Category: 2019

Sports: Armenia, Slovakia U16 teams tie match

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2019

Armenia’s and Slovakia’s U16 football teams played a friendly match at the Technical Center/Football Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia and tied the match (1-1).

The teams will play another match on August 18.

Friendly match, U16

Armenia-Slovakia: 1-1

Edgar Piloyan, 7- Robert Starecek, 35

Armenia’s U16 team

  1. Gor Matinyan, 10. Karen Davtyan, 9. Artur Israelyan (14. Hayk Ghazaryan, 77), 11. Misak Hakobyan (18. Grigor Ghumashyan, 58) 19. Hovhannes Hartenyan, 6. Mher Kankanyan, 5. Erik Amirkhanyan, 21. Hayk Simonyan (2. Vanik Petrosyan, 47), 7. Edgar Piloyan (8. Armen Adamyan, 65) 20. Sergey Manukyan (23. Artur Voskerchyan, 37), 3. Albert Hovhannisyan.

Head coach: Aghvan Ayvazyan

Sports: Glendale [Women’s Basketball] team wins 7th Pan-Armenian Games

Frangulian Shushan
News.am, Armenia
Aug 17 2019

By Lusine Shahbazyan

The Glendale team won the Pan-Armenian Women’s Basketball Championship title.

The Glendale team defeated Tehran’s basketball players 76-57.

According to Glendale team member Nairi Aslanyan, the victory was very important for them.

“We are proud to be the champions. We are all very pleased with the organizers of the Pan-Armenian Games that unite us, all Armenians around the world, in our homeland for a few days,” the athlete said.

The final of the men’s basketball clash (Beverly Hills vs Glendale team) is scheduled to take place for Friday at Mika Sports Complex.

Turkish-Armenian lawmaker addresses Argentine Congress

Parkev Tvankchian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Aug 16 2019
– 10:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Deputies Garo Paylan, who is of Armenian descent, and Ebru Günay of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) of Turkey delivered strong statements during a conference at the National Congress of Argentinaon Wednesday, August 15, reports Agencia Prensa Armenia.

“The same Genocide against the Armenians 105 years ago, could be repeated today against the Kurds,” said Paylan. “I am very grateful for Argentina’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Many countries recognized it, but did this stop our pain? We will achieve justice when the Turkish Parliament recognizes the Armenian Genocide,” said the Deputy. “Only a truly democratic Turkey will recognize the genocide against the Armenian people.”

Günay said that the HDP has gender parity and that those accused of gender violence or those who exercise polygamy are not allowed to participate in it.

“We are fighting for women in a region where patriarchy is very strong,” said Günay. “It is very difficult to fight for the rights of different peoples in an almost fascist environment.”

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/272096/TurkishArmenian_lawmaker_addresses_Argentine_Congress

Paylan and Günay are touring South America — Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. They met with Uruguayan Vice President Lucia Topolansky and former President Jose “Pepe” Mujica on August 13-14.

Birthplace of renowned Armenian poet Hamo Sahyan to be illuminated

Albert Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 16 2019

In the village of Lor of Armenia’s Syunik Province, people say that Lor is illuminated by Hamo Sahyan. More seriously, they expect to see the village on the tourist-friendly settlements map. They support their optimism by facts: The poet’s birthplace has a rich cultural history, and the problem of the village’s street lighting has begun to be solved. In this regard, they are assisted by the partners, VivaCell-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), who focus on the development of the infrastructures in the rural areas in their programs.

The lighting posts installation works has already begun. It is envisaged to illuminate a part of the village with LED lights system providing economic and environmental efficiency by installing 32 lamps. The works’ roadmap also includes the area of the famous poet’s house-museum, VivaCell-MTS said in a press release. 

Davit Arustamyan, the administrative head of the village, assesses the importance of the ongoing works in terms of safety, the promotion of eco-tourism, and just having normal conditions. After the collapse of the Soviet system, the streets of the village were not illuminated. The farmers who work in cattle breeding don’t have barns in their yards. They travel kilometers to reach the collective farm’s barns, remaining from the Soviet era. The dark streets become dangerous because of wolves’ attacks.

“The street lighting of Lor is one of the most important problems for the town. There have been cases of wolf attacks in the village, at night. Solving the issue is important both for human safety and for the development of eco-tourism. Hamo Sahyan’s house-museum is located, here. I am sure that lighting will also contribute to the development of tourism,” said administrative head of the Lori village, Davit Arustamyan.

The remote regions of Armenia continue to be at the focus of partner organizations. In order to solve the existing problems in many settlements, the works are coordinated over the years. The previous project of VivaCell-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) was implemented in Lor, four years ago. The village was provided with 24-hour water supply, then. A 2 km. long pipeline has been constructed, a daily water supply reservoir and a water tank have been renovated and fenced.

Newspaper: Fight against Istanbul Convention ratification expands geographical scope in Armenia

Andranik Taslakhchian
News.am, Armenia
Aug 16 2019
Newspaper: Fight against Istanbul Convention ratification expands geographical scope in Armenia Newspaper: Fight against Istanbul Convention ratification expands geographical scope in Armenia

10:33, 16.08.2019
                  

 

YEREVAN. – The fight against ratification of the Istanbul Convention has expanded its geographical scope in the Republic of Armenia (RA), Hraparak (Square) newspaper reported.

“Since the day before, the ‘Kamk’ [(Will)] public initiative is carrying out a signature campaign in Gyumri, the Shirak provincial center, against the [possible] ratification [by Armenia] of the Istanbul Convention.

“According to some reports, an incomparably active participation was recorded here; the initiators intend to visit virtually all provinces.

“After the signature campaign, they will petition to the CC [Constitutional Court] with a request to declare null and void the signing of the Istanbul Convention that runs contrary to the RA Constitution,” Hraparak wrote.

Armenian and Russian human rights defenders discuss Armenian labor migrants’ problems in Russia

Emma Jilavian
ARKA, Armenia
Aug 16 2019

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. Armenian and Russian human rights defenders Arman Tatoyan  and Tatyana Moskalkova met today in the Russian capital Moscow to look into what could be done to  resolve the problems encountered by Armenian labor migrants in Russia and also ethnic Armenian Russian citizens.

The active cooperation of the Armenian human rights defender’s office with the Armenian embassy in Russia was stressed. Armenian Ambassador Vardan Toghanyan, and president of the Union of Armenians in Russia Ara Abrahamyan were also present. -0-


GeoPromining urges journalists to abandon ‘primitive’ practice of seeking political context when covering foreign investors’ activities

Kanayan Tamar
ARKA, Armenia
Aug 16 2019

YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. GeoProMining, a diversified international group of mining companies, developing the Sotk gold deposit in Armenian province of Gegharkunik, has urged today local mass media to abandon what it called the ‘primitive’ practice of seeking a political context when covering the activities of foreign investors in Armenia.

The move comes after some Armenian electronic mass media outlets placed a story titled “Russians treat workers at Sotk gold mine as slaves. Employees sound  alarm.”

‘The heartbreaking story about ‘slaves’ working for Russian exploiters became an occasion for an obviously puff piece story aimed against  GeoPromining Gold company, otherwise how can one explain why journalists  ignore elementary principles of journalism that require  double-checking of facts and an alternative point of view,” GeoProMining press service said in a statement.

‘GeoProMining officially declares that the facts stated in the story are not only untrue, but are also a pure provocation on the part of those who grossly violated the rules of labor discipline and safety,’ the company said.

It said  one of the ‘characters’ of the story, Karo Melkonyan, who accuses Russians of treating local workers as ‘slaves’, was caught  July 5 this year red-handed by security officers of the deposit when  trying to steal gold-bearing ore. Security officers asked him to show what he had in his pockets. Instead Melkonyan said he wanted to go to the toilet to get rid of evidence, however, the security  officers reacted according to the instructions and prevented it.

The whole process was filmed on video cameras, the company filed an application with the police and provided law enforcement agencies with all the relevant materials. Karo Mikaelyan asked the company to let him resign instead of being sacked.

Another ‘character’ of the story , Andranik Margaryan, came to work drunk, got on a bus and went to the quarry. Security officers noted his inadequate physical condition and decided to dismiss him for gross violation of labor discipline. However, the employee asked to be dismissed at his own request.
GeoProMining Company declares that it strictly observes all the norms of the Labor Code and the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, the standards of labor discipline and safety.

GeoProMining was founded in 2001. In Armenia it owns two assets – the Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine and GPMGold, which develops the Sotk gold mine and runs the Ararat gold recovery factory.
The company  says over 12 years of operation in Armenia, its investments exceeded $505 million. The company’s social investments over the past 10 years amounted to $ 8.5 million. GeoProMining has about 2,500 employees. –0–

MP: Government’s further decisions on Amulsar should be based on PM’s position expressed last year

Toneyan Mark
Panorama, Armenia
Aug 16 2019

The Armenian government’s further decision on Amulsar gold mine, owned and operated by Lydian Armenia, should be based on a statement of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made last year, lawmaker Ruben Rubinyan said on Facebook.

Rubinyan, who also heads the parliament’s standing committee on foreign affairs, citied the PM’s 15 September statement which called for an audit on the Amulsar gold mine project to find out whether or not it poses serious environmental risks.

“If it turns out to be safe for Lake Sevan, Jermuk waters and water reservoir we will allow the mine to be operated, if not we will choose a different way,” the PM said.

The lawmaker insists it is a clear stance and promise, and now when the audit, published by Armenia’s Investigative Committee on Wednesday, found that the environmental risks of the mine exploitation are manageable, the government’s further decisions should stem from the PM’s position expressed last September.

“The issue should be resolved on the bases of the evaluation of facts, losses, achievements and political promises, but not on emotions,” the MP concluded.

Earlier on Thursday, a group of environmental activists staged a protest outside the government building against the renewed operation of the gold mine, claiming the audit is incomplete and the mine project would cause a serous danger to the environment.

Escalation: Both sides reinforcing the border

Chakrian Hovsep
Lragir, Armenia
Aug 14 2019
Escalation: Both sides reinforcing the border
Naira Hayrumyan
[Armenian News note: the below is translated from the Russian edition of Lragir]

The Azerbaijani media have reported on an exchange of fire on the border with Armenia’s Tavush Region and establishment of control on certain positions. The Armenian side is not denying that the adversary has made movements on the frontline, but is saying that Azerbaijan is trying to sell usual movements on its own territory as a great achievement. In addition, there have been reports on an Armenian soldier, who was wounded.

What is yet another activeness of Azerbaijani troops linked to? Reports on the inspection of operational readiness of the artillery with fusillade have also appeared today. A day earlier, Azerbaijan reported that an Armenian soldier was captured.

All this is happening on the day of Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev’s visit to Armenia. At his negotiations in Yerevan, Patrushev also discussed “the problem of regulating sales of weapons to third countries”. In other words, Yerevan raised the problem of arms sales to Azerbaijan for yet another time at negotiations with Moscow and Moscow gave yet another promise to “regulate” them.

While Patrushev was in Yerevan, the Kremlin made a statement on cancelling the summit between [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, [Iranian President Hassan] Rouhani, and [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev. At the same time, the Azerbaijani media published materials about Iran and Russia opposing the laying of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea bed. Turkey, for its part, renounced flights to [Azerbaijan’s exclave of] Naxcivan via the Armenian and Iranian airspaces, sending planes along the narrow “sovereign” corridor [connecting Turkish territory to Naxcivan]. Immediately after this, Aliyev made a phone call to Rouhani. Although the official report mentioned friendly relations between the two countries, the implications made insurmountable contradictions visible in the context. It was no accident that the Iranian consul in Naxcivan paid a visit to the administration of the region today and held important talks with its leadership.

Several days ago, Deputy Armenian Defence Minister Gabriyel Balayan said that the Armenian Armed Forces gained advantage on several combat positions on the border with Azerbaijan as a result of some engineering work done. “We have significant achievements as a result of engineering work. The objectives set for the engineering troops are being achieved. The recent round of tensions on the border was linked to the adversary’s attempts to prevent us from attaining advantages,” Balayan said.

The adversary also attempted to achieve positional advantage, but the Armenian Armed Forces prevent them from achieving it, he said. On 27 and 28 July, a soldier of the Armed Forces of the Republic Armenia, Arman Bulghadaryan was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting attack from Azerbaijan on the north-eastern segment of Armenia’s state border.

Let us recall that on 21 June, the chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group [that is mediating in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict] made a statement, which urged parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to refrain from any provocative actions. “including the use of snipers and engineering work along the line of contact and the international border”.

It is difficult to avoid skirmishes during engineering work, but it is assumed that both sides pursue the same goal, when doing it – to reinforce the existing border.