Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenian FM, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office highlight installation of mechanisms preventing incidents in conflict zone

Kanayan Tamar

Armenian FM, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office highlight installation of mechanisms preventing incidents in conflict zone

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21:31,

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák on March 13.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Minister Mnatsakanyan welcomes the visit of Miroslav Lajčák to Armenia, assessing it important particularly under the conditions that due to the abuse of the principle of consensus in the organization, the representation of the OSCE in South Caucasus has been minimized.

Minister Mnatsakanyan highly assessed the effective cooperation in the sidelines of the OSCE in the process of moving forward the reform agenda of Armenia.

The sides mutually underlined the importance of taking measure aimed at raising the effectives of the OSCE and withstanding the challenges in the spirit of cooperation.  

Referring to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed the commitment and support of Armenia for the exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format. In this context the sides highlighted the application of mechanisms aimed at reduction of risks and prevention of incidents, as well as implementation of confidence-building measures.

The Armenian and Slovak FMs refereed to a number of issues referring to bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, exchanged views on further expanding trade and economic relations, as well as political dialogue. In this context, the Armenian FM welcomed the decision of Slovakia to open and embassy in Armenia. The sides emphasized that it will give a new impetus the expansion of bilateral agenda.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Calendar of Events – 03/14/2019

Kanayan Tamar 
                        Armenian News's Calendar of events
                        (All times local to events)
                =========================================
What:           "The Ethiopian Armenian Community", by Asbed Pogarian
When:           Mar 14 2019 7:30pm
Where:          Aram and Anahis D. Boolghoorjian Hall of the Merdinian School
                13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Online Contact: [email protected]
Web:            
                =========================================
What:           "Armenians in the Late Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey"
                a lecture by Ara Sarafian
When:           Mar 17 2019 1pm
                Following Church Divine Liturgy which starts at 10:30am
Where:          Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley
                Western Prelacy's Hall, 6252 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta, CA
Misc:           This presentation will cover the recent publication by the
                Gomidas Institute of population statistics (and their
                relevance) for some 4000 Armenian-populated places in the
                immediate pre-Genocide period (Armenians in Ottoman Turkey,
                1914: A Geographic and Demographic Gazetteer by Sarkis
                Y. Karayan) and what Armenian life is like there now,
                specifically in Dikrangerd at Christmas this year.
                Ara Sarafian is the director of the Gomidas Institute of
                London, which has been at the forefront of Armenian Genocide
                studies for almost 30 years. At the core of its work are a
                number of seminal works, as well as other activities engaging
                the Armenian Genocide and its legacy in modern Turkey.
                The event is free of charge to the public. There will be a
                reception at the end of the program.
Tel:            818-244-9639
                =========================================
What:           Event dedicated to "Iraqi Armenian Educational Institutions"
When:           Mar 24 2019 4:30pm
Where:          St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Cathedral's Hall
                1510 E. Mountain St. Glendale, CA 91207
Misc:           With a high sense of gratitude to our Iraqi national Schools
                and educators, we have organized an event dedicated to "Iraqi
                Armenian Educational Institutions" under sponsorship of the
                Hamazkayin USA Western Region.
                Participating in the event are our youth with recited poem, who
                had received their Armenian education in Iraq, Singers, the
                screening of Iraqi Armenian Schools history video, former
                principals and teachers eyewitness testimony video, and remark
                of the Hamazkayin Board member.
                The event is free of charge to the public. There will be a
                reception at the end of the program.
Tel:            818-244-9639
***************************************************************************
Armenian News's calendar of events is collected and updated mostly from
announcements posted on this list, and submissions to Armenian [email protected].
To submit, send to Armenian [email protected], and please note the following
important points:
a) Armenian News's administrators have final say on what may be included in
        Armenian News's calendar of events.
b) Posting time will is on Thursdays, 06:00 US Pacific time, to squeeze in
        a final reminder before weekend activities kick in.
c) Calendar items are short, functional, and edited to fit a template.
d) There is no guarantee or promise that an item will be published on time.
e) Calendar information is believed to be from reliable sources. However,
        no responsibility by the List's Administation or by USC is assumed
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        up-to-date.
f) No commercial events will be accepted.
        (Dinners, dances, forget it. This is not an ad-space.)
g) Armenian News is a non-commercial, non-partisan, pan-Armenian outlet.
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Baku’s aggressive rhetoric not conducive to proper atmosphere for Karabakh negotiation, Yerevan says

Kanayan Tamar
Interfax – Russia & CIS General Newswire
March 9, 2019 Saturday 6:15 PM MSK
Baku’s aggressive rhetoric not conducive to proper atmosphere for Karabakh negotiation, Yerevan says
 
YEREVAN. March 9
 
Yerevan took note of the increasingly fierce statements made by various Azerbaijani government officials recently in relation to a settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said.
 
“These statements emphasize the threat of the use of force, resolution of the issue through the use of force, which is worthy of condemnation. This is exactly what is reflected in the recent statement by the co-chairs [of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]. This is particularly noticeable against the backdrop of numerous constructive statements made by Armenia sides, including its prime minister, which have remained without an answer from Azerbaijan,” Naghdalyan said in a statement on Saturday.
 
“The force factor was and remains on the agenda,” “the military factor occupies a special place in resolving the issue,”, “force breeds entitlement,” she said.
 
“When the prime minister of Armenia tells the European Parliament of the need for regional dialogue, tolerance and to introduce a culture of compromises, Baku is threatening with preparing the society not for peace but for other forms of conflict resolution.
 
“Such rhetoric, just as the maximalist claims sounded from positions that are far from constructive, are not helping create the right atmosphere for negotiations,” Nagdalyan said.
 
Armenia has repeatedly stated that such approaches were unacceptable, she said.
 
“Armenia has always stated its commitment to exclusively peaceful talks under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and prioritized the security of Artsakh [the Armenian name for Karabakh] and its status. Testament to this commitment is the fact that, since the velvet revolution in Armenia, not only has the peace process not stopped, it has become more dynamic. Forming the atmosphere of confidence, reducing risks, incident prevention mechanisms, and creating the atmosphere of confidence, as was reaffirmed in Dushanbe and at earlier summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg, remain a substantial necessity,” Nagdalyan said.
 
In the early 1990s Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven areas as the result of a conflict with the region’s ethnic Armenians and with Armenia.
 
A ceasefire between Armenia and the breakaway Republic, on one side, and Azerbaijan, on the other, was introduced in May 1994.
 
Currently, peace is being negotiated by the OSCE Minsk Group set up in 1992 to find ways to settle the conflict peacefully. The group compromises Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Turkey and is co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States.
 
Azerbaijan does not see Karabakh as a party to the conflict and refuses to negotiate with it.
 

Nikol Pashinyan attends former First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia Suren Harutyunyan’s dirge ceremony

Kanayan Tamar

Nikol Pashinyan attends former First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia Suren Harutyunyan’s dirge ceremony

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20:21, 6 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan attended the dirge ceremony of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia Suren Harutyunyan at St. Hovhannes Church of Kond.

ARMENPRESS reports Suren Harutyunyan died on March 1 aged 79.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




India interested in signing agreement with EAEU in near future

Kanayan Tamar

India interested in signing agreement with EAEU in near future

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14:33, 2 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Tigran Sargsyan on March 1 met with India’s Ambassador to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma, the EEC said, reports Armenpress.

“India’s economic development is really impressive. We suppose that the stable growth will change the country’s positions in the world economy in qualitative terms. Moreover, India is a big market. Our enterprises would like to have a broader representation there. We are also interested for the Indian entrepreneurs to be more active in the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)”, the EEC Board Chairman said.

During the meeting the Ambassador stated that the Indian side is interested in signing an agreement with the EAEU in the near future. He stated that India has a dynamic and positive partnership with all countries of the Union.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenian army equipped with new drones of local production

Kanayan Tamar
News.am, Armenia
Feb 15 2019
Armenian army equipped with new drones of local production Armenian army equipped with new drones of local production

15:28, 15.02.2019
                  

YEREVAN. – The Armenian armed forces are equipped with new Armenia-produced drones.

According to information obtained by Armenian News-NEWS.am, another stage of supplying the military units with improved ARMI-55M drones is underway.

The upgraded aircraft has extensive capabilities for piloting and reconnaissance. During one flight,  UAV can cover a distance of 400–500 kilometers. The maximum range of communication with the operator is 100 kilometers. If need be, reconnaissance can be conducted in the depths of the enemy’s territory 150–200 kilometers far.

The development of new generation drones, including weapon-equipped drones, has started. 

President denies reports about cooperating with a political party

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 16 2019

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian does not cooperate with any Armenian political force, press department at the President Office said in a released statement, after relevant reports circulated in the press.

“One of the Armenian media outlets has published another disinformation about the president of the republic and his activity, claiming the Armenian president has own interests in the political arena and allegedly cooperates with one of political forces,” the statement read.

The press department of the president slams the report as ‘imaginary and having no touch with reality.’

“President Armen Sarkissian has no party affiliation, no interests in the political field and does not cooperate with any party,” the statement read, adding however, within his capacities, and upon necessity Sarkissian holds meetings with parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces. 

“We call on our partners to avoid the consistent efforts of disseminating disinformation,” the statement concluded.

To remind, earlier of one Armenian newspapers cited own sources, claiming President Sarkissian holds regular consultations with members of Bright Armenia party –  the third largest fraction in the Armenian parliament.

The government aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2023

Kanayan Tamar
  • 06.02.2019

    •  

  • Armenia:

    •  

  • arm

1
 64

The government aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2023. This is stated in the government program.


The section dedicated to poverty alleviation of the project states: “The policy of the Government to improve the standard of living and the social condition of citizens, to implement social rights fully and effectively, will be based on the principle of equal opportunities and encouraging work. The primary tool for overcoming poverty is work, creating real opportunities for work.


The government aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2023, to significantly reduce poverty. Encouraging education and work among the poor, as well as implementing programs that promote business, will be of key importance for the realization of this goal.


The implementation of the integrated social services system will increase the efficiency of the management of the social protection system, as well as the quality of social services, which will be ensured in accordance with the social needs of the family (person), by providing a multi-faceted and complete package of social services and by strengthening the professional abilities of the staff. Encouraging the entry of private organizations in the field of social services, a competitive environment will be created, alternative financing models will be introduced, and the diversity of social services will be promoted.


Measures will be taken to ensure the availability and accessibility of social services by expanding the range of services provided online. The service delivery procedures will be improved, and the range of information (data) automatically obtained and used from other information systems will be expanded.


State pensions will be regularly increased, ensuring progressive growth of the average pension in relation to inflation. The cumulative component will also be reformed, encouraging the investment of cumulative funds in the Republic of Armenia.


The focus of the government’s attention will be the expansion of women’s economic opportunities, as well as the creation of favorable conditions for the realization of equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men.


Increasing the addressability of state employment regulation programs, introducing new programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness of young people, persons with disabilities, and women in the labor market, promoting “education-labour market” interactions, filling vacancies available at employers, and as a result, reducing the unemployment rate.


In order to implement the right to decent work, the mechanisms for regulating labor relations will be continuously simplified, they will comply with the requirements set by international agreements, and also, taking into account the macro-economic indicators of the country, a continuous increase of the minimum monthly salary will be carried out. The government is determined to significantly reduce unemployment by 2023.


In the context of further reforms of the institutional, operational and legal foundations of the inspection system for the protection of workers’ rights, the introduction of a complete and effective state control system over the fulfillment of the requirements of the labor legislation will be ensured, and the role of trade unions will be increased.


Reaffirming consistent efforts to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, the Government will continue to take all necessary measures to exclude discrimination based on disability in all spheres of life.


The government will be consistent in preventing children from entering orphanages, returning them to their families, as well as smoothly organizing the process of organizing the independent life of young people leaving the orphanage.


In order to mitigate the negative trends of the demographic situation recorded in the previous period, new programs for encouraging birth and supporting young families with children will be developed and implemented, within the framework of which, as necessary, existing programs will also be reviewed. Targeted programs will also be developed for repatriated families, giving priority to young families with children.


One of the most important goals of the government’s activity will be to inventory the housing problems of the families living in shacks until now as a result of the catastrophic earthquake of 1988, with the aim of providing apartments to families in need of housing as a result of the earthquake in the shortest possible time.

Discussions on change of gas tariff continue: Gazprom Armenia not in a hurry to present details

Kanayan Tamar

Discussions on change of gas tariff continue: Gazprom Armenia not in a hurry to present details

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12:17, 6 February, 2019

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Discussions are being held at all directions in connection with the change of gas tariff supplied to Armenia, Vakhtang Mirumyan – deputy director general of the Gazprom Armenia CJSC, told reporters after the session of the Public Services Regulatory Commission. He stated that as long as the discussions are not over, he cannot provide information about the change of the gas price and the subsequent developments, reports Armenpress.

“The press service of the Gazprom Armenia CJSC has issued a respective statement in regards to the gas tariff. There is no other information yet. Whether debt is accumulated or not, how the financial-economic activity must be carried out, I cannot say anything at this moment, all issues are currently being discussed. Moreover, these discussions are being carried out at all directions, including investment, capital renovations programs, losses and etc. The goal is to avoid harming the company’s activity, as well as leading to undesirable consequences”, he said.

Mirumyan informed that Gazprom Armenia CJSC is engaged in the discussions and is actively cooperating both with the Public Services Regulatory Commission and the authorized bodies of the energy field. As for the discussion timetables, he said two months are scheduled, but with the possibility to be extended.

Gazprom CJSC increased the gas price supplied to Armenia from 150 USD to 165 USD starting from January 1, 2019. Following this Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the gas tariff for the domestic consumer will not increase, noting that the Armenian government will continue the talks with the Gazprom Armenia CJSC to reach a final agreement.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Stepan Shakaryan: I am for national jazz (video)

Kanayan Tamar
  • 19:09 | February 6,2019 | Social
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

Our folk music is has lot of jazz in it. This is the opinion of composer Stepan Shakaryan.

“We can have our type of jazz with the ideas of composer. Our dhol player, for example, are hitting rhythms that are close to jazz. It’s not necessary that the worn and kamancha be the Armenian music,  jazz can be Armenian music as well,” says the composer. In his assessment, it is necessary to propagandize the national jazz right. “If you’re a jazzman, you know jazz, if you’re a composer, you know the composer’s work, then you can make creative ideas. I am for national jazz.”