Earthquake registered in Azerbaijan: Shocks felt in Artsakh

ArmenPress, Armenia
Earthquake registered in Azerbaijan: Shocks felt in Artsakh


YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. On June 27, at 02:20 local time, the Seismic Protection Survey Seismological Network of the Armenian ministry of emergency situations registered an earthquake at the northern latitude 38.800and eastern longitude 48.600geographic coordinates (Azerbaijan, 21km north-west from the city of Lankaran) with 4.4 magnitude and 10 km depth, Armenia’s ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress.

The tremor measured magnitude 6 point at the epicenter area.

The earthquake was felt in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, with 2-3 point at Hadrut town and 2 point at capital Stepanakert.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

During the days of the Velvet Revolution, Armenian bank deposits decreased by 103.8 billion drams

  • 27.06.2018
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  • Armenia:
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1
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At the end of April 2018, the total volume of term deposits and demand accounts of residents in RA banks was equivalent to 2 trillion 66.7 billion drams.


At the end of March, that amount was 2 trillion 111.8 billion drams. In other words, during April, the deposit portfolio of the banks of the Republic of Armenia decreased by 45.1 billion drams or 2.2%. Economic commentator Babken Tunyan writes about this, referring to the data published by the Central Bank.


“The total volume of term deposits and demand accounts of non-residents in RA banks decreased from 531.4 billion drams in March 2018 to 472.7 billion drams in April. During April, the deposit portfolio of non-residents decreased by 58.7 billion drams or 12.4%.


In general, the volume of term loans and demand accounts of residents and non-residents decreased by 103.8 billion drams (by 3.9%) and amounted to 2 trillion 539.4 billion drams at the end of April, Tnunyan said.



Of course, according to him, political events played a big role in this decrease, but in order to clearly assess the impact of the revolution factor, a separate in-depth analysis is needed, b4b reports.


We should also remind that according to Artur Javadyan, the withdrawal of deposits was restored during May. The May data will be published soon, and it will be possible to say exactly what part of the withdrawn deposits returned to the bank accounts.

Sports: Celtic to open Champions League campaign with Armenian Alashkert

Scotzine, Scotland, UK


   

Film: Robert Guédiguian’s film to open Golden Apricot Yerevan Int’l Film Festival

Panorama, Armenia
Culture 19:13 16/06/2018 Armenia

“The House by the Sea” (La villa) directed by French-Armenian filmmaker Robert Guédiguian is set to open the 15th Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival.

“By a little bay near Marseille lies a picturesque villa owned by an old man. His three children have gathered by his side for his last days: Angela, an actress living in Paris, Joseph, who has just fallen in love with a girl half his age and Armand, the only one who stayed behind in Marseille to run the family’s small restaurant.

“It is time for them to weigh up what they have inherited of their father’s ideals and the community spirit he created in this magical place. The arrival, at a nearby cove, of a group of boat people will throw these moments of reflection into turmoil he created in this magical place,” reads the synopsis of the dram shot in 2017.

The closing film of the festival is Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” (a co-production of Spain, Belgium, France, Portugal and UK), Panorama.am learnt from the festival’s official website.

Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, is scheduled to host the 15th edition of the film festival from 8 to 15 July. This year, the festival has received 600 applications from 83 countries, with a total of 110 films included in its competition and non-competition programs.

The Armenian Panorama section features some 27 films.

The Golden Apricot will pay a tribute to influential Swedish director Ingmar Bergman on the occasion of his 100th anniversary, screening three selected films by the filmmaker.

“Missing” breaks window of maternity hospital and steals cars

On June 11, at 3:10 pm, the police department of Talin received an alarm that at about 3:00 am, an unknown person broke the glass of the window of Arteni’s maternity hospital and escaped.

Police officers found out that the crime was committed by Galust G. (born in 1960), who was searched by the Armavir police department as missing since January.

It has also been found out that on June 11, the latter had stolen the “Ford” car, and later he left it in the hospital yard.

Then he tried to steal a “GAZ-53” car, but noticed the owner of the car, so he stole other’s “Zil” car near to the latter, but Talin police officers stopped an detained him.

An investigation is under way

ACNIS reView

Pass of the week



JUNE 1, 2018

 

 

 

 

Q:Iran celebrated the Republic Day on May 28. One hundred years ago, on this day, the Republic of Armenia was proclaimed, and after a break of nearly nine centuries, Armenian statehood was restored in the Armenian Highlands. The Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the Catholicos of All Armenians, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, other high-ranking officials, public and political figures, organizations delivered congratulatory messages on the occasion of the holiday. Armenian leaders, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, as well as the President of Nagorno-Karabakh visited the Sardarapat Memorial, where a military parade took place. other ceremonies were held. The parade was welcomed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who announced in his speech, in particular, that on the 100th anniversary of the First Republic, the Armenian people are living the glorious page of their civil history, and today the irreversible rule of the people is established in Armenia. In the evening, a festive concert and fireworks were held in the capital’s Republic Square. High-ranking foreign delegations and guests also participated in the jubilee ceremonies.

…of the First Republic
unlike previous years, there were no events dedicated to the centenary
 participates National meeting president Do it Babloyan,
as well as vice-presidents and heads of standing committees. “This
 year manifest is other approach,
In response to the question of “Freedom”, he said to the Parliament
 staff deputy head Arsen Babayan,
this time as part of the “trio” that traditionally conducts the official part of the event
 National
meeting
 speaker not included but be invited is the RPA allocated to the faction three deputies in line”. That
brought up the dissatisfaction of the Republican deputies, because before
the parliament
 as depending on the government branch, of ritual agree, invited
was
 whole composition. Babloyan find that legislator towards manifest is “No equivalent attitude”. And? RPA:
faction deputy Armen Ashotyan in this regard
 is a concern
announced on his Facebook page. “First Republic and
 Sardarapati
unity was one of the main symbols of the battle. Today’s
the holiday is not anyone’s property, it is not anyone’s “class party”, anyone’s
not a family and personal event. The day symbolizing the restoration of the state
revaluation of state institutions
 evaluation
it is also the day, regardless of the heroes of the day, active persons and “new
from the realities,” Ashotyan specifically wrote. The incident “took a heavy toll” as well
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Arpine Hovhannisyan, who despite those days in Armenia
It wasn’t but 
Aravot.amof in conversation with
shared his anger. “Always the same type
 case no been, this obvious discrimination is This no don’t contact does not have no with unity, no email in general pro-state way of thinking with”
said the deputy speaker of the National Assembly. The other deputy speaker, Eduard Sharmazanov, personally
He blames the Prime Minister for not inviting him and considers it Nikol Pashinyan’s fault
the biggest omission. The remarkable thing is that in the mind of Ashotyans and Sharmazanovs
does not even pass the most obvious. The road to Sardarapat was open to everyone, and
those who wanted could visit and pay their respects without waiting for a special invitation
pay tribute to the memory of the martyrs of the Great Heroic War. Okay, so where were they?
at the time when Serzh Sargsyan was nominating a member of the Security Council
exclusively “own”, leaving out even the president of the country from that list
and the speaker of the same National Assembly. Why didn’t they unmask when?
The president-in-charge of the super-prime state was actually usurping
power, setting himself up as a one-wheeled dictator.

To the Legislature
some analysts see in the attitude of the new executive power
a symbolic action announcing the start of the dissolution of the parliament. By:
 1in.am website:
of political analyst, Nicole
 Pashinyan this step by step clear message is to reference that emergency elections preparation her government priority is “Like attitude demonstrative political action through which Pashinyan clear in review is that active the parliament out is put from the state system, legitimacy from environment, it legal and political from the context which of new Armenia result 
writes the site’s analyst. Either way holiday
 from events National
meeting
 management’s “exit” step,
apparently, the secret hope of “revival” is aimed at the Republicans
to the former faces of the majority. The hint advice is as follows. dear
ladies and gentlemen, realize once and for all a simple fact: a return to the past
there is no more, that road is very firmly closed.

 

M:On August 30, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan left for Georgia on a two-day official visit. This was Pashinyan’s second foreign visit after the meeting of leaders of the Eurasian Union countries in Sochi. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a number of members of the Government, including Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs Davit Tonoyan and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan. Before the official meetings in Tbilisi, Pashinyan first laid a wreath at the Unquenchable Fire in Heros Square, then went to the Cabinet, where a private meeting with his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Kvirikashvili was scheduled, an extended meeting, after which the two Prime Ministers made a statement to journalists. The Prime Minister of Armenia also met with the President of Georgia and the Speaker of the Parliament, visited Khojivank Armenian Cemetery, Saint Gevorg Armenian Church, had meetings with representatives of the Armenian community, Georgian-Armenian and Georgian businessmen. The next day, on May 31, Pashinyan was received by the spiritual leader of Georgia, Patriarch Ilya II. The newly elected Prime Minister of Armenia went to Zavakhk from Tbilisi.

…Georgia Nicole: Pashinyan official visit first the day equipped was high level negotiations and with meetings. of Georgia of the Prime Minister at the residence two the prime ministers of the countries to a private conversation followed extended composition meeting, then Kvirikashvilinev
Pashinyan
 journal they came with statement: reflection
performing as well
 In Armenia appropriate to the change of power. of Georgia the prime minister greeted in RA of power the peaceful transfer, and Pashinyan said that created the situation need is to serve in: benefit Armenian-Georgian of relations.
“We
 came we are այստեղ՝ specifically perspectives, concrete problems solution opportunity to create for Convinced I am that in our relationship will be serious and: new developments that will follow Armenia and Georgia interests. We sure that Armenian-Georgian in relationships There are no unsolvable problems at all, because most important factor problems resolution is and: the wish… By: essentially, we located we are our relationship development don’t resort where opportunity there is big charge, large momentum and big energize our bilateral to relationships and:
them
 to deepen all directions and at all levels.”
said Pashinyan. of the day
 during, except official
from meetings, Armenia
 the delegation led by the Prime Minister to visit
is
 Khojivank the pantheon-cemetery where he rests
are Armenian
 մտավորականների՝ Raffu, John Tumanyan, Sundukyan and: others the remains. Also in Khojivank in summary
on the first day of the visit, Pashinyan
 noted: “It was the first visit, and it was a familiar one significance had
Can you?
 i am to say that in: face of the Prime Minister of Georgia, the President,
Hand of the President of the National Assembly
 I brought ok friends, and sure i am
that of our countries
 the relationship will develop that to friendship consistent.” From Khojivank to Armenia the prime minister to travel
is
 St. Gevorg Armenian church of which in the yard big number of Georgian-Armenians were get together There Pashinyan is a speech had
and:
 communicate of those gathered with
And in the evening?
 of Georgia of the city council in the building be noted
of Armenia
 First The 100th anniversary of the Republic. Speeches were given by Nicole Pashinyan and his Georgian partner Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

The second day of the visit was full of intense events.
Armenia in the morning
 the prime minister had breakfast with Georgian businessmen
with, discussed
 are In Armenia investment questions, Mr. Pashinyan to visit
is “John
 Tumanyan home” cultural center. Here High rank of Armenia
a doll was prepared for the guests
 presentation:
with Tumanian motifs, as well as tea
 hospitality. That much official meetings are over
and in the second half of the day, the delegation headed by Pashinyan left Tbilisi
 Armenian-born Javakhk: no series in the villages stops doing, and Ninotsminda and Akhalkalak meetings in the cities again holding Armenian community with representatives. A secret
not for years
 continuously the locals speaking up are their problems about related to Georgian in schools Armenian of language teaching, ecclesiastical
with activities and others. Naturally, there is much to be said within these topics
audibly great
 our compatriots needed.

Armenia-Georgia of relations around Georgia’s “First channel” in an exclusive interview Nicole: Pashinyan’s opinion
stated that between the two countries should be formed
 geopolitical from effects free relationship.
Georgia Nikol Pashinyan
 first official the visit, according to some political of commenters, reflection of Armenia natural interests the whole
which implies in the case of the new government of our country
 the most sincere
relationship
 objective steps and bold initiatives.

 

Gevorg Lalayan commented

 

 

Foreign Policy journal
referred to the news spread on May 29 that outside his apartment in Kyiv
time to come was killed Russia
another Russian journalist criticizing the regime of President Vladimir Putin.
The prime minister of Ukraine was murdered accused “Russian totalitarian
to the car.” On May 30, the journalist continues alive and well journal
came to the press conference, admitting that it was for the security of Ukraine
special service operation to “catch a Russian hitman.”
In fact, according to the journal, the “murder” of journalist Arkady Babchenko was staged
to identify Russian agents.

Presented
also details from Babchenko’s biography. Accordingly, he, as a soldier,
served in two brutal wars waged by Russia in Chechnya and as a result
to write “One Soldier’s War” with the title
memoir. Babchenko later worked as a military correspondent
cover the Russian invasions of Georgia and
Ukraine. He never wavered from the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy
from criticizing. However, he had to leave Russia in 2017 after on the Facebook page expressed
his indifference on the plane to Syria that had crashed,
on the death of members of the military choir, which by the nationalists
raised a strong wave of protest. About the events of that period he separately
British published an article The Guardianin the periodical.

of Ukraine
According to the head of the security service, there is evidence to kill Babchenko
for the Russian intelligence agents to the Ukrainian hired killer 40 thousand
dollars were paid.

 

Prepared by Marina Muradyan

 

 

 

A1+: Hayk Kyureghyan to be released today

Hayk Kyureghyan, who was sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment for shooting with a pistol, will be released today. His father Armenak Kyureghyan told “A1 +” that it would be clear during the day when he would be set free.

Yesterday, Hayk Kyureghyan was moved to “Vardashen” penitentiary from “Armavir” penitentiary, to switch from closed to open regime. Hayk Kyureghyan can also take a one-month vacation.

Bruzzano e Brancaleone, viaggio tra le origini Armene

 
NTA Calabria-Italia
23 mag 2018
 
 
Bruzzano e Brancaleone, viaggio tra le origini Armene
 
Maristella Costarella
 
Comuni come Bruzzano e Brancaleone non potevano fare altro che attirare molti, attratti dalla loro storia e dalla loro bellezza.
 
Bruzzano e Brancaleone
 
Bruzzano  e Brancaleone sono così diventate, il 20 maggio, una delle tappe principali del progetto “La Via dei Borghi”.
 
Il primo comune ad essere visitato è stato quello di Bruzzano Vetere (ossia “antico”). Qui, il professore Sebastiano Stranges ha narrato le origini Armene di Bruzzano, il cui nome proviene dall’armeno “Bursahanan” che significa “luogo profumato”; in questo luogo infatti, per sfuggire agli arabi, giunse un contingente di truppe armene, guidate da Niceforo Foca (il nonno) e qui edificarono un castello.
 
Il Castello e la Chiesa
 
Il castello è stato scavato nella roccia ed è chiamato ancora oggi “Rocca Armenia” o “Rocca degli Armeni”.
All’interno del castello vi è una piccola chiesa che, secondo l’usanza armena valida anche per gli altri edifici del luogo, era scavata nella roccia e fino a 40 anni fa era possibile ammirare gli affreschi sulla parete della chiesa. Mentre sono ancora visibili gli affreschi che decoravano le 2 nicchie orientate come l’abside verso Est; secondo il modello delle chiese bizantine. Ciò che ha attirato di più i visitatori vicino l’abside è stata la presenza di una vasca scavata nella roccia di Arenaria utilizzata forse come fonte battesimale.
All’interno del castello, oltre alla chiesa, sono conservati ambienti come il salone, dove i principi accoglievano gli ospiti e la cucina. Dove è presente il pavimento Rissěu, tecnica di mosaico di pietra importata dai genovesi ma di origine Greco – Romana.
 
A Bruzzano anche la Porta Ubica
 
Bruzzano però non si caratterizza soltanto per il castello ma anche per la presenza della Porta Ubica, un arco trionfale costruito dai principi Carafa di Bruzzano; in onore di un miles che apparteneva alla mobile famiglia di ritorno dalla vittoriosa battaglia di Lepanto. Il borgo è caratterizzato da case scavate nella roccia i da silos (cisterne per contenere il grano o acqua piovana).
 
Santa Maria dei Tridetti a Staiti
 
La seconda visita è stata quella alla chiesa di Santa Maria di Tridetti, qui ad accogliere i visitatori sono stati il sindaco di Staiti Giovanna Pellicanò e il presidente del consiglio comunale il Prof. Leone Campanella. Proprio lui ha narrato la storia della chiesa, la cui costruzione risalirebbe all’ XI sec. Pare inoltre che sorgesse sulle rovine di un tempio dedicato a Nettuno, il dio del mare. La particolarità di questa chiesa è che è stata costruita con materiali di riutilizzo che provenivano da templi ionici in età greco romana.
Nel corso degli anni la struttura è stata oggetto di ricerche da parte dell’archeologo Paolo Orsi e numerosi restauri che l’hanno conservata fino ad oggi.
Dopo la visita alla chiesa di Santa Maria di Tridetti, il gruppo di escursionisti si è diretto verso Brancaleone Superiore.
 
Tappa a Brancaleone Vetus
 
A Brancaleone Superiore, dopo una pausa pranzo, i visitatori hanno avuto modo di assistere all’inaugurazione del percorso turistico con la nuova toponomastica del borgo. Questo grazie agli interventi di recupero e valorizzazione che sta effettuando la Pro Loco di Brancaleone con il progetto: Renaissance Brancaleone Vetus.
 
A seguire c’è stata la visita alla chiesa – grotta denominata “Albero della Vita” del IX° sec. dove al suo interno vi è un pilastro centrale e dei graffiti di chiara ispirazione Armena. Le vie del borgo con la chiesa matrice ed i panorami hanno consentito i visitatori di godere dei panorami sull’intera vallata degli armeni. Poi la visita alla grotta della “Madonna del Riposo” in cui vi era raffigurata la Vergine che tiene in braccio il Bambinello avvolto in fasce.
 
Conclusione di un viaggio di scoperta a Bruzzano e Brancaleone
 
La visita ai borghi di Bruzzano Vetere ed a Santa Maria di Tridetti (Staiti) e Brancaleone vetus è stata possibile grazie all’impegno e alla collaborazione delle associazioni culturali Kalabria Experience e Il Giardino di Morgana; guidate Carmine Verduci e Domenico Guarna. Ma anche da parte del presidente della pro loco Bruzzano Pino Martino, del sindaco di Staiti Giovanna Pellicanò; ed il professore Leone Campanella che hanno permesso di far riscoprire agli stessi calabresi questi luoghi pieni storia e d’incanto.
 
In particolare un ultimo grazie va al professore Sebastiano Stranges, il quale, narrando la storia di questi borghi, ha svegliato le coscienze su quanto sia davvero importante il territorio calabrese e quanto debba essere valorizzato attraverso i giovani.
 
Articolo di  Annalisa Busonero

Armenia’s new leadership shows a common touch

EurasiaNet.org


Armenians have been charmed by the men-of-the-people style of the new government.

A woman sews Armenian flags in Republic Square on the day Pashinyan was elected premier. (Photo: Nazik Armenakyan)

Riding the subway. Eating a fast-food burger. Laundry. Armenia’s new leaders, it appears, are just like the rest of us.

Since coming to power on a wave of popular protest last month, the new government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has adopted a conspicuously everyman style.

A photo of Education Minister Arayik Harutyunyan riding the metro home from work was eagerly shared on social media, for the vivid contrast it made to the black cars and tinted windows Armenians have come to expect from their leaders.

Diaspora Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan was seen eating a burger in the Syrian-Armenian basement burger joint The Pit Stop, and Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan was spotted eating a burrito as he waited in line at a bank.

“Our officials’ simple lifestyle has excited and inspired many people,” wrote Karen Andreasyan, Armenia’s former human rights ombudsman, in a widely shared Facebook post featuring the aforementioned images. “It is a truly new government culture in a new post-revolutionary Armenia.”

The change in style is being led from the top. Pashinyan’s protest movement began with a humble gesture: a walk from the second city of Gyumri to Yerevan. The casual uniform of camouflage T-shirt, cap, and backpack he adopted for the march achieved cult status – and the scorn of an MP from the then-ruling Republican Party, who told Pashinyan that a “hunting shirt that cost 4.99 Euros” was unbecoming a leader.

Since becoming prime minister Pashinyan has switched to suits, but he is still trying to maintain the close contact with citizens that won so many hearts.

As prime minister, he has adopted the practice of hosting regular Facebook Live video streams to speak directly to citizens. In one, on May 19, he showed viewers around the government dacha where he is now living with his family. The dacha itself was typical post-Soviet formal: huge rooms empty but for a couple of pieces of heavy furniture. And so Pashinyan’s tour – including his jeans-and-T-shirt-wearing wife, two young daughters, their laundry drying and a kid’s bike underfoot – was a symbolic takeover of this previously inaccessible space by the man who has fashioned himself as “the people’s candidate.”

The new guard’s common touch has also spilled over into the old guard. President Armen Sarkissian – who was elected by the parliament less than two months before Pashinyan took over – has since been working in tandem with the new government.

President Armen Sarkissian’s ice cream social (Photo: President.am)

The influence seemed clear when, on May 18, Sarkissian invited a bunch of schoolchildren into his office for ice cream and a photo op. “Presidents, prime ministers and ministers have children and grandchildren too,” he told the press. Sarkissian also took the occasion to announce that he would open up parts of the presidential residence to the public. “This residence must be the symbol of the people’s power, and not the authorities’,” he said.

It remains to be seen how much of this common touch translates into governance that helps ordinary Armenians, who have suffered years of deprivation at the hands of a distant, kleptocratic state.

There have been gestures toward cutting back some of the excessive perks of office. At a recent cabinet meeting Pashinyan discussed the number of official cars that top officials had and called for “serious cuts.” Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that on assuming office he found that he had inherited five official cars; he planned to give up three and “will discuss the need for the other two.”

Some Armenians, though, are already grumbling that the focus on style is hindering serious engagement with the substance of how to govern Armenia. One essay on the website EVN Report worried about the lack of a clear ideological direction in post-revolution Armenia, and noted that the public’s “excessively emotional interpretation of how the new members of the government use public transportation, walk on the streets, and talk to ordinary people” was a crutch to keep Armenians thinking about the past rather than the more challenging future.

Still, for most Armenians it’s a welcome change. “Armenia’s new govt members talk to the public in live video broadcasts; they use [the metro] or walk to work,” tweeted Anahit Shirinyan, a Yerevan-based fellow at the think tank Chatham House. “They are the neighbor next door, one of your facebook friends. Power in #Armenia has never been so touchable.”

Joshua Kucera is the Turkey/Caucasus editor at Eurasianet, and author of The Bug Pit.