Author: Garnik Zakarian

Vice-Presidents of the National Assemblies of Armenia and Artsakh Edward Sharmazanov and Vahram Balayan, MPs Gagik Melikyan and Alexander Arzumanyan visited the Artsakh frontlines today.

A number of issues related to the situation on the front-line, the conditions of military service and the strengthening of the defensive zone were discussed at a meeting with the command.

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Raffi Hamparian recently held a working meeting on Capitol Hill with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on a range of shared priorities, including the negotiation of a new U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty.

This bilateral tax agreement, which would facilitate increased investment by removing the threat of earned profits being taxed twice, is among the ANCA’s economic development priorities, along with Millennium Challenge funding for STEM education and direct Los Angeles to Yerevan commercial and cargo flights.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which Senator Menendez serves, is constitutionally charged with ratifying all treaties, including a future tax accord with the Republic of Armenia.

“We are pressing forward with our pro-active engagement with the full range of American and Armenian stakeholders in support of a new U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty,” remarked Hamparian. The ANCA looks forward to the day when Senator Menendez and his colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have the opportunity to further strengthen America’s partnership with Armenia by ratifying this long overdue bilateral accord.”

In an opinion article late last year, Hamparian made the case for why a U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty is mutually beneficial: “A new tax treaty would represent a great way to give substance to the rhetoric – from both Washington and Yerevan – about improving U.S.-Armenia bilateral relations. This accord would both reflect and reinforce the progress we saw last year [2015] with the signing of a U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. It would, as well, create the conditions for the future growth of the U.S.-Armenia economic relationship, the continued development of bilateral government-to-government ties, and, of course, the strengthening of the enduring bonds of friendship that have long connected the American and Armenian peoples.”

The current treaty governing double taxation issues between the two countries is the 1973 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Tax Treaty, an outdated forty year-old accord. The lack of a double tax treaty between the United States and Armenia creates legal uncertainty that deters potential U.S. investors, diverts investment flows and disadvantages American businesses seeking to invest in the Republic of Armenia.

Jose Mourinho has advised Anthony Martial to follow the example of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to force his way into Manchester United’s starting line-up, Sky Sports reports.

Martial has found himself on the fringes of Mourinho’s first-team plans, having made four of his 11 Premier League appearances from the bench this season.

However, the United manager has no plans to sell the 21-year-old French striker who has been linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford next month.

Mourinho said: “Anthony is very, very young. People forget that and last season Manchester United played completely differently. He was basically playing up front.

“The team had lots of passive ball possession, just waiting to put it into space for Anthony to go and score a goal. This season is more difficult. He needs a little bit of time to improve.”

Armenian Mkhitaryan initially struggled to earn first-team opportunities this campaign but is now thriving, scoring three goals in his last three games including a goal of the season contender in the Boxing Day win over Sunderland.

Mourinho added: “Every player is different. I had this season a situation that was more difficult than Anthony – Mkhitaryan.

“Mkhitaryan was completely open and understood the difference between me and other coaches he had.

“There is a difference between the demands of the Premier League and the Ukrainian League, or the Bundesliga – a completely different philosophy of play.

“And he worked a lot without playing, but he worked a lot to try to reach the level.”

The delegation headed by Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan has arrived in Georgia for an official visit.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Georgia Vigen Sargsyan and Levan Izoria had a face-to-face meeting in Tbilisi today, after which they were joined by the delegations of the two countries.

The Armenian-Georgian military cooperation and the future programs were discussed. The parties referred to issues of regional security, as well.

The parties signed the 2017 program of cooperation between the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Georgia.

The results of the negotiations were summed up at a joint press conference.

The documentary ‘We Are Egyptian Armenians,’ directed by Waheed Sobhi, relays the history of the Armenian community in Egypt as recounted by many of its members and supported with archival materials including photos, videos and paintings.

The film, created in cooperation with scriptwriter Eva Dadrian and researcher and executive producer Hannan Ezzat, was screened at the Cairo International Film Festival 2016.

The documentary also participated in the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam and the Karama Human Rights Film Festival in Jordan.

The film is set to be screened in Egypt, the US and Canada.

Ahram Online sat down for an interview with the filmmakers Sobhi, Dadrian, and Ezzat.

“There are many ways to make a film about the Egyptian Armenians. We chose to focus on their history in Egypt, and their contribution to Egyptian history and society. The film has many archival images and videos as well as information relayed by a narrator,” director Waheed Sobhi said in an interview with .

“We wanted to show the many different aspects of the Armenian community, their contributions to Egyptian history, and so on. It is like a panorama of the Armenian community in Egypt. This film may even invite more research and more work on the Armenian community in Egypt,” the director said.

For the full interview click .

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Public TV and the 90th anniversary of Public Radio of Armenia, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan handed certificates of gratitude to a group of employees of the Public TV and Radio Company.

Certificates were handed to Vardan Hovhannisyan, author of “My Army” program (Public TV), Seyran Shahsuvayan,  author of the “”Warrior” program on Public TV, journalists of “Radiolur” news program of Public Radio of Armenia Alisa Gevogyan and Armine Gevorgyan, and author of the “Witness of the time” program of Public Radio of Armenia Irina Krpeyan-Barseghyan.

Congratulating the awardees, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan stressed the importance of mass media in the army in terms of presenting comprehensive and unbiased information about the activity of the Armed Forces.

Minster Sargsyan said he welcomes any new ideas on Army-related  issues and expects continuation of cooperation with a view of calling new programs to life.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Andrei Galbur.

Minister Nalbandian noted that Armenia attaches importance to the deepening of friendly relations with Moldova.

The parties held detailed discussions on issues on bilateral and multilateral agenda, urgent international and regional issues.

The interlocutors exchanged views on steps towards further development of cooperation between the two countries, discussed the trade-economic ties, intensification of scientific-technical and cultural exchange.

Edward Nalbandian and Andrei Galbur referred to the intensification of inter-parliamentary ties, conduct of consultations between the Foreign Ministries and deepening of cooperation within the framework of international organizations.

The Armenian Foreign Minister briefed his Moldovan counterpart on the talks on a new Armenia-EU framework agreement.  Andrei Galbur, in turn, presented the latest developments in the process of Moldova’s European integration.

The issue of peaceful settlement of regional conflicts was also on the agenda of the meeting. The interlocutors agreed that all conflicts should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way. In this context Edward Nalbandian presented the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries aimed at furthering the negotiation process on the peacefull settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

At the end of the meeting the Ministers signed four documents on elimination of visa regime for citizens of the two countries, as well as agreements on cooperation in the fields of tourism, science and education. The parties also signed the 2017-2018 plan of consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

The RA Minister of Defense Vigen Sarkissian reported to the President of Armenia on the commencement of a new program initiated and tasked by President Sargsyan, on the steep increase in payments of state insurance (a onetime as well as monthly payments) for the families of the servicemen killed or handicapped in military actions or in the course of military duty. The program was developed and brought to its conclusion through the joint activities of the RA Central Bank and Ministry of Social Affairs.

In the framework of the working meetings which took place at President’s each week, the Minister of Defense reported on the details of the mentioned above program as well as on the problems of the military educational institutions, and avenues to address and modernize them which is done in accordance with another task of the President.

Vigen Sarkissian noted that as a result of the works it became possible to find a formula according to which since January 28, 2017 – on the 25th anniversary of our Army, a start will be given to new, much increased payments. The families of the killed and first degree handicapped individuals will receive a onetime compensation of 10 million AMD. The families of the second degree handicapped servicemen will receive a onetime compensation of 5 million AMD. Monthly compensations in case of death of the serviceman or the first degree handicap will make 300,000 AMD for the officers, 250,000 AMD for the junior officers and 200,000 for the privates. In case of becoming the second degree handicap, the compensations will respectively make 250,000, 200,000, and 150,000 AMD. That amount, in the form of insurance benefit, will be paid out for 20 years, which will make 82 million AMD for the officers, 70 million AMD for the junior officer staff, and 48 million AMD for the privates.
In case of an efficient functioning of the fund and availability of the financial resources, the Board of the Fund will be able twenty years later to make a decision on the continuity of these payments for the handicap persons. Otherwise, twenty years later these servicemen will start to receive social insurance benefits in the amount set by the state at that time. The program will be financed through a special fund to which every working person will monthly contribute one thousand AMD. The Fund will also receive voluntary donations from the individuals. The money will be spent exclusively for the insurance payments. The program will have its own Board comprising individuals of high reputation who enjoy the trust of the society which will oversight the entire process which in turn will be totally open and public.
President Sargsyan stressed the importance of the conducted works and issued new tasks related to the implementation phase of the program.

“This is a very important program. We started these works two years ago always certain that taking care of the problems of the families of the killed and handicapped servicemen is our direct responsibility and the better we fulfill the task, the more we can do to somehow relieve their already difficult lives; we are obliged to do it. I believe the time has come, yes, the time is now and we are able through the assistance of our citizens to sharply improve the situation. We have always tried our best on this. At least, the fact that we have been able to settle in general the housing problem for the families of the killed, first degree handicaps and a great number of the second degree handicaps, that very fact, is so to say, the result of the state’s willingness and readiness, and the format – through the state-private cooperation – is a very right one. It means that when we say “nation-army” even before that motto we say that our army is a national army, our army is the guarantor of our security, so it must be manifested not only through the words of high moral but undoubtedly through the participation too. With this regard, I believe the adoption of a corresponding law is extremely important, however simultaneously it is necessary to work with the Ministry of Finance, the Government. Let’s see if we are able to also improve the situation of the families of the earlier killed soldiers and officers. Do we have these resources? Not in the amount which will be provided from now on, but to increase it somewhat. We need to calculate, look into the current system, can worsen someone’s situation? I don’t believe there will be many cases like that and the fund in its charter and probably the law too, should consider that problem as well. There shouldn’t be aggravation of the situation. It is very important that at this stage we have reached that milestone,” said the President.

Recalling how during the April events different public structures and individuals were trying to somehow help the individuals who suffered in the course of the events, or became handicapped and also to the families which lost sons, President Sargsyan noted that it is necessary to unite the capabilities, to offer all these people to make voluntary payments to the fund, and the process will be absolutely transparent. According to the President, the mentioned above fund should not have a large staff and will respectively have little operational expenses.

Minister Vigen Sarkissian reported that the program is designed according to the “nation-army” paradigm, which means the entire society takes upon itself the burden of the social protection of the Fatherland defenders, while the army helps the servicemen who appeared in such situation or in case of their death – to their families.

The Minister assured that everything will be done not to decrease the amount of allowances paid to the families, and those who receive minimal wages will be exempted from the one thousand AMD payment. Vigen Sarkissian underlined that the logic of the program tells that the fund should be able to attract additional funding and in time to increase the amount of compensation, expanding the circle of the beneficiaries, becoming a starting point for a more long-term program.

The Minister of Defense reported also on the works aimed at the addressing the problems existing in the military educational institutions and noted that he keeps them in the focus of his attention daily. The Minister also informed that days ago he had visited the Vazgen Sarkissian Military University, and this week he was planning to visit Marshal Armenak Khanferiants Military Aviation Institute. He presented his views regard the perspectives of these institutions: according to the Minister, military education should also ensure the link between the military and civilians. The Command and Staff Department unit of the Vazgen Sarkissian Military University according to Minister Sarkissian today possesses every opportunity to offer in the framework of the credit system high-quality teaching classes for the magistrate’s students from the civic high education institutions.

The President of Armenia underlined that it is necessary to continuously raise the attractiveness of the military education and of the officer career and no effort should be spared to educate knowledgeable and professional officers. According to Serzh Sargsyan, education of the officers should include all modern skills and knowledge, advanced experience of similar institutions which will make possible a full command by the military of the equipment and electronic systems of command which are modernized day by day.

“All over the world it is said that the motto of the commander should be the following, “Do it like me,” right? If the officer physically is not as sturdy as the average soldier, such an officer has no reputation. Let’s say a battalion is doing physical exercises, running and overcoming hurdles but the officer is not running in front, is it right? Such officer cannot have authority. With this regard, I believe that we should probably have a smaller number of lieutenants by five, ten, or twenty rather than have many but professionally unapt commanders. It is very important. Trust towards the commander starts from things like this. So, we need to move on these two directions and advance,” tasked the President of Armenia the Minister of Defense.

The President noted that good foundation has already been created: today military institutions of Armenia offer free education and guarantees for work with compatible salaries. For instance, unlike the young people who receive education in the civil institutions, who still have to find their place in the professional life, have to pay out credits, military institutions offer dangerous and difficult but nevertheless guaranteed service where the very first salary is 20 percent higher than the average salary in the Republic, while the path towards professional advancement is much more clear.

According to Vigen Sarkissian, during the military service, military staff receives additional education. After discharge, the officers receive military pension for the years-long service and are still young enough to find new opportunities in the civil life. The Minister of Defense reported that currently programs are developed for the professional orientation of the discharged officers and proper presentation of their advantages at the labor market.

How to resolve media-related disputes without referring to the courts was the focus of a working seminar organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan on 5 November 2016 for journalists and media lawyers in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.

Around 25 participants, including journalists, lawyers involved in freedom of expression litigation, civil society members and representatives of the police took part in the event. Participants discussed the work of the Information Disputes Council (IDC), an extra-judiciary body that provides expert opinions on resolving media-related disputes. They examined a broad range of issues including cases of violence against journalists and the protection of journalists’ rights when covering civic unrest, defamation and insult, personal data protection and free expression, presumption of innocence, as well as pre-trial publicity and the media’s coverage of court trials.

“Extra-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms for media should be strengthened,” said David Gullette, Democratization Programme Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “They promote media quality and ethics, they can help minimize expensive and time-consuming court litigation and help maintain constructive dialogue between journalists, lawyers and other parties involved, over important aspects of journalistic work particularly on sensitive issues.”

Established in 2011, the mandate of the IDC is to protect freedom of speech and improve access to information, as well as to protect human dignity and the right to a private life by publishing expert opinions and recommendations based on Armenia’s constitution, international legal acts and ethical norms, in cases when judicial disputes occur. The IDC also identifies cases for intervention through its own initiative and advocates for improvements in the issues concerned. Where applicable it also issues joint decisions together with the Media Ethics Observatory, the media self-regulation body in Armenia.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been supporting the IDC’s work since its inception to help achieve better protection of free speech in Armenia in line with OSCE commitments in this field.

On 31 October Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received minister of education and science of the Republic of Armenia Levon Mkrtchyan.

Issues related to the cooperation of the two Armenian states in the sphere of education and science were on the discussion agenda.

President Sahakyan noted that such cooperation with the Republic of Armenia contributes greatly to the development of education and science sphere in Artsakh and efficient solution of various issues existing in the field.