Kalantarian Kevo – Page 59 – Armenian Directory & News

LIVE. Armenia Cabinet members take oath of office (video)

May 21, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

18:39 | May 21,2018 | Politics
Armenian:

Armenian deputy PMs and ministers are taking the oath of office in the residence of President Armen Sarkissian.

According to the Constitution, the members of the Cabinet have to take the oath of office.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/10/2018

May 11, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

                                        Thursday, 
Ter-Petrosian Urges Multi-Party Talks On Snap Elections
Armenia - Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian casts a ballot at a polling 
station in Yerevan 2 April, 2017.
Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian urged Armenia’s leading political groups 
on Thursday to reach an agreement on fresh general elections, saying that they 
are vital for ending what he sees as a continuing political crisis.
Ter-Petrosian said the newly appointed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will have 
trouble governing the country because the Armenian parliament is still 
controlled by Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK).
“Until now Pashinian has imposed his will on the parliament through the popular 
protests and revolt, something which the international community understood as 
a manifestation of democracy,” he said in written remarks posted on Ilur.am. 
“But can he keep influencing the parliament with the same method? It’s obvious 
that he can’t because that resource has been exhausted.”
Ter-Petrosian said foreign powers “will not tolerate” similar pressure on the 
National Assembly that could be exerted by Pashinian in his new capacity not 
least because they recognized the legitimacy of the last Armenian parliamentary 
elections held in April 2017.
The only way to end “this situation extremely dangerous for the country” is to 
“radically” amend the Armenian Electoral Code and hold snap elections, said the 
73-year-old ex-president whose Armenian National Congress (HAK) party has been 
in opposition to the Sarkisian government.
“Let’s hope that in order to overcome legal obstacles to pre-term parliamentary 
elections resulting from the current complicated constitution, influential 
political forces will … find a way out of this difficult situation threatening 
our statehood through negotiations, dialogue and mutual understandings,” he 
added.
Pashinian and parliamentary minority factions supporting him have also 
repeatedly called for such elections since massive protests led by Pashinian 
forced Sarkisian to resign as prime minister on April 23. But they have so far 
avoided speculating about possible election dates.
It remains unclear whether Sarkisian’s HHK will agree to the parliament’s 
dissolution and the conduct of snap polls in the coming months. Ter-Petrosian 
suggested that HHK lawmakers fear they would not be reelected in that case.
Pashinian, 42, was a prominent and influential member of Ter-Petrosian’s 
opposition movement until falling out bitterly with the latter in 2012. This 
might explain why the ex-president did not congratulate his erstwhile ally on 
being elected prime minister by the parliament on May 8.
On May 6, Ter-Petrosian issued a stern warning that seemed primarily addressed 
to Pashinian. He claimed that the ongoing political transition in Armenia may 
be marred by a violation of the country’s constitution. Ter-Petrosian pointed 
to the resignations of two lawmakers who broke ranks during an earlier 
parliament vote on Pashinian’s bid to become premier.
EU Leaders Congratulate New Armenian PM
        • Emil Danielyan
BELGIUM -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (L) and EU Council 
President Donald Tusk hold a joint news conference during a European Union 
leaders summit meeting in Brussels, October 20, 2017
Top representatives of the European Union have congratulated Nikol Pashinian on 
becoming Armenia’s prime minister and pledged to work with his government in 
implementing a landmark EU-Armenia agreement signed last November.
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, also invited Pashinian to 
visit Brussels “at the earliest opportunity” when she telephoned him on 
Wednesday.
“They agreed on the importance of the partnership between the European Union 
and Armenia and looked forward to meeting in person,” a spokesperson for 
Mogherini said in a statement.
“They discussed the next steps following the Prime Minister's election by the 
Armenian Parliament, including the future formation of a government, and 
touched on further opportunities to strengthen links between European Union and 
Armenia,” added the statement.
On Thursday, Pashinian received a congratulatory message from EU Council 
President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
“We look forward to cooperating with you in your new position to further 
strengthen the relations between the European Union and Armenia, particularly 
through the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced 
Partnership Agreement (CEPA),” read the telegram posted on the Armenian 
premier’s website.
ARMENIA - Newly elected Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinian (L) greets 
supporters during a meeting in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia May 8, 2018
Tusk and Juncker also renewed EU calls for a “comprehensive dialogue among all 
political stakeholders in Armenia” following the resignation of Prime Minister 
Serzh Sarkisian. The latter stepped down on April 23 amid massive 
anti-government protests led by Pashinian.
Pashinian called for a quick ratification of the CEPA by all EU member states 
when he addressed Armenian lawmakers shortly before they voted to elect him 
prime minister on Tuesday. He also said his government will strive for the 
lifting of the EU’s visa requirements for Armenian nationals.
The CEPA, which was ratified by Armenia’s parliament last month, commits the 
Armenian authorities to carrying out political reforms that will democratize 
the country’s political system and boost human rights protection. They must 
also gradually “approximate” Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of 
the EU.
Armenia - Serzh Sarkisian, Edward Nalbandian, Federica Mogherini and Donald 
Tusk at the signing ceremony of the CEPA in Brussels.
The 350-page accord came as a less ambitious substitute for an Association 
Agreement which was nearly finalized by Armenian and EU negotiators in 2013. 
Sarkisian, who was Armenia’s president at the time, precluded the signing of 
that agreement by unexpectedly deciding to seek his country’s accession to the 
Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Pashinian criticized that volte face and called for Armenia’s withdrawal from 
the EEU as recently as last October. However, he made clear right after 
Sarkisian’s resignation that he will not pull the country out of the trade bloc 
comprising five ex-Soviet states.
Pashinian is due to attend an EEU summit that will be hosted by Russian 
President Vladimir Putin in Sochi next week. The two men spoke by phone on 
Tuesday.
Armenian Police, Security Service Chiefs Sacked (UPDATED)
        • Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - The Armenia police chief Vladimir Gasparian (L) and National Security 
Service Director Georgi Kutoyan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian initiated on Thursday the dismissal of the heads 
of Armenia’s police and National Security Service (NSS) who had been appointed 
by his predecessor Serzh Sarkisian.
The police chief, Vladimir Gasparian, and the NSS director, Georgi Kutoyan, 
were formally relieved of their duties by President Armen Sarkissian. The 
presidential decrees were requested by Pashinian earlier in the day.
Gasparian, 59, has headed the national police service since 2011, while the 
36-year-old Kutoyan was named to run the NSS in 2016. Kutoyan previously worked 
as an assistant to Serzh Sarkisian, who was Armenia’s president from 2008-2018.
The NSS is the successor agency to the former Armenian branch of the KGB, the 
Soviet secret police.
Pashinian gave no reasons when he announced the impending dismissal of the two 
men in the morning. He named their replacements later in the day.
The new NSS chief, Artur Vanetsian, is a 38-year-old officer who has worked for 
the powerful security agency for the last 15 or so years. Vanetsian has the 
rank of NSS colonel.
Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian awards a medal to Yerevan's deputy police 
chief, Valery Osipian, 21Sep2015.
Gasparian will be succeeded as police chief by Valeri Osipian, until now a 
deputy head of Yerevan’s police department responsible for public order and 
crowd control. Osipian has been a fixture at just about every major 
anti-government rally staged in the Armenian capital in the past decade.
He frequently warned and argued with Pashinian during the anti-government 
protests which the former opposition leader launched on April 13 in a 
successful attempt to topple Serzh Sarkisian. Osipian publicly congratulated 
and hugged Pashinian after the latter was appointed as prime minister on 
Tuesday.
Pashinian emphasized the “symbolic significance” of Osipian’s unexpected 
appointment. “It’s a good symbol for us to try to eliminate that culture of 
barbed wire in Armenia,” he wrote on Facebook.
Pashinian has yet to appoint any members of his cabinet. He has promised to 
form a “government of accord” as a result of consultations with political 
forces represented in the Armenian parliament. He met on Thursday with Vahram 
Baghdasarian, the parliamentary leader of Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party 
(HHK).
Baghdasarian said after the meeting that the HHK, which holds the majority of 
seats in the parliament, will not propose any ministerial candidates. He made 
clear at the same time that it will not prevent HHK members, among them several 
acting ministers, from joining Pashinian’s cabinet. They would only be ordered 
to suspend their membership in the party, Baghdasarian told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
service (Azatutyun.am).
Baghdasarian also indicated that the parliament majority is ready to vote for 
the new government’s policy program which Pashinian is expected to submit to 
lawmakers later this month. “I don’t think that the newly elected prime 
minister could bring a program containing provisions that will lead us to vote 
against it,” he said.
The HHK majority reluctantly agreed to Pashinian’s becoming prime minister on 
Tuesday after weeks of massive protests organized by the opposition leader in 
Yerevan and other parts of the country. The protests forced Serzh Sarkisian to 
resign as prime minister on April 23.
Press Review
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reacts to statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
during a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday. He said in particular that 
from now on Armenia will only represent itself, and not Karabakh, in peace 
talks with Azerbaijan. The paper describes this as a “very important” policy 
change.
“168 Zham” also reports on Pashinian’s calls for Karabakh’s direct involvement 
in Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. “This is an absolutely correct position,” 
Denis Dvornikov, a Russian political analyst, is quoted by the paper as saying. 
“You can’t decide the fate of a republic without the participation of its 
representatives in negotiations.”
According to “Zhoghovurd,” Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian said on 
Wednesday that Armenian foreign policy will become “more dignified” under 
Pashinian even if the latter is unlikely to change Armenia’s geopolitical 
orientation. The paper says Kocharian thus admitted what opposition politicians 
and other critics of Serzh Sarkisian have been saying for years.
“It is now time to get down to business and forget a little the frantic days 
when we all poured into the streets to passionately reject Serzh and demand the 
election of a prime minister close to our hearts,” writes “Hraparak.” The paper 
says that this euphoria must give way to “much more serious thoughts and 
programs.” “We need to understand that the main function of the person 
occupying the post of prime minister is not to go live on air on Facebook, 
appoint ministers, hold news conferences or pay friendly visits,” it says. 
“There is a lot that needs to be done in our country.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
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

American University of Armenia, Post-Event Press Release

April 28, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

JPEG image

Lukashenko advises Armenians not to be carried away by change of power

April 26, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

Interfax - Russia & CIS General Newswire
 Tuesday 5:12 PM MSK
Lukashenko advises Armenians not to be carried away by change of power
MINSK. April 24
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says that the people of
Armenia should not get carried away by the change of power.
"I only hope that the Armenian people doesn't get too carried away by
the situation. Because it is simple to change power, but then it
should produce results. And the nation will be waiting for this
result. God grant that the talented and wise people of Armenia cope
with the situation," he said in his annual message to the nation and
the National Assembly in Minsk on Tuesday.
"If it was necessary to change the constitution for someone's sake,
that should have been done honestly. One day we took that road when we
lifted restrictions for the election of presidents, all presidents.
There was no need [for Armenia] to turn a parliamentary republic into
a presidential and the presidential into parliamentary and then God
knows into what. Now it has backfired," Lukashenko said.
He said he discussed the issue with the former Armenian president
before and clearly stated his opinion.
"One should address the nation and tell it openly and honestly: that's
how things are. Why change the foundations of a country, break a
country to fit someone's personality? What if that person breaks
later?" Lukashenko said.

Filipinos in Armenia urged to avoid political activity

April 25, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

PhilStar, The Philippines

Filipinos in Armenia urged to avoid political activity

Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) – – 10:38am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs advised Filipinos in Armenia to refrain from participating in partisan political activity following the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan.

Sargsyan’s resignation comes after 10 days of protest in Yerevan, the country’s capital. The protests began following the appointment of former President Sargsyan as prime minister as part of Armenia’s transition to a governmental system that reduces the powers of the presidency.

The DFA has issued an advisory for Filipinos in Armenia to remain cautious amid political unrest in the country.

“In its advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, which has jurisdiction over Armenia, told Filipinos to exercise caution when outdoors, avoid large crowds and obey instructions of authorities,” the DFA said in a statement released Tuesday.

Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta said that there are only 70 Filipinos registered with the embassy but a number of Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates regularly fly to Yerevan to renew their visas.

“Ambassador Sorreta said the Embassy strongly advised Filipinos there to avoid any appearance of partisan political activity,” the DFA said.

Demonstrators saw the appointment of Sargsyan as an attempt to extend his rule after term limits forced him to leave the presidency and a new government system was adopted to give the prime minister more power.

Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetian, a Sargsyan ally who held the premiership until the ex-president’s appointment, has been tapped as acting prime minister.

Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinian says opposition activists want to meet with the acting prime minister to discuss a “peaceful transfer of power.”

Pashinian told a rally in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on Monday evening the opposition will be pushing for a snap parliamentary election and wants to prevent former President Serzh Sargsyan from running the country behind the scenes. — with Associated Press

People wearing masks block Avan-Arinj road (video)

April 23, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

19:47 | April 22,2018 | Politics
Armenian:
Rus

A group of masked people have blocked the Avan-Arinj road, preventing people from entering the city center. Another group of people is standing at “Harsnakar”.

Armenian spiritual leaders welcome President Sarkissian’s call for dialogue amid unrest

April 21, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

ArmenPress, Armenia

Armenian spiritual leaders welcome President Sarkissian’s call for dialogue amid unrest

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting with Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I.

At the meeting in the Presidential residence in Yerevan, Catholicos Aram I congratulated the President on taking office and gave Sarkissian a copy of a Bible.

“Being well aware of your personality and the many years of your activities, we are hopeful that you will maximally justify the trust of our people for you,” Aram I said.

The Armenian President and the Catholicoi addressed the ongoing demonstrations in the country, the President’s Office said.

They mentioned that numerous accumulated issues exist, which require speedy solutions, and the country must proceed by the path of true reforms encompassing all classes of the society and first of all the youth.

The spiritual leaders welcomed the President’s call for dialogue, mentioning that dialogue is the correct and safe way for finding the best way out of the situation and guiding the solution for existing problems.

Aram I arrived in Armenia earlier in the day after the Great House of Cilicia reported that the Catholicos will pay a brief visit to the country. “Armenia is at unease, and so are we all”, he said before departing to Armenia.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I in Yerevan, the PM’s office said.

In the first meeting with Sargsyan after taking office, the Catholicoi first congratulated the Prime Minister wishing strength, patience, ability and endurance.

The Catholicoi and the PM also touched upon the ongoing demonstrations in the country and expressed their concern over the situation. The spiritual leaders found it natural that in any country there can be demands, concerns and complaints and attached importance to the exclusively civilized _expression_ of protest by respecting the constitutional order and laws of the state.

At the same time, the Catholicoi expressed their satisfaction and appreciation that the ongoing processes do not contain use of force and clashes.

“We pray for this situation to gradually calm down, and that people take up the inmost work of homeland building and the security of our country. Yes, we have difficulties in our lives, but also numerous challenges. And we can stand before these challenges and withstand them only through national unity and solidarity,” Catholicos Garegin II said in part.

“We have Artsakh, we have young sons serving on the borders of our country, the security of whom, we know Mr. Prime Minister, is your constant concern”.

Catholicos Garegin II also mentioned the sacrament of the upcoming commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide – April 24 – which is to live righteously in order to refrain the country from tragedies and losses.

Catholicos Aram I said he completely shares the concerns of Catholicos Garegin II and emphasized that the creation of an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension with inflammatory expressions during the ongoing events involving the youth is harmful to both the people and the perception of the country abroad.

“After all, overcoming the consequences of these demonstrations or the damages will require months. Meaning – the country can be harmed. We must tell the demonstrators that this is the country of all of us, we are all the children of this fatherland, we are one family. Difficulties and questions will happen, but we should sit down and discuss questions at the table under mutual understanding, not out in the street. Continuing this way in this atmosphere is harmful, harmful to the country, to our people. Therefore, I am happy that you, Mr. Prime Minister, made this call for the forces to come together and sit at a table and talk. That talk, headed by the President and you, must take place, because the continuation of this will greatly harm our fatherland, our people, especially Artsakh. It is time for us to unite, because we are blockaded by unfriendly powers. There are questions, naturally, but these questions must be talked about in conditions of mutual love and respect. This is what I wanted to convey to you Mr. Prime Minister,” Catholicos Aram I said.

Opposition protests began in theArmeniancapital ofYerevana week ago. The rallies are led by opposition lawmaker NikolPashinyan, who has called on his supporters to launch civil disobedience. The rallies began with a sit-in at France Square in downtown Yerevan, followed by sporadic marches in the city streets. The protesters even began blocking intersections and shutting down traffic.

The YerevanPoliceDepartment (YPD) has called on the opposition crowd to refrain from illegal actions and to maintain public order.

YPD said they are entitled to detain protesters who are violating public order and to cease the illegal rally, because the demonstrations are violating the rights of others and endangering public safety. The protesters largely ignored the YPD demands and continued the rally, initiating sit-ins outside governmental buildings, blocking traffic, obstructing public service staff from entering their offices.

Many protesters have been detained.

English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan

Heavy metal fights to survive, and bridge communities, in the Caucasus

April 13, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

EurasiaNet.org

The rock scene in the South Caucasus is shedding its political baggage.

Bradley Jardine Apr 13, 2018

Audience at the March 17 Caucasus Metal Battle in Tbilisi, Georgia. (All photos by Onnik Krikorian)

In a damp, dimly lit tunnel underneath Tbilisi, a singer, clad in all black, takes to the stage in a haze of cigarette smoke and strobe lights. After dropping an F-bomb, Gio Xurcilava, singer for the Georgian death metal band Infadus, references Satan: “I want you to yell so loud that even The Beast will hear us tonight!”

Infadus is one of eight bands from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan taking the stage this evening to churn out crunching riffs and thunderous drumbeats. Onlookers bang their heads viciously, making devil horn gestures in appreciation of the performers’ technical prowess.

But theatrical allusions to Satan, as well as the gothic aesthetic of many of the assembled fans, are somewhat out of step with the traditional religious conservatism of the Caucasus.

Indeed, the location of the March 17 Caucasus Metal Battle isn’t accidental. Following protests from the Georgian Orthodox Church, open-air metal festivals were driven literally underground.

In 2016, a related event, the Tbilisi JAM! Fest, was interrupted after several priests, followed by dozens of supporters, tried to obstruct the event and the power inexplicably went out. “They came here yelling and accusing us all of organizing a mass sex orgy,” one of the event’s organizers told Georgia Today at the time.

Despite going underground, however, the situation for local metalheads is improving.

“Georgia remains a deeply religious and conservative society,” Eric Hutchence, organizer of the Caucasus Metal Battle and JAM! told Eurasianet. “It’s true that we’ve had problems with extremists over the years, but attitudes are slowly changing.”

Hutchence – who is also the chairman of Georgia’s Rock Music National Association – said he first started listening to hard rock as an eight-year-old, when he came across a record by the German band Karussell while living in East Germany (he was born Ernst Khechumov and uses Hutchence as a nom de rock). His family moved to Georgia when he was 10, and he now runs the company “JAM Events” to promote artists and organize local concerts.

His current project pits bands from across the region against one another for a chance to perform at Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival – one of the biggest live events on the hard-rock circuit. He hopes that regularly sending bands to the festival will put the Caucasus on the musical map.

“We have a strong metal community here and we can see it growing step by step as more people attend our concerts,” he told Eurasianet.

Hard rock isn’t new to the region. In 1980, Tbilisi hosted the Soviet Union’s first official rock festival, Spring Rhythms, dubbed the “Soviet Woodstock” by contemporary commentators.

Communist Georgia’s leading official at the time, Eduard Shevardnadze, hoped the festival would pacify the republic’s unruly youth following nationalist demonstrations in Tbilisi in April 1978. By channeling their energy into rock, he aimed to co-opt protest while solidifying his image as a liberal ruler.

Since gaining independence from the USSR in 1991, leaders in the Caucasus have followed that example, on occasion using rock music to present their countries as hip and modern. In 2010, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan organized several big-name concerts, including British rock legends Deep Purple, in Yerevan. Armenia’s leadership also has embraced the California-based Armenian-American metal band System of a Down, whose front man, Serj Tankian, has made himself into a sort of cultural ambassador for the country.

Not everyone is a fan.

In 2010, Armenian authorities arrested anyone suspected of being an “emo” – a name given to fans of a melancholic form of punk rock. Authorities argued that the gloomy music was undermining social stability and driving teenagers to suicide.

The country’s chief of police went further, accusing emo fans of “distorting Armenia’s gene pool.”

In Azerbaijan, two rock musicians from the band Bulistan were arrested in 2012 after they performed at a protest rally in Baku. The rock stars were reportedly beaten up by police and charged with “petty hooliganism.”

More recently, on March 26, police in Nagorno-Karabakh arrested a young woman, Asya Khachatryan, because of her blue hair. When she demanded an explanation she was reportedly slapped across the face and told “a woman shouldn’t smoke or dye her hair blue.”

Such misogyny is not uncommon, and many metal bands actively try to combat this prejudice. One such band is Euphoria, an all-female group from Armenia.

“We write about feminism, equality, and hope,” the band told Eurasianet in an email exchange. “We try to reach the very people who would find our music and themes new and controversial since we want to use our music to promote social change.”

Euphoria say they “almost always” face sexism in Armenian society, even among fans of rock music.

“Some people think metal is not a genre for women to play, and some of them dislike the issues we are raising in our music,” they said. “Thankfully, our families are very supportive of our work and appreciate the fact we are brave enough to create our kind of music in Armenian society.”

Sexism and religious conservatism are just two of the problems facing up-and-coming bands. Another challenge is the region’s geopolitics: Armenia and Azerbaijan are mired in conflict, and bands of any genre are unable to travel between the countries, leaving only Georgia as neutral ground.

This further complicates the financial troubles faced by musicians around the world, and many of the Caucasus Metal Battle participants have to work side gigs.

“Most musicians, myself included, are earning money by joining cover bands,” said Mikhail Rafiyev, front man of the Azerbaijani rock outfit Euthanation. When he’s not playing metal, Rafiyev can be seen in Baku’s trendy bars performing an eclectic range, from lounge music to pop to blues.

Politicized tunes

Following Mikhail Gorbachev’s political reforms in 1987, the hardline Armenian nationalist band Vostan Hayots toured Communist Armenia to perform a rock opera about the 1915 genocide. When the Karabakh conflict broke out the following year, nationalist organizations funded a tour across the region to help mobilize Armenians. While Azerbaijanis would throw rocks at the group, fans would burn neighboring Azerbaijani villages to the ground after the band performed.

System of a Down has long played an active role in regional politics, and following the April 2016 fighting in Karabakh, Tankian wrote a politically charged song called “Artsakh,” containing lines like “fly the tricolor flag of justice” and “we are going to prevail by being Armenian.”

“I do not believe in wars and ultimately borders but I deeply believe in self-determination and life without oppression. Therefore, it is time for the world to recognize [Nagorno-Karabakh] as the Republic of Artsakh,” he told Rolling Stone that year.

At the Caucasus Metal Battle, though, politics was abandoned in favor of head-banging. After all the competitors performed, the previous winners, Tbilisi’s “Scratch the Floor,” took the stage. The bass player’s T-shirt read “Kill the Kardashians” – but in this context it was a middle finger to consumer culture rather than anything related to Armenians.

Hutchence said his goal was to take politics out of the music and bring fans together in a fun, relaxed environment.

“Lots of money is being spent by huge NGOs to bring people in the region together – and most of them don’t work,” he said. “We work with no grants, and no political slogans, and yet we’re succeeding in bringing young people together.”

Moskovyan Street thoroughly renovated

March 30, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

15:39 | March 29,2018 | Official
Armenian:
Rus

The government at today’s meeting agreed to carry out major repair works on the Moskovyan street, sending 181 million drams from the balance of the accumulated funds from the privatization of state participation in the authorized capital of real estate, legal entities located in the territory of the administrative district of Yerevan.

The project presented by the mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan says that the Nashbandyan-Mashtots avenue of the Moskovyan street has not been renewed for about two decades, which causes concern in terms of safe traffic. The program proposes to completely repair this part of the Moskovyan street. The estimated cost of repairs is over 222 million drams.

UPDATED Armenian Assembly to Celebrate the Past, Present, and Future in Philadelphia

March 30, 2018March 12, 2026 Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

Contact: Danielle Saroyan

Telephone: (202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY TO CELEBRATE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE IN PHILADEPHIA

Intern
Alumni Join Community Leaders on Honorary Host Committee

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Celebrating the past, present and future, the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly) under the leadership of its dynamic committee will come
together in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 28 at the National Constitution
Center. The Philadelphia Celebration is
an occasion to reconnect with intern alumni and network with more young
professionals in a lively setting with dinner and dancing. On this occasion,
the Assembly family will also be honoring Life Trustees Peter and Irene
Vosbikian.

“As the Philadelphia Celebration Host Committee
Chairman and a former Terjenian-Thomas Assembly intern, I can honestly say that
this event brings everyone together and offers a unique opportunity to
reconnect with old friends while being able to make new connections,” Alex
Karapetian said.

The Philadelphia Celebration Host Committee Members
include Assembly Board Members Alex Karapetian and Bianka Kadian Dodov, and
local Philadelphia-natives Celeste Ayjian, Jake Der Hagopian, and Silva
Santerian.

“We look forward to celebrating the Armenian
Assembly and its internship program in Philadelphia, home of the Super Bowl
Champion Philadelphia Eagles! The evening will be a kef-time party filled with
great food, drink, music, dancing, and, most importantly, great people
celebrating the youth of the Armenian American community – past, present, and
future,” stated Philadelphia Celebration Committee Member Jake Der
Hagopian.

As the event is nearing, the Honorary Committee
continues to grow. Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program alumni who are
part of the Honorary Host Committee include Ani Acopian (’14), Adam Azarian
(’09), Alexander Azarian (’14), Michael Azarian (’05), Mark Hoplamazian (’83),
Edele Hovnanian (’80), Leslie Azarian Karapetian (’02), Julia Mirak Kew (’87),
Raffi Manoukian (’98), Mark Momjian (’79 & ’80), Melineh Momjian (’85),
Paul Sookiasian (’05), Erika Hajatian Torosian (’05), and Linda Yepoyan (’81).
Former Assembly Board Chairman Michael Haratunian and former Assembly Board
Member Harry S. Cherken, Jr. are also part of the Honorary Host Committee,
which includes their former Board colleagues Edele Hovnanian and Mark Momjian.

“My summer spent in Washington, D.C. as part of
the Armenian Assembly Internship Program is one I will never forget. I had my
first ‘real’ work experience, which set the tone for my career in marketing. I
got to experience an incredible city, and participate in a rich curriculum of
cultural and social activities. But even better, I met interesting and
well-rounded individuals and created life-long friendships,” said Erika
Hajatian Torosian, Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship class of 2005.

The evening’s entertainment features Kevork Artinian
and His Band. Last week, Kevork Artinian shared a video message inviting
everyone to attend the Philadelphia Celebration.

“What better place to host the Armenian
Assembly’s celebration of the past, present, and future than in the city of
brotherly ‘Armenian’ love? We look forward to welcoming friends both old and
new and enjoying this incredible venue,” Philadelphia Celebration
Committee Members Celeste Ayjian and Silva Santerian said. “Let’s dance
the night away while overlooking Independence Hall and our Liberty Bell. This
is not an event to be missed!”

Tickets are available for purchase online at
www.aimhye.com. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the evening,
contact Assembly Development Director Nazanee Topian at (202) 393-3434 ext. 345
or [email protected]. Please purchase your ticket by April 16, 2018.

To learn more about the Philadelphia Celebration,
please visit www.aimhye.com or the Armenian Assembly of America Facebook Page.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of
America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting
public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR#
2018-009

Photo Caption 1:
Philadelphia Celebration flyer

Photo Caption 2: Erika
Hajatian Torosian, standing immediately behind Congressman Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), with the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program Class of 2005

Available onlibe:

Knollenberg with group.JPG
JPEG image

Philly Flyer 8.5 x 11 - Updated Darker Font.jpg
JPEG image