Category: 2019

Museums of Yerevan to celebrate “Museum Night” with rich programs

11:36,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Over 100 museums of Armenia and Artsakh will be open for free to the public on May 18 on the occasion of the Museum Night and International Museum Day.

A number of events are scheduled which will further increase the interest towards the museums.

The Museum Night pan-European event is being in Armenia for already the 16th time and in Artsakh for the 7th time.

International Museum Day is an international day, a celebration that held every year on May 18, coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The event highlights a specific theme that changes every year and that is at the heart of the international museum community’s preoccupations. 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia deepens cooperation with leading German company in digital technologies field

11:47,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Be creative and develop new technologies which will make easier the people’s life and will improve the life quality: this is the activity principle of the German leading company Fraunhofer. The research company with 70 years of history has improved its acting style and expanded the activity geography over years. In recent years Fraunhofer is implementing cooperation programs also with Armenia.

About Fraunhofer

The German Fraunhofer Society is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization. The company has 72 institutes and research bodies in Germany. Majority of over 26.000 employees of the company are qualified scientists and engineers. The organization conducts research at various directions and areas, in particular information, digital and laser technologies, security, energy, communication systems, healthcare, microelectronics, food safety and reprocessing, environment and etc.

The company’s turnover comprises 2.6 billion Euros annually. The 2.2 billion Euros of this comes from the research contracts signed with university, international and corporative organizations. Both manufacturing companies and representatives of the service field, as well as state bodies are cooperating with Fraunhofer.

The organization carries out cooperation programs with the world’s leading research and innovative companies.

The company executives state that the works of their researchers and programmers greatly affect the improvement of the life quality of the people, improve the methods and technologies, open new prospects by building a brighter future.

Armenia is cooperating with the German company

The cooperation of Armenia with the German company started in 2016 within the frames of the digitization and virtual recovery program of the ancient and medieval manuscripts of Matenadaran. Fraunhofer assisted in digitization and restoration of the manuscript of the Narek prayer book of the 13-14th centuries. This manuscript was in poor condition, some pages even didn’t exist. But thanks to the unique technology of the company the digitization and virtual restoration of the pages of the manuscript have been carried out.

The first successful cooperation was important for several reasons. First of all, the digital restoration was the first step towards the physical restoration of the manuscript. In addition, the use of such technologies is vital for restoring such manuscripts, as well as in terms of transferring the values of cultural heritage to the next generations.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian’s visit to Fraunhofer IPK

Highlighting Armenia’s technological development President Armen Sarkissian during various visits and events emphasized his approach that digital and information technologies are going to be the main driving force of the 21st century, and that Armenia has a huge potential in this regard. It’s not a coincidence that he has accepted the proposal of German Chancellor Angela Merkel made in Yerevan to visit Fraunhofer IPK and met with the company representatives. Shortly after receiving the proposal the Armenian President visited Fraunhofer IPK during his official visit in Germany in November 2018.

At the meeting with the leadership, the President was introduced on the Institute’s activity directions and discussed the future cooperation opportunities with Armenia.

At the end of the meeting President Sarkissian stated: “There are preliminary agreements which will lead us to a new cooperation, and this cooperation is not only that with the Matenadaran. The talk is about a great, industrial cooperation”.

From agreements to practical steps

At the invitation of President Sarkissian, Fraunhofer IPK’s delegation visited Armenia in May 2019. The purpose of the visit was to explore the Armenian field and turn the agreements reached into tangible results.

The delegation led by Director for European Policy and Business Development at Fraunhofer IPK, Jens Günter, met with President Armen Sarkissian, minister of transport, communication and IT Hakob Arshakyan, the representatives of leading Armenian IT companies, research and educational centers during the visit in Armenia.

“Interesting meetings are taking place, but I think it’s still too early to talk about concrete decisions. But I am sure that we will find concrete cooperation directions. It’s very impressing to see how Armenia takes care of its youth, creates opportunities for being closer to the IT field”, Jens Günter told reporters in Yerevan.

The delegation members left Armenia with great impressions, new ideas and projects. They promised to sum up the results of the visit already with the proposals for concrete projects and new ideas of cooperation. They expressed confidence that Armenia and Fraunhofer IPK have a lot to do in the future especially in automation, artificial intelligence fields and finding new technological solutions.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West reveal name of their new baby

12:08,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian-American reality TV star Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West made public the name of their fourth child, more than a week after they welcomed the baby via surrogate.

The couple named the newborn baby boy Psalm.

Kim Kardashian West posted the photo of the baby on Twitter. “Beautiful Mother’s Day. With the arrival of our fourth child. We are blessed beyond measure. We have everything we need”, the tweet reads.

Psalm joins sisters North, 5, and Chicago 1, and brother Saint, 3.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Eurovision 2019 Final: Aram MP3 to announce results of Armenian jury

14:25,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Aram MP3, who represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, will announce the results of the Armenian jury for the Grand Final, Eurovoix reported.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 is being held in Israel.

Armenia’s representative Srbuk performed in the 2nd Semi-Final on May 16, but failed to qualify for the Grand Final.

The Grand Final will take place on May 18.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Rival demonstrations outside Yerevan courthouse as Kocharyan bail verdict expected

15:16,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Rival demonstrations numbering around 200 people are underway outside a Yerevan courthouse as the court is expected to deliver a decision whether ex-President Robert Kocharyan will be freed from jail amid the ongoing trial into the deadly 2008 post-presidential election unrest.

The decision is expected to be delivered at 16:00, but both supporters and protesters of Kocharyan have gathered outside the courthouse since morning. Supporters want the ex-president released, while protesters are chanting “life imprisonment”.

Heavy police presence is seen outside the court building.

On May 16, Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakyan and former President Arkady Ghukasyan personally arrived at the Yerevan court to vouch for the release of Kocharyan, who also served as President of Artsakh in the early 90s. The court adjourned to examine the personal guarantees.

Kocharyan, along with several other former officials, is charged with “overthrowing Constitutional Order” during the 2008 March protests in Yerevan when 8 protesters and 2 security officers died. The former President is accused of unlawfully ordering the military to intervene. He vehemently denies wrongdoing.

2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again.

At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

President Sarkissian holds phone talk with President of Supreme Judicial Council

15:58,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is in Kazakhstan on a working visit, today held a telephone conversation with President of the Supreme Judicial Council Gagik Harutyunyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

Issues relating to the current situation were discussed during the phone conversation.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

URGENT: Court orders release of ex-President Robert Kocharyan

16:05,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. A Yerevan court today approved the personal guarantees from Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakyan and ex-President Arkady Ghukasyan to free former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.

Judge David Grigoryan delivered the verdict today, on May 18^th.

Supporters of Kocharyan in the courtroom began cheering.

Rival demonstrations are taking place outside the courthouse. 

On May 16, Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakyan and former President Arkady Ghukasyan personally arrived at the Yerevan court to vouch for the release of Kocharyan, who also served as President of Artsakh in the early 90s. The court adjourned to examine the personal guarantees. Sahakyan and Ghukasyan vouched that Kocharyan will not obstruct justice.

Kocharyan, along with several other former officials, is charged with “overthrowing Constitutional Order” during the 2008 March protests in Yerevan when 8 protesters and 2 security officers died. The former President is accused of unlawfully ordering the military to intervene. He vehemently denies wrongdoing.

2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again.

At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Kocharyan’s attorney comments on court’s decision to release 2nd President from pre-trial detention

16:25,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Aram Orbelyan, attorney of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, commented on the court’s today’s decision to release Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.

“The optimistic scenario would be if the case was dropped, and the pessimistic scenario the approval of the guarantee. But the pessimistic scenario occurred. In any case, we continue stating that there is a risk to undermine justice, we want to see the state’s actions for eliminating this risk. Robert Kocharyan will be released within few minutes”, the attorney told reporters.

The Yerevan Court today approved the personal guarantees from Artsakh’s president Bako Sahakyan and ex-president Arkadi Ghukasyan to release president Robert Kocharyan from pre-trail detention.

Robert Kocharyan is charged with “overthrowing Constitutional Order” during the 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan and “accepting particularly large bribe”.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

President Sarkissian meets Armenian community representatives in Kazakhstan

17:58,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Sarkissian, who is in Kazakhstan on a working visit, on May 18 met with the Armenian community representatives in Nur-Sultan, his Office told Armenpress.

The meeting was also attended by Armenians who arrived from Uzbekistan.

At the meeting President Sarkissian appreciated the contribution of the Armenian community to the development of Kazakhstan. “It’s very important for you to be good citizens of Kazakhstan. But at the same time you shouldn’t forget your religion and culture and should proudly represent the Armenian people”, he said.

Armen Sarkissian said in the 21st century the human resource, rather than natural resources, are the most important. In this sense he highlighted the use of the Diaspora’s potential and the fact of the Armenian people’s being united. “Our strength is in our unity. We need to learn to live together and support each other. We are small, but one nation and ought to support each other. The first one is our national unity. There is no other way to success. This is one of the guarantees to success”, the Armenian President said.

He also mentioned the honest and dedicated work as the next guarantee to success.

At the same time the President highlighted providing the new generation with higher education as a guarantee to a firmer and reliable future. “We have wealth, that is the human wealth, that is you and your children. For me the next generation is very vital. Starting from schools we should be able to educate right our children. As a President I consider my duty to guide the people with certain concrete visions. And the first one from these visions is that the attention to the children in the country should be a priority issue. The soldier, that will defend the homeland tomorrow, is today’s child. In order to be able to defend his country tomorrow, he should have the latest technology because he will not defend it with a weapon, but with drones. And for this he should have received right education. Armenia should produce its own drone. But for this purpose it must have a high-quality education system, starting from kindergartens up to universities”, he said.

The President said the 21st century belongs to Armenians, and they have an opportunity and potential to become a successful nation.

In the end Armen Sarkissian listened to the Armenian community representatives and answered their questions. 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Judicial power enjoys full freedom and verdicts one after another prove it – PM’s spokesperson

18:02,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is a legal state where the three branches of power are clearly separated. The judicial power uses its full freedom and the verdicts one after another are the evidence of this, Armenian prime minister’s spokesperson Vladimir Karapetyan said on Facebook.

“All statements about pressure attempts by the authorities are simple speculations, which, unfortunately, are being applied by Robert Kocharyan’s defenders. The authorities are determined to guarantee exclusively the legal process of all procedures. It’s another matter that after the recent democratic changes the old judicial system operates in Armenia towards the decision of which the level of public trust has not changed”, the spokesperson said.

The Yerevan Court today approved the personal guarantees from Artsakh’s president Bako Sahakyan and ex-president Arkadi Ghukasyan to release president Robert Kocharyan from pre-trail detention.

Robert Kocharyan is charged with “overthrowing Constitutional Order” during the 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan and “accepting particularly large bribe”.