Category: 2017

Religious Leaders Called for Release of PoWs

Karapet Navasardian
Lragir, Armenia
Sept 9 2017
Religious Leaders Called for Release of PoWs

  • Lragir.am
  • Politics – , 17:44     
The religious leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia have appealed to release civilians kept as prisoners of war, as well as called on the sides to prevent vandalism against churches and mosques. As Armenpress informed, referring to RIA Novosti, the Russian Patriarch Kirill made this statement after the negotiations with the Armenian Catholicoc Garegin B and the religious leader of Azerbaijan, the head of the Department of Muslims of the Caucasus, Shaykh al-Islām Alahshukyur Pashazadeh.“People, including innocent citizens suffer in the result of certain actions who are in captivity on both sides, as well as people who never took part in the military actions and are currently held as prisoners of war. There is no need to apply the rules of military actions and keeping prisoners of war to people who are not such,” Patriarch Kirill said.“There are cathedrals and mosques in the area of the conflict. It is important to take proper care of them to rule out expressions of vandalism and not to allow anyone to manipulate religious feelings, escalating the conflict which must be alleviated,” Patriarch Kirill said.

Numerous festivals set for September in Armenia, Artsakh

Chmshkian Vicken 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
September 8, 2017 Friday
 Numerous festivals set for September in Armenia, Artsakh
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Numerous festivals and events are
planned for September in both Armenia and Artsakh since the month is a
tourism season.
Nune Manukyan, director of Areni Festival Foundation presented the
upcoming events during a September 8 press conference.
“We try to organize festivals every month, festivals which will make
tourists interact with the everyday life, food and music of the
people. The Wine Days , which was held in May in Saryan Street [
Yerevan], had a wide response and we decided to organize similar
festivals again”, she said.
According to her, the Yerevan Music Night festival will be held
September 16, jointly with the City Hall. It will be held in the
intersection of Tumanyan and Abovyan streets in downtown Yerevan. A
popular foreign musician will perform during the event.
“On the same day, the Wine Festival will be held in Artsakh. More
winemakers will participate in the event this year. On September 30,
the traditional Gata festival will be held in Khachik village at the
initiative of the Areni Festival Foundation”, she said.
The Areni Wine Festival is set for October 7.

Sports: Billionaire Samvel Karapetyan sponsors Moscow’s Ararat F.C.

Garo Vardanian 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
September 9, 2017 Saturday
Billionaire Samvel Karapetyan sponsors Moscow's Ararat F.C.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. One of the top sponsors of Moscow’s
Ararat F.C. is the Russia-based Armenian businessman Samvel
Karapetyan, president of Tashir group of companies, local media
reported citing the new owner of the football club Aram Gabrelyanov.
Gabrelyanov also mentioned that co-owner of Avilon Kamo Avagumyan is
also a sponsor of the club.
“These people helped us when we were initiating the club’s stock
programs. Indeed, this was help. We could stick Avilon’s logo on the
shirts of the players for the beginning, however this isn’t what’s
important now”, he said.
He said Ararat F.C.’s budget is 150-180 million Rubles.
Zara Ajemyan, a representative for Tashir, confirmed that Samvel
Karapetyan has financed Ararat F.C.
“Mr. Karapetyan has indeed financed the program. He has traditionally
assisted the development of sports in both Russia and Armenia”, she
said.
Avilon confirmed that Kamo Avagumyan is planning to acquire shares of
Moscow’s Ararat.

Azerbaijan Runs $2.9 Billion ‘Laundromat’ but Soros and the ‘Armenian Lobby’ Are to Blame

Garnik Tadevosian
Global Voices
Sept 9 2017
Posted 9 September 2017 11:03 GMT

In a series of new investigations, a network of investigative journalists have discovered the government of Azerbaijan was the driving force behind a $2.9 billion secret slush fund that may have helped it pay off European politicians.

Dubbed “Azerbaijani Laundromat”, the secret slush fund was put in operation between 2012 and 2014, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project:

The Azerbaijani Laundromat is the name given to a complex money-laundering operation that handled US$ 2.9 billion over a two-year period thanks to four shell companies registered in the United Kingdom. Between 2012 and 2014, Azerbaijan’s kleptocratic ruling elites pumped the money through the companies’ Estonian bank accounts. The companies’ true owners were hidden behind unknown offshore shareholders.

The money transfers made into the accounts of politicians in Europe may have helped persuade the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to vote against a critical report of Azerbaijan in 2013 calling for an adoption of the resolution on political prisoners, although that has not been proven.

OCCRP explains:

Money-laundering operations like the Laundromat are common in the former Soviet republics and are often deeply integrated into their economies. They may be used by government officials, organized crime groups, or even ordinary businesses for purposes such as disguising the origins of money, evading taxes or sanctions, paying bribes, bypassing customs fees, moving funds to Europe or other markets, or embezzling funds.

The Azerbaijani operation, too, was likely designed primarily to obscure the origin and destination of dirty money. It was also used as a slush fund to pay off people (both inside and outside the country) who served the interests of the political elite in Baku; to buy luxury goods; or to move money abroad for various purposes.

Crucially, OCCRP allege:

[Azerbaijan] used the slush fund to buy silence and praise from influential European figures during a time when the government in Baku threw around 90 activists, journalists and opposition politicians into prison on politically motivated charges.

Following the release of the OCCRP investigation patriotic trolls stormed online to accuse journalists of spreading unverified information and maintaining ties to an ill-defined “Armenian lobby”.

The patriotic trolls used the same texts when commenting under the OCCRP story shared on Facebook.

The positions of the trolls were mirrored almost exactly by Azerbaijani officials, blocked access to OCCRP’s website for good measure.

While Azerbaijan’s MFA spokesperson seethed:

The Soros-hatred makes sense in so far as billionaire philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundation has provided grant money to OCCRP in the past. But Hajiyev might have asked the president’s media department to remove this picture from its page before embarking on a full-scale offensive.

While Azerbaijani authorities were busy refuting any connections with the reports, movers and shakers in Brussels demanded investigations into the deeds of the leaders and politicians named in the investigations.

Moreover, Bulgaria’s state prosecutor ordered an investigation into new information about payments made by Azerbaijani companies into the accounts of Kalin Mitrev, the country’s representative on the board of directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

OCCRP published a comprehensive list of reactions to the project’s findings on September 8.

Given that corruption provides the basis for the Azerbaijani state and has infested its international relations with the West it is unsurprising that journalists and organisations that draw attention to this problem face serious hurdles and even imprisonment.

Khadija Ismailova, one of the main investigators in the laundromat series, was sentenced to over seven-and-a-half years in prison on trumped up charges in 2015. Although she was released the following year after one-and-a-half years’ jail time in total, the charges against her were not dropped.

Transparency International, perhaps the world’s most famous anti-corruption body announced just this month that its Baku office was closing down due to restrictive laws put in place to prevent locally-based civic organisations receiving funding from abroad.

It remains to be seen whether European policymakers will impose similar restrictions on dirty money coming from a certain oil-rich, ex-Soviet state in the South Caucasus.

       

Written byArzu Geybullayeva  
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The Benevolent Armenian

Maral Takmazian
Times of India
Sept 9 2017

On what would have been his 171st birth day, La Martiniere School has collabo rated with the Indo-Armenian Friend ship NGO to remember Paul Chater, the ‘Grand Old Man of Hong Kong’.

This pioneering Kolkata Armenian might only be known to the school’s alumni and the people of Hong Kong, but his legacy continues to support millions through his philanthropic work and business acumen. Born in Kolkata on September 8, 1846, Sir Paul studied as a foundationer at Claude Martin’s school and left as a qualified surveyor, a minor achievement that would, quite literally , build the foundations for Asia’s business hub.

Seen floating in a small dinghy out in the waters off Hong Kong, many thought he was out fishing as usual, but there was no bait at the end of his fishing line; there was a crude depth gauge. Over the course of months, he was measuring the depth of the waters. This data would lead him to carry out one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Asia: the expansion of Hong Kong by an estimated 57 acres using 3.5 million tonnes of earth, thus increas ing the overall size of the island. This project led to the foundation of one of his many companies, Hongkong Land.

On Friday, at La Martiniere, a number of dignitaries assembled to unveil a bronze bust of Sir Paul, to be located between the Martin and Chater buildings at the school. The Bishop of Kolkata, the Right Reverend Ashoke Biswas, the Armenian Ambassador to India, Armen Armen Martirosyan and the secretary of La Martiniere, Supriyo Dhar, as well as Sir Paul’s biographer Liz Chater and National Coordinator of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO Karen Mkrtchyan, will be present. “The unveiling of the bust is the product of a long-held ambition to remember and recognise a man who is arguably Kolkata’s most important Armenian,” says Mkrtchyan, an Armenian from Armenia but who studied at the Armenian College in Kolkata and, before that, at La Martiniere.

In a sign of the growing links between the two nations, an Indian artist has been commissioned to sculpt the bust. Originally from Odisha, Kantikishore Moharana has represented India on various international platforms, including twice at the International Sculptors’ Symposium in Nagorno Kharabagh. The bronze bust took him a month to make.   

  Sonia John, who was both a foundationer and a member of the board at La Martiniere, says: “Sir Paul Chater left a very generous donation for the poor Armenians of Kolkata. His donation has allowed many Armenians to study at La Martiniere, including myself. It is because of these donations that he is still revered at La Martiniere, which was saved from certain closure due to his benevolence.”

Dhar holds Sir Paul in equally high regard “The school was in a very grave financial situation and its future looked uncertain. If it hadn’t been for Sir Paul’s generous donation, I am not sure the school would be here today.”   

  Sir Paul owned, or had a stake in, over 20 businesses in Hong Kong, including many utilities. He held a number of senior government posts -treasurer and chairman of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Committee, member of the governor’s executive council, consul for Siam in Hong Kong and chairman of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Committee.He had a great interest in sports too -he was the longest serving chairman of the board of stewards of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (1892-1926). For his achievements, he was awarded the Legion d’honneur by France and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by the British. The myriad of business interests allowed him to donate Rs 11 lakh (its equivalent today would be tens of crores) in the early part of the 20th century to his alma mater when it was on the verge of collapse.

Both Hong Kong and La Martiniere are thriving today, thanks to major interventions by Sir Paul.Hong Kong is the financial trading hub of Asia while La Martiniere is one of the city’s top private schools.

“It is a wonderful thing that La Martiniere and Indo-Armenian NGO have done. Sir Paul should have more recognition than he currently gets, and I hope this permanent statue will go some way to helping that happen,” says Liz Chater, Sir Paul’s distant relative and a genealogist currently working on a biography of Sir Paul.

Sir Paul’s legacy is visible elsewhere in the city too: the `Sir Catchick Paul Chater Home for the Elderly’ is in the same compound as St Gregory’s Chapel near Park Circus, the rear gate of which leads into the Armenian section of the AJC Bose Road cemetery , where many famous Armenians are buried including some of Sir Paul’s relatives; one of the companies he founded is still trading here in Kolkata -Jardine Henderson; and two plaques honour his memory at the Armenian Church in Burrabazaar.His palatial mansion in Hong Kong `Marble Hall’ accidently burnt down but his final resting place there remains, as does Chater Road and Chater Garden, constant reminders of a Kolkata boy .

The author is an Armenian and a distant relative of Sir Paul Chater . He works as a historian, is a Kolkata heritage enthusiast and conducts heritage walks and tours in the city.

(Anthony Khatchaturian)

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Valley physicians’ medical mission changes Armenian lives – and their own

Karapet Navasardian 
Fresno Bee, CA
Sept 8 2017
Valley physicians’ medical mission changes Armenian lives – and their own
By Jeffrey L. Thomas, M.D.
 3:34 PM
Three years ago, I was fortunate to be invited by the Fresno Honorary
Consul of the Republic of Armenia, Berj Apkarian, to participate in my
first medical mission to Armenia.
As our third annual medical mission to Armenia approaches this fall, I
would like to take a moment to reflect upon its meaning and the
accomplishments we have made.
Three years ago, a mixed group of physicians, dentists and other
medical and specialty personnel planned and set forth on the inaugural
mission with mixed expectations.
We are healers; we are teachers; we are ambassadors of our profession,
and this aspect of our existence is often lost in the day-to-day
battles in the practice of “first world” medicine here in the United
States.
We were welcomed with open arms by the Health Ministry, regional
hospitals, local physicians and a host of patients in critical need of
our services. The first week of our mission was somewhat of an awkward
dance, as our providers and the Armenian system participated in a
needs-and-skills assessment to best focus our resources.
Once established, we wasted no time in impacting the lives of the
Armenian patients and the medical community which supports them in our
absence. Although I am an obstetrician/gynecologist and will share my
experiences in women’s health, the specialties of internal medicine,
neurology, dentistry, public health and many others all have similar
stories to share.
On our second mission, we were surprised and honored to find an eager
and hopeful group of over 100 patients who had assembled outside the
hospital simply because they knew about our work the prior year.
Likewise, all of the local physicians assembled and observed surgeries
and procedures through which they acquire valuable skills and
contemporary knowledge.
For those patients who were not able to receive treatment or surgery
due to our limited stay, we only hope that the training of local
physicians and donated instruments will provide a legacy of care to
last throughout the year.
Perhaps the best illustration of this concept occurred on my final day
of the mission last year. I was performing a complex pelvic floor
reconstruction with a junior physician at a hospital in Gyumri.
As always, there was a group of four-five physicians observing the
procedure over our shoulders, one of which was a senior surgeon who I
had instructed on the same procedure on days prior.
As there is a language barrier and we rely on lay translators in the
operating room, there is an inherent delay in instruction due to
communication. To my delight, before I was able to have my
instructions translated, the senior surgeon was quick to instruct his
junior on the appropriate next step.
It brought me great satisfaction to know that our efforts would lead
to better patient care and outcomes long after our departure. It was
also rewarding to know that a donated piece of equipment which we take
for granted in America can vastly improve the quality and efficiency
of the medical practice in Armenia.
Similar anecdotes could be shared by all participants of our mission,
each reflecting the difference we made in the delivery of health care
in Armenia. It seems as though our efforts leave an immeasurable mark
on the country, but I would be remiss in not recognizing how such work
defines us.
Our missionaries will admit that something about the experiences
changes our perspective on medicine and how we practice. It helps
define and put in reference our true purpose in the practice of
medicine. We are healers, we are teachers, we are ambassadors of our
profession and this aspect of our existence is often lost in the
day-to-day battles in the practice of “first world” medicine here in
the United States.
At this time, our Armenian colleagues are assembling a montage of
patients who are in desperate need of our services. Upon arrival, we
will immediately embark upon operations and evaluations in all
representative specialties.
This does not happen without our generous donors and resourceful
mission participants combining efforts to provide over $1 million of
medical supplies and equipment, which have been taken in over 100
personal luggage pieces to Armenia.
We also respect the efforts of local and Armenian politicians who
facilitated the export and import of these items to maximize our
efforts abroad. After spending a total of more than a month providing
care in Armenia, this year’s mission will prove to bring even more
necessary and valued resources to a people in need.
Our mission respects the ongoing support of our sponsors. Unlike many
medical missions, ours has little to no direct monetary contribution
but prides itself on the delivery of needed patient treatment, skills
training, and technology used in the direct care of patients at the
bedside.
This is a community effort, so if you would like more information
regarding our upcoming mission or would like to contribute, please
contact [email protected] or phone 559-696-0190.
Jeffery L. Thomas, M.D., is an obstetrician/gynecologist who has
participated in the mission during the past two years, and getting
ready for the upcoming mission. Thomas has been past president of the
medical staff at Community Medical Centers, and a member of the board
of trustees at Community Medical Centers.
Read more here:

Film: Jivan Avetisyan’s ‘The Last Inhabitant’ screened at Venice Film Festival

Edgar Tavakalian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 9 2017

Armenian filmmaker Jivan Avetisyan’s “The Last Inhabitant” was screened on September 5 at the Venice Production Bridge of the Venice International Film Festival in Italy.

As the Fish Eye Art Cultural Foundation reported in a release, the film screening was held at the initiative of the organization’s Italian partner Blue Knowledge Association and personally its Director Orietta Trevisanato Zampieri. The event was carried out under the high patronage and with the direct participation of Luca Zaia, Veneto Governor (Administrative center – Venice).

According to the source, film director Jivan Avetisyan, co-producer Kestutis Drazdauskas, Executive Producer Adrineh Mirzayan and lead actress Sandra Daukšaitė-Petrulėnė were present at the film presentation.

The film screening was attended by public, culture figures, representatives of the film industry, distributors and sale agents.

The screening was followed by a cocktail party, during which the attendees shared their impressions on the film, expressing highly positive views.

“The Venice Film Festival is one of the unique events which evaluates the arthouse films, accepts and attaches importance to the films telling about human destinies, and it is not accidental that “The Last Inhabitant” gained an opportunity to be shown on the sidelines of an Italian film festival, under the aegis of the Veneto Governor, Luca Zaia. The first emotions I experienced are incredible. I am happy that my film, which I also consider as the film of the entire Armenian nation, lives beyond the Armenian borders and successfully presents itself at such prestigious film festivals. I hope the film screening will prompt the continuity of the Armenian-Italian cooperation, with the film to be also screened at the Italian cinemas.  We have great expectations,” the foundation quoted Jivan Avetisyan as saying.

The film crew also highlighted “The Last Inhabitant” as an international production. Executive Producer Adrineh Mirzayan underscored the role of the Diaspora in supporting the production of such Armenian films.

To remind, the film depicts the life in an Armenian village, evicted in the result of the Karabakh conflict. Abgar, the main character, stays behind all alone in a gradually shrinking enemy ring. He is waiting for his daughter, who has become a witness to her husband’s murder by an angry mob and was hospitalized with a mental disorder. An Azerbaijani named Ibrahim, for finding and bringing Abgar’s daughter, suggest that he work on the construction of a mosque. A few days later, Ibrahim finds the girl, named Yurga, in one of the psychiatric hospitals of Baku and brings her to Abgar.

Chess: Hayk Martirosyan claims the second consecutive victory the European Youth Chess Championship

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 9 2017

Round 3 of the European Youth Chess Championship underway in Mamaia, Romania, from 4-15 September 2017 ended with 18 Armenian chess players claiming victories out of 36. As the Chess Federation reported, 8 players played drew, while the remaining 10 representatives of Armenia suffered defeats.

International master Hayk Martirosyan claimed the second consecutive victory at the tournament, while Benik Aghasarov (10 years old), Robert Piliposyan (10 years old), Aram Hakobyan (16 years old) and Konstantin Yayloyan (18 years old) are among the leaders in their respective age groups.

Round 4 of the tournament will start today.

To note, the European Youth Chess Championship is played according to the Swiss System in 9 rounds, with time control 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. The Championship will be played in 6 age categories: under 8, under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16 and under 18, boys and girls separately.

The total amount of all prizes and presents is 40.000 EUR at the minimum.

Zartonk 09.09.2017

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DigiTec Expo 2017 Expecting Unprecedented Number of Participants

Kanayan Tamar
  • Armenia

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11 hours ago

YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) – The 13th annual international DigiTec Expo technological exhibition will be held from September 29 to October 1 at the Yerevan Expo Center.

This year the DigiTec is expecting an unprecedented number of participants both local and international. About 150 participants and 70,000 visitors are expected to attend.

The participants of DigiTec will introduce the latest trends of the sector and the innovations and job opportunities of the current market.. Business meetings, different competitions, forums, seminars, and other meetings will also be held.

Leading Armenian companies like Joomag, Ucom, Arpinet, VOLO, Zangi, Monitis, SFL, ArmSoft will also be featured at DigiTec 2017.

DigiTec 2017 will host participants and delegations from Japan, China, India, Sweden, Russia, USA, and Canada among other countries. Foreign companies include Dahua Technology from China, Hitachi Construction Machinery Eurasia and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from Japan, Ericsson from Sweden, Jabra from Denmark, and others. The overall list of participants is being updated on digitec.am.

“Until now, DigiTec has been a platform for only Armenian technological leading companies, but during recent years and this year especially, it became an effective platform of communications for local, Diaspora, and foreign techno-leaders,” said Karen Vardanyan, the executive director of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE),and the organizer of DigiTec.

DigiTec Expo is the biggest technological exhibition in the region, as well as B2B, B2C communicative platform. The 3-day Expo is held under the slogan “Fest for Armenian techno-society.”

Since 2005 DigiTec has been organized by the UITE under the high patronage of the Prime Minister.