Month: February 2020

Tigran Avinyan: Digitization is quickly progressing in Armenia

David Nargizian
iTel.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan and Head of CoE office in Yerevan Natalia Voutova have discussion opportunities for cooperation in digitization, e-judiciary and cyber security during the meeting in Yerevan today.

The parties have also discussed AI-related matters in the context of human rights protection.

Tigran Avinyan has touched on the Armenia-CoE action plan for 2019-2022, launched last year.

He has noted that digitization is quickly progressing in Armenia and underlined the importance of Armenia-CoE cooperation in the areas of mutual interest.

Yerevan preparing to host trilateral Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Summit

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 10 2020


On February 8, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a phone conversation with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.

During the phone conversation, the Foreign Ministers touched upon a wide range of issues on bilateral Armenian-Greek agenda.

Underscoring the importance of Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral platform in strengthening the established partnership and regional cooperation between the countries, the Foreign Ministers touched upon the preparations of Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Summit to be held in Yerevan.

The counterparts exchanged views on international and regional urgent issues.

In June 2014 the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Armenia agreed that their respective heads of state would meet at a trilateral summit in Armenia, adding that the purpose for the cooperation is to promote peace, stability and prosperity through enhanced political dialogue.

Armenia, Jordan to cooperate in various sectors

Emil Lazarian
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 10 2020

Armenia and Jordan discussed the possible prospects of creating firm ties between the private sectors of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Armenia, Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Al Hammouri told the reporters today.

He said they have clear instruction from Abdullah II of Jordan.

“Today meetings are scheduled with representatives of the private sector, these meetings must have their reflection on trade and economic exchanges,” the minister said, adding that Armenia and Jordan may cooperate in various sectors.

“Among these sectors are the IT, one of the leading sectors in Armenia, and I see big prospects in this sector,” he said.

Tareq Al Hammouri stressed that they see prospects of cooperation in the tourism sector as well.

Music: 11th Armenian Composition Art Festival kicks off in Yerevan

Chalian Meline
Pubic Radio of Armenia
Feb 10 2020

The 11th Armenian Composition Art Festival kicked off in Yerevan with the joint concert of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia and the National Academic Choir of Armenia.

The festival is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of composer Alexander Arutiunian.  The opening concert  featured the composer’s vocal-symphonic poem A Legend about the Armenian People  (soloists: Berj Karazian – tenor, Hovsep Nshanyan – baritone and Samvel Topalyan – reciting) and Cantata about the Motherland.

 The concert was conducted by Hovhannes Chekijyan.

The next concerts will feature works of various genres from Alexander Arutiunian ‘s rich heritage. The festival will also feature works by contemporary Armenian composers.

The State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia is the organizer of the Armenian Composition Art Festival. It is held with the support of the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport. The artistic director of the festival is conductor Sergey Smbatyan.


Culture: Jerusalem museum presents history of Armenian ceramics in Jerusalem

Emma Nadirian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
Jerusalem museum presents history of Armenian ceramics in Jerusalem Jerusalem museum presents history of Armenian ceramics in Jerusalem

01:40, 10.02.2020
                  

The Rockefeller Museum of Jerusalem opened an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian ceramics of Jerusalem, The Times of Israel reported.

The artist  David Ohannessian and his British customer changed the face of the capital in the 1920s, and now the works of the Armenian are exhibited in the archaeological museum as well as on the streets of the city.

In 1919, the British military governor of Jerusalem, Ronald Storrs, asked the artist , who had previously worked in the UK, to restore the glazed tiles on the outer walls of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Ohannessian accepted the invitation, and along with the British brought over Armenian artists Neshan Balian and Megerdish Karakashian. All three had experience in glazed ceramic workshops in Turkey.

For several years, the governor and Armenian artists changed the face of Jerusalem. Armenians combined traditional ceramics with everything that is unique to Jerusalem. Armenian Jerusalem ceramics can be seen in dozens of buildings throughout the city since then.

The Rockefeller Museum opened a new amazing exhibition last fall, opening for visitors 100 years of Armenian ceramics. The curators called the exhibition “A Glimpse of Paradise” in honor of the fabulous fresco of the same name created by the late Marie Balian, the world-famous Armenian ceramic artist.

Propaganda machine operated on highest level: Bright Armenia deputy

Albert Nalbandian
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 10 2020

Day of referendum has been appointed and the people are to decide on their own whether to go to the voting or no and whether to say yes or no, deputy from Bright Armenia faction Taron Simonyan told the reporters today.

As to whether the RA president had an opportunity to send the draft on constitutional amendments to the CC but did not do it, the deputy said, “It is difficult for me to comment on it. Let the president comment on his actions himself. The Constitution gives him an opportunity to apply to the CC, but the president did not choose this option.”

The deputy said they expressed their position at the voting and added that the faction will convene a special session to discuss how to act till the referendum.

As to whether Bright Armenia will head the “No” headquarters, Simonyan said the issue is yet to be discussed.

“The propaganda has not only launched, but Mr Pashinyan made a statement on Facebook. It means the propaganda machine has been operated on the highest level,” Simonyan said.

Bright Armenia ready to apply to CC if necessary number of signatures is gathered: Edmon Marukyan

Aram Torosian
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 10 2020

Bright Armenia faction is ready to apply to the CC if necessary number of signatures are gathered, head of Bright Armenia faction Edmon Marukyan told Aysor.am, referring to the statement that the 1/5 of NA deputies may apply to CC to appeal the decision of the president to conduct constitutional referendum.

“But there are no signatures. If there are, we are ready. The PAP stated that it waits for the conclusion of the Venice Commission, consequently they will not join this initiative at this phase. This is why it is senseless to apply to us with this question. If we do not get the necessary number of signatures why to initiate it. We have 17 signatures, bring the other 10 to apply,” Edmon Marukyan said.

Chairman of the NA’s State-Legal Affairs Standing Committee Vladimir Vardanyan earlier stated that if 1/5 of the National Assembly deputies apply to the Constitutional Court to appeal the president’s decision or decree, the CC will decide to suspend this process or not.

The president signed the decree appointing referendum for April 5.

The referendum is aimed at ceasing the tenure of the CC chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan and six judges.

Attorney for murdered Armenian cadet files motion with court for accused-on-trial’s release on bail

Emma Nadirian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
Attorney for murdered Armenian cadet files motion with court for accused-on-trial’s release on bail Attorney for murdered Armenian cadet files motion with court for accused-on-trial’s release on bail

21:49, 10.02.2020
                  

During the trial over the murder of cadet of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute Haykaz Barseghyan today, accused-on-trial Vache Sahakyan’s attorney filed a motion with the court to change Sahakyan’s pre-trial measure to bail, as reported the victim’s legal successor Ani Torosyan, who reported that the amount of bail was set at AMD 1,000,000.

Haykaz Barseghyan’s fellow cadets Gnel Tevosyan, Norik Sahakyan, Vache Sahakyan anmd Movses Azaryan are charged with the murder of Haykaz Barseghyan.

Based on the charge, on January 29, 2015, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., they brutally killed cadet Haykaz Barseghyan in the bedroom of the military unit, and later, to conceal the traces, they hung his body from a horizontal bar at the training square and, on his behalf, left a note stating that he had committed suicide. The accused-on-trial don’t find themselves guilty.

Armenia to hold referendum on Constitutional Court in April

Edgar Tavakalian
Reuters
Feb 9 2020
 
 
 
 
YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia will hold a referendum on suspending the powers of a majority of members of its Constitutional Court, a move seen by political analysts as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attempt to remove judges who have opposed him.
 
A bill on holding the referendum on April 5 was adopted by parliament earlier this week and signed by President Armen Sarkissian on Sunday.
 
The constitutional amendments would suspend the powers of seven judges who were appointed before a peaceful revolution against corruption and cronyism which brought Pashinyan to power two years ago. The court’s two other judges, who were appointed later, will maintain their powers.
 
Pashinyan on Thursday called the Constitutional Court’s decisions a “threat to democracy”.
 
Last September the court ruled that a criminal case against Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharyan was partly unconstitutional. Kocharyan has been charged with acting unlawfully by introducing a state of emergency in March 2008, following a disputed election.
 
“The only hope of the former corrupt regime is pinned on the Constitutional Court and its president Hrayr Tovmasyan,” Pashinyan told parliament on Thursday.
 
Tovmasyan was charged in December with abuse of power while he was the country’s justice minister. He has denied the charges.
 
The seven judges were appointed by the Republican party, who ruled the country at the time, and former president Serzh Sarksyan.
 
Members of the Republican party, now in opposition, criticized the decision to hold the referendum.
 
“This is an illogical, illegal and unconstitutional change,” the party said in a statement.

Prosperous Armenia faction MP on challenging President’s decree in Constitutional Court

Karapet Navasardian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
Prosperous Armenia faction MP on challenging President’s decree in Constitutional Court Prosperous Armenia faction MP on challenging President’s decree in Constitutional Court

22:03, 10.02.2020
                  

Prosperous Armenia Party still hasn’t discussed whether it will challenge the decree of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian in the Constitutional Court or not. This is what member of the Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Naira Zohrabyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am today.

Chair of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly Vladimir Vardanyan today told reporters that if 1/5 of the deputies of the National Assembly apply to the Constitutional Court, challenge the decision or the President’s decree, the Constitutional Court will be the entity that will decide to suspend the procedure or not.

The President of Armenia has signed a decree according to which the referendum for constitutional amendments will take place on April 5, 2020. The amendments will terminate the powers of the members of the Constitutional Court elected prior to April 2018, and out of the 9 members, 7 were elected prior to April 2018.