Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II received teachers from Diaspora in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The teachers, who are currently participating in a retraining program organized by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Armenia, were accompanied by the Yerevan State Pedagogical University President Professor Rouben Mirzakhanyan.
His Holiness expressed his appreciation of the commitment with which the Armenian teachers from Diaspora visit Armenia every year to take part in the trainings.
He appreciates the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Culture of Armenia, educational structures and professors to organize the program.
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II emphasized the mission of the Armenian school in the national life and expressed regret that the Armenian education retreats in the Diaspora. It is the Armenian school that helps to develop national identity and guarantees the individual’s future integration in the national life.
His Holiness informed that next year a similar program will start off in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to support the teachers of the national educational institutions of the Diaspora and the schools working under the aegis of the Armenian Church.
ANKARA, Turkey— In reports published in both Turkish and English, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency published a report that provided details about 10 U.S. bases in northern Syria, including troops count and a map of the U.S. force presence in the Turkish version, reported Bloomberg.
U.S. military vehicles and Kurdish fighters from the YOG drive in the town of Darbasiya, Syria (Photo: Reuters)
The reports said that the military outposts are “usually hidden for security reasons, making it hard to be detected.” It said they were located “in the terrorist PKK/PYD- held Syrian territories,” a reference to Kurdish groups that Turkey’s government considers terrorist organizations.
In recent years, Turkey and the U.S. have been at odds over the U.S. backing of Kurdish fighters in Syria who are affiliated with the separatist movement inside Turkey. The Turkish government probably leaked U.S. troop locations to Anadolu as retaliation, according to Aaron Stein, a fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington.
“The U.S. takes force protection seriously, obviously,” Stein said by email on July 19. “The Turkish government knows this, and still decided to leak the locations of U.S. bases in Syria.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it conveyed its concern to the Turkish government.
“While we cannot independently verify the sources that contributed to this story, we would be very concerned if officials from a NATO ally would purposefully endanger our forces by releasing sensitive information,” Major Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, a Defense Department spokesman, said in an emailed statement. “The release of sensitive military information exposes Coalition forces to unnecessary risk and has the potential to disrupt ongoing operations to defeat ISIS.”
Anadolu Agency reporter Levent Tok said that the information on the U.S. troops was based on fieldwork by Anadolu’s Syria reporters and some of the information on bases that had been broadcast on social media by Kurdish fighters.
“The U.S. should have thought about this before it cooperated with a terrorist organization,” he told Bloomberg.
News of the Anadolu story was published earlier on July 19 by the Daily Beast, which also released correspondence with U.S. military officials urging the reporter, Roy Gutman, not to share the information because they said it would expose tactical information and put coalition lives in jeopardy.
This move by Turkey is the most recent strain in relations between Turkey and a major NATO ally. Last week, a senior Turkish official told Bloomberg that Turkey has agreed to purchase a missile defense system. This move could dramatically hurt Turkey’s relations with the Western security bloc. In addition, Germany is in the process of withdrawing from Turkey’s most important NATO base, Incirlik, after Turkey refused to allow a German delegation to visit troops there.
Armenian gymnasts Artur Davtyan, Vahagn Davtyan and Harutyun Merdinyan will take part in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2017, to be held in Montreal, Canada on 2- 8 October, the Armenian National Olympic Committee (ANOC) told Panorama.am.
In an interview with the ANOC, head coach of the Armenian artistic gymnastics team, Hakob Serobyan, noted that prior to the championship, the Armenian gymnasts will depart for Paris to take part in the qualifying round of the World Cup scheduled on 16-17 September. Afterwards, the Armenian team will hold a joint training camp with the French and Chinese teams.
Mr. Serobyan also informed that another Armenian gymnast Zhora Smbatyan is set to participate in the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival to be held in Győr, Hungary from 22 July to 30 July. Armenian athletes Artur Davtyan, Artur Tovmasyan and Armen Petrosyan will represent Armenia at the 2017 Summer Universiade scheduled for Taipei, Taiwan on 19-30 August.
At Round 8 of the third tournament of 2017 FIDE World Chess Grand Prix taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, Armenian GM Levon Aronian lost his game against Yan Nepomnyashchi from Russia.
As the Armenian National Olympic Committee told Panorama.am, after eight rounds, Aronian shares 14-15 places with 3.5 points.
GM Levon Aronian will face Saleh Salem (UAE) at the final round of the tournament scheduled on Saturday.
Roaming tariffs between Armenia and Russia to reduce soon
Vahan Martirosyan. PAN Photo
14:32 | 12.07.17 | News | visibility 1116
Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan said that roaming tariffs for calls between Armenia and Russia would soon reduce.
Minister Martirosyan said this in a news conference today, informing that negotiation were underway on this topic.
He emphasized that “excluding roaming from EAEU area has not yet been discussed.”
Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan said that roaming tariffs for calls between Armenia and Russia would soon reduce.
Minister Martirosyan said this in a news conference today, informing that negotiation were underway on this topic.
“The negotiations have registered the first results. For example, VivaCell-MTS has already offered roaming in MTS Russia network for AMD 25,” Vahan Martirosyan said.
He emphasized that “excluding roaming from EAEU area has not yet been discussed.”
Karabakh MOD: Defense army is ready to take offensive actions if needed
13:43, 12.07.2017
STEPANAKERT. – The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander, Levon Mnatsakanyan, on Wednesday received a group of MPs from the National Assembly of Armenia.
At their request, he reflected on the military actions that occurred in April of the year past, and assessed them as Azerbaijan’s massive attack against Artsakh, the NKR Ministry of Defense informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Subsequently, Mnatsakanyan spoke about the activities being carried out since these hostilities.
And assessing the present-day situation at the frontline as stably controlled, he assured that the Artsakh defense army is capable of responding adequately to the adversary’s provocations and ready to also take offensive actions consistent with the situation.
The Armenian wolfhound Gampr was recognized by the International Kennel Union (IKU) on February 10, 2011 thanks to the efforts of Violetta Yurievna Gabrielyan, the president of the Kennel Union of Armenia and the initiator of the process of recognition of the breed at International level.
To make the approval of the breed possible, Armenian cynologists have prepared documents proving the origin of the breed and providing reasoning behind the need to recognize it as Armenian. The initiative became a necessity after the Turks presented the Gampr breed as Anatolian Rapabash at numerous international dog shows.
Gamprs have always been one of the most famous animal species from Armenia. According to Armenian scientists, Gamprs are mentioned even in ancient Roman sources.
A similar situation has also occurred several years ago. Turkey presented the Armenian mouflon as Anatolian mouflon and tried to make scientific circles to rename the breed.
The next mission of the organization is to fight against the false designation of Van cats, which are now known as Turkish Van cats. Today, Van cats live in the area of Lake Van in the territory of modern Turkey. It is a common pet among those who have been former residents of Turkey. In Armenia, 40 Van cats are registered today.
The Gampr Wolfhound
The Gampr WolfhoundThe Gampr WolfhoundThe Van catThe Van catThe Van catThe Armenian mouflonThe Armenian mouflonThe Armenian mouflon
If you are like most first time visitors to Armenia, you are sure to tour the ancient monasteries, explore the national museums and visit the historic brandy factories. But there are many amazing things to do in Armenia beyond the usual guidebook highlights. This past summer, I had a chance to visit Hayastan, the Armenian name for the country of Armenia, and step off the beaten path. I found myself soaring above alpine lakes, forming ceramics with local artisans and wandering through dusty shafts of light in an abandoned Soviet textile factory. Here are a dozen extraordinary ways to experience Armenia to the fullest.
(V. Grigoryan)
Soar through the skies paragliding above the mountains by Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus. Gardman Tour arranges expert guides, many of whom have competed internationally, to provide equipment and tandem instruction for novices. It’s a thrilling and unique way to get to know the Armenian landscape.
Float through the comfortable sunshine (the region averages 256 days of sun per year) and over rocky hills dotted with patches of wildflowers. In the distance, you can see the town of Sevan and the village of Lchashen. Farther off, high above the lake, spot Sevanavank Monastery, founded in the 9th century by Princess Mariam, and beyond that the mountain peaks of the Lesser Caucasus.
(C. Rapkievian)
Surrounding a small sparkling glacial lake at about 10,500 feet above sea level near the top of Mount Ughtasar, prehistoric petroglyphs, dated 2,000 BCE to – 12,000 BCE, are carved onto the flat surfaces of manganese boulders left behind by an extinct volcano.
The petroglyphs were initially studied in the 1960’s, and archaeological research is still ongoing. Due to the site’s high elevation, the remarkable carvings are covered with snow nearly nine months of the year making them accessible only in summer months. Off-road vehicles take visitors through rocky fields full of flowers and butterflies that flit through the crisp mountain air. Celestial symbols, animals, hunters and even these dragons (pictured above) are evidence of the lives and imaginations of ancient ancestors.
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
Visit the ceramics factory of Antonio Montalto. Master artists may even teach you the extraordinary technique of making a decorative egg. The clay is attracted to the porcelain mold creating the hollow form. After the first firing, the egg is decorated with glaze and then fired a second time to create a beautiful ornament.
(C. Rapkievian)
Explore the mystery of Karahunj, an ancient site with a circle of placed stones. Astronomers theorize that this 7,500-year-old archeological site is a celestial observatory pre-dating England’s Stonehenge by more than 4,500 years. Two hundred lichen-covered basalt stones stand tall and approximately 80 of them have small holes that align with bright stars in the night sky. A desolate, windswept site off the main road near the village a Sissian, visit Karahunge (literally translated as “speaking stones”) at dawn or dusk to experience its powerful beauty.
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
In the artistic city of Gyumri, visit the Irankyuni Forgeto learn to create a wrought-iron souvenir with the expert guidance of a master blacksmith. Heat the iron in the hot fire and then hammer, with sparks flying, to gradually bend the metal. Historic blacksmithing tools can be seen in the Dzitoghtsyan Mansion Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, and ironwork can still be found with the black and red tuff stone architecture around this centuries-old “city of arts and crafts.” Top off your visit to the forge with a delicious dinner next door at the blacksmith’s family-owned restaurant.
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
Discover flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, pristine rock “popcorn,” “soda straws,” “bacon-rind” and “draperies” while exploring Mozrov Cave, one of Armenia’s most decorated. The karst cave was discovered in 1965 during road construction. The entrance partially collapsed due to heavy snowfall in 2012, but the 300 meter cave is still accessible.
The cave is ideal for intermediate-level recreational cavers on their own and novice cavers with a guide. Discover Armenia Tours organizes excursions and provides hard-hats, head-lamps, flashlights and transportation to explore this wild and well-preserved cave located in Vayots Dzor province.
(C. Rapkievian)
Explore an abandoned Soviet textile factory in the Vayots Dzor Province deserted in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. The site sits frozen in time with yarn still threaded in machines, lockers filled with photos and tools and folktale murals on the wall of the factory-workers’ children’s day-care. The now-silent rooms can be toured with the local owner in arrangement with Discover Armenia Tours.
(C. Rapkievian)
Sing along at a public song workshop at the new Komitas Museum-Institute in Yerevan. The “Lullabies” workshops (held every-other month on selected Saturdays) recently won the “Best Practice Award in Museum Education” from the International Council of Museums. On other Saturdays, the workshops feature seasonal songs that Komitas, a celebrated ethnomusicologist who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of music, collected and arranged. Knowledgeable staff teach each line of the song and visitors of all ages are encouraged to lift up their voices in Komitas’s sometimes spiritual, sometimes playful folk songs.
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
Cook delicious gata and other Armenian treats with TV-cooking-show star Zara Karapetyan, director of Tasty Tour. Under the trees, next to her herb garden and orchard, stir-up the ingredients, roll out the dough and cook the sweet bread in a tonier, a traditional oven usually buried in the ground. Then dig in to a delicious lunch of local Ushi village favorites!
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
An extraordinary number of species of birds – over 350 – can be found in Armenia because even though the country is small, there is a great range in elevation and diversity of landscape. Luba Balyan, a noted ornithologist, forest ecologist and founder of a bird conservation organization in Armenia, is one of several field researchers who lead exciting bird-watching tours aimed at both devoted birders and the casual tourist.
One particularly rich site to visit is Lake Arpi National Park in the northwestern corner of Armenia. Over 190 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including the globally threatened Dalmatian pelican, Egyptian vulture and European roller. Other birds include greater spotted and imperial eagles, red-footed and saker falcons, great snipes and semi-collared flycatchers. Plus, the park hosts one of the world’s largest colonies of Armenian gulls.
(H. Tadevosyan, AMAP)
Listen to sacred chants in the ancient monastery of Geghard, located in the Upper Azat Valley. The Unesco-recognized site is partially carved out of the colorful rock cliffs and hosts a healing spring in the oldest chamber. The Garni Ensemble is one of the incredible a capella groups that performs by special request. In the near-darkness inside the tomb of Prince Papak, the acoustics are extraordinary – nearly a 90-second reverberation. The haunting harmonies of the 5-member ensemble sound as if you are hearing a 100-member choir.
(C. Rapkievian)
Celebrate with a visit to Trinity Canyon Vineyards in the Vayots Dzor highlands. The region's high altitude, sunny skies and volcanic soils create a unique terroir that the vineyard founders say allows for the cultivation of several wine styles.
“Trinity’s main focus,” the founders say, “is to reveal the potential of Armenian indigenous grape varieties by drawing on the best organic viticulture practices.” Using the Areni grape, the winery produces a wine that has been described as “silky, powerful, with refreshing acidity.”
The Voskehat, another prominent grape endemic to Armenia, is used for their ancestral line of wines made in karases (ancient Armenian terracotta vessels). The resulting varieties range in style – from light and crisp to “bold, skin-macerated orange wines.”
Their tasting area is a pleasant patio of rustic picnic tables near a garden set up for music and other special events with a demonstration vineyard on the hillside. Raise a glass to toast executive director-poet-musician, Hovakim Saghatelyan, enthusiastic winemaker Artem Parseghyan and the rest of the staff as you reflect on the winery’s deep connection to the land and its gifts.
With such marvelous and unique opportunities in Armenia, you will hope to return as soon as possible!
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
June 21, 2017 Wednesday
Syria, Armenia discuss enhancing bilateral relations
Damascus, SANA- Speaker of the People's Assembly Hadiyeh Abbas
affirmed on Wednesday the importance of strengthening the historical
relations between the two peoples in Syria and Armenia and the need to
promote them at all levels to serve the interest of the two friendly
countries.
During a meeting with Armenia's Ambassador to Syria Arshak Poladian,
Speaker Abbas said that Syria appreciates greatly the Armenian support
for Syria in the face of the terrorist war imposed on it, pointing out
to the importance of the role of members of the Syrian-Armenian
Friendship Association at the People's Assembly in strengthening
bilateral relations and activating communication between the two
sides.
For his part, Ambassador Poladian said that Syria is a real home for
the Armenians in which they lived a golden historical stage and
integrated in the Syrian society, adding that start of running flights
between Damascus and Yerevan will enhance communication between the
two countries.
He pointed out that his country will participate in the upcoming
Damascus International Fair and that the Armenian-Syrian Friendship
Association will soon be formed in Armenia.
In turn, the head of Syrian-Armenian Friendship Association at the
People's Assembly Nour Arisan said that the meeting came to discuss
matters of mutual interest to both countries, especially in the field
of activating parliamentary relations after the establishment of the
Association two months ago.
Manar/Hazem Sabbagh
Azerbaijani Spy Scandal Leaves Trail Of Dead Suspects
Ron Synovitz
Azerbaijan -- Azeri servicemen guard their position at the frontline
with the self-defense army of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, April
29, 2016.
Within days of being swept up in a wave of arrests on espionage
charges last month, at least four Azerbaijani soldiers and a retired
military officer died in custody. The circumstances of their deaths
are shrouded in secrecy.
Azerbaijan's government and military have refused to comment on the
deaths, news of which emerged shortly after authorities in May
announced the spy scandal.
Journalists who initially reported on the deaths have been warned by
the Prosecutor-General's Office to stop. And most relatives of the
dead soldiers are reluctant to speak to journalists, with some
expressing fear about their own safety if they do.
The silence, Baku's poor human rights record, and the way Azerbaijan's
military hastily buried the soldiers without letting relatives see
their bodies, have fed rumors that the suspects were tortured to death
while being interrogated.
Spying For Armenia
The spy scandal came to light on May 7 when a joint statement was
issued by the State Security Service, the Prosecutor-General's Office,
the Interior Ministry, and the Defense Ministry.
It said authorities had "opened a criminal case against a group of
military personnel and civilians in Azerbaijan" on charges of "treason
against the state."
The statement said members of the spy ring had worked for the
intelligence services of archrival Armenia "at various times in the
past" and "for their own interest." It also said they provided "state
secrets" to Armenia, which Azerbaijan has been locked in conflict with
over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades.
Secretive Arrests
Azerbaijan's authorities have not named any individuals accused in the
spy case or specified how many suspects were arrested and charged. But
Ilham Ismayil, a former State Security Service officer, told RFE/RL
that a total of 42 people were arrested in raids during May -- mostly
in the Terter region.
Ismayil told RFE/RL that the spy scandal stemmed from an incident in
late 2016 when a group of Armenian military officers allegedly were
allowed to cross from Nagorno-Karabakh and travel behind Azerbaijan's
front lines with the help of Azerbaijani officers.
He said some Armenian officers were given Azerbaijani military
uniforms to wear and that they traveled to the center of Terter -- a
city that was heavily damaged by Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh war in the early 1990s.
State Security Service chief Madat Guliyev said the roundup of
spy-ring suspects was ordered by President Ilham Aliyev after
investigators under Guliyev's command provided evidence to both the
president and the Defense Ministry. Based on that evidence, the
Defense Ministry took action. Neither the State Security Service nor
Azerbaijan's government has publicly disclosed the nature of the
intelligence the suspects allegedly provided to Armenia. And, so far,
there have been no public court hearings for any of the suspects.
Suspicious Deaths
Yadigar Sadiqov, a politician from the opposition party Musavat, has
suggested that the deaths in custody of so many suspects just days
after their arrests is highly suspicious. "We don't believe they died
of natural causes," Sadiqov wrote in a May 20 opinion column for the
Baku-based online newspaper Bastainfo.com.
Sadiqov also suggested many people in Azerbaijan assume the suspects
were tortured to death, noting that "across social media, there are
people saying the government was justified to torture and kill" them.
In each case, the suspects were detained in raids close to the contact
line that separates Armenian-backed and Azerbaijani forces near
Nagorno-Karabakh. Within days, their dead bodies were returned to
their home villages and buried by soldiers who did not allow relatives
to see them.
Opposition media in Azerbaijan that have reported about the deaths and
burials have been officially warned they would be prosecuted for
revealing "state secrets" if they published any more information about
the spy case that wasn't officially released by state institutions.
With the exception of a cousin of one dead soldier who spoke only on
condition of anonymity because he feared retribution from authorities,
relatives of the deceased suspects have refused to talk to RFE/RL or
other media organizations.
Amnesty International confirms that it has received complaints from
sources within Azerbaijan alleging that the soldiers were tortured to
death. But Levan Asatiani, Amnesty International's campaigner on the
South Caucasus, says his organization cannot immediately confirm the
torture claims because Azerbaijan has become a "closed country" that
blocks the work of international human rights researchers.
He said Azerbaijan has a well-documented history of using torture to
induce false confessions from political prisoners who are lawyers,
journalists, and opposition activists. "You could say that the use of
torture is a trend in Azerbaijan," Asatiani said.
Hasty Burials
Namized Safarov, a Baku-based human rights lawyer, told RFE/RL that a
retired military officer named Saleh Qafarov was arrested on treason
charges in early May at his village of Aydinqyshlaq in the Gabala
region.
Safarov said Azerbaijani soldiers returned Qafarov's body four days
later for burial in the village, but Qafarov's relatives never saw his
remains and were not allowed to attend the burial. Since then, Safarov
said, Qafarov's family has faced "heavy harassment" from other
villagers angered by the treason allegations. Qafarov's children have
been expelled from school.
Imran Cabbarov, the head of the local government in Aydinqyshlaq,
confirmed that Qafarov died in custody. "He died and was buried,"
Cabbarov told RFE/RL. "Only law-enforcement bodies can talk about
it. If he committed such a crime as treason, it would serve him
right."
Bastainfo.com and the Berlin-based independent website Meydan TV
reported similar circumstances when the bodies of other suspects in
the spy case were returned to their villages.
Temkin Nizamioglu, a 24-year-old lieutenant from the Ordubad region
near Azerbaijan's southern border with Iran, was one of at least three
active military officers reportedly arrested in the case. Nizamioglu
was buried in his village of Darkend by Azerbaijani soldiers who
returned his body.
"It's true that his body was brought to the village for burial, and
according to the soldiers who brought him, he had heart problems and
died in a hospital," the village's municipal chief, Raqib, said.
The body of officer Elcin Quliyev was delivered for burial in his town
of Terter on May 18 shortly after he was arrested in the spy case. A
cousin of Quliyev, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Meydan TV
that the soldiers who returned his body didn't give the family any
details about the cause of his death.
"They just said they were investigating the issue and would inform us
about the cause of his death when that investigation is finished," the
cousin said.
Mehman Huseynov, a military officer from the village of Agkend in the
Terter region, also died in custody within days of being arrested in
the spy case. Local residents refused to allow Huseynov to be buried
in the village cemetery because of the treason accusations against
him.
Meydan TV also reported that a 32-year-old soldier named Elcin
Mirzaliyev was buried in his village of Shalig in the Ucar region,
within days of being arrested in the case. That report said Mirzaliyev
died on May 25 and was returned to his village the next day by
soldiers who buried him without allowing relatives to see his body or
attend his burial.
The head of Shalig's municipality, Arif Ahmadov, confirmed that
Mirzaliyev was buried but would not give any details about the cause
of his death.
There have been anonymous claims on social media that other
Azerbaijani soldiers have died in custody after being arrested for
treason in the spy scandal. RFE/RL could not confirm the veracity of
those reports or attest to the reliability of the sources.
(Written by RFE/RL correspondent Ron Synovitz, with reporting from
RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service.)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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