Author: Garnik Tadevosian

Arsen Harutyunyan: The volume of accumulated water in the reservoirs of Armenia is 100 million cubic meters less than the desired rate

Garnik Tadevosian
Arminfo, Armenia
April 9 2018
Arsen Harutyunyan: The volume of accumulated water in the reservoirs of Armenia is 100 million cubic meters less than the desired rate

Yerevan April 9

Naira Badalyan. As of today, the water reservoirs in Armenia are filled with 52%. Meanwhile, the more favorable in terms of sediment, the year 2016, provided an indicator at 65%. Answering the question of ArmInfo, the head of the State Committee for Water Economy of Armenia Arsen Harutyunyan stated this on April 8 at a meeting with journalists.

According to Harutyunyan, 460 million cubic meters have been accumulated in the reservoirs of Armenia. water, which is 27 million cubic meters lower than last year’s figure. The Akhuryansk reservoir is currently filled at a rate of 325 million cubic meters of 525 million cubic meters. In general, as the head of Vodkhoz pointed out, the volume of accumulated water per 100 million cubic meters less than the desired rate.

At the same time, as the head of the Committee emphasized, today the water level in Lake Sevan has increased by about 10 cm – 1900 m 55 cm compared to the beginning of the year (as of December 25, 2017 it decreased by 0.05 m (5 cm) and amounted to 1900 m 42 cm ed). This, as noted by Harutyunyan, contributed to the seasonal release of water from the tunnel “Arpa-Sevan”. So, during the last 20 days water transfer amounted to about 26 million cubic meters of water, which led to an increase in the water level by about 2 cm. As Arutyunyan reminded, the second stage of restoration of the Arpa-Sevan hydrotunnel worth 5 billion drams, started in January 2017 and will end in 2019 – a year ahead of schedule. For today, water in Lake Sevan is supplied with interruptions, annually in the amount of 100-120 million cubic meters. “After the completion of the tunnel overhaul, 200-250 million cubic meters of water will be sent to Sevan via a hydrotunnel from the rivers Arpa and Egeghis,” Arsen Harutyunyan said.

Meanwhile, the head of Water Committee for today is not ready to answer what the volumes of water release will be. “Currently, a draft government decision on water intake from Lake Sevan is being prepared in the amount of 170 million cubic meters. We are not ready to announce large volumes today, “he said.

The National Assembly of Armenia on July 17, 2017 approved the law on increasing the volume of water discharge from Lake Sevan from 170 million cubic meters up to 270 million cubic meters. The reason for this decision was the fact that the filling of the Aparan and Azat reservoirs was 17 million cubic meters less than in the previous one, and the Hrazdan River is less than 40 million cubic meters full. In addition, the Akhuryanskoye reservoir was filled with 105 million cubic meters less. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia opposed the proposal to increase the water intake from Sevan, and independent experts unanimously reiterated that the decrease in the water level in Sevan will lead to irreversible consequences in connection with the intensification of the water logging process, the law was adopted that, like expected, reflected at the level of Lake Sevan. The authors of the law assured that additional releases of water per 100 million cubic meters, according to calculations, could lead to a decrease in the lake level by 8 cm, in which case, even in comparison with the same day of the previous year, a high water level of Lake Sevan will be provided at 10 cm (18-8). According to official data, in 2017 water intake totaled 266.757 million cubic meters of water, instead of the envisaged 270 million cubic meters.

This year, the issue of irrigation of agricultural land will become more problematic due to the fact that at the beginning of this year the chairman of the State Water Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Arsen Harutyunyan, stated that in Armenia, irrigated areas increased by 8930 hectares, amounting to 97470 hectares, which is 9.2% more than in 2016. According to him, irrigated areas of one hectare with 5130 cubic meters are brought to 6001 cubic meters. m. In 2018, as noted in the State Committee, the task will be to bring the irrigated areas to 110 thousand hectares.

ACNIS reView

Garnik Tadevosian
An interview

Armen Grigoryan. There is a problem of fighting to be a free citizen
​
MARCH 30, 2018 

 

– A:what?today a lot of young people for politics has become to crawl, «to lie down», ahead to go means, other no or to fight, the situation to change opportunity: Do you agree with this wording?

– Yes, it is unfortunately so. Today, we have a situation where the authoritarian regime, which has concentrated all the resources in its hands, has almost completely deprived the citizens of the opportunity to develop. The only way to advance and make a career is through the “sword” of the Republican Party. Thus, people, particularly a part of the youth, are forced to join the ruling party, which only records failures in all spheres. Failures in which you cannot fight for a better Armenia, you are forced to fight in a “lying” position, so to speak. 

– How? can is the struggle attractive to make of young people for: What? are they want, what is the purpose?, what? can me you offer them:

– I think one of the most important values ​​for young people is freedom. It is one of the important ideas for which our people have fought for many years. The fundamental freedom, for which we have gone a certain way of struggle, is the preservation of one’s identity, that is, the effort to remain Armenian, not to lose the national identity. It is not an easy task in the crazy 21st century, but it is also the result of a difficult struggle that we currently have the most important thing – our independent state, although the stage of its full establishment is not yet finished. Now the force of the struggle is aimed at the imperative to create free-thinking and free-acting citizens. I say: “imperative”, meaning that the state-builders are free citizens of the given society. This is what we are dealing with now either individually or in groups. Many civil initiatives in Armenia have accumulated positive experience of that struggle, starting from Mashtots Park and ending with today’s most urgent agenda. In the focus of all these struggles is the issue of the citizen’s fundamental freedoms. One of the pioneers of the struggle on that front, for example, is the “YSU Restart” group of students, which is guided by the slogan “We decide our present and future”, which we have highlighted. We are sure that through that conscious struggle it is possible to achieve the freedom we dream of. As for the citizen’s right, which is closely related to freedom, it is expressed or realized in our country in two ways: through elections, the institution of which has not yet been established in our country, therefore, citizens cannot freely decide their future through elections, and through street struggle, through which it is also possible to establish the citizen’s freedoms. 

– Serge Sargsyan reproduction about: Obvious is, that there is passionately expressed public dissatisfaction, however what? of ideas, problems around this can is turn intoreal rebellion:

– This system, which by and large does not give freedom, but on the contrary, is a shackle in the hands of the citizen, must be destroyed so that the authoritarian regime will disappear once and for all, and the breath of freedom will remain in the country. Today, the case of Asya Khachatryan, who, being the bearer of liberal ideas and approaches, caused problems for the police, and the latter tried to suppress those freedoms, is being discussed a lot. The idea of ​​freedom should be placed at the core of consolidation, spread widely and infect the public with it, become a very important incentive. For this, it is necessary to cover as wide a range as possible in small groups. “YSU Restart” is an activity of the same students mainly on the front of student freedoms, the political society acts in its sphere, as well as in the field of business, so that the state does not hinder the development of entrepreneurship. The place of universal struggle for all groups is the field of upcoming political developments and is aimed at the exclusion of Serzh Sargsyan’s prime ministership in order to pave the way for global changes and greater freedoms. Serzh Sargsyan is, so to speak, a big black stone on the way to those freedoms, which must be removed. 

– Serge Sargsyan promised is prime minister to become case spend more time himselfnext young generation of preparation to the case: Republicans which one? sector about isthe word: A:in pay what? in order political figures, do you think he means? Serge Sargsyan:

– In general, it is a bit problematic to take Serzh Sargsyan’s words seriously, because during these 10 years, so many lies and fabrications have come out of his mouth that it is difficult to list them all even in a one-hour interview. In general, Serzh Sargsyan hinted that he will try to prepare an heir to lead the country after him. Since he is a representative of an authoritarian regime, it can be concluded that his ideas are accordingly within the framework of such a regime. Therefore, I am sure that the young political leader he imagined barely attends kindergarten. He still has to grow up, finish school, go to university, then work, assimilate Sargsyan’s experience and replace him. In other words, the current president is hoping for a 30-year perspective plan. His ideas are very Brezhnevian in that regard, and I am afraid that during that time the country will sink into the depths of the stagnation of the not-so-distant past. That is why the failure of his prime ministership plan is very important.

 

The interview was conducted by Gevorg Ghahramanyan



Haykaz Vardanyan: They want taxes to be paid for a land that cannot be cultivated (video)

Garnik Tadevosian
  • 13:57 | March 19,2018 | Social
  • Armenian:

The resident of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Haykaz Vardanyan, was surprised when he was asked to pay the land tax.

“They want taxes to be paid for the land which one cannot cultivate,” he said.

And there are a lot of such land: 4000 hectares of vineyards, which remain uncultivated because of Azerbaijan’s target. The man who has participated in the defense of the Homeland is ready to pay any tax if there is an opportunity to cultivate the land. If he could use the land he would have a permanent means of living. Now he lives on the account of his son who sends money to him. “My son works in Russia, he sends money, so we live.”

The majority of the residents of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur get income from land because few are engaged in cattle breeding.

The villagers have not complained about the rise in prices yet. “It did not affect winter season, we still have everything from summer.”

But the effect will be felt when spring works begin. “We need to buy diesel oil to  to start the spring sowing, cultivate the land; and its price has risen.”

The resident of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur follows the political developments but does not want to talk about it. When is their voice heard? In response to a question on rising the concerns with the help of MPs he said joikng “Do we have such…”

Haykaz Vardanyan has hosted one of the village teachers who worked for the “Teach Armenia” program. His daughter, Narine, also teaches in Artsakh with the same program.

Church entitled with rights to its property in Israel – Armenian Patriarchate weighs in on Jerusalem tax motion

Garnik Tadevosian
ArmenPress, Armenia
March 7 2018
Church entitled with rights to its property in Israel – Armenian Patriarchate weighs in on Jerusalem tax motion


YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. A commission has been created to deal with the solution of the problems which were caused after the Jerusalem Municipality’s decision on charging real estate taxes from church-owned properties and the new bill on the properties. Representatives of Christian spiritual institutions will also work with the commission, Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan, chancellor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem told ARMENPRESS.

Please tell us at what phase are the latest developments, what resolution did the problem get?

In the end of February the three spiritual leaders who hold custody decided to open the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, because the day before the office of the Israeli Prime Minister released a statement. It concerned the municipality’s decision on charging taxes from churches and monasteries, and the bill which has been introduced in the Knesset, according to which if any church-owned property would be given for lease the government would be entitled to expropriate this property by paying compensation to the church. According to the statement from the Prime Minister’s office, these two – the decision and the bill – have been suspended. The Prime Minister set up a commission including municipality, finance ministry, internal and foreign affairs ministry officials. In addition, representatives from all Christian spiritual institutions should participate in negotiations to reach a common decision.

Obviously this issue didn’t surface all of a sudden. Overall how long has the issue related to the church-owned lands existed in Jerusalem?

We can say that the bill regarding the properties in Jerusalem has been undergoing the preparation phase for already a year. The reason is the following: Since 2010 the Greek Patriarchate had signed contracts with a company recognized by the state. This company , which had rented a church-owned property for 99 years, had refused from this right at some phase and was ready to sell its right of rent to a third party. Factually, the Greek Patriarch had agreed since 2010 that this third party can be any individual company. And since then the right of rent of many properties were transferred to the ownership of individual organizations. This is the reason that this bill was introduced.

This was the reason, but what is the general policy towards church-owned properties?

The rights of church-owned properties belong to the church, this is clearly recorded. These properties serve as income source for the implementation of the church’s mission, the church’s maintenance. There were cases when the state’s church-owned properties were declared “green zones” or a public park. When a “green zone” is declared for a church-owned property, the church cannot do anything there. The state can’t do anything also without the agreement of the given church. Such cases exist, definitely this causes great harm to the church, because today it is impossible to realize any program or project concerning these properties. And as we know, the more projects the more revenues will be ensured for church institutions. And in case of income, the mission can be carried out more effectively.

The Municipality explained its decision by saying that the budget has a gap and they can’t collect sufficient resources. How would you comment this argument?

Churches and monasteries have been exempt from paying taxes for many centuries. We will never agree for taxes to be introduced against churches and monasteries. This can’t be considered as means for the municipality to fill the gap in the budget. They must find another way. The Mayor had addressed the finance minister, and only when he got a rejection he took this step. In any case, when they say debt, we don’t consider it a debt because for many centuries we have been exempt from taxes, such kind of a debt is unacceptable for us. All those church-owned properties which are on lease pay taxes. We oppose defining taxes for churches and monasteries, while outside of this the Christian institutions pay taxes for all profit-generating properties.

How does the US President’s statement on acknowledging Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital and the developments related to the bill and the municipality decision impact tourism flow?

Certainly a decrease of tourism numbers is noticed since the US President’s statement as well as closing the doors of the church. Because violence took place after the US President’s statement, the conflict seemingly awakened, many cancelled their visits. The same after closing the door of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, when a pilgrim is coming to the Holy Land the first destination is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. And if the pilgrim thinks that when he arrives to Jerusalem he won’t see the main holy site, he will think about cancelling the trip.

If I am not mistaken, representatives of the Armenian community are mostly involved in the service sector – trade, rendering services. I believe that the drop in visits is also making economic impact on locals, including the Armenian community.

Yes, you are correct, Armenians are mostly [involved] in the service sector. The decrease of the number of visitors of the city certainly impacts the residents, including Armenians. But the locals are seemingly used to the fact that a long-term calm situation doesn’t happen here. Some kind of incidents or actions happen all the time, which negatively impacts the service sector, and the situation is restored after some time. 3000 Armenians live in the Armenian district of Jerusalem alone. Overall 8000 Armenians live in the Holy Land, I mean both Israel and sections of Palestine. All our projects and initiatives are implemented through a united committee where all unions are represented. There is an active collaboration.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan

RPA is not concerned about the US ambassador’s statement about corruption and monopolies in Armenia

Garnik Tadevosian
  • 07.03.2018

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  • Armenia:

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The Armenian elite is not in a hurry to comment on the statement of the US ambassador to Armenia that monopolies and, essentially, corruption are holding back American investors from coming to Armenia. 


Speaking to “Zhamanak” newspaper, Richard Mills, speaking about Armenian-American relations, specifically said: “The type of corruption that is most troubling, and that deters American investors, is corruption that closes markets and creates unfair competition. It is when influential people with economic and political connections use their opportunities and leverage for their own interests, and as a result, an unfair environment is created, equal playing conditions are not established.”


In particular, the Republican Party does not tend to take it as “sharp criticism.”»observe. RPA Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov In other words, they perceive the US ambassador’s assessment not so much as sharp criticism, but as a recommendation or healthy criticism from a sympathetic colleague. According to him, anti-corruption measures and consistent democratization of the country are the focus of special attention of the RA authorities.


“There have been and continue to be anti-corruption measures in RA, moreover, he reminded that several anti-corruption legislative initiatives were proposed during the last year. At the same time, he emphasized that Armenia is always ready to take into account the experience of European and American partners. No one ever says that there are no bad phenomena in Armenia, such as corruption and monopolies. We have to see if we are going in the right direction or not, was it more of a problem yesterday or today,” Sharmazanov stated in a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly.


He also countered that such problems exist in the same USA, Russia and all other states. But it is obvious that “no one is more interested in the development of democratic values ​​in Armenia than the current RA authorities” and, according to Sharmazanov, the authorities have both the political will and the desire to listen carefully to the constructive proposals of foreign partners. And if necessary, also willingness to start the reforms with a new momentum. 


And here is the former speaker of the National Assembly, vice-president of the RPA Galust Sahakyan generally refrains from responding to the statements of any ambassador, because “ambassadors measure themselves at the level of their country”.


He also responded regarding corruption. “If there are such problems, naturally, the government is to blame. If that corruption exists, if the American ambassador knows the place of corruption, let him tell. I don’t know that place.”


As always, Galust Sahakyan gave a marginal answer to the question of why American investors do not come to Armenia. “Naturally, American investors will not come here, nor people from other countries, because Armenia is a constantly fighting state.”

Artsakhpress-The construction works of 50 new private houses are in progress in Ishkhanadzor. community leader

Garnik Tadevosian 
The construction works of 50 new private houses are in progress in Ishkhanadzor. 
community leader
An exhibition of pottery will be held in "Narekatsi" center of Shushi
50 new parking spaces will be built on the streets of Stepanakert. minister
Getavan will have a new community center
Technological losses in electrical networks have decreased
An event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Artsakh movement was held in Stepanakert 
(photos)

‘Our vision is directed solely toward future’ – President of Artsakh

Garnik Tadevosian
| 13:37 | February 13 2018
Categories
Artsakh
Region

President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan participated in the mass gathering dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Artsakh National-Liberation Movement in Stepanakert’s Revival Square, the president’s office said.

Attendees included former president of Artsakh Arkady Ghoukasyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, war veterans, officials, foreign guests.

President Sahakyan delivered a speech at the event:

“On behalf of the Artsakh Republic authorities and personally myself I convey the most heartfelt congratulations to all of us, our entire people on the 30th anniversary of the Artsakh Movement.

The year of 1988 was a turning point in the history of the Armenian nation. Three decades ago these days the entire Armenian nation joined forces, doubled their fist, alerting the whole world of their readiness to struggle for living free and secure in their Fatherland.
This nationwide outburst was a dare given to tyranny, persecutions, gross violations and abuses of human rights, all the scourges, which our people had undergone over the course of their centuries-old history. And the movement was wreathed with the restoration of the independent Armenian statehood.

Being under alien and artificially-created Azerbaijan’s yoke against its will Artsakh was condemned to extermination and death. The same fate befell Nakhijvan, other historical Armenian regions annexed to Azerbaijan. Numerous ethnic minorities in that country were forcibly assimilated and disappeared from the stage of history. We had no alternative and were never reconciled to captivity, making numerous attempts to throw off the foreign yoke. It is worth quoting world famous academician Andrei Sakharov who said in his time that for the Armenians this struggle was a matter of life and death, for Azerbaijan – just a matter of ambition.

Notwithstanding all this, the Artsakh Movement is one of the exceptional examples of national-liberation struggles that adopted the policy of restoring historical justice and violated human rights through civilized and peaceful means, in strict compliance with international norms and rules.

In response to this the Azerbaijani authorities once again without hesitation resorted to violence, organizing mass killings, massacres, displacement of the Armenian civilian population, which became the manifestations of the most detestable crimes against humanity.

As a result of this genocidal policy hundreds and thousands of Armenians were forcibly displaced from their homes, various regions of our historical Homeland, thousands of people perished and were wounded, rich material and spiritual heritage of the Armenian culture was destroyed in the territory of the present-day Azerbaijani Republic.
Azerbaijan pursues this inhumane policy today as well. The Baku authorities have not abrogated their aims of solving the Artsakh issue by force, resorting to different provocations, violating the ceasefire regime on a daily basis, conducting aggressive policy against Artsakh and Mother Armenia in information, political, diplomatic and other spheres. Moreover, launching the large-scale offensive in April 2016 Azerbaijan planned to destroy the Artsakh statehood via blitzkrieg.

All those endeavors failed and the adversary was rebuffed, suffering serious casualties, material and moral losses. It always has been like that, so it will be in the future too.
The guarantors of that are our powerful army, the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora unshakable trinity, our people carving their country’s secure future on their own, the patriotic and strong independence generation being forged while defending the Motherland.
The Defense Army and the Armenian Armed Forces are among the greatest achievements of our National-Liberation Struggle, our independent statehood, the most reliable guarantee ensuring our people’s and motherland’s security and its normal development, one of the most influential factors of maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Eternal glory to our heroic liberator army!

The state will further on do everything possible towards strengthening the country’s defense capacity, securing the high level of our Armed Forces’ fighting efficiency, shipping the army with modern military equipment.

In this struggle for survival, unfortunately, we have had irretrievable losses. The best sons and daughters of our people have sacrificed their lives for the sacred mission of defending the Motherland. They are not victims, they are martyred heroes who have become immortal and continue the sacred mission of being the Motherland defenders inspiring and obliging to devotedly serve the homeland, work for the glory of its development and strengthening.

All our losses are open wounds and will always remain in our people’s memory and history.

Dear compatriots,

Thirty years later the spirit and testaments of the 1988 continue to be landmarks for our people and our vision is directed solely towards the future.

We will continue to build independent democratic and social country, further cement the Mother Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity. Independent statehood is our greatest value and everybody’s responsibility is to do the maximum towards its consistent progress and reinforcement.

Over the past three decades Artsakh has passed a determined state building path. Our people efficiently fulfilled the most difficult tasks set before them. We defended our state, its independence and freedom, restored the economy almost completely ruined as the result of the war and entered the stage of sustainable development.

Currently, almost all the branches of the economy are steadily developing, people’s living standards are consistently improving. Artsakh’s international recognition is in process. Day by day our country is becoming recognizable to the world and is establishing stable ties with different entities.

During all these years we have always felt the special care of Mother Armenia towards Artsakh. Our achievements and accomplishments are impossible to imagine without the active and immediate participation of the Republic of Armenia.

Today we solve great and responsible tasks together. We are all resolute and will do our best to make the future day reliable, our homeland stronger and more prosperous.
The adversary must always know that the language of force is doomed to failure. Our people, our army and the whole Armenian people will give a worthy counterstroke to every encroachment that threatens our freedom and security.

Glory to free and independent Artsakh!
Glory to Mother Armenia!
Glory to the heroic Armenian people!”

Chess: Levon Aronian tops strong field to triumph at Tradewise Gibraltar

Garnik Tadevosian
The Guardian(London), UK
February 9, 2018 Friday 6:08 PM GMT
Chess: Levon Aronian tops strong field to triumph at Tradewise Gibraltar
The 35-year-old Armenian showed why he is the favourite to challenge Magnus Carlsen for the world title in London in November
 
Leonard Barden
 
 
Tradewise Gibraltar is widely reckoned the best open event in the world and its 2018 edition did not disappoint. The Rock’s attractions include elite grandmasters from the global top, rising talents, the highest prize fund for women in a mixed event, a large high-class hotel venue, active support from government and a full social programme between games. Even a raging afternoon gale at the start of round seven failed to ruffle the organisers, who simply extended the default time by one hour.
 
A trio from the world top 10 fought out the £25,000 first prize in a speed play-off, which Levon Aronian won from Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hikaru Nakamura. The 35-year-old Armenian is the bookmakers favourite to challenge for Magnus Carlsen’s world crown in London in November but he struggled to draw a pawn down in round one against the Hungarian woman GM Anita Gara. It seemed that Nakamura, winner of the last three Gibraltars, would make it four when he started with 5-0, downing Poland’s best young talent in this week’s puzzle, but the American then slowed with five draws.
 
Related: Chess: Magnus Carlsen storms back into form with Wijk aan Zee victory
 
At the end there was a seven-way tie but only the four with the best performance ratings were eligible for the play-off. The eliminated trio included the England No 1, Michael Adams, as the 46-year-old Cornishman caught up only by winning his final two games to reach 7.5/10. Adams will not complain, as the sextet earned around £10,000 while a large group half a point behind received barely one-tenth of that. This is quite normal for a large Swiss System event.
 
Nigel Short faded after losing to Aronian but David Howell was arguably unlucky on 7/10 as he shared the lead with Nakamura in the middle rounds and met an unusually strong field. Only arguably, though, because Howell has become notorious for mishandling his clock time. The most bizarre instance came in round seven when he took a total of 55 minutes, half his available time for 40 moves, for just 15 Bd2-c3 and 19 also Bd2-c3. In his post-game interview he said he had made a new year resolution to be “more practical”.
 
Howell may well become the England No 1 when Adams and Short age further, yet it is hard to avoid the conclusion that in a higher sense he is a wasted talent. As an under-10 he was of similar strength to his contemporaries Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin, Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi, but they have all gone on to reach the world top 20 or better while the Sussex GM is barely in the top 50.
 
The Poisoned Pawn Sicilian, an echo of the era of Mihhail Tal and Bobby Fischer, makes a rare comeback here and includes a remarkable move. White must have thought hew was winning after 21 Rxb7?! since if Bxb7? 22 Rxe6+ Kf7 23 Qd7+ Kg6 24 f7+ wins. Instead 21…Rg1+!! enables the black queen to stop a white check at d4 and, even subtler, creates a bolt hole for the black king at g8.
 
Related: Learning through play is plane easy | Letters
 
Alan Pichot v Ivan Cheparinov, Tradewise Gibraltar 2018.
 
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 hl 8 Bhl Qb6 9 Qd2 Qxb2 10  Rb1 Qa3 11 e5 dxe5 12 fxe5 g5 13 exf6 gxhl 14  Be2 Qa5 15 O-O hl 16 Bf3 Nd7 17 Khl Ne5 18 Rfe1 Nxf3 19 gxf3 Rg8 20 Nxe6 fxe6 21 Rxb7?! Rg1+!! 22 Kxg1 Qc5+! 23 Khl Bxb7 24 Rxe6+ Kf7 25 Qd7+ Kg8! 26 f7+ Kg7 27 Qd3 Qg5 28  Qd4+ Kxf70-1
 
3553 1…f2! 2 Bxf2 Re7! diverted the guarding queen and led to 3 Qxe7 Qxc3+ 4 Ka3 Qa5 mate.

Azerbaijani press: Anti-Azerbaijan provocation prevented during scientific seminar in Moscow

Garnik Tadevosian
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An anti-Azerbaijan provocation has been prevented during a scientific seminar at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

 

The 27th meeting of the seminar entitled “Caucasus in the past and present (society and politics, economy and culture)” was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). преьстория, ход и последствия”) by Vadim Mukhanov, a pro-Armenian senior research fellow at the MGIMO Center for Problems of the Caucasus and Regional Security, was heard, APA’s Moscow correspondent reported.

 

Azerbaijani scientists were not allowed to join the event. Although Azerbaijani historians were finally allowed to take part in the event, the organizers did not provide allow Azerbaijani journalists to join for the fact that the event was not intended for the media.

 

 In his report, Mukhanov noted that during the Shamkir events Azerbaijanis killed Russian soldiers who had returned from the First World War. According to the author, these acts of Azerbaijanis at that time triggered a civil war in the Caucasus. The pro-Armenian author also insulted the Azerbaijani people in his monograph, calling the Azerbaijanis a “Muslim gang”.

 

Following the event, leading research fellow at ANAS, doctor of historical sciences, professor Solmaz Rustamova-Tohidi told APA that Mukhanov Mukhanov is well known by Azerbaijan’s scientific community.

 

“We do know his stance in regard to Azerbaijan. It is no coincidence that this book has been published and this report has been heard on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. I said during the seminar that the author’s statements in the monograph is regarded as biased in Azerbaijan. What happened at the Shamkir station from January 8 to 12, in 1918 was a military operation. Russian military units, which had been released on the request of the Transcaucasian Commissariat, had to deliver their weapons while leaving the South Caucasus, but the Russian troops did not want to hand over their weapons. Some of the military echelons going north via Azerbaijan and Georgia were giving their weapons to the Bolshevik-Dashnak forces headed by Stepan Shaumyan in Baku. I asked how the author determined the status of those military units. Mukhanov calls them Russian soldiers in the monograph. He could not answer my question. My second question was, what did he mean by civil war? In the book, Azerbaijanis and Georgians are accused of rejecting Bolshevik rule. The book deals with the Transcaucasian countries, but Armenian activities are not mentioned. Mukhanov evaded by giving answering the questions in general terms,” she said.

 

Rustamova-Tohidi also noted that the Armenian scientists tried to prevent her from giving speaking. She said that it is sad that such an anti-Azerbaijan event was held at MGIMO.

 

Speaking at the event, Candidate of Historical Sciences in Eldar Abbasov said that Mukhanov did not refer to any historical sources in the monograph: “That’s what my question was about. Mukhanov failed to mention a historical source because his views were not based on any.”

 

Oleg Kuznetsov, a Russian historian-scientist who did not have the chance to speak at the event and who is the author of numerous monographs exposing the lies about the Armenian history, said that the MGIMO hosts events on Caucasus on a regular basis.

 

“This event was academic on the one hand academic and formal on the other hand. This type of events aims to discuss and give recommendations on publishing. The main purpose of the event was to publish this monograph by Vadim Mukhanov in April, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. These efforts are aimed at casting shadow on the events to be held in connection with the 100th anniversary of the the Azerbaijani people having gained independence,” he said. 

MFA: Armenia-US cooperation high on foreign policy agenda

Garnik Tadevosian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 29 2018
MFA: Armenia-US cooperation high on foreign policy agenda MFA: Armenia-US cooperation high on foreign policy agenda

23:30, 29.01.2018
                  

YEREVAN.  – The development of Armenian-American cooperation took an important place in the foreign policy agenda of Armenia, says the annual report of the Armenian Foreign Ministry for 2017.

A number of events were organize within the framework of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United States.

On March 3, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Thilerson. During the conversation, the sides touched upon numerous issues of the bilateral agenda, expansion of trade and economic cooperation, and exchanged views on a number of key regional and international challenges.

In September 2017, a delegation of the US Congress visited Armenia, including representatives of both the Republican and Democratic parties: the Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone,Jackie Speier, Representatives Anna Eshoo, Tulsi Gabbard, Jim Sensenbrenner, David Valadeo. The delegation held meetings with the President, Prime Minister and other officials of Armenia.

On July 21, Edward Nalbandian received US Deputy Trade Commissioner Daniel Mullaney, and on September 12 – Ed Gresser, Assistant Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics.

On September 20, the Armenian Foreign Minister met in New York with Elisabeth Millard, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Fiona Hill, National Security Council’s Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs, and Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

On October 4-9, a delegation of the Senate and Assembly of California visited Armenia to meet with top leadership of the country.

In 2017, the countries were also developing economic ties.  In particular, the year was marked by the entry of a new American campaign into the energy sector with a view to participation in the construction of Shnokh HPP.

Efforts of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized

A photo exhibition dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Washington was organized thanks to the efforts of Armenian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Embassy.