Author: Arbi Tashjian

Asbarez: Kardashian West Reveals She, Too, Was Baptized at Etchmiadzin

Arbi Tashjian
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October 11, 2019

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian with their children at the Holy See of Etchmiadzin

Kim Kardashian West tweeted about her trip to Armenia yesterday, highlighting that she too was baptized at the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.

The Kardashians were in Armenia to partake in the 2019 World Conference Information Technologies conference, where Kim was a keynote speaker. During their visit, both Kim and Kourtney’s children were baptized at Etchmiadzin.

The reality TV star tweeted: “Thank you Armenia for such a memorable trip. So blessed to have been baptized along with my babies at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia’s main cathedral which is sometimes referred to as the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This church was built in 303 AD.”

Nairi Srapionyan, a deacon at Etchmiadzin who had met the Kardashians prior to the christening, told NEWS.am that he was asked to stand as godfather of the children baptized. He also revealed Kim’s baptismal name – Heghine.

Kim Kardashian West tweets about her trip to Armenia

According to Srapionyan, Kardashian West came prepared, with a cross, to be baptized along with her children. Psalm, Chicago, and Saint Kardashian West were baptized and given Christian names.

Artsakh President, Armenia’s Defense Minister hold meeting

Arbi Tashjian

Artsakh President, Armenia’s Defense Minister hold meeting

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 20:19,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. (Press Release, Office of President of Artsakh) On 11 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia David Tonoyan.

Issues on army building and cooperation between the two Armenian states in the sphere were on the discussion agenda. Artsakh Republic Defense Minister Karen Abrahamyan was present in the meeting.

Armenia and Moldova want to deepen economic ties. meeting between ministers

Arbi Tashjian
  • 08.10.2019

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RA Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan received Vadim Brinzan, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure of Moldova. This was reported by the press service of the ministry.


Vadim Brinzan noted that he was impressed by the World Conference on Information Technologies held in Armenia and thanked the Minister for the reception. According to him, the development of information technologies in Moldova is one of the priorities of the country’s economic policy.


The two ministers discussed the current state of trade relations between Armenia and Moldova, emphasizing that the real potential is not reflected in the existing statistical indicators, and in that context there is a wide field of cooperation. Tigran Khachatryan and Vadim Brinzan have agreed to continue the discussions on combining the economic opportunities of the two countries.


According to Vadim Brinzan, Armenia has recorded impressive results in the fight against corruption. Tigran Khachatryan, in turn, noted that he is ready to share the experience of steps aimed at eliminating corruption in the field of economic activity.


The parties also discussed the possibilities of interaction on various projects within the framework of the development of multilateral relations with the European Union.


The Ministers of Economy of the two countries referred to the closer ties of business circles, the meetings of business groups expected in the near future.

Mahatma Gandhi`s 150th birth anniversary commemorated in Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 4 2019

ArmInfo.The 150th anniversary of the ideologist and leader of the national liberation  movement of India, Mahatma Gandhi, was celebrated in Armenia. The  event was organized by the Embassy of India in Armenia jointly with  the Russian Armenian University (RAU). At the event held in the  audience of RAU, the Ambassador of India to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal  delivered a welcoming speech, which pointed to the relevance of  Gandhi’s ideology in the modern era.

On the sidelines of the event, an exhibition of works by students of  Armenian schools dedicated to Gandhi was presented. The exhibition  was organized as part of the competition, and the four winners  received prizes from the hands of the Ambassador of India.

The event was attended by over 300 guests, including  parliamentarians, representatives of the Armenian government, the  Indian community, RAU students and others.

Before the event, Ambassador Dewal held a meeting with RAU Rector  Armen Darbinyan, with whom he discussed academic cooperation between  RAU and Indian universities.

Mahatma Gandhi, a famous freedom activist and an influential  political leader, played a dominant role in the nonviolent resistance  to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British  Rule. His philosophy of nonviolence inspired movements for civil  rights and freedom across the world. 

168: Ongoing large-scale strategic drills not related to change of external conjuncture – Pashinyan

Arbi Tashjian
| 12:22 | October 3 2019
Category
Politics

Armenia announces launch of 40-day military trainings for private, sub-officer and officer squads reservists who are registered in the first rank of the 1st group of the reserve. These trainings will launch from October 20 to November 30.

Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan said these trainings are announced aimed at improving the military capacities of the citizens registered in the reserve, for their professional training, etc.

A total of 316 citizens will be involved in the trainings.

This decision was adopted during today’s Cabinet meeting.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said these are planned events. “Yes, we have said that the military drills which are being held are of unprecedented scale, but this is not related with the change of the external conjuncture, it is related to the change of a certain behavior. Nothing has changed in the situation we all know”, the PM said.

The decision states that given the fact that in recent years the Armenian Armed Forces have been supplemented with new armament and military equipment, there is a need to raise the quality of professional readiness of the reservists.

50 US doctors arrive in Armenia as part of charity medical mission

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 30 2019
 16:03

Fifty doctors from the US have arrived in Armenia as part of the charity medical mission. During the current week, they will consult patients for free, perform surgeries and other procedures in medical centers of Yerevan and Armenian regions as well as in Artsakh in next week, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno Berj Apkarian told NEWS.am Medicine.

Most of the doctors involved in the charity mission do not have Armenian roots, but expressed a desire to come to Armenia and help those who need their help.

“These people believe in the goals of our mission and want to serve people. When they see a smile on the patient’s face, this is a huge encouragement for them,” he said.

According to Apkarian, every year more and more experts and donors join the mission. Over four years, 4997 patients received medical care (including surgery) as part of the mission. This year, the mission includes five surgeons who will work in different clinics of the country, performing both small and large surgeries, as well as training local doctors, transferring their knowledge and experience to them.

According Dr. Vache Vassilian, who was involved in organizational work as part of the mission, a group of doctors is working in the village of Myasnikyan (Armavir Region); a group of dentists went to Vanadzor, another group to Gyumri, and several gynecologists to Akhuryan. Some specialists, including the famous surgeon Carl Owada, work in Yerevan. Doctors will work tomorrow in Masis, Myasnikyan, Vanadzor and Akhuryan, and from Wednesday – in the villages of Lori.

This year the mission also brought medical equipment to Armenia (including ECG devices, ultrasound, instruments for laparoscopic surgery) and medicines for more than $ 250,000. All this will be sent to the medical centers of Yerevan, Gyumri, Akhuryan, Masis, Myasnikyan, Karagerdi and, of course, in Artsakh.

As part of the mission, the operating room at the Ashtarak Medical Center was repaired for $ 325,000. The opening of the new operating room will take place on October 4.

This mission, as Apkarian noted, became possible thanks to the donations of the Armenian community in Fresno and other benefactors.

Nikol Pashinyan on Amulsar program: We need to use our resources for Armenia`s full development

Arbi Tashjian
Arminfo, Armenia
Sept 25 2019

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers it improper to demonize the mining  industry. He stated this at a meeting with representatives of the  Armenian community of New York, answering the question why the new  government does not consider revising the legislation in this area so  as not to face possible blackmail of mining investors in the future.

According to Pashinyan, the Armenian government must be completely  honest, both with the Armenian and international public. As the prime  minister pointed out, the new government inherited the problem from  the previous one, and its solution in one way or another can affect  the rating of modern Armenia. “We should go into the details of the  problem to the utmost to find the solution based on facts and risk  studies is,” he noted.

As the head of the Armenian cabinet indicated, whether it is good or  bad, but the fact is that at the moment the Armenian government has  no reason to ban the operation of the Amulsar mine. Perhaps such a  basis will appear tomorrow, in a month, but it is possible that it  will not. “Today’s United States was created on the basis of the  mining industry. One should not be afraid of it as well as the  technology sector. It’s another matter if we can provide a way in the  modern world to operate mines that will not cause at least tangible  substantial harm to life and human health. Any manifestation of  civilization can be risky from an environmental point of view, “said  Nikol Pashinyan, urging to get rid of such phobias. “My position is  as follows – we must use our resources for the full development of  Armenia,” the head of the Armenian government concluded.

To recall, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on September  9 live on Facebook said that at the moment there is no legal basis to  prohibit the operation of the Amulsar mine. Nikol Pashinyan also  officially called on the residents of Jermuk to unblock all roads  leading to the Amulsar mine. Meanwhile, on August 19, experts at  Earthlink & Advanced Resources Development (ELARD) said during a  video conference that the Lydian source data was not complete and, in  general, the  EIAof  2016was insufficient to guarantee the  environmentally sound operation of the mine.

As Pashinyan assured, the Lydian leadership committed themselves to  100% safe operation. In addition, he said that he ordered the  inspection body to study the project in detail, and the criminal case  in the Investigative Committee (under Art. Concealment or intentional  misrepresentation of information on environmental pollution),  previously entrusted to Yura Ivanyan, a relative of the former  Minister of Nature Protection Aramais Grigoryan, who approved the  Environmental Impact Assessment of  the Amulsar development, has been  transferred to the deputy head of the Investigative Committee Arsen  Ayvazyan. “A new investigation team will be formed, which will  consider the facts, give answers to questions in the framework of the  criminal case,” Pashinyan said.

In response, environmentalists, activists and residents of the resort  town of Jermuk said they were not going to unblock the roads leading  to the Amulsar field. “We do not understand the position of the prime  minister, who agreed to open the mine solely on Lydian’s” honest word  “about its 100% safe operation,” said Jermuk residents, stressing  that they would negotiate exclusively around the closure of the mine. 

Netanyahu: Erdogan, Stop Lying

Arbi Tashjian
Jerusalem Post

Sept 24 2019
BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday calling him a liar and saying that “he who doesn’t stop lying about Israel, he who kills Kurds in his own country, he who denies the terrible crimes against the Armenians – that person should not preach to Israel.”


Erdoğan was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly and addressed the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.       
  

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer Congratulates Rep. Jackie Speier

Arbi Tashjian

ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:

Contact:
Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian

Telephone:
(202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

 

SENATE
DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER CONGRATULATES REP. JACKIE SPEIER

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly), Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) congratulated
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) and expressed deep gratitude to the
Assembly.

 

“Please
accept my warmest greetings as you gather for the Armenian Assembly of
America’s Advocacy Conference and Gala. I am grateful for the opportunity to
express my admiration for the outstanding work of the Armenian Assembly of
America and tonight’s honoree on this wonderful occasion,” Senator Schumer told
the Armenian Assembly.

 

“First, I
would like to applaud the Armenian Assembly of America for their tireless efforts
and advocacy in striving to deepen the relations between the United States and
the Republic of Armenia. Since 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America has been
a cornerstone for sustaining public awareness of Armenian issues. It is my
belief that some of Armenia’s impressive improvements, including the
development of democratic institutions and adaptation of a free-market economy,
can be attributed to the remarkable advocacy work from organizations such as
the Armenian Assembly of America,” said Senator Schumer.

 

“Additionally,
I would like to spotlight this year’s honoree: Co-Chair of the Congressional
Armenian Caucus and recipient of the Deukmejian Award for Public Service,
Congresswoman Jackie Speier. I am proud to acknowledge Congresswoman Speier for
her dedicated and passionate work in the Armenian community and for her
commitment to strengthening United States and Armenia relations,” he added.

 

Congresswoman
Speier was honored for her exemplary work in the U.S. House of Representatives,
as well as her leadership and passionate support of Armenia and Artsakh.
Armenian American leaders and activists throughout the United States attended
the Gala in Washington, D.C., which was part of the Armenian Assembly of
America’s 2019 National Advocacy Conference.

 

“Since I
entered public service, I have been a staunch supporter of Armenian issues.
Every year in April, I stand with my Armenian friends to commemorate the
Armenian genocide and urge for its proper recognition. I proudly represent
countless New York Armenian-Americans in the United States Senate and salute
their contributions not only to our great state but also to the United States
of America,” Senator Schumer continued.

 

“Thank you
for your commitment and dedication in promoting democracy and representing the
interests of Armenian-Americans. It is my hope that the Armenian Assembly of
America will continue these efforts for many years to come,” he concluded.

 

The full
letter is available at bit.ly/schumer2019

 

Established
in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

 

###

 

NR#: 2019-041

 

Available
online:

 

NGO president on decline of agriculture in Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 15 2019
NGO president on decline of agriculture in Armenia NGO president on decline of agriculture in Armenia

18:52, 15.09.2019
                  

The decline of agriculture in Armenia this year is due to poor management. This is what President of the Agrarian-Rural Union of Armenia NGO Hrach Berberyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am when asked why Armenia has seen a decline in agriculture this year.

“The first mistake was the conglomeration of the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture. Today, Armenia doesn’t have a ministry to coordinate the agriculture sector. In addition, there are no good specialists since they have left the country or have been laid off. There are new people such as a person who used to work as a taxi driver in the United States. Unfortunately, taxi drivers or cameramen from Russia can’t help Armenia’s agriculture grow. Only a person who knows about agriculture in Armenia can help agriculture grow, and for that, one needs knowledge and experience, but unfortunately, they don’t have knowledge and experience,” he said.

Berberyan noted that this will lead to decrease in the amount of sowing areas for wheat and barley and the increase of import of grains.

“There are fewer sowing areas for potatoes as well. The Ministry of Agriculture isn’t leading a policy to promote potato farmer. I believe Pashinyan needs to make serious personnel changes,” he said.

This year, Armenia saw a decline in the agriculture sector. Based on the data provided by the Statistical Committee of Armenia, the amounts of the gross agriculture product dropped by 7.4% in January-June compared to the same period of the previous year, comprising AMD 247,951,000,000.