Author: Emma Jilavian

Sports: Worst in Europe for LGBT rights and woeful on press freedom… Henrikh Mkhitaryan is just the latest victim of the shameful decision to give Azerbaijan the Europa League final

Emma Jilavian
Daily Mail, UK
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s pride and humility is in stark contrast to UEFA’s cynicism 
  • At Manchester United he was heavily involved in local Armenian community 
  • Decision to hold Europa final in Azerbaijan makes you rage against governance 
  • The glad-handing of this would be laughable were it not so utterly dismal

By Ian Herbert For The Daily Mail

It’s the memory of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s quiet and understated pride in his own country which makes you rage against the way that football’s governors – noses in the trough once more – have seen to it that he will not be playing in one of Europe’s showpiece events next week.

Mkhitaryan’s time in Manchester was not the happiest, though far less appreciated than his struggles with the brooding malevolence of Jose Mourinho was the story of the part he came to play in the life of the local Armenian community. 

It wasn’t just his willingness to stop for photographs at the Armenia Taverna, on the city’s Princess Street, but his interest in the lives of those in that community. In every way, he was one of them.

That kind of humanity is a very long way from sport’s cynical willingness to be bought off by the despicable leaders of Azerbaijan – a country which imprisons journalists, persecutes dissidents and has displayed a breath-taking contempt for the rule of law when it comes to Armenia.

There are no diplomatic relations between the two countries because of a long-running dispute over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The case of an Azerbaijani army henchmen, Ramil Safarov, says everything about the country which UEFA, in its infinite wisdom, decided was an appropriate venue for Arsenal’s match against Chelsea.

Safarov was a borderline psychopath, breaking into the room of an Armenian army lieutenant, Gurgan Margaryan, during a NATO-sponsored training seminar in Budapest 15 years ago and axing the man to death. 

He was convicted of first degree murder by the Hungarian courts, dealt a minimum sentence of 30 years, yet somehow secured extradition to Azerbaijan. There, he received a hero’s welcome, was pardoned by the country’s current president Ilham Aliyev, provided with an apartment and eight years’ back pay.

This the kind of climate which lead to Mkhitaryan and Arsenal’s confirmation, on Tuesday, that it is impossible for him to fly to Baku for this weekend’s final. Yet money talks in a world when sportswashing is a now fact of life.

Baku was awarded the Europa League final, in 2017, just five months before it had been revealed that Aliyev and his odious elite were operating a £2bn slush fund, paying anyone they could to burnish the president’s deeply tarnished image and promote a positive image of his oil-rich country.

There has been no shortage of takers. Azerbaijan has hosted the IAAF’s European Games (2015), the World Boxing Championships (2010) and the under-17 Women’s World Cup (2017). Taekwondo, gymnastics and chess have all piled in. The country’s first Formula One Grand Prix took place in 2016.

The glad-handing would be laughable were it not so utterly dismal. When Tony Blair arrived to deliver a speech in Baku – estimated fee: £90,000 – the father of Eynulla Fatullayev, a prominent journalist held in solitary confinement at a freezing Communist-era jail, hoped to hear a mention of his son. None was forthcoming. Blair joked about the weather and praised a new £185m chemical plant.

This is the nation which ranks 177th out of 196 countries for press freedom. It has been ranked by a leading global gay rights organisation as the worst place in Europe to be LGBT. And, over the last 30 years, its leaders have allegedly engaged in the systematic destruction of traces of the country’s Armenian heritage.

The nation’s leaders declared a few days ago, without the faintest hint of self-awareness, that Mkhitaryan would be ‘permitted’ to play in the final. As if that were its remotest right. It almost goes without saying that anyone with an Armenian passport, or dual British-Armenian nationality, will not be able to attend the final.

It requires little imagination to know how Mkhitaryan’s sister, Monica, who works for UEFA, feels about this. Or his mother Marina, who works for Armenian FA.

‘I struggle to find words for how strongly I feel,’ said Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham on Tuesday. ‘We don’t feel he can travel and it’s extraordinarily sad. You don’t get a chance to play in a major European finals often. I can’t find the words. We made our point clearly to UEFA.’

The club ought to have known they were talking to the wall. UEFA is already cashing in on its next payday from Baku, which has been permitted one of the continent-wide Euro 2020 games.

Demands that the decision be reversed reached a new pitch on Tuesday but don’t hold your breath. When the sense of collective indignation has subsided, the gravy train will move on.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7054805/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-just-latest-victim-decision-Baku-Europa-League-final.html

There are no diplomatic relations between the two countries because of a long-running dispute over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The case of an Azerbaijani army henchmen, Ramil Safarov, says everything about the country which UEFA, in its infinite wisdom, decided was an appropriate venue for Arsenal’s match against Chelsea.

Safarov was a borderline psychopath, breaking into the room of an Armenian army lieutenant, Gurgan Margaryan, during a NATO-sponsored training seminar in Budapest 15 years ago and axing the man to death. 



Sports: Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan to participate in Dityatin Cup

Emma Jilavian
MediaMax, Armenia
Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan to participate in Dityatin Cup


Gymnasts Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan will represent Armenia in this annual international tournament.

Artur Davtyan participated in the event in 2018 and won medals. He took the first place in pommel horse, became silver medalist in vault, parallel bars and the rings. He also won the bronze in floor exercise.


British Report Reveals Massive Christian Persecution in Cyprus’ Occupied Territories

Emma Jilavian
Greek Reporter
May 15 2019
By

 Nick Kampouris

 –

May 15, 2019

Destroyed Christian cemetery in the occupied territories of Cyprus. Photo by the Cypriot Federation in the UK

A recent British report on the persecution of Christians around the world features shocking incidents of religious persecution, harassment and destruction inside the Turkish-occupied territories of northern Cyprus.

Philip Mounstephen, the Bishop of Truro in Cornwall, presided over a team of experts who recently analyzed several cases of Christian prosecution around the world, among which Cyprus’ incidents held a prominent place. Mounstephen helmed the project at the command of the British Foreign Office.

The report concluded with the shocking fact that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the entire world. This is a reality that Western societies have not acknowledged, since Western Christians are seen to enjoy basic religious freedom, without often considering the open persecution which is happening in other parts of the world.

Cyprus is a prominent example of how a European Union state can not only remain under the military occupation of another country, but have its Christian population continue to suffer from Turkish persecution.

The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and later Saint Sophia in Cyprus’ occupied city of Famagusta. It was converted into a mosque in 1571 and is still operating as such. Photo: Wikipedia

While conducting his investigation, Bishop Mountstephen asked Christos Karaolis, the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to provide evidence regarding the current situation in the occupied territories of Cyprus.

The interim report of the British authorities underlined that the situation in northern Cyprus is far from satisfactory. It states that very single one of the Christian groups of the occupied lands of Cyprus, including the Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian and Maronite, have seen their rights and their religious heritage ”utterly disrespected.”

The report suggested that confiscations of church properties, attacks on churches and properties previously owned by Christians, and instances of vandalism of church buildings have occurred frequently in the northern area of Cyprus, which is currently under Turkish occupation.

”Access for worship to the historic Christian Orthodox and Maronite churches in the area is severely restricted (only once a year if specific permission is granted in many cases) and even in the small number of churches where regular Sunday services are permitted, intrusive police surveillance is complained of and services may occasionally be closed down by force and the congregation evicted without notice,” the British report charges.

“Other churches are able to worship weekly but also complain of intrusive police surveillance. Many historic churches and associated cemeteries in the area have also been allowed to fall into disrepair, be vandalized or converted to other uses,” the report noted.

From at least 500 churches which still exist across the occupied territories, a total of seventy-seven have been converted into mosques by the Turks; twenty-eight have even been made into army depots or barracks for soldiers.

One of the most shocking charges in the report states that more than 60,000 Orthodox Christian icons are currently known to have been looted, and 20,000 additional icons are still missing, without any idea where they have ended up or if they have been completely destroyed altogether.

Cyprus remains a prominent, and heartbreaking, example of how much destruction hatred and war can bring upon humanity and the priceless, irreplaceable culture of the West.

https://eu.greekreporter.com/2019/05/15/british-report-reveals-massive-christian-persecution-in-cyprus-occupied-territories/?fbclid=IwAR3Iuts3fBp37bjRw6ACVZmw-dBkt6Z7HFb6SvqLRkMrKuJvARyh2qTKBeA


RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/06/2019

Emma Jilavian 
                                        Monday, 
Tsarukian Responds To Government, Denies Breaking Law
        • Gayane Saribekian
Armenia - Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian holds an election 
campaign meeting in Gyumri, December 6, 2018.
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian on Monday dismissed 
pro-government lawmakers’ claims that he may be engaged in entrepreneurial 
activities in breach of Armenia’s constitution and laws.
Tsarukian responded to parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan in writing as he 
risked being stripped of his parliament seat because of the alleged violation.
The ruling My Step alliance led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian implicitly 
threatened last week to expel Tsarukian from the parliament amid mounting 
tensions with the BHK, which controls the second largest group in the National 
Assembly.
In a letter to Tsarukian, Mirzoyan said there are “legitimate concerns” and 
“reasonable” doubts about the BHK leader’s compliance with a constitutional 
provision that bars parliament deputies from engaging in business. The speaker 
publicized the letter on Thursday just hours after law-enforcement authorities 
pledged to investigate a small pro-government party’s claims that Tsarukian is 
flouting that ban.
Tsarukian and his associates had long denied such claims, saying that while he 
owns dozens of businesses they are not run by him on a day-to-day basis. The 
tycoon reiterated these assurances in a detailed written response to the 
speaker released by his spokesperson.
“I do not hold any position in any of the commercial firms founded by me and do 
not personally participate in their management,” he wrote. “Therefore, I object 
to your evaluations regarding the subject matter formulated as ‘justified 
concerns’ and ‘reasonable suspicions.’”
Tsarukian said that the “artificial” questions raised about his business 
interests are aimed at tarnishing his reputation.He claimed that he has never 
used his 16-year-long membership in the parliament to further those interests.
Mirzoyan and other critics have cited, among other things, Tsarukian’s recent 
calls for the government to impose hefty tariffs on imports of cement to 
Armenia. The tycoon owns the country’s largest cement plant which is 
increasingly struggling to compete with cheaper cement imported from 
neighboring Iran. He has warned that it could lay off the vast majority of its 
1,100 workers.
Tsarukian insisted that he is primarily concerned about the fate of those 
workers, rather than profits made by the Ararat Tsement plant. He also said 
there is nothing wrong with his publicized contacts with local and foreign 
businesspeople considering investing in Armenia.
“I have for years used my personal connections and standing solely for the 
development of Armenia’s economy and strengthening of the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lilit Makunts, My Step’s parliamentary leader, complained on Monday 
that the existing legal provisions meant to separate business from politics are 
not specific enough. “We must eliminate that loophole as soon as possible,” 
Makunts told reporters.
“The line between business ownership and management is too fine,” she said. 
“Right now it’s impossible to tell what amounts to involvement in business and 
what doesn’t.”
Armenian Businessman Freed From Custody
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia - Davit Ghazarian, the owner of Spayka company, speaks to journalists, 
March 26, 2019.
The official owner of Armenia’s largest food exporting company accused of tax 
evasion has been released from custody after paying the government 1 billion 
drams ($2.1 million).
In a weekend statement, the State Revenue Committee (SRC) said a prosecutor has 
decided to set Davit Ghazarian free because there are no longer “grounds” for 
holding him in detention and because he has made the hefty payment “within the 
framework of the criminal case.” The statement did not give further details.
One of Ghazarian’s lawyers, Arsen Sardarian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service 
that the businessman was released on Friday, just three days after Armenia’s 
Court of Appeals refused to grant him bail.
Ghazarian’s Spayka company reposted the SRC statement on its Facebook page but 
did not officially comment on the development as of Monday evening.
Ghazarian was arrested one month ago after the SRC charged that Spayka evaded 
over 7 billion drams ($14.4 million) in taxes in 2015 and early 2016. The 
accusations stem from large quantities of foodstuffs which were imported to 
Armenia by another company, Greenproduct. The SRC says that Greenproduct is 
controlled by Spayka and that the latter rigged its customs documents to pay 
fewer taxes from those imports.
Ghazarian has strongly denied any ownership links to Greenproduct. He said on 
April 5 that the SRC moved to arrest him after he refused to pay the alleged 
back taxes.
Sardarian told the “168 Zham” newspaper on Saturday that the tax evasion 
charges against his client have not been dropped and that he might have to make 
more payments to the SRC. “Calculations still need to be done,” the lawyer 
said. “The criminal proceedings will end only when they the calculations are 
over and they reach agreement on that issue.”
Armenia -- A commercial greenhouse belonging to the Spayka company, April 19, 
2017.
Spayka is Armenia’s leading producer and exporter of agricultural products 
grown at its own greenhouses or purchased from farmers in about 80 communities 
across the country. The company employing about 2,000 people also owns hundreds 
of heavy trucks transporting those fruits and vegetables abroad and Russia in 
particular.
In a series of statements issued last month, Spayka claimed that because of 
Ghazarian’s arrest its mainly foreign creditors are withholding further funding 
for the company. It said it may therefore not be able to buy large quantities 
of agricultural produce from Armenian farmers this year.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian dismissed those warnings on April 9. He said he 
is confident that the food giant will carry on with the wholesale purchases.
As recently as on March 26, Pashinian attended the inauguration of a cheese 
factory built by Spayka in Yerevan.
Spayka was already fined about 2.5 billion drams ($5 million) for profit tax 
evasion in July last year. Ghazarian said before his arrest that he agreed to 
pay the “unfounded” fine in order to have the company’s bank accounts unfrozen.
Armenian Lawmaker ‘Accused Of Assault’
        • Nane Sahakian
Armenia - Arsen Julfalakian, an Armenian parliament deputy and former world 
wresling champion.
A man in Yerevan reportedly claimed to have been beaten up on Sunday by Arsen 
Julfalakyan, a prominent Armenian wrestler and pro-government parliamentarian, 
and his equally famous father.
Police said on Monday that the 63-year-old man, Sergey Mkhitarian, was taken to 
the city’s Erebuni hospital after suffering physical injuries. The incident is 
being investigated, a police spokesman told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
The Erebuni director, Mikael Manukian, said Mkhitarian was discharged from the 
hospital after doctors examined him and found that there is “nothing dangerous” 
in his injuries.
According to Shamshyan.com, Mkhitarian claimed that he was punched and kicked 
by Julfalakyan and the latter’s father Levon during a dispute. The Julfalakyans 
were questioned at a police station in Yerevan later on Sunday, reported the 
crime news website.
Mkhitarian did not return phone calls and could not be reached for comment. 
Arsen Julfalakyan denied assaulting him.
Julfalakyan is a former world and European wrestling champion who was elected 
to the Armenian parliament on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step 
alliance’s ticket in December. The 31-year-old still competes for Armenia in 
international wrestling tournaments.
His father is the head coach of Armenia’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team. 
Levon Julfalakyan is also a former Olympic, world and European champion.
Arsen Julfalakyan revealed on Monday that he, his father and Mkhitarian co-own 
a café in Yerevan. They met on Sunday to discuss business, he said, adding that 
Mkhitarian required hospitalization because he “felt unwell” during the 
conversation that was “a bit more tense than usual.”
In a Facebook post, Julfalakyan insisted that “there was no brawl or physical 
violence.” “I can’t imagine what would happen if I (and my father together with 
me) beat up someone, what consequences that could have,” he wrote.
Sharp Pay Rise For Yerevan Mayor Criticized
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia -- Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutian speaks to journalists, February 15, 2019.
Opposition members of Yerevan’s municipal assembly denounced Mayor Hayk 
Marutian on Monday for planning to double his and his top aides’ salaries.
Under a bill drafted by his office, Marutian’s monthly salary is to rise from 
575,000 drams to 1.2 million drams ($2,500). His deputies would earn 947,000 
drams, a large sum in a country where the average wage stands at 177,000 drams.
The bill also calls for similarly sharp pay rises for other high-ranking 
members of the mayor’s office. Most of them have been appointed by Marutian.
A much larger number of other, lower and mid-ranking municipal workers would 
have their salaries raised by around 30 percent.
Citing this disparity, the two opposition groups represented in the city 
council, the Luys (Light) bloc and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), said 
they will vote against the bill when it is debated later this week.
“The heads of [Armenia’s] National Security Service, police, State Oversight 
Service or State Revenue Committee would get lower salaries than some 
municipality officials,” argued Davit Khazhakian, the Luys leader.
“Regional governors would earn less than deputy heads of Yerevan’s 
administrative districts,” he said. “We have 22 deputy district chiefs.”
The BHK’s Mikael Manrikian also criticized the proposed measures as unfair. 
Manrikian said Marutian should on the contrary double the wages of his 
rank-and-file staffers and opt for a more modest pay rise for himself and other 
senior officials.
The mayor’s spokesman, Hakob Karapetian, dismissed the criticism, saying that 
the uneven increases in salaries are mandated by Armenian law. Karapetian 
claimed that the mayor would have liked to keep his own salary unchanged but 
cannot do so because of those legal requirements.
Marutian has already been under opposition and media fire in recent months over 
a worsening situation with garbage collection in Yerevan. He has pledged to 
significantly improve it in the coming months.
A former TV comedian, Marutian, 42, is a senior member of Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s My Step alliance. He became mayor as a result of the September 2018 
municipal elections in which My Step won 80 percent of the vote.
The governing bloc controls 57 seats in the 65-member city council, putting it 
in a position to easily enact the controversial bill.
Japan Donates More Fire Engines To Armenia
Armenia -- Japanese fire engines donated to Armenia at a ceremony in Yerevan, 
May 6, 2019.
The government of Japan donated 14 fire engines to Armenia on Monday at a 
ceremony in Yerevan attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Officials said that 22 more such vehicles as well as other firefighting 
equipment will be delivered to the country later this year as part of a $14 
million aid program launched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency 
(JICA) in 2017.
The first batch of those fire trucks will be provided to three provincial 
divisions of the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS). Firefighters in the Shirak, 
Lori and Syunik provinces are already being trained by Japanese instructors, 
according to an Armenian government statement.
The Japanese ambassador to Armenia, Jun Yamada, said outdated firefighting 
equipment used in those regions complicates the ARS’s ability to prevent and 
cope with fires.
“Natural disasters frequently occur in Armenia, which is an obstacle to the 
development of rural areas,” Yamada said in a speech delivered in Armenian. 
“That is why Japan finds it imperative to assist Armenia in the area of 
disaster prevention.”
The Japanese government had already donated 28 fire engines worth $8 million to 
firefighters in Yerevan in 2010.
Speaking at the ceremony, Pashinian thanked Japan for this and other aid 
provided to Armenia since its independence.
“It must be pointed out that Japanese aid has been particularly significant for 
our capacity to guard against natural disasters,” he said. “That includes the 
fight against landslides, seismic stability, modernization of the firefighting 
service and other activities.”
“Armenia is always ready to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with 
Japan,” added Pashinian. “I believe there are many things that unite our 
peoples.”
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono visited Yerevan and met with Pashinian in 
September.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

What was wrought upon the Armenians was genocide

Emma Jilavian
MetroWest Daily News
May 4 2019
 
 
What was wrought upon the Armenians was genocide
 
 
By Martin Demoorjian/Guest Columnist
Posted May 4, 2019 at 3:59 AM
   
 
April is the time of year when Armenians worldwide solemnly reflect on their history of persecution with special attention to the 1915 Armenian Massacres having started on April 24. The Young Turk movement, once a liberal organization that the Armenians supported, had taken control of the Ottoman Empire and then adopted a “pan-Turkism” plan espousing a singular Turkish-speaking nation.
 
Shortly after their surprise victory over the Allies at the Dardanelles, they fell upon the Armenians as Winston Churchill referred to their “merciless fury” unleashed upon the Christian minority. The Young Turks of the Ottoman Turkish government planned and systematically carried out a campaign of annihilation resulting in the deaths of over 1.5 million men, women, and children, and exiling a nation from its historic homeland. Uniform findings of hundreds of genocide scholars conclude that what was wrought upon the Armenians was genocide that some now call the Armenian Genocide and that is recognized as such by 28 countries and 49 of the U.S.′ 50 states, and yet for which there is no official US recognition. Acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide is opposed by Turkey’s government.
 
Two congressmen are launching a renewed Armenian Genocide Resolution to establish U.S. policy for the rejection of Armenian Genocide denial and the importance of Armenian Genocide education to hopefully prevent modern-day atrocities.
 
The Armenian Genocide recognizes and memorializes the historical fact of the Ottoman Empire’s genocidal campaign against the Christian Armenians, as well as the Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and other religious minorities. U.S. humanitarian efforts for the 1915 Armenian Massacres was when the U.S. Congress passed the Near East Relief effort, the first of its kind legislation which provided the largest foreign relief aid up to that time.
 
The Jewish media has reported the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and other major Jewish groups, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and B’nai B’rith, adhere to a long-standing arrangement among themselves, Turkey, and Israel to deny the Armenian Genocide. Turkey can and should learn from its World War I ally Germany taking responsibility for their Nazi crimes. Evidently Turkey is unable to be honest with itself.
 
This is sharply contrasted by the efforts of two local synagogues, Temple Israel, Boston, and Temple Isaiah, Lexington, that sow new seeds on the Armenian Genocide among their congregations. Many American human rights, ethnic, and church organizations have supported the Armenian Genocide Resolution, including the American Jewish World Service and the Jewish War Veterans.
 
The ADL professes defending the human rights for all ethnic groups, insisting that people acknowledge and pass legislation on their Holocaust yet works to prevent recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Recognizing that it is their money they do not owe anyone anything, but such hypocrisy disgraces the organization. By its own actions the ADL has become a part of the issue and works to negatively impact its image and gravely discredits itself.
 
Such anti-Armenian efforts are corroborated in the book “Model Citizens of the State” by Jewish author, Rifat Bali, exposing various Jewish groups collaborating with Turkey to influence the United States government to not recognize the 1915 Armenian Massacres as the Armenian Genocide. It shows how some can forfeit their souls and be manipulated to do so by employing Turkey’s Jewish population to influence Jewish organizations in the Diaspora. Such is the challenge of politics.
 
The 20th century is marred by mass killings. From the Armenian Genocide at the start of the century, the Holocaust, to the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the atrocities in Rwanda and the decimation of the population of Darfur, crimes against humanity continue. All the while some believe that there is progress in human rights.
 
Martin Demoorjian lives in Marlborough.

ANCA’s ‘The Future of High Tech in Armenia’ Panel at Netflix Headquarters

Emma Jilavian
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Over 300 people attended “The Future of High Tech in Armenia” panel discussion at the Netflix Headquarters

BY ALINE BARSOUMIAN

LOS GATOS, Calif.,—The Armenian National Committee of America’s Silicon Valley Chapter organized a panel presentation titled “The Future of High Tech in Armenia.” The event took place on April 6, at the Kabuki Theater inside Netflix’s headquarters. With over 300 community members and supporters in attendance, the theater was full to a capacity crowd.

Vache Shirikian, a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix, opened the evening by welcoming everyone to this one of a kind special event. “I hope that you will all leave this event with a renewed hope and a deeper understanding of the current progress and the future of High Tech in Armenia,” said Vache. He also encouraged them to submit questions to the q/a portal which was live throughout the presentation. The panel discussion was meant to be an open dialogue in the Armenian Community of the Silicon Valley.

The panel was moderated by Aline DerAlexanian Barsoumian. Aline, who is currently the Assistant Director of Development at the American University of Armenia, is a longtime ANCA activist and community leader. After introducing herself, she shared with the audience how the committee came to organize tonight’s event.

“Armenia has been a high tech hub since before the fall of the Iron Curtain. The idea for this event came to our committee naturally. We live in the Silicon Valley and Armenia is in the midst of a high tech revolution. We aim to bridge the 2 worlds on this platform this evening,” said Aline.

Today, Armenia has attracted some of the biggest tech giants in the world, and is also home to some amazing innovation and startups. There are so many factors contributing to the growth of the IT sector in Armenia, including a highly skilled and educated workforce, and some government initiatives that are expediting this renewed growth. The purpose of this event was to bridge the 2 worlds: Silicon Valley and Yerevan and discuss what role education, law, and entrepreneurship play in securing a better future in Armenia in the High Tech sphere.

Panel moderator Aline Barsoumian

The panel consisted of four experts in their respective fields, which included Dr. Mary Papazian, Nina Achadjian, Edith Khachatourian, and Meruzhan Danielyan. Dr. Mary Papazian is the president of San Jose State University. Nina Achadjian is a partner at HIVE Ventures, and a Principal at Index Ventures. Edith Khachatourian is the founder and partner of International Legal Consulting. Meruzhan is the founder and CEO of Teamable.

The panelists had a lively discussion and their feedback primarily focused on 4 areas: Armenia’s education system, Armenia’s competitive advantages, key areas to focus business development, and Silicon Valley’s role in Armenia’s technology revolution.

Dr. Papazian, a seasoned leader with nearly 30 years of experience as a university professor, academic and administrative leader, who is also avidly involved in educational initiatives in Armenia, highlighted the need for more pedagogical higher learning institutions in Armenia.

She also highlighted Armenia’s strong background in foundational sciences and stressed the importance of focusing more on applied learning. Papazian explained that the pipeline of talent in Armenia needs to be made larger by improving the educational system and by fostering a closer partnership and collaboration between industry and universities.

Further, the panel observed that there is a higher proportion of women in tech in Armenia than in the Silicon Valley, but still more work to do. “It is very exciting to be a female in technology today. And Armenia is light years ahead in that aspect where more than 40% of its workforce in Tech related jobs are female” mentioned Nina.

Vache Shirikian, a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix

She continued to say that “the best thing we can do is to empower female founders in Armenia because that is what is going to cause a ripple effect for decades to come.” Dr. Papazian also shared that when she was recently in Gyumri, she noticed that nearly all of the startups were led by women entrepreneurs hence the need to continue empowering them on the paths to success.

Meruzhan, who is one of the co-founders of Teamabale, a successful startup that originated in Armenia, highlighted Armenia’s location and market as both a competitive advantage and a competitive disadvantage. Armenia’s small domestic market forces developers and entrepreneurs to focus their efforts on reaching a global audience.

Along these lines, Meruzhan and the panelists agreed that startups in Armenia should focus their efforts on business services.Furthermore, Meruzhan commented on the current situation of the startup market in Armenia where “before it was more difficult, but now we have a high tech community and HIVE, so there is progress compared to 5-6 years ago. It would be helpful if it were more systematic and people knew where to go.”

Nina, a partner at HIVE, a firm that provides funding and operational support to startups in Armenia, indicated how much progress has been made in the tech sector in Armenia just in the last several years. Where she previously would have reviewed business plans of tens of fundable companies, she is new reviewing those of thousands of fundable companies. This is indicative of a maturing tech industry.

Nina also commented that a small amount of capital can go a long way, and mentoring founders and tech workers in Armenia has a profound impact on furthering the development of the sector. She also stressed the importance of the role of the diaspora in advancing the High Tech sector in Armenia by empowering the attendees to make a difference, even from afar. “Make 3 helpful introductions for someone that’s Armenian each month, you all have incredible networks and can share those resources, people with expertise” said Nina.

Volunteers checking in guests

Edith, a licensed and seasoned attorney in Armenia and the United States, discussed the differences between civil law in Armenia and common law in the United States. She indicated that in order to make Armenia a more visible in the High Tech sphere, there has to be a stronger availability of a talented workforce. “There is no lack of information about Armenia out there. Unlike tourism, where the louder you advertise the more people will come. You have to have the goods to back it up. This is where a strong educational and training systems come into play to prepare the workforce.”

She also mentioned the need for a survey in the Silicon Valley of the needs of the Tech companies that Armenia can fulfill so that the Armenian educational system can improve its offerings and prepare a better workforce based on the industry demands. She also discussed the importance of providing across the board industry information, such as salary ranges for the workforce in order to make Armenia a more comfortable place to run a business since high Tech jobs are the highest paying jobs in Armenia.

The panel discussion concluded by a thoughtful question from the moderator to all the panelists. She asked the panelists to highlight how the diaspora can feel empowered to be a part of this High Tech revolution in Armenia. All of the panelists had encouraging and hopeful messages to the audience. Nina said, “It is possible to make an impact sitting 7,000 miles away.

Whether its mentoring a group, building a group that’s good at product design, taking an idea and running with it. One person can make a difference.” Edith’s message was to empower and encourage those who are coming to the Silicon Valley. “One of the needs that startups are facing when they arrive in the U.S. is the lack of support from the community at large. They need help negotiating contracts and a variety of other needs to have a softer landing.”

In her closing remarks, Ani Yeni-Komshian, chairwoman of the ANCA Silicon Valley Chapter, thanked the speakers and the audience for a thought provoking and engaging discussion. “This evening’s discussion reaffirms that High Tech is one sector of many that has great potential in Armenia. Its advancement, depends on multiple factors as discussed here tonight: education, training, job opportunity, and laws that will benefit the employer as well as the employee” said Ani. “Strong steady growth can bolster a healthy economy. With hopes that all this can happen, while Armenia maintains its unique rich heritage and culture of thousands of years.”

Organizing Committee with panelists

This solution focused discussion yielded many suggestions for growth and improvement. Since one of ANCA’s goals is to encourage the growth of the US-Armenia Economic relationship, these suggestions were very much in line with its mission. One of the main suggestions was the opening of a trade office in the Silicon Valley in order to help connect the two markets and foster healthier working relationships.

The idea of this trade office would help accelerate the process of launching companies and everyone can benefit from the collective expertise and knowledge of those involved. If the tech field is going to grow and secure an economic vitality in Armenia, where else does that happen other than the Silicon Valley. The impact we can have collective could be enormous.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.




Concert remembering Armenian genocide & celebrating Armenian culture

Emma Jilavian
Fox 7, Austin, TX
 
 
Concert remembering Armenian genocide & celebrating Armenian culture
 
By Jacqueline Sarkissian, FOX 7 Austin
 
Posted Apr 26 2019 02:39PM CDT
Video Posted Apr 26 2019 10:58AM CDT
 
AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Dr. Mihran Aroian talks more about a concert in Central Texas which will remember the Armenian genocide which happened more than 100 years ago and killed 1.5 million Armenians. The concert will also help celebrate Armenian culture
 
video at
 
 
 

City Council of Spanish Burgos City recognizes Armenian Genocide

Emma Jilavian

City Council of Spanish Burgos City recognizes Armenian Genocide

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21:53,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. The City Council of the Burgos City of Spain has unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide, ARMENPRESS reports the twitter page of the City Council of Burgos informs.

”All the political forces of the City Council have approved the petition on recognizing the Armenian Genocide”, reads the twitter note.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Armenia, Russia hold joint military exercises

Emma Jilavian

Armenia, Russia hold joint military exercises

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16:55, 4 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-Russia joint troops have commenced large-scale battalion tactical military exercises from April 1st at the Baghramyan training grounds in Armenia. Major General Tigran Parvanyan, Commander of the joint forces, is heading the drills.

The purpose of the exercises is to ‘harmonize the joint actions of different types of troops, test the combat readiness of the personnel during the joint implementation of training objectives’, the Defense Ministry said.

The exercises includes live fire drills.

The uniqueness of these drills is that no scenario has been prepared in advance and soldiers will be given orders according to the situation.

Defensive, offensive, as well as counter-offensive exercises will take place.

The drills will be held until April 12.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Military Medical Faculty of YSMU is recognized as a center for training military medical personnel of the CSTO countries

Emma Jilavian
Arminfo, Armenia
April 1 2019
Asya Balayan

ArmInfo.Rector of the State Medical University named after Heratsi Armen Muradyan met with military attache of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan,  Colonel Mukhtar Maykeev on April 1.

During the visit, training opportunities in the field of military  medicine were discussed. According to Muradyan, the military medical  faculty continues to remain the center of military medical education  for the CIS countries.

The Military Attache of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of  Kazakhstan presented to the Rector of YSMU the heads of the surgical  departments of the Military Medical Hospital of Almaty and Astana,  who are going to undergo a one month retraining in YSMU hospitals and  military hospitals of the Ministry of Defense. “It is joyful that  military cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan continues in the  framework of military medical education,” said Maykeev, stressing  Armenia’s rich experience in military medicine.

It should be noted that the military medical faculty of YSMU is  recognized as a center for training military medical personnel of the  CSTO countries.