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Author: Badalian Vardan
4 films to be produced in Armenia till the end of the year
Panorama, Armenia
Three film production companies in Armenia completed 43 films since 2015 with 14 films planned to release till the end of the ongoing year, according to the data by the State Statistical Committee of Armenia.
The film productions finished in 2019 include full-length, documentary short and animation films. Some 1 140 448.4 AMD have been allocated for production of 43 films, out of which 750 thousand for the year of 2019, the source said.
Property tax to increase mostly for lavish palaces, says PM
15:24,
YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. The state budget is the gross national pocket and it must be treated as one treats the family budget, PM Nikol Pashinyan said on the planned amendments in the property tax area.
“There are two attitudes towards the state budget – when the state system finds it to be its own, and the society finds every penny paid to the budget to be lost money. This is our gross national pocket and we must treat the state budget like we treat our family budget. Yes, property tax will increase, but it will mostly increase on the kind of property which we conditionally call palaces or castles. Today if we look how much property taxes these huge villas are paying, it’s basically symbolic taxes. There is a component of lavish tax also here.
Now people are building houses without taking into account any adjacent factor, the bigger, the higher, the more inconvenient for others the better. If so, then the owners of such properties must pay,” the PM said.
He said the property tax for nearly 500,000 beneficiaries will drop in the first year and then it will gradually increase. “Meaning 2021 will be in the logic of post-crisis, then the increases will take place according to the situation”.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/22/2020
Friday,
Armenian Health Minister In Fresh Warning On Coronavirus Cases
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- Health Minister Arsen Torosian (R) visits the intensive care unit of
Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital, Yerevan, May 10, 2020.
Armenian hospitals are increasingly struggling to cope with growing coronavirus
cases and may soon be unable to give life-saving treatment to all infected
people hospitalized in serious condition, Health Minister Arsen Torosian said on
Friday.
Amid the continuing rapid spread of the virus in Armenia, Torosian again warned
of a possible shortage of intensive care beds at the hospitals treating COVID-19
patients. He said that at least 150 of just over 200 such beds currently
available in the country are already occupied by patients.
“All of the 50 [vacant] beds might be occupied as early as today, whereas
[occupied beds] will be freed up very slowly because citizens kept in our
intensive care units … usually stay there for around 20 days,” he said during a
video conference with members of Armenia’s Public Council.
Accordingly, Torosian acknowledged that doctors dealing with the COVID-19
epidemic may soon have to switch to a “deep sorting” of patients that show
severe symptoms of the disease.
“The deep sorting is also done during wars, with mainly those patients who have
a chance to survive admitted for treatment,” he said. “It’s possible that at
this rate [of coronavirus infections] we will opt for that in the coming days.
But we are doing everything to avoid that, for example, by deploying new beds.”
The minister’s latest stark warning came as the health authorities stopped
hospitalizing or isolating infected people showing mild symptoms of the virus or
none at all. Such individuals, who account for more than 70 percent of all
cases, will now have to self-isolate at home.
Asymptomatic patients currently kept in hospitals or hotels turned into
temporary medical care centers will also be sent home.
Torosian defended this measure, saying that the authorities simply have no other
choice. “There is no more room [for asymptomatic cases,]” he said. “That is why
we are sending people home.”
Armenia -- A COVID-19 patient is brought to the Surp Grigor Lusavorich hospital
in Yerevan, April 8, 2020.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported in the morning that 322 new infections
and 4 more deaths were registered in the past 24 hours. The total number of
COVID-19 cases thus reached 5,928 while the official death toll from the disease
rose to 74.
The latter figure does not include the deaths of 28 other people infected with
the virus. The ministry claims that those fatalities were primarily caused by
other, pre-existing diseases.
Torosian warned on Thursday that the number of people dying from coronavirus
could rise sharply if the highly infectious disease continues to spread rapidly.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian likewise said that the “situation is not good.”
Still, Pashinian made clear that the Armenian government will stick to its
“decentralized” strategy of fighting against the virus which puts the emphasis
on citizens’ “individual responsibility.”
As part of a nationwide lockdown imposed in late March, the government seriously
restricted people’s movements and ordered the closure of most nonessential
businesses. But it began relaxing these restrictions already in mid-April.
The daily numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country have steadily
increased since then. Critics say that the authorities never properly enforced
the lockdown and lifted it too soon.
“If there is a two-week total lockdown, not the one which we had [earlier this
spring,] then I can practically guarantee that we can completely stop
outbreaks,” Torosian declared on Friday. But he stopped short of publicly urging
the government to impose such a lockdown.
Karabakh Inauguration Party Raises Eyebrows In Armenia
• Robert Zargarian
Nagorno-Karabakh -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other
dignitaries attend a state banquet in Shushi, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and key members of his administration caused an
uproar in Armenia after clearly failing to observe social distancing during a
state banquet in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday.
The open-air dinner party was held in the town of Shushi following the
inauguration of Ara Harutiunian, Karabakh’s recently elected new president.
Official photographs of the event showed Pashinian, Armenian parliament speaker
Ararat Mirzoyan, their wives and dozens of other dignitaries standing tightly
around tables loaded with various dishes and snacks. None of the guests wore
gloves, let alone masks.
The photos were widely circulated on social media, prompting criticism from not
only opponents but also some supporters of the Armenian government. Some critics
accused Pashinian of recklessness and hypocrisy.
The prime minister attended the inauguration events in Karabakh just hours after
expressing serious concern over the continuing rapid spread of coronavirus in
Armenia. “The situation is much more serious than we can imagine,” he warned at
a cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Pashinian again complained that many Armenians are still not complying with
social distancing and hygiene rules set by the health authorities. He ordered
the Armenian police to enforce those rules “more strictly.”
Responding to the uproar, Pashinian’s spokeswoman, Mane Gevorgian, insisted that
the premier and his entourage took all necessary precautions against the virus
during their latest trip to Karabakh.
“The banquet followed the inauguration ceremony of Artsakh’s new president
during which the prime minister, his wife, government members and deputies of
the National Assembly wore masks,” Gevorgian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on
Friday. “Many of them also wore gloves.”
Deputy parliament speaker Alen Simonian argued, for his part, that the COVID-19
infection rate in Karabakh is much lower than in Armenia. “Fortunately, Karabakh
does not have the kind of strict restrictions that are in place in Armenia,” he
said.
Simonian seemed to acknowledge at the same time that the organizers and
participants of the inauguration party should have been more careful. “We all
must draw conclusions and learn from our mistakes and shortcomings,” he said.
Authorities in Karabakh have reported 33 coronavirus cases and no deaths
resulting from them so far. The Armenian-populated territory, which had broken
away from Azerbaijan in 1991, has around 150,000 residents.
In Armenia, the Ministry of Health reported on Friday 322 new infections and 4
more deaths. The total number of COVID-19 cases thus reached 5,928.
More Armenians Evacuated From Turkey
Georgia -- Buses carrying Armenians returning to Armenia from Turkey, May 22,
2020.
Armenia evacuated on Friday 168 more Armenian citizens from coronavirus-hit
Turkey in coordination with Turkish and Georgian authorities.
They reportedly boarded four Armenian buses after being bused from Istanbul to
the Turkish-Georgian border late at night. They then proceeded to Armenia via
Georgia.
Armenia’s government paid for the bus service and covered other expenses
incurred during the evacuation. The Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi said it provided
the evacuees with food and other essential items during their transit through
Georgia which was allowed by the Georgian government.
All evacuees were due to be told to self-isolate for two weeks on their arrival
in Armenia.
More than 70 other Armenians were evacuated from Turkey in early April. The
Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries arranged their return during a rare
direct contact.
Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations. Successive Turkish
governments have also kept the border between the two neighboring states closed
because of the unresolved conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Officials in Yerevan say that more than 60,000 Armenian nationals, most of them
migrant workers who lived in Russia and Europe, have returned to their country
since March 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic
consequences.
According to the Armenian Embassy in Moscow, at least 5,000 Armenians currently
stuck in Russia also want to return home but are unable to do so because of the
coronavirus-related absence of regular flights between the two countries. Since
the beginning of April the embassy has helped to organize a dozen charter
flights to Yerevan from Moscow and other Russian cities to evacuate a smaller
number of other citizens.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Armenia Police urge citizens to avoid visiting airport for welcoming relatives
13:24,
YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Police of Armenia urge citizens not to go to the airport to welcome their relatives coming from abroad, the Police said in a statement.
“During the landing of planes arriving to Armenia from abroad some citizens rush to the airport to welcome their relatives. We remind that citizens of Armenia arriving from abroad are being transported to the isolation places via buses. In other words, there is no opportunity and necessity to welcome the relatives. We urge not to go to the airport to avoid crowds and also for health safety purposes”, the Police statement says.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
I Am Not Alone documentary on Armenian Revolution receives its 10th award at international festival
15:45,
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. I Am Not Alone documentary about the 2018 revolution in Armenia has received its 10th award, this time at the RiverRun International Film Festival, the movie’s Facebook page said, posting the statement of the jury. The movie won Best Documentary Feature at the festival.
“The jury’s top prize goes to I AM NOT ALONE, directed by Garin Hovannisian. This gripping film reminded us of the power of the best documentary filmmaking: to open our eyes to a story we didn’t know, and present it with artistry and skill”, the statement of the jury says.
The film traces Nikol Pashinyan, a journalist and political prisoner turned political activist, as he marches against the Armenian prime minister Serzh Sargsyan.
“What starts as one man walking across the country unfolds before our eyes to become a mass movement. Watching the film is more than a passive observation of a political movement; Hovannisian fully immerses the audience in the story, from beautifully sweeping drone shots to ordinary citizens’ cellphone footage”, the statement said.
The jury found this film an enlightening and inspiring watch, taking a complex subject and presenting it in an entertaining, tightly edited narrative that shows multiple sides of a complex and urgent story. “In the midst of an election year, I Am Not Alone is a potent reminder of the power of the people”, the jury said.
The premiere of the movie was held on September 7, 2019, on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Armenian ruling party MP explains how sex education will be taught in Armenia
News.am, Armenia
16:14, 13.05.2020
CIVILNET.Why Should Mahatma Gandhi’s Statue Stand in Yerevan? An Indian View
CIVILNET.AM
14:22
By Murtza Ali Ghaznavi
As a businessman of Indian origin based in Tbilisi and active in both the republics of Georgia and Armenia, it is with cautious enthusiasm that I received the news of the potential installation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the almost 3,000 year old capital city of Yerevan. The presence of which can be clearly inferred to be a visible manifestation of the warm ties between Armenia and India.
Though Mr. Patrick Azadian raises some interesting objections and conversely, Mr. Nareg Seferian raises some interesting justifications of this action occurring in their homeland, there are also some thoughts that can be expressed from an outsider’s perspective; from the viewpoint of India this is a positive development indeed. Though Indian independence has other tragically unsung and forgotten heroes from Bhagat Singh to Subhas Chandra Bose, Gandhi Ji is very much considered the Father of Independent India and his presence in Yerevan shall no doubt come as a source of comfort and pride to the plethora of Indian students, tourists and indeed expatriates who call the South Caucasus home.
How the presence of this statue actually serves the people of Armenia is another matter entirely. Although Mahatma Gandhi was many things ranging from a lawyer to a proponent of non-violent, passive resistance, it is also important to look beyond the man and look at what he represents. Mahatma Gandhi is very much a symbol of India that is recognized worldwide for representing peace, equality and freedom. When understood in this greater context this statue may be seen as a fitting symbol of relations between both republics. India and Armenia enjoy friendly relations which have been swiftly growing in recent times. Both countries are recognized as being at the forefront of information technology and innovation. Both countries have a significant diaspora all over the world and whilst Armenia is rapidly becoming a bastion of democracy, India is the largest democracy in the world. Both countries have friendly relationships with some of their neighbours and tumultuous relationships with others. There is a budding Indian presence in Armenia as well as Armenians having been settled in India as far back as the 16th Century. The easily recognizable and fully functioning Armenian churches that still stand in Kolkata and Chennai today are vibrant testaments to this as is the evidence of Indian settlements in Greater Armenia as far back as 149 BC.
If expanded upon from an India- Armenia perspective to a Hindkastan- Hayastan perspective, the links between both countries are shown to be far more intricate. Though India has a plethora of languages and dialects, they all originate from the same Indo-Aryan roots as the Armenian language and its various barbarner. This is humorously exemplified by any speaker of a North Indian language being easily able to haggle at the Vernissage in Yerevan due to most of the numbers being the same. Both cultures place strong emphasis on religion, family values, music, poetry and knowledge. Though India has a cornucopia of subcultures the fact remains that the Indian people are one proud and united nation, just as the Armenians are, and both are very old nations who existed in their lands long before numerous outsiders came whether to trade or invade. In fact India is a nation that has never invaded any other and instead always strived to prosper based on its own merit and resources. Surely these are values that the Armenian people can appreciate.
This mention of values can bring us to yet another perspective on Mahatma Gandhi; that of his values being universal. As fiercely proud as Indians are of this son of Gujarat who fathered the whole nation’s independence, the fact remains that all of humanity can take pride in the values he aspired to. There are many countries with statues of famous poets, scholars and intellectuals from all over the world and these personages have not been afforded this honour because of their nationality but rather their contributions to humanity. Many would argue that Mahatma Gandhi certainly qualifies under such criteria. As far as the controversy is concerned the fact remains that there are statues the world over that despite the sanctity of what they represent for some can also prove fertile grounds for iconoclasts. Accordingly it is important to remember that this is not just a statue of a man but rather a universal symbol of humanity that is instantly recognized throughout the world. “Mahatma” literally translates to “Great Soul.” Surely a great city would be an appropriate home for this statue.
Murtza Ali Ghaznavi is an International Higher Education Development Specialist with 12 years of experience in Europe, the Middle East and Post Soviet Republics. He is the Director of the Euroeducation language training centre, (Yerevan).
Consulate general in Los Angeles urges to help Armenia citizens stranded in California
News.am, Armenia
May 6 2020
10:31, 06.05.2020
Asbarez: Trump Nominates Patrick Hovakimian for National Intelligence Post
May 8, 2020
Patrick Hovakimian
President Donald Trump on May 4 announced his intent to nominate Patrick Hovakimian, of California, to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the White House reported.
Hovakimian is currently the Associate Deputy Attorney General and Chief of Staff to Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen at the Department of Justice. He also served as the Department’s Director of Counter-Transnational Organized Crime and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.
As a Federal prosecutor, Hovakimian prosecuted public corruption and white-collar crime, including multinational bribery and fraud conspiracies.
In addition, Hovakimian is a Commissioner of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, having been nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate in 2018.
Earlier in his career, Hovakimian practiced law with Latham & Watkins, LLP, and was a law clerk for the Honorable J.L. Edmondson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.