Category: 2018

168: The Republican Party of Armenia declares that it is not in favor of the proposed draft: Statement of the “Republican Party of Armenia” Faction

Edgar Tavakalian
| 17:25 | October 22 2018
Category
Politics

On the Government of the Republic of Armenia has initiated an extraordinary sitting including the draft law “On making amendments and additions to the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia”.

A number of factors have affected the formation of the RPA faction’s position on the draft.

As known, successful electoral reforms require broad discussions in order to encourage both – participation of the public and political forces in the reform process, and their reception of the final results of the reforms. The involvement of all the political forces is the only modus ensuring consensus on the changes in the electoral legislation. However, the way of the organization of the discussion on the draft and its presentation to the National Assembly prove that the Government has adopted diametrically different policy.

Thus,

• One can recall, that a working group consisting of representatives of the four factions was formed in the National Assembly, within which the “Yelq” (“Way Out”) Faction included representatives from the Civil Contract Party of the Prime Minister. It is noteworthy, that the parliamentary format of discussions within the international standards is considered the most effective way of drafting the electoral code, and in a number of cases (e.g. adoption of electoral system) broader consensus of the political forces is required. Already in August the parliamentary working group had summed up its proposals and sent them to the Government. However, even important proposals submitted as consensus by all four factions of the parliament were altogether ignored by the Government.

• The draft has been officially submitted to the National Assembly on October 17, 2018. Factions of the National Assembly had therefore had only two full working days to study the final variant of the draft. While the Government insists that the initial version had been posted on the “e-draft” website two weeks ago, it is irrelevant, since the initial version of the draft significantly differs from the version submitted to the National Assembly. Only to emphasize the scope of substantial alterations, it suffices to note that the draft posted on the “e-draft” website contained 87 articles, whereas the final one presented to the parliament only 69 articles.

• The draft has been hasty submitted not only to the National Assembly, but also to the Venice Commission. The draft has been submitted to the Commission only a few days ago. As a result the Venice Commission didn’t have an opportunity to hold a formal discussion and present formal opinion. In fact, for the first time the Venice Commission has been deprived of the opportunity to give an opinion and anticipate changes in the draft of the electoral code on the basis of that opinion before its adoption by the National Assembly. There is no OSCE / ODIHR opinion either.

• The proposed regulations are intended to be implemented during the upcoming extraordinary elections. In general agreeing to the idea of preterm elections, we have repeatedly opposed the haste in attempts of holding the elections until the end of 2018. Holding the elections within two months under pressure from the executive power deprives the political parties from the opportunity to reorganize and revise their tactics under the new electoral regulations. Such approach contradicts international standards. As established by the Venice Commission, while alterations of the electoral systems cannot per se be interpreted as a negative phenomenon, it is negative to change it just before the elections. The reason is that such haste, even in the absence of political manipulations, leaves an impression that they are available. In order to avoid it, the Commission recommends that if the Electoral Code is subjected to significant change, the new system should come into force at least one year after the adoption of the new law. It was reaffirmed by the President of Venice Commission in his October 19 statement – pointing to the need to maintain a one-year period for significant changes in the electoral code, such as the abolition of territorial lists.

Based on the afore-mentioned, the Republican Party of Armenia declares that it is not in favor of the proposed draft.

New Electoral Code rejected

Emil Lazarian
| 19:14 | October 22 2018
Category
Politics

With 56 “for” and 3 “against”, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia rejected the draft law “On making amendments and supplements to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Armenia “Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia””.

Let us mention that, nevertheless, there was no consensus between the political forces in regard to the amendments to the new Electoral Code since the political opposition, namely the Republican Party of Armenia, was against the urgent amendments that were proposed and presented the justifications for being against those amendments in a statement that the Republican Party of Armenia had issued earlier.

Daniel Ioannisyan: “Nikol Pashinyan’s unexpected decision to move the elections to December significantly increases the chances of sabotage”

Badalian Vardan
| 19:48 | October 22 2018
Category
Politics

Daniel Ioannisyan posted the following on his Facebook page: “Not only the Republican Party of Armenia and the Prosperous Armenia Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun, which committed a “slight” sabotage, but also the government are to blame for the rejection of the Electoral Code.

In particular, Nikol Pashinyan’s unexpected decision to move the elections to December significantly increased the chances of sabotage.

One of the major promises that Nikol Pashinyan had made was to make amendments to the Electoral Code prior to the elections, and we should not have begun the electoral process without an amended Electoral Code. In this case, if such sabotage was committed, the public would have had the opportunity to exert pressure on the National Assembly.”


EPIC Hosts Magdalena Yesil and Vahe Kuzoyan for Discussion on Entrepreneurship

Emil Lazarian
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia  
Tel: (+374 10) 32 40 40; (+374 60) 69 40 40 | Fax:  (+374 60) 61 25 12  

Webpage: www.aua.am

YEREVAN, Armenia ‒ On October 11, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted Magdalena Yesil and Vahe Kuzoyan for an intimate dialogue on their experiences as entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, as well as their views on the entrepreneurial climate in Armenia.

Yesil is an experienced entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author and board member of many of the world’s top technology companies. She was the first investor and a founding board member of Salesforce and the founder of Broadway Angels, a group of women angel investors. Her book, Power UP! How Smart Women Win in the New Economy, was released in November of 2017 and showcases  the empowerment of women in the startup culture. Yesil graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and master’s in Electrical Engineering.

AUA President Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian noted, “Magdalena is a good friend of the University in several ways. Aside from contributing to our scholarship program, on several occasions she has presented seminars to our students on her vast experience as an entrepreneur, an angel and a venture capitalist. Students always find her talks inspiring and have many questions to ask. She was a panelist at the launching of our “Yes, Armenian Women Can!” campaign and was featured in the campaign video. She is a strong advocate of women entrepreneurs, as is evident in her recent book, Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy.”

Kuzoyan graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Computer Science and Neuroscience. Soon after, he co-founded ServiceTitan, which has recently surpassed a billion dollar valuation and was named to Forbes 2018 Cloud 100 list. Kuzoyan and co-founder, Ara Mahdessian, are currently finalizing plans to open an engineering office in Armenia.

The central theme of their discussion was the concept of mitigating risk and overcoming failure. They spoke about how people hold themselves back from  fear of failure when starting new ventures, placing emphasis on how entrepreneurs should be comfortable taking risks and not allowing failure to define their actions or who they are. They discussed the various ups and downs that they have had in their careers, underscoring that the most successful entrepreneurs are those that continue to be aggressive and bold in the face of risk and potential failure. This perspective was important for potential EPIC entrepreneurs, as Armenia traditionally breeds a more conservative risk-averse climate.

During the Q&A session, topics ranged from the prospects of remote work in Armenia to the future of foreign investment in the country. Regarding remote work, both agreed that the internet is a leveling medium, you can do the work from anywhere in the world as long as you have the necessary skills. Though, Kuzoyan noted, there is still a need for in-person interaction in order to develop the bandwidth and skills to become a great engineer.

Yesil and Kuzoyan also agreed that Armenia attracts foreign investment. As long as the idea, business model, and financing strategy are sound, investment will follow. Kuzoyan noted that there are other capital creation requirements besides attracting investments, such as creating human capital by assembling a pool of skilled labor. Both acknowledged the need for Armenia to produce more engineering and business-minded college graduates.

A current AUA student, Angelina Khachaturyan (BAB ‘21), articulated her impressions of the event in these words: “Besides being informative Magdalena’s speech was very inspiring. It was a great pleasure to listen to her speak about authoring the book ‘Power Up,’ which is about entrepreneurship and women power. She told us about her failures and encouraged us to continue and never focus on failures. Also, she spoke about her venture capitalist experience. She considered herself a bridge between many startup companies and money angels. Among the companies she has had a chance to work with are PicsArt, SalesForce, and many others. The most interesting advice she offered at the end is  “Never Be Polite” in business platforms.”

For a full video of the dialogue or for more information on future events, check out EPIC’s Facebook page!

The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship with students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.

The California Courier Online, October 25, 2018

Emma Nadirian
The California Courier Online, October 25, 2018

1 –        Commentary

            Another Major Erdogan Corruption Scandal;

            This time on US Soil

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Pashinyan Resigns Paving Way for Snap Parliamentary Elections

3-         Forever Silenced: Saudia Arabia Says Journalist Khashoggi ‘Murdered’

4 –        Shuttered Lens: Legendary Turkish-Armenian Photographer Ara
Guler Dies

5 –        Pashinyan, Aliyev Establish ‘Operative’ Ties

6-         Armenia confirms participation in Eurovision 2019

7-         Veratartz Hayrenik: Knights and Daughters of Vartan

            Makes Historic Visit to Armenia

******************************************

1 –        Another Major Erdogan Corruption Scandal;

            This time on US Soil

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Not a week passes without the disclosure of another major scandal in
Azerbaijan or Turkey. The latest such scandal was exposed by the
Stockholm Center for Freedom in an article written by exiled Turkish
writer Abdullah Bozkurt, titled: “Utah case exposes more dirt on
Turkey’s Erdogan.”

The article reveals that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
corrupt tentacles reach into the United States, which makes the
subject of this scandal of particular interest to Special Counsel
Robert Mueller in connection with his Russia probe and “international
organized crime network,” according to Bozkurt.

“A federal grand jury in Utah returned a sealed indictment on Aug. 1,
2018, naming Erdogan as the leader of a foreign country who met with
highly controversial businesspeople in California and Utah in what was
claimed to be a major money laundering and tax fraud case,” Bozkurt
reported.

The indictment, unsealed on Aug. 24, 2018, charged that “Jacob Ortell
Kingston, the chief executive officer, and Isaiah Kingston, the chief
financial officer of Washakie Renewable Energy (WRE), by filing false
claims for tax credits, obtained over $511 million in renewable fuel
tax credits that were designed to increase the amount of renewable
fuel used and produced in the United States. Lev Aslan Dermen (Levon
Termendzhyan), owner of California-based fuel company NOIL Energy
Group with links to a transnational criminal enterprise, is also
identified as a partner in this grand scheme. From 2010 through 2016,
they fabricated documents and rotated products within the US as well
as overseas to make it appear that they were engaging in real trade to
qualify for the tax credits,” Bozkurt wrote.

The indictment stated that Jacob Kingston was arrested on Aug. 23,
2018, while on his way to Salt Lake City international airport headed
to Turkey after he was tipped off. Bozkurt reported: “The Kingstons
had already bought a luxury mansion in a seaside town in Turkey
according to a wire transfer from a WRE account to Termendzhyan’s
account at Turkey’s Garanti Bank on March 5, 2014. More wire transfers
to Turkey were listed in the indictment. Jacob Kingston, who
frequently traveled to Turkey to meet with top Turkish officials
including Erdogan, was often greeted like a VIP at the Turkish
airport, was provided a police escort and did not even use his
passport to enter Turkey according to witness testimony in the U.S.
indictment.”

Jacob Kingston first met Erdogan in New York in September 2017 when
the Turkish President came to the United States to attend the UN
General Assembly. This meeting took place “after FBI raided the
Kingston group’s properties on Feb. 10, 2016, and the revelations of
the fuel tax scam had already made the headlines in Utah,” according
to Bozkurt.

“In early November 2017, Jacob flew to Turkey to hold a series of
high-level meetings in both Ankara and Istanbul. He tapped Sezgin
Baran Korkmaz, the chairman of SBK Holding LLC, as the main conduit in
Turkey, while he kept a separate investment and asset management firm,
Mega Varlık Yönetim A.Ş., which was set up with equity of $450 million
in Turkey,” Bozkurt wrote.

“Termendzhyan also has a company named SBK Holdings USA, which is a
sister company to Korkmaz’s SBK Holding LLC in Turkey. Korkmaz was
quoted as telling the Turkish press that his partnership with WRE has
resulted in an investment valued at $1 billion and thanked Erdogan for
personally facilitating the business deals. According to the press
release issued on Sept. 9, 2016, by the Turkish government’s
Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT), WRE, the Noil Energy
Group and SBK Holding LLC have made significant investments in Turkey
and planned to do more. The partnership with SBK Holding began in 2013
with Noil Energy making the first batch of investments in real estate.
Construction and real estate businesses comprise the prime source for
ill-gotten proceeds for Erdogan’s massive multi-billion-dollar wealth.
The total investment reached $500 million with another half million
dollars assigned to a Mergers and Acquisitions fund for operations in
Turkey. The trio has made investments in all types of sectors
including pharmaceuticals, automotive, chemicals, technology, glass,
and food,” according to Bozkurt.

“With Erdogan’s political backing and cover, SBK Holding has expanded
its operations into various areas including finance, energy, real
estate, defense, mining, industry, tourism, technology, and logistics.
The company is mainly active in the finance industry through
investment banking, asset management, and raw materials financing. It
also has substantial interests in the energy sector that span both the
US and Russian markets. Erdogan was not bothered at all by the fact
that Termendzhyan was already implicated in a major probe that was
being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security for money
laundering, tax evasion, and stolen oil. Edgar Sargsyan, the
ex-president and former legal counsel for SBK Holdings USA, stated in
his declaration filed in court on July 14, 2017, that Termendzhyan, a
Russian [Armenian], is the head of a criminal organization. It is
worth remembering that he was arrested in 1993 for a gas tax scam in
the US, where the Russian mafia was known to have been actively
involved in similar scams in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He was also charged
with tax fraud and armed assault in the past and was convicted of
battery in 2013,” Bozkurt reported.

Interestingly, “Korkmaz appears to be the main conduit linking the
Kingstons and Termendzhyan to pro-Erdogan businessman Ekim Alptekin,
whose Dutch shell company Inovo BV hired former national security
advisor Mike Flynn’s Flynn Intel Group to run a smear campaign and
defame Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen, a U.S.-based cleric who emerged
as the main critic of the Erdogan regime. Flynn tapped former CIA
director James Woolsey to do the work against Gülen in a meeting held
with Korkmaz in California in August 2016. Woolsey and his wife had a
meeting with both Korkmaz and Alptekin in New York City on Sept. 20,
2016, to discuss the proposal. On Sept. 19, 2016, Flynn met with
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the foreign minister of Turkey, and Berat Albayrak,
Erdogan’s son-in-law who is also a minister in his cabinet, to discuss
another proposal to kidnap Gülen and whisk him away from U.S. soil to
Turkey. Two months later, on Nov. 8, 2016, Flynn published a poorly
written, derogatory op-ed on The Hill news website about Gülen, which
many suspected was penned by Turkish operatives, not Flynn. Flynn
later admitted to making false statements including lying about the
fact that Turkish government officials were supervising and directing
the work. He also misrepresented his lobbying on behalf of the Erdogan
government and lied about the op-ed he published on The Hill website,”
Bozkurt wrote.

Alptekin fled to Turkey after he was interviewed by the Mueller team
in May 2017 and dodged the subpoena that was subsequently issued after
investigators concluded that he had lied to them. Korkmaz was also
ordered to testify before a grand jury in Washington on Sept. 22,
2017, over possible violations of federal criminal laws including the
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). He also did not comply with
this subpoena. “It was believed that money in the amount of some
$450,000 that Alptekin’s Dutch shell company paid to Flynn, in fact,
came from Korkmaz. The Utah indictment reveals that Termendzhyan fled
to Turkey in August 2017 on the day state search warrants were
executed on his home and office,” Bozkurt revealed.

“If there was an independent judiciary in Turkey, this would have been
addressed first and foremost by the Turkish criminal justice system,
and Erdogan would have been forced to leave office in disgrace, at the
very least. Most likely he and his thugs would have been sentenced to
prison for breaking about a dozen Turkish laws. That is no longer
possible since the corrupt Turkish president has crippled the
judiciary, destroyed the independent media and suspended the rule of
law in the aftermath of a major graft investigation in December 2013
that uncovered his corrupt practices involving highly controversial
Iranian and Saudi businesspeople. Now we see U.S. judicial action on
Erdogan’s crimes that extended all the way to American soil. This time
he won’t have the political clout to cash in to derail or hush up the
legal cases that implicate him. He unsuccessfully tried before in the
Hakan Atilla case in New York, and he will likely suffer the same fate
in the Utah case as well,” Bozkurt concluded.

**************************************************************************************************

2-         Pashinyan Resigns Paving Way for Snap Parliamentary Elections

YEREVAN—In a live televised address to the nation on Tuesday, October
16, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan offered his resignation paving the
way for snap parliamentary elections, which he hopes will take place
in early December.

President Armen Sarkissian accepted the resignation of the cabinet,
according the presidential press service.

“I am resigning today as Prime Minister of Armenia. The goal of this
resignation, however, is not to distance myself from the office of
Prime Minister—meaning not to escape from the responsibility that I
have assumed before you. On the contrary, it is to bring the
nonviolent, velvet, people’s revolution that we together carried out
to an end, through holding early elections of parliament and returning
the entire power to the people,” said Pashinyan.

The roadmap for achieving early elections of parliament is: after the
prime minister’s resignation is accepted by the president, the
National Assembly must twice vote and twice not elect a prime minister
during the subsequent 14 days—which results in the National Assembly
being dissolved and the President of the Republic calling for early
(“snap”) elections of parliament.

The HHK, Tsarukyan bloc and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) publicly stated they would not nominate a candidate for prime
minister or elect a prime minister.
*********************************************************************************************

3 –        Forever Silenced: Saudia Arabia Says Journalist Khashoggi ‘Murdered’

(BBC, The Guardian)—Saudi Arabia has blamed the killing of journalist
Jamal Khashoggi on a “rogue operation”, giving a new account of an act
that sparked a global outcry. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox
News “the murder” had been a “tremendous mistake” and denied the
powerful crown prince had ordered it.

Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Saudis, under intense pressure to explain Khashoggi’s whereabouts,
have offered conflicting accounts.

They initially said he had left the consulate on October 2—but on
Friday, October 19 admitted for the first time he was dead, saying he
had been killed in a fight. This claim met widespread scepticism.

Turkish officials believe Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi
government, was murdered by a team of Saudi agents inside the building
and say they have evidence to prove it.

Adel al-Jubeir’s comments, describing the incident as murder, are some
of the most direct to come from a Saudi official.

“We are determined to find out all the facts and we are determined to
punish those who are responsible for this murder,” he said. “The
individuals who did this did this outside the scope of their
authority,” he added. “There obviously was a tremendous mistake made,
and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up.”

The minister also said that Saudi Arabia did not know where the body
was and insisted the action had not been ordered by Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, seen as the country’s most powerful figure.

“Even the senior leadership of our intelligence service was not aware
of this,” he said, calling it a “rogue operation”.

However, Yeni Safak, a media outlet close to Turkey’s government, says
it has information showing that the office of the crown prince
received four phone calls from the consulate after the killing.

Reuters news agency reported on Sunday it had spoken to a Saudi
official who said Khashoggi had died in a chokehold after resisting
attempts to return him to Saudi Arabia. His body was then rolled in a
rug and given to a local “co-operator” to dispose of.

Separately, CNN quoted a senior Turkish official as saying a Saudi
agent had been captured on surveillance footage dressed as the
journalist.

The video appears to show the man leaving the consulate by the back
door on the day the journalist was killed, wearing Khashoggi’s
clothes, a fake beard and glasses, CNN said.

In another development, Turkish police found a car belonging to the
Saudi consulate left in an underground car park in Istanbul. The
police asked prosecutors and Saudi diplomats for permission to search
the vehicle.

Saudi Arabia admitted for the first time on Friday that Khashoggi had
died, suggesting he had been killed in a fight with some of the people
he was meeting inside the consulate.

Until this point the authorities had maintained that the Saudi critic
was last seen leaving the building alive.

Saudi officials say they have arrested 18 people, sacked two aides of
Mohammed bin Salman and set up a body, under his leadership, to reform
the intelligence agency over the killing.

Both King Salman and the crown prince called Khashoggi’s son, Salah,
on Sunday to express their condolences over his death, the Saudi Press
Agency reports.

Salah Khashoggi resides in Saudi Arabia and had reportedly been barred
from leaving the country to visit his father who was living in
self-imposed exile in the US.

Meanwhile, Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, who raised the
alarm about his disappearance after waiting for him for hours outside
the consulate, was given 24-hour police protection, Turkey’s Anadolu
news agency reports.

Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
dismissed the Saudi version of events. “One cannot help but wonder how
there could have been a ‘fist fight’ between 15 young expert
fighters… and a 60-year-old Khashoggi, alone and defenceless,” he
wrote in Yeni Safak newspaper.

“The more one thinks about it, the more it feels like our intelligence
is being mocked.”

President Erdogan said he would reveal the “naked truth” of the matter
in parliament on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump earlier said there had been “deception” and
“lies” in Saudi Arabia’s explanation, having previously said last week
he found their narrative to be credible—and that he thought the United
States would be “punishing itself” by halting military sales to Saudi
Arabia.

The UK, France and Germany expressed shock at the death and demanded a
full explanation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will not allow arms
exports to Saudi Arabia to continue, and Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau has threatened to cancel a multi-billion dollar defence
contract with the Gulf kingdom.

But several of Saudi Arabia’s regional allies—including Kuwait and
Egypt—have come out in its support.

For Erdogan, the gruesome killing marks a historic moment: a chance to
turn the tables gifted to him by a cruel and reckless act that has
sparked revulsion, even among the kingdom’s allies.

“This has become a strategic struggle between Erdogan and his vision
for the Middle East and a vision shared by Prince Mohammed and his
allies, Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and
Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi,” said Soner Çağaptay, the
director of the Turkish programme at the Washington Institute.

“Erdogan sees an opportunity in the Khashoggi murder—in that he
realizes Prince Mohammed has become the weakest link in the
anti-Erdogan, anti-Muslim Brotherhood corner of the region. This is
really thin ice that Prince Mohammed is dancing on and I think Erdogan
is attempting to make it even thinner.

Senior Saudis who sought solace from Erdogan in Ankara in the past
fortnight left town believing he had an even bigger prize in
sight—relaunching Turkey as a regional Islamic power base, while
diminishing Riyadh’s claim to be the pre-eminent voice for Sunni
Islam.

Çağaptay believes Erdogan’s goals are more limited—for now. “What he’s
trying to get out of this is to sideline, or maybe even neutralize
Prince Mohammeda at least when it comes to Turkey. He wants to take
one of his opponents out of that triple entente that opposes him.”
***************************************************************************************************

4 –        Shuttered Lens: Legendary Turkish-Armenian Photographer Ara
Guler Dies

World-renowned Turkish-Armenian photographer Ara Güler, nicknamed the
“Eye of Istanbul,” passed away late Wednesday, October 17, at the
intensive care unit of the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Istanbul
after attempts to revive him failed. He was 90.

For years he had suffered from kidney failure and underwent dialysis
three times a week.

Born on August 16, 1926, Güler studied at Getronagan Armenian High
School. His father owned a pharmacy, but had many friends that
belonged to the world of art.

Guler’s work is included in the collections of institutions worldwide,
such as Paris’s National Library of France; New York’s George Eastman
Museum; Das imaginäre Photo-Museum; Museum Ludwig Köln; and Sheldon
Memorial Art Gallery. He won several awards for his work, including
Turkey’s Photographer of the Century, 1999; Master of Leica, 1962;
France’s Légion d’honneur; Lifetime Achievement Lucie Award, 2009; and
Turkey’s Grand Prize of Culture and Arts, 2005. In 2004, he was give
honorary fellowship by Istanbul’s Yıldız Technical University. He also
conducted interviews with such famous historic figures as Salvador
Dali and Winston Churchill.

He celebrated his 90th birthday with the opening of a museum named
after him. In January, a street in his neighborhood was also named
after him.

“I have always remained loyal to Istanbul,” Ara Güler had told the
French newspaper Le Monde in the interview he gave for the opening of
his exhibition in Paris.

Originally a film student who studied under Muhsin Ertuğrul, he
eventually abandoned cinema in favor of journalism and, in 1950, while
studying economics at University of Istanbul, started working as a
photojournalist at the Turkish newspaper Yeni Istanbul. In 1958, Güler
became the first correspondent for Time-Life’s Turkey branch, which
opened the door to publication in a number of other international
magazines. In 1961, he was hired by Hayat magazine as its chief
photographer, and during that period met Marc Riboud and Henri
Cartier-Bresson, who recruited him to join Magnum Photos. His work
continued on to international acclaim, appearing in exhibitions in
Germany and New York.

Güler’s philosophy on photography attached great importance to the
presence of humans in photography; he considered himself a visual
historian. According to him, photography should provide people with
memory of their suffering and their life. He felt that art can lie but
photography only reflects reality. He did not value photography as
art, but rather preferred photojournalism.
*****************************************************************************************************

5-         Pashinyan, Aliyev Establish ‘Operative’ Ties

YEREVAN—A mechanism for “operative” ties has been established between
the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to Acting Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan who told reporters on Thursday, October 18,
that since a brief conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev the system has been effective.

Pashinyan and Aliyev held a discussion in Dushanbe, Tajikistan earlier
this month when the two were attending a summit of CIS leaders.
According to Pashinyan, he and Aliyev agreed to de-escalate tension
along the Armenia-Azerbaijan and Artsakh-Azerbaijan borders.

“Based on our agreement, a reliable and operative connection has been
established with the Azerbaijani side and we can say that any
information can be conveyed to the Azerbaijani President and from
their side to me within half an hour,” Pashinyan told reporters,
explaining that the communication between the two leaders takes place
on an as needed basis.

Pashinyan also attributed the recent relative calm on the borders to
his conversation and agreements with Aliyev.

“Generally speaking, the situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border and
Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line is unprecedentedly calm and it is, in
some sense, the result of Dushanbe agreements,” explained Pashinyan.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************

6-         Armenia confirms participation in Eurovision 2019

Armenia has confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2019. The 64th
Eurovision Song Contest will take place at the Expo Tel Aviv
(International Convention Center) in Israel from May 16 to 18, 2019.

Israel is hosting the contest for a third time having previously
staged the Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999.
Armenia has participated in Eurovision 12 times since making its debut
in 2006, when Andre became the first participant representing not only
Armenia but the entire Transcaucasus region. Armenia has reached the
top 10 on seven occasions. Armenia’s best results have been two
fourth-place finishes: Sirusho with the song “Qele, Qele” (2008) and
Aram Mp3 with “Not Alone” (2014).
**********************************************************************************************************************************************

7-         Veratartz Hayrenik: Knights and Daughters of Vartan

            Makes Historic Visit to Armenia

Knights and Daughters of Vartan (KDV) leadership including Grand
Commander Dr. Gary Zamanigian, Past Grand Commander Steve Kradjian,
Past Grand Matron Sona Manuelian, Grand Associate Matron Salpy
Mankerian and Grand Secretary Taline Mankerian Kedjidjian including
the organizers Commander Hunan Arshakyan and Commander Tigran Sahakyan
and more than 40 members traveled to Armenia from September 15 to 22,
as a delegation to meet with dignitaries and visit the many service
projects supported by the KDV. The trip was an historic one in the
history of the organization as leaders met with the President of the
Republic of Armenian, Armen Sarkissian, to discuss current and future
service projects of the KDV. The leadership also met with the US
Ambassador to Armenia, Richard M. Mills and the Diaspora Minister,
Mkhitar Hayrapetyan.

On September 17, The KDV visited a Knights of Vartan (KOV) supported
school in Aparan with $320,000 in donations coming from KOV and the
World Bank, making it the largest project in Aparan, serving 120
students. The delegation was met by the mayor of Aparan as they were
led to the newly renovated auditorium to watch a wonderful recital by
the school children. The day ended with a wonderful dinner reception
hosted by the gracious Arshakyan family who are residents of Aparan
and San Diego, CA and who are KDV members.

On September 19, the delegation attended the opening of the newly
remodeled Ijevan Music School, where they were met with traditional
Armenian music and the children leading them to their new auditorium
where they had a musical performance.

The fundraising for the renovations was spearheaded by Past Matron
Barbara Haroutunian of Detroit, after being overcome with sadness with
the disrepair of the school during her visit last summer. Haroutunian
singlehandedly collected more than $24,000 for the school and when the
delegation entered the music school on this trip, they were overcome
with gratitude by the staff to the donors for their ability to make
the school a better place for the precious Armenian children.

On September 20, the delegation was delighted to visit the Knights of
Vartan School #106. Under the leadership of Principal Marine
Vardanyan, the KDV was treated to a beautiful presentation featuring
the 2,800th Anniversary of Yerevan by the school children. The KOV
supported many renovations to the school and under the leadership of
Grand Matron Diana Tookmanian shipments of scarves, mittens, warm
socks and blankets were sent to the children.

On September 22, the delegation was honored and delighted to attend
the home blessing of the Dzhumyan family in Nor Gyugh. The family of
five which included their grandmother had been living in a metal
container (Domik) for twelve years. With the assistance of Fuller
House and Past Matron Sona Manuelian of New Jersey and the generous
donation of $10,500 from the Knights of Vartan, the family is now
living in a beautiful new home.

The Knights of Vartan also built a sports and cultural complex which
includes a basketball court, a swimming pool and an outdoor
amphitheater in the region of Tavush. The project was spearheaded by
the Mamigonian lodge of Brooklyn, New York, led by Commander Tigran
Sahakyan. The center will provide much needed after school activities
for the region including swimming lessons, which the children of
Tavush have never had. It was a very large undertaking with $200,000
in donations including a large sum of money donated by NS Tigran
Sahakyan, which proved to be an extremely successful project.

Grand Associate Matron Salpy Mankerian and Grand Secretary Taline
Mankerian Kedjidjian also visited the Mer Hooys home for disadvantaged
girls aged 8-22, which is supported by the Daughters of Vartan. They
left the residence that day impressed with the program, the staff, the
home and the wonderful residents.

The girls are given a faith-based foundation, they are taught life
skills, they take music and language lessons and are given a college
education in order for them to live independent lives after graduation
from the home. The girls were joyful and happy to perform on the piano
for the visitors as well as singing and dancing for them and at the
end they all joined in together to dance the traditional Armenian
Shoorchbar with their visitors.

The KDV leadership also had the opportunity to meet with the
Presidents of the American University of Armenia, Dr. Armen Der
Kiureghian and of the Polytechnic University, Dr. Vostanik Marukhyan.
The KDV reiterated its mission to support both schools by continuing
with providing scholarships to students and to continue to foster an
environment that may provide opportunities for both U.S. students and
students from Armenia. The delegation also attended Church services at
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, after which a wreath was placed at the Armenian
Genocide Memorial Complex and an evergreen tree was planted next to a
plaque donated by the Knights of Vartan.

The trip concluded with a Banquet attended by eighty Knights and
Daughters of Vartan at the beautiful Megerian Carpet Museum with
appreciation given to those who have made contributions to the
realization of the many service projects that have given hope and
changed so many lives in Armenia.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************

California Courier Online provides viewers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week’s issue of The California
Courier.  Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
address, However, authors are
requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or telephone numbers
to verify identity, if any question arises. California Courier
subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify
mailing addresses. Those changes can be made through our e-mail,
, or by phone, (818) 409-0949.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/22/2018

Jagharian Tania 
                                        Monday, 
Pashinian’s Party Wins, Loses Local Elections
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and acting Mayor Diana Gasparian (L) 
attend a festival in Echmiadzin, 7 October 2018.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract party won mayoral elections in 
at least two major Armenian towns but was defeated in another at the weekend.
Voters in nearly 50 communities across Armenia went to the polls on Sunday to 
elect their chief executives or local councils. As was the case in the 
September 23 municipal elections in Yerevan, the polls were marked by a lack of 
serious fraud reported by election candidates, observers and media.
In the largest of those communities -- the towns of Armavir, Echmiadzin, 
Hrazdan and Kapan -- the elections were held because their former mayors 
resigned shortly after Pashinian swept to power in May in what is known as a 
democratic “velvet revolution.” They were affiliated or linked with former 
President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK).
In Echmiadzin, official vote results gave victory to Civil Contract’s Diana 
Gasparian, the acting mayor appointed by Pashinian’s government in June. 
Gasparian, 30, was challenged by 11 other contenders. She is the first female 
head of an Armenian urban community elected since the early 1990s.
Another Civil Contract candidate, Davit Khudatian, prevailed in the mayoral 
race in Armavir. The town located about 50 kilometers west of Yerevan is the 
administrative center of the Armavir province encompassing Echmiadzin.
The snap election in another provincial capital, Hrazdan, was won by a 
25-year-old son of Sasun Mikaelian, a prominent Hrazdan-based politician and a 
leading member of Civil Contract. The party leadership pointedly declined to 
back Sevak Mikaelian for still unclear reasons, however.
Pashinian’s party suffered a setback in Kapan, the capital of the southeastern 
Syunik province bordering Iran. Its candidate, Narek Babayan, was defeated by a 
non-partisan challenger.
Pashinian personally campaigned for Babayan, holding a rally in Kapan on Friday.
The Armenian prime minister put a brave face on the setback on Monday. While 
saying that he is “very sorry” for Babayan’s defeat, he portrayed the election 
outcome as a triumph of democracy.
“It’s an unprecedented phenomenon [for Armenia] when the country’s prime 
minister backs a candidate and that candidate doesn’t win an election. This is 
the greatest victory for democracy in the history of the Third [Armenian] 
Republic,” Pashinian declared in a trademark video address to the nation aired 
on Facebook.
“Citizens made a decision and the government didn’t even attempt to place the 
citizens’ choice into the bounds of its wishes. Dear people, this is what we 
did the revolution for,” he said.
The former ruling HHK had for years swept most local elections in Armenia, 
heavily relying on its administrative and financial resources. Sarkisian’s 
party has essentially refrained from contesting such polls since losing power.
According to Pashinian, Civil Contract nominated or endorsed candidates in 15 
communities and only two of them lost in Sunday’s elections.
Armenian Parliament Fails To Pass Key Election Bill
        • Sisak Gabrielian
Armenia - The National Assembly debates amendments to the Electoral Code 
drafted by the government, Yerevan, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian accused Armenia’s outgoing parliament of 
“sabotage” on Monday after it voted down major amendments to the Electoral Code 
drafted by his government for snap general elections expected in December.
The amendments formally approved by the government on October 16 are aimed at 
facilitating the proper conduct of the elections. They would, among other 
things, change the existing legal mechanism for distributing seats in the 
National Assembly which many believe favored Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party 
(HHK) in the last parliamentary elections held in April 2017.
Under Armenia’s constitution, any amendment to the Electoral Code must be 
backed by at least 63 members of the 105-member parliament. Only 56 lawmakers 
voted for the government bill.
Pashinian was quick to accuse the parliament majority of “sabotaging” the work 
of his cabinet. “They hope that in this way they will manage to turn the fresh 
parliamentary elections into an instrument for revanche,” he said. “But I want 
to make clear that even if the elections are held under the existing Electoral 
Code that will not change anything because the victory of the people is 
inevitable and cannot be stolen by anyone.”
“There will be no return to the past,” Pashinian added, urging supporters to 
get ready for “completing regime change” in Armenia.
The bill was essentially blocked by the HHK, which still has the largest 
parliamentary faction.
The former ruling party officially voiced its opposition to the proposed 
changes in a statement released earlier in the day. It said that they were 
submitted to the parliament at a very short notice and that the lawmakers 
therefore did not have enough time to look into them.
The HHK also accused the government of ignoring a number of alternative 
proposals that were jointly made by the four political forces represented in 
the current National Assembly.
The HHK’s stance was denounced by other parliamentary forces. Naira Zohrabian, 
a top representative of Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), 
called it an act of “political sabotage.”
The HHK’s deputy chairman, Armen Ashotian, remained unrepentant, however, 
saying that the electoral system must not be changed less than two months 
before the anticipated elections. “It is simply absurd to build democracy in 
the country with undemocratic methods,” Ashotian told reporters.
In the 2017 elections, Armenians voted for not only parties and blocs as a 
whole but also their individual candidates running in a dozen nationwide 
constituencies. The individual races greatly helped the HHK to score a 
landslide victory at the time. Wealthy HHK candidates relied heavily on their 
financial resources and government connections to earn both themselves and 
their party many votes.
The bill put forward by Pashinian’s government also envisages safeguards 
against vote rigging and other major changes such as a lower vote threshold for 
winning seats in the parliament.
Gianni Buquicchio, the president of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, 
said on Friday that the draft amendments “pursue legitimate aims and seem 
mostly positive.” In a statement, he also noted “the specific situation in 
Armenia, which requires the holding of early elections.”
Buquicchio said at the same time that the commission still has “reservations” 
about the proposed change of the electoral system. He stressed, though, that 
“these reservations are less relevant if there is consensus among political 
forces about the change.”
The government is allowed to reintroduce the bill to the parliament and force 
another urgent debate on it in the coming days. Pashinian did not say whether 
the government will do so.
Trump Lawyer Giuliani Visits Armenia
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan (R) meets with former New York Mayor 
Rudy Giuliani in Yerevan, .
U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani met with Armenia’s 
Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and visited the Armenian genocide memorial in 
Yerevan on Monday during what he described as a private trip to the country.
Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York City from 1994-2001, was invited by 
Ara Abrahamian, a pro-Kremlin leader of the Armenian community in Russia, to 
take part in an international forum in the Armenian capital organized by the 
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led trade bloc.
Giuliani was accompanied by Abrahamian when he visited the Tsitsernakabert 
memorial to pay his respects to some 1.5 million Armenians massacred by the 
Ottoman Turks during the First World War.
As New York mayor, he had repeatedly issued statements recognizing the genocide 
and attended commemorations of the genocide victims organized by 
Armenian-American advocacy groups.
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service at Tsitsernakabert, Giuliani was asked 
whether he believes Trump should also publicly describe the 1915 mass killings 
as genocide. “I certainly recognize it,” he replied. “I think it’s a historical 
fact. But I’m not here in my capacity as a private lawyer for President Trump. 
I’m here as a private citizen.”
“So it’s up to the administration to make its own conclusion about that,” he 
added.
Like his predecessors, Trump avoided using the word genocide in his statements 
issued for the annual April 24 commemorations of genocide anniversary in the 
United States. He spoke instead of “one of the worst mass atrocities of the 
20th century.”
Giuliani was also careful not to comment on U.S.-Armenian relations, saying 
that “it’s up to the two governments” to develop them. “Again, I’m here as a 
private citizen just to learn some facts in my first time in Armenia,” he said. 
“I know the Armenian community in America well but this is my first time here.”
Giuliani met with Tonoyan later in the day. A statement by the Armenian Defense 
Ministry said the minister briefed him on “the security environment around 
Armenia.” The two men also “exchanged views on a number of regional and 
international issues,” added the statement.
Giuliani, 74, is known for his hawkish views on America’s relations with Iran, 
a key neighbor of Armenia. He has strongly supported Trump’s controversial 
decision to pull out of an international deal on Iran’s nuclear program and to 
re-impose economic sanctions on Tehran.
Like the other world powers that signed it -- France, Germany, Britain, Russia 
and China -- Armenia continues to support the 2015 deal. It has made clear that 
it will press ahead with joint economic projects with the Islamic Republic.
Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, is due to arrive in Yerevan 
later this week as part of a tour of Russia and the three South Caucasus states.
Press Review
(Saturday, October 20)
“Hraparak” reports that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe gave on 
Friday a cautious but mostly positive assessment of amendments to the Electoral 
Code drafted by the Armenian government. The paper says the commission stated 
that its reservations will not really matter if Armenian parliamentary forces 
reach a consensus on the entire legislative package.
“Aravot” says that the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) will take a “risky 
step” if it does decide to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. 
“It can be said for certain that this party would not win seats in the 
parliament,” editorializes the paper. It says the HHK’s participation would 
also have a negative impact on “the whole atmosphere of the election campaign.” 
In that case, it says, Nikol Pashinian’s party and other all contenders would 
spend most of their time lambasting the HHK and Sarkisian.
“Zhamanak” says that Pashinian will likely meet with local leaders of the 
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) during his upcoming visit to 
Lebanon. The paper expects Pashinian to discuss with them their party’s 
activities in Armenia.
“Business expects real work from the government,” reads a headline in “168 
Zham.” “The economy has stopped because there is no economic policy and there 
is no vision as to where we are headed,” writes the paper. It says that 
Pashinian’s government is hampering economic growth with its “crude” tax 
evasion and other crackdowns on businesspeople. “There is hardly any major 
business that has not been inspected and made a subject of public vendettas for 
slighter violations in the past several months. The fact is that business is 
definitely not looking forward to the parliamentary elections … Business is 
waiting to see when this theater will end so that it can operate in normal 
conditions and develop the country.”
(Tatev Danielian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

EBRD and GCF support Armenian green investment.

Emil Lazarian
European Union News
October 20, 2018 Saturday
EBRD and GCF support Armenian green investment.
 
 
London: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UK Government has issued the following news release: Ameriabank becomes first EBRD partner in Armenia to receive loan under Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) programme Loan will help SMEs and corporates investing in green technology Fund co-financed by EBRD and Green Climate Fund Small businesses in Armenia will have more opportunities to invest in green technology thanks to a US$ 12.5 million long the EBRD is providing to Ameriabank for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporates for green investments. The loan is co-financed by the EBRD and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the largest international climate fund created in 2010 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. GCF supports low-emission and climate-resilient programmes in developing countries.
 
The funds to Ameriabank are being provided under the EBRD Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF), a framework to help businesses invest in climate adaptation and mitigation technologies, which also help to improve their productivity and reduce costs. Companies interested in small-scale renewable energy projects may also benefit from investment incentives funded by the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) through the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP). The GEFF includes a comprehensive technical advisory package, co-financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance and the GCF, which helps originate and verify green investment opportunities. Ameriabank is one of the leading banks in Armenia and has cooperated with the Bank since 2010, providing financing to SMEs, energy efficiency projects under the Caucasus Energy Efficiency Programme (CEEP), women-led businesses under the EBRD’s Women in Business programme and to local entrepreneurs under the Bank’s Trade Facilitation Programme. Ameriabank is well positioned to reach SMEs, corporates, technology suppliers, producers, vendors and installers that could benefit from green technologies. The GEFF will contribute towards building a green economy in Armenia by supporting the expansion of green finance in accordance with the EBRD Green Economy Transition (GET) approach. Possible investments include technologies that boost the sustainable use of energy and water resources such as thermal insulation, photovoltaic solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, energy efficient boilers and water efficient irrigation systems. Businesses can identify typical green technologies available in Armenia through the GEFF Technology Selector. Since the start of its operations in Armenia in 1992, the EBRD has invested €1.2 billion in 168 projects in the country’s financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 88 per cent of investments in the private sector. Since 2006, the EBRD has committed over €26 billion to projects furthering the transition to the green economy across its 38 markets of operations.
 
 
 

Process of CSTO Secretary General replacement to be completed shortly, deputy minister says

Mary Lazarian
TASS, Russia
Oct 20 2018
Process of CSTO Secretary General replacement to be completed shortly, deputy minister says

YEREVAN October 20

The process of replacement of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov accused of overthrowing the Armenian constitutional order in 2008, will be completed shortly, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told TASS on Saturday.

YEREVAN, October 20. /TASS/. The process of replacement of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov accused of overthrowing the Armenian constitutional order in 2008, will be completed shortly, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told TASS on Saturday.

“The process of Secretary General’s replacement and appointment of the new CSTO head will consist of two stages. As for replacement of the CSTO Secretary General, that process will be completed shortly. As for the second stage, the CSTO regulations do not stipulate for a case like that. An all-embracing solution is required in order to work out a clear approach for such cases in the future,” he said.

According to Kocharyan, “either the country that proposed the CSTO Secretary General candidacy will propose a new one, or another country in alphabetical order will take over the chairmanship in the organization.”

On July 26, Armenia’s Special Investigative Service pressed charges against Khachaturov, accusing him of overthrowing the constitutional order in 2008, and asked the court to impose a pre-trial detention on him. Khachaturov, who was the Commander of the Yerevan Garrison of the Armenian Armed Forces at that time and has served as CSTO Secretary General since 2017, denied his guilt. On July 28, Yerevan City Court of General Jurisdiction released Khachaturov on his own recognizance after a $10,000 bail was paid.

Armenia was rocked by a wave of protests in the wake of the presidential election held on February 19, 2008. The protesters disagreed with its official results, with Serzh Sargsyan winning the race. The protests were organized by supporters of Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan who had presidential ambitions at that time.

Beirut: President Aoun Meets with Armenian Prime Minister in Baabda

Emil Lazarian
Naharnet, Lebanon
October 20, 2018 Saturday
Aoun Meets with Armenian Prime Minister in Baabda
 
 
President Michel Aoun received visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda where talks highlighted bilateral ties between the two countries, the State-run National News Agency reported.
 
The Armenian PM and his spouse had arrived early Saturday in Beirut accompanied by Armenia’s Foreign Minister and a delegation of officials, NNA said.
 
Pashinyan is scheduled to hold talks with senior Lebanese officials during his two-day visit, said NNA.
 
HE will later hold talks with PM-designate Saad Hariri, Speaker Nabih Berri and several Lebanese officials, added the agency.

Beirut: Lebanese Officials Meet Visiting Armenian Prime Minister

Vanyan Gary
Naharnet, Lebanon
October 20, 2018 Saturday
Lebanese Officials Meet Visiting Armenian Prime Minister


President Michel Aoun received visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda where talks highlighted bilateral ties between the two countries, the State-run National News Agency reported.

After the meeting, Armenian Prime Minister reiterated support for the stability of Lebanon and the Armenian presence in the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces.

He also stressed the importance of establishing an academy in Lebanon for further dialogue between cultures and religions.

The Armenian PM and his spouse had arrived early Saturday in Beirut accompanied by Armenia’s Foreign Minister and a delegation of officials, NNA said.

Pashinyan is scheduled to hold talks with senior Lebanese officials during his two-day visit, said NNA.

After meeting Aoun, he held meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri and PM-designate Saad Hariri.