Author: Ekmekjian Janet

German Red Cross funds renovation of a clinic in Armenia’s Gyumri

Ekmekjian Janet
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 28 2018
German Red Cross funds renovation of a clinic in Armenia’s Gyumri 
          
2018-11-28 13:51:32

In the evening of November 27, President Armen Sarkissian and Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian visited the headquarters of the German Red Cross in Berlin.

The German Red Cross, which is providing humanitarian assistance all over the world in the areas affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts, started its activities in Armenia in 1988, right after the earthquake in Spitak. The organization actively participated in the rescue works and later, in cooperation with the Armenian Red Cross, provided large-scale and many-sided assistance to the affected population.

President Armen Sarkissian met with the President of the German Red Cross Gerda Hasselfeldt, expressed gratitude for landing a hand at that difficult time for the Armenian people.


 At the meeting with the staff of the organization, President of Armenia, speaking about the devastating earthquake, which took place 30 years ago and its dire consequences, loss of human lives and people who became homeless, noted,

“All that was very sad and tragic, but over these 30 years there have also been very humane, touching stories about human love, care, attention and lack of indifference,” President Sarkissian said, speaking of the earthquake.

“We, those living in Armenia and Armenians all over the world, will never forget warmth, attention, and human attitude which our friends in the world, also from this wonderful country manifested towards Armenia and the Armenian people,” the President said.

“I am here to convey the words of gratitude on my personal behalf and on behalf of the entire Armenian nation,”Armen Sarkissian added.

At the meeting, President Sarkissian handed Armenian state awards and souvenirs to a group of employees of the German Red Cross. For the practical participation and tireless humanitarian activities aimed at the mitigation of the devastating Spitak earthquake, Deputy Secretary General of the German Red Cross Johannes Richter was awarded the Mkhitar Heratsi medal, and German Red Cross representatives Zigrfid Hetmannschperger and Carl-Heinz Scheiden were awarded Medals of Gratitude.

At the conclusion of the event, President of the German Red Cross Gerda Hasselfeldt handed to the spouse of the President, Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian a certificate for 10 thousand Euros which will be used to renovate the “Berlin” outpatient clinic in Gyumri.

Azerbaijani press: Analyst: Armenians often stand at head of many criminal cash withdrawal groups in Russia

Ekmekjian Janet
29 November 2018 20:51 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 29

By Matanat Nasibova – Trend:

The investigation of German journalists about the links of the Armenian mafia in Europe with the Armenian Foreign Ministry shouldn’t be surprising, because this is true, Yevgeny Mikhailov, a famous Russian TV anchor and political analyst, told Trend.

He was commenting on the information published Nov. 28 on the website “Crime Russia”, based on the investigation carried out by Der Spiegel and MDR TV Channel in this regard.

Results of a journalistic investigation carried out by Der Spiegel and MDR TV Channel implying that high-ranked Armenian diplomats ‘patronize’ ‘Armenian mafia’ operating in Germany under the leadership of thieves-in-law compromised the reputation of the local Armenian diaspora, sparked lawsuits, and caused diplomatic tensions between the two countries, according to the website.

“In early November, Der Spiegel weekly newspaper and the Thuringian branch of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk TV Company have partially published results of their joint journalistic investigation based on the 19-page report produced by the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA), thus, announcing the forthcoming premiere of a documentary entitled “Godfathers in Germany — Armenian Mafia and thieves-in-law” (Paten in Deutschland — die armenische Mafia und die Diebe im Gesetz),” the website reported.

“According to the journalists, a well-conspired and sophisticated ‘Armenian mafia’ network infiltrates a number of big German cities running various illegal businesses, including credit frauds, counterfeiting of money, laundering of criminal proceeds, racketeering, drug trafficking, and prostitution,” the report said.

The publication drew attention to the fact that the Armenian Foreign Ministry often fell into extremely ambiguous situations from the time of Serzh Sargsyan’s rule, Mikhailov said.

He noted that cases of interaction between Serzh Sargsyan and thieves in law have long been known, and it is no secret that many of the authorities were hiding in Armenia after the persecution began in Russia.

“Money laundering, drugs, smuggling, prostitution are only a small part of the Armenian mafia’s activities around the world,” Mikhailov said. “The fact that the German special services started the investigation shows that they are interacting with Russian colleagues who have already gained successful experience in combating criminal ethnic groups. In Russia, Armenians also often stand at the head of many criminal groups that withdraw cash money and are engaged in other criminal activities.”

—

Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova


Armenpress: Armenia, Cyprus to cooperate in mutual protection of confidential information

Ekmekjian Janet

Armenia, Cyprus to cooperate in mutual protection of confidential information

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12:09, 29 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved the draft decree of the President on approving the agreement on the Mutual Protection of Confidential Information between Armenia and Cyprus, reports Armenpress.

The issue has been presented by Director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan during today’s Cabinet meeting.

According to the explanation, Armenia attaches great importance to the strengthening, constant development of inter-state relations with Cyprus at bilateral and multilateral formats.

“The ratification of the agreement will contribute to ensuring mutual protection of confidential information between Armenia and Cyprus transformed and received during the bilateral cooperation”, stated in the explanation.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenian Foreign Ministry: No Armenians among Aleppo chemical attack victims

Ekmekjian Janet
News.am, Armenia
Nov 26 2018
Armenian Foreign Ministry: No Armenians among Aleppo chemical attack victims Armenian Foreign Ministry: No Armenians among Aleppo chemical attack victims

19:37, 25.11.2018
                  

There are no Armenians among the citizens affected by the chemical attack in Aleppo, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.

“According to the preliminary data of the Armenian Consulate General in Aleppo, there are no Armenians among the victims,” she said.

Earlier it was reported that more than 100 people were treated at hospitals for a suspected poison gas attack in the northern city of Aleppo.

Bolton’s Mission to the South Caucasus

Ekmekjian Janet
American Thinker
Nov 23 2018


By Paul Miller

Amid the continuing clamor of the midterm elections, the Trump administration is confronting Russia and Iran as they continue to bite into the liberties and order we enjoy, either through terrorism or by destabilizing whole regions of the globe.

In particular, National Security Advisor John Bolton recently visited the South Caucasus region of Europe and Asia. After a bizarre Obama-imposed stint in the cold, allies Azerbaijan and Georgia are back as priorities while Armenia is on notice with some forthright realities.

Bolton told the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: “We are going to squeeze Iran because we think their behavior in the Middle East and, really globally, is malign and needs to be changed.”

Accenting the geopolitical/strategic importance of the region situated adjacent to Russia and Iran, Bolton held frank and substantive consultations with the leaders of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. In Armenia’s case, though, the talks were characterized as “tough.”  

The South Caucasus, literally at the crossroads of East and West, is key to these U.S. plans. The region, particularly Azerbaijan, is vital to the energy diversity and security of Europe and Western markets, holding much of the Western-friendly portion of vast oil and gas resources in the Caspian Basin.  Azerbaijan is also the only nation to border both Iran and Russia, as well as enjoying a stable, Western-oriented and emerging democratic government. Important, too, Azerbaijan is one of the few Muslim-majority nations (though staunchly secular) on which the U.S. and even Israel can truly depend.  

In general, Bolton’s discussions ranged from how to reinvigorate and enhance already significant strategic partnerships in the case of Azerbaijan and Georgia, to how the U.S. may assist Armenia in extricating itself from its current status as a vassal of Moscow and its deep dependence on the mullahs in Tehran.

Clearly, Ambassador Bolton’s agenda with each nation includes renewed sanctions on Iran and ways to forestall Russian irredentism and neo-imperialism. Armenian leadership was heard referring to the current and upcoming sanctions on both Iran and Russia as “misguided,” “foolish” and “unwise.”

Thought by most observers as being genuinely understanding of Armenia’s ominous economic, geographic, and geopolitical/strategic circumstances, Bolton maintained his and the Trump administration’s customary straightforwardness. Although this seems to have rankled many in Armenia, it did give leaders of the entire region an accurate, unvarnished picture of U.S. positions on a range of issues.

Long suffering from economic and geopolitical isolation stemming from the now 25-year-old Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) war, Armenia won key battles in the 1990s with the help of Soviet Army troops and the materiel support of Iran. However, it unquestionably lost the peace.

Armenia’s unreasoning desire to maintain its hold on Nagorno-Karabakh, a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, leaves only a border with Iran accessible — Azerbaijan and fraternal Turkey closed their borders in response to ethnic cleansing and wholesale murder of Azeris at the hands of Armenians.

Consequently, in order to illegally occupy Nagorno-Karabakh with near impunity, Armenia mortgaged its future to Russia. Yerevan can no longer live without Moscow’s support politically, in terms of weapons, and weighty and regular infusions of funds. Thus, Armenia has de facto become a vassal state of Russia, doing their bidding and voting as Moscow orders in international forums, in return for Moscow’s support on this one issue.    

Ambassador Bolton presented Armenian leaders with a feasible and practical solution, explicitly taking away the issue that keeps Armenia so indebted and obligated to Moscow and Tehran.

Making peace with Azerbaijan would finally put the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to bed. In doing so, the solitary nation would immediately open itself up to world markets and possibly to the numerous large-scale oil and gas infrastructure projects that have brought such wealth to its neighbors Georgia and Azerbaijan. Strikingly, Ambassador Bolton conveyed that the U.S. would support Armenia in this endeavor.

Bolton told RFE/RL that “current circumstances” highlight the importance of Armenia and Azerbaijan “finding a mutually satisfactory agreement to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.”  Further, “Once that happened, then the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would open,” said Bolton, adding, “The Turkish border, I believe, would almost certainly open.”

Bolton acknowledged that he understood why Armenia needed Iran, but asserted that the solution was to end the conflict with Azerbaijan.

So, the door to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan ostensibly remains open. So, too, does the door to freedom for Armenia and stability in the region. A valuable byproduct would be to restrain the freewheeling of Russia and Iran.

Paul Miller is president and executive director of the news and public policy group Haym Salomon Center. Follow him on twitter @pauliespoint.

Amid the continuing clamor of the midterm elections, the Trump administration is confronting Russia and Iran as they continue to bite into the liberties and order we enjoy, either through terrorism or by destabilizing whole regions of the globe.

In particular, National Security Advisor John Bolton recently visited the South Caucasus region of Europe and Asia. After a bizarre Obama-imposed stint in the cold, allies Azerbaijan and Georgia are back as priorities while Armenia is on notice with some forthright realities.

Bolton told the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: “We are going to squeeze Iran because we think their behavior in the Middle East and, really globally, is malign and needs to be changed.”

Accenting the geopolitical/strategic importance of the region situated adjacent to Russia and Iran, Bolton held frank and substantive consultations with the leaders of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. In Armenia’s case, though, the talks were characterized as “tough.”  

The South Caucasus, literally at the crossroads of East and West, is key to these U.S. plans. The region, particularly Azerbaijan, is vital to the energy diversity and security of Europe and Western markets, holding much of the Western-friendly portion of vast oil and gas resources in the Caspian Basin.  Azerbaijan is also the only nation to border both Iran and Russia, as well as enjoying a stable, Western-oriented and emerging democratic government. Important, too, Azerbaijan is one of the few Muslim-majority nations (though staunchly secular) on which the U.S. and even Israel can truly depend.  

In general, Bolton’s discussions ranged from how to reinvigorate and enhance already significant strategic partnerships in the case of Azerbaijan and Georgia, to how the U.S. may assist Armenia in extricating itself from its current status as a vassal of Moscow and its deep dependence on the mullahs in Tehran.

Clearly, Ambassador Bolton’s agenda with each nation includes renewed sanctions on Iran and ways to forestall Russian irredentism and neo-imperialism. Armenian leadership was heard referring to the current and upcoming sanctions on both Iran and Russia as “misguided,” “foolish” and “unwise.”

Thought by most observers as being genuinely understanding of Armenia’s ominous economic, geographic, and geopolitical/strategic circumstances, Bolton maintained his and the Trump administration’s customary straightforwardness. Although this seems to have rankled many in Armenia, it did give leaders of the entire region an accurate, unvarnished picture of U.S. positions on a range of issues.

Long suffering from economic and geopolitical isolation stemming from the now 25-year-old Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) war, Armenia won key battles in the 1990s with the help of Soviet Army troops and the materiel support of Iran. However, it unquestionably lost the peace.

Armenia’s unreasoning desire to maintain its hold on Nagorno-Karabakh, a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, leaves only a border with Iran accessible — Azerbaijan and fraternal Turkey closed their borders in response to ethnic cleansing and wholesale murder of Azeris at the hands of Armenians.

Consequently, in order to illegally occupy Nagorno-Karabakh with near impunity, Armenia mortgaged its future to Russia. Yerevan can no longer live without Moscow’s support politically, in terms of weapons, and weighty and regular infusions of funds. Thus, Armenia has de facto become a vassal state of Russia, doing their bidding and voting as Moscow orders in international forums, in return for Moscow’s support on this one issue.    

Ambassador Bolton presented Armenian leaders with a feasible and practical solution, explicitly taking away the issue that keeps Armenia so indebted and obligated to Moscow and Tehran.

Making peace with Azerbaijan would finally put the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to bed. In doing so, the solitary nation would immediately open itself up to world markets and possibly to the numerous large-scale oil and gas infrastructure projects that have brought such wealth to its neighbors Georgia and Azerbaijan. Strikingly, Ambassador Bolton conveyed that the U.S. would support Armenia in this endeavor.

Bolton told RFE/RL that “current circumstances” highlight the importance of Armenia and Azerbaijan “finding a mutually satisfactory agreement to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.”  Further, “Once that happened, then the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would open,” said Bolton, adding, “The Turkish border, I believe, would almost certainly open.”

Bolton acknowledged that he understood why Armenia needed Iran, but asserted that the solution was to end the conflict with Azerbaijan.

So, the door to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan ostensibly remains open. So, too, does the door to freedom for Armenia and stability in the region. A valuable byproduct would be to restrain the freewheeling of Russia and Iran.

Paul Miller is president and executive director of the news and public policy group Haym Salomon Center. Follow him on twitter @pauliespoint.


Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan included in the Nations League symbolic team

Ekmekjian Janet
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 23 2018

The captain of the Armenian national team, Arsenal midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, has been included in the symbolic team of the Nations League Division D group phase, by Whoscored.com. index. He was awarded 7.77 points.

During the group tournament six matches, Mkhitaryan scored one goal and made four goal transfers. The team of Macedonia leads Group D.

Michael Kouchakdjian: EPIC’s goal is to guide startups to the next level of growth

Ekmekjian Janet
iTel.am, Armenia
Nov 19 2018

Professor Michael Kouchakdjian is the newly appointed director of the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center at AUA (EPIC), as well as Professor in the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) College of Business and Economics teaching Management and Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Kouchakdjian has considerable start-up and venture experience in both Armenia and the U.S.

Itel.am has talked with Michael Kouchakdjian on EPIC’s plans and Armenian tech developments in general.

You were appointed as the director of EPIC this April. What’s unique about EPIC and where do you want to take the center?

We are trying to get EPIC to a higher level in terms of quality, capacity, and opportunity. The short-term goals are to improve our programs to the level of the best university-based incubators overseas. We have done analysis of the ecosystem in Armenia and have determined EPIC’s positioning and strategy within the ecosystem. The goal is to be a valuable asset to the ecosystem, to complement existing capabilities, and to help business growth in Armenia. The strategy will be implemented by working with early stage startups to help them validate their ideas and move their ventures forward.

AUA has unique resources and capabilities that no other incubators or accelerators in Armenia possess. For instance, we have numerous courses in innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-ups taught by professors from both Armenia and abroad. According to a survey we recently conducted, 25 professors at AUA have been involved in starting or building a company, advising a venture, or financing one. So in AUA we have so much knowledge and experience that we can use to teach, mentor and advise the start-up teams of EPIC.

AUA now has 4000+ alumni which is a unique resource. 70 percent of the alumni are based in Armenia. Many are entrepreneurs. For instance, the 3 leading entrepreneurs from what is arguably the most successful startup from Armenia, PicsArt, are AUA graduates. Many of our other alumni are spread around the world — some of them are successful entrepreneurs as well. They want to engage with EPIC and help our start-up teams with contacts from their worldwide network.

EPIC had two startup batches since its establishment in 2016. And even those students who were in our previous batches still consider EPIC and AUA their home and we continue to help them in every way that we can.

What is going to be different for EPIC’s fall batch?

We welcomed the new batch on October 1. Our new program is going to be a bit more formal and disciplined. We are providing the participants with weekly workshops and weekly discussions with entrepreneur leaders from Armenia and abroad. The mentoring will also be more engaged.

14:05 | 25.10.18

At EPIC, we want to involve not only AUA students but also others. A minimum of one person from each startup team is required to be an AUA student or graduate. Everyone else can be from outside the university. For instance, we even had one guy from last year’s batch who is a high school student.

What do the teams get during 12 weeks of acceleration?

Our initial goal is to prepare startups as advancing and high quality ventures that can go to the next level of development and growth. They get 24/7 access to our facilities, the prototyping labs, access to mentors, and active coaching. And, if a few of them are showing extremely good potential, we can consider supporting them with investment.

We also have a sophisticated prototyping lab in AUA as part of EPIC, with very advanced equipment to do prototyping and product engineering. Some of the capabilities of the lab are unique in Armenia such as our 3D laser scanner or our vacuum casting machine. Our students and our start-up teams use them to make their own prototypes. Access to the EPIC prototyping lab is also available to commercial users and businesses as a service.

AUA and EPIC also has a network of potential investors from outside Armenia. We help them identify investable ventures. AUA has been in Armenia for 27 years, and many look to the university for guidance. Many Armenians and non-Armenians from overseas want to do projects through AUA.

One of our EPIC graduate teams, Breedge, recently went to Seattle to participate in the Global Finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup. AUA helped them to set up meetings in Silicon Valley with universities and entrepreneurs. For instance, they visited San Jose State University (SJSU), with whom AUA has a collaboration agreement. The career center at SJSU expressed interest in Breedge’s technology and asked to remain apprised of its development.

Besides the acceleration program, which other directions EPIC is looking at?

Now we are working on creating an investment fund, which will likely happen next year.

There are two other areas we want to focus on. We get inquiries from the diaspora’s early stage entrepreneurial ventures that want to have some representation in Armenia and they want to do it through AUA and EPIC. That’s a new area for us to consider. Those companies got more interested in Armenia after the velvet revolution, I suppose. People are feeling more and more comfortable to open an office here or for investing in a startup based in Armenia.

Another area we want to develop is cooperation with other universities in Armenia to help them to create incubators and accelerators within their institutions. We have invited representatives from universities in Yerevan, Artsakh and the regions to observe and get involved in our recent batch of ventures so they can see how we do things.

What are your thoughts about current developments in Armenian tech?

I think there is accelerating growth and potential, albeit from a relatively small base. The biggest challenge is human capital and maintaining an advanced workforce. We have to figure out how to retain the best specialists in Armenia. We all know the intensity of global competition for the best and brightest.

Technical knowledge in Armenia is very good but perhaps for starting and developing companies we need more expertise in management. AUA can provide this.

We are very optimistic about all what’s going on in Armenia, and as an educational institution, AUA is ready to work with everyone. Our goal is to do everything we can to help educate and train people in the new Armenia.

Narine Daneghyan talked to Michael Kouchakdjian

Nikol Pashinyan meets Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II (photos)

Ekmekjian Janet
| 16:45 | November 14 2018
Categories
Official
Politics

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to meet with His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

“We are happy to welcome you in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and bring our blessings and best wishes for the success of your patriotic works. Of course, we know that your agenda is too busy, but this meeting is also a necessity in order to discuss with you key issues concerning our church, national life and also to get solutions to the issues concerning our church. Of course, we know that the country faces many challenges, and the important events are ahead, the parliamentary elections. Our wish and desire are for these elections to be held peacefully, in an atmosphere of solidarity, without undesirable incidents, contribute to raising the kind reputation of our people and country, and for the election results to contribute to the country’s progress. Once again accept our best wishes to you and welcome to the Holy Etchmiadzin”, His Holiness Garegin II said at the meeting.

In his turn Nikol Pashinyan thanked His Holiness for the best wishes and stated that this is not the first meeting, numerous meetings and discussions were held with the Catholicos previously, including also during April-May of 2018. “These discussions and in general my contacts or the Armenian PM’s contact with Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church are very important. Of course, the values of the Armenian Apostolic Church have a key significance for identity for us, our people and our country. This perception has always guided us and will continue doing so. You mentioned in your remarks the peaceful holding of the upcoming elections. It’s interesting that there is such a perception in Armenia: elections and peace terms have started to be perceived as antonyms for some reasons known to us, but I want to assure you that otherwise cannot happen, and the elections in Armenia will be definitely held peacefully. In general, it’s time for us not to notice contradictions in the elections and peace terms. This will be constant: our people will make a decision, and what decision they will make, it will become a political reality. This is one of the main meanings of the recent changes in Armenia”, Pashinyan said. “The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has a special significance in the life of our people, each follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including in my life and that of my family. It’s also the most convenient place to think about the past and the future”.

His Holiness Garegin II, talking about the upcoming early parliamentary elections scheduled on December 9, said there is a certain trust and optimism that the elections will be held in a peaceful, calm atmosphere. “Our desire and prayer are directed towards the elections to be held with this pace and contribute to the strengthening of the national unity and the solution of problems, challenges facing our country by the joint efforts of our people”, Caholicos of All Armenians said.

Armenian servicemen’s salaries not to be raise, but rewards implied instead – Tonoyan

Ekmekjian Janet
ARKA, Armenia
Nov 13 2018

YEREVAN, November 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Acting Defense Minister David Tonoyan, speaking Monday at a news conference, said that despite the 26.6 percent growth of the ministry’s budget, salaries will not be raised.

Instead, the ministry intends to pay rewards to frontline servicemen thanks to efficient spending of the budget funds, he said. 

“If the economy develops properly, tax inflow intensifies and the budget grows, it will become possible to speak about increase in salaries,” Tonoyan said. 

In his words, 1,400 apartments will be allocated to officers in service and retired servicemen from the ministry’s housing fund.  

The process is under way now, he said, and 120 servicemen have already received apartments. 

The acting defense minister also said that another decision implies preferential mortgage lending terms not only for young for servicemen, but also for those having significant service records. –0–

President Sahakyan: Army building had always been and would remain among the most crucial tasks of the state

Ekmekjian Janet
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 10 2018

On 10 November Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together with defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan and other officials observed tactical maneuvers involving troops of the Defense Army’s central military region.

The President noted that army building and consistent enhancement of the armed forces’ operational capacity had always been and would remain among the most crucial tasks of the state and the corresponding work on a consistent basis would be continued in this direction.

On the same day the Head of the State visited the Mets Shen village of the Martakert region, met with the residents and talked on site over the existing problems and ways of solving them.

President Sahakyan gave appropriate instructions to the heads of concerned structures for proper realization of the set tasks.

State minister Grigory Martirosyan and other officials partook at the meeting.