Category: 2019

ACNIS reView from Yerevan

Emil Lazarian
Free chair  

 

OCTOBER 19, 2019  

The rapid development of information technologies in our country, especially in the last one-and-a-half years, has objectively matured the need to seriously deal with the protection of intellectual property. This is one of the key issues, the solution of which will allow to protect one’s developments on a legal level and move forward. On October 12, for the first time in many years, the conference on “Intellectual property protection and promotion of venture investments” was launched in Armenia, which in itself was a big step forward. According to Emma Arakelyan, director of “Orion Worldwide Innovation”, Armenia is capable of software licensing to become a regional center. According to him, a package of legislative reforms has been developed by the Armenian Bar Association group, which will allow to issue software licenses not only to domestic or regional, but also to European developers.

However, there are many difficulties and nuances along the way, with which the authors of these ideas must take into account. In a number of countries, computer programs, both source and object, are protected by copyright, the most important advantage of which is simplicity. Copyright protection does not depend on formal procedures, such as registration or assignment of copies for protection in the 151 countries participating in the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. This means that international copyright protection is self-created: it begins with creation since creation. In addition, the copyright holder enjoys relatively long protection, which typically lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years or, in some countries, 70 years after the author’s death.

In order to have any hope of patent protection, an invention must meet several criteria. Five of those criteria are the most important to establish the fact of patentability.

  1. The invention must consist of a patentable object;
  2. The invention must be industrially applicable (or useful in some countries);
  3. It must be new (novelty);
  4. It must have an inventive step (be non-obvious);
  5. The disclosure of the invention in the patent application must meet certain standards in form and substance. Since patent law applies indiscriminately to inventions in any field of technology, inventions related to software and practical methods must also meet these requirements to be patentable.

If you want to protect your innovation abroad, you must obtain a patent in each country of interest in accordance with the laws of that country. A patent issued by country X can only be enforced in that same country X, and you cannot prevent your competitors from using your invention in other countries. In some regions, a regional patent office, such as the European Patent Office, accepts patent applications or grants patents that have the same effect as applications served or patents granted in member states of that region. The main difficulty to which you may encounter in your efforts to obtain a license abroad is that national/regional laws and practices vary from country to country and region to region. It is entirely possible that some software innovations are patentable in the US, while the same innovations are not patentable subject matter in Europe or Japan.

Undoubtedly, all these nuances should be taken into account and the ways to overcome them should be calculated. But the mere fact that Armenia has embarked on the implementation of that idea is another step in the direction of introducing information technologies in our country. We wish success to all our compatriots who are engaged in bringing these ideas and legislation to life.

 

Karapet Kalenchyan

  

ACNIS reView from Yerevan

Albert Nalbandian
Pass of the week    

 
OCTOBER 19, 2019  

 

N:During the last two days of the weekend, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, was on a working visit to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabad, where he participated in the session of the CIS Heads of State Council and made a speech. Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Armenia met with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirzoev. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was also in Ashgabat. Within the framework of the event, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev discussed for 1.5-2 hours the current situation of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the possibilities to ease the tension. This was announced by the RA Prime Minister’s spokesperson in a conversation with “Armenpress”. Vladimir Karapetyan.

The heads of the foreign political departments of Armenia and Azerbaijan also presented their positions on the settlement of the Artsakh issue at the meeting of the CIS foreign ministers.

…CIS: countrysorry leaders the most scandalous episode of the summit Armenian: prominent statesman and military figure Garegin Take it down about Inspiration Ali:and:in: commentit was In one of the sessions, the agenda of which included the issue of adopting a joint message on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, Azerbaijan the president in his speech the occasion open did not leave of Armenia former and: presentmy to the authorities to criticize fordeclaring that In Armenia makes a hero are fascism: «of Armenia former authorities Er:and:do in the center to stop are fascist butcher and traitor Garegin Take it down the statue, and: it today email her on the spot isAliyev said, describing it as “cynical step»:

Pashinyan, to his credit, responded sharply and harshly to the President of Azerbaijan, who, according to him, distorts the facts – there was a certain tension in the atmosphere of the session. to insert purpose: “Ithe truth it is, that Garegin Nzhdeh in the struggle was Հայաստանի՝ turkish occupation against, in the struggle was of Armenians Genocide against, which organize were the Turks, and: the reality it is, that Garegin Nzhdeh, in: by the way, russian a lot officers with 1918 in the year in management was front line a lot there wasand:that section Armenian:–turkish of war time“, he countered of Armenia the prime minister and in the continuation of speech Nzhdehin comparel: Nobel Prize award winner Alexander: Solzhenitsyn with, who was also there in those years In the Gulag: “Iwhat? is all them, who? convicted are was 1937-1950-mine in years, we համարում we are of the people թշնամինե՞ր։ Եթե այդպես is, then outstanding a lot figures convicted are was and: their of life last the days exactly in prison are finish»,- stated Pashinyan, considering it unnecessary distortion of historythe:

And the funniest thing is that xenophobic insidious murderous ramilsafarov breeder ohand the first face of the country who glorifies them, you don’t know, by what moral right, tries someone else similar chargener “paste”. Just like the thief who shouts the loudest “catch the thief”: Of course, Aliyev can be understood. He knows that this is a sensitive issue for Russia, so he thinks he will kill two birds with one stone. will endear Russia and cause a certain coldness in Armenian-Russian relations. And, apart from that, Heydaroghli thinks that the platform of the CIS summit is the most suitable place to discuss it once again. the questiontrying to belittle the immortal heroism of the Armenian people in the Second World War, which his country lacks.

But this too not everything. Ashgabatin: from what he said on the forum and from receiving the deserved answer then Aliyev, already in Baku, again is refer to the topic of Nzhdeh, noting that «Armenia: need is her the story clean up that from the trail“. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia did not leave his statements unanswered. Anna Naghdalyan, spokesperson of RA Foreign Ministry, told reporters in a conversation with said: “The numbers witness are, or we what? investment we are had Homeland in the war: Միաժամանակ՝ of existence struggle we are to push Turks and: Caucasian Tatars against, and: we respect ohand respect we are our the heroes… The story Aliyev the strongest side not, but story «to discover» unbeatable experience has: We ourselves of xenophobia victim we are, therefore refusal we are it»:

However, why is the statue of Nzhdeh so big?nhan:causes aggression to Azerbaijan, what does that country have against him? Aren’t the “sore spots” of the failed Hamaturan project still grumbling? It didn’t take long to be convinced that this was the case. Just three days after the Ashgabad event, Ilham Aliyev openly admitted at the meeting of the Turkic Council held in Baku. “The transfer of Zangezur to Armenia led to the geographical division of the Turkic world.” I would like to say that it is because of Nzhdeh that the Hamaturan plan failed. Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who was participating in the meeting, had to comfort his younger “brother” or “mwe are possible we will do Azerbaijan territorial completenessn: to provide for»:

This is the Turkey that, instead of cleaning up the “dirt” of its own history, is always ready to poke its nose into the affairs of others.

 

Gevorg Lalayan commented

 

At the invitation of Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia arrived in Armenia on an official visit on October 15. After the official application ceremony, there was a private conversation between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia, then an extended meeting, after which the Prime Ministers of the two countries made statements for mass media representatives. During the visit, Giorgi Gakharia had meetings with President Armen Sarkissian, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The Prime Minister of Georgia also visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

On October 15, Nikol Pashinyan received the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Andrew Shofer, Stefan Visconti and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kaspszyk, who arrived in Yerevan. The prime minister and the co-chairs discussed issues related to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. In the context of strengthening the trust between the parties, the importance of taking steps to strengthen the ceasefire agreement was emphasized. There was a reference to the need to prepare the people for peace and the steps towards it. Yesterday, RA Foreign Minister Zohrab received the co-chairs of the Council of Ministers Mnatsakanyan.

The Constitutional Court decided to reject the investigation of the case regarding termination of the powers of the President of the Constitutional Court (SC) Hrayr Tovmasyan, based on the application of the National Assembly, at the regular session held on October 14. Let’s remind that the decision of the National Assembly was received by the court last Monday, it was sent to the judges for study. The basis of the decision adopted by the Parliament is the apparently significant disciplinary violations committed by Hrayr Tovmasyan during the examination of former President Robert Kocharyan’s application, according to the ruling faction.

 

 

ACNIS reView from Yerevan #35, 2019_Editorial_Rejection and the Rejection of Rejection

Talar Tumanian
Editorial   

19 OCTOBER 2019  

The well known events of 2018, which some argue was a change of power and others as revolution, started with rejection.  Initially, it was Serzh Sargsyan who was being rejected, subsequently, the Parliament, later the judges, and now the members of the Constitional Court.  Some of the radicals who are looking at the concept of rejection more globally – the Constitutional Court, the National Security Service, the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office … are rejecting a number of laws, the Constitution and so continuously.

Rejection became not only a symbol of the revolution but also its substance.  On the other hand, the opposition, for its part, has begun to reject the rejecters, no matter what they reject and for what reason.  The important thing is to deny one another.  Rejection is transforming from a political category into a psychological phenomenon.

Hence, it is importantat to understand what in general is the psychology of denial, its reasons and its goals.

Rejection in relevant science is defined as a means of psychological protection when it is required to discard something undesirable, to erase it from life, from memory or ignore it. It is regarded as a simple protective measure. “Reject” should be distinguished from “discard.” To discard means to realize it, to analyze it, and to just push it out, changing the reality. Yet, rejection is rather a mechanical process, which has no profound effect on the conscious and does not change the situation. Again, this is the approach of science to psychology on this phenomenon.

Let’s return to our reality. The public was tired of living in illusions. There was no trust in political institutions, the electoral system, the judiciary or in the law enforcement agencies. The social “lift” had ceased to operate, and this situation was best described by Sarah Sargsyan, when he called it a “lukewarm atmosphere.”

The public rejected the apathetic atmosphere, but rejection is not a change of reality. The apathy had to be analyzed in public and its causes understood.  The phenomenon had to be assessed politically and legally and a policy and an action plan had to be developed to change it. That is to say, “rejection” should have turned into “discarding.”

Currently, Armenia is divided into two camps, the rejectors of the old system and the rejectors of the new.  That does not take us anywhere or more precisely, it takes us nowhere.  The euphoris of the revoluvtion is turning into a feast of hatery because the public does not see political solutions which for the sake of brighter purpose will unite the two camps.

 

 

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/22/2019

Vanyan Gary 
                                        Tuesday, 
Tsarukian Critical Of Criminal Cases Against High Court Chief
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian attends a parliament 
session in Yerevan, .
Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the main opposition Prosperous Armenia Party 
(BHK), questioned on Tuesday criminal proceedings launched against Hrayr 
Tovmasian, the Constitutional Court chairman increasingly at loggerheads with 
the country’s leadership.
Tsarukian challenged law-enforcement authorities to present evidence of abuses 
allegedly committed by Tovmasian. He condemned them for interrogating the 
latter’s daughters.
“Let them present proof that he had committed some crimes,” Tsarukian told 
reporters. “We all would support punishing him [in that case.] We are not in 
favor of crimes.”
“But as an Armenian, as a family man, seeing a 16-year-old or 18-year-old girl 
summoned for interrogation over some abuses is unacceptable to me,” he said. 
“With their actions, they [investigators] are embarrassing the prime minister. 
If these people want to show something, then they are not fit for their jobs.”
Tovmasian’s daughters as well as father were questioned by the National 
Security Service (NSS). The NSS said it suspected that they had not submitted 
accurate asset declarations to a state body. It said it is also investigating a 
possible misuse of government funds allocated by the Armenian Justice Ministry 
at a time when it was headed by Tovmasian.
Another law-enforcement body, the Special Investigative Committee (SIS), is 
probing a possible “usurpation of power” by Tovmasian. Both inquiries were 
announced two days after the Constitutional Court rejected the Armenian 
parliament’s demands to replace its chairman installed by the country’s former 
leadership.
The BHK refused to back a corresponding parliamentary resolution drafted by 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step bloc. Tsarukian said on October 2 that 
the bloc has come up with “very weak” arguments in support of its bid to oust 
Tovmasian.
“Let them bring out evidence of [Tovmasian’s] illegitimacy and we will say he 
is not legitimate,” the BHK leader said on Tuesday. He said that so far he has 
seen only “empty talk.”
While criticizing the authorities, Tsarukian stopped short of explicitly 
backing the former ruling HHK party’s claims that the criminal cases against 
Tovmasian are politically motivated.
Pashinian dismissed those claims through a spokesman on Monday. The 
parliamentary leader of his bloc, Lilit Makunts, likewise insisted that 
Tovmasian is not subjected to “political persecution.”
“I hope that law-enforcement bodies are acting within the bounds of powers and 
functions which they are supposed to have, and I hope that they engage [people] 
in the investigations on the basis of legal facts and corroborations,” said 
Makunts.
Armenian Parliament Attack Ringleader Asks For Parole
        • Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - A screenshot of TV footage of gunmen opening fire in the Armenian 
parliament on 27 October, 1999.
The jailed man who led a deadly attack on the Armenian parliament in 1999 has 
asked authorities to release him on parole, it emerged on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Armenia’s Penitentiary Service said Nairi Hunanian, who is 
serving a life sentence, is eligible for parole because of having spent 20 
years in prison.
The official, Nona Navikian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that Hunanian’s 
application is already being considered by a relevant state body. It will 
respond to him within an 80-day period, said Navikian.
An obscure former journalist, Hunanian led an armed group that burst into the 
National Assembly and sprayed it with bullets on October 27, 1999. Then Prime 
Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, parliament speaker Karen Demirchian and six other 
officials were killed in the shooting spree that thrust Armenia’s government 
into turmoil.
Hunanian, who will turn 54 in December, accused the government of corruption 
and misrule and called for regime change as he held dozens of parliament 
deputies and government officials hostage following the killings. He and the 
four other gunmen, including his brother Karen and uncle Vram Galstian, 
surrendered to police after overnight negotiations with then President Robert 
Kocharian. Several other men were also arrested in the following days.
The gunmen were subsequently tried and sentenced to life in prison. Throughout 
the marathon trial Hunanian insisted that he himself had decided to seize the 
parliament and try to topple the government without anybody's orders. But many 
in Armenia still believe that the ringleader and his accomplices had powerful 
sponsors outside the parliament building.
Pashinian Under Fire Over ‘Secret’ Pay Rise
        • Naira Nalbandian
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a cabinet meeting in Yerevan, 
June 27, 2019.
Opposition leaders denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday for what 
appears to be a confidential decision to effectively double the salaries of 
Armenian government ministers and their deputies.
Citing information provided by various ministries, the Hetq.am investigative 
publication reported on Monday since June the ministers have been paid 1.5 
million drams ($3,200) each per month, which is twice the amount of their 
salaries set by an Armenian law. It said that deputy ministers have likewise 
seen their monthly wages double to just over 1 million drams.
The online publication quoted an Armenian government spokesman as saying that 
the sharp pay rises were “carried out under a secret procedure.” It said that 
Pashinian issued the “secret directive” in July.
Pashinian’s press secretary, Vladimir Karapetian, did not deny the veracity of 
the report when he spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian service on Tuesday. But he 
declined to comment further.
The salaries of Armenia’s high-ranking state officials were most recently 
officially raised in 2013 through amendments to the law in question. Pashinian, 
then an opposition parliamentarian, strongly opposed the measure. “The ruling 
elite has decided to raise its wages … against the background of poverty, 
emigration and hopelessness,” he complained at the time.
The leaders of the two opposition parties represented in the Armenian 
parliament seized upon the Hetq.am revelation to accuse Pashinian’s government 
of lack of transparency. They also questioned the legality of the lavish pay 
rise.
“I condemn it for the fact that it was done secretly,” said Prosperous Armenia 
Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian. “What did the people do the [2018] 
revolution for? The people are ready for everything but they want to be 
informed.”
“Public funds belonging to the people cannot be spent through secret procedures 
unless we are talking about spending on defense and national security,” agreed 
Edmon Marukian of the Bright Armenia Party (LHK).
Artur Sakunts, a prominent civic activist, also voiced concern at the 
revelation. “This is incompatible with democratic and accountable governance,” 
he said, adding that the government should apologize to the public and explain 
the salary hike.
Meanwhile, parliamentary leaders of the ruling My Step bloc sought to deflect 
questions about Pashinian’s controversial decision, saying that it is up to the 
government to explain it. But they also stressed that paying the ministers and 
other senior officials decent salaries will contribute to good governance in 
Armenia.
“The wages of employees of state bodies must be raised because often times the 
private sector offers better [financial] conditions to specialists needed by 
the state … and the state loses in this competition,” said My Step’s Alen 
Simonian.
Marukian acknowledged that higher salaries lower “corruption risks” in the 
public sector. The opposition leader added, however, that the government should 
either increase them by amending the law on high-ranking officials’ wages or 
pay those officials bonuses in a transparent manner.
Pashinian’s government has paid hefty bonuses to tax officials as well as the 
employees of other government agencies. Their disclosure by Armenian media 
caused opposition uproar late last year. The head of the State Revenue 
Committee, Davit Ananian, admitted in January that he alone received 14 million 
drams ($29,000) in bonuses during his eight-month tenure.
Pashinian essentially defended those payments, arguing that they also benefited 
ordinary public sector employees. He also complained that the government has 
trouble attracting skilled professionals working for private firms and earning 
higher wages.
Appointment Of Armenian Constitutional Court Head Declared Illegal
Armenia -- Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian reads out a court 
verdict on an appeal filed by former President Robert Kocharian, September 4, 
2019.
Law-enforcement authorities challenged on Tuesday the legality of Hrayr 
Tovmasian’s appointment in March 2018 as chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional 
Court after bringing coup charges against a former senior official.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) said that the former Armenian 
parliament elected Tovmasian court chairman as a result of a “usurpation of 
power” by a “group of officials.” It claimed that they broke laws to install 
him just before the entry into force in April 2018 of sweeping constitutional 
amendments.
The amendments introduced a six-year term in office for the head of Armenia’s 
highest court. Tovmasian was picked to run the court under the previous 
constitution which allows him to hold the post until the age of 70. He was 
elected shortly after the resignation of the court’s previous, long-serving 
chairman, Gagik Harutiunian.
In a statement, the SIS claimed that the then deputy chief of the parliament 
staff, Arsen Babayan, illegally backdated Harutiunian’s letter of resignation 
in order to make sure that all legal deadlines for Tovmasian’s swift election 
are met. It said that Babayan, who was arrested on Monday, has been charged 
with forgery and seizure of power. The former official strongly denies the 
accusations, according to his lawyers.
The statement also said that the SIS investigators suspect former parliament 
speaker Ara Babloyan of involvement in the alleged coup. Babloyan was 
interrogated by them earlier in the day.
The SIS stopped short of indicting Tovmasian, who has been under growing 
government pressure to step down. It launched the coup probe on October 17 two 
days after seven of the eight other members of the Constitutional Court 
rejected the government-controlled parliament’s demands to replace their 
chairman.
Former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), with 
which Tovmasian was affiliated until February 2018, says the investigation is 
part of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s continuing efforts to force the high 
court chairman to resign. Pashinian and his political allies deny any political 
motives behind it.
Pashinian charged in July that Tovmasian “privatized” the Constitutional Court 
with the help of the HHK. He implicitly demanded changes in the court’s 
composition.
Tovmasian claimed on October 2 that the current authorities are seeking to oust 
him in order to gain control over the court and be able to make 
unconstitutional decisions. He said he will not bow to the pressure.
Press Review
“Government fans say that everything in Armenia has changed for the better, 
grumblers are sure that nothing has changed, while the government’s opponents 
say things have changed for the worse,” writes “Aravot.” “All three groups are 
wrong. In Armenia two things have changed for the better: the government was 
formed as a result of legitimate elections and it is not corrupt. These two 
standards are so important that one can speak of a phenomenal achievement for 
Armenia. What could have changed faster but has not changed is hypocrisy and 
the ruling team’s obligation to justify everything.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” dismisses claims about the “political persecution” of 
former government officials and other critics of the current regime. The 
pro-government paper says that law-enforcement authorities are simply trying to 
solve crimes committed in the past. It deplores “terrible psychological 
pressure exerted on the law-enforcement system” by Armenia’s former rulers. 
“This is an overt attempt to paralyze and wreck the state law-enforcement 
system,” it says.
“Zhamanak” comments on the recent sacking of Grigori Hayrapetov, who headed a 
National Security Service (NSS) division in charge of the personal security of 
the country’s top leaders and their family members. It followed the dismissal 
of NSS Director Artur Vanetsian and police chief Valeri Osipian. The paper is 
worried that these sackings could demoralize lower-ranking law-enforcement 
officers and thus undermine the work of the state security apparatus. It says 
they deepened a perceived lack of “predictability” within that system.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
 
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

Economist: because of poorly-educated workforce Armenia is losing amount equivalent to 55% of its GDP

Ophelia Vardapetian
ARKA, Armenia
Oct 22 2019

YEREVAN, October 22. /ARКА/. Because of poorly-educated workforce Armenia is losing an amount equivalent to 55% of its  GDP, Manuk Yergnyan, the head of EV Consulting firm,  told reporters on Tuesday, presenting a report on the national competitiveness of the country for 2019.

He said studies have shown that, for example, in 2017, about 560 thousand able-bodied residents of the country did not participate in the production of economic values, as a result  55% less domestic added value was produced.

He said these indicators mean that there is a great need to invest in the education and human capital.
He said  the problem is that the reform of the educational system lasts longer than changes in the labor market occur. Therefore, according to him, Armenia needs a very flexible system that can change quickly, and the development of human capital should be considered not only as a component of the educational system, but should last throughout life.

“It is important to understand that contribution to human capital is the main guarantor of economic development, especially against the background of limited resources available in the country. Armenia should become a country of quickly trained people,” Yergnyan said.

He said a set of  surveys of entrepreneurs showed that  they are planning to start using advanced technologies in the next 5 years, including big data, digital commerce and cloud technologies. According to businessmen, as early as 2024, about 45% of all work in their companies will be automated. — 0–


Culture: Events dedicated to Komitas’ 150th anniversary wrap up Aurora Forum events

Babken Chilingarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 22 2019

The eventful week of “Aurora” Forum was summed up in one of the most mysterious places in Armenia, 9th century Tatev monastery.

The events held in the monastic complex, being under restoration since 2008 by the IDeA foundation, presented the 150-year-old rich traditions of the Armenian national music school and honoring Komitas, the prominent Armenian composer, teacher, conductor and founder of the Armenian national school of composing.

An exclusive exhibition titled “Komitas: the roads of the genius” was held in Dzithan, which included photos of Komitas in the Caucasus, Europe, the Ottoman Empire and Egypt in different years and textual material about his activity in those places.

The visitors had a chance to listen to the Teacher’s works performed by the string quartet after Komitas.

“It is symbolic that this exhibition was held in Tatev monastic complex, which was home for one of the significant spiritual, educational and cultural centers of Armenia for centuries. Komitas was also a great teacher and educator who spread his knowledge and skills in different parts of the world,” says Hayk Demoyan, PhD in history, curator of the exhibition.

An exhibition of the works of artists and sculptors originally from Syunik was held in the museum section of Tatev monastic complex where restoration has recently been completed on the sidelines of IDeA foundation’s “Revival of Tatev” project. Through paintings and sculptures the artists expressed their infinite love for the homeland.

“This exhibition stands slightly aside from the theme of the day. Today we honor Komitas, who reflects our past, our roots, and is the cornerstone upon which our spiritual present is being built. Thanks to “Revival of Tatev” project the monastery regains its previous look and significance,” says sculptor Manvel Matevosyan.

The participants think the events testify that Tatev, being one of the renowned religious, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia regains its respective features.  

Along with the exhibitions historical exhibits of the monastic complex were presented, some of which were discovered during restoration and construction work underway since 2008.

Cross- stones, plates, candlesticks, ritual ornaments, fireplace parts, 18th-century plaques with inscriptions, the ancient key of the monastery door, and the historical bell of the monastery of 1304. The exhibits also included duplicates of 4 historical manuscripts of Matenadaran.   

In St. Paul-Peter church at Tatev monastic complex, “Hover” choir performed excerpts from Komitas’ “Liturgy”, considered his masterpiece.

“Komitas carried out the work of a whole institute. He listened to the peculiarity of the music of the Armenian land, compiled, studied, performed and passed down to us. Our mission is to realize the value of his legacy. Our mission is to make him heard. That mission is a reward,” says Sona Hovhannisyan, artistic director of “Hover” state chamber choir.

Music: Armenia’s Otri Trio ensemble to perform new program in Yerevan

Kalantarian Kevo
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 22 2019
Culture 16:46 22/10/2019 Armenia

Otri Trio ensemble of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will perform a new concert on October 25 at Aram Khachaturian House-Museum. The concert programme will feature “Inventions” by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Danse macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns, “Five Pieces for Two Violins” by Dmitri Shostakovich , “Le Stelle” Trio for Flute, Violin and Viola by Vachagan Hovhannisyan, Introduction and Tarantella by Pablo de Sarasate.

As the press service at the State Symphony Orchestra reports, the concert will also feature Elegiac Trio for Flute Viola and Piano by Arnold Bax that will be performed for the first time in Armenia.

It is noted Otri Trio comprising  is one of the chamber ensembles of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra ASSO. It was founded in 2016. Unlike classical piano trios this ensemble consists of flute, violin and viola. Trio’s special and breathtaking sound is resulted by the combination of two different types of instruments – woodwind and strings. Otri Trio suggests an alternative version of the classical trio.

Otri Trio is comprised of the musician-laureates of national and international competitions – Ruzanna Tovmasyan (flute), Anzhela Hovhannisyan (violin) and Arevik Kosyan (viola).

Music: Armenian pianists win top prizes at Riga International Piano Competition

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 22 2019
Culture 10:46 22/10/2019 Armenia

Armenian pianists Arthur Grigoryan and Armen Puchinyan won gold medals at 8th Riga International Competition for Young Pianists held on 12-15 October.

Both musicians are members of the Armenian and Artsakh state target program (Artistic Director – Honored Artist of Armenia Armen Babakhanyan), ANM Media reported.

Artur Grigoryan was awarded the 1st prize in the Best Solo Artist category, while Armen Puchinyan & Artur Grigoryan won the Piano Duo category. 

Armenian Assembly of America Meets with Armenia High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan

Antonian Lara
Armenian Assembly of America Meets with Armenia High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan

LOS ANGELES, CA – On October 16, Armenian Assembly of America staff, Southern California Regional Council, and Los Angeles County Regional Committee members were pleased to meet and discuss priority matters and challenges in Armenia-Diaspora relations with Zareh Sinanyan, the Republic of Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. The meeting was graciously hosted by Mayer Brown LLP and the firm’s attorney Arteen Mnayan, Esq. in its downtown Los Angeles office.
High Commissioner Sinanyan emphasized that a concerted effort for the repatriation of diaspora-based Armenians to Armenia is currently in its planning stage. The Armenian Assembly of America wholeheartedly supports Commissioner Sinanyan’s vision for repatriation to the motherland.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization. 



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Armenian Assembly Continues to Rally Support for Armenian Genocide Resolution

Karagyozian Lena

ASSEMBLY CONTINUES TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) continues to rally support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) stated that they expected consideration of
H.Res. 296, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, to take place next week.

 

In an interview with NPR, House Foreign
Affairs Committee Chairman Engel noted that in addition to sanctioning Turkey
for its actions in Northern Syria, a bill on the Armenian Genocide was also
under consideration.

 

“So we’re going to have a Turkey
sanctions bill and we’re going to have an Armenian Genocide bill. Both of which
I’m sure the Government of Turkey is not happy with, but then again we’re not
happy with the Government of Turkey,” Chairman Engel said.

 

In a Helsinki Commission hearing this
afternoon, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Pallone also indicated that the Armenian
Genocide resolution was “very likely” to be considered next week.

 

“I know that might not seem to be the
topic today, but I think it’s also something that needs to be done in order to
talk about the terrible history that Armenians faced over a hundred years ago,”
Pallone stated.

 

This past week, Representative Anna G.
Eshoo (D-CA) sent a “Dear Colleague” letter urging support of the resolution,
as did Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) calling for its
immediate passage.

 

H.Res. 296 was introduced this April by
Reps. Schiff and Bilirakis along with Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter
King (R-NY), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), and has 112 co-sponsors to date. During
the Assembly’s 2019 National Advocacy Conference last month, Armenian Americans
from across the U.S. met with Members of Congress and urged its adoption.

 

Congress has also been calling out
President Erdogan for his violence against the Kurds and Christian minorities
in northern Syria this month, and Members have drawn parallels between the
current Turkish government’s actions and the Ottoman Empire’s atrocities
against Armenians and other minority populations in 1915.

 

Albio Sires (D-NJ) stated: “These
actions are particularly concerning given Turkey’s historical precedent of
eliminating minority groups that it perceives as a threat, as it did during the
Armenian Genocide.”

 

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) said: “100 years
ago, 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered in what is now Turkey. For decades,
the US has refused to officially acknowledge that first modern genocide out of
fear of alienating Turkey. Clearly, it’s past time we stop worrying about
Turkey’s feelings & pass H.Res. 296.”

 

“Not only should we have sanctions
against Turkey. It’s also time that we formally recognize the Armenian
genocide,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said on CNN.

 

“This latest assault on vulnerable
ethnic groups demonstrates the need for Congress to unequivocally affirm the
Armenian Genocide and adopt the resolutions pending in the House and Senate,”
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said. “In order to prevent future
genocides, we must not allow Turkey to continue to export its denial of the
genocide and try to erase America’s role in helping save the survivors,” he
added.

 

Established in 1972, the Armenian
Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization
promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly
is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

 

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NR# 2019-063


Available online: https://armenian-assembly.org/2019/10/22/armenian-assembly-continues-to-rally-support-for-armenian-genocide-resolution/