Category: 2019

PM Pashinyan invites Armenians of Los Angeles to gather on September 22

Garnik Tadevosian

PM Pashinyan invites Armenians of Los Angeles to gather on September 22

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20:53,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will leave for the USA in September, where he plans to meet with the Armenian community of Los Angeles. ARMENPRESS reports addressing the Armenians of Los Angeles and nearby areas in a Facebook live, Pashinyan invited them to participate in a gathering.

”The long expected meeting will take place on September 22, at 16:00 Los Angeles time. I invite all of you to the Grand Park of Los Angeles, where I will give a speech. I invite our compatriots from Los Angeles and nearby cities. I hope we will discuss the agenda which we last touched upon during the gathering in Stepanakert. I hope we will organize a powerful gathering that day in Los-Angeles which many people righteously call the capital of the Diaspora. I think my visit will be productive”, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan emphasized that Los Angeles was one of the most important centers of the support to the non-violent, velvet revolution and highly appreciated their support.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




The California Courier Online, August 15, 2019

Ekmekjian Janet
The California Courier Online, August 15, 2019

1 –        U.S. Appeals Court Makes a Wrong

            Decision on Armenian Demands

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Armenian Community Grieves Genocide Scholar Vahakn Dadrian

3 –        Lawsuit Against Turkey Proceeds In US Federal Court

4-         Commentary: Who Are Armenia’s Real Enemies From Within?

5-         Civilitas / CivilNet Welcome New Director Apo Boghigian

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1 –        U.S. Appeals Court Makes a Wrong

            Decision on Armenian Demands

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit made a
decision on August 8, 2019 to deny the appeal of two lawsuits brought
by several Armenian-Americans demanding compensation from the Republic
of Turkey and two of its banks for confiscating their properties
shortly after the Armenian Genocide.

The first lawsuit was filed in December 2010 by Alex Bakalian, Anais
Haroutunian, and Rita Mahdessian seeking $65 million from the Central
Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and Ziraat Bankasi. The second lawsuit
was filed by David Davoyan (administrator of the Estate of Garbis
Tavit Davoyan) and Hrayr Turabian against the Republic of Turkey, the
Central Bank of Turkey, and Ziraat Bankasi.

The U.S. Court of Appeals confirmed the 2013 decision of Judge Dolly
Gee who dismissed the two lawsuits declaring that “under the political
question doctrine which says certain questions—in this case,
determining whether Turkey’s actions were genocide—should be handled
by the executive branch, not the courts,” according to the Courthouse
News Service.

The Court of Appeals, however, rejected the appeal for a different
reason, claiming that the two Armenian lawsuits are time-barred. In
2006, a California statute had set the deadline of 2016 for such
lawsuits stating that: “Any action, including any pending action
brought by an Armenian Genocide victim, or the heir or beneficiary of
an Armenian Genocide victim, who resides in this state, seeking
payment for, or the return of, deposited assets, or the return of
looted assets, shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with the
applicable statute of limitation, if the action is filed on or before
December 31, 2016.”

Unfortunately, in 2012, Ninth Circuit Judge Susan P. Graber, in the
case of Movsesian vs. Victoria Versicherung AG, invalidated the
California statute extending the time for bringing certain insurance
claims based on the Armenian Genocide. Judge Graber wrote that “the
statute was preempted under the foreign affairs doctrine,” according
to the Metropolitan News-Enterprise.

The August 8, 2019 decision by the Court of Appeals is contradictory
in the sense that while Judge Andrew Hurwitz (who wrote the Appeals
Court decision) acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, he ignored the
fact that genocides have no statute of limitations, therefore
regardless of how much time has elapsed, genocide-related lawsuits
could not be dismissed on that basis.

Here is what Judge Hurwitz wrote in the decision of the Court of
Appeals: “From 1915 to 1923, in what is often referred to as the
Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman Empire massacred, forcibly expelled, or
marched to death 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens, seizing the
property of the dead and deported.”

In another section of the Appeals Court decision, under the subtitle
of ‘Facts,’ Judge Hurwitz added the following comments on the Armenian
Genocide: “During World War I, the Ottoman Empire began forcibly
relocating its Armenian subjects away from population centers and into
the desert, causing the deaths of over a million ethnic Armenians. The
Empire confiscated the real property left behind by the victims of the
Armenian Genocide.”

Judge Hurwitz agreed with the plaintiffs’ assertions in the lawsuits.
He wrote: “We assume for purposes of our accrual analysis the truth of
the plaintiffs’ allegations that either the Ottoman Empire illegally
seized the property of the plaintiffs’ predecessors, or the Empire and
the Banks placed the property in trust under Turkish law but later
illegally refused to return it. If the initial expropriation was
wrongful, the plaintiffs’ claims accrued by 1923. If the property was
placed in trust, the plaintiffs acknowledge that ‘laws passed in 1928
and 1929 formally ended Turkey’s disingenuous attempt at the
restitution of immovable property to its rightful Armenian owners.’
Thus, the plaintiffs’ predecessors should have known well more than
ten years ago that Turkey did not intend to return their property.”

Judge Hurwitz complained that the lawsuits were filed decades after
the Armenian Genocide which does not make them timely. “We have no
doubt that the survivors of the Ottoman Empire’s atrocities
experienced enormous hardships after the seizure of their property.
Indeed, we take as true the allegations in the operative complaints
that it ‘was impossible for Plaintiffs’ predecessors to seek
compensation for their stolen property or focus on anything but
rebuilding their lives.’ But, these suits are brought not by the
victims of the Armenian Genocide, but rather by residents of the
United States long removed from its carnage, many of whose
predecessors relocated to this country decades ago. And the current
plaintiffs do not allege any attempts to pursue these claims
judicially prior to 2010.”

The attorneys for the Armenian-American plaintiffs reacted with anger
at the Appeals Court decision. Kathryn Lee Boyd of the law firm Pierce
Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht—representing three Armenian-Americans
whose ancestors owned 122.5 acres of land that was confiscated—told
the Metropolitan News-Enterprise:

“It is a sad day for Armenian-Americans when a U.S. court has stripped
them of all access to justice, refused to consider or even recognize
the extenuating circumstances of the Armenian Genocide, and left them
with no remedy against Turkey, which continues to hold and use their
stolen property with impunity.”

Mark Geragos of the law firm of Geragos & Geragos, who represents the
second group of plaintiffs, was quoted by the Metropolitan
News-Enterprise:

“The Turkish Lobby has bought and paid for the United States Executive
Branch and State Department for decades. Sadly the Judicial branch is
left with very few options to remedy the blatant mendacity of the
Turkish lobbying machine.”

The Court of Appeals took the easy way out by basing its decision on
the unconstitutionality of the California statute which had given the
plaintiffs more time to file their lawsuits. If the Court of Appeals
had based its decision on the occurrence of genocide, the issue of
time-limitation would have been irrelevant and would have ruled that
the Turkish government and its two banks are liable for confiscating
the Armenian properties.

I hope the attorneys for the Armenian-American plaintiffs will appeal
to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse this unjust decision.

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2-         Armenian Community Grieves Genocide Scholar Vahakn Dadrian

The Armenian scholarly community is grieving the loss of renowned
genocide researcher and author Vahakn Dadrian, who passed away on
August 2, 2019. He was 93 years old.

Vahakn Norair Dadrian was born on May 26, 1926 in Istanbul, Turkey.
“Vahakn Dadrian was born ten years after the Armenian Genocide,” noted
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian in his condolence letter to the
Dadrian family. “It is, probably, no accident that he dedicated the
major part of his life to genocide and especially the Armenian
Genocide studies, making a great contribution to the internalization
and the fight against denial of the Genocide through his valuable
monographies and publications,” wrote Sarkissian.

Over the course of his lifetime, Dadrian achieved degrees in
mathematics, philosophy, international law and sociology, studying at
the University of Berlin, University of Vienna, University of Zurich
and University of Chicago, respectively. His interdisciplinary
background coupled with his impressive mastery of six languages
(Armenian, English, French, German, Turkish and Ottoman Turkish)
supported his expertise of comparative genocide studies.

A Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan Institute, Dadrian was
known for his voluminous writings on the Armenian Genocide including
his 1995 work, The History of the Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict
from the Balkans to Anatolia to the Caucasus. Istanbul-Armenian member
of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Garo Paylan tweeted in Armenian
and Turkish that Dadrian’s book “played an important role in the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”

In 2011, he co-authored Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide
Trials with Clark University professor and historian Taner Akçam. In
his somber reflection on Facebook, Akçam recalled his formal remarks
during a 2005 event in New York City honoring his late friend and
invaluable, lifelong mentor. “There is no doubt that whatever
discussion we’ll have [in Armenian Genocide research field], it will
be built on the body of knowledge that Dadrian has provided for us,”
expressed Akçam.

There has been an outpouring of support and sympathy from admirers and
fellow scholars since Dadrian’s passing. He was a true trailblazer.
“More than anyone else at the time, Dadrian raised the study of the
Armenian Genocide to the academic level, and everyone who has come
after him is indebted to his work—even those who disagree with him,”
said Marc Mamigonian, National Association of Armenian Studies and
Research (NAASR) Director of Academic Affairs. “When we look at the
remarkable development of Armenian Genocide scholarship in the past
two decades, it must be understood that this was made possible by the
foundation created by Dadrian’s groundbreaking work.”

As Akçam put it, this “is a big loss for Armenians and humanity.”
Arguably the most influential authority figure in Armenian Genocide
research, Dadrian was “the master of us all whose hearts beat for
justice and humanity.” Among his numerous achievements is Ellis Island
Medal of Honor, U.S. Congress Medal of Esteem for Scholarship,
President of the Republic Prize Gold Medal of Armenia.

The Ararat-Eskijian Museum, in collaboration with the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research and the Organization of
Istanbul Armenians, is organizing a “Celebration of Life” event. The
celebration will be held on Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m., at the
Deukmejian Community Center at Ararat Home, located at 15105 Mission
Hills Rd, Mission Hills, CA 91345.

The event is open to the public and will be Live Streamed on the
museum’s website and Facebook page.

For more information, contact the Ararat-Eskijian Museum at (747) 500-7585.

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3 –        Lawsuit Against Turkey Proceeds In US Federal Court

A lawsuit filed against the Republic of Turkey moves forward in the
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California following a
federal court order on July 11, 2019.

The lawsuit, Ghazarian et al. v. Republic of Turkey, alleges
violations of international law as well as statutory and common law
claims against Turkey due to conduct committed by Turkey’s agents in
the United States. The case stems from an attempt by an elderly
California man to exercise cultural and religious rights at sacred
pilgrimage sites in Turkey as an Armenian Christian. The federal court
previously expressed doubt that it had jurisdiction in the matter
under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and ordered plaintiffs to
show cause as to why the case should not be dismissed.

Kerkonian Dajani LLC, which represents plaintiffs Barkev and Garo B.
Ghazarian in the case, filed a response brief addressing the
jurisdictional and sovereign immunity issues raised by the court.
Specifically referencing plaintiffs’ response, the U.S. federal court
did not dismiss the lawsuit and instead held, in its July 11 order,
that it would “defer a determination about its jurisdiction until
after Turkey has been served and had an opportunity to provide its
views on the issue.”

The complaint specifically alleges that Turkey’s agents harassed,
demeaned and degraded Barkev Ghazarian, an elderly man from Glendale,
Calif., because he sought to exercise religious and cultural rights in
Turkey as a native Armenian Christian in 2017.

It further alleges that Turkey’s agents interfered with the
inheritance of Garo B. Ghazarian, Barkev’s son, by thwarting his
father’s efforts to pass to him direct knowledge of such native
traditions as practiced by generations of Ghazarians at certain sacred
sites situated within the present borders of Turkey. Plaintiffs allege
that, in doing so, Turkey ensured that Barkev’s direct knowledge of
his family’s ancestral traditions and pilgrimage sites would not pass
to future generations of Ghazarians. According to the complaint, the
acts committed by Turkey’s agents were undertaken pursuant to a
specific policy of Turkey targeting native Armenian Christians.

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4-         Commentary: Who Are Armenia’s Real Enemies From Within?

            By Vic Gerami

In the first six months of 2018, nine women in Armenia have been
killed because of domestic violence. Between 2010 and 2017, more than
50 women have been killed at the hands of their intimate partners.

According to Zaruhi Hovhannesyan, Communications Director for the
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, more than 2,000 cases of
domestic violence are registered in Armenia. The Coalition alone, in
2017, registered 5,600 reports of domestic violence. The Special
Investigative Service in Armenia investigated 458 cases of domestic
violence in 2017.

How is it that most Armenians in Armenia and diaspora are not outraged
to see their sisters, mothers, cousins, and daughters beaten, abused
and harassed? How is it that the same people vilify, denounce and
commit hate-crimes against LGBT Armenians?

Why are gay Armenians treated with such disdain when the
aforementioned disturbing statistics show that largely heterosexual
men are a menace to society? How is it that Armenia is one of the few
countries where homophobia is just as rampant among women and younger
generations as it is with elders and men?

Why are queer Armenians scapegoated for breaking the ‘traditional
Armenian values’ when straight men are destroying their own families,
beating their wives, girlfriends, and daughters? Is wife-beating a
part of traditional Armenian values?

Where is the outrage? Why such hypocrisy? Why is the Church silent
while spewing homophobia? Where are Armenia’s ‘leaders’ to stop the
abuse? Nikol Pashinyan might be the new Prime Minister, but the band
plays on…women are beaten…LGBT are beaten… yet most still talk of
‘Armenian Values.’

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5-         Civilitas / CivilNet Welcome New Director Apo Boghigian

The Board of the Civilitas Foundation has welcomed Apo Boghigian as
the foundation’s new director. Since its establishment in 2008,
Civilitas has pioneered civil society strengthening through open
public discussions and polling, reporting and analysis, collaborated
in cross-border activities and most notably, established the
ground-breaking, trendsetting media outlet, CivilNet.

Boghigian, who was born in Anjar, Lebanon, studied in Los Angeles, and
has lived in Armenia for 18 of the last 30 years, will head both
entities.

“CivilNet.am is now a globally recognized bilingual source for news
and analysis, a proud achievement of the Civilitas Foundation, which
was established precisely to bring meaningful change in Armenian
society. This work will expand and diversify under Apo Boghigian’s
able leadership and exceptional commitment to the ideals that drive us
— a fair society, a welcoming country where individuals can prosper
and contribute to humanity,” said Salpi Ghazarian, the founding
director of Civilitas.

Boghigian was a Candidate in Philosophy, studying with the late
Professor Avedis Sanjian, when he interrupted his doctoral studies in
Armenian literature to take on the position of editor-in-chief of the
Asbarez daily newspaper, in Los Angeles, in 1985. Under his
leadership, the newspaper grew to become one of the Diaspora’s two
most influential media outlets.

In 1990, in the last years of the Soviet Union, as the Karabakh
movement had ushered in a political awakening, and the call for
reunification and independence gained momentum,  Boghigian repatriated
to Armenia to establish several media outlets, including the Yerkir
newspaper. He also set up the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Press
Office, which provided indispensable daily reports from the frontlines
of the Karabakh War and soon after, the newly independent Armenia. As
founding editor of Yerkir Daily, he adopted the principles of
independent journalism to satisfy an international public clamoring
for news and analysis from the region.

“The movement had awakened a whole nation,” he says. “I couldn’t, with
a clear conscience, appeal to the Armenian people to become a part of
it, while sitting in Los Angeles.”

Upon returning to the United in 2008, he assumed the editorship of
Asbarez once more, and expanded the newspaper’s capacity, reach and
coverage. He stayed with the Asbarez until August 2019.

“I always intended to return to Armenia. And to return as a member of
the CivilNet family is a compelling and meaningful opportunity. It is
also a huge responsibility. To be working among and to be defining a
vision with a group of committed young professionals is very
exciting,” says Boghigian.

With a staff of three dozen, CivilNet focuses on LIVE broadcasts,
investigative, as well as advocacy and solutions-based journalism.
Bilingual (Armenian and English) reporting, data-driven analysis from
all corners of Armenia, Karabakh, and the Diaspora are at the heart of
CivilNet’s work.

In 2013, CivilNet was the only Armenian media organization to report
from Syria. In 2018, 16 million people viewed CivilNet’s 24-hour LIVE
broadcast of the “velvet revolution”. In between, it was CivilNet’s
pioneering efforts to cover each of the small, targeted civil
protests, which culminated in the successful political transformation
of 2018.

“Civilitas was founded by former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, at
a time when civil society work needed to expand and be more impactful.
Today, Civilitas can and will serve a new role as a center for
exploration and analysis. CivilNet is an integral part of that
operation to bring nuanced, complex understandings of the challenges
facing Armenians to the public, in Armenian and in English. Apo
Boghigian’s experience and passion are the perfect combination to
carry forward this mission,” concluded Ghazarian.

Boghigian will step into his new position on September 1, 2019.

“We are tremendously grateful to Apo for his unwavering commitment to
Asbarez, which can be seen in its daily growth and reach throughout
the community in the Western United States and throughout the world,”
said Avedik Izmirlian, the chairman of the Armenian Media Network,
Asbarez’s parent company. “We wish him the best of luck and success in
his future endeavors, knowing full well that he will continue the
pursuit of the just aspirations of the Armenian Nation and the
Armenian Cause, wherever he goes and whatever he undertakes.”

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee
also extended its well wishes to Boghigian.

“We are grateful to Apo for his efforts in making Asbarez a unique
platform that rallied the community together around the ideals and
objectives of the ARF, and its goal to serve the Armenian people,”
said Dr. Carmen Ohanian, the co-chair of the ARF Central Committee.“We
wish Apo success in his future endeavors and are confident that the
newspaper will continue to expand and flourish because of the vision
and commitment he brought to the publication on a daily basis.”

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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
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requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or telephone numbers
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subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify
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, or by phone, (818) 409-0949.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 08/12/2019

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Monday, 
Armenian High Court Judges Offered Financial Incentives To Resign
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian block the entrance to 
the Constitutional Court buildin in Yerevan, May 20, 2019.
Members of Armenia’s Constitutional Court will continue to receive their 
salaries and other benefits if they resign before November, according to a 
government bill made public late last week.
The bill, drafted by the Justice Ministry following harsh criticism of the 
court’s chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, voiced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, 
also stipulates that the court justices will have to be suspended if 
law-enforcement authorities launch criminal proceedings against them.
In a July 19 interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Pashinian accused 
Tovmasian of cutting political deals with former President Serzh Sarkisian to 
become the head the country’s highest court and hold that position until 2035 
through constitutional amendments that took effect in April 2018. “The 
Constitutional Court must get out of this status of a privatized booth,” he 
said, implicitly demanding changes in the court’s composition.
Tovmasian rejected the verbal attack as offensive and warned Pashinian’s 
government against trying to force him and other court members to resign. He 
pointedly declined to deny pro-opposition media claims that the government has 
already instructed law-enforcement bodies to explore ways of exerting such 
pressure on them.
Armenia - Hrayr Tovmasian attends a parliament session in Yerevan, 15 September 
2015.
The Justice Ministry bill, which has yet to be formally approved by the 
government, involves a set of draft amendments to an Armenian law on the 
Constitutional Court. The ministry called for a public debate on the amendments 
when it posted them on a government website.
One of the proposed measures gives Tovmasian and the eight other court judges 
the option of tendering their resignations by October 31. In return, they would 
keep receiving their salaries and other perks until what would have been the 
end of their legal tenure. The bill implies that the success of judicial 
reforms planned by the Armenian authorities requires a different makeup of the 
Constitutional Court.
Some legal experts as well as critics of the government have denounced this 
amendment, saying that it amounts to a legal “bribe” offered to the judges.
“This provision has, to put it mildly, nothing to do with the concept of a 
rule-of-law state,” said Ruben Melikian, a lawyer critical of the government.
Melikian also described as unconstitutional another amendment envisaging the 
suspension of the Constitutional Court members facing criminal investigations.
Nina Karapetiants, another lawyer, also criticized the proposed changes. 
Karapetiants said that while the Constitutional Court is responsible for 
validating “falsified” elections held in Armenia in the past the government 
should not try to get rid of its judges in this fashion.
But Grigor Bekmezian, a member of Armenia’s Supreme Judicial Council recently 
installed by the government-controlled parliament, disagreed. He insisted that 
the government is proposing a workable solution to the “constitutional crisis” 
in the country.
The existence of such a crisis was alleged in June by Vahe Grigorian, the 
Constitutional Court’s newest judge also elected by the current parliament. 
Grigorian claimed that only he and another judge of the 9-member court, Arman 
Dilanian, can make valid decisions because they were elected after the 
constitutional changes came into force over a year ago.
Armenia -- Vahe Grigorian, a nominee to the Constitutional Court, speaks in the 
parliament, Yerevan, June 18, 2019.
Grigorian argued that the under the amended constitution the Constitutional 
Court now consists of “judges,” rather than “members,” as was the case until 
April 2018. He said that the other members therefore cannot be considered 
“judges.”
The eight other members of the Constitutional Courts, including Dilanian, 
dismissed those claims. They countered that an article of the amended 
constitution makes clear that the court “members” appointed before 2018 can 
serve as “judges” until they turn 65.
Grigorian’s position was backed by some senior pro-government lawmakers. The 
government has stopped short of explicitly and formally endorsing it, however. 
Citing the Justice Ministry bill, Melikian suggested that the government 
recognizes all Constitutional Court members as “judges.”
The pressure on the high court followed sweeping judicial reforms promised by 
Pashinian in May. The premier has repeatedly stated that he wants to make 
Armenia’s courts “truly independent.” His political opponents and other critics 
maintain, however, that he is on the contrary seeking to gain full control over 
the judiciary.
Major Wildfire Rages In Armenia
Armenia -- A wildfire in the Arevik nature reserve, . (Photo by 
the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations.)
Firefighters joined by army soldiers, police officers and forestry workers 
battled a major wildfire in southeastern Armenia for the second consecutive day 
on Monday.
According to the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, it erupted on 
Sunday afternoon in a forest several dozen kilometers north of Meghri, a small 
town located near the country’s border with Iran.
A ministry statement said the fire destroyed around 12 hectares of mostly 
wooded land belonging to the Arevik nature reserve by the time it was contained 
on Sunday morning. It said the firefighting efforts there continued in the 
following hours, involving about 70 firefighters as well as 30 soldiers, 45 
police officers and dozens of civilian workers. Arevik’s mountainous terrain is 
complicating the use of heavy equipment, added the statement.
Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakian discussed the operation with 
his top subordinates at an emergency meeting held on Sunday evening. They 
formed a special task force to deal with the emergency.
Armenia - A wildfire in the Khosrov Forest Reserve, 14Aug2017.
It was the most serious forest fire reported in Armenia since August 2017. 
Authorities struggled at the time to extinguish fires that broke out in the 
Vayots Dzor province and the Khosrov forest reserve southeast of Yerevan in the 
space of two days.
The Khosrov blaze was particularly serious, with hundreds of hectares of 
woodland burned as a result. It was put out with the help of a heavy 
water-dropping aircraft sent by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations at 
the Armenian government’s request.
Tsolakian’s ministry has reported dozens of small-scale wildfires in various 
parts of the country, including Yerevan, in the last few months.
Britain Names Ethnic Armenian Envoy To Yerevan
        • Heghine Buniatian
UK -- Alan Andranik Gogbashian, the newly appointed British ambassador to 
Armenia.
The British government has appointed an ethnic Armenian diplomat as the United 
Kingdom’s new ambassador to Armenia.
A government statement released on Monday said Alan Gogbashian will replace 
Judith Farnworth, a fellow diplomat who has served as British ambassador in 
Yerevan for the last four years.
Gogbashian has headed various divisions at the British Foreign Office since 
2014. He was Britain’s deputy head of mission in Morocco from 2011-2014.
The office of Zareh Sinanyan, Armenia’s commissioner general of Diaspora 
affairs, implicitly welcomed Gogbashian’s appointment. “This is the first time 
that a Diaspora Armenian will be ambassador to Armenia,” the office wrote on 
its Facebook page.
The development coincided with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian’s latest 
visit to London. Sarkissian’s office said on Monday that he met there with “a 
number of high-ranking UK officials.” It did not name any of those officials.
Sarkissian expressed Armenia’s readiness to deepen ties with the UK when he 
congratulated Boris Johnson on becoming British prime minister late last month.
Sarkissian, 66, lived and worked in London, including as Armenian ambassador to 
Britain, for nearly three decades prior to becoming Armenia’s largely 
ceremonial head of state in April 2018. He received British citizenship in 2002 
but renounced it about a decade later.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Yerevan touted on Monday a “substantial” 
increase in commercial ties between the two countries.
“Growth in trade turnover was 42 percent and 18 percent in 2017 and 2018 
respectively,” it said in written comments to RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “There 
was a substantial growth in the UK’s investment flows to Armenia over the past 
four years in sectors such as ICT, pharmaceutical and mining.”
“The British Embassy in Yerevan sees further potential for growth and is 
working with UK companies and sectors in Armenia to encourage more UK trade and 
investment,” it added.
The British mission also said London is committed to helping Armenia become a 
“democratic, prosperous and resilient country.”
“To do this, over the last year or so, the UK has increased its support to 
Armenia’s domestic reform agenda,” it said. “We supported delivery of the free 
and fair elections last December and now we are focusing on helping to 
strengthen Armenia’s institutions, which is crucial for Armenia’s long-term 
development. We are doing this through a range of governance and economic 
reforms, defense reform, efforts to tackle corruption and uphold human rights.”
Tsarukian-Owned Firm Faces Bankruptcy Proceedings
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian arrives for a 
parliament session in Yerevan, July 9, 2019.
An Armenian cargo firm has initiated bankruptcy proceedings against one of the 
country’s largest wineries owned by businessman Gagik Tsarukian, accusing it of 
failing to pay for 120 million drams ($252,000) worth of transport services 
provided to it.
The company, Daf Alco Trans, has shipped brandy distilled at Tsarukian Ararat 
Brandy Wine-Vodka Factory to Russia for almost a decade. Daf says that the 
factory stopped making payments for the shipments in February and has since 
ignored its repeated demands to clear the debt. It claims to have incurred 85 
million drams in debts to two dozen subcontractors because of that.
A lawyer for Daf, Harutiun Harutiunian, said on Monday that the company warned 
Ararat in April that it could ask a court to declare the winery bankrupt. “We 
have still not received a reply,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
Daf had no choice but to file a bankruptcy petition, Harutiunian said, adding 
that Ararat will automatically be declared insolvent if it fails to present 
written objections within 15 days.
Ararat refused to comment on the accusations on Monday. A spokesperson said 
only that that company’s executive director will comment after returning to 
Armenia later this week.
The Yerevan-based brandy manufacturer, the oldest in Armenia, is part of 
Tsarukian’s Multi Group comprising more than four dozen mostly medium-sized 
companies. Tsarukian is also the founder and leader of the Prosperous Armenia 
Party, the largest opposition group represented in the country’s parliament.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Verelq: Astghik Gevorgyan, the former president of the Union of Journalists, has been charged

Dabaghian Diana
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Astghik Gevorgyan, former president of the Union of Journalists, former member of the RPA faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, has been charged. To him a restraining order was chosen not to leave a signature. This is reported by the RA Investigative Committee, confirming the publication of the press.


Gevorgyan has been charged under Article 325, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code: forging a certificate or other official document reserving rights or exempting from liability for the purpose of using or realizing it by the forger personally or by another person, or realizing such a document, or preparing or realizing fake seals, stamps, forms, vehicle registration plates for the same purposes, as well as using an obviously fake document.


It should be noted that Astghik Gevorgyan was the president of the Union of Journalists in 1992-2017.

Verelq: Pointless expense. Vardavar received 5 million drams for washing carpets in Baghramyan

Emil Lazarian
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On Vardavar Day, July 28, a carpet washing ceremony was held in Baghramyan avenue. The event was initiated by NA deputy Hripsime Grigoryan, who, as it was later written in the press, participated in the event he initiated for only a few minutes.


168.am sent a request to the National Assembly, asking to provide information about how much money was spent to implement the event.


And now, the National Assembly informed that during the event organized by the RA National Assembly on the occasion of the Vardavar holiday, on the initiative of the National Assembly deputy Hripsime Grigoryan, events were held to publicize carpets: carpet washing, exhibition, carpet making courses.


“On Vardavar holiday, Baghramyan Avenue was temporarily closed for traffic in order to ensure the safety of citizens. AMD 4,941,300.00 was allocated for the purpose of the event,” the NA response stated.

The published material is misinformation. Vahe Grigoryan’s statement

Kalashian Nyrie
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Judge Vahe Grigoryan made a statement denying the press publication that he ordered the scandalous publication on the BBC about the March 1 case.


“The published material is misinformation.


Published by BBC Russian Service on 07/08/2019 “Who shot demonstrators in Yerevan in 2008?” In connection with or in connection with the article Следствие указало на оставка из Карабах, neither before assuming the post of a judge of the CC, nor, even more so, after that, I did not transfer any information, document or other material to any media or its representative or to any other person outside the scope provided by the law.


I have never had any contact or relationship, mediated or direct, with the author of the mentioned BBC material. We don’t have any contact with each other and never had,” he wrote on his Facebook page.


To remind, earlier the Russian sources of Politik.am reported that the publication on the case of March 1 was placed in the BBC periodical with the mediation of Vahe Grigoryan, a judge of the Supreme Court, a protégé of the RA authorities, on the instructions of the head of the National Security Service, Sasun Khachatryan.

The officials tried to free him from the army in exchange for a bribe. Another revelation of the National Security Service

Ara Felekian
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The employees of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, as a result of the large-scale operative-investigative measures and investigative activities, discovered cases of receiving and giving bribes in particularly large amounts.


According to the obtained preliminary data, it was found that a former high-ranking officer of one of the military commissariats and the officer’s assistant, knowing the nuances of the military commissariat’s work and using their connections among doctors, in 2019. during the summer conscription, in exchange for 2000-15 000 US dollars, they organized the processes of obtaining false medical diagnoses for 9 conscripts and 4 conscripts and, based on them, exempting them from mandatory military service or granting deferments.


In addition, it was also revealed that a person cooperating with a former high-ranking officer dealt with the issues of early discharge of two people in mandatory military service on the basis of fictitious health problems. One of the doctors of the garrison hospital assisted him in that matter.


Criminal cases have been initiated in the investigative department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia on the basis of the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.


Due to the combination of sufficient evidence obtained, 3 persons were charged. A former high-ranking officer and his aide have been detained.


RA National Security Service urges citizens to refrain from illegal actions to avoid military service.


An investigation is underway.

RA attaches particular importance to the establishment of the EAEU common financial market. Pashinyan

Hambik Zargarian
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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is in Kyrgyzstan on a working visit, participated in the regular session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council today. The session is held in Ch. In the “Ruh Orda” cultural center named after Aitmatov.


Ch. Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Muhammedkali Abilgaziyev welcomed the heads of governments of EAEU member states at the “Ruh Orda” cultural center named after Aitmatov.


After the ceremonial photo-taking ceremony of the Prime Ministers of the EAEU member states, the meetings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session with narrow and extended forms took place.


The Prime Minister of Armenia, as the head of the country presiding over the EAEU bodies, made an opening speech, in which he specifically stated:


“I would like to start my speech by expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Muhammedkali Abilgaziev, for the traditional warm welcome and hospitality, as well as for organizing today’s session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council at a proper level.


At the small meeting, we already exchanged opinions and decided on the conceptual issues related to today’s agenda. However, I would like to draw your attention to some aspects of the issues we have discussed and which are important for our countries.


Regarding the issue of alcohol market regulation, I consider it necessary to note that the Union countries are generally in favor of removing obstacles in this sector of the economy. It is a primary destination for Armenia and has wide export opportunities in the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union.


We consider it important to make a final decision on the distribution of import duties between the budgets of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. This issue has been discussed in our organization for a long time, and it is necessary to resolve it as soon as possible.


We attach particular importance to the creation of the EAEU common financial market. In particular, the “Agreement on Harmonization of the Legislation of EAEU Member States in the Field of the Financial Market”, which should enter into force in 2020, will contribute to achieving that goal. The signing of agreements on the authorization of brokers and dealers of one state to participate in organized trading on exchanges of other member states is also essential in this case. In this regard, we consider it important to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information on the placement and circulation of securities and credit histories in tenders organized in member states.


All the countries of our Union confirm their interest in agreeing on the concept of cross-border information interaction. The implementation of this document will have a positive impact on the implementation of business processes between public and private institutions of the Union countries.


We consider it absolutely appropriate to sign the agreement “On the cross-border movement of hazardous waste through the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union”. Implementation of the provisions of this agreement is consistent with Armenia’s priorities in the field of health and environmental protection.


We attach importance so that subjects working in the field of agriculture in our countries have generalized information on the demand and supply of agricultural products in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.


Dear friends,


Taking this opportunity, I would like to inform you that in early July of this year, I paid official visits to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Singapore.


As the EAEU presiding country, we paid special attention to the issues of our organization’s cooperation with these two countries.


The possibilities of expanding trade and economic cooperation and, in particular, the issue of signing a free trade agreement between EAEU and Singapore were discussed.


It was agreed in principle that if the negotiation process is completed on time and the draft agreement is agreed upon, the Prime Minister of Singapore is ready to participate in the meeting of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council to be held in Yerevan, during which the agreement will be signed. In this matter I received the agreement of the leaders of all our countries.


Taking advantage of this opportunity, I would like to appeal to the EAEU member states and the management of the Eurasian Economic Commission, asking them to speed up all the necessary procedures related to the agreement of the draft agreement as much as possible, so that it can be successfully signed on October 1 in Yerevan. Please keep this matter under personal attention.


In accordance with the agreements with the heads of EAEU member states, I have also invited the President of Iran to participate in the session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council to be held in Yerevan.


I would also like to inform you that from September 30 to October 1, within the framework of the session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council, an international conference on the topic “Transit potential of the Eurasian continent” will be held in Yerevan.


In this regard, I would like to request you to ensure the widest possible participation of representatives of public and private institutions of your countries in this important event.


Heads of all member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and heads of EAEU partner countries are invited to participate in the conference.


It is expected that during the conference, the current problems of the development of the transport and logistics network of the continent, the prospects of development of new large-scale infrastructure projects by the states of the region and the implementation of already existing projects, as well as issues related to the development of digital corridors of Eurasia will be discussed.


Thank you for your attention.”


The heads of governments of the EAEU member states discussed the distribution of import duties between the budgets of the EAEU member states, the development of the EAEU unified financial market, the creation of a single alcohol market within the EAEU framework, the creation of transnational companies, cross-border information interaction, cooperation in the field of industrial and technology transfer, the signing of the agreement “On the cross-border movement of hazardous waste through the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union”, the development of the agro-industrial complex in the EAEU.


As a result of the session, a number of documents were signed, in particular, the order on the distribution of import duties between the budgets of the EAEU member states, the timetable for the establishment of the EAEU unified financial market, decisions and orders aimed at deepening the cooperation between the EAEU member states in the above areas. It is planned that the concept of creation of EAEU unified financial markets will be signed in Yerevan on October 1, within the framework of the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.


It was decided to hold the next session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in 2019. on October 25 in Moscow.


Then, with the participation of heads of governments of EAEU member states and EAEU President Tigran Sargsyan, a stamp redemption ceremony dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Eurasian Economic Union took place.

Nikolai Patrushev will arrive in Armenia

Babken Chilingarian
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At the invitation of RA Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, a delegation headed by Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, will arrive in Armenia on a working visit on August 12.


This is reported by the staff of the Council of Ministers.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are heroes for me. Minasyan

Christine Harutyunian
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George Martin wrote in his “Game of Thrones” book: “Many people have been forgotten. Many deserve to be forgotten. But the heroes will always be remembered. To those who deserve it. The best and the worst. And some who were from both.”


Like it or not, the history of any country is the history of heroes. If you remove the heroes, it becomes a faceless essay. That is why the biggest danger of our public agenda is the merciless treatment of our heroes of the last 30 years. It seems like there is an undeclared “witch hunt” against them, Mikael Minasyan, the former RA ambassador to the Holy See, made such a post on his Facebook page.


“One of the vivid examples of that is the British BBC article about March 1. If there is an impression from it, then it is one. The targeting of the prominent military officer of Artsakh, Major General Samvel Karapetyan and the hypothetical connection between him and the victims. The article with its content will become a forgotten past tomorrow, but it will leave a wound. the article targeted our hero. Samvel Karapetyan is a hero.


Scott Fitzgerald used to say: Show me a hero and I’ll write a tragedy about him. I don’t know if it is our collective tragedy or individually, for example, General Manveli, who is in the defendant’s chair today. He, Monte and many others together liberated Artsakh. Unfortunately, Monte died, died and remained a hero. Manvel is there and instead of being able to atone for his real sins, he is in prison with a prank called “tushonka”.


The guys who made the April victory are heroes. All of them. The boys who fell both in the Artsakh war and in the April war will remain heroes forever, while those who are alive today are defendants or potential defendants.


Heroes are like that. Controversial. It has always been like that. And so it will be. How we should treat them is another matter. In order to leave the political context, but understand the problem, let’s take Ruben Hakhverdyan, for example. He is one of the stars of our time, a talented Yerevanian, the author of many popular songs. But Hakhverdyan has always stood out with the most absurd statements and embarrassing interviews. Has this changed his status or our attitude towards him? No. Now the same is about the heroes of the war and the country.


Regardless of our attitude towards many omissions and mistakes, there should not be complications in calling things by their names in Armenia, Artsakh and the entire Armenian people. It should not be complicated Levon Ter-Petorsyan not to be called a hero. Because President Ter-Petrosyan was the leader of Armenia in dire times for our state and people, in times of the dilemma of being or not being.


And, as the captain of a ship in rough seas, he and his team were able to bring the ship to safe harbor. It should not be complicated Robert Kocharyan not to be called a hero. Because President Kocharyan led Artsakh at the time of the split of the republic, and then he led the Republic of Armenia and ensured unquestionable progress for the two Armenian states, cementing our ship of state building step by step.


It should not be complicated Serzh Sargsyan not to be called a hero. Because under the leadership of President Sargsyan, who dedicated every day of his life to statehood and security for more than 30 years, Armenia faced almost all possible challenges, he set a benchmark for ensuring external and internal balance, opened up the country and gave Armenia wings that few could understand, that will provide flight.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are heroes to me, despite the mistakes that all three made. And they still have something crucial to say today.


Unspeakable heroes are Vazgen Manukyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan and Pargev Srbazan, who made history during the war and in the post-war period.


Heroes are Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan, Arshavir Gharamyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Vitali Balasanyan, Seyran Ohanyan, Movses Hakobyan, Samvel Babayan, Yuri Khachaturov, Mikayel Harutyunyan, Artur Aghabekyan, Manvel Grigoryan, Seyran Saroyan, Sasun Mikayelyan, Zhora Gasparyan, and others, despite yesterday or today or tomorrow. to their mistakes that they have done or could do.


One cannot and should not live with the thesis that “there is no past, only the present”. There is a past, in which there are both victories and mistakes, but we must go to the future. Heroes should be recognized, evaluated and, if necessary, called to account for mistakes. But not to discredit and destroy. Not to deprive the country of its foundation. Heroes are our support point, the creators of our destiny. It may be difficult with them, but it is impossible without them.


Heroes are also among the living. We should have the courage to see what history will record later. And enemies – as many as we want! Only or across the border? We should not have an enemy in Armenia. And we won’t have it.


No one fell in vain in battle and no one lives in vain today. It is not possible to have a society capable of making feats and revolutionary changes based on hatred. The right to live well and safely can only be earned in an atmosphere of solidarity. And it is possible,” he wrote.