Category: 2019

Armenia stands to benefit from Eurasian Economic Union, Iran trade deal

Ophelia Vardapetian
JAM News
JAMnews, Yerevan
Artur Xachatryan

Iran has ratified an agreement on a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Armenia

The Iranian Parliament ratified an agreement on the creation of a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union on 10 June.

Negotiations on behalf of the union were led Armenia.  As a result, all its members, including Armenia, will pay lower duties when importing and exporting more than 500 goods from Iran.

The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union have already ratified this agreement in their parliaments. However, this is still a temporary agreement.  Negotiations around the main agreement will begin in a year.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international economic integration organization that operates under the auspices of Russia and includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.  The organization provides its members with the freedom of movement of labor, goods, services and capital.

The agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union provides for a reduction in customs fees for all participants.

This will concern more than 500 goods, for which customs fees will be reduced or entirely removed.

The agreement hopes to boost trade between the EEU and Iran.

The countries of the EAEU will export meat products, sweets, cosmetics, machinery and technical equipment to Iran, while Iran will export vegetables and fruits, building materials and carpets to the countries of the EAEU.

The agreement will involve a particular reduction on duties for industrial goods:

– Iran will reduce them from 22.4 percent to 15.4,

– While the EAEU will reduce duties from 8 percent to 4.7.

The reduction of duties will also affect agricultural products.  In Iran, border payments for agricultural products are quite high – more than 32 percent.  The agreement will reduce them more than half – to 13.2%.

In the EAEU zone, duties on agricultural products will also be significantly reduced – from 9.6% to 4.6%.

The simplification of the customs regime will allow Armenia and the members of the EAEU to export more products to the Islamic Republic.  The market of this country for many years was unavailable due to high customs duties.

“It is worth noting that Iran continues to remain inaccessible to many foreign exporters. Duties on industrial products in this country are 4.5 times higher than in the EAEU.  The reduction of duties will affect almost half of the  goods that form the trade turnover between Armenia and Iran”, said economist Atom Margaryan. 

Iran’s economy is closed.  The country resorts to serious protectionist measures to protect the local producer. Iranian scholar Vardan Voskanyan says Armenia should make the most of new opportunities:

“Armenia is the only EAEU country that has a land border with Iran. And in Iran there is a point of view that Armenia should become a gate for them that goes to the countries of the EAEU, and  a gate to Iran for the countries of the EAEU. So we must try to fully take on the functions of this gate for two parties.”

Voskanyan says there are necessary prerequisites for this, in particular, a zone of free economic trade on the Armenian-Iranian border.

The Meghri Free Economic Zone on the Armenian-Iranian border officially opened in December 2017.  Here, goods are sold at cost price – in duty free mode.  Entrepreneurs working in the free economic zone “Megri” are exempt from income tax, value added tax, excise tax and customs duties. They are charged only income tax. 

Voskayan says that thanks to this agreement, Armenia can receive not only economic dividends, but also political ones: in the region there is a struggle for Iran between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Each country is trying to attract Tehran with large projects, in particular in the field of transport and energy.  This agreement will allow Armenia to significantly strengthen its position.



Armenian woman arrested in Houlton, turned over to ICE

Edgar Tavakalian
NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ


Border Patrol agents said she had entered the country as a tourist in 2001 and never left.
Author: Liam Nee
                                        

HOULTON, Maine — A woman from the Asian country of Armenia was arrested Friday in Houlton.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that its agents recently followed up on information regarding a woman living illegally in the U.S. Their investigation, it said, showed that a woman near Foxcroft Road who had entered the country as a tourist in 2001 never left as required by law.

Agents later conducted an interview with and a search of the Armenian citizen at the Houlton Border Patrol Station, and she was found to be in the U.S. illegally and in possession of fraudulent identification documents, CBP said.

The woman was turned over to the Removal Operations sector of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, for removal proceedings.

CBP said the fraudulent documents may have been used to gain employment and ease her ability to remain in the U.S. in violation of federal law.

“Overstaying a lawful visa entry is a violation of U.S. immigration law,” said Jason Owens, Maine’s chief Border Patrol agent. “The possession and use of fraudulent documents can be charged as a felony under U.S. law making it a serious criminal violation.”

Armenia is located in the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe, bordered by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Maine’s CBP patrols 611 miles of the U.S.-Canada border and about 3,500 miles of coastline. Reports can be made at (800) 851-8727.



Armenia’s Movses Abelian appointed as UN Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly

Hunanian Jack
Panorama, Armenia

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Movses Abelian of Armenia (as well as a national of Georgia), as the next Under‑Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management.  He will succeed Catherine Pollard of Guyana who has been appointed as the Under‑Secretary‑General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, the UN official website reported.

Mr. Abelian is currently Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management.  Prior to assuming this position in 2016, he was Director of the Security Council Affairs Division in the Department of Political Affairs.

He brings to the position over 25 years of experience in conference and management affairs, coupled with experience in peace and security issues, conflict resolution, as well as extensive expertise leading, supporting and managing complex portfolios and intergovernmental processes in the United Nations system.

Mr. Abelian also has extensive experience in management, including programme planning and budget, having previously worked as Secretary of the Administrative and Budgetary Committee of the General Assembly (Fifth Committee) and the Committee on Programme and Coordination at the United Nations.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Abelian was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations (1998‑2003) and Deputy Permanent Representative (1996‑1998).  Prior to joining the Foreign Service of Armenia in 1992, Mr. Abelian worked in academia as an Associate Professor at Yerevan State University.

Mr. Abelian was educated in Armenia, the Russian Federation and the United States. He is married and has two children.

Police: 58 cases of crime detected over the past day

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia

According to the operations reports of Police of Armenia, 58 cases of crime were detected by officers of various police subdivisions in the territory of the republic from June 10 to June 11, 5 of which were previously committed crimes.

Among revealed crimes were 11 cases of personal theft, 9 cases of fraud, 4 cases of infliction of bodily harm and abuse of office, 3 cases of misappropriation or embezzlement, drug detection and battery, 2 cases of bribery, 1 case of abduction,

From earlier committed crimes 4 cases of personal theft, 1 case of infliction of fatal bodily injuries and infliction of bodily injuries have been solved.

Over the past 1 day, 58 accidents have been registered in the Armenia with 1 person died, 13 people received bodily injuries of different levels of severity, the source said.

“Rock’n’roll” photo of Armenian President and the legends

Elizabeth Jabejian
MediaMax, Armenia
“Rock’n’roll” photo of Armenian President and the legends

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian attended the gala night on June 5, 2019 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Rock Aid Armenia charity initiative. The event at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall was organized by Mediamax Media Company and Australian DoSomething organization. 

 After the event President Sarkissian had dinner at Salon restaurant with Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and founder of Rock Aid Armenia Jon Dee.

 President’s photographer Davit Hakobyan asked Armen Sarkissian and the guests to stand side by side for a ceremonial photo. The photo was taken. 

 

Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Armen Sarkissian, Jon Dee and Ara Tadevosyan  

Photo: Davit Hakobyan

 A few seconds later President Sarkissian said that his tie was too official for a “rock’n’ roll” evening, so he decided to take it off. 

 Tony Iommi said something at that moment that I couldn’t hear well. 

 In an instant Armenian President’s tie appeared on “Evil guitar genius” (in fact, a very bright person who likes joking). 

 Thus, both the ceremonial and “rock’n’roll” photos will remind us of the meeting. 

 


We benefit from Pashinyan’s actions, the co-founder of Adekvat party says

Garnik Zakarian
Panorama, Armenia

The co-founder of the newly -established opposition party Adekvat Artur Danielyan says they back the initiative of Veto movement to block Soros foundation’s office Yerevan. Danielyan along with his supporters was presented on Tuesday at a protest action staged by Veto movement in front of Yerevan’s Open Society Foundation (OSF) office. 

The protestors are periodically blocking the OSF office entrance holding posters reading “Stop Soros!”, “Beware, Soros!” and photos of George Soros, Larisa Minasyan, the head of the Armenian branch of the Foundation, and of some officials, who, in the opinion of activists, always received direct funding from the Soros Foundation.

Speaking of recent detentions of Adekvat activists  by police, Danielyan said they are ready for any development and the attempts by authorities “to silence and neutralize them are of no avail” and instead may strengthen and mobilize them.

“Whenever authorities resort to restrictive measures, we benefit in terms of human, financial and media resources. The steps by authorities also spark debates on social media as most users wonder why Nikol Pashinyan takes action we may only benefit from,” Danielyan said.

Over the past month the police have detained Danielyan and his supporters on several occasions with the latest incident occurred on June 8after police received a phone call saying that  Adekvat activists were terrorizing citizens. 

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Medieval Armenian manuscripts go on show

Nahapetian Zhanna
Adnkronos International, Rome
Monday
Medieval Armenian manuscripts go on show
 
 
June 10–Three Armenian manuscripts from Florence dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries are now on display at the Matenadaran Museum in Yerevan thanks to the efforts of the Italian Embassy and the Italian Research Council (Cnr), the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
 
The manuscripts include a 1213 illuminated ordination ritual from Cilicia, a 1353 Roman missal copied in Pisa and a manuscript containing a Dominican breviary and the Psalter book of psalms, copied in Buda in 1369, said the statement.
 
“The exhibition is a perfect mix of science, art, history and technology and, thanks to spearheading techniques developed by the Cnr based in Pisa, it is possible to appreciate the incisiveness and wealth of the message contained in the Armenian codes,” said the statement.
 
These manuscripts were kept in Italy for centuries and more recently in Florence, and are now on show at the Matenadaran Museum, a focal point for Armenian history culture, the statement said.
 
Anna Rita Fantoni, the director of the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana euro ” the magnificent Michelangelesque place where these manuscripts are conserved euro ” and former deputy director of the San Marco Library where two of these manuscripts are kept, tells visitors to the exhibition the story of the ocuments through the centuries and the cultural background to the treasures.
 
“The images and texts are accompanied by interactive multimedia to show how science is a formidable instrument through which to disseminate their knowledge to younger generations,” the statement concluded.

Is ‘Chernobyl’ the greatest TV series ever?

Emil Lazarian
The National, UAE
Monday
Is ‘Chernobyl’ the greatest TV series ever?
by Chris Newbould
 
What we make of the HBO/Sky docudrama that has taken IMDB by storm, and where to watch it in the UAE
 
A still taken from season one of ‘Chernobyl’. Courtesy OSN
 
Did you say greatest TV series ever? That’s quite a claim… I did. Well, technically, I Didn’t, but the millions of readers of cinephile website IMDB did. The show shot straight to the top of the website’s, user-voted, list of the greatest TV shows ever last week, before it had even finished its five-episode run on HBO in the US, and Sky Atlantic in the UK. That puts it above Breaking Bad (#5), Game of Thrones (#6) and Black Mirror (a disappointing #32). That’s quite an impressive feat, and you don’t need to take it from me – that’s democracy speaking.
 
OK, sounds good. So what’s it about?
 
Well, stop me if you’ve heard this one before as the story is already in the public realm, but on April 26, 1986, Reactor Four of the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin nuclear power plant in the city of Pripyet, Ukraine, better known as Chernobyl, suffered a disastrous explosion that led to a meltdown of the facility’s core and, in a nutshell, the world’s worst nuclear disaster to date. There was a period when it looked like most of Europe could become uninhabitable for 24,000 years or so, so it wasn’t pretty. The miniseries tells the story, and the story of those who worked to avert a worse catastrophe than the then-Soviet Union already had on its hands.
 
It doesn’t sound very cheerful?
 
No, you’ve got me there. The show is retelling an apocalyptic story, made worse by the efforts of the Soviet Union to cover up the events, the fact that none of the scientists involved really knew what to do as this had simply never happened before, and the political machinations to shift blame while, quite simply, people were dying horrible deaths. Oh, and the fact that the whole incident could essentially be put down to cost-cutting in the manufacture of Soviet fuel rods.
 
As many as 93,000 people died, according to international NGOs, although that doesn’t take into account the raised rates of cancer and birth defects that persist in parts of Ukraine and neighbouring Belorussia to this day.
 
The Soviet government’s official death toll was 31. It’s not the Teletubbies.
 
It can’t be that bleak can it?
 
It can I’m afraid. We’re talking rotting human bodies being desperately interviewed in makeshift hospital beds to try and find out what went wrong before they shuffle off this mortal coil, civilians being drafted in to cull the local population of contaminated domestic pets before they can roam around and spread radiation poisoning, lead coffins being buried in super-deep graves then covered with concrete, the lot.
 
A still taken from season one of ‘Chernobyl’. Courtesy OSN
 
Sample moment of levity: On realising that a door inside the reactor needs to be manually opened to avert an even worse catastrophe, Jared Harris’ nuclear physicist Valery Legasov to General Secretary Gorbachev: “I’m asking for permission to kill three men.”
 
There’s not a lot of slapstick.
 
But there are some light-hearted moments, right?
 
Err, not really. I recall one joke in the six-hour marathon, when the clean-up team draft in a lunar rover to try and clear the radioactive debris from the reactor’s roof.
 
“So that’s what we put on the moon,” says Stellan Skarsgard’s Deputy for Energy. “Well, not that one,” retorts Jared Harris’ nuclear physicist, as the control room erupts in laughter and party poppers are let off.
 
Lebanese actor Fares Fares also puts in a solid shift channelling Kevin Smith’s Silent Bob as he spends an entire 60-plus minute appearance as a silent Armenian soldier who speaks just once to deliver a single line of high philosophical worth before reverting to silence, but you’d have to be a total geek to even spot that moment of pseudo-levity.
 
So it’s totally depressing then?
 
Actually, no. The series does a great job of telling the stories we don’t know of simple bravery and heroism. The miners who worked naked, 24-hours a day, under a burning nuclear disaster, to tunnel under the reactor and implant the Soviet Union’s entire stock of liquid nitrogen as a heat exchanger to prevent the radiation melting down to the water table and infecting all of Eastern Europe’s water supplies. The three previously mentioned heroes who waded through radioactive water to open the door that would drain sluice tanks to prevent a further escalation (two of whom, amazingly, survive today). On a macro level, it’s dark. On a human level, maybe there’s hope for us all yet.
 
This doesn’t sound like the USSR comes across too well. How’s it gone down in Russia?
 
Well, that would depend who you ask. It’s gone down remarkably well with audiences.
 
Although Chernobyl hasn’t been screened on terrestrial TV, it’s been legally streamed on Amediateka, a kind of Russian Netflix, and garnered a 9.1 rating on Kinopoisk, the Russian equivalent of IMDB.
 
Officialdom has been less welcoming however, to the degree that NTV, a state-owned channel that is a division of Gazprom’s media arm, has announced it is releasing its own show to counter Chernobyl’s story. This version of events will show us how the CIA were responsible for the events that took place in 1986, apparently, and is currently in post-production with the help of a half million dollar grant from the Russian ministry of culture.
 
Ok, you convinced me. But can I watch it in the UAE?
 
Yes, you can. As of June 3, Chernobyl is airing weekly every Monday at 10pm (UAE) exclusively on OSN Series First. If you missed the first episode because OSN seems to have been quiet about airing the show, you can catch-up on OSN Play. Episode two will air tonight, June 10, at 10pm.

New Members Join Armenian Caucus as Armenian Assembly Promotes Stronger U.S.-Armenia Relations

Ekmekjian Janet

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

Contact: Danielle Saroyan

Telephone: (202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

 

NEW MEMBERS JOIN ARMENIAN
CAUCUS AS ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PROMOTES STRONGER UNITED STATES-ARMENIA RELATIONS

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Members joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
more members co-sponsored the bipartisan Armenian Genocide resolution as a
result of successful meetings led by the Armenian Assembly of America.

 

The Armenian Assembly, along with its state chairs and grassroots
activists, met with a host of congressional offices to discuss strengthening
U.S.-Armenia relations, co-sponsoring House Resolution 296, and joining the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. As a result of these meetings,
Representatives Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Kevin Hern
(R-OK), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Katie Porter (D-CA), and Abigail Spanberger
(D-VA) joined the Armenian Caucus, bringing it to 116 Members, and over 100
Members supporting H.Res.296.

 

“For years, the Armenian community’s vibrant culture has been
an integral presence in Los Angeles and across the country. I’m honored to be a
member of the Armenian Caucus and look forward to joining my colleagues in
working on issues that matter to Armenian-Americans,” Rep. Barragan told
the Armenian Assembly.

 

“As a new member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, I look
forward to working with this bipartisan group of lawmakers as we build stronger
economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties with the people of Armenia,” Rep. Spanberger
said to the Armenian Assembly. “I’m also proud to represent many Armenian
Americans across Virginia’s 7th district.”

 

Throughout April and May, the Assembly met with numerous offices
on Capitol Hill as well as in their districts, including Reps. Andy Biggs
(R-AZ), Judy Chu (D-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Jeff
Fortenberry (R-NE), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Ann Kuster
(D-NH), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Mike Levin (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Seth Moulton
(D-MA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Katie Porter (D-CA), Jamie Raskin
(D-MD), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ross Spano (R-FL),
Norma Torres (D-CA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA), among others.

 

Assembly’s State Chairs Herman and his wife Laura Purutyan from Massachusetts, Armineh Ghazarian from Maryland, Paul Sookiasian from
Pennsylvania, Meganoosh Avakian from Virginia, along with members and
supporters such as Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program participant
Armen Kaprelian from Arizona and Drs. Alice and Ara Apkarian from Orange
County, California were instrumental in encouraging U.S. Representatives to
join the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor the Armenian Genocide resolution.

 

Rep. Susie Lee, who also joined the Armenian Caucus earlier this
year, stated: “Nevada’s Third District is unique thanks to our diversity
and strong ties among different communities that call Southern Nevada home. I’m
proud to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues so that we can
continue advocating for the unique issues facing Armenia and continue to
support Nevada’s Third District Armenian people.”

 

“Thanks to the efforts of our state chairs and activists, we are
gaining momentum with more Representatives joining the Armenian Caucus and
co-sponsoring the bipartisan Armenian Genocide resolution,” said Mariam
Khaloyan, Director of Congressional Relations at the Armenian Assembly. “To
support the Armenian Assembly’s efforts, we encourage everyone to reach out to
their elected officials as well as plan to attend the Armenian Assembly’s National
Advocacy Conference this year, set for September 16-17,” Khaloyan 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.

 

###

 

NR# 2019-019

 

Photo Caption 1:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, Congresswoman Grace Meng,
Armenian Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, Armenian
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, and Armenian Assembly Massachusetts
State Chair Herman and his wife Laura Purutyan

 

Photo Caption 2:
Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program participant Armen Kaprelian,
Armenian Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, Armenian
Assembly Maryland State Chair Armineh Ghazarian, Congresswoman Nanette
Barragan, Armenian Assembly Communications Director Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian,
Armenian Assembly Pennsylvania State Chair Paul Sookiasian, and Armenian
Assembly Virginia State Chair Meganoosh Avakian

 

Photo Caption 3:
Armenian Assembly delegation speaking with Congressman David Schweikert

 

Photo Caption 4:
Armenian Assembly delegation speaking with Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

 

Photo Caption 4:
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Congresswoman Ann Kuster,
and Armenian Assembly Massachusetts State Chair Herman Purutyan

 

Photo Caption 5:
Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program participant Armen Kaprelian,
Armenian Assembly Communications Director Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian,
Congressman Mike Levin, and Armenian Assembly Pennsylvania State Chair Paul
Sookiasian

 

Photo Caption 6: Armenian
Assembly Maryland State Chair Armineh Ghazarian, Armenian Assembly
Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan, Armenian Assembly
Communications Director Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian, Congressman Dutch
Ruppersberger, Armenian Assembly Virginia State Chair Meganoosh Avakian,
Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program participant Armen Kaprelian, and
Armenian Assembly Pennsylvania State Chair Paul Sookiasian


Available online: 


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Mike Levin 1.JPG
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Fortenberry 2.jpg
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Congresswman Barragan.JPG
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Kuster 2.JPG
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Schweikert (4).JPG
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Azerbaijani press: MFA: Armenia confirms being invader state by awarding those responsible for death of Azerbaijani soldier

Ophelia Vardapetian
09:10 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 11

Trend:

There’s a big confusion in the enemy forces camp regarding who controls whom, said head of the press service of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva.

Her remarks came in response to a report by the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, which stated that the minister presented members of the personnel of the Armenian armed forces involved in the killing of an Azerbaijani soldier to high awards, Trend reports.

“It is clear that the leadership of Armenia, spreading false statements, is trying to evade responsibility. The Minister of Defense of this country, personally awarding the persons who executed his order on the killing of Azerbaijani soldier, thereby confirms that Armenia is an invader state,” she said.

Abdullayeva said that this is an obvious evidence of the direct participation of the Armenian armed forces in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Abdullayeva noted that this act of the Armenian Defense Minister also clearly demonstrates that Armenia is deceiving international mediators and shows a clear disregard for them.

“We would like to remind that during the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region, the Armenian armed forces staged a bloody provocation using sniper fire and again committed a bloody crime a few days after the co-chairs made a statement in connection with their visit to the region. With regret, we are forced to note that it was precisely as a result of the irresponsible behavior of Armenia that the region is on the verge of increasing tensions,” said the official.

“These provocations committed by war supporters in Armenia are an attempt to strike at the essence of the negotiations, being conducted to resolve the conflict. We emphasize once again that the entire responsibility for the development of events in this direction lies on the Armenian side,” she said.