August. He also alleged 
serious procedural violations in judicial authorities’ decision to assign the 
case to Danibekian. They knew that she will not rule in the ex-president’s 
favor, claimed Alumian and other defense lawyers.
The trial prosecutors defended the judge, saying that she is impartial and did 
not breach any laws or legal procedures. After a short deliberation, Danibekian 
rejected the lawyers’ latest demands.
The coup charges leveled against Kocharian and three other former senior 
Armenian officials stem from the 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan which 
left eight opposition protesters and two police personnel dead. The prosecutors 
say that Kocharian illegally used Armenian army units against protesters 
demanding the rerun of a disputed presidential election. They also accuse him 
of large-scale bribery.
Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, rejects the accusations as 
politically motivated. The three other defendants also deny any wrongdoing.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

NEWS RELEASE:
October 7, 2019 The US Department of State announces the 2021 drawing visas. with the program 
the start of accepting applications
Yerevan, Armenia – The US State Department is announcing a visa giveaway 
or green card draw in 2021. the start of accepting applications for the program. Registration: 
the new period will begin in 2019. at noon on October 2, Eastern Daylight Time and 
will end in 2019 at noon EST on November 5.
Applicants can apply electronically for lottery visas 
on the program's official website at dvlottery.state.gov.
Opportunity to obtain an immigrant visa through the annual lottery program 
are received by all who meet clear and simple criteria. 
They are selected by computer random selection 
participants. The program requirement is that the principal applicant must have completed a senior year 
school or equivalent educational institution or have US laws 
two years of work experience giving the right to participate in the program according to: 
over the past 5 years. Entrants may complete applications in person or otherwise 
with the help of a person. Regardless of whether you fill it in person or through another person, 
Only one application for registration can be submitted in each person's name 
within the specified time limits. For accuracy and completeness of information 
participant is responsible.
          Registration is free. It is recommended to fill out the application in person without 
mediators and consultants who are paid for their services 
require If, however, someone helps you fill out the application, you should 
is present when filling out the application to ensure accurate information. 
Enrollment confirmation slip and unique number confirmation number should be retained.
         Beware of deception. խաղարկային վիզաների ծրագրի հետ կապված 
շրջանառվում են փոստային ու էլեկտրոնային կեղծ նամակներ: Պետքարտուղարության 
վիզաների ծառայության գրասենյակը հայտնում է հանրությանը կեղծ նամակների մասին, 
որոնց հեղինակները, ներկայանալով որպես ԱՄՆ կառավարություն, փորձում են վճարումներ 
կորզել խաղարկային վիզայի ծրագրի մասնակիցներից:   Խորհուրդ ենք տալիս 
մասնակիցներին կարդալ Խաղարկային վիզաների ծրագրի հրահանգներն ու ընթացակարգերը, 
որպեսզի տեղյակ լինեք գործընթացի քայլերից, իմանաք՝ երբ և ինչ պետք է սպասել և 
ումից:  ԱՄՆ կառավարությունը խաղարկության մասնակիցներին երբեք էլեկտրոնային 
նամակով չի հայտնում շահելու մասին լուրը: Փոխարենը, մասնակիցները կարող են պարզել 
իրենց դիմումի կարգավիճակը ծրագրի պաշտոնական կայքում՝օգտագործելով գրանցման 
ժամանակ տրված եզակի համարանիշը: Ներգաղթային վիզաների հարցազրույցի մասին 
տեղեկությունը ևս կներկայացվի կարգավիճակի ստուգման բաժնում:
Կարևոր է հիշել, որ վիճակախաղում շահելը դեռևս ներգաղթային վիզա ստանալու երաշխիք 
չէ: Շահողները պետք է մասնակցեն հարցազրույցին և որակավորված լինեն վիզա ստանալու 
համար:
          Գրանցման հետ կապված հավելյալ տեղեկություններ, ինչպես նաև հետաքրքրող 
հարցերի պատասխանները կարող եք գտնել Խաղարկային վիզաների DV-2021-ի 
հրահանգներում, որոնք զետեղված են 
  էջում:
###
NEWS  RELEASE
October 7, 2019
U.S. Department of State Announces Opening of the Registration Period
for 2021 Diversity Visa “Green Card” Lottery
Yerevan, Armenia - The U.S. Department of State announces the opening of the 
registration period for the 2021 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, also known as the 
“Green Card Lottery.” The new registration period for DV-2021 opened for 
electronic entries at noon, Eastern Daylight Time, Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 
and closes at noon, Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Applicants can access the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at the official E-DV 
website, dvlottery.state.gov, during the registration period. The annual DV program makes immigrant visas available to persons meeting 
simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-generated, random 
lottery drawing chooses selectees for visa interviews. The Diversity Visa 
Program requires the principal applicant to have a high school education, or 
its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five 
years as defined under provisions of U.S. law. Entrants may prepare and submit 
their own entries or have someone submit the entry for them. Regardless of 
whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly or with assistance, 
only one entry may be submitted in the name of each individual during the new 
registration period. The person entering the DV lottery is responsible for 
ensuring that the information provided is correct and complete. There is no 
cost or fee to register for the DV Program. You are strongly encouraged to 
complete the entry form yourself, without a “Visa Consultant,” “Visa Agent,” or 
other facilitator who offers to help for a fee. If somebody else helps you, you 
should be present when your entry is prepared so that you can provide the 
correct information. You should retain the confirmation page and your unique 
confirmation number. Fraud Warning: Diversity Visa Program Scammers Sending Fraudulent Emails and 
Letters
The Department of State, Office of Visa Services advises the public of 
fraudulent emails and letters from scammers posing as the U.S. government in an 
attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. Applicants are encouraged to 
review the rules and procedures for the DV program so that you know what to 
expect, when to expect it, and from whom. DV applicants will not receive a 
notification letter or email informing them that they are a successful DV 
entrant. Instead, entrants will use their confirmation number to check their 
status online. The Department also will confirm visa interview appointments 
through the Entrant Status Check online. It is important to note that winning the lottery is not a guarantee that you 
will receive a visa - winners must be interviewed and qualify for a visa. For detailed information about entry requirements, along with frequently asked 
questions about the DV lottery, please see the instructions for the DV-2021 DV 
lottery 
here<

.

UNCLASSIFIED

Press Release - DV edited.doc
Press Release - DV edited.doc

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