Author: Arbi Tashjian

Armenia’s operators are ready for larger internet traffic

Arbi Tashjian
iTel.am, Armenia

Itel.am has contacted Armenia’s operator with the request to share details about their work during the state of emergency. Ucom has yet to reply to our request, and the responses from other operators are presented below.

Viva-MTS

Viva-MTS mobile network operates uninterrupted, and voice and data transfer services are provided as usual. The monitoring of continuous operation of the mobile network is conducted in a stricter manner and corresponding staff work in shifts.

The capacity of the network allows Viva-MTS to serve larger volume of data transfers.

Since March 16, Viva-MTS has registered no substantial increase in mobile internet usage. The reason is that 4G network is being consistently modernized and the fact that the company’s tariff plans offer a comprehensive package of voice and internet services.


The subscribers of tariff plans X, Y, Z, who usually use internet the most, have unlimited internet for Viber, Whatsapp, Messenger, Zangi, Telegram, Instagram, Netflix, Snapchat, which means they can use these apps without spending MBs included in the plan.

Beeline

Beeline Armenia prepares for emergencies beforehand and makes sure that even in such circumstances subscribers have continuous communications with loved ones and relevant national services.


We consistently develop and modernize our networks: just in 2019, Beeline made superfast VDSL and FTTB internet accessible in almost all areas of Yerevan and enhanced the network in several cities including Etchmiadzin.

As of the moment, the company has an increase in internet use: between March 13th and 19th, the mobile internet traffic increased by 3% compared to the previous 7 days.


In the same period, fixed-line internet use grew by 24% compared to the previous 7 days. We are ready to secure bigger volume. Our technicians work 24/7 in order to secure continuous communications.

Beeline also provides free access to relevant information sources and hotlines. We announce about all these measures on our Facebook page and via SMS notifications. 

Rostelecom

Rostelecom has registered a 15-20% increase in internet traffic since March 13.

The network is not overloaded, so there are no issues. The company is ready for the load to increase. The staff works in emergency mode and everything is done to secure quality, continuous communications.

In addition, the company has launched a range of new offers: free access to entertainment and children’s TV channels, all films and TV series, and a new educational channel Hybrid Edu (ch121).

Customer service is provided round-the-clock via call service. Subscriptions and payments can be made on the company’s website.

Narine Daneghyan

More than 250 Gather for 4th Annual Armenian Genocide Education Luncheon

Arbi Tashjian

More than 250 community leaders, dignitaries, educators, and supporters attended the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region Education Committee’s fourth annual Armenian Genocide Education Luncheon. The event was held on Saturday, March 7 in Burbank, CA. Held since 2016, the Luncheon seeks to honor K through 16 public school educators who have gone above and beyond to incorporate a comprehensive lesson plan on Armenian Genocide studies within their classroom curriculum.

The event opened with the singing of the United States and Armenian national anthems, performed by Sosie Haboyan and Sose Hovannisian, respectively.

Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Petrossian then led a moment of silence for former Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, who had unfortunately passed away a few days prior to the event.

Following Petrossian, Event Committee Chairwoman Sedda Antekelian welcomed the attendees and thanked them for making the sold-out event a success. She then opened the program with a clip of testimony from Armenian Genocide survivor Hagop Asadourian, who is one of 400 interviewees from the testimony collection of the Armenian Film Foundation, that have all been integrated and digitized into the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive and used for educational purposes via USC Shoah Foundation’s online website for teachers and students, IWitness.

Following the testimony presentation, KTLA 5 News Reporter Ellina Abovian, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, took the stage to recognize the dignitaries and educators who were present at the luncheon. The list of dignitaries included Congresswoman Jackie Chu, Glendale Councilman-Elect Ardy Kassakhian, Glendale Community College representatives, including Superintendent David Viar, Board of Trustees President Vahe Peroomian, Clerk Yvette Vartanian Davis, Board Member Armine Hacopian and Trustee-Elect Sevan Benlian, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Scott Schmerelson. From Glendale Unified School District representatives included, Superintendent, Vivian Ekchian President, Jennifer Freemon, Board Members, Armina Gharpetian, Shant Sahakian, Nayiri Nahabedian, Greg Krikorian and Glendale Teachers Association President, Taline Arsenian. From Pasadena Unified School District, representatives included, Assistant Superintendent, Eric Sahakian and Board Member Michelle Richardson Bailey. From Burbank Unified School District, representatives included, Board Members Armond Aghakhanian, Roberta Reynolds, and Steve Ferguson, as well as Burbank Teacher Association President, Diana Abasta.

Following Abovian’s remarks, Congresswoman Chu took the stage to thank the organizers for their tireless efforts to advocate for the education of the Armenian Genocide.

Next, filmmaker Ani Hovannisian- Kevorkian, who served as the Keynote Speaker of the event, presented a trailer of her newly featured documentary “The Hidden Map,” which depicts the gripping encounters of Hovannisian-Kevorkian’s travels through Turkey in search of her forbidden ancestral home along with a solitary Scottish explorer that she met along the way.

Following the keynote speech by Hovannisian-Kevorkian, ANCA-WR Board Member Anahid Oshagan, highlighted the litany of projects that the tireless members of the Education Committee members have been engaged in for years, including teacher workshops, preparations of teaching resources about the Armenian Genocide, as well as their continued advocacy to include Armenian Genocide in various educational curriculums.

The program also featured talented musicians from Lark Musical Society, who performed “Adagio” by Aram Khachatryan and “Haberban” by Komitas, as well as a beautiful dance performance of “Vagharshapat” by AYAC Areni Dance Group.

Master of Ceremonies Ellina Abovian presented the Armenian Genocide Education Award, awarded to educators teaching in K through 12, who have gone above and beyond to educate their students about the Armenian Genocide and are committed to teaching about it in classrooms. Three Armenian Genocide Education Awards were presented to Jennifer Davis, Clark Magnet High School (GUSD), Michelle Herczog, EdD, Los Angeles County of Education, and Susan Quintana, Pojoaque Valley School, Pojoaque Valley School District (New Mexico).

Education Committee member and Genocide Education Project Executive Director Roxanne Makasdjian presented the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award, named after educator Sara Chitjian, who was also the daughter of Genocide survivors, which is awarded to educators of Armenian descent who have gone above and beyond to teach and preserve the Armenian heritage through the prism of the Armenian Genocide. Two Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Awards were presented to Saakanoush Markarian, R.D. White Elementary School (GUSD), and Nancy Nazarian, Glen Hammond Curtiss Magnet Middle School (LAUSD).

Master of Ceremonies Ellina Abovian presented the Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award, awarded to college professors who are dedicated to highlighting the history of the Armenian Genocide and its impact in students’ lives today in higher education institutions. The Armenian Genocide higher Education Award was presented to Dr. Maria Armoudian, Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Rubina Peroomian, Lecturer and Research Associate at the University of California, Los Angeles, presented the prestigious Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award, of which she was also a past honoree. The Award is presented to educators who have dedicated a lifetime of efforts aimed toward educating and providing resources for their students and other educators about the Armenian Genocide and its lasting legacy for humanity. The recipient of 2020 Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award was presented to Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, Professor Emeritus, UCLA.

ANCA-WR Treasurer Hermineh Pakhanians, as well as ANCA-WR Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Petrossian partook in the ceremony of presenting the awards.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair Alice Petrossian announced the renaming of the Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award to the Richard G. Hovannisian Higher Education Award. Petrossian concluded by stressing the importance of genocide education within school curriculum and requested the attendees to nominate educators from their local districts for next year’s luncheon.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 12-03-20

Arbi Tashjian

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 17:52, 12 March, 2020

YEREVAN, 12 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 12 March, USD exchange rate is up by 1.30 drams to 484.33 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.63 drams to 544.48 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.25 drams to 6.50 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 8.58 drams to 617.28 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 38.83 drams to 25751.48 drams. Silver price is down by 0.06 drams to 265.03 drams. Platinum price is up by 192.04 drams to 13687.41 drams.

Armenia coronavirus patient had concealed fever to attend engagement party, PM reveals

Arbi Tashjian

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 13:32, 13 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called on the population to treat the novel coronavirus situation with utmost responsibility.

“Today we had a discussion regarding the prevention of the coronavirus and we concluded that the only option is the person’s, the individual’s sense of responsibility.” he said.

Pashinyan also revealed some disturbing details from the pre-hospitalization period of a woman who is one of the latest confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia. The woman is a resident of Etchmiatsin, who in turn has infected two others, bringing the total to 6. She had arrived to Armenia from Italy. Pashinyan said the woman, before testing positive, had deliberately concealed the fact that she had fever when medics were contacting her after her arrival.

“Upon arrival, all citizens underwent screening at the airport, nothing was detected. One of the citizens, who is a resident of Etchmiatsin, went to her city, where healthcare authorities are carrying out monitoring from time to time. During one of the inspection tours, the healthcare authorities discover that this person has fever. At that time it was revealed that the citizen has not only concealed from the government the fact that she has had fever, but has also attended the engagement ceremony of one of her relatives. She even took intravenous medication to improve her health condition before the engagement ceremony. Being infected with the coronavirus, this resident had contacts with a barber, a jeweler, as well as all the guests who were invited to the engagement party. Now, this woman’s husband and her nephew are also infected, they are under monitoring, while the engagement party guests, the barber and jeweler are quarantined,” the PM said, calling on the population to treat such issues with utmost responsibility. He once again told the public to avoid shaking hands and kissing.

As of March 13, Armenia has 6 novel coronavirus cases. 88 direct contacts of the patients are quarantined.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Yerevan’s infectious diseases hospital designated coronavirus-only, both suspected and confirmed

Arbi Tashjian

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 17:26,

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan’s Nork Infectious Diseases hospital has been re-organized and designated as a hospital for receiving only novel coronavirus cases – both suspected and confirmed, the healthcare ministry announced in a statement.

“Patients with all other infectious diseases have been transported to other hospitals”, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also called on the general public not to obstruct the hospital’s work, not to film outside the facility by respecting the privacy and medical confidentially of patients.

 

As of March 13, there are 8 cases of the novel coronavirus in Armenia.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenpress: Armenians arriving from coronavirus hotspots advised to self-quarantine

Arbi Tashjian

Armenians arriving from coronavirus hotspots advised to self-quarantine

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 12:30,

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan has announced that citizens arriving from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, Iran and South Korea – the hotspots of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – must self-quarantine themselves for 14 days and avoid contacts.

Torosyan called on employers to ensure remote work for employees who have arrived from the abovementioned countries. He called on citizens to avoid going on business trips to these countries and overall to travel on business trips only when highly essential.

“Avoid organizing international events in Armenia with participation of people arriving from the mentioned countries”, he added.

He advised anyone who has arrived to Armenia in the past 14 days displaying flu-like symptoms to contact healthcare authorities at 060 83 83 00 or the 8003 hotline.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Joaquín Caparrós appointed head coach of Armenian national football team

Arbi Tashjian

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 13:02,

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Former Sevilla, Deportivo la Coruna and Athletic Bilbao head coach Joaquín Caparrós, 64, has been appointed head coach of the Armenian national football team, the Football Federation of Armenia said in a statement.

The contract is in force until November 30, 2021.

Joaquín Caparrós was born in Spanish municipality Utreta on March 15, 1955.

Teams managed 

 

San Jose Obrero (Spain) – 1981-1984

Campillo (Spain) – 1984-1986

Motilla (Spain) – 1986-1989

Castile-La Mancha (Spain) – 1989-1990

Gimnastico Alcazar (Spain) – 1990-1992

Conquense (Spain) – 1992-1993

Manzanares (Spain) – 1994-1995

Moralo (Spain) – 1995-1996

Recreativo (Spain) – 1996-1999

Andalusia (Spain) – 1998-2000

Villareal (Spain) – 1999

Sevilla (Spain) – 2000-2005

Deportivo La Coruna (Spain) – 2005-2007

Athletic Bilbao (Spain) – 2007-2011

Neuchatel Xamax (Switzerland) – 2011

Mallorca (Spain) – 2011-2013

Levante (Spain) – 2013-2014

Granada (Spain) – 2014-2015

Osasuna (Spain) – 2016-2017

Al Ahli (Qatar) – 2017

Sevilla (caretaker)(Spain)– 2018

Sevilla (caretaker)(Spain) – 2019

CIVILNET.Report: Armenia More Prepared than Switzerland and Finland to Handle Epidemic

Arbi Tashjian
CIVILNET.AM

March 6, 2020 12:31 p.m

By Emilio Luciano Cricchio

Prevention Epidemics, a website that uses data to assess the epidemic preparedness of the world’s nations, has given Armenia a score of 90, which is higher than Switzerland (89), Finland (86), US (87) and Belgium (85).

However, Armenia did rank lower than countries like Canada (93), Japan (92), UAE (91) and Australia (92).

The analysis of many of Armenia’s neighbors, as well as many other nations, has not been completed yet, but Georgia did receive a score of 57, significantly lower than Armenia, with countries like Sudan and Sri Lanka also receiving a score of 57. 

The data is taken from existing evaluations developed by the World Health Organization, especially after the 2014 Ebola epidemic. 

The report also takes into account the effectiveness of measures undertaken, including the tracking down of contacts of infected individuals and quarantine measures.

Moreover, time is a major factor that’s analysed, especially the “time between the first recognized case and first recognized death,” which has been used as a key indicator. 

Armenia’s Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan has been praised by some for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, including for Armenian authorities’ swift quarantines, clamping down on high-risk travel, particularly to virus-hit Iran, and also for tracking down people who had direct contact with infected patients. 

On Wednesday 4, Torosyan gave an update on the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, during a meeting of government ministers, he stipulated that 162 tests had been carried out since January, with only one man testing positive after having returned from Iran. 

He also added that 32 quarantined individuals in Tsaghkadzor’s Golden Palace Hotel are being well taken care of and are in good condition.

Torosyan also remarked on the condition of the man who tested positive saying, “The patient who was found to have a coronavirus also feels good. His wife was re-examined, who again tested negative. Everything is in control and the republic can continue with its normal life.”

Expert: The issue of waste disposal of solar energy is not discussed at the State level in Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
Arminfo, Armenia
March 5 2020

ArmInfo.  The issue of waste disposal of worn-out devices of solar stations, batteries and other waste of solar energy is not discussed at the State level in Armenia.  This was stated by “EcoLur” Informational NGO Youth Branch  Coordinator Victoria Burnazyan during the “Environment, Climate and  Sustainable Energy in the South Caucasus” workshop held in Tbilisi.

The expert drew attention to the fact that Armenia has a great  potential for solar energy: the average annual value of the influx of  solar energy per 1 square meter of horizontal surface is 1720 kWh /.  A quarter of the territory of the republic has solar energy resources  with an intensity of at least 1850 kWh / m2 per year.  With this in  mind, it is planned to build a solar photovoltaic station on an  industrial scale with a peak capacity of 55 MW in the village of  Masrik, Gegharkunik region of RA. This will be followed by the  construction of five additional stations with a total capacity of 60  MW. Meanwhile, at the stage of implementation of this project there  is a conflict of interests. So, for the construction of Masrik 1, the  agricultural lands of three villages – Mets Masrik, Masrik and Arpunk  – were recognized as an exceptional public benefit. Meanwhile, local  residents express dissatisfaction, since high-quality agricultural  and arable lands were taken.

The problem is that the issue of waste disposal of worn-out devices  of solar stations, batteries and other waste of solar energy is not  discussed at the state level by any of the responsible departments.  At the same time, as Burnazyan notes, the Government of Armenia  intends to increase the share of solar energy production up to 10% by  2026, which means that we will have 1.2 billion kWh of solar energy  production, which requires a total capacity of 700 MW of solar power  plants, including autonomous ones power plants Over the years,  Armenian ecologists have been trying to draw the attention of the  responsible authorities to the situation that arose as a result of  the development of the small hydropower sector. With the  participation of EcoLur, a study of 125 small hydropower plants  operating in the republic was conducted, as a result of which a  number of problems were identified. In particular, non-compliance  with environmental runoff; lack of standards and requirements for  SHPP equipment; reduction of river biodiversity; the construction of  SHPPs at the maternal sources forming the watercourse of the rivers.   Burnazyan drew attention to the fact that 189 small hydropower plants  with a total capacity of 375 MW were already built in the republic.  In 2019, they generated 980,825,762 kWh of electricity, i.e. 12.8% of  all electricity generated in the country. According to the Armenian  Hydropower Concept, by 2036 the total capacity of SHPPs should be 400  MW. Meanwhile, taking into account the planned construction of  another 26 SHPPs with a total capacity of 59 MW, the 400 MW limit has  already been exceeded. 

Tigran Harutyunyan wins Aeroflot Open 2020 B Group tournament

Arbi Tashjian

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 09:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s chess player Tigran Harutyunyan has won at the Aeroflot Open 2020 B Group tournament in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Manuel Petrosyan and Hayk Martirosyan both finished in draws at the A Group’s final round. Gabriel Sargsyan defeated Shant Sargsyan.

Manuel Petrosyan gained 9 points out of 6 and was ranked 8th, while Gabriel Sargsyan finished 20th.

Harutyunyan garnered 7 points but was announced winner with additional scores.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan