Yerevan to have new street sweepers soon
09:37, 2 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. New street sweepers (machine that cleans streets) will soon operate in Yerevan, Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan said on Facebook, releasing a video.
“These street sweepers will soon start cleaning Yerevan’s avenues and main streets helping our sanitation staff. Of course, this is yet the beginning. We will have more of these cars in the future”, the Mayor said.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Wednesday,
Serzh Sarkisian’s Trial To Start On February 25
• Naira Nalbandian
• Marine Khachatrian
Armenia -- President Serzh Sarkisian (R) and Agriculture Minister Sergo
Karapetian (L) visit Armavir province, April 7, 2011.
Armenia’s former President Serzh Sarkisian will go on trial next Tuesday on
corruption charges which he rejects as politically motivated.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) charged Sarkisian in early December with
organizing the “embezzlement by a group of officials” of 489 million drams (just
over $1 million) in government funds allocated in 2013 for the provision of
subsidized diesel fuel to farmers.
The SIS claimed that Sarkisian interfered in a government tender for the fuel
supplier to ensure that it is won by a company belonging to his longtime friend,
businessman Barsegh Beglarian, rather than another fuel importer that offered a
lower price. It also indicted Barseghian, former Agriculture Minister Sergo
Karapetian, his former deputy Samvel Galstian and another former government
official.
All five suspects deny any wrongdoing. None of them has been held in pre-trial
detention.
Galatian’s lawyer, Vachagan Kosian, said on Wednesday that during the trial he
will petition the court to throw out the accusations leveled against his client.
He claimed that the latter is unfairly prosecuted for only relaying a “verbal
order” issued by Karapetian to another Agriculture Ministry official.
Karapetian headed the ministry during the alleged embezzlement. The high-profile
criminal case is reportedly based on his incriminating testimony against
Sarkisian and Beglarian.
According to Beglarian’s lawyer, Nikolay Hakobian, the ex-minister stood by that
testimony when he and the wealthy businessman were brought face to face and
interrogated by the SIS earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hakobian described as “baseless”
investigators’ claims that his client “prodded” Sarkisian to have the fuel
supply contract awarded to his firm.
Sarkisian’s lawyers and the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)
still headed by the 65-year-old ex-president strongly deny the embezzlement
charges. They say that he is prosecuted in retaliation for his public criticism
of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Sarkisian, who ruled Armenia from 2008-2018, accused Pashinian’s government of
jeopardizing democracy and stifling dissent in a November 20 speech at a
congress of the European People’s Party held in Croatia. He had kept a low
profile since resigning in April 2018 amid mass protests against his continued
rule led by Pashinian.
Pashinian has repeatedly implicated Sarkisian, his family and political
entourage in corruption both before and after coming to power in the “Velvet
Revolution.”
Senior Military Officials Sacked
Armenia -- Generals Artur Baghdasarian (C) and Aleksan Aleksanian (second from
right) at a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Yerevan, February 17,
2020.
The chief of Armenia’s military police and another army general were dismissed
on Wednesday following a spate of non-combat deaths of soldiers.
President Armen Sarkissian fired Major-General Artur Baghdasarian and
Major-General Aleksan Aleksanian in separate decrees requested by Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian.
Baghdasarian has headed the military police since May 2017. He was promoted to
the rank of army general as recently as on January 24.
For his part, Aleksanian was the chief of an Armenian army department tasked
with monitoring and maintaining military morale. He had been appointed to that
post last November.
Pashinian promised major “personnel-related decisions” after meeting with
Armenia’s top military and law-enforcement officials on Monday to discuss recent
weeks’ increase in the number of soldiers dying in non-combat circumstances.
The Armenian military has reported 13 such deaths since the beginning of this
year. Eight of these soldiers have died in accidents and other circumstances not
related to their military service.
The five other victims are believed to have committed suicide or been shot dead
by other servicemen in separate incidents investigated by law-enforcement
authorities. The shootings have caused outrage in Armenia and cast a renewed
spotlight on the chronic problem of hazing and other abuses in the army ranks.
The chief of the army’s General Staff, Lieutenant-General Artak Davtian, on
Tuesday briefed lawmakers on ongoing efforts to root out the “criminal
subculture” and strengthen discipline in the army ranks. Speaking after that
meeting, he confirmed that “personnel changes” within the top army brass are
imminent.
Davtian also said that a number of other officers have already been demoted or
discharged from the armed forces this month because of the non-combat
fatalities. He expressed confidence that military investigators will identify
those directly responsible for them.
Pashinian stressed on Tuesday that the number of non-combat deaths among
Armenian military personnel fell to a “historical low” last year. “Our objective
is to maintain this dynamic,” he wrote on Facebook.
Armenian Tax Audits ‘Far More Effective In 2019’
Armenia -- The entrance to the State Revenue Committee headquarters in Yerevan,
November 29, 2018.
Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) said on Wednesday that it more than
doubled last year the total amount of additional taxes collected as a result of
tax audits.
The head of the government agency, Davit Ananian, stressed that it achieved the
sharp increase despite reducing the number of the audits of company accounts by
12.5 percent.
“In 1,020 audits conducted in 2019, we mandated the payment of 83 billion drams
($174 million) in additional sums,” the Armenpress news agency quoted Ananian as
telling journalists.
By contrast, he said, the SRC conducted in 2018 1,166 audits but raised only
about 36 billion drams as a result.
The SRC’s overall tax receipts rose by 16 percent, to just over 1.5 trillion
drams ($3.2 billion), last year. Government officials say this sizable increase
was made possible by SRC’s continued efforts to improve tax administration and
combat tax evasion. Faster economic growth recorded in Armenia also contributed
to it.
During such audits companies inspected by the SRC are allowed to adjust their
revenues and avoid penalties. They will risk criminal proceedings if tax
inspectors suspect them of deliberately underreporting their earnings.
One of Ananian’s deputies, Eduard Hovannisian, said in December that the SRC is
now conducting 330 criminal investigations into suspected instances of serious
tax fraud.
The Armenian government’s tax revenues are projected to reach almost 1.7
trillion drams (US$3.6 billion) this year.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
08:53,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin on February 13. At the meeting the sides will discuss the bilateral relations, economic policy, as well as issues relating to the foreign policy and security. The Armenian PM will also take part in the Munich Security Conference which will take place on February 14-16.
ARMENPRESS is presenting a brief information and statistics on the Armenia-Germany political and economic relations.
Armenia and Germany established diplomatic relations in January 1992. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties Armenia has conducted over two dozen official visits to the Federal Republic of Germany at the president, prime minister and foreign minister level. Starting from 1995 there have been official visits from Germany to Armenia at the level of the Bundestag president, the deputy PM and the federal foreign minister. Since Armenia’s independence the German Chancellor paid the first visit to Armenia in 2018 after a power change in Armenia.
Pashinyan-Merkel meeting
In July 2018, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan had informal meetings with the leaders of a number of countries, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The next meeting came shortly, and this time within the frames of a historic visit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Armenia on an official visit on August 24. She was welcomed by PM Pashinyan at the Zvartnots international airport. After the welcoming ceremony Chancellor Merkel visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Thereafter, Pashinyan and Merkel held high-level Armenian-German talks in Yerevan where they discussed broad range of issues relating to the bilateral relations. In particular, they discussed the ongoing programs in the economy’s different branches, as well as the prospects of new joint initiatives.
“This visit is taking place after great changes in Armenia: the more unexpected it was for us, the more positive it was for your country. We are interested in further developing our relations with Armenia. We know that this is a complex region and we are ready to help you being your partner in solving the problems. We are ready to boost and develop the bilateral economic ties. We are full of hope that we will be able to record new results on this path”, Chancellor Merkel said in Yerevan.
The Armenian PM and the German Chancellor also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and highlighted the settlement of the conflict through peaceful negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Pashinyan said Armenia highly appreciates Germany’s balanced position on the NK conflict and support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship format. Touching upon the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, Pashinyan highly valued the adoption of the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution by the Bundestag in 2016.
The next meeting of the two leaders again was held shortly. It took place months later, on February 1, 2019 in Berlin. Pashinyan and Merkel expressed confidence that this meeting would give a new impetus to the Armenian-German friendly partnership. Merkel said Germany is interested in developing the ties with Armenia and is ready to discuss the prospects of expanding the bilateral relations. Their discussion focused on the process of joint projects in the fields of IT, environment, as well as the possibilities for new initiatives. An agreement was reached to continue the active dialogue in the implementation of various economic programs.
Economic indicators
According to the data of the Statistical Committee, Armenia’s trade turnover with Germany in 2019 was 451.3 million USD, which increased by 4.2% compared to 2018 (432.9 million USD). In 2019 the export from Armenia to Germany comprised 69.6 million USD, which decreased by 48.9% compared to 2018 (136.1 million USD). Meanwhile, the import from Germany to Armenia according to the country of origin comprised 381.68 million USD in 2019, which increased by 28.6% compared to 2018 (296.9 million USD).
Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
On June 15, 2005 the parliament of Germany adopted a decision on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. On April 23, 2016 President of Germany Joachim Gauck (2012-2017) made a statement on the Armenian Genocide, and on June 2, 2016 the Bundestag adopted a resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
During her visit to Armenia Chancellor Merkel visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, laid flowers for the memory of the innocent victims. She also planted a fir tree at the Memorial Park.
Prepared by Anna Gziryan
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Actor-director Andy Serkis, who was honoured at the Baftas 2020 for his pioneering work on performance capture, said this form of “egalitarian” acting is a great tool for artistes going ahead in the 21st century. He was presented the Bafta for his outstanding British contribution to cinema by veteran theatre and film actor Ian McKellen.
The actor, who met with an accident while playing winter sports appeared onstage in crutches, received a standing ovation as he accepted the trophy from his “Lord of the Rings” co-star. Serkis has delivered powerhouse performances by playing computer-generated characters such as Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the revolutionary ape, Caesar in “Planet of Apes” film franchise to name a few.
The 55-year-old actor said performance/ motion capture signifies the “end of typecasting”, allowing actors to play any role they want to. “I truly believe performance capture is an egalitarian form of acting. It’s one of the great tools for actors and filmmakers of storytelling in the 21st century. It signifies the end of typecasting – anyone can play anything. It never used to be accepted as a standard industry practice, but it is now,” the actor-director said in his acceptance speech.
“So a monumental thank you to all the innovators, coders, animators, the CGI artistes, companies, and the actors who continue to develop it,” Serkis added. He thanked his wife and “favourite actor on the planet” Lorraine Ashbourne and his family in his address. Serkis also thanked “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson, the team at WETA digital who did the visual effects that transformed him into Gollum.
“Thank you to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyle for introducing me to the aforesaid spandex suit, spending many years with Ian and spending wonderful characters in your movies,” he said. In a nod to the “Planet of the Apes” team, the actor expressed gratitude to his “ape family” — Dylan Clarke, Matt Reeves, Rupert Wyatt, Terry Notary and Michael Giacchino.Serkis, who owns The Imaginarium, a production company linked to a digital performance-capture, thanked co-founder Jonathan Cavendish and team members for their contribution to the award.
Turkey remembered with respect its late distinguished diplomat Kemal Arıkan, who was the victim of an assassination on Jan. 28, 1982.
Arıkan, Turkey’s consul general in Los Angeles, was killed by Armenian terrorists affiliated with JCAG, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
“We call on the relevant U.S. Authorities not to release Hampig Sassounian, who brutally assassinated Consul General Arıkan,” said the ministry.
On Dec. 27 a California court ordered the conditional release of Sassounian, one of the assassins being Arıkan’s deliberate murder.
“Granting parole to this murderer will only serve the hands of extremists worldwide and give the message that hate crimes and terrorist attacks against foreign diplomats on duty can be pardoned,” the statement said.
The ministry also urged the international community “to show solidarity against such an outcome, which would establish an extremely dangerous precedent.”
Arıkan was shot to death 14 times by Sassounian and Krikor Saliba. Saliba escaped justice, but Sassounian was arrested and in 1984, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Since the 1970s, Armenian terror groups killed 31 Turkish diplomats and their family members.
The vast majority of the attacks were conducted by ASALA and JCAG.
The assassinations took place in the U.S., Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Iran, and the U.K.
10:28,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Kazakhstan on January 31 on a working visit, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
In Almaty, the Armenian PM will participate in the Eurasian Inter-Governmental Council session.
Bilateral meetings are also scheduled.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
18:34,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Former National Security Service Director Georgy Kutoyan committed suicide on a “[very] personal motive”, Investigations Committee Chairman Hayk Grigoryan told 1in TV.
“Georgy Kutoyan’s wife, Hasmik Bisharyan, has filed a request to the investigative body requesting us not to disclose any information about the motive of the suicide without her consent. Taking into consideration Hasmik Bisharyan’s request, I can say that the suicide was committed on a very personal motive,” Grigoryan said, noting he won’t disclose the motive because of the next-of-kin’s request.
He said more than 10 different forensic tests have been carried out, with more than 90 people being questioned and phone records investigated. Although the death of Kutoyan hasn’t yet been officially ruled suicide, investigators are currently looking into only suicide as the cause of death.
Kutoyan, who served as NSS director from 2016 to 2018, was found shot dead from a single gunshot wound in his apartment on January 17. There was a handgun near his body, and multiple bullet impact holes in the walls of the home. Investigators said Kutoyan himself erratically discharged his firearm inside the apartment before killing himself.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan