ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia Saturday Discussions were held on a seven-year program for Armed Forces` modernization Yerevan January 13 Mariana Mkrtchyan. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia, under the chairmanship of the country's president Serzh Sargsyan, held discussions on the draft seven-year program for the modernization of the Armed Forces. The press service of the Armenian leader told ArmInfo that the main directions of the draft law, developed by the decree of the RA President on October 24, 2017, and the main principles were reported. It was emphasized that, in view of the existing challenges, when developing the program for 2018-2024, are predicted the possible developments of the situation, outlined the ways of counteraction, created the necessary conditions for more effective management of available resources. The President of Armenia was also presented the results of discussions of the draft 7-year program, which took place on January 4 2018, at the Military-Sports College after Monte Molkonyan with the participation of the leadership of the Defense Ministry, General Staff and HQ of the Armed Forces, and continued with the participation of representatives of the legislative and executive bodies, the public sector and experts. The Armenian President stressed the importance of a substantive discussion of the draft program, noting that it depends on these results whether the effectiveness of the management, training and combat capability of the Armed Forces will be improved, which in turn will enable the modern Armed Forces to ensure the inviolability of the state border of the country. Sargsyan noted that the Armenian Armed Forces have been constantly developing since the day of creation, and today they have reached the stage when it is necessary to have a longer-term development program, which will concern both the strengthening of the Armed Forces and the modernization of armaments.
Author: Jalatian Sonya
RFE/RL Armenia Report – 01/04/2018
Thursday, January 4, 2018 Migrant Remittances To Armenia Soar Emil Danielyan Armenia - View of the Armenian capital Yerevan and mount Ararat (5137m), Yerevan, Armenia, 17 February 2013. After three years of rapid reduction, multimillion-dollar remittances from Armenians working abroad grew strongly in 2017, contributing to faster economic growth in Armenia. Data from the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) puts the total amount of incoming cash transfers from individuals processed by commercial banks in January-November 2017 at $1.56 billion, up by 18 percent from the same period in 2016. The figure was equivalent to roughly 15 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. The increased remittances seem to be one of the factors behind a 6 percent year-on-year rise in nationwide retail trade reported by the National Statistical Service (NSS). Senior officials in Yerevan said last month that the Armenian economy is on track to grow by at least 6 percent in 2017. The economy stagnated in 2016 amid a continuing recession in Russia, Armenia's leading trading partner and main source of remittances. The Russian economy recovered slightly in 2017. More importantly, the Russian ruble has strengthened against the U.S. dollar by more than 30 percent since the beginning of 2016. Armenian remittances shrank from $2.3 billion in 2013 to $1.53 billion in 2016 amid the ruble's sharp depreciation resulting from the collapse of world oil prices. Money sent home by Armenians working in Russia accounted for over 60 percent of overall remittance inflows in January-November 2017, according to the CBA. It was up by about 18 percent year on year, suggesting that there were equally significant rises in wire transfers from other ex-Soviet states and the European Union. Remittances from the United States, which also has a sizable Armenian community, rose by only 2 percent. The stronger ruble also contributed to a 23.5 percent rise in Armenian exports recorded by official statistics in the eleven-month period. NSS data shows Armenian exports to Russia soaring by as much as 44 percent to $494 million. Overall, Armenia exported $2 billion worth of goods and commodities in January-November 2017. Almost 29 percent of them went to the EU. Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Film: ‘They Shall Not Perish’ Armenian Genocide Documentary Now Streaming on Netflix
The Armenian Weekly
Jan 2 2017
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—The Armenian Genocide documentary “They Shall Not Perish” is now streaming on the popular on-demand video service Netflix.
The Armenian Genocide documentary “They Shall Not Perish” is now streaming on the popular on-demand video service Netflix (Screenshot: Netflix.com)
Written and directed by George Billard and produced by Near East Foundation Board Chairman Emeritus Shant Mardirossian, the film is an in-depth look into the efforts of the Near East Relief (NER) to raise funds and save thousands of orphans of the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking to the Armenian Weekly’s Rupen Janbazian last October, Mardirossian said that his number-one priority was to get as many people to watch the film and learn about the Armenian Genocide and about the mass relief effort. “We are currently finalizing an agreement with Netflix, which will have it be available to Netflix customers starting Jan. 2018,” Mardirossian said during the Oct. 2017 interview. “We’ve also partnered with Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that promotes the teaching and education of the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and other dark chapters of history that need to be taught. They will be using the film as a part of their revised Armenian Genocide curriculum,” Mardirossian added.
NER’s response to reports of “race extermination” against the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, and other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire is considered to be the United States’ first collective display of overseas humanitarian aid. In 15 years, NER would raise more than $116 million and mobilize hundreds of volunteers to help the effort.
The documentary has been available on Netlflix since Jan. 1.
Sports: Arthur Abraham: I want good year for Armenian people, peace, success in each family
News.am, Armenia
Dec 31 2017
I lost a match this year, which I regret for, but I will do everything possible to bring back the title of the world champion. But beyond sport, the year was very good and memorable, Abraham told NEWS.am Sport.
The former WBO super-middleweight title holder Arthur Abraham summed up 2017 and talked about next year’s programs with NEWS.am Sport.
He noted that all the happy moments of the year are mainly connected with my son, the first tooth, the first step, the first word.
According to him, the most impressive meeting of 2017 was the meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican.
According to him, the most impressive meeting of 2017 was the meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican.
“I want good year for Armenian people, peace, success in each family,” the boxer noted.
Sports: Why Phil Neville is Wrong about Henrikh Mkhitaryan
EPL Index
Dec 24 2017
by Aashish Murali
Before going on to do the objectively right thing and look at why Phil Neville was wrong about the now seemingly exiled attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Manchester United, it is vital to evaluate how the 27-year old has fared so far at Old Trafford in 2017/18.
Mkhitaryan started the season – arguably the brightest, picking up from where he had left off in the season before scoring vital away goals in the Europa League run, culminating in a night to remember at Stockholm where he scored the second – to all but seal the tie ensuring safe delivery of Manchester United’s 42nd major honour.
With 5 assists in the opening 3 Premier League encounters, the Armenian was on track to break all sorts of records for Manchester United, but what actually followed was a serious dip in form which has completely stalled his career under the Portuguese. He has scored just twice since – his latest coming in Russia where he had about an hour to impress the ever-so-demanding boss.
Hooked at half-time in Huddersfield akin to the contingency substitution of last season in the Manchester derby that United were collectively outplayed in, Mkhitaryan has once again suffered to replicate any kind of consistency showed in the opening weeks in the last two months.
Part of the Armenian’s decline in form and fortunes is understandably down to his innate nature of ‘ghosting through games’ without majorly influencing the attacking play in a way that often requires a moment of individual brilliance to offset a lack of cohesion – a trait that Jose Mourinho inherently dislikes which is also incidentally a feature quite prominent in Anthony Martial’s game, for instance. Mkhitaryan rarely takes the game by the scruff of his neck – in the way the likes of Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez have done in the past.
But prior evidence, particularly games against the fellow top six sides under Jose Mourinho, quite clearly points to systemic issues across United’s attacking setup which undercuts the blame that is willingly shoved on the Armenian.
Not least, by Phil Neville, who has deemed the 27-year old ‘lucky’ as if the footballer in question is currently being paid to do a job he is failing almost consistently and miserably at. In an interview to Sky Sports – he said,
“There’s a lot of criticism of Jose’s treatment of Henrikh Mkhitaryan but he ultimately didn’t deliver when he’s played. He’s not unlucky, he’s lucky he gets to play for United. Under Sir Alex, if I didn’t perform I wasn’t in the team. People need to stop sugar-coating it. If you don’t perform then you don’t get in the team or a new contract, it’s not Jose being personal, it’s business.”
There’s no incentive to wasting a player’s talent away by dropping him to the bench for an indefinite amount of time and drain the confidence and expect the reverse to happen. It’s no secret that Mkhitaryan is the type of player who thrives on constant playing time to get into a rhythm, much like former captain Wayne Rooney. His form in the second half of last season when he was consistently picked, and in the early months of 2017, is testament to that.
What is encouraging, however, both for Mourinho and Mkhitaryan in a way – is the fact that United do not seem to miss the 27-year old as much as they should – for a player of his abilities. Jesse Lingard, for example, has benefited the most by filling in the void left by the Armenian at number 10 – scoring four in the last four away matches. If anything, there is now a target to chase for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, an objective to focus on – that is force himself back into the manager’s plans as all is not lost yet.
There is plenty of football left in the season for the Armenian to prove Phil Neville wrong.
Armen Amiryan summarizes this year (video)
RA Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan will summarize the programs implemented this year.
See Video
Two Armenian skiers practically have Olympic rating
Armenia’s skiing team returned from Finland, where they held a training camp under the guidance of head coach Artur Mikaelyan and took part in rating tournaments, the official website of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia reports.
Our skiers performed at the FIS World Ranking in four cities of Finland.
“To participate in the Beijing Olympics, FIS rating should be 100 points and less. At present, Sergey Mikayelyan has 55 points and has already secured the Olympic ticket. The same can be said about Mikayel Mikayelyan, who has scored 91 points. Tadevos Poghosyan (105) is also close to the Olympic norm. Katya Galstyan has 150 points and can hope for a “white card”. On January 20, FIS will announce the names of the participants of the 2018 Olympic Games, “said the team’s chief coach.
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 12/19/2017
Tuesday, Tsarukian Bloc `Undecided' On Next Armenian President . Tatevik Lazarian Armenia - Businessman Gagik Tsarukian speaks at an election campaign rally in Yerevan, 28Mar2017. A senior representative of businessman Gagik Tsarukian's alliance said on Tuesday that it has not yet decided whom to nominate or endorse for the post of Armenia's next president who will be elected by parliament in March. "The Tsarukian Bloc does not support anyone at the moment," Gevorg Petrosian told reporters. "The issue is not on its agenda yet." Under the Armenian constitution controversially amended in 2015, the next head of state must be chosen one month before President Serzh Sarkisian completes his second and final term in early April. The end of his decade-long rule will be followed by the country's transition to a parliamentary system of government. It means that Sarkisian's successor will have largely ceremonial powers. The opposition Yelk alliance announced last week that it wants to nominate one of its senior members, Artak Zeynalian, for the job and will try to secure the Tsarukian Bloc's backing for his candidacy. The constitution stipulates that only those individuals who are backed by at least 27 members of the 105-seat National Assembly can run for president. Yelk holds only 9 parliament seats, compared with 31 seats controlled by the Tsarukian Bloc. The latter also claims to be in opposition to Sarkisian. Petrosian said that Tsarukian and his political team have not yet discussed Yelk's proposal. "Have they found out whether or not we have our own candidate?" he said. "If we do have a candidate the public will naturally be informed about that," he said. "We may not have one. But just because we don't have a candidate would not mean that we are obliged to back the Yelk candidate." Petrosian also pointedly declined to rule out the possibility of the Tsarukian Bloc endorsing the presidential candidate to be fielded by Sarkisian's ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). The HHK, which controls the parliament majority, has still not clarified whom its wants to succeed Sarkisian as president of the republic. Meanwhile, one of Yelk's leaders, Aram Sargsian, insisted that his bloc is not challenging Tsarukian to prove his opposition credentials questioned by many Armenian commentators. "We just want to show that we deserve to replace the authorities," he said. "As for whether or not others are in opposition it's up to them to prove that." Another Yelk leader, Nikol Pashinian, acknowledged last week that the Yelk candidate is extremely unlikely to get elected. He said Yelk is primarily keen to show many Armenians that they were wrong to vote for the HHK in the April 2017 general elections. NATO Official Sees No Russian Pressure On Armenia . Sargis Harutyunyan Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian meets with NATO's Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller in Yerevan, 18Dec2017. NATO's Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller insisted on Tuesday that she has seen no indications that Russia has tried to prevent Armenia from forging closer ties with NATO. In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am), Gottemoeller also again praised the "good and appropriate level of cooperation" between Yerevan and the U.S.-led alliance. "I am really quite impressed with what Armenia has done over the years in terms of partnership with NATO," she said during a visit to Yerevan. Gottemoeller singled out the continuing participation of some 155 Armenian soldiers in the NATO-led security missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Armenia contributes more troops to those missions than any other member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), she stressed. The deployments in Afghanistan and Kosovo have been part of Armenia's broader efforts to step up military cooperation with NATO -- and the United States in particular -- while remaining allied to Russia politically and militarily. Yerevan pledged to continue deepening ties with NATO with a fresh Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) launched in April. Asked whether she has felt any Russian pressure exerted on the Armenian leadership in connection with its dealings with NATO, Gottemoeller said: "No. That's the short answer and that's the true answer." Commenting on the possibility of such pressure in the future, she said: "It's up to the Kremlin. Of course, they always have their own opinions about things but I really think it is important to stress that NATO is guided by decisions made by Armenia." "There is no zero sum game there from our perspective," she added in reference to Russia's and NATO's ties with the South Caucasus state. But she also stressed: "It is completely up to Armenia to decide the speed and intensity of your relationship with NATO." Gottemoeller met with President Serzh Sarkisian, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian on Monday. Sarkisian praised the "developing" Armenia-NATO ties and thanked the alliance for its "assistance provided to Armenia." "We will be working together more closely on interoperability, defense education and defense reform," Gottemoeller said after her talks with Nalbandian. First-Ever Farmer Insurance Planned In Armenia . Anush Muradian Armenia - A fruit orchard in Aragatsotn province, 3Sep2014. The Armenian government announced on Tuesday plans to start gradually introducing next year a national system of agricultural insurance increasingly seen as a vital necessity for struggling farmers across the country. Thousands of low-income villagers lose their crops each year due to hailstorms, droughts and other natural disasters. They receive little compensation from the cash-strapped government. According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Armen Harutiunian, the government will launch at the end of 2018 a pilot project that will insure some farmers growing fruits, vegetables or cereals against one or two types of risks. The government will subsidize insurance premiums with a special 10 million-euro ($11.8 million) fund set up for that purpose, he said. Germany's state-owned development bank KfW will contribute half of that money through a grant allocated to the Armenian Finance Ministry. The two sides signed a relevant agreement in Yerevan on Monday at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Karen Karapetian. "During the first year the [agricultural insurance] bureau will select the main risks and the main crops for the pilot project," Harutiunian told a news conference. "In the first phase there will be [insurance coverage for] maybe one or two risks and several crops: vegetables or cereals. We will test the system within that framework and see which model works best." Armenia -- Deputy Agriculture Minister Armen Harutiunian at a news conference in Yerevan. Harutiunian said that the government is inclined to prioritize hailstorms as the number one natural risk. He also announced that the Central Bank of Armenia, which is also involved in the effort, is already "working with" private insurance firms. The latter are interested in the scheme despite the high risks involved, added the official. Harutiunian could not say which rural areas will be first covered by the agricultural insurance program and whether it will be mandatory or optional for local farmers. The insurance bureau will work out these and other details in the coming months, he explained. Some farmers cautiously welcomed the government plans while warning that agricultural insurance will not work if it places a heavy financial burden on them. They also said that it must not be mandatory. "It all depends on the amount of premiums," Haykaz Asatrian, a grape farmer from the southeastern Vayots Dzor province, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). "Right now villagers finance 90 percent of their agricultural work with loans [extended by commercial banks.] If they had cash they would already be able to buy insurance." Press Review A deputy speaker of the European Parliament, Ryszard Czarnecki, tells "168 Zham" that the European Union and Armenian may start next year an official "dialogue" on the liberalization of the EU's visa regime for Armenian nationals. But Czarnecki also cautions in this regard that the Armenian government has yet to prove that it has stepped on a "path of European integration" and can create the kind of living standards that would discourage Armenians from illegally emigrating to the EU. "Visa liberalization is not only a great opportunity but also a great challenge for which a country must be prepared politically and economically," he says. "Zhamanak" describes NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller's visit to Yerevan as a "remarkable event," saying that it may herald a "new level of relations" between Armenia and NATO. The paper quotes Gottemoeller as saying on Monday that Armenia is NATO's sole partner state that "consistently" contributes troops to the NATO-led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. "Although that participation [by Armenia] is largely symbolic it receives praise for apparently political reasons," it says. "From that standpoint, discussions on a new, military-technical component of the Armenia-NATO relationship probably reflect that praise by NATO # And that means a new situation in the region." "Zhoghovurd" reports that the Armenian parliament will debate on Tuesday yet another structural change of the judicial system which has been proposed by the government. Under the government bill, s even district courts currently operating in Yerevan will be merged into a single Court of General Jurisdiction. "Thus Armenia's judicial system will get a body that will have almost as many powers as Administrative Courts do," writes the paper. It says the main official rationale for this change is to ensure a more even distribution of criminal and civil cases among lower-level judges in Yerevan. "But there is no word on how the change will affect the independence of the courts and the quality of justice," it adds. "Haykakan Zhamanak" says that retail prices of butter and pork in Armenia have soared by over 40 percent since the beginning of this year. Government officials blame these price hikes on external market factors. "But these products have been becoming cheaper around the world for the last few months, and that does not reflect on Armenian prices in any way," counters the paper. "The reason for that is the absence of competition." (Hovannes Movsisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Our Community Lost a True Activist in Mina Shirvanian
Mina and Hacob cut the ribbon of the Shirvanian Youth Center in Gyumri July 2016
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
When I received the news of Mina Shirvanian’s passing on Friday night I was saddened not only for her beloved family but also for the huge loss our community suffered because Mina was a true activist, who through her commitment, dedication and drive advanced the Armenian Cause and elevated the community organizations that worked tirelessly in its pursuit.
I remember meeting Mina in 1991, weeks after I moved from Boston to Los Angeles to work at the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region. It was a reception to welcome renowned human rights activist Yelena Bonner to L.A. who was to be honored by the ANCA-WR for her advocacy on Armenia and Karabakh.
The opulent surroundings of the evening were no distraction for Mina, who spoke that evening with pride and conviction about the struggle our people were facing in Artsakh and thanked the guest of honor, Yelena Bonner, for her advocacy and her work. She did so, in what I would come to realize was Mina’s unique way of addressing the most pressing of issues—with poise, grace and elegance that did not mask the fighting spirit that guided her in all her endeavors. I could tell that Mina was especially proud that night because the person who had espoused our cause for justice was a woman.
As I grew to know Mina and her husband, Hacob, my respect for their unwavering devotion and their caring approach to all things Armenian only was heightened as their humility and aplomb became life lessons that I will always carry with me.
Mina did not let an illness get in the way of her efforts to advance our nation. In July of 2016, she and Hacob traveled to Armenia to be present at the opening of a youth center in Gyumri named after the Shirvanians because Mina and Hacob were the glue that made this home for young Gyumri residents possible. It was not just a building that bore their name. For Mina, it was a guarantee that our nation would thrive through its youth, which had significant importance for her and her husband. After all she was a trailblazer. She was the co-founder of the AYF Soghomon Tehlirian Junior chapter in Los Angeles.
Her involvement in many organizations—the ACF, ANCA, ARS, AEF, Ferrahian School, Glendale Adventist, to name a few—was a reflection of her firm belief that by enabling those who work for the betterment of our community, we are simply strengthening our homeland and our nation.
With her passing on Friday, our community has lost a true activist, whose work and dedication can only serve as valuable examples for us who will continue her vision and for future generations.
On behalf of all of us at Asbarez, we offer our most heartfelt condolences to the Shirvanian family. May she rest in peace.
Film: Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan to get lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival of India
Times of India Nov 18 2017 Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan to get lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival of India Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has announced. PTI | Updated: Nov 18, 2017, 13:38 IST Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has announced. The festival, to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, will also screen three films produced by the 57-year-old filmmaker. "Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan will be bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award at #IFFI2017. @IFFIGoa will also honour his work with a special film section that will screen 3 films produced by him," Irani tweeted yesterday. Egoyan is best known for his films 'Exotica', 'The Sweet Hereafter' and 'Chloe'.