Month: February 2020

12 people hospitalized from Armenia airport test negative for coronavirus

Frangulian Shushan
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
February 7, 2020 – 13:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 12 passengers who were hospitalized from Armenia‘s Zvartnots airport tested negative for the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health revealed in a Facebook post on Friday, February 7.

Alina Nikoghosyan’s comments came in response to media publications suggesting that “more than 10 citizens arrived from China with a high temperature and were immediately hospitalized.”

“Twenty tests were performed overall, all with a negative result,” Nikoghosyan said.

The death toll from the virus was at least 638 as of Thursday evening. All but two of the deaths were in mainland China, with one person succumbing in the Philippines and another in Hong Kong. More than 31,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide, the vast majority of them in China.

Glendale approves building for Armenian-American health center

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 7 2020
February 7, 2020 – 14:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The City Council of Glendale, California, has unanimously approved the construction of a daringly-designed building for a community health center created by Armenian-American physician, Dr. Noobar Janoian, in 1999, The Architect’s Newspaper reports.

The building is authored by Los Angeles-based architecture firm P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S and Santa Monica-based Sharif, Lynch: Architecture.

When complete, the Janoian Building will be the new home of All For Health, Health For All, the local community health center, and will include rentable office space, ground-floor retail, and a small amenity space in the terrace. As approved, Glendale residents can expect to see a 5-story, 70-foot-tall complex rise on the site.

The five-story building’s shifting character on the corner of Broadway and Isabel Street is designed to visually connect the urban promenade of the stylistically-diverse Glendale Civic Center.

The building’s irregularly-striated brise-soleil system and exterior voids along Isabel Street contrast the smooth, unbroken glass facade to break up the structure’s otherwise imposing presence. A series of exterior soffits and cantilevers unify the building’s envelope while adding continuous open balconies accessible via the medical office spaces. The health center will be set back along Isabel Street to make room for a small pocket park, for which Armenian artist Zadik Zadikian was commissioned to create a public mural as a backdrop that reflects the community’s diverse citizenship.

Construction on the Janoian Building will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by late next year.

Armenia’s Urvakan Festival reveals first names for 2020

Karagyozian Lena
Resident Advisor
Feb 7 2020
 
 
Armenia’s Urvakan Festival reveals first names for 2020
 
Mark Smith
 
Madteo, MSYLMA and Shackleton will feature at the May festival.

Urvakan Festival has revealed its first wave of acts for 2020.

Running May 5th to 9th, the Armenian event’s lineup is partly shaped by guests curators, including Rabih Beaini, Club Chai, Gost Zvuk, Brandon Rosenbluth, Klammklang, Synthposium and TKANI.

The bill features a host of experimental artists such as Pierre Bastien, Ellen Arkbro, Ghédalia Tazartès and Rhys Chatham, while electronic acts are represented by the likes of Madteo, MSYLMA, The Bug, Shackleton‘s Tunes Of Negation project, Buttechno, 8ULENTINA and Slikback. More acts are still TBA.

See the lineup so far on the RA event page.

  • May 05  Urvakan Festival 2020, TBA – Armenia, Armenia
Festival: Urvakan
 

Armenian lawyers, human rights activists issue statement against constitutional referendum

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

16:49, 07.02.2020
                  

After following, with deep concern, the events that unfolded in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the legislature’s decision to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation. This is stated in the statement issued by first Human Rights Defender of Armenia Larisa Alaverdyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan and lawyer Ruben Melikyan.

“We, the undersigned lawyers and human rights activists, after following, with deep concern, the events that took place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the decision of the legislature to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation.

Attaching importance to the mechanisms of direct democracy, we also insist that those mechanisms cannot be applied arbitrarily and illegitimately. This will not only undermine the foundations of a legal state, but will also create a weighty precedent for violation of rights. Our concerns are fully in line with the international commitments that the Republic of Armenia has assumed within the scope of the Council of Europe.

Based on the aforementioned, we call on the President of the Republic of Armenia to refrain from participating in this unconstitutional process and from designating the referendum.

Larisa Alaverdyan, first Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia

Avetik Ishkhanyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia

Ruben Melikyan, lawyer

Lawyers and human rights activists are free to join the statement. The last day for signatures is February 8 (5 p.m.).

We recommend that the political and non-governmental organizations operating in the Republic of Armenia address the President of the Republic of Armenia with a similar call,” the statement reads.

Newspaper: Armenia Constitutional Court referendum may not take place

Ekmekjian Janet
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

09:36, 07.02.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: The National Assembly (NA) yesterday adopted (…) the draft decision on putting the constitutional amendments to a referendum.

As it is known, by the draft constitutional amendments, the MPs propose to terminate the term of office of the CC [Constitutional Court] President and the members elected until April 9, 2018.

Now this decision must be followed by appropriate processes, including by RA President Armen Sarkissian.

RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced yesterday at the NA podium that he had reached an agreement with the RA President during his last meeting, and the latter agreed to settle the issue through a referendum.

But there are some interesting nuances hidden here. In any case, the authorities’ backstage does not rule out the possibility that the referendum will not take place, and that will be the case when the CC judges take advantage of the early retirement plan.

As it is known, the law on voluntary early retirement of CC judges is valid until the end of this month. (…) And, by yesterday’s initiative, the authorities made it clear that it’s all the same, they [the serving CC judges] would be dismissed from their positions if the referendum was adopted.

This is certainly one of the options. And with the other option, a referendum is really going to take place. In that case there are clear deadlines, and in fact, the referendum on constitutional amendments will take place in May (…).

And, according to the Law on Referendum, the referendum campaign will last 60 days. Then, according to preliminary calculations, the power will need about 650 thousand “yes” votes.

Armenia President: There is no need to be afraid of a referendum

David Nargizian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

23:08, 07.02.2020
                  

Touching upon the situation in regard to the Constitutional Court of Armenia and answering the question whether he is going to sign the decision of the National Assembly on holding a pan-national referendum, President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian particularly said the following in an interview with Shant TV, Aravot Daily and Mediamax news agency:

“The President of Armenia shouldn’t get entangled in the affairs of neither the government nor parliament. The President can collaborate and give advice, but not get entangled, especially express opinions on this or that issue. The Constitution doesn’t imply the President’s interpretation either.

The President doesn’t interpret the Constitution and laws.

This is a rather important issue. Let’s assume the President is given a law that, according to specialists, doesn’t contradict the Constitution. At the given moment, the President can either sign or not sign the law, and after a while, the National Assembly can enforce it. The law isn’t forwarded to the Constitutional Court since it doesn’t contradict the Constitution. However, the President himself is well aware that even though the given law might not contradict the Constitution, it may play a harmful role in the solution to a particular issue. The President has to make a decision. In some countries, a solution may be the right to veto, but this has to be reasoned. In other countries, the President is entitled to return the law to the National Assembly and say that even though it doesn’t contradict the Constitution, there are formulations that will cause harm.

Life is more complicated than laws. The most important law is the Constitution. I have been closely following the recent events. The Staff of the President hasn’t received the relevant documents yet. When it does, I will express my attitude, but the issue won’t concern my signature.”

Stating the fact that he has been following the processes unfolding in the National Assembly, President Sarkissian said the following: “I’m in favor of reinforcement of the process of addressing the people in our culture. There are a couple of ways of addressing the people. One of them is a referendum, and the other — plebiscite, or _expression_ of will. I believe this is highly valuable in the 21st century. We all live virtual and real lives. I believe that, for any government, especially now when people are living two lives, it is very important for the government to talk to the people and express opinions. The _expression_ of will of the people isn’t linked to a particular law, but the attitude of the people. There are countries where this is applied successfully. In a country like Switzerland, the government addresses the people with even simple issues.

There is no need to be afraid of a referendum. In the conditions of “two lives” in the 21st century, it even becomes necessary to step down and ask for the people’s opinions from time to time.”

Make Armenia a country of modern technologies: President meets representatives of IT companies

Ani Tigranian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 7 2020

Today, President Armen Sarkissian met with representatives of information technology companies.

President Sarkissian attached importance to the development of modern technologies, noting that it is necessary to combine all efforts to make Armenia a country of modern technologies.

Presenting the ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) Presidential Initiative on Technology and Science Development in Armenia, President Sarkissian noted that this three-part program aims to bring leading IT companies to Armenia to practice artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling, machine learning by developing fields and implementing educational programs.

The President informed that preliminary agreements have already been reached with about two dozen organizations.

The President also referred to the Armenian Summit of Minds to be held in Armenia this year, which will be devoted to artificial intelligence and geopolitics, as well as to the Horasis-China International Conference, which will bring dozens of Chinese companies to Armenia.

Representatives of the IT sector highlighted the importance of the meeting with the President, his support in the development of new technologies in Armenia, and noted that they are ready to cooperate and come up with proposals.

The Chamber of Advocates of Armenia made a statement regarding the draft amendments to the Constitution.

George Mamian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

ArmInfo. The Chamber of Advocates of Armenia made a statement regarding the decision of the Parliament on submitting draft amendments to the Constitution of the  Republic of Armenia for referendum.

The Council of the Chamber of Lawyers of the Republic of Armenia  notes that the rule of law and the separation and balance of powers,  which have been enshrined in Articles 1 and 4 of the Constitution of  the Republic, are of key importance in the establishment of the rule  of law. , the statement emphasizes.  According to the Chamber, the  adoption of the package of amendments may cast doubt on the  independence of the judiciary in Armenia. It is also noted that the  draft constitutional amendments bypassing the Constitutional Court  contradicts paragraph 2 of article 168 and part 2 of article 169 of  the Constitution.

The Council of the Chamber of Advocates calls on the deputies of the  National Assembly, the Government and political forces to concentrate  on ensuring the further progress of judicial and legal reforms,  including, in particular, removing obstacles to the professional  activities of lawyers, ensuring the right to a trial within a  reasonable time, increasing confidence in the courts, introducing an  effective system for monitoring the implementation decisions of the  Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights, the Court  of Cassation, and so on. The Chamber of Lawyers expresses its  readiness to closely cooperate with state bodies in various formats  regarding the implementation of these real reforms.

The day before, the Armenian parliament decided to submit draft  amendments to the Constitution to the referendum. Thus, this question  is referred actually to the will of the citizens of the country.  During the meeting, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan spoke.  In particular, he stated that at one time the Republican Party of  Armenia usurped power belonging to the people. Pashinyan emphasized  that the issue of the Constitutional Court should be decided by the  people of Armenia. The prime minister also called on judges of the  Constitutional Court to resign before the president signs the  referendum law.

In turn, PACE has already spoken on this topic. PACE co-rapporteurs  for monitoring in Armenia called on Yerevan to send a bill to the  Venice Commission on amendments to the republic’s constitution in  order to remove the head of the Constitutional Court and a number of  judges and wait for her answer. They noted that this opinion, in the  case of a referendum, would be valuable to all parties. 


Turkologist: It is possible that in the near future the Armenian issue may again be on the agenda

Maral Takmazian
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

ArmInfo. Of course, the adoption by the House of Representatives and the US Congress of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide played a significant role in this  process. Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the  National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, turkologist  Ruben Safrastyan stated this at a press conference on February 7.

He emphasized that close to April 24 we will finally see the work of  the Armenian lobby on the issue of recognition of the Armenian  Genocide. “Our specialists should prepare, as the events taking place  in the Middle East are similar to the events that took place at the  beginning of the 20th century, when the Treaty of Sevres was signed,  aimed at creating a Christian state in northern Turkey,” the expert  emphasized.

Safrastyan noted that it is possible that we are on the verge of big  changes. In his opinion, the Armenian issue may again be on the  agenda, but it will have a slightly different nature, since today  there is already an Armenian state in the world. “I think that  Armenia, using “soft power”, can push its agenda in public and  political circles of many countries of the world,” the expert said.   He also noted that the United States began to reckon with Russia’s  position on strategic issues. “The developments in the Middle East  are clearly signaling that we should prepare for any, even very  unexpected scenarios,” Safrastyan emphasized.

It should be noted that according to the Treaty of Sevres, Turkey was  supposed to transfer to Armenia a territory of 103. 599 sq. M. km:  two-thirds of the Van and Bitlis vilayets, almost the entire Erzurum  vilayet, most of the Trebizond vilayet, including the port. Having  united with the Republic of Armenia existing in the Transcaucasus, an  independent united Armenian state would have a territory with an area  of more than 150 thousand sq. M. km, with access to the Black Sea.  However, Turkey has not complied with the terms of this agreement.

  

Turkish historian Taner Akçam to present new research on Armenian Genocide

Chakhmakhchian Vatche
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will present a lecture by Prof. Taner Akçam entitled “When Was the Decision to Annihilate the Armenians Taken?” on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., in Batmasian Hall on the third floor of the new NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. A reception will follow in the Shahinian Solarium, The Armenian Weekly reports.

In this presentation of recent research, Dr. Akçam argues that documents from the Ottoman archives in Istanbul indicate that the first decision to exterminate Armenians was made on December 1, 1914, well before most scholars have thought. Another document, a letter by Bahaettin Şakir, one of the main architects of the Armenian Genocide, written on March 3, 1915, says that the Central Committee of Union and Progress had decided to exterminate the Armenians, giving the government wide authority to implement this plan. Doubt has been the case on the authenticity of this letter, and most researchers have ignored it.

Drawing on these newly available Ottoman documents, Akçam presents the case that we must reconsider the question of the decision(s) for the extermination of Armenians and will attempt to shed new light on the decision-making process, its chronology and the role of governors in its implementation.

Taner Akçam is the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chairholder in Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University. His book publications include A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, The Young Turks’ Crime Against Humanity: The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Ottoman Empire, and Killing Orders: Talat Pasha’s Telegrams and the Armenian Genocide.