Author: Jane Topchian

Serzh Sargsyan: I believe we will overcome this ordeal with honor jointly with all healthy forces

Jane Topchian
Panorama, Armenia

Third President of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan on Saturday issued a message on the 70th birthday anniversary of late statesman, political figure, former Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.

The message, publicized by Sargsyan’s office, runs as follows:

“Today we pay tribute to the bright memory of Andranik Margaryan, a prominent statesman and political figure, a devoted son of his homeland and people, former Prime Minister of Armenia, and RPA head, on his 70th birthday.

The life and work of Andranik Margaryan, from the underground struggle for the independence of Armenia during the Soviet period to active political and state activities in the newly independent Armenia, deserve only deep respect and recognition.

The seventh Armenian PM, Andranik Margaryan took his rightful place in the ranks of those who devoted themselves to the restoration of the Armenian statehood.

Political and economic achievements attributed to the period of his state activity, undoubtedly, were largely due to Andranik Margaryan’s managerial abilities, high human qualities, balanced and sober thinking, patience and boundless diligence.

Everyone remembers Andranik Margaryan as a decent, broad-minded and kind man, completely devoted to the national goals, who was also able to play a balancing and unifying role in the country’s political arena, something which is desperately needed in today’s divided Armenia.

I am confident that we will successfully overcome this ordeal with honor jointly with all healthy forces in this difficult period for our state and people to build the powerful and sovereign Armenia based on national values, which Andranik Margaryan and his ideological friends dreamed of.

He was a truly popular prime minister, who was loved for his work, dedication, modesty and broad-mindedness.”

New York City Opera names Constantine Orbelian as Music Director and Principal Conductor

Jane Topchian

Save

Share

 14:40, 8 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Director of the Armenian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater after Alexander Spendiaryan Constantine Orbelian has been appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the New York City Opera, the NYCO reports.

Maestro Orbelian will conduct his first NYCO production this summer when the company performs a newly created version of Rigoletto on Sunday, August 29 at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice in Kingston, New York, followed by an encore performance of the Verdi favorite on Friday, September 3 as part of Bryant Park’s annual Picnic Performance series

“We are indeed very fortunate to welcome the world-renowned maestro, Constantine Orbelian to the New York City Opera Family. Maestro Orbelian brings decades of international experience conducting opera’s greatest stars both in performance and on award-winning recordings and will offer the company and its audiences many world-class performances in the future. I have no doubt his skill and experience will be central to restoring City Opera to its place in the American and international Opera scenes”, Michael Capasso, General Director of the New York City Opera, said.

“I am thrilled to accept the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the venerable New York City Opera,” said Maestro Orbelian. “It is a great opportunity to help bring this historic, culturally significant musical institution back to life after a challenging time of Covid closures. We will give opera lovers the thrill of hearing extraordinary singers from across America and beyond. Staying true to the NYCO tradition, we will provide contemporary composers a great platform in which to premiere their works”.





RFE/RL Armenian Report – 06/08/2021

Jane Topchian 
                                        Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Another Armenian Soldier Captured By Azerbaijan
        • Susan Badalian
Armenia - A view of an area in Armenia's Syunik province where Armenian and 
Azerbaijani troops are locked in a border standoff, May 14, 2021. (Photo by the 
Armenian Human Rights Defender's Office)
Another Armenian soldier was captured by Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday in a 
continuing military standoff on Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said that the 25-year-old soldier, identified as 
A. Katanian, lost his way and strayed into Azerbaijani-controlled territory in 
thick fog.
It flatly denied Azerbaijani authorities’ claims that he was part of an Armenian 
“sabotage group” that tried to lay landmines in the Lachin district bordering 
Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province.
Narek Ordian, a local councilor from the Syunik village of Verishen, said the 
incident took place at a nearby section of the frontier where Armenian and 
Azerbaijani troops have been facing off against each other for the past month. 
He described the official Armenian version of events as credible.
“When it’s foggy up there locals also often lose their way,” Ordian told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
The Defense Ministry in Yerevan said nothing about efforts to secure the 
soldier’s release. Meanwhile, lawyers representing the Armenian government asked 
the European Court of Human Rights to order Baku to provide information about 
his whereabouts and health and detention conditions.
The border standoff began after Azerbaijani troops reportedly crossed several 
sections of the border and advanced a few kilometers into Syunik and another 
Armenian province, Gegharkunik, on May 12-14.
The Armenian Defense Ministry repeatedly threatened to take military action to 
force them to pull back. However, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian effectively 
ruled out the use of force even after one Armenian soldier was killed and six 
others captured by Azerbaijani forces late last month.
Ordian echoed critics’ claims that the caution exercised by the Armenian 
government only encourages Azerbaijani forces to remain in Armenian territory 
and keep holding the Armenian prisoners and even capture new ones.
“The authorities are to blame for all this,” he said. “Our army, our boys are on 
standby, waiting for an order. But that order isn’t coming. As soon as the order 
is issued we will capture not one but eleven [Azerbaijani soldiers] without a 
gunshot.”
Tsarukian Calls For Closer Ties With Russia
        • Narine Ghalechian
Armenia - Gagik Tsarukian (C), the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia 
Party, holds an election campaign rally in Nor Hachn, June 7, 2021.
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian said forging even closer 
ties with Russia is vital for Armenia’s national security as he campaigned in 
Gegharkunik province on Tuesday.
“There is only one way to ensure the security of our people: Russia, our 
centuries-old ally and friend. It has always demonstrated that it stands with us 
on any issue,” Tsarukian said at a campaign rally held in the provincial capital 
Gavar.
“We must now reinforce this friendly relationship not only with words but also 
real actions. Armenian and Russian soldiers must now stand on our borders side 
by side so that people feel safe,” he told supporters.
Tsarukian also spoke of a “very severe situation” in Armenia, saying that many 
of its citizens lack decent jobs and access to free healthcare. The BHK leader, 
who is one of the country’s richest men, reiterated his pledges to use his 
business connections to attract large-scale investments in the Armenian economy 
if his party manages to return to government.
“Tsarukian is an established, affluent and renowned man who has seen a lot,” he 
said. “Tsarukian’s main aim is to help every person realize his potential to the 
benefit of his country and people.”
The BHK, which maintains regular contacts with Russia’s ruling party, finished a 
distant second in the last parliamentary elections held in December 2018, 
winning 8.3 percent of the vote.
Tsarukian insisted late last month that he will not strike any power-sharing 
agreements with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian as a result of the upcoming vote 
slated for June 20. He again ruled out such a possibility on Monday during the 
official launch of the BHK’s election campaign.
The tycoon noted on Tuesday that he was “the first” to demand Pashinian’s 
resignation and accuse the premier of incompetence and misrule in June 2020.
Shortly after that criticism Tsarukian was controversially prosecuted on what he 
sees as politically motivated charges. He was arrested in September but freed on 
bail almost one month later.
Like other opposition groups, the BHK blamed Pashinian for Armenia’s defeat in 
the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh and demanded that he step down. It joined a 
coalition of opposition parties that staged street protests in a bid topple the 
prime minister.
Resignations Of Top Armenian Diplomats Accepted
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - Outgoing Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian addresses Armenian Foreign 
Ministry staff, Yerevan, May 31, 2021.
Three of Armenia’s four deputy foreign ministers, who have tendered their 
resignations due to apparent disagreements with the government, were formally 
relieved of their duties on Tuesday.
All four diplomats decided to resign after Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian stepped 
down on May 27 following an emergency session of the Armenian government’s 
Security Council which discussed mounting tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
border.
At a May 31 farewell meeting the Armenian Foreign Ministry staff, Ayvazian 
hinted that he disagrees with government decisions which he believes could put 
the country’s sovereignty and national security at risk.
One of Ayvazian’s deputies, Gagik Ghalachian, also handed in his resignation on 
May 27. The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that the three other 
vice-ministers -- Artak Apitonian, Avet Adonts and Armen Ghevondian -- followed 
suit.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, who is currently filling in for Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian campaigning for the June 20 parliamentary elections, 
accepted the resignations of Adonts, Apitonian and Ghalachian on Tuesday.
It was not clear whether Avinian refused to approve Ghevondian’s letter of 
resignation and whether the latter intends to continue performing his duties. 
The Foreign Ministry did not comment on that.
Neither Pashinian nor key members of his administration have made any public 
statements on the unprecedented resignations. A government spokesperson said 
last week that the post of foreign minister will likely remain vacant at least 
until the elections.
“When such experienced diplomats leave the system … it can only testify to the 
existence of a crisis,” said Armine Margarian, a political analyst who worked at 
the Foreign Ministry and the Security Council from 2005-2018.
“This is an extremely dangerous situation,” Margarian told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service. She pointed to grave security challenges facing Armenia after last 
year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Speaking at the May 27 meeting of the Security Council, Pashinian called for the 
deployment of international observers along contested portions of the frontier 
where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops remain locked in a standoff.
Critics denounced the proposal, accusing Pashinian of failing to defend Armenia 
against foreign aggression and plotting to cede Armenian territory to Baku. 
Ayvazian’s May 31 remarks gave Pashinian’s detractors more ammunition.
Pashinian’s press secretary challenged the outgoing minister last week to 
publicly clarify “who, where and how was going to take some steps or to make 
decisions contradicting our country’s national and state interests.”
Ayvazian has declined to do that so far. His deputies have likewise avoided 
publicly explaining their resignations.
Pashinian Vows Post-Election ‘Vendettas’
        • Anush Mkrtchian
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks at a campaign rally in Armavir, 
June 7, 2021.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday pledged to “purge” the state 
bureaucracy and wage “political vendettas” against local government officials 
supporting the Armenian opposition if he wins the June 20 parliamentary 
elections.
“There will be staff purges and the staff purges will target those officials who 
took advantage of the 2018 revolution to huddle in the corridors of the people’s 
power and play the role of Trojan horses during all this time,” Pashinian said 
during a campaign trip to Armenia’s central Aragatsotn province.
“Give us the mandate to carry out the staff purges and we will throw the ‘Trojan 
horses’ out of Armenia’s state governance system,” he said in a fiery speech.
Pashinian went on to promise a tough crackdown on heads of local communities and 
private entities who he claimed are forcing their subordinates to attend 
campaign rallies held by his political opponents.
“I want to make it clear that after the elections there will be vendettas 
against those heads of communities and entities … who are trying to coerce 
people,” he told supporters rallying in the town of Talin.
“I’m not talking about physical violence. I’m talking about political and civil 
vendettas,” he added.
Pashinian did not name any individuals or produce evidence of such coercion. He 
said only that he has seen photographs of ordinary Armenians present at 
opposition rallies. He said their facial expressions suggest that they attended 
the rallies against their will.
Opposition parties and blocs running in the snap elections claim that the 
Armenian authorities themselves are forcing civil servants, schoolteachers and 
other public sector employees to attend campaign gatherings organized by 
Pashinian and his Civil Contract party. They say the prime minister also broke 
the law by holding rallies before the official start on Monday of campaigning 
for the polls.
Pashinian already pledged to purge Armenia’s government, judiciary and security 
apparatus of “remnants” of the country’s former leadership in April 2020. He 
accused them of trying to discredit him and scuttle his far-reaching initiatives.
Campaigning in another Aragatsotn town on Tuesday, Pashinian likened Armenia 
under his rule to “paradise.” “Our challenge is to notice our own paradise,” he 
declared.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Armenia

Jane Topchian

Save

Share

 09:05, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan has released an article entitled “”, touching upon the importance of the artificial intelligence in the 21st century, its prospects in Armenia and the necessity of developing a respective strategy.

ARMENPRESS presents Tigran Avinyan’s article:

The potential of artificial intelligence in the 21st century

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the 21st century’s most powerful technologies, a key driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to one definition, artificial intelligence “is a computer system that is able to perform tasks that ordinarily require human intelligence”. AI is transforming the political and economic structures worldwide; it will soon drastically change our way of life.

This technology has permeated almost every field of human activity, from healthcare to the military. For instance, 90% accuracy in diagnosing breast cancer was recorded with the use of AI technology. The armies of developed nations are very close to creating autonomous “killer robots.”

AI is of strategic importance today and it tends to become a key driver for economic development, as it can help dramatically increase labor productivity and efficiency. PwC forecasts that the use of AI will lead to $ 15.7 trillion increase in global GDP by 2030.

Millions of jobs that do not require sophisticated skills and creative approaches will be redundant due to redistribution of machine-human roles, and on the other hand, millions of new ones will be created in the near future. According to World Economic Forum estimates, 75 million AI-operated jobs will be closed down by the end of 2022, and 133 million will be generated instead.

Given AI’s strategic strength, developed and even developing nations have embarked on a race for dominance in the sector, seeking to provide their citizens, industry and institutions with the skills, knowledge and tools necessary for the AI era through large-scale investments and targeted policies.

There is a general consensus in scientific and expert communities that those countries doing their best to develop AI technologies through prospective investment will be at the forefront of the emerging world order.

While the United States is still the global leader in the field of artificial intelligence, China intends to become a center of fundamental and applied research and AI technologies by 2030. At the same time, relatively small nations, such as South Korea, Singapore, Ireland, Finland and Israel, boast significant progress in this field. As of 2018, Israel was not far behind the second-placed China as regards the number of AI startups (362 against 383), while Ireland is the European leader in terms of per capita AI specialists.

In the long run, Armenia can join the family of leading AI nations. For that, however, our country needs to promote the development of the sector.

Artificial intelligence prospects in Armenia

With its broad implications and many uses, artificial intelligence can become both an instrument of economic development and technological progress for Armenia and an opportunity to get a decisive edge in the military sphere.

Armenia is fairly well poised to become a hub of basic research into artificial intelligence (creation of new algorithms using complex mathematical methods).

In fact, basic research does not require too much investment. Mostly stable internet connection is needed, and in some cases supercomputers (for example, for more complex neural network training). In addition, we have a remarkable legacy, well-established traditions and comparative advantage over the countries of Eastern Europe in the field of mathematics and natural sciences.

Regretfully, Armenia’s STEM science base is not yet widely used for developing artificial intelligence. AI education is still in its infancy in Armenia in spite of the fact that Bachelor’s and / or Master’s degree and non-formal academic programs in artificial intelligence have been launched in a number of universities in recent years.

In addition, there are no doctoral or postdoctoral programs in Armenia, which leads to a “brain drain” or scientific stunting of young people who want to develop their professional skills, due to which the field is developing slowly.

Armenia should also pay great attention to the development of AI engineering, which is the application of algorithms derived from basic research to solve various problems of human activity. We need real-world data to apply the algorithm and to adapt it to a particular problem. The government will have to intervene by collecting, digitizing data and developing easily accessible databases.

Need to develop a national artificial intelligence strategy

The national AI development strategy and the resulting action plan should be considered a framework for coordinating and directing the stakeholders’ activities in order to pursue a common policy in this field. Following the publication by Canada of its national AI development strategy in March 2017, more than 30 countries developed similar documents to promote scientific and applied research in the field.

Having such a strategy should be a top priority for Armenia today. At the same time, by saying strategy, we should not imply a template document, but rather a consensus vision for AI development and other specific measures to achieve it through close synergy between the government, the private sector and individual researchers.

The strategy and the action plan may suggest:

– introducing doctoral and post-doctoral programs, expanding the role of artificial intelligence in universities and the centers providing education in the field of ICT;

– using the Diaspora’s huge human and social capital in order to set up research labs in cooperation with leading international institutions;

– attracting highly qualified researchers by offering special terms and conditions;

– establishing a special venture fund based on the model of public-private partnership, which should invest in promising AI startups;

– ensuring collection, digitization and broad availability of data generated in the country, implementing a coordinated and unified policy by various government agencies, building the necessary infrastructure and so on.

I believe that through effective state-private-academia cooperation and targeted efforts, Armenia will be able to join the family of leading countries in the field of artificial intelligence, which in turn will pave the way for a technological breakthrough in the 21st century to achieve the status of a developing country.

Universal Postal Union cancels Azerbaijan’s stamps promoting xenophobia against Armenians

Jane Topchian

Save

Share

 21:38, 3 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS. The Universal Postal Union has decided not to register the “Azerbaijan 2020” postage stamps issued by Azerbaijan in their database, as those stamps contradict the relevant provisions of the Union Convention and Code of Conduct. ARMEBPRESS reports the Union asked Azerbaijan to review the issue of those stamps.

Following the military aggression against Artsakh unleased by Azerbaijan in 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of High Technologies of Armenia sent letters to the Union stating “obvious hatred and xenophobia against Armenians” in the postage stamps issued by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan. The leadership of the Universal Postal Union informed the Armenian side about their decision stated above.


Armenian’s caretaker health minister says not planning to resign

Jane Topchian
Panorama, Armenia
June 3 2021

Armenian’s caretaker health minister on Thursday said she is not planning to step down after the authorities were accused of showing disrespect to the bodies of Armenian soldiers killed during last year’s war in Artsakh by keeping them in degrading conditions at a morgue in the town of Abovyan.

Anahit Avanesyan told reporters in the parliament that she has already publicly apologized to soldiers’ families and specific action has also been taken since then, including dismissal of some individuals.

“An investigation will be carried out, the circumstances will be revealed and all those responsible for the incident will be held to account according to the law,” she said.

Asked whether she considers herself guilty in connection with the incident, Avanesyan said she responded to it immediately, offered her apologies and stressed the need for bringing all those responsible for the process to account.

“It was probably unusual for me to apologize. Maybe there has never been such a practice. I have apologized for the pain caused to the relatives [of the killed soldiers]. But I would like to reiterate that the act committed by an individual should be assessed within the framework of that act and in relation to that very person. A specific incident should not be attributed to the whole institution,” she said.

Pashinyan highlights opening of regional infrastructures for Armenia’s industrial development

Jane Topchian

Pashinyan highlights opening of regional infrastructures for Armenia’s industrial development

Save

Share

 15:12, 29 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is of the opinion that the industrialization of Armenia is deeply connected with the opening of regional communications, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in a meeting with his supporters.

”In this regard, the statements of the Azerbaijani leadership are rather strange. Why are they strange? Because we aadopted the well-known declaration of November 9, where there is a point about the opening of communications, and in the Moscow statement of January 19, which has been published, we actually commented on how to implement those points on opening the communications”, Pashinyan said, adding that the Armenian side has no problems with open roads, but the word ”corridor” does not exist in either of the statements. ”Therefore, I want to clearly say once again, we have never formally or non-formally discussed anything about corridors or exchange of territories, I mean Meghri, which is much discussed topic”, Pashinyan said.

Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the opening of communications in the context of Armenia’s industrialization process.

”It’s extremely important for us that Armenia gets an operating railway connection with Iran and Russia”, Pashinyan emphasized.

Pashinyan suggests withdrawing both Armenian, Azerbaijani forces from Sotk-Khoznavar section, deploy intl. observers

Jane Topchian

Save

Share

 18:25,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan suggested at the Security Council session that both Armenian and Azerbaijani forces should be withdrawn from Sotk-Khoznavar section of the border for easing border tensions, where international observers should be deployed with the involvement of representatives of Russia or the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries.  

”If the situation is not solved, the provocations can inevitably lead to large-scale clashes. For that reason I suggest a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the situation, addressing an open proposal to the international community and the leadership of Azerbaijan. The proposal is the following – we reach an agreement that units of the armed forces of both sides withdraw from the border very quickly and return to their permeant bases, and international observers are deployed in those areas with the involvement of representatives of Russia or the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries. After that delimitation works will take place under the auspices of the international community”, Pashinyan said. 

Karabakh conflict is over, time to think about future has come – Aliyev

Jane Topchian
Aysor, Armenia
May 20 2021

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is over, now the time has come to think about future, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev stated at “The South Caucasus: Perspectives of Regional Development and Cooperation” conference today.

“The second Karabakh war has radically changed the situation in the region. We were not cooperating with Armenia as it had occupied our territories. Today Armenia has realized its mistake. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is over, and now time has come to think about future,” Aliyev stated.

Armenian defense ministry reports ‘incident’ involving Azeri troops in Gegharkunik

Jane Topchian

Save

Share

 17:07,

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. An incident took place on May 20 at the border section of Gegharkunik Province with participation of the Azeri troops who have crossed into the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the ministry of defense said.

“Around 15:00, several dozens of shots were fired, presumably in the air, after which the Armenian units opened warning shots. The commander of the Azerbaijani troops contacted the Armenian unit commander, asked to cease fire, apologized and said that the shooting was a result of an accident. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia are warning that the repetition of such incidents will be viewed as a deliberate attempt to head for a clash and will lead to relevant actions by the Armenian side.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan