Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Armenian defense minister comments on recent army incidents

Emil Lazarian
Panorama.am 
Armenia –

Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on Thursday paid a working visit to Syunik Province where deaths of two conscript soldiers were reported, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

At a meeting with local officers in a military unit, Papikyan addressed the recent incidents involving conscripts. He underscored that the incidents were a result of improper discipline in certain units as well as poor morale of individual servicemen.

After being briefed on the incidents by the officers in charge, the defense minister issued instructions to the commander of the military unit to take necessary measures to exclude such cases in the future.

Suren Papikyan also visited the border area close to the Nerkin Hand community where Major-General Artak Budaghyan, the commander of the local military unit, presented the current situation.

He next visited the construction site of a local military unit and got acquainted with the construction process on the ground.

IMF may provide $36 million to Armenia

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
21:11, 18.03.2022

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached an agreement with the Armenian authorities on the completion of the final review of the economic program of Armenia.

The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, which plans to consider a final review in mid-May. Approximately $36 million will be available after the board meeting, bringing the total appropriation to approximately $430 million.

The Armenian economy continued to recover in 2021, recording growth at the level of 5.7%. Annual inflation declined steadily, hitting 6.5% in February, helped by tightening monetary policy. The budget deficit in 2021 decreased to 4.7% of GDP.

Music: Maestro Mansurian highlights role of Armenian language in patriotic pursuits

Emil Lazarian
Panorama.am 
Armenia –

CULTURE 12:28 18/03/2022 ARMENIA

Maestro Tigran Mansurian highlighted the role of the Armenian language in patriotic aspirations as he met with students of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia on Thursday.

“The art of composition is not a performing art, but an ideological one. In this case young people have great opportunities, they study in developed countries and return to Armenia. I believe there will be successors. Being in action, being part of the changing world is essential,” said the leading composer.

Speaking about the musicality of the Armenian language, the composer stated that music and the Armenian language are closely linked with one another. “With its accents and phonetics, it is already music. We must always recognize the role of the Armenian language in patriotic pursuits. Language is the foundation of instrumental music. Every language is not only phonetics, but also a worldview system,” Mansurian said.

The maestro also talked about his childhood and student years. “I was a naughty child, I never thought about my teachers being happy with me. I was always fighting,” he said.

Mansurian described himself as self-taught. “I was an insatiable reader. I didn’t attend a music school, I learned music by myself. When there is no teacher, when you are alone with yourself, a direct connection is formed between music and you. Nevertheless, I was surrounded by caring people,” he noted.

Music: Armenian musicians to perform at Monte Carlo festival

Emil Lazarian
Panorama.am 
Armenia –

CULTURE 11:22 18/03/2022 ARMENIA

Famous Armenian musicians, soprano Karine Babajanyan and Vardan Mamikonian, are set to perform at the Spring Arts Festival in Monte Carlo (Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo) on March 25, Orer.eu reports.

The first part of the concert program features songs by Komitas, as well as other Armenian musicians. German songs will be performed at the second part of the concert.

Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Latvian counterpart discuss cooperation prospects

Emil Lazarian

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 15:09,

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan met with Latvia’s Minister for Welfare Gatis Eglītis during the visit in New York, the United States, the ministry said in a news release.

The possible options of the bilateral cooperation in labor and social protection, the necessity of implementing joint programs aimed at women’s economic strengthening were discussed during the meeting.

Narek Mkrtchyan highlighted studying the best Latvian experience in digitization of social services, protection of rights of people with disabilities, employment policy.

The sides expressed readiness to take respective steps to strengthen the sectoral cooperation.

Refugees, immigrants or tourists: Nearly 4000 Ukrainian citizens of Armenian descent arrive in Armenia in 3 weeks

Emil Lazarian

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 17:17,

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 4000 citizens of Ukraine arrived to Armenia in the last three weeks, according to the Ukrainian Chargé d’affaires in Armenia Denis Avtonomov.

Avtonomov said at a news conference that most of these 4000 Ukrainian citizens are ethnic Armenians. Avtonomov said those who arrived are either refugees, immigrants or tourists. “The peculiarity is that almost all of them are ethnic Armenians, and they have friends, families, homes here, that’s why they aren’t asking for help,” Avtonomov said.

He added that the Ukrainian Embassy in Yerevan has some possibilities to solve the accommodation issues for the arriving nationals, however the employment issue is far more difficult to solve.

According to Avtonomov, many citizens of Armenia – be it in Yerevan or in other cities – are applying to the Ukrainian embassy and expressing willingness to help the Ukrainian refugees in finding homes.

Overall, according to Avtonomov, “tens of thousands” of people from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have come to Armenia since February 24 as refugees, immigrants or tourists.

Macron predicts global food crisis during coming 12-18 months

Emil Lazarian

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 19:31,

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. The world will face a global food crisis in the next 12-18 months due to the events in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports, citing “RIA Novosti”, President of France Emmanuel Macron said.

“Because of the war in Ukraine, we will face a deep food crisis in the next 12-18 months, especially in countries that are heavily dependent on Russia in the Middle East and Africa, so Europe must be ready for the challenge, both for itself and for its partners.” Macron stated during a press conference.

He also said that he aims to ensure France’s food independence if elected president for the next five years.

No bomb found on the Moscow-Yerevan plane

Emil Lazarian

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 20:06,

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. No bomb was found on the Moscow-Yerevan flight, ARMENPRESS reports, the Ministry of Emergency Situations informs.

On March 17, at 15:49, the National Center for Crisis Management received information that a bomb had been placed on the plane flying from Moscow to Yerevan, which was scheduled to land at 18:00.

“The rescuers together with the police and airport security officers carried out evacuation of passengers, inspection of the hall and luggage. Nothing dangerous was found,” the statement said.

Armenia has very particular position on Ukraine, and EU respects it, EU special rep states

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The EU is heavily engaged with the war in Ukraine, but that does not mean the EU is forgetting about its friends in the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, EU  Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in  Georgia, stated in an interview factor.am.  

“And my mission here is the demonstration of that. For example, last  week, President [of the European Council Charles] Michel met with  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the highest level, and the EU is  more than ever committed to working with our partners for a peaceful  and prosperous South Caucasus. So the message is very simple. We are  not going anywhere even if we are very much concerned about what is  happening in Ukraine. Wee are here, in the South Caucasus, to support  our friends,” Mr Klaar said.  

Asked about the EU expectations of Armenia’s position on Ukraine, Mr  Klaar said that the EU realizes it is a challenging situation in  Armenia. 

“We appreciate all the efforts that Armenia has made and is making  and we are in close contact with the Armenian authorities. We  recognize that Armenia has very particular position, and we respect  it,” Mr Klaar said.

Armenian patriotic songs are played in Khramort village of Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
(VIDEO)
15:16, 17.03.2022

(Nagorno-Karabakh)—and in response to the Azerbaijani “mugham.” Reporter Tatevik Aghajanyan wrote about this on Facebook, and she posted a respective video as well.

Due to the provocations being carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in recent days, the women and children of the village have temporarily been transferred from Khramort community of Askeran region to other settlements. As of yesterday, it was not clear when they would return to the village. The thing is that the positional advantage of the Azerbaijanis has put the people of Khramort under the direct fire of the adversary; and being on the hill, the Azerbaijanis are shooting at the village as a target.

Watch the video at