Author: Adrine Hakobian

Pashinyan on Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting: ‘Which country’s Electoral Code will be used?’

Adrine Hakobian
Aravot, Armenia
Dec 20 2018
Pashinyan on Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting: ‘Which country’s Electoral Code will be used?’

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the issue of Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting during the opening of the “Neruzh” project in Dilijan. One of the participants, who has lived in Canada for the past ten years, asked if the new government will create an opportunity for Armenian citizens living outside of Armenia to vote.

Pashinyan assured that the current system needs to continue. “Because, for example, if we want all citizens living in Russia to have the opportunity to vote, then we need to lead in accordance with the Armenian Electoral Code as well as the Russian one. This means that we need to have one voting station for every 2,000 voters. And if we do that, then it will become clear that there are more voting stations outside of Armenia than inside.”

Pashinyan said that this is not technically possible, since Armenia does not have a consulate in Chelyabinsk or Tyumen, for example. Armenian citizens living in Tyumen will need to travel to Moscow or St. Petersburg to vote. “And if they have to go all that way, they should come to Armenia to vote. The best option is for Armenian citizens to be in Armenia to vote.”

Nelly Babayan

A1+: Karen Kocharyan: Manvel Grigoryan’s brother’s sons threatened me (video)

Adrine Hakobian
  • 12:03 | December 11,2018 | Politics
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

Today, Karen Kocharyan, a political technologist, made a sensational announcement at the meeting with journalists.

“In September 1995, my father died, and not even after 40 days after that Manvel Grigoryan’s brother’s sons came and threatened me by saying that I should signed and donate the vouchers to them. I will not appeal anywhere, but if I apply, will it be the redistribution of property or restoration of justice?”


Azerbaijani press: Russia should stop Sahakyan’s dubious visits to its territory: political analyst

Adrine Hakobian
26 November 2018 19:21 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Matanat Nasibova – Trend:

The permission for the “head” of the illegal separatist regime, established in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, to enter the Russian Federation is contrary to Russia’s mediation as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Fikrat Sadikhov, a well-known Azerbaijani political analyst, former diplomat, told Trend Nov. 26.

Armenian media had earlier spread information that the “head” of the separatist regime, Bako Sahakyan arrived in the Russian Federation.

Sadikhov noted that this fact negatively affects the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“At the same time, this contradicts the legal framework of the bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. As we know, there is a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to which the parties pledged not to support the separatist movements, as well as to stop the activities of individuals against the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the other party. Russia, as a supporter of the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, should stop Bako Sahakyan’s dubious visits to its territory,” Sadikhov said.

Sadikhov said Sahakyan’s visits to any of the countries that have pledged to carry out the mediation mission are unacceptable.

“Sahakyan’s illegal visits to each of the countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group are directed against the conflict’s settlement since the visits violate the norms and principles of international law and at the same time question the mediation efforts of the countries involved in the negotiations,” Sadikhov added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova


We will see on December 9. RPA promises a surprise for Nikol Pashinyan

Adrine Hakobian
  • 26.11.2018

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  • Armenia:

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  • arm

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  • rus

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A black and white reality was imposed on Armenia. On December 9, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his teammates are in for a big surprise. This was mentioned by Armen Ashotyan, RPA vice-president, in the RPA central office, presenting the pre-election program of the party.


Unlike other political forces, which started the day with meetings with citizens in different squares of Armenia, RPA started its campaign from the office through a press conference. He called to consider the party’s program together with the latest statement of the RPA Council. “Do not consider our program as a separate document. The last statement of the RPA Council is an integral part of the program,” he said.


Armen Ashotyan mentioned that the citizen of Armenia should be concerned about the security of Artsakh, the combat capability of the army, the strength of the borders, new price increases, the risk of losing his job and make his choice accordingly. “Why choose us, because we have history, knowledge, experience. We know and have accepted our mistakes, because we are ready to serve our homeland,” said Armen Ashotyan.


Ashotyan believes that a black and white reality was imposed on Armenia. However, he emphasized that Armenia is tricolor, not black and white. According to him, the statements that the RPA will get 0 votes are an insult to the citizens. “This is an insult to RA citizens, it is obvious that we will not get 0 votes, we will get thousands of votes,” he said.


Armen Ashotyan announced that a big surprise awaits Nikol Pashinyan and his team on the night of December 9.


RPA GM member Arpine Hovhannisyan, who represents the RPA program together with Ashotyan, announced that events have been taking place in the last 6-7 months and steps have been taken that should really give cause for concern.


“I don’t want to cause alarm, I don’t want to be hypocritical. The concern should be: what are we seeing in the last 6-7 months? We see Nikol Pashinyan and his team directly criticizing the Republican Party. Everything, if there is a good move by the Republican Party, is not talked about, as if it did not happen, it is a phenomenon created by itself. If it is a defect, it should be blackened, exaggerated and extreme. This is politics,” said Arpine Hovhannisyan.


According to him, the second phenomenon observed by the ruling power is “making false promises about the future”. “Promises: you will live well, I will raise salaries, I will raise pensions, of course, they can be divided into two parts. Promises that have been made and have not been fulfilled and will not be fulfilled: speedometers, red lines, cumulative pensions, etc. And the second group, which exclusively sound like good wishes. There is no way to fulfill those promises,” said Arpine Hovhannisyan.


He mentioned that the RPA expects a vote of confidence from the people in the upcoming elections.


“We feel responsible, because a person is responsible even if he does not try to prevent what is happening. When you are an observer, you are also responsible. We do not want to be in the status of an observer. We fully realized our political path, the gaps and achievements we had. We want to be allowed to raise the problems that we see by what we do or what we do not do,” said Arpine Hovhannisyan.

Renowned Istanbul Armenian photographer, the late Ara Güler’s works to be exhibited in 5 countries

Adrine Hakobian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 27 2018
Renowned Istanbul Armenian photographer, the late Ara Güler’s works to be exhibited in 5 countries Renowned Istanbul Armenian photographer, the late Ara Güler’s works to be exhibited in 5 countries

14:30, 27.11.2018
                  

The works of famous Istanbul Armenian photographer, the late Ara Güler, will be exhibited at the best showrooms in five countries.

By order of the president, Turkish authorities are carrying out activities toward having Güler’s photos exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Rome, Munich and Berlin, Milliyet newspaper reported. 

Ara Güler was born on August 16, 1928 in Istanbul.

Güler, who was recognized as “Photographer of the Century” and was also known as the “Eye of Istanbul,” had begun his photojournalism career in 1950.

Ara Güler had photographed numerous world-renowned personalities, and he had received many Turkish and international awards and titles.

Güler passed away on October 17, aged 90.

Top member of Republican Party of Armenia demands televised debate with Pashinyan

Adrine Hakobian
ARKA, Armenia
Nov 28 2018

YEREVAN, November 28. /ARKA/. The first deputy chairman of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Vigen Sargsyan has asked the acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for a televised debate ahead of December 9 early parliamentary elections. 

Sargsyan wrote on his Facebook page that his decision is prompted by the fact that Pashinyan’s campaigning for his My Step alliance is based on scaring the voters  by the Republicans, which he describes as ‘vicious’ policy of dividing the society into ‘blacks’ and ‘whites.’ Sargsyan then accuses the acting Prime Minister of making the entire electoral process ‘ugly and unworthy.’

Sargsyan says he wants a face-to-face debate with Pashinyan, although the Public Televison is set to hold December 5 such a debate among the heads of all the parties and bloc contesting the polls. He proposed also that the debate be on 4-6 topics, half of which is to be chosen by Pashinyan and the other half by him with the opportunity to ask one another questions. Sargsyan also said that the date could be chosen by Pashinyan because of his busy schedule.

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned October 16 to clear way for the dissolution of the parliament and holding early parliamentary elections. Under the Armenian Constitution, early elections are held if lawmakers fail twice within 14 days to appoint a prime minister. 

Pashinyan was elected as PM by the country’s National Assembly after former president turned-prime minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned on April 23 under immense public pressure provided by weeks of nationwide protest against Sargsyan and his Republican Party. 

Nine political parties and 2 blocs will be contesting the polls. They  are My Step bloc, the Prosperous Armenia Party, the National Progress Party, the Christian-National Revival, the Sasna Tsrer All-Armenian Party, the Orinats Yerkir Party, the We  bloc, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, the Bright Armenia bloc, the Republican Party of Armenia, the Social Democratic Party and the Decision of Citizen party. -0-

Armenian government seeks to liquidate the company set for construction of new unit for NPP

Adrine Hakobian
ARKA, Armenia
Nov 29 2018

YEREVAN, November 29. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia decided today to vote for the liquidation of Metsamorenergoatom company that was established for handling the construction of a new nuclear power unit for Armenian nuclear power plant (NPP), when its shareholders meet for a general meeting.

This company was established in 2009. It is a joint Russian-Armenian venture in which each sides holds 50% of shares. The founders of the company are Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Russian Rosatom that builds nuclear power plants abroad and the Ministry of Economy and Natural Resources Of Armenia.

However, since its inception the company did not carry out any activity. By this decision, the government ordered the Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources to participate in the general meeting of the company’s shareholders on behalf of Armenia and vote for its liquidation.

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. One of its two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities said they would build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging facility. The new plant was said to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility.  The plant currently generates some 35 percent of Armenia’s electricity. 

In March 2014, Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life up to 2026 because of delay in building a new unit. The service life extension has become possible thanks to Russia’s financial resources. The country was to provide $270 million to Armenia as a loan and $30 million as a grant. -0- 

Azerbaijani press: Armenian soldiers in occupied Karabakh unhappy with fundraising for Hayastan Fund

Adrine Hakobian
29 November 2018 19:46 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 29

By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:

Armenian soldiers in Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region are unhappy that they are forced to transfer money to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, political analyst Ehtiram Ashirli told Trend Nov. 29.

He said that an annual telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was held in Los Angeles Nov. 22.

“This time during the fundraising campaign conducted under the slogan ‘Create Together’, the amount of funds raised was $11,109,633,” he said. “With the help of these funds, illegal activity is carried out in the occupied Karabakh. However, according to information, soldiers and officers of military units of the Armenian army illegally deployed in Karabakh are forced to transfer money to this fund. Officers are required to transfer 5,000 drams to the fund’s account, ensigns have to transfer 3,000 drams, contract soldiers have to transfer 1,000 drams, and the military personnel has to pay 100 drams. According to the information, the servicemen who don’t observe this instruction encounter problems.”

He noted that the Armenian Ministry of Defense annually transfers a certain amount to the fund’s account, but then these funds are collected from military personnel, and this causes discontent among them every year.

“The money from the servicemen was collected only in military units deployed in Karabakh,” the analyst said. “A spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, calling this a terrible thing, added that he doesn’t have such information and declined to give additional information.”

The funds raised during the telethons amounted to $12,505,456 in 2017, $15,428,777 in 2016, $10,378,465 in 2015 and $12,399,550 in 2014.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.


Shoah Foundation shares Armenian Genocide info with LA educators

Adrine Hakobian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Nov 16 2018
– 13:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Educators attending a professional development conference at Ferrahian High School. Two University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation staff members recently shared the Institute’s work related to the Armenian Genocide with Armenian school educators in the Los Angeles area, The Armenian Mirror Spectator.

Education and Outreach Specialist Sedda Antekelian and Program Officer Manuk Avedikyan shared information about the educational use of testimony in the Institute’s Visual History Archive and on the Institute’s educational website, IWitness.

On September 22, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Yervant Babayan Institute of Pedagogy for Research and Development hosted “Best and Promising Practices and Resources Conference” for teachers of Armenian language, history, religion and culture. The conference took place at the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Center in Pasadena.

The founder of the AGBU Babayan Institute, Armenian Film Foundation board member, Professor Emeritus Dr. Silva Karayan organized the conference with the goal of revealing innovative resources and best practices among experts and other educators to enhance Armenian-American education within the community’s various schools.

Both Avedikyan and Antekelian presented in the last panel of the conference, along with Lilit Keshishian from the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, among other notable experts in the Armenian community. Avedikyan demonstrated various ways of searching the Visual History Archive (VHA) to research testimony. Antekelian highlighted testimony-based resources available through the IWitness Armenian Genocide Education program and effective strategies for how to integrate testimony into the classroom.

Educators and presenters from Sept. 22 AGBU Babayan conference. On October 6, Antekelian led two introductory workshop sessions at the 18th Annual Professional Development Day Conference for all K-12 Armenian school educators from California at Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School in Encino. Up to 400 educators were provided with the opportunity to access up-to-date research-based teaching methods and strategies for the 21st century learner from multiple experts.