Category: 2017

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
Armenia is malaria, polio, measles and congenital rubella free
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is classified as polio-free and
malaria-free by the World Health Organization. Local measles and
congenital rubella syndromes have also been eliminated.
The elimination of these diseases is the result of large-scale
actions, especially preventive vaccinations, Lilit Avetisyan, deputy
director of the National Center of Disease Prevention and Control told
ARMENPRESS.
“WHO recognized Armenia as malaria-free in 2011, and in 2002 as
polio-free. No polio cases have been recorded even since 1995, when at
that time this disease continued to be diagnosed in many countries
worldwide”, she said.
Malaria cases were diagnosed in Armenia since 1994, which was an
obstacle for tourism. But through large scale work, this disease has
been eliminated.
However, during the past 7 years Leishmaniasis is observed in Armenia.
“In the last 5-7 years, more than one dozen cases were recorded. This
disease hasn’t been seen in Armenia for dozens of years, this
activeness is associated with the presence of this disease in the
neighboring countries”, she said.
Avetisyan said the center and the healthcare ministry is taking
appropriate and relevant actions in this direction as well.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
Armenian Parliament Vice Speaker slams Latvia-Azerbaijan declaration
as "unacceptable, strange"
YEREVAN, 19 JULY, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Eduard Sharmazanov finds it at least strange and odd that a EU member
country – Latvia – is signing a strategic cooperation declaration with
one of the world’s most authoritarian regimes: the Azerbaijani
president.
In an interview with ARMENPRESS, the Vice Speaker reminded that the
very European media and structures have numerously talked about the
human rights abuse, corruption scandals and support to terrorism by
Azerbaijan.
“If the EU is the embodiment of human rights protection and democratic
institutions, then how can one understand the cooperation of a EU
member country and the most authoritarian regime of the world –
moreover in the military sector. I, as the leader of the
Armenian-Latvian friendship MP group, express my doubt to my European
colleagues. This is unacceptable at least for me, because th European
Union is first of all the protection of human rights and freedoms. And
if you profess these values and sign a strategic declaration with a
country which is thousands of miles away from protection of human
rights, then this puts your reputation to doubt”, Sharmazanov said.
Commenting on the ideas and assessments which were voices in Latvia,
the Vice Speaker mentioned that they have serious discontent in this
regard.
“Latvia is a EU country, and any EU country must maintain the official
EU stances in at least the official statements. In this specific
statement and declaration, speaking on the process of Nagorno Karabakh
settlements, it mentions peaceful settlement, territorial integrity,
inviolability of borders, but there is not a word about the right of
self-determination. To the consideration of our Latvian colleagues, it
must be mentioned that a Minsk Group co-chairmanship format exists,
where three principles exist. One of them is the principle of
exercising the self-determination right, at least five statements of
the Minsk Group co-chairing countries’ presidents are available on
this. One of these co-chairing countries, France, is a EU member
state, and not once has the EU, Mrs. Mogherini, declared that the
three principles of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, which include the
self-determination right and the exercise of this right, are
inviolable”, he said.
He found it at least uncertain and unacceptable that a EU member
country does not mention the self-determination right in the
statement.
Speaking about Baku’s assessments about the declaration, Sharmazanov
said: “If Azerbaijan got so happy about this declaration, let me
remind that without the complete implementation of the
self-determination right of the people of NK the problem cannot be
solved, while territorial integrity has nothing to do with Nagorno
Karabakh, because it hasn’t been part of independent Azerbaijan for a
single moment”.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
US Congressmen join protest of Armenians, Kurds and Yazidis outside
Turkish embassy in Washington D.C.
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of the Armenian, Kurdish
and Yazidi communities of the US held a protest outside the Turkish
embassy in Washington D.C., reports Armenpress.
The protest was also attended by US Congressmen.
Congressman Jim McGovern in his remarks said Turkey’s Constitution
should protect the freedom of speech and assembly, however, President
Erdogan declared emergency situation and uses it as a justification to
exert pressure on civil society. “All these are being done for
strengthening his power. We call this authoritarianism, clear and
concrete. Fundamental human rights and freedoms are being violated in
Turkey. Erdogan tried to use the same tactic here, however, it failed.
This tactic doesn’t work here, in the US. Raise your voices and let
the Turkish embassy here that we will not be silenced”, Jim McGovern
said.
Congressman John Sarbanes stated that Erdogan’s aggressive and
authoritarian actions do not allow Turkey to solve its problems.
“We have seen violence and discriminatory practices which are being
committed in Turkey at the state level against Kurds, Armenians, as
well as other ethnic and religious minorities. I have never thought
that I would witness these authoritarian manifestations here, in the
US land. We have a right to peacefully raise our voice and protest
against these manifestations”, Sarbanes said.
The protesters were holding posters entitled “Extradite Turkish
criminals”, “Defend the N1 change of the Constitution”, “Erdogan: No
violence on US soil”, “Free Demirtas now” and etc.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards have attacked
peaceful protesters in Washington D.C. The demonstration, which began
at Lafayette Square at noon, was organized by a coalition of
organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) and the American Hellenic Council. Several different groups,
which included representatives from the Armenian, Greek, Kurdish, and
Assyrian communities, participated in the protest, while President
Erdogan met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Later
the footage shows that Erdogan personally ordered the security detail
to attack the protesters.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
In last decade GVA per employee/ capita in Armenia records noticeable increase
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Labor productivity has been increasing
in Armenia but the pace lags behind the world, according to the
National Competitiveness Report of Armenia 2017, reports Armenpress.
“Staying competitive requires a rise in productivity that is higher
than that of competitors. This is a constant race. In the last decade,
Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee/ capita in Armenia recorded a
noticeable increase. In the period of 2010-2015, GVA per employee
increased by around USD 1,700 (2010 constant USD) at 3% Compound
Average Growth Rate (CAGR). CAGR of GVA per capita is even higher at
5% mostly due to the decreasing population rate”, the report said.
According to the report, based on the 2015 data, Armenia is ranked
110th in the world in the GDP per person employed (PPP, constant 2011
international $).
“Labor productivity has been the key determinant of Armenia’s GVA per
capita increase and needs further enhancement through tradable
sectors. In the period of 2005-2014, GVA per capita in Armenia
increased by more than half, reaching around USD 3,420. The
decomposition of the performance demonstrates that labor productivity
(value added per employee) accounts for two-thirds of the growth.
Employment growth accounts for around one-quarter, and increased labor
force participation accounts for only 8%”, according to the report.
The report says further enhancement of productivity should be led by
predominantly tradable sectors.
“This productivity rise will positively impact adjacent service
sectors. Increased productivity will eventually disseminate to the
non-tradable industries. Competition in the labor market will act as
the key gear mechanism through rising wages in tradable industries.
However, developments in traditional sectors, particularly
agriculture, will largely account for the scale and payoff of the
transformation within the economy. Productivity increases in these
sectors are expected to lead to a certain net loss of jobs in the
sector (beyond increased jobs due to expanded output). Opportunities
created in other tradable sectors in the economy would need to absorb
excess labor from traditional sectors and agriculture. This absorption
necessitates significant structural shifts and skills upgrading”,
stated in the report.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
'Is it OK to insult history of Armenians?' Turkish lawmaker criticizes
oppression of minorities in parliament
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Turkish lawmaker of Armenian origin
Selina Dogan from the opposition Republican People’s Party has raised
the issue of protecting the rights of national minorities, including
Armenians, at parliamentary debates of a bill package on prohibiting
the term “genocide”, Agos newspaper reports.
Speaking about those articles of the package which imply punishment
for lawmakers who will insult “the history of the Turkish nation and
the common past” (mentioning the Armenian Genocide is also considered
to be “an insult to the Turkish nation’s past”), Dogan emphasized that
these are simply attempts to silence the voice of minorities in the
parliament.
“Certainly, nobody must insult the history and common past of the
Turkish people. However, what will you say about the other peoples?
For instance, can is it OK to insult the history of the Armenian
people?”, she said.
She noted that the Turkish ruling party is silencing all structures
necessary for a democratic country one by one.
“The media is silenced, academicians are silenced, the business
community is silenced, workers’ unions, civil society are buried in
silence…..The only speakers are opposition lawmakers, whom in turn you
are trying to silence with these changes”, Dogan said.
Mentioning the recent detention of activists, the lawmaker drew
attention on the fact that lawfully acting figures in the legal sphere
are being declared “terrorists” in a matter of seconds.
She said that Turkish minorities are very concerned over the political
environment which is created by the authorities.
“Immediately after the coup attempt, the media outlets which are the
speakers of the ruling party began targeting the minorities. Last
Sunday the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul delivered a prayer for
the July 15 victims. The Jewish community of Turkey also delivered
prayers in synagogues for the July 15 victims on Saturday. And what
did the pro-government media do? It declared Fetullah Gulen to be
Armenian, it wrote that Gulen is cooperating with the Jews. They even
made the leader of the Orthodox Church, Supreme Patriarch Bartholomew,
who has devoted his entire life to peace, an accomplice to the armed
coup attempt. When this is the situation, what do you expect, what
should the minorities think?
Minorities are for the first time represented in the parliament by
this number of lawmakers. And with this bill related to the internal
rules of procedure you are cutting the voice of the minorities in the
parliament”, she said.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
Artsakh's military will always remain in the country, Armenian top
lawmaker's response to Cavusoglu's "ludicrous" statement
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. During a press briefing today,
Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov touched upon
Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusolgu’s statement regarding the “withdrawal of
Armenian forces from Artsakh”.
Sharmazanov particularly said: “A state which has openly supported and
is supporting the terrorist policy of Azerbaijan has nothing to do in
the settlement issue of the Artsakh conflict. The Artsakhi military
will always remain in Artsakh for one simple reason: it must defend
the peace of its holy and free country. And one more thing, it is
ridiculous when an occupier speaks about the peaceful solution of a
problem. Free Cyprus from your occupying presence instead of making
ludicrous calls”.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
Project on creating center for visits in Byurakan Observatory
presented to President Sargsyan
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Byurakan Observatory proposes to create
a center for visits which will include a virtual museum of
astronomical history, a hall for public lectures, improvement of the
road leading to the telescope, as well as its adjacent areas, reports
Armenpress.
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan today visited the Byurakan
Observatory aimed at getting introduced on the idea to establish such
center.
Director of the Observatory Areg Mikayelyan said the project will be
ready in the upcoming two weeks.
“The visit of the President is very important since only the visit to
the scientific center is important in itself in terms of the public
attitude towards the field. Science requires much more serious
investments at all directions, such as scientific research, technical,
preparation of cadres and etc. It is being carried out by various
means, and in this case we have proposed a program which is based on
the so-called scientific tourism idea one of the most important points
of which can be the Byurakan Observatory. The talk is about to make
the visit to scientific places interesting for tourists: those are
both the contemporary scientific structures, and the historical sites,
and the science museums and medieval universities”, the Director said.
According to Areg Mikayelyan, there are numerous such kind of places,
and it is necessary to coordinate the visits to such places for
tourism directions.
“Armenia has huge wealth in this field, however, it is necessary to
coordinate and examine this. Today the Byurakan Observatory hosts
5.000 visitors annually which is very low since the number could be
ten times more. The main problem is linked with improvement of
domestic conditions. If we make a little investment and create more
comfortable conditions for tourists, school-children, as well as the
remaining visitors, the flow will increase, the tour companies will
include Byurakan in their packages”, he said, adding that the
President’s attitude was positive, although he proposed to discuss the
project after developing it in-detail and presenting with respective
calculations.

Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday
His Holiness Garegin II congratulates Bako Sahakyan on his re-election
as President of Artsakh
YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II sent a congratulatory letter on July 19 to President of
Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on his re-election as the Artsakh President, the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress.
“Since the years of the Artsakh heroic liberation war, you had an
important contribution on strengthening the defense and independent
statehood of Nagorno Karabakh in your responsible posts. Over the past
ten years, as the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, you
increased your efforts aimed at contributing to the progress and
development of political, cultural and economic life of the Artsakh
Armenians. We are happy that after the constitutional changes of the
Artsakh Republic, our people of Artsakh in the face of the country’s
National Assembly, again trusted the responsible mission to lead the
country for the upcoming years to you by highly appreciating your
patriotism, skills and abilities and rich experience. Dear President,
standing before the Holy Altar, we deliver our prayer to Almighty God
so that the God will give you new significant achievements for the
sake of peace of the Artsakh world and secure life of our people”,
reads the congratulatory letter of His Holiness Garegin II.