Author: Jane Topchian

Newspaper: European officials decide to punish Armenia authorities

Jane Topchian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
09:11, 13.07.2022

YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: Armenia’s delegation that participated in the PACE session on June 19-25 made 3 proposals behind the scenes to the European colleagues regarding pro-Armenian steps and a declaration, particularly regarding the return of [all Armenian] captives [in Azerbaijan].

However, our [ruling majority] CC [“Civil Contract” Faction in the National Assembly of Armenia] source says that the international colleagues got acquainted with the proposals presented by our MPs, the prepared text, they said that they have no objections, but they will not protect the Armenian interest in any matter as long as Armenia has not decided: Is it with Europe? Or Russia?

In recent times, the European officials see attempts to “deceive” them in the moves by the RA authorities, and [therefore] have decided to punish them. At the very least, push for Armenia to make a final decision as to where it is and cuts ties with Russia completely.

It was not possible to get a comment from the [Armenian] delegates who [had] departed to PACE.

Music: Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Swedish Philharmonia Will Launch Fairfield Halls 2023/24 International Orchestral Concert Series

Jane Topchian
July 8 2022
by Stephi Wild Jul. 8, 2022  

        

Fairfield Halls General Manager Jonathan Higgins, and the whole team at BH Live, have announced two major classical concerts for early 2023.

Concerts by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Swedish Philharmonia (also performing as Gävle Symphony Orchestra) will launch the venue’s 2023/24 International Orchestral Concert Series. The venue has a long history of staging concerts by some of the world’s most notable classical artists and symphony orchestras. Further details of the 2023/24 season will be announced later this year.

The venue is also making tickets for under 18s free (when accompanied by an adult), with a view to inspiring the next generation of classical music lovers.

Jonathan Higgins said, “I am so pleased to be announcing the concerts by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Swedish Philharmonia. The Festival Concert Hall is one of the UKs best for staging orchestral music, so these concerts will offer a very special opportunity to experience Fairfield’s famous acoustic.”

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra’s concert, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan on Wednesday 22 February 2023 will feature their nation’s greatest composer, Aram Khachaturian, with music from his most popular work, the ballet Spartacus. Virtuoso Chloe Hanslip, one of the most talented violinists of the day, will perform the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the concert will finish with Tchaikovsky’s epic Fourth Symphony with its famous repeated fate motif.

After a very successful UK tour just before the pandemic, the Swedish Philharmonia return to the UK on Monday 27 March 2023 with the virtuosic Serbian-French violinist Nemanja Radulovic, renowned for his powerful and thrilling performances worldwide. His interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s challenging Violin Concerto is sure to make a thrilling centerpiece to this special concert, which will open with a joyful work by one of Sweden’s finest composers, Bo Linde, who was born and lived in the orchestra’s home city of Gävle. Under the baton of renowned conductor Jaime Martin, the orchestra will conclude their programme with Sibelius’ majestic Symphony No. 2.

Andrew Jamieson, Head of Touring for IMG Artists said, “I have to say I’m thrilled that Fairfield Halls is recommencing its famous and much-loved series of international orchestral concerts. There is no doubt that the Festival Concert Hall has the finest acoustic of any in London and all of our distinguished international orchestras who have previously visited the venue always commented on these wonderful acoustics and the tremendous, enthusiastic audiences. We very much look forward to our ongoing collaboration and this new phase of the Fairfield Halls’ illustrious contribution to the Greater London area’s musical life.”

Tickets for both concerts are now on sale. More information and booking links available at fairfield.co.uk

https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Armenian-State-Symphony-Orchestra-and-Swedish-Philharmonia-Will-Launch-Fairfield-Halls-202324-International-Orchestral-Concert-Series-20220708

Freedom House urges Pashinyan to hold transparent news conferences

Jane Topchian
Panorama
Armenia – July 8 2022

Rights group Freedom House calls on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to take the concerns of the media seriously and to hold open and transparent news conference.

“Freedom House also urges the Armenian Prime Minister to take the concerns of the media seriously and leverage direct communication channels including through open and transparent press-conferences to ensure a healthy functioning democracy,” the organization said in a tweet on Thursday.

“The Armenian authorities should support the independent media and civil society by maintaining an active dialogue with them and the people to counteract disinformation that poses threat to Armenian democracy around crucial topics for the country,” it added.

Also, the human rights group welcomes the decriminalization of “grave insults” in Armenia.

Nikol Pashinyan answered the questions of the media and NGOs at an online news conference on Jun 27. However, dozens of media outlets boycotted it, arguing that the questions submitted are “edited or distorted” by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We deem such a format of communication with the media by the country’s ruler discriminatory, ineffective and in contradiction with the core principles of democracy, namely, transparency and accountability,” they said in a joint statement.

Armenpress: “Made in Armenia” NGO will contribute to the economic development of Armenia by strengthening SMEs

Jane Topchian

“Made in Armenia” NGO will contribute to the economic development of Armenia by strengthening SMEs

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 20:21, 7 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Founded at the end of 2021, “Made in Armenia” NGO has set itself the task of supporting and promoting the sale of Armenian products both in the country and abroad, strengthening small and medium enterprises to contribute to the economic development of Armenia. ARMENPRESS reports on July 7, the presentation of the Small and Medium Enterprise Support Program of Made in Armenia NGO was held, which brought together representatives of the state, private and public sectors on one platform to discuss the state of SMEs in the country, problems with export, sales expansion opportunities, investment and other issues related to economic development.

“During the short period of activity, we have started to provide expert support to small and medium-sized enterprises, we have supported the creation of connections with companies providing services in various fields. We are confident that by strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, we will contribute to the economic development of Armenia,” said Ashot Grigoryan, president of Made in Armenia NGO.

Companies engaged in online sales of Armenian products in Armenia and abroad, providing logistics and marketing services help Made in Armenia NGO realize its goals, enabling Armenian manufacturers to undertake comprehensive support in the directions listed above. “We already have quite a successful experience in creating business connections between companies providing services to small and medium manufacturers in various sectors. I hope that by uniting around the ideology of comprehensively supporting the development of Armenian production, making Armenian products preferable, we will be able to jointly contribute to the development of our country’s economy,” said Grigoryan.

According to the Action Plan of the Government, the state has adopted a policy to increase the role of SMEs in the added value up to 50 percent. Deputy Minister of Economy Rafayel Gevorgyan believes that the comprehensive measures behind all this will create an opportunity to approach that target. He mentioned the government support and subsidy programs as an example.

Sanjay Verma paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims

Jane Topchian

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 12:36, 5 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 5, ARMENPRESS. The Secretary for West of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Sanjay Verma visited the Tsitsernakaberd memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

ARMENPRESS reports Sanjay Verma laid a wreath at the memorial, and flowers at the eternal flame.

Photos by Hayk Badalyan

The Secretary for West of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Sanjay Verma participated in the 8th session of the Armenian-Indian intergovernmental commission on cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, technology, science, education and culture in Armenia. On April 4, Sanjay Verma met with Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan.




Belarus extends embargo on Western food imports till year end

Jane Topchian

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 12:50, 29 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Belarus has extended the embargo on food products from Western countries until the end of the year, according to Belarus’ Council of Ministers Resolution No.412 of 27 June 2022, BelTA reports.

The decision will come into force on June 30.

The import ban applies to a number of goods from the European Union, the United States, Canada, Norway, Albania, Iceland, North Macedonia, the UK, Montenegro, and Switzerland. The ban was supposed to last for six months, but Resolution No.412 extends this period until the end of the year.

The list of banned goods includes pigs, cattle meat, pork, some by-products, salted brined, dried or smoked meat, food flour from meat or meat by-products, milk and dairy products (with some exceptions), vegetables, other than those intended for sowing, fruits and nuts, pig, poultry, cattle, sheep or goat fat, lard stearine and other animal oils, sausages and similar products, confectionery, salt and other goods.

Government raising minimum wage, pensions from Jan 1

Jane Topchian
PanArmenian
Armenia – June 30 2022
June 30, 2022 – 18:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The government is planning to raise the minimum wage from the current 68,000 to AMD 75,000 a month beginning from January 1, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, June 30.

The Prime Minister said the elderly will also receive higher pensions from the beginning of next year, although he failed to provide more details.

Pashinyan noted that the country’s tax collections exceeded budget estimates by AMD 47 billion, which enables the government to plan certain social programs for next year.

Starting from January 1, it is planned to increase childcare allowances for kids under 2 years old to AMD 30,600 instead of the current AMD 28,600. According to Pashinyan, all mothers should receive childcare benefits, regardless of where they live and whether they are employed or not.

Families of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan protesting outside Russia consulate in Gyumri

Jane Topchian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
11:38, 28.06.2022

The parents of the Armenian captives in Azerbaijan are staging a protest outside the Russian consulate in Gyumri. Civil activist Karapet Poghosyan wrote about this on Facebook, and, also posted a respective photo.

“Naturally, the occasion is the statements by the capitulator [i.e., Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan]. Everyone knows this he a scoundrel. The parents of the captives, the rulers of the world, the progressive and treacherous Armenians, everyone knows this lying and manipulative type of his. But all the same; he manages to dictate his agenda to everyone,” Poghosyan added.

FLYONE Armenia to operate Yerevan-St. Petersburg flights

Jane Topchian

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 11:46,

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian airline FLYONE Armenia is increasing the number of flights to Russia and is launching regular direct flights en route Yerevan-St. Petersburg-Yerevan from July 1st, the company said.

The flights from Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport to Pulkovo International Airport will be operated four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with convenient timetable and affordable prices.

About FLYONE Armenia

FLYONE Armenia (www.flyone.am) started its operations in 2021. On 27 October 2021, the Civil Aviation Authority of Armenia offered us the National Air Operator Certificate, assigning the IATA 3F code, which contains 2 characters and ICAO FIE code- 3 characters.

The airline is offering affordable flights to a number of directions, including Moscow, Paris, Lyon, Tbilisi, Istanbul and Sochi.




President of Artsakh convenes enlarged sitting of Security Council

Jane Topchian

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 12:38,

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan convened an enlarged sitting of the Security Council on June 20, the Presidential Office said.

The agenda included the internal and external challenges facing the Republic.

The Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Territorial Administration and Infrastructure delivered reports.

Earnest discussions were held on the presented issues, as a result of which President Harutyunyan gave a number of instructions to the heads of state structures.