Author: Karapet Navasardian

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau issued a statement mourning the loss of the leader of the defense of the Armenian neighborhoods of Aleppo, unger Raffi Bchakjian, who was killed in a rocket attack on June 10, while on duty. Bchakjian was born in 1961, the reports.

In recent weeks, Aleppo’s Armenian-populated districts have been under attack. Several civilians have been reported killed between May 26 and June 10, including Maral Guligian, Vazken Jabaghchourian, Levon Kelkhacherian, Hovsep Janessian, Khatchig Aboulaboutian, and Betty Nersessian.

The attacks, which have reportedly come from militant opposition groups, have injured several civilians and destroyed many buildings, including homes and stores. On May 26-27, the Vergine Gulbenkian Birthing Center-Hospital, which had served as a senior citizen’s home during the war, was extensively damaged in a rocket attack. As a result of the attack, the senior citizens of the center were relocated for the third time since 2012.

Leading members of the Armenian diaspora and those interested in technology companies and startups in Armenia convene today at the at Synopsys in Mountain View, according to

The daylong gathering provides an opportunity to network, share ideas and identify investment opportunities in Armenia with CEOs, venture capitalists, academics, and entrepreneurs. The Forum is organized within the framework of the ArmTech Congress and held under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Between 2008 and 2013 Armenia saw 22% growth in its technology sector year-over-year, and continues to foster startups and talent through education initiatives as well as recently adopted legislation designed to make launching and growing a startup, incubator, accelerator, or research organization much easier.

Sponsors of the event include Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, the Union of Information and Technology Enterprises, the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies, and PicsArt, a photo app company with 65 million active users founded by two Armenian entrepreneurs. Organizers include the Government of the Republic of Armenia, ArmTech Congress, CEED, World Bank Group, Synopsys, and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF).

The four panel discussions at the Forum will address critical issues including:

• The IT Industry in Armenia Recent Developments and Success Stories
• Building an Ecosystem for Global Startups and Connecting to Global Markets
• Challenges and Opportunities of Investing in Armenia
• The Role of Education in Unlocking Startup Talent

“This year the forum will focus on the progress and successes of our organizations and startups, especially in the U.S. market,” said Bagrat Yengibaryan Ph.D., Director of the EIF. “We’re going to discuss the importance of education and explore the challenges for the further development of the IT sector in Armenia,” he continued.

“The goal of the Forum is to let the world know Armenia is open for business,” said Peter Righi, CEED Global Director. “Armenia is no longer just an outsourcing market. It’s a growing hub of innovation with world-class IT talent and it’s critical to show what the Armenian government and private sector has done to grow the sector and prepare companies to plug in to the global marketplace. Today gives us the venue to showcase some of the talented people at the forefront of this trend.”

Photo: AFP

 

A huge monument has been discovered buried under the sands at the Petra World Heritage site in southern Jordan, the reports.

Archaeologists used satellite images, drone photography and ground surveys to locate the find, according to the study published in the American Schools of Oriental Research.

The large platform is about as long as an Olympic swimming pool and twice as wide.

Researchers say it is unlike any other structure at the ancient site.

The study, by Sarah Parcak of the University of Birmingham, and Christopher Tuttle, executive director of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, describes the find as “hiding in plain sight”.

Petra dates back to the fourth century BC, when it was founded by the Nabataean civilization, who inhibited parts of what is now Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Surface pottery suggests the platform was built in the mid-second century BC, when Petra was at its peak.

It is thought the structure may have had a ceremonial purpose.

The survey also revealed a smaller platform was contained inside the larger one, which was once lined with columns on one side with a vast staircase on the other.

On 8 June Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan had a meeting with a group of representatives of the Belgian Armenian community, NKR President’s Press Office reported.

A range of issues related to Artsakh domestic and foreign policy were touched upon during the meeting.

The President pointed out that the Armenian community in Belgium had always played an active role in supporting the Homeland, voicing his hope that such a patriotic activity would expand over the years.

In 2016 on May 30^th in the framework of World Stamp Show NY-2016  a stamped souvenir sheet  dedicated to the  “Sport. 31^st Summer Olympic Games “Rio-2016″” was canceled and put into circulation.

The souvenir sheet depicts the panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro. The stamp of the s/sheet depicts the famous Copacabana beach of Rio de Janeiro, with the images of some of the sports which Armenia will present during 31^st Summer Olympic Games..

The official cancellation ceremony was carried out by Armenia’s permanent representative to the United Nations  Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and the Managing Director of “HayPost Trust Management”   Juan Pablo Gechidjian.

HayPost is taking part in the biggest international philatelic exhibition: World Stamp Show – NY 2016

World Stamp Show -NY 2016 is a major once-a-decade eight day international philatelic exhibition which will take place May 28 through June 4 in New York, USA.

More than 120 philatelic associations and organizations and over 50 national postal operators from all over the world are taking part in the event. HayPost participates at such a major exhibition for the first time and presents Armenian philately in a strategically situated boot, thus bringing recognition to Armenia and Armenian philately. At the event Armenian stamp issuances from 2013 -2016 are presented.

 

 

 

Armenia should set two precondition for the resumption on Karabakh talks – respect for ceasefire and Artsakh’s return to the negotiating table, Head of the ARF faction Armen Rustamyan told a parliamentary briefing.

According to him, meetings do not mean negotiations as long as Artsakh is not involved in talks.

“Speaking about concessions would be a crude mistake at a time, when Azerbaijan is not speaking about any concessions at all,” he said.

Levon Zurabyan, Head of the Armenian National Congression faction, said, in turn, that the most important at this point is to achieve peace rather than discuss the issue of territories.

The annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Lecture, organised by the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (AIHGS) in remembrance of the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, will feature the launch the book “Armenia, Australia & The Great War” and will take place on May 17 from at NSW Parliament House, the Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.

Co-authors of “Armenia, Australia & The Great War”, Vicken Babkenian and Professor Peter Stanley will address the audience, along with NSW State Treasurer, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP.

As conducted in previous years, a Wreath Laying Ceremony will first take place at the Armenian Genocide Memorial “Khatchkar” in the Peace Garden of Level 9 in NSW Parliament House.

Later, inside the Theatrette, Vicken Babkenian will address the audience, before moving on to the official launch of“Armenia, Australia & The Great War”, which will feature a Panel Discussion with the Authors, chaired by Gladys Berejiklian.

At the conclusion of the event, copies of “Armenia, Australia & The Great War” will be available for purchase. There will also be a chance for the co-authors to sign the books.

“The Armenian government’s approval of the opinion on the draft law on recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic will have a positive influence on the maintenance of peace in the region and will help resume talks,” Spokesman for the NKR President David Babayan told Interfax.

“We attach importance to the approval of the bill in the context of peace in the region. Armenia thus made it clear to the world, and first of all Azerbaijan, that in case the military actions resume, the independence of NKR will be recognized,” he said.

According to Babayan, this is an important step for maintaining peace and “break the deadlock” in the negotiation process.

“The negotiations will continue and the bill will contribute to the revitalization of talks,” he added.

David Babayan clarified that “speaking about a final recognition is still untimely, but the process has started.”

Russia considers that military contacts between Baku and Yerevan are possible, there is no talk about a high-level summit, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich has said, TASS reports.

“I have not heard anything about preparations for such a meeting. The recent escalation has considerably delayed the dialogue between the parties,” he said.

“Nevertheless, it became possible to cease hostilities thanks to Russian mediation. Most likely, there will be contacts between the military leaderships.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs may come forth with a report on the situation in Karabakh, Lukashevich declared.

“The Co-Chairs met with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on April 20 and briefed on the situation. They visited the region April 6-9 and are expected to present a report on future steps in Vienna,” Lukashevich said.

The NKR  Foreign Minitry issued the following statement today;

Following the large-scale aggression against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) in 2-5 April this year, the Azerbaijani authorities continue their efforts to bring the peaceful settlement process of the conflict to a final breakdown and transfer it into a military domain. Azerbaijan`s attempts to unilaterally denounce the tripartite agreement on the ceasefire of May 12, 1994 atthe UN and the OSCE come to prove this. Along with that the Azerbaijani side resorts to its traditional practice of fraud and manipulation, trying to lay the blame on the Armenian side, and thereby avoid liability for unleashing a war.

In this regard, we consider it necessary to remind that the agreement of 12 May 1994, concluded between the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia for an indefinite term is the only real achievement in the settlement process of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. Thanks to this very agreement the foundations for peaceful negotiations were laid and conditions for the activity of mediators in finding a fair and final solution to the conflict created.

Sharing the point of view of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs that this agreement, as well as the agreement of February 1995, form the basis of the cease-fire and its strengthening, we believe it is extremely important to consolidate the position of the international community and the mediator-states to take effective and urgent measures in forcing Azerbaijan to comply with the commitments taken within the framework of these agreements.

The NKR MFA strongly condemns any attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to reconsider these agreements, regarding them as an overt intention of Azerbaijan to unleash a new war, and insists on the full restoration of the ceasefire regime established in May 1994.

To guarantee  the security of the NKR and its population, as well as topromotepeace and stability in the region, the NKR authorities will take diplomatic and other possible measures to safeguard the full implementation of the agreements of 12 May 1994 and 06 February 1995 as well as to exclude the possibility of the development of the situation bythe criminal scenario hatched by the Azerbaijani leadership.