Month: June 2022

Armenpress: The WHO will hold a consultation to assess the risk of monkeypox virus

Chmshkian Vicken

The WHO will hold a consultation to assess the risk of monkeypox virus

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YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The World Health Organization (WHO) will hold an emergency meeting to discuss whether the monkeypox virus poses a threat to public health, ARMENPRESS reports “Interfax” informs.

The meeting is scheduled for June 23.

Since the beginning of the year, 1.6 thousand cases of infection with monkeypox virus have been registered, 1.5 thousand people are under suspicion. 72 of the infected died. In total, the virus has been detected in 39 countries.

The virus was first found in monkeys in 1958 and in humans in 1970.

Monkey pox is a rare infectious disease that is most common in remote areas of Central and West Africa. Symptoms include nausea, fever, rash, itching, and muscle aches.




Indian Orchard church to host Father’s Day picnic

Hovik Karapetian
June 6 2022
Published: Jun. 07, 2022, 9:40 a.m.
By Cori Urban | Special to The Republican

Claudia Muradian-Brubach remembers going as a child with her parents and siblings to the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church’s annual Father’s Day Picnic; she enjoyed beginning summer and seeing other church community members they hadn’t seen in a while.

“It’s a great time to spend outdoors with our church family, enjoying each other’s company, talking, laughing, dancing and enjoying great Armenian food,” said Muradian-Brubach, a lifelong member of the community who has served on the Board of Trustees for more than 10 years and is a member of the board that organizes the picnic each year.

This year St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church will sponsor its annual Father’s Day Picnic on

June 19 from noon to 5 p.m. on the church grounds at 135 Goodwin St., Indian Orchard.

The picnic has been an annual tradition at the church for more than 50 years. “The fathers in the church community may have started it long ago as way to get everyone’s families together and have a fun outdoor gathering where they would cook for everyone,” Muradian-Brubach said.

The picnic will feature favorite Armenian dinners including shish kebab, losh kebab and chicken kebab dinners and baked goods. There will be a raffle, Armenian music and dancing and outdoor activities.

Haig Arakelian and his young sons will perform the music.

“We are so happy to have this traditional event back after a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” Muradian-Brubach said. “We would love for everyone to come out and join us for a great day of wonderful food, music and fellowship!”

There is no admission fee. Proceeds from the sale of food will be used for church programming.

Parking is free.

For more information, call the church office at 413-543-4763.

https://www.masslive.com/living/2022/06/indian-orchard-church-to-host-fathers-day-picnic.html

MVRDV’s self-sufficient sustainable agriculture and ecotourism valley for Armenia

Antranik Varosian
June 7 2022
Nav Pal

The valley will contain 10,000 plant species and, with the help of innovative facilities and future proof housing, will add 12,000 new housing units.

Named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the project is located near Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus and only 50 kilometres from the capital Yerevan. Surrounded by mountains, roughly 11,000 inhabitants live in several villages spread throughout the valley. The landscape consists of a patchwork of different pieces of land, of which the local community owns about one third.

The aim, which will be realised in consultation with local parties, is to turn the valley into a versatile and future proof landscape that is suitable for sustainable agriculture on various scales, and to become a more attractive place to live, as well as an area for ecotourism and recreation, serving as a destination for people to walk, hike, cycle, and ride horses.

The first step towards this self-sustaining valley is to embrace the history of the area. The 10,000 existing plots will be preserved and reinforced, and the water system in the dry region will be improved by lining the boundaries between them with canals, public paths, and greenery. This forms the base of the valley masterplan, reducing evaporation while enhancing water buffers and biodiversity. On each plot, different species will be planted, which will make the landscape visually more attractive and stimulate economic diversity.

Existing roads will continue to form the starting point for connecting all the villages and additional walking and cycling paths will be created within existing structures. Water management will be improved, with the restoration and enlargement of the route of the Hrazdan River, in combination with the new canal system, and water reservoirs in the mountains and other water sources can be used to irrigate farmland.

The Gagarin Valley has several villages, some featuring buildings from Soviet times, which will be transformed into new buildings to waste as little material as possible. Traditional farmhouses will form the inspiration for the newly built homes, where green, vegetated roofs will be added. 

The vision proposes a market hall, a commercial centre, a centre for the arts, and a sunken stadium for 4,500 visitors. The heart of the valley will be formed by an educational agricultural centre, with houses stacked to form vertical villages.

We designed a sphere that acts as a mini-planet, where the classrooms surround a spherical void and where all the species of the valley and beyond are shown and monitored. The sphere will be surrounded by a central park that contains all the species – a scientific arboretum, reflected in the mirroring sphere.

Winy Maas, Founding Partner, MVRDV

https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1753388/mvrdvs-self-sufficient-sustainable-agriculture-ecotourism-valley-armenia

National Conference on the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention in Armenia "Landscape Convention for kids"

Albert Nalbandian
June 7 2022
PRESENTATION OF THE PEDAGOGICAL BOOKLET LANDSCAPE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS, IN ARMENIAN
YEREVAN, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 8-10 JUNE 2022

The National Conference on the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention in Armenia “Landscape Convention for kids – Presentation of the pedagogical booklet Landscape education activities for primary schools (Armenian version), and training”, is organised on 8-10  June 2022 by the Urban Development Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in co-operation with the Council of Europe – Secretariat of the Convention, Directorate of Democratic Participation –, within the framework of the Work Programme of the Convention.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/landscape/-/national-conference-on-the-implementation-of-the-council-of-europe-landscape-convention-in-armenia-landscape-convention-for-kids-

Greece Strengthens Tourism Ties with Armenia at UNWTO Meeting

Emil Lazarian
June 7 2022
Posted On 07 Jun 2022
By : GTP editing team

Greece is looking outward taking actions to penetrate new markets and boost the country’s tourism product, said Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki during her visit to Yerevan, Armenia for the 67th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe.

It is noted that Greece serves as Chair of the UNWTO Commission for Europe for the 2021-2023 period.

Zacharaki, who presided over the meeting, which included the participation of UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and UNWTO Regional Director for Europe Alessandra Priante, met with Armenian tourism sector stakeholders to discuss ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries.

Among others, she met with major Armenian tour operators and discussed specific actions to boost tourist flows, as well as with representatives from Enterprise Armenia.

The minister said there was a growing interest by Armenians to visit Greece this year.

During her visit to Erevan she visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan as well as the museum dedicated to Armenians who lost their lives during genocide. She also met with representatives of the Greek community in Armenia.

Addressing the UNWTO meeting, Zacharaki referred to the great momentum in tourism this year, adding that there were reasonable hopes for full post-Covid-19 recovery. She stressed, however, that the sector globally and particularly in Europe was faced with significant challenges including the Russia- Ukraine war and soaring prices.

On the sidelines of the event, Zacharaki had the chance together with the head of the ministry’s general directorate for Tourism Policy, Panagiota Dionysopoulou, to meet with partners from France, Portugal, Spain, and Bulgaria, to discuss cooperation in tourism and participation in activities for the UNWTO Maritime Tourism Research Center for the Mediterranean which is based in Athens. 

“I had the opportunity to emphasize to our partners the impressive recovery of Greek tourism in 2021 and its even more dynamic development for 2022. We exchanged thoughts and ideas on how we can address the significant and common challenges in terms of employment, education, sustainability, but also public-private partnerships,” she said.

Addressing a special discussion on Tourism and Rural Development, Zacharaki underlined the importance of developing alternative forms of tourism “in order to obtain a better quality, balanced and sustainable tourism product”. 

“In this context, we refer to the great success of the inclusion of Soufli in the ‘Best Tourism Villages’ as well as of Western Samos in the upgrade program,” she said.

Zacharaki also presented the Greek tourism ministry’s new initiatives including the launch of special seal for visitable breweries, cheese-making factories and olive mills and to efforts being made to link the primary sector with tourism through programs supporting young farmers.

The next UNWTO Commission for Europe meeting will be held in Bulgaria.


https://news.gtp.gr/2022/06/07/greece-strengthens-tourism-ties-with-armenia-at-unwto-meeting/

Russia ends all Armenia and Kyrgyzstan travel restrictions

Ani Tigranian

June 7 2022
by Harry Johnson


Russian Prime Minister’s office published a new decree on the official portal of legal information today, officially ending all COVID-19-related restrictions on travel between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan).

On May 20, 2022, Russia’s Cabinet of Ministers issued a decree which established a “list of foreign states with regards to which temporary restrictions on the transport links introduced by Russia are lifted.”

Until today, the list included nine entities: Abkhazia, Belarus, the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist “republics”, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Ukraine and South Ossetia.

Today’s PM announcement adds Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to this list.

All travel and transport curbs are officially canceled since the date the country is included in this list.

The June 15, 2021, presidential decree on temporary measures on regulating the legal status of foreigners in Russia amid the spread of the coronavirus infection, has suspended the duration of the effective period of temporary and permanent residence permits for foreigners.

According to that decree, it was suspended for the period “until 90 days expire following the lifting of Russia’s temporary restrictions on transportation communication” with foreign countries.

The list of the foreign states with regards to which the restrictions are lifted is defined by the Russian government.

Now that the list is approved, after 90 days, the duration of the effective periods of staying in Russia for the residents of these countries will resume.


https://eturbonews.com/russia-ends-all-armenia-and-kyrgyzstan-travel-restrictions/

Specialized Tesla electric car showroom opens in Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
June 7 2022
(VIDEO)
06.06.2022 23:17

YEREVAN, June 6. /ARKA/. A specialized Tesla electric car showroom –Tesla Energy-has opened in Armenia offering smart, modern and desirable vehicles of all the models manufactured by the famous company.

The exclusive partner of Tesla Energy is ACBA Leasing, which offers purchase of cars on favorable terms. Thanks to ACBA Leasing individuals can make only a10% down payment, buy an electric car Tesla and pay the rest within 7 years. With AMD payments the annual interest rate for individual buyers starts at 11.5%.

Leasing is available also to legal entities in AMD, USD and EUR. In case of euro the annual interest rate starts from 2%.

“In order to develop innovative “green” technologies in Armenia, several years ago ACBA Leasing established “Green Leasing” sub-brand, one of the directions of which is to finance purchase of electric cars. Today with “Tesla Energy” company we are launching a campaign on financing purchase of electric cars on exceptional terms. In recent years ACBA Leasing has done an unprecedented job of popularizing electric cars in Armenia. During this period purchase of hundreds of electric cars has been financed by ACBA Leasing,’ said Aghasi Gasparyan, General Director of ACBA Leasing.

ACBA Leasing continues contributing to the development of electric car culture in Armenia. Green technologies are the future.

More information is in the video.

ACBA Leasing is controlled by the Central Bank of Armenia. -0-


https://www.armbanks.am/en/2022/06/06/140275/


U.S. says interested in facilitating Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

Ekmekjian Janet
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – June 7 2022
June 7, 2022 – 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The United States is interested in facilitating direct engagement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Monday, June 6.

Price’s remarks came ahead of a meeting between Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried and Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev.

“Assistant Secretary Donfried will convey to Mr. Hajiyev the U.S. interest in facilitating direct engagement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including our role as a Minsk Group co-chair and our support for recent EU efforts to bring both countries together,” Price said.

“This is something that Secretary Blinken has had an opportunity to engage with the leaders of these two countries on in recent days and recent weeks. It continues to be something we wish to promote.”

United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken earlier welcomed the first joint meeting of the Armenia-Azerbaijan bilateral Border Commissions, which was held on the border between the two countries on May 24. The next meeting of the commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the delimitation of the border will be held in June in Moscow.

Bishop: Azerbaijan seeks to replace Dadivank’s Armenian clerics with Russians

Dabaghian Diana
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – June 7 2022
June 7, 2022 – 16:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Azerbaijan wants to achieve the withdrawal of the Armenian clergy from Dadivank Monastery and their replacement by the clergy of the Russian Diocese of Baku, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has told NEWS.am.

“I believe this information is completely in line with Azerbaijan’s policy pursued today. They do everything to bring what they want to fruition and remove our clergymen from Dadivank. They saw that they could not achieve anything with the visits of the Udis, and [therefore] they resorted to this option,” Bishop Vrtans said Tuesday, June 7.

“Besides the fact that they will remove the Armenian clergy, they will also say that there is no need for Russian peacekeepers [in Artsakh] anymore. I am sure that the Russian Orthodox Church will not give way to that move.”

The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese added that intensive negotiations are underway to resume the entry of Armenian pilgrims to Dadivank.

Concerns about the preservation of cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh are made all the more urgent by the Azerbaijani government’s history of systemically destroying indigenous Armenian heritage—acts of both warfare and historical revisionism. The Azerbaijani government has secretly destroyed a striking number of cultural and religious artifacts in the late 20th century. Within Nakhichevan alone, a historically Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani forces destroyed at least 89 medieval churches, 5,840 khachkars (Armenian cross stones) and 22,000 historical tombstones between 1997 and 2006.