Category: 2019

Musical on topic of Armenian Genocide performed at Consulate General in Los Angeles

14:55,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Under the patronage of the Consulate General of Armenia, musical performance “A Journey of Angels” was presented at the Consulate General’s reception hall in Los Angeles on May 8, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

It was produced by an American creative team composed of book writer Brent Birman, composer and lyricist Kathi Chaplar, and director Kay Cole. The story is based on the novel “My Mother’s Voice” by American-Armenian writer and filmmaker Kay Mouradian. The book tells a story of horrors of a 14-year-old Armenian girl during the period of Armenian Genocide.

By telling one family’s story about the tragedy of the Armenian nation, the author emphasizes that the tragedies of the past such as the Armenian Genocide should never been forgotten for the sake of the future.

Consul General Armen Baibourtian highly commended the musical “A Journey of Angels” considering it to be very powerful and highlighting the role of culture in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide among the American society at large.

“Flora’s story is a symbol of hope. A young girl’s struggle to know her story and to witness her survival is to find hope in the struggle against all oppression and intolerance,” said book-writer Brent Beerman. “Her story, however, is more than a historical marker; it chronicles the life and journey of one Armenian village, focusing on one family, chronicling the persistence of one girl’s dream in the face of unspeakable atrocities. If we are to overcome future despots, then we must never forget what has happened to Flora, and the Armenian people through the horror of the genocide”.

Mayor of Glendale Ara Najarian, members of the City Council, Glendale Unified School District board members, representatives of American cultural circles and Armenian-American community attended the performance.

OeEB and Ameriabank cooperation creates new prospects for long-term financing

14:57,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, and Ameriabank CJSC have signed a financing agreement worth 30 million USD. This facility will be dedicated to financing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Armenia, Ameriabank CJSC told Armenpress.

The long-term facility with flexible terms will support the growth and expansion of SME business activities in Armenia and increase competitiveness in the local and foreign markets. Renewable energy financing will further promote sustainable development of the clean energy sector while ensuring efficient use of energy amongst the enterprises and population.

“We highly appreciate the relationship with our long standing partner OeEB, which started back in 2013. Supporting small and medium-sized businesses is one of Ameriabank’s priorities. This cooperation will help us to open new doors for small and medium-sized businesses to support Armenia’s economy and create new jobs. This agreement will also serve as a solid ground for our loan portfolio diversification in key sectors of the country’s economy and further improvement of our environmental footprint ”, said Artak Hanesyan, CEO of Ameriabank.

“Access to energy and access to finance are prerequisites for economic development. This is why OeEB’s main focus is to promote clean energy and energy efficiency and to support small and medium-sized businesses. Ameriabank shares these goals which makes it an ideal partner for us. We are happy to extend our successful partnership and to continue to work together to create sustainable development”, said Sabine Gaber, member of OeEB’s executive board. 

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About OeEB

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB) has been operating as the Development Bank of Austria since March 2008. It specialises in the provision of long-term finance for the implementation of private sector projects in developing countries which create sustainable development. Additionally, OeEB provides technical assistance, which can be used to enhance the developmental impact of projects. For more information, please visit http://www.oe-eb.at

About Ameriabank CJSC

Ameriabank is a dynamically developing bank and one of the major and most stable financial institutions in Armenia. The first investment bank in Armenia, Ameriabank has been providing a large package of innovative banking services since 2007. Now Ameriabank CJSC is a universal bank offering corporate, investment and retail banking services in a comprehensive package of banking solutions. Ameriabank is the leading bank in Armenia as measured by all key financial indicators (assets, liabilities, loans portfolio, net profit and equity) according to the 2018 year reportable data.

For further information, please visit www.ameriabank.am.

Speaker of Parliament of Armenia takes part in divine liturgy dedicated to Artsakh Defense Army in Shushi

15:08,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan attended a divine liturgy dedicated to the Defense Army of Artsakh in Holy All-Saviour Ghazanchetsots Church of Shushi in the morning of May 10, the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress.

Speaker Mirzoyan was accompanied by Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan and high-ranking military officials.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

“We stand with you in commemoration, we stand with you for Armenia’s future” – Macron tells Sarkissian in heartfelt letter

15:16,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. President of France Emmanuel Macron has sent a letter to President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian to reaffirm that starting from this year, France is annually, officially marking April the 24^th as the National Commemoration Day of the Armenian Genocide.

In the letter, Macron said that France will continue struggling for justice and truth together with Armenia.

“This is our duty before Armenia and the Armenian people, as well as the survivors and refugees whom France accepted with open arms and whose descendants shaped our country’s history. In order to be able to shape a joint fate it is necessary to be able to clearly look at the past, by bowing before the memory of the dead and respecting the memory of those who live. This is my conviction, and I know that Armenia shares it. We stand with you at time of remembrance, we stand with you also for Armenia’s future now when the new chapter of its history is being shaped, which must be a chapter of peace and prosperity,” Macron told Sarkissian according to the Armenian President’s Office. 

Macron added that France and Armenia are shoulder to shoulder proud with their friendship and confident in the future.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Pashinyan administration recaps one-year in office, seeks higher efficiency and multiple new reforms

15:24,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today recapped the government’s 1st-year activities during the Cabinet meeting and presented upcoming actions.

“I would like to thank you for the joint work,” he told Cabinet members. “Of course, during this period changes in the Cabinet’s composition have taken place, while some of the incumbent Cabinet members are with us from the very beginning. I would like to thank all those with whom we have worked during this period.”

PM Nikol Pashinyan reminded about his recent major press conference where he presented 100 reforms that have taken place during his 1 year in office, and told his ministers that this new accountability bar must be adopted further. “And I would like to say this as an objective that in my year-end press conference we all together must have another 100 reforms to publish”.

The PM said Cabinet members must collect on a daily basis their accomplishments.

“Generally, with results of this year I can say for the record that it certainly was a very important period. Fervent political development took place during this period. Five elections of prime minister took place in 2018, early election of Yerevan Mayor took place, early elections took place in major cities, in Kapan, Etchmiatsin, Hrazdan, early elections of parliament took place, and our government was formed with the results of it. In the coming year I expect a higher pace of our work and efficiency. As you all know, the parliament has adopted the law on the government’s new structure and soon the changes must come into force, but this process mustn’t anyhow reduce the pace of our work, meaning nothing must change in our daily work, on the contrary, taking this occasion we must make our activities more productive,” the PM said.

He noted that the government must find concrete ways for efficiently spending the 62,000,000,000 drams in additional tax revenues that was reported earlier. He tasked his deputy, Tigran Avinyan, to coordinate the work.

The PM also emphasized that major road construction projects will soon commence.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia receives Austrian parliamentary delegation

15:51,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Vahe Enfiajyan on May 10 received the delegation led by Gudrun Kugler, head of the Austria-Armenia parliamentary friendship group of the Austrian National Council (lower house), the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress.

Welcoming the guests in Armenia, the Vice Speaker highlighted their visit in terms of strengthening the Armenian-Austrian traditional friendly ties, as well as boosting the inter-parliamentary cooperation. He said the Armenia-Austria parliamentary friendship group is ready to conduct deeper cooperation in the future.

Vahe Enfiajyan stated that Armenia specifically highlights the use of the parliamentary diplomacy tool for implementing new programs in foreign relations and various areas.

In his turn Gudrun Kugler said this is the first visit of the Austria-Armenia parliamentary friendship group to Armenia and expressed readiness to contribute to deepening and developing the bilateral ties.

The meeting participants also touched upon the necessity to intensify the mutual visits and further develop the mutual partnership.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Aznavour Foundation doesn’t act as initiator of upcoming Yerevan concert dedicated to Charles Aznavour’s 95th anniversary – statement

15:59,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Aznavour Foundation has issued a statement according to which neither the Foundation nor the Aznavour family act as initiator, organizer or supporter of the tribute concert which will take place in Yerevan, on May 26.

ARMENPRESS presents the text of the statement:

“In response to numerous requests and letters, the Aznavour Foundation and the Aznavour famlily announce that they do not act as initiator, organizer or supporter of the tribute concert which will take place in Yerevan, on May 26th.

Recently, various public announcements have been made which attempt to associate the above mentioned concert to the Aznavour Foundation and the Aznavour family.

The Foundation and the family consider it unacceptable to misinform the public and once again underline that they do not participate in the above mentioned concert organization”.

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On the eve of the 95th anniversary of the legendary artist Charles Aznavour, many tribute events are initiated and organized throughout the world. This way, all these events’ organizers celebrate Charles Aznavour’s art and life, as well as contribute to the mission of the Aznavour Foundation.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Srbuk’s fierce second rehearsal features lots of FIRE ahead of Eurovision 2019

16:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Srbuk has delivered a fierce and dramatic performance at her second rehearsal ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Israel.

Compared to her first rehearsal, today Srbuk was seen with a new hair style and outfit. She was again alone on stage, without any backup dancers, and the performance features a black and red theme with multiple camera angles.

The performance features some pyroeffects, including a fire storm, with added to an even fiercer show.

The first performance of the 25-year-old Armenian pop singer is scheduled for May 16^th. Srbuk will be the first to perform during the second semi-final.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia considers temporary total hunting ban to restore wildlife

16:46,

Photo: National Police Chief Colonel Valery Osipyan, left, and National Security Service Director Colonel Arthur Vanetsyan, right, at a Cabinet meeting

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The May 10 Cabinet meeting featured some noteworthy debates regarding wildlife preservation, as the Government of Armenia approved to bring forward a proposal on enforcing a 100,000,000 dram fine for poaching of the endangered Caucasian leopard.

Moreover, National Security Service Director Arthur Vanetsyan, who was in attendance, suggested to enforce a 3-5 year total nationwide hunting ban.

“Let’s ban hunting for 3 to 5 years in Armenia in order for the wildlife population to be restored. I myself was a very active hunter in the past, but I haven’t hunted for already 6-7 years and I am speaking about this all the time. Let’s introduce this initiative, let’s ban hunting generally, and for the ban to be not only through these laws that we are adopting, but also, for example, by a temporary ban on hunting cartridges. Because they are doing irregular hunting,” Vanetsyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tasked to deal with the matter, but to study the issue comprehensively.

“We must do something like that because this idea is a very good and appropriate one. But we must look at this problem comprehensively. I suppose there are animals whose population is of no problem. Let us carry out an expert study”, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian PM’s spouse visits children receiving treatment in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic

17:05,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Anna Hakobyan, spouse of Armenia’s prime minister, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of City of Smile and My Step charity foundations, on May 10 visited the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic in Yerevan, her Office told Armenpress.

Accompanied by director of the Clinic Samvel Danielyan and pediatric oncologist Gevorg Tamamyan, Mrs. Hakobyan toured the medical center and talked to the children receiving treatment, their parents and treating doctors.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan