Category: 2017

Azeri Defense Chief Visits Israeli Arms Companies

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Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov

TEL AVIV (RFE/RL) – Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov visited the headquarters of Israeli defense companies and met with their top executives during an official visit to Israel, one of Azerbaijan’s main arms suppliers.

The visit comes in the wake of Israeli authorities’ decision to halt exports to Azerbaijan of “suicide” drones manufactured by an Israeli company accused of attacking an Armenian army position with them recently.

On September 14, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Hasanov familiarized himself with weapons and ammunition manufactured by “leading enterprises” of the Israeli defense industry. It did not name those firms.

In a statement cited by Azerbaijani news agencies, the ministry said Hasanov discussed with their chief executives “military-technical cooperation” between the two countries. It did not elaborate.

Hasanov met with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the start of his visit on Monday. Official Azerbaijani sources said the two men discussed bilateral ties and “regional security.” The Israeli Defense Ministry issued no statements on the talks.

Lieberman, whose party is a junior partner in Israel’s coalition government, is a staunch backer of close ties with Baku. He has repeatedly made pro-Azerbaijani statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during the International Institute for Counter Terrorism’s 17th annual conference in Herzliya on Sept. 11.

An Israeli drone manufacturer, Aeronautics Defense Systems (ADS), said late last month that the Israeli Defense Ministry’s export control agency has at least temporarily banned it from delivering a $20 million batch of Orbiter 1K unmanned aircraft to a key foreign client. In a statement, ADS did not specify the buyer of the sophisticated weapon carrying special explosive payload. But it did attribute the ban to an ongoing inquiry conducted by the Israeli agency.

The Israeli newspaper “Maariv” reported on August 13 that the agency launched an investigation after receiving a formal complaint stemming from ADS’s commercial dealings with the Azerbaijani government. It said ADS representatives traveled to Azerbaijan this summer to finalize a contract for the sale of Orbiter drones to the Azerbaijani military.

The paper claimed that two Israeli drone operators working for the company rebuffed Azerbaijani officials’ demand to demonstrate the use of the deadly drone by hitting the Armenian position. But other, more senior ADS executives agreed to launch the deadly craft on the target, according to “Maariv.” ADS denied the report.

According to Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian-backed Defense Army, the Azerbaijani military most recently attacked its frontline positions with a suicide drone on July 7. The commander of an army unit stationed in northeastern Karabakh said in early August that two of his soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident.

Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Davit Pakhchanian last week praised the reported ban on drone sales to Baku but said Israel must be “consistent” in preventing its citizens’ direct involvement in Azerbaijani military operations. Pakhchanian claimed that Israeli arms dealers have repeatedly struck Armenian targets at the behest of Azerbaijani officials.

RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel Tzachi Hanegbi signed agreements on cooperation

The Azerbaijani army heavily used similar suicide drones manufactured by another Israeli company, Israel Aerospace Industries, during the April 2016 war in Karabakh. Baku had bought the Harop drones as well as air-defense and artillery systems and anti-tank rockets as part of multimillion-dollar defense contracts signed with Israeli firms.

Armenia has long expressed concern at the Israeli-Azerbaijani arms deals, saying that they undermine international efforts to end the Karabakh conflict.

The drone scandal was exposed by the Israeli paper more than two weeks after Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi visited Yerevan in an apparent bid to improve his country’s frosty relationship with Armenia. Hanegbi met with Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and other senior Armenian officials.

In what may be a related development, a group of Israeli parliamentarians arrived in the Armenian capital earlier this week. They include two deputy speakers of the Knesset. One of them, Tali Ploskov, chairs an Israel-Armenia parliamentary “friendship group.” Her Kulanu party is also represented in the Israeli government.

The Israeli delegation met with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Wednesday. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said the two sides “exchanged views on a number of regional issues.” It gave no details.

Sports: Armenian gymnasts participating in the World Cup qualification tournament

Aram Torosian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 16 2017

Armenian gymnastics team is participating in the in the World Cup qualification tournament underway in Paris from September 16-17. As the National Olympic Committee reported, the team headed by head coach Hakob Serobyan comprises Vahagn Davtyan (still rings), Harutyun Merdinyan (pommel horse), and Artur Davtyan (vault).

The tournament is a preparatory competition for the Armenian athletes ahead of the World Championships. According to the report, following the competition, the Armenian team will hold a training camp in Paris and head for Canada on September to participate in the main tournament of the year – the 2017 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

Sports: Armenian top-flight side FC Banants snap up Cheetah FC kid Kwasi Zibo

Hambik Zargarian
Ghana Soccer Net
Sept 16 2017
Published on:

Kwesi Zibo

Armenian top-flight side FC Banants Yerevan have announced the signing of Ghanaian youngster Kwasi Zibo from third tier Cheetah FC for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old midfielder had a month trial with Russian outfit Krasnodar before making the move to the Eurasian nation.

“Kwasi Zibo is a young player with good qualities, playing in the position of a midfielder. Apart from the fact that he works well, he also starts a good attack,” FC Banants’s coach Aram Voskanyan said.

”This is a young, high-quality player for the future.”

He is the younger brother of Liberty Professionals versatile midfielder Simon Zibo.

By Nuhu Adams

Theater: Iranian theater troupes to perform in Armenia High Fest

Baghdasarian Karlen
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 16 2017

TEHRAN – Twelve troupes from Iran will be in Yerevan, Armenia during October to attend the 15th High Fest International Performing Arts Festival.

Director Reza Rafinasab’s group will perform “Chaos” and Puria Qolipur’s troupe is scheduled to stage “House of War” at the festival, which will be held from October 1 to 10, Albert Beigjani, a member of the festival’s selecting board, told the Persian service of MNA on Saturday.

Javad Sedaqat and Elham Abni will codirect “If a Night of Tehran’s Nights…” and “Bahador”. 

Zaman led by director Hadi Emami-Moqadam will perform “Narcolepsy” while Deemak led by Beigjani will stage “Marshmallow”.

“Living in a Glass Room” by Heidar Rezai and “Dance with the Sea” by Nazanin Valajam will be performed in the street theater section of the festival. Valajam will also stage “Regret”.

“Identity” by Ehsan Kheirmand, “Rustam and Esfandiar’s War” by Dariush Nasiri, “Down with the Death” by Mehran Solgi and “Silence in Wilderness” by Mandana Abqari have also been selected for the festival.

ABU/MMS/YAW

Culture: Rural life and Traditions Festival opened in Yerevan English park

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 16 2017

The annual Rural Life and Traditions Festival opened today in English park of Yerevan. The event is aimed at sustainable agricultural development and assisting the farmers across the country to sell their products, including organic produce.

Chairwoman at Green Lane NGO Nune Sarukhanyan noted the festival is one of the long-awaited and most favorite festivals in the capital turning to holiday not only for the city residents but also farmers and members of the farmer groups.

“The message we try to deliver through the festival is together we will create more sustainable and active village communities. promoting the locally cultivated agricultural products,” Sarukhanyan said.

The opening ceremony was attended by Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Ignati Arakelyan. “These festivals come to prove the village remains the main provider for cities. The event is organized for city residents to get familiarized with achievements in agriculture, recorded in the result of the projects by international organizations, among other stakeholders,  and achieved by farmers’ and women’s groups. The festival is also a good opportunity to obtain goods which are not sold at markets yet,” the minister said in his remarks, assuring greater achievements for Armenia’s agricultural sector are ahead.

The festival is organized by the Green Lane NGO with the support of ministry of agriculture and Yerevan municipality. The festival provides unique opportunity to small-sized farmers to find markets for their products and establish direct links with buyers and new producers. The year’s event is attended by entrepreneurs and small-sized processing companies not only from Armenian provinces but also from neighboring Georgia and Iran.

Apart from farmers’ produce, the festival encompasses singing, dancing and theatrical performances, a wide variety of arts and handicrafts made by local artisans and craftsmen.

Culture: Armenia’s Vanadzor city to host annual Harvest Festival this year

Jane Topchian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 16 2017

The annual Harvest Festival held in Armenia’s Lori province is scheduled for Vanadzor city on 8 October 2017.

The preparatory works for the traditional festival are already under way, the governor’s office reports, adding this year the festival will essentially differ from the previous ones, featuring increased number of participants.

In addition to the display of the harvest from the local rural communities and locally produced food, pedigree cattle, agricultural machinery and other products and services, the festival will also feature an agricultural fair.

The organizers of the event promise to create a real rural environment, accompanied by traditional songs and dances, as well as theatrical scenes.

Religion: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to be celebrated in Armenia on Sunday

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 16 2017

The Saturday preceding the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the eve of the feast. That day, as well as the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are the feasts of the Holy Church.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the last one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is the most important feast among the ones dedicated to the Holy Cross as it is dedicated to the history of the return of the Holy Cross from imprisonment, its elevation and glorification, Qahana.am reports.

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Sunday during the period between September 11-17. This year that date is September 17, and the Monday following the Feast is a Memorial Day, when a divine liturgy and a requiem service are offered in Armenian churches.

In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a large army attacks the Byzantine Empire. Enthusiastic about the initial victory, in 614 A. D. the Persian army enters Jerusalem. Many people are killed and many are imprisoned. Pontiff Zakaria, the Patriarch of Jerusalem is imprisoned, too. However, the Persians are not satisfied and enter the Church of Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross kept in the Church. The Holy Cross had been found and installed in the Church for the Christians to worship by Heghineh, the mother of the King Costandianos, in the beginning of the 4th century.

In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles fight against the Persians to return the Holy Cross. The Armenian army regiment, led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the Persian army. With the Lord’s help the Byzantine army wins the battle.

The Holy Cross is solemnly brought to the Armenian town Karin, from where it is carried to Constantinople, and then – to Jerusalem. On the way, the Holy Cross was raised for the people to see and worship.

For Christians the Cross is God’s power and strength and pride of all prides, on which Christ’s innocent blood was shed. By means of the Cross Jesus proved His love towards mankind, and the Cross became for us the symbol of hope, love and saving.

Music: Armenia’s Erna Mirzoyan, one of winners of New Wave 2017 song contest, receives 2 million rubles

Mary Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 15 2017

The three singers who took the first spot at the ‘New Wave 2017’ international music contest of young pop singers have shared the prize money amounting to 6 million rubles at the finale of the song festival, RIA Novosti reports.

To remind, representative of Armenia Erna Mirzoyan (Erna Mir) led the song contest with 362 points after summing up the results of the first three days of the contest.

Mirzoyan, known in Armenia as part of the “Voices of Artsakh” music ensemble, shared the first spot with representatives of Uzbekistan and Moldova.

During the closing ceremony of the contest, the announcers said that this is a unique incident in the history of the New Wave contest when three participants claim the first place.

The other representative of Armenia, Syuzanna Melkonyan, who finished 3rd in the Armenian national selection in 2017 Eurovision song contest, comes the second with 357 points.

To note, the contest has been organized annually since 2002 by Russian composer Igor Krutoy and Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls. Young singers between the ages of 16 and 30 are eligible to compete in the festival. This year the festival was attended by 14 participants from 9 countries. The festival was held in Russia’s Sochi from September 8-14.

  

Music: “New Wave” contest winner dedicates her victory to Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 15 2017
“New Wave” contest winner dedicates her victory to Artsakh
20:54, 15 Sep 2017

Photo:http://newwavestars.eu

The awards ceremony of the “New Wave 2017” popular music contest took place yesterday in Sochi. Sardor Milano from Uzbekistan, DoReDos trio from Moldavia, and Erna Mir from Armenia share the first place.

Erna Mir shared her impressions on her Facebook page. She dedicates her triumph to Artsakh, she wrote.

“The “Wave” rose me so high so I could see efforts of numerous people…Thanks to everyone, I promise to stay on the wave of music, love and peace! I dedicate this victory to my country Artsakh. That country, a small but a strong one, taught me to hold on till the end and to win”, Erna Mir wrote.

Film: ‘They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief’ to Make Boston-Area Public Premiere Next Month

Anna Tamamian
The Armenian Weekly
Sept 15 2017

By Contributor on

LEXINGTON, Mass.—The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and the Near East Foundation (NEF) will present the Boston-area public premiere of the documentary film “They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief,” at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

A post-film discussion will feature NEF Board Director and Executive Producer of the film, Shant Mardirossian, with a panel of scholars.  The program is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception

A post-film discussion will feature NEF Board Director and Executive Producer of the film, Shant Mardirossian, with a panel of scholars.  The program is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception.

Produced by NEF Board Member Shant Mardirossian and award-winning director George Billard, the documentary “They Shall Not Perish” details the unprecedented humanitarian efforts of thousands of Americans who saved a generation of orphans and refugees during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and in the aftermath of the crisis that came to be known as the Armenian Genocide.  The film teaches us the amazing role ordinary citizens can play in responding to humanitarian crises.

Following the screening, Marc Mamigonian, NAASR Director of Academic Affairs, will moderate a panel discussion with Shant Mardirossian and scholars Dr. Taner Akçam, Kaloosdian-Mugar Professor of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University; Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, Armenia; and Dr. Nora Nercessian, author of the study City of Orphans: Relief Workers, Commissars and the Builders of the New Armenia Alexandropol/Leninakan 1919-1931.

The one-hour documentary film features the stories of American diplomats, missionaries and relief workers who, as witnesses to the Armenian Genocide, responded to a call to action and mobilized the largest non-governmental international humanitarian movement undertaken by American citizens.

Narrated by six-time Emmy award nominated actor Victor Garber, the film is set against a mix of historical footage, archival photographs and utilizes contemporary interviews from leading academic experts such as Taner Akçam, Peter Balakian, Keith David Watenpaugh, and the late Martin Deranian.  In addition, the letters of American officials, relief workers and orphans are brought to life through the voices of leading actors–Michael Aronov, Kathleen Chalfant, Dariush Kashani, Andrea Martin, Ron Rifkin, Tony Shalhoub and Kara Vedder–taking the audience on a journey from the depths of cruelty to the triumphs of survival.

Mardirossian, inspired by his grandparents’ escape and survival during the genocide, says he produced this film “not just to remember those we lost in the genocide, but to shed light on an important chapter of American history when ordinary citizens stood together against a great injustice and saved the lives of 132,000 orphans.”

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum (formerly National Heritage Museum) is located at 33 Marrett Road, in Lexington, Mass., at the intersection of Route 2A and Massachusetts Avenue.  For additional information about this event, please contact NAASR at or [email protected].