Mary Lazarian – Page 61 – Armenian Directory & News

ANCA urges inquiry into sale of U.S.-made copters to Azerbaijan

June 24, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

PanArmenian, Armenia

– 13:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Committee of America on Friday, June 22 called upon the bipartisan leadership of key Senate and House oversight committees to investigate potential violations of U.S. arms export laws in connection with published reports that Azerbaijan will showcase U.S.-made Bell 412 helicopters at its June 26th military parade.

In letters sent to Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Adam Smith (D-WA) of the House Armed Services Committee, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian requested – “in the interest of ensuring compliance with U.S. laws… a definitive explanation of any and all statutory restrictions, Executive Branch prohibitions, and other policies and practices regarding the direct or third-party sale or transfer of military or potentially dual-use U.S. equipment or technology to Azerbaijan.” The letter also sought clarification of the review process for such sales/transfers, a listing of past or pending sales or transfers, and an update on any investigations of potentially illegal sales or transfers to Azerbaijan.

“News of Azerbaijan deploying offensive U.S. arms requires a serious public spotlight and strong Congressional oversight,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director. “This is a bright line: The U.S. government must keep American arms out the hands of Azerbaijan’s rabidly anti-Armenian Aliyev regime.”

Bell-412 copters are produced by Bell Helicopter, an American aerospace manufacturer, and it is unclear how they reached Baku, given the U.S. embargo on weapons sale to Azerbaijan.

In the fall of 1992, the U.S. Congress banned non-humanitarian economic aid and weapons sales to Azerbaijan by adopting Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

An old contract fpr the new premier

June 24, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)

Friday

AN OLD CONTRACT FOR THE NEW PREMIER

Ivan Safronov, Alexandra Djordjevic

Source: Kommersant, June 19, 2018, p. 6

Shortly before the change of power in Armenia, its Ministry of Defense postponed the issue of purchasing Russian multifunctional Su-30SM fighters until 2024. The contract, implying the delivery of at least one squadron to the Armenian Air Force, was signed in 2012, but never came into force due to the financial difficulties of the customer. Russia expects to implement the agreement with the new leadership of Armenia.

Discussions on Armenia’s intention to acquire Su-30SM were resumed after Nikol Pashinyan posted a photo in his Facebook, where he is in the cockpit of the plane located at Erebuni military airport (where is 3624th Russian airbase is located).

As several top managers of the aviation industry said, the Armenian military began to show interest in the Su-30SMM in 2010. In addition to planes (in Moscow, they tried to solve the financial problem of Yerevan by allowing it to purchase the planes for domestic, rather than export prices), Armenia needed to purchase other weapons, too. Thus, for example, Yerevan became the first export recipient of the Iskander tactical missile system division, and it also acquired $300 million worth weapons at the expense of Russian loans.

Moscow expects to proceed with the implementation of the contract as soon as possible: it is necessary to provide the Irkutsk Aircraft Building Plant with orders until 2022 (otherwise, the production of the Su-30SM is planned to be curtailed and to bet on Su-35, which is serially produced at the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur).

Expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Konstantin Makienko believes that “the supplies of modern combat aircraft systems can provoke Azerbaijan to purchase Western fighters.” Similar precedents have already happened: in response to the Iskanderdeliveries of to Yerevan, Baku purchased Belarusian Polonez rocket launcher systems. Therefore, these deliveries should be balanced by the offer of Su-35 fighters to Azerbaijan, the expert notes.

[Translated from Russian]

Anna Chobanyan-one of most likely candidates for new Head of General Department of Civil Aviation

June 18, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

ARMINFO News Agency
June 14, 2018 Thursday
Anna Chobanyan-one of most likely candidates for new Head of General
Department of Civil Aviation
Yerevan June 14
Naira Badalyan. Anna Chobanyan is one of the most likely candidates
for the position of new head of General Department of Civil Aviation,
ArmInfo's sources in the Department inform.
To recall, on June 8, 2018 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan
signed a decree on the resignation of the Head of the General
Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia, Sergey Avetisyan. Ironically,
exactly two years ago he was appointed to this post by the decision of
the then Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan. Prior to that,
Sergey Avetisyan held the post of Deputy Minister of Economy of
Armenia, where he supervised the aviation sector. Anna Chobanyan also
worked there as head of the Civil Aviation Administration. After
Avetisyan's appointment, she, after the chief, moved to the Department
receiving the post of the head of the air traffic regulation
department.
Meanwhile, since working in the Ministry, Avetisyan and Chobanyan have
been actively promoting the idea of an "open sky". Already in the
Department of Civil Aviation, responding tocriticism on policy of
non-action to local air carriers and "zero" restrictions for foreign
airlines, she stated that this is stipulated by the policy of the
so-called "open skies". " The 'open sky ' policy does not envisage
assistance from the state to any airline, whether local, Russian or
European," Chobanyan was declaring, adding a very dubious thesis that
allegedly "even in European countries assistance of this kind is not
provided, as they have liberal regime for all airlines. "
To recall, the national air carrier of Armenia - Armavia - suspended
its flights on 1 April 2013 and launched the bankruptcy procedure. In
2014 the same happened to Air Armenia.
On October 23, 2013, the Armenian government approved the program
implying provision of competitive and long- term air transportation
services in the country. The program is based on a joint study of
McKinsey & Company and National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.
According to the program Open Skies policy would have positive impact
on opening of job places, growth of passenger transportation and
reduction of tariffs. Particularly, it was anticipated that the Open
Skies policy would reduce the prices of flights to Armenia by 10% on
the average, would lead to opening of 18.000-23.000 new jobs, growth
of passenger turnover by 20- 25%. According to the plan this would
allow the country to additionally increase the GDP by 1.5% or $0.3-0.4
bln AMD per annum. Nothing of that happened. Armenia being blocked by
neighbors does not have its national airline and considering the
possible appointment it will not have any in the nearest future.

Armenian Assembly Concludes Successful Board Elections

June 16, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:

Contact: Danielle
Saroyan

Telephone:
(202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

ARMENIAN
ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL BOARD ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At its Trustees meeting in Philadelphia in
April 2018 as part of the weekend honoring Peter and Irene Vosbikian, the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) reviewed its budget and activities as
well as approved the Board slate presented, which consisted of the following
members: Aram A. Gavoor, Bianka Kadian-Dodov, Robert A. Kaloosdian,* Alex
Karapetian, Carolyn G. Mugar,* Lu Ann Ohanian,* Toros Sahakian, Joyce Stein,*
Oscar S. Tatosian, and Annie Totah.* They will serve a four-year term,
effective January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2021. Those Members not up
for re-election served as the Nominating Committee and included Co-Chairmen
Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian, Assistant Secretary Lisa Kalustian, and
Talin Yacoubian.

During the
Assembly’s Board meeting, which was also held in conjunction with the weekend’s
sold out Philadelphia Celebration, the Board unanimously confirmed the
following officers: Anthony Barsamian (MA), Co-Chairman; Van Krikorian (NY),
Co-Chairman; Carolyn Mugar (MA), President; Robert A. Kaloosdian (MA),
Counselor; Bianka Kadian-Dodov (NY), Treasurer; Oscar Tatosian (IL), Secretary;
and Lisa Kalustian (CA), Assistant Secretary; with former Board Member Mark
Momjian (PA) to continue to serve as Solicitor.

“We
thank the Armenian Assembly of America’s Board of Trustees for all of their
hard work and dedication for the past two years, and look forward to their
vision for the future,” Assembly Co-Chairs Barsamian and Krikorian stated.
“We would especially like to express our gratitude to outgoing members
Hirair Hovnanian, a pillar of the Assembly since its founding days, as well as
Edele Hovnanian who served in numerous capacities throughout the years,
including as Treasurer and Vice President. We also greatly appreciate the
perspective that Raffi Kassarjian brought to the Board as well from his vantage
point in Armenia,” they concluded.

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.

###

NR# 2018-026

*Life
Trustee slate: Robert A. Kaloosdian, Carolyn G. Mugar, Lu Ann Ohanian, Joyce
Stein, and Annie Totah.

Available
online at:

Yerevan reacted to reports from Baku regarding "liberation of 11 thousand hectares in the direction of Nakhijevan"

June 10, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

Arminfo, Armenia

June 9 2018

Yerevan reacted to reports from Baku regarding “liberation of 11 thousand hectares in the direction of Nakhijevan”

Yerevan June 9

Mariana Mkrtchyan. Official Yerevan reacted to the reports of Azeri media regarding the allegedly “liberated 11 thousand hectares in the direction of Nakhijevan.”

“Why so modest? Announce about 110,000 hectares. Someone eager to confirm and like.” Armenian Foreign Ministry Secretary Tigran Balayan twitted.

Earlier, Azeri media spread information that supposedly in late May, the Gunnut village located around important strategic heights was captured and local residents returned to their homes and visited the graves of deceased relatives. “The National Army occupied the mountain Gunnut, Gyzylgaya and Mehridag, Agbulag hill, village of Arpa in Daralayaz. In overall 11 thousand hectares are under control, more than 8000 ha of which is arable. The greatest strategically important height located at an altitude of 1683 meters above sea level which allows to keep under control the village Gunnut Sharur hill Gyzylgaya is that it allows our military to control the highway Yerevan-Yeghegnadzor-Goris-Lachin- In order to protect the territory, a new road with a length of 50 km has been completed, and roads with a total length of over 50 km have been reconstructed,” the Azeri propaganda lied.

Meanwhile, according to Artsrun Hovhannisyan, press secretary of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, on June 6 and 7, the Azeri side appealed to the command of the Armed Forces, with a request to allow some of its citizens to approach the cemetery located in the south of the ruins of the village of Gunnut. “This is the first time that the Azeri side has requested this on this site: the Armenian side, while remaining committed to humanitarian norms and always taking steps to reduce tension, agreed and allowed the peaceful residents to approach the cemetery for a short period,” Hovhannisyan said.

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister visits frontline units (PHOTO)

June 2, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

1 June 2018 16:32 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 1

Trend:

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and the leadership of the Defense Ministry visited frontline military units in accordance with the instructions of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message.

Hasanov checked the combat readiness of military units, observed the positions of the enemy and gave relevant instructions.

During a meeting with the command staff of the army corpses, the minister emphasized that weapons and military equipment newly transferred to service of the Azerbaijani Army have full compliance with modern standards.

He noted that the process of procurement of various weapons would continue in the future.

Evaluating the situation on the line of confrontation with the enemy, Hasanov conveyed to the military personnel the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the upcoming tasks, as well as the instructions related to the immediate suppression of any provocation of the enemy.

The servicemen, in turn, expressed their readiness for the speedy liberation of the occupied territories.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Nikol Pashinyan announced the beginning of environmental inspections at mines and mineral deposits in Armenia

May 25, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

Arminfo, Armenia

Nikol Pashinyan announced the beginning of environmental inspections at mines and mineral deposits in Armenia

Yerevan May 23

Ani Mshetsyan. “In the near future, I will instruct the authorities to start inspections on the exploited mines and mineral deposits in Armenia,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on his Facebook page.

He noted that recently there have been a lot of signals about the compliance of these mines with the legislation and environmental standards of the country. “We will be consistent in this matter, recently, both in the whole world and in Armenia environmental problems are actively discussed, and a balanced approach is needed in this issue, as well as in a number of others,” the prime minister said, stressing that only with this approach will not manage to bring the matter to negative consequences, including those related to investments.

Pashinyan also noted that recently he receives signals that some developers of mines do not fulfill their financial obligations. “We have information that the debts of these companies on the state budget are several hundred million drams,” Pashinyan said, adding that the checks will be carried out on all metal fields, “the prime minister said or another mine or some company can not organize its activities within the law, then the corresponding legal consequences will follow. “The Armenian government also decided to invite environmental organizations and journalists to take part in the inspections to ensure their full transparency,” concluded Pashinyan.

The sphere of mining industry occupies a special place in the Armenian economy. At least half of the materials exported from Armenia fall on the share of ore concentrates and metals, which occupy the most important place in the list of products imported from the country. The State Balance of Mineral Resources currently includes more than 670 deposits of solid minerals with proven reserves, including 30 metal deposits. About 400 of these deposits are exploited, including 22 metal ones. There are 7 copper- molybdenum deposits, 4 copper, 14 gold and gold-polymetallic deposits, 2 iron ore and 1 aluminum ore on metallic minerals. In the ore of the deposits registered in the State Balance, in addition to the basic metals, rare elements and their placers have been identified: rhenium, selenium, tellurium, cadmium, indium, helium, waist, bismuth and others.

Currently, for the mining and metallurgical complex of Armenia the final products are mainly concentrates (copper, molybdenum, zinc, in some cases – high in gold and silver, in the near future – also lead concentrate), which does not allow to fully exploit the economic potential of deposits. The organization of production for processing of minerals mined in Armenia in a closed and final cycle – from extraction to the creation of finished products, will give an opportunity to obtain products with high cost, which will ensure GDP growth.

There are 15 tailing dumps on the territory of Armenia, where waste accumulated during the exploitation of mineral deposits exceeding a few million cubic meters and accumulating about 700 hectares has been accumulated. Currently, industrial wastes accumulated in tailing dumps formed as a result of industrial extraction and processing of minerals are not used, although they contain a considerable amount of polymetals.

The Republic of Armenia occupies one of the leading places in the world for the richness and diversity of nonmetallic ore reserves. Almost all known ore minerals are found on the small territory of Armenia. Minerals originating in Armenia as a result of volcanic processes, including light rocks such as tuffs, perlites, pumice, zeolites, volcanic slags, etc., are of special value and importance. Huge quantities of reserves of various types of basalt, granite, nepheline syenite, marble. Reserves of the highest quality and the most intumescent rocks (perlites, obsidians and others) are in the world in Armenia. The confirmed reserves of the Aragats-perlite in Armenia are 150 million m3, and the total amount of its projected reserves is up to 3 billion m3. More than 100 basalt and andesite deposits are mapped over the whole territory of Armenia, several of which are unique in their composition (MgO content in basalta from Khalaja reaches up to 11%). The deposits of quartzites, carbonates, zeolites, volcanic slags, pumice, clay, bentonites, diatomites, and gypsum with their significant reserves are invaluable in terms of their significance and qualitative indicators.

168: Movses Hakobyan to be relieved from position of Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces

May 25, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

| 11:32 | May 24 2018

Armenia attorney general: I would suggest we don’t use the term “political prisoner”

May 23, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

News.am, Armenia

Armenia attorney general: I would suggest we don’t use the term “political prisoner” Armenia attorney general: I would suggest we don’t use the term “political prisoner”

13:06, 23.05.2018

YEREVAN. – I would suggest that we do not use the term “political prisoner.”

The Prosecutor General of Armenia, Artur Davtyan, stated the aforesaid during Wednesday’s National Assembly debates regarding the report on the 2017 activities of the Prosecutor General’s Office. He noted this with respect to considering as “political prisoners” several people who are still incarcerated in the country.

“I would formulate in a way that there is a view that the accusations against them are not substantiated, or are unlawful,” he added, in particular. “All those cases are now in the court proceedings; justice is carried out.

“We are ready to discuss and see what new solutions can be given to the problems in this situation.

“Change of the situation [in Armenia] should be comprehensible. We had criminal cases where people were preparing to carry out mass disorders, presenting demands to the state, the officials; [but] we don’t have those officials today.

“They were making calls for continuing the demands, with weapons. But there has been a change in the situation; a specific person’s danger to the public has reduced.”

“Ain’t the PM of my dream, but I got his back in any negotiation”, Vice Speaker Sharmazanov on Pashinyan

May 23, 2018March 12, 2026 Mary Lazarian

| 16:14 | May 22 2018