Author: Jane Topchian

EU-Armenia trade turnover grows by 19%: GSP+ system contributes to facilitation of export

Jane Topchian

EU-Armenia trade turnover grows by 19%: GSP+ system contributes to facilitation of export

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09:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s trade turnover with the member states of the European Union has recorded a major growth in 2018, comprising 1 billion 830 million 74 thousand USD, moreover, the export grew by nearly 8%. The GSP+ privileged trade regime and the new electronic system for certification of origin of goods greatly contributed to the boosting of the commercial relations and the facilitation of the export process.

Artur Maysuryan, head of the Department of Cooperation with the EU at the ministry of economic development and investments, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS on the topic.

“The Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement creates preconditions for improving the trade regulation and investment environment between Armenia and the EU through more active bilateral cooperation in a number of sectors, ensuring transparency of commercial environment, exchange of experience and elimination of barriers. By this, in particular, the partnership in intellectual property rights, competitiveness protection, customs affairs, technical barriers of trade and other areas will be improved. All these factors create preconditions for the business to raise stability and predictability, further intensify the business ties and contacts between the sides, deepen and develop the cooperation in all areas, and raise the bilateral ties to a qualitatively new, higher level”, he said, stating that this will, of course, positively affect the intensification of commercial relations.

According to the data of the National Statistical Committee, Armenia’s trade turnover with the EU states increased by 19% in 2018, comprising 1 billion 830 million 74 thousand USD, against the 1 billion 537 million 564 thousand USD of 2017. Among the EU states, the greatest trade turnover volume was registered in Germany – 427 million 993.3 thousand USD, against the 334 million 279.5 thousand USD of January-December 2017, increasing 28%.

The export volume from Armenia to the EU states in 2018 comprised 683 million 847 thousand USD, against the 633 million 757 thousand USD, increasing 7.9%. The greatest export volume from Armenia to the EU states was registered in Bulgaria – 215 million 270 thousand USD, although compared to the previous year, this figure declined by nearly 23.8%. The next biggest export volume was recorded to Germany – 136 million 79 thousand USD, increasing by 2.2% as compared to 2017. The third largest share of export belongs to the Netherlands – 132 million 356 thousand USD, increasing 49.4% compared to 2017.

The ministry of economic development and investments informed that among the goods exported from Armenia to the EU states are copper ores, fertilizers, aluminum foil, alcoholic drinks, precious stones and metals, molybdenum and etc.

The ministry said that another factor also contributed to the facilitation of the export process to the EU states. Since January, 2018, Registered Exporter System-REX, an online system of certification of origin of goods that applies in the Generalised System of Preference (GSP+) of the EU, has been introduced in Armenia. This system enables the exporter to cut the expenses and save time.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Masis Mayilyan: Azerbaijan should overtake arrears

Jane Topchian
Mediamax news agency, Armenia
Feb 12 2019
Masis Mayilyan: Azerbaijan should overtake arrears
Mediamax's exclusive interview of Taguhi Hovhannisyan with the foreign minister of Artsakh [Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh], Masis Mayilyan.
[Armenian News note: the below is translated from the Russian edition of Mediamax]

Azerbaijan avoids preparing society for peace

[Hovhannisyan] The international community has reacted in a positive manner to the 16 January meeting in Paris between Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers [Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov respectively]. It was stressed in this context that it is important to prepare societies in Armenia and Azerbaijan for peace. The idea of preparing for peace continues to be actively discussed. How would you comment on the broad response the idea has received?

[Mayilyan] The idea of the need to prepare societies for peace in the conflict settlement process is a kind of common truth. The history of the settlement of the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan has seen periods, when it was believed that the leaders of the countries were closer to achieving accord on signing a peace treaty than societies of the sides. That is why calls for preparing peoples for peace were voiced.

However, as regards the current stage of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the attempts to equate sentiments in societies of Armenia and Artsakh on the one hand and in Azerbaijan on the other are absolutely inappropriate. Both Artsakh and Armenia are far ahead in this sense. In order to make further progress in this direction, Azerbaijan should overtake arrears and travel a long road, which the Azerbaijani government has avoided in every way. Baku has not only refused to prepare its society for peace up to now, but has done quite the opposite: It has actively pursued at the state level the policy of instilling xenophobia regarding Armenians, facilitating crimes on the basis of hatred of Armenians and lauding criminals, who have committed such crimes, prevented civic peace initiatives, constantly threatening with war, persisted in making attempts to isolate Artsakh, and so forth.

Such a policy of Azerbaijan both in the past and currently throws a shadow on the whole process of the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, pushing it far back. Therefore, at the first stage, the Azerbaijani government must stop the hatred campaign and take efficient steps, probably with international support, to eliminate the negative developments that have started taking root in Azerbaijani society as a result of many years of instilling intolerance towards Armenians.

Azerbaijan hinders trust-building

[Hovhannisyan] Can you see any preconditions for building trust between the sides?

[Mayilyan] Stepanakert [Xankandi] has put forward various initiatives on many occasions to build trust between the sides, but only threats could be heard in response from Azerbaijan.

The creation of the atmosphere of trust is one of the pillars of the settlement of any conflict. However, practice has shown that the implementation of measures aimed at building trust can be efficient only in conditions, where the peace process is irreversible and there are international mechanisms that guarantee non-resumption of hostilities.

It is obvious that in conditions, where Azerbaijan continues to do all it can to prevent the introduction of the mechanisms for international control over ceasefire, including mechanisms agreed in Vienna and St Petersburg in 2016, you can hardly expect Baku to take realistic steps towards the implementation of measures for building trust.

Azerbaijan not ready to just solution of conflict

[Hovhannisyan] Can you see any signals that would show that Artsakh may become a full-fledged participant in the negotiations?

[Mayilyan] The restoration of full-format negotiations with the direct and full-fledged participation of the republic of Artsakh is one of the most important issues on our foreign policy agenda. This objective can be achieved, if the two Armenian states clearly divide roles and powers in the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan. Coordinated steps by Yerevan and Stepanakert in this direction will enable to create preconditions for Artsakh's return to the negotiating table.

The leadership of the republic of Armenia, for their part, have said on a lot of occasions that Stepanakert's interests at the negotiations should definitely be represented by the authorities elected by the people of Artsakh.

At the same time, we can see that Azerbaijan is doing all it can to prevent the restoration of full-format negotiations, putting forward all kinds of unviable ideas and proposals. Azerbaijan's approaches to this issue are a kind of litmus test, which shows that in reality, Baku is not ready to search for a just solution to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

Karabakh – provider of security in region

[Hovhannisyan] What is your attitude to unofficial meetings between Armenian Prime Minister [Nikol Pashinyan] and Azerbaijani President [Ilham Aliyev]?

[Mayilyan] One can only welcome any meetings that facilitate the strengthening of peace and security in the region.

[Hovhannisyan] Artsakh has again confirmed its readiness to de jure assume responsibility for ensuring stability and peace in the region. What steps are being taken in this direction?

[Mayilyan] As an important military and political factor in the region, Artsakh has been a provider of security and has de facto made its contribution to maintaining regional stability for a long time now. For example, using the resources of its own government, Artsakh has unilaterally installed a system of constant video surveillance of the line of contact [with Azerbaijani troops], which may become a component of international mechanism for controlling ceasefire. International mediators have had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the system created.

Speaking about the readiness of the republic of Artsakh to de jure assume responsibility for maintaining regional peace, the first thing we imply is that Arstakh must be involved in the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict as a full-fledged party and share the responsibility for the future of the region together with other signatories of the future binding peace agreement.

International recognition major priority

[Hovhannisyan] What initiatives are there for the international recognition of Artsakh?

[Mayilyan] International recognition is a major priority in the foreign policy of the republic of Artsakh. The process of the recognition of the republic has so far been proceeding at the level of administrative regions and cities of many countries throughout the world. The Artsakh foreign ministry is taking consistent steps aimed at giving an additional impulse to the positive trends that are already in place in the process of international recognition.

At the same time, efforts are taken to broaden and deepen de-centralised cooperation and international contacts of Artsakh. The geography of de-centralised cooperation broadened last year, encompassing the Middle East region. During 2018 in general, friendly relations were established between six towns of Artsakh and foreign countries.

Paylan Responds to Ankara’s Reaction to Macron

Jane Topchian
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Garo Paylan

Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) recently responded to the Turkish presidential spokesperson’s reaction to last week’s announcement by France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, who declared April 24 a national day of commemoration for the Armenian Genocide.

Paylan specifically addressed the presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin who after condemning Macron’s decision called the Armenian Genocide “a lite and political deception.”

“If the Armenian Genocide is a political deception, why does Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan send a condolence letter to the Armenian people for five years in a row?” asked Paylan in a Facebook post.

In a second post Paylan said that 104 years have passed since the Genocide and the Armenian people are waiting for justice.

“Turkey has not faced and named the tragedy that the Armenian people were deported and massacred by the state decision,” Paylan wrote, emphasizing that the Turkish president and the parliament must face the facts and call the events of 1915 by its real name—genocide.

MP Underlines Importance of Islamic Revolution to Christians

Jane Topchian
FARS News Agency, Iran
Sunday
MP Underlines Importance of Islamic Revolution to Christians
 
 
TEHRAN (FNA)- Representative of Armenians to Iran's Parliament Georgik Abrahamian said that his fellow Christians will participate in the nationwide rallies of February 11 to mark the 40th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
 
Abrahamian said the Iranian Armenian communities consider their turnout in this national epic as their "duty".
 
The Iranian lawmaker underlined that the Armenians living in Iran know that the Islamic Revolution was a move which aims to safeguard human dignity against oppression and violence.
 
He added the Iranian Armenian communities have always stood by their countrymen in settling problems in the country and a number of them have been martyred in defense of Iran during the eight-year war (1980–88) imposed on the country.
 
Also on Sunday, Deputy Head of the Council of Islamic Coordination Nasrollah Lotfi said that more than 6,500 Iranian and foreign reporters, photographers and cameramen will cover the massive turnout throughout the country.
 
According to the official, over 200 foreign political, religious, sports and academic figures will participate in the rallies.
 
Led by the Founder of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini, Iranians confronted the forces of US-proxy Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi in late 1977 to end dictatorship rule in the country.
 
By December 1978, millions of Iranians would take to the streets in protest against the policies of the Shah on a regular basis.
 
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile to Iran to be received by cheering crowds after the departure of the Shah in mid-January 1979. Two weeks later, the country saw the Islamic Revolution.
 
The final collapse of the Shah's regime came on February 11, 1979, when the military renounced its loyalty to the Shah and joined the revolutionary forces.
 
On this day 39 years ago, people took to the streets to celebrate the collapse of the Pahlavi Dynasty and the emergence of the new era.
 
Today, after 39 years, Iranians have turned out in the millions to mark the historic day once again, demonstrating their adherence to the principles and philosophy of the Islamic Republic.
 
On April 1, 1979, Iranians cast their ballots in a national referendum. An astonishing 98.2 percent of the votes endorsed the establishment of an Islamic Republic.

Armenia, Artsakh left among free countries in Freedom House’s 2019 report

Jane Topchian
ARKA, Armenia
Feb 5 2019

YEREVAN, February 5. /ARKA/. Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world, has included Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in the group of partly free countries. 

In its report Freedom in the World – 2019, the organization assesses things related to fundamental freedoms and ordinary citizens’ rights in 195 independent countries and 15 disputable territories. The worst result is 0 and the best result is 100 points. 
Armenia scored 51 points, and Nagorno Karabakh, which is among disputable territories, 31 points. 

There is also assessment the level of political rights and civil liberties in the report, which are rated 1 to 7 points, where 1 is the indicator of the maximum freedom and 7 is that of the minimum freedom.  
Armenia received 4 points here, and Nagorno Karabakh 5. 

Of the former Soviet republics, Georgia (63 points), Kyrgyzstan (38), Ukraine (60) and Moldova (58) are in the row of partly free countries, along with Armenia. 
Kazakhstan (22), Russia (20), Belarus (19), Azerbaijan (1), Tajikistan (9), Uzbekistan (9) and Turkmenistan (2) are qualified as not free countries. Iran (18) and Turkey (31) are in the category of not free countries as well. 

Finland, Norway and Sweden, with their 100 each, as well as Canada, with 99, Uruguay, with 98, and Denmark, with 97, are topping the Freedom House’s ranking, while Tibet (1 point), South Sudan (2) and North Korea (3) are in the tale of the ranking. 
Syria scored 0 points. -0—

Armenia sends measles vaccine to Georgia to combat outbreak

Jane Topchian

Armenia sends measles vaccine to Georgia to combat outbreak

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12:54, 2 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan has ordered to provide 30,000 doses of measles vaccinations to Georgia in order “for our neighbor country to more effectively and faster struggle with the measles outbreaks”.

Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan said on Facebook that he has spoken with his Georgian counterpart Davit Sergeenko about the outbreaks yesterday. “He informed me that 1028 new cases of measles have been detected until today, which is mostly associated with the fact that many children in the 90s were not vaccinated against measles. I was also informed that the daily detected 50-60 cases  have dropped to a daily of 35, thanks to the anti-pandemic actions that are being carried out in Georgia, including the intensive vaccinations of the population aged 20-40,” Torosyan said on Facebook.

According to Torosyan, the last confirmed case of measles in Armenia was back in 2007 – due to the high indicator of anti-measles vaccinations. “The last imported case was detected in December of 2018 in a passenger who arrived from Russia, and fortunately it did not spread in our country. I call on everyone to get the vaccinations envisaged by the national immunization program, and in case of having symptoms – contact a doctor,” he said.

The measles outbreak in Georgia is mostly centralized in Tbilisi.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Theater: National Opera theatre announces the Yerevan premiere of ‘’The Magic Flute”

Jane Topchian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 2 2019
Culture 19:11 02/02/2019 Armenia

The Yerevan premiere of Mozart's opera ‘’The Magic Flute” will take place at the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater after Spendarian on February 25. As the Opera Facebook page reports, in September 2018, the theater successfully introduced the performance on the stages of opera houses in Dubai and Kuwait.

Among the primary roles are Liparit Avetisyan – Tamino, Kim Sargsyan- Papageno, Mary Movsisyan – Pamina, Hasmik Torosyan – Queen of the Night, Zohrab Zohrabyan – Sarastro and Sergey Sargsyan – Speaker of the Temple: Alina Pahlevanyan – Papagena and Hovhannes Andreasyan- Monostatos.
The conductor of the performance is Harutyun Arzumanyan. The opera is directed by Paolo Micciche (Italy). 

‘’The-Magic-Flute”/2067674

Asbarez: ANCA Teams up with AYF and Georgetown ASA for ‘Rising Leaders’ Seminar

Jane Topchian
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Save March 10-12th for the ANCA Rising Leaders Seminar in Washington

March 10-12, 2019: Armenian University Students Traveling to DC for Intensive Career Development and Civic Engagement Program

WASHINGTON – Armenian American university students from across the U.S. are invited to the nation’s capital from March 10th to 12th for “ANCA Rising Leaders: Career Development and Civic Education 101” – the latest in a series of ANCA national and regional programs devoted to expanding youth engagement and empowering their exploration of careers in policy, politics and media in Washington, DC and across the U.S.

The ANCA has teamed up with the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern and Western Regions and the Georgetown University Armenian Students Association (Georgetown ASA) in hosting this inaugural student-focused event.

“The ANCA Rising Leaders initiative is a natural extension of our landmark Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program and Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program, offering an intensive three-day primer on effectively advancing community priorities and learning about the incredible career opportunities Washington, DC has to offer,” said ANCA Programs Director Tereza Yerimyan, who will be leading the seminar. “We are particularly proud to partner up with the AYF Eastern U.S. and Western U.S. and the Georgetown ASA in an event that will give a first-hand look at the ANCA’s work in DC, promote personal career growth, and hone civic involvement skills.”

The seminar begins on Sunday, March 10th with a full day of interactive presentations by the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee (CGPAC) focusing on career search fundamentals from resume preparation and networking 101 to an overview of the Washington, DC internship and job market. Monday, March 11th will feature meetings with policy, politics and media professionals on careers in the nation’s Capital followed by an extended session with ANCA team members on advancing community priorities on the federal, state and local level. The seminar will be capped off with a full day of Capitol Hill discussions with legislators and staff on strengthening U.S.-Armenia ties, supporting Artsakh freedom and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide. Throughout the program, ample opportunities will be provided to explore Washington, DC and make new friends.

“The AYF-YOARF Eastern Region sees this collaboration and seminar as a great opportunity to foster awareness in support of the Armenian American community along with exposing all our members to various careers in policy, politics, or media,” stated the organization leadership. “We’re excited and prepared to take on its responsibilities alongside the AYF Western US, ASA, and ANCA in raising the next generation of leaders, connecting Armenian American youth and continuing our fight for justice for the Armenian Cause.”

AYF Western US Chairman and ANCA Western Region Communications Dikran Khodanian concurred. “The AYF Western US is excited to partner with the AYF Eastern Region and the Georgetown ASA for this 3-day Washington, DC training seminar spearheaded by the ANCA,” said Khodanian. “Given the current political climate, it’s vital that young diaspora Armenians are engaged in Hai Tahd in order to better serve their respective communities while taking advantage of the ANCA’s numerous opportunities.”

The 3-day seminar will take place at a variety of DC community and historic venues, including Georgetown University. “We couldn’t be more excited to provide a platform for a discussion on modern era Hai Tahd in the middle of the nation’s capital,” said Georgetown University ASA President Nareg Kuyumjian. “Our goal with is to bring the AYF, ASA, and ANCA communities together to have a fruitful discussion on student leadership and civic engagement.”

Registration for “ANCA Rising Leaders: Career Development and Civic Education 101” will open shortly. For more information, email: [email protected] for program details and participation fees. Financial aid will be provided based on need and availability.

Verelq: ԲՀԿ-ն ԱԺ փոխնախագահի պաշտոնում կառաջադրի Վահե Էնֆիաջյանին

Jane Topchian
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«Բարգավաճ Հայաստան» կուսակցության կենտրոնական գրասենյակում տեղի է ունեցել ԲՀԿ քաղաքական խորհրդի նիստ, որը վարել է կուսակցության նախագահ Գագիկ Ծառուկյանը:


Ինչպես տեղեկացնում է ԲՀԿ առաջնորդի խոսնակ Իվետա Տոնոյանը, քննարկվել են 7-րդ գումարման Ազգային Ժողովում ԲՀԿ խմբակցության անելիքներն ու առաջիկա ծրագրերը:


«Նիստի ընթացքում որոշում է կայացվել ԱԺ նախագահի տեղակալի պաշտոնում առաջադրել Վահե Էնֆիաջյանի թեկնածությունը: ԲՀԿ խմբակցության քարտուղարի պարտականություններն իրականացնելու է Արման Աբովյանը: Նիստի ավարտին Գագիկ Ծառուկյանը խմբակցության պատգամավորներին մաղթել է արդյունավետ օրենսդիր աշխատանք՝ ի նպաստ Հայաստանի Հանրապետության և հայ ժողովրդի»,- ասված է հայտարարության մեջ: