News.am, Armenia
Armenia celebrates Vardavar Armenia celebrates Vardavar
11:04, 28.07.2019
Author: Alex Jidarian
A1+: Summer Student Championship kickes off. Artur Avetisyan from Armenia is in second place
July 4, 2019
The 30th Summer Student Championship has kicked off in Naples, Italy. Artur Avetisyan is the first Armenian athlete to compete in the championship.
As reported by the press service of the Armenian National Olympic Committee, he has scored 14,750 points and became second in the finals. The young athlete was only one point behind the Turkish Ibrahim Cholak, who was the vice champion of Summer Student Championship 2018 held in 2017.
Worldwide Armenians to reunion at St. Thaddeus
Tehran Times
July 3 2019
July 3, 2019
TEHRAN – Hundreds of Christian worshippers are getting prepared to head for St. Thaddeus to observe a religious ceremony passed down from generation to generation.
For the 65th consecutive year, pilgrims from Iran, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, Canada and some other countries get together, this year from July 25 to 27, to observe a ceremony called Badarak in one of the world’s oldest monasteries.
Attendees commemorate the martyrdom of St. Thaddeus, one of the twelve disciples killed while he was preaching the Gospel. The legend says, a church dedicated to him was first built in 68 CE where Qareh Klise is standing.
The festivity is of high importance for Iranian-Armenians who mostly come from the cities of Tabriz, Urmia, Tehran, Isfahan and Qazvin, to stage the reunion in groups and families. It also provides them opportunity to go on holiday and visit distant relatives.
Baptism of children and youngsters along with performances of traditional songs and dances are amongst highlights the event.
Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), the church is one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country. It is situated in West Azarbaijan province, some 20 kilometers form Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.
Together with St. Stepanos Monastery and the Chapel of Dzordzor, Qareh Klise was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008 under the name “Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran”.
All the three sites are located in West Azarbaijan and are of high significance from historical and cultural perspectives. They bear credible testimony to interchanges with the ancient regional societies in particular the Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian.
UNESCO says that the churches bear examples of outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative traditions.
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 28-06-19
Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 28-06-19
17:07, 28 June, 2019
YEREVAN, 28 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.21 drams to 477.11 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 543.19 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.57 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.99 drams to 604.83 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 31.72 drams to 21513.57 drams. Silver price down by 0.18 drams to 233.93 drams. Platinum price up by 71.26 drams to 12440.29 drams.
Armenian Ambassador Toumanian, Deputy Culture Minister Hosseini meet
Tehran Times, Iran
Wednesday
Armenian Ambassador Toumanian, Deputy Culture Minister Hosseini meet
TEHRAN — Armenian Ambassador Artashes Toumanian met Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini in his office in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss the expansion of cultural relations.
Toumanian said he is eager for the art and culture of his country to be better known in Iran.
He announced an Armenian choir’s plan to give a performance in Tehran in the near future in memory of Armenian composer Komitas.
Soghomon Soghomonian or Solomon Solomonian who used as his pseudonym the name Komitas was an ethnomusicologist and composer that created the basis for a distinctive national musical style in Armenia.
On his part, Hosseini said that Iran has a lot in common with Armenia, especially in the music field.
“With these close relations we expect the art and cultural relations to develop further,” Hosseini said.
He added that Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance also welcomes the idea of strengthening bilateral ties through art and cultural programs and visits of artists from the two countries.
Hosseini also pointed to Iran’s various cultural events such as the Fajr festivals of film, theater and music, and said that the festivals are good opportunities for Armenian artists to participate and exchange ideas.
Photo: Armenian Ambassador Artashes Toumanian (L) meets Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini in Tehran on . (Honaronline/Mahdieh Babai)
Pallone Challenges Barriers to U.S.-Artsakh Travel and Communication
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) during a colloquy with House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) regarding removing barriers to U.S.-Artsakh travel and communication.
Engages with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman during Colloquy on the Floor of the U.S. House
WASHINGTON—Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) took to the U.S. House floor Wednesday for a dialogue with House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) in support of his legislative efforts – via the U.S.-Artsakh Travel and Communication Resolution (H.Res.190) – to end arbitrary and outdated State Department restrictions on U.S. engagement with the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
“We must remain committed to strengthening the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, removing barriers to dialogue, and resolving status and security issues that have hindered discussions in the past,” said Rep. Pallone. “Allowing direct and open dialogue and allowing our diplomats to have a presence on the ground as necessary and when safe is the only way for the United States to help bring this conflict to a resolution.”
As part of the colloquy (a scripted exchange between legislators) Chairwoman Lowey committed to work with Congressman Pallone on this matter.
“We want to thank Congressman Pallone for his principled leadership in breaking down artificial barriers to the direct and open dialogue among all stakeholders that surely represent our best hope for a durable and democratic Artsakh peace,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “It’s time to give diplomacy a chance, to promote broad-based government-to-government engagement, and to deepen civil society contact and communication at all levels. It’s time to pass H.Res.190.”
Late last week, Rep. Pallone had filed a proposed amendment to the FY2020 foreign aid bill stating: “none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to enforce U.S. government restrictions or prohibitions on visits, travel, contacts, or communications with Nagorno Karabakh.” The Rules Committee, which screens amendments prior to their consideration by the full House, ruled Rep. Pallone’s amendment “not in order.” Joining Rep. Pallone in supporting this proposed amendment were fellow Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Peter King (R-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA).
During a March, 2019, interview with then-ANCA Government Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian, Rep. Pallone, who holds the record for number of Congressional visits to Artsakh, drew attention to the obstacles Members of Congress typically face when considering this trip.
“First of all you can’t use any U.S. vehicles or transportation to go to Artsakh, but beyond that, they [U.S. State Department] constantly tell you it’s not safe; there’s going to be consequences; you’re going to be put on the Azerbaijan blacklist,” explained Rep. Pallone. “They essentially try to scare people from going – and obviously, if they are trying to scare me and other Members of Congress, that’s certainly going to discourage private individuals and businesses as well.”
Pallone went on to note that “Artsakh is a functioning democracy, a market economy – very much like the United States and the rest of the West. I want people to know that. And, if it’s going to be successful, there has to be not only political cooperation but economic cooperation. None of that [economic and political cooperation] is helpful if you have a restriction on communications and travel.”
The Artsakh Travel and Communication Resolution (H.Res.190) currently has 20 cosponsors, including Rep. Pallone and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Peter King (R-NY), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and Peter Visclosky (D-IN).
The ANCA, as part of its ANCA 360 legislative agenda, strongly supports the efforts of Rep. Pallone to lift outdated and arbitrary U.S.-Artsakh travel and communication restrictions.
President: Armenia, Morocco have untapped potential for cooperation
Panorama, Armenia
June 6 2019
20:10 06/06/2019Armenia
The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Armenia Faus El Ashabi presented on Thursday her credentials to President Armen Sarkissian.
As the press department at the President’s Office reported, President Sarkissian congratulated the Ambassador on her appointment and expressed hope Faus El Ashabi will use her years-long experience to invigorate bilateral relations between Armenia and Morocco
The president next noted that Armenia and Morocco with millennia-long histories have an untapped potential for cooperation which needs to be revealed.
Speaking of the mutually beneficial cooperation, President Sarkissian specifically pointed to perspective areas of cooperation such as high technologies, information management, and artificial intelligence.
The interlocutors also highlighted the need to boost the tourism sector for the development of bilateral relations and mutual recognizability, the source said.
Armenia Protestors Challenge Parliament Effort to Enact Big Gambling Restrictions
Casino.Org News
June 2 2019
By Todd Shriber
Armenia’s parliament is considering legislation that could further restrict gaming establishments in the Eastern European nation.
Protestors petitioned the Armenia parliament to forego enforcing stricter gambling laws. (Image: The Armenian Weekly)
The legislation, introduced last October, is the latest in a series of efforts by Armenian politicians to crackdown on betting parlors and casino gaming venues across the country. Policymakers have been trying to limit gambling activities for two decades, but the industry is a major employer Armenia, a country grappling with high levels of poverty.
Earlier this week, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital city, many of whom are staffers at Goodwin Bet LLC, an operator of local wagering parlors. The protesters believe thousands of Armenians could be left jobless if the government pursues more restrictions on gambling.
The bill being considered by Armenia’s parliament would not ban wagering until 2020 and is aimed at clamping down on brick-and-mortar establishments, such as those operated by Goodwin Bet, that are run as bookmaking shops.
Proponents of the bill argue that many Armenians that are struggling financially simply cash their paychecks and head to the nearest betting property. They also claim gambling addiction is on the rise and is responsible for the country’s increasing rate of suicide.
The legislation would ban all physical casinos and betting establishments across the country. Armenia has a handful of traditional casinos, including the Casino Shangri La in Yerevan and Casino Senator Golden Palace. Assuming the proposed bill is signed into law, it would also lead to the removal of electronic gaming and slot machines, which are found at establishments such as gas stations.
Those opposing the legislation argue that Armenia has already made strides in terms of regulating the industry, including higher license taxes on operators and a recent move to boost the minimum gambling in the country to 21 from 18.
Additionally, opponents of the bill claim policymakers are not targeting the right type of establishments. Armenia is home to a robust online betting industry, one monopolized by a company known as BetConstruct. BetConstruct, which, under another name, originally operated betting parlors similar to those run by Goodwin Bet, is now Armenia’s largest technology company and one of the 10 largest providers of online wagering services in the world.
Critics also assert that brick-and-mortar gaming establishments are required by the government to check patrons’ identification to ensure guests are of age to enter the venue, but that online wagering portals, including those operated by BetConstruct, have no way of verifying the age of their players.
Like some other countries in the region, Armenia has some dark chapters associated with gambling. Nestled in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, Armenia is a former Soviet Republic and some gaming properties there previously served as avenues for organized crime syndicates in Eastern Europe to launder money.
Other countries in the area, such as Albania and Kosovo, have banned casino gaming in effort to reduce crime and usher out crime rings.
Members of an Armenian organized crime outfit are believed to be involved in a match-fixing scheme that targeted games in La Liga, Spain’s premier football league.
Sports: U19 EURO: Armenia finds out opponents
MediaMax, Armenia
U19 EURO: Armenia finds out opponents
UEFA has held the final draw for the U19 European Championship today in Yerevan.
Armenia is in Group A, which features rather strong teams. Artur Voskanyan’s team will play against Portugal, Italy and Spain.
Group B is comprised of Czech Republic, Ireland, Norway and France.
This is the first Armenia hosts U19 EURO. The games will be held on 14 to 27 July at Republican Stadium, Banants Stadium, and FFA Academy Stadium.
Encounters with Art: Charles Aznavour
Panorama, Armenia
Society 17:27 20/05/2019 Armenia
On May 23. an engaging lecture devoted to the Armenian King of French chanson, Charles Aznavour, will be delivered by Artsvi Bakhchinyan, philologist, translator, and member of the Writers’ Union of Armenia.
The event will be held at the Special Events Auditorium of the Cafesjian Center for the Arts (CCA) within the scope of the Encounters with Art program, the Center reported in a statement.
During the lecture titled Charles Aznavour – The Artiste and the Armenian, Artsvi Bakhchinyan will touch upon the known and unknown episodes of Aznavour’s life, introducing the portrait of Aznavour artiste in a new light to the audience. The event participants will have the chance to enjoy Charles Aznavour’s best songs and poems, as well as episodes featuring his movie roles. The story of Aznavour’s ancestry, his childhood, and connections with the Armenian Cause and Armenia will also be introduced during the lecture.
The event starts at 7 PM. The admission is free.