Category: 2019

BOSTON—Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan and Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan met with representatives of the Armenian community in Boston on Friday during an event at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center in Watertown, Mass.

Avinyan addressed current economic challenges in Armenia, attributing them to two decades of economic transition. He emphasized that, due to the current circumstances, Armenia must increase levels of economic productivity at faster rates. In order to achieve this goal, Armenia’s government must prioritize education so that individuals can be better equipped to contribute to economic development. This calls for an increase in the quality and availability of education, science, and healthcare services.

Avinyan expressed his belief that, currently, extraordinary levels of progress are impossible without the development of science, technology, and human potential. He noted that the Armenian government will contribute to this advancement by implementing various innovative programs and initiatives. He trusts that the creative potential of the Armenian community can further advance not only our community needs, but those of the international community as well.

The Deputy Prime Minister explained that engaging in an open dialogue with the Diaspora is key to the growth of Armenia’s economy. With this in mind, the Armenian government is anticipating Diaspora participation in the ongoing economic reforms and is looking forward to further develop the Armenia-Diaspora relationship.

Later, those in attendance exchanged views on issues concerning the Armenian community of Boston.

Deputy Prime Minister Avinyan visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Boston where he laid flowers.

DILIJAN, Armenia—More than 400 schoolchildren from different provinces of Armenia participated in “Armath” summer TechnoCamp. The program, which was hosted by Monte Melkonian Military College in Dilijan, was available in two sessions—the first for children from 10 to 13 years of age, and the second for children aged 14 to 17. Participants came from various provinces in Armenia, as well as Artsakh and Javakh, as well as from the Diaspora through the “Ari Tun” program. The first session of the program ran from July 1 to 19.

The second session of the camp took place from July 10 to 19, where more than 200 schoolchildren and 13 team leaders from various provinces were in participation.

During the second session of “Armath” TechnoCamp, participants had the opportunity to learn about and create a smart management system of LED lights. In order to create these lights, participants were taught how to use the RaspberryPi platform and Python programming. They were also taught how to assemble and program robots. The main goal for each team was to design a robot to meet the standards of Robotex Armenia—an international robotics contest—as well as to be able to find solutions to problems through robotics.

In addition to robotics, the second session presented participants with cultural, sports, and entertainment features. Project manager of “Shtigen Kids,” Ani Aghajanyan visited “Armath” TechnoCamp and gave a presentation on renewable energy.

A robotics competition took place at the end of the second session, during which participants were given specific standards to meet. These rules included: the robot must follow road markings, the robot must take and place a trash bin using its hand, the robot must park itself at the marked locations, and the robot must cross the crossroad—equipped with traffic lights—when the light turns green. The rules called for these problems to be solved only through automatic management. Participants could not interfere with their robots during the final competition. To meet these standards, participants used Arduino and SeRob computing platforms, and C++ and Snap programming languages.

“We have children here who have attended ‘Armath’ engineering laboratory for only a month and are already able to solve complex problems usually assigned to university students. We could only dream of creating and programming robots with our own hands at their age. Now, with the support of Ucom, both girls and boys have the chance to acquire engineering knowledge and creative skills,” noted Tigran Safaryan, Marketing and Communications Director at Ucom.

This year, the team that won consisted of students from various “Armath” Engineering Laboratory locations: Ashnak, Arteni, Ranchpar and Aragats. The winning team—team 6 of the 13—scored the most points during the final robotics competition, meeting almost all the standards set by the judges. As a result of their victory, participants of team 6 were given smart watches from Ucom. The most valuable team member, Hayk Sargsyan, was given an electric scooter, and a tablet was given to the team leader, Slavik Israyelyan.

Team 13 came in second at “Armath” TechnoCamp, with a score not far behind the winning teams. Participants of team 13 were students of “Armath” in Noratus and Gavar. The most valued member of the team, Vahe Davtyan, was given a smart watch from Ucom. The remaining members of the team received 16 GB memory sticks from the UATE. Team 13 solved the robotics problem using Arduino (C++) computing platform. Their robot was the most efficient at crossing the crossroads during the final competition.

In participation were schoolchildren from: Yerevan, Armavir, Ranchpar, Norakert, Damala, Karvachar, Arteni, Agarak (Syunik), Agarak (Aragatsotn), Mastara, Ashnak, Agarakavan, Kaqavadzor, Dilijan, Sotk, Tchambarak, Gavar, Noratus, Akunk, Gyumri, Saratak, Haykavan(Shirak), Vahramaberd, Hadrut, Kajaran, Kovsakan, Askeran, Martakert, Sos, Lorut, Arevatsag, Mets Ayrum, Vanadzor, Aygepar, Choratan, Ijevan, Artashat, Hartavan, Lusagyugh, Berdzor, Martuni (Artsakh), Ishkhanadzor, Vardenis, Drakhtik, Vahan, Katnaghbyur, Aparan, Berdavan, Nerkin Tsaghkavan, Lusagyugh, Hartavan, Heshtia (Javakhk) and Tumanyan.

2019 Sponsors of “Armath” TechnoCamp include: the Children of Armenia Fund, Support to Javakhk Foundation, Instigate Mobile, Cronimet Mining, Ucom, “Sahman” (Border) NGO, Artsakhbank, World Vision Armenia, Armenian Educational Foundation, “Vardanants Knights” organization, and Nazaryan Educational Foundation.

As he continues his visit to Russia, Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan met on Sunday with representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Moscow.

“There is an air of unity. You were able to, in a unique way, bring everyone together,” said Nerses Nersesyan, the executive director of the ANC Moscow office in welcoming Sinanyan.

The high commissioner emphasized the need for various organizations in the Diaspora to work in a coordinated manner, and presented his vision for advancing Diaspora-Armenia relations.

“Wherever I go I am always a soldier for our homeland,” Sinanyan told the ANC Moscow representatives.

Sinanyan, who since being appointed to his position, has said that the Armenian community of Russia will be a focal point of his mission, traveled to Russia last week and began meeting with various Armenian organizational representatives and community members.

On Sunday, he visited the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral and met with parishioners. Sinanyan also visited Armenian communities in St. Petersburg, Yaroslav and Tver.

In Moscow, he met with cultural leaders and youth, emphasizing to them that a new generation of Armenians has a decisive role to play in advancing the homeland. He also touched on the key role the artists and the creative community can play in the process.