Category: 2019

Moscow is Yerevan’s strategic partner, Armenian PM says

Emil Lazarian
TASS, Russia
Sept 26 2019
Georgia and Iran are Armenia’s strategic neighbors, the prime minister said

UNITED NATIONS, September 26. /TASS/. Yerevan seeks to maintain good relations with all of its partners, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

“Russia is our key strategic partner and ally. Georgia and Iran are our strategic neighbors. We have a strategically significant agenda and partnership with the United States, the European Union and its member states,” he said. “We observe with concern signs of disagreements among our friends, strategic partners and allies. This reality puts significant challenges to us because we face a potential risk of not being correctly understood by some of our friends or, even worse, by all of them,” Pashinyan pointed out.

“We are doing our best to remain a reliable partner and a good friend for all of them without damaging our relations with any of them, without promoting relations with one partner at the expense of the other,” the Armenian prime minister emphasized.

However, according to Pashinyan, “Turkey remains a serious security threat to Armenia and the Armenian people, who had experienced the deep tragedy of the genocide and continue to face a fierce denial of truth and justice.”



10 Lebanese-Armenians Who Have Gained Recognition Around the World

Markos Nalchajian
The 961, Lebanon
Sept 26 2019
@The Daily Star
 Jasmin Lilian Diab · 19 hours ago

On September 21, 1991, the people of Armenia voted in a referendum to proclaim independence from the Soviet Union, announcing the establishment of what is known today as the Republic of Armenia and, in November of the same year, Levon Ter Petrosyan was elected Armenia’s first President. However, the Arminian history goes some five thousand years back in time, an ancient civilization which people traded and mingled in the Phoenicia Land of our ancestors, and there has been an active Armenian presence in Lebanon for over a century now.

In today’s Lebanon, and for decades, the Armenians constitute one of the country’s prominent communities and a vital part of our nation. According to Minority Rights Group International, there are 156,000 Lebanese-Armenians in Lebanon, which constitutes approximately 4% of the general Lebanese population – but of course, numbers in Lebanon are always up for debate.

Via EasyLebaneseRecipes

Prior to 1975, and to a large extent to this very day, Beirut was a center of Armenian culture with multiple media outlets and businesses maintaining strong ties with the Armenian diaspora. Just shy of Armenia’s 28 years of independence, we wish to acknowledge some of our notable Lebanese-Armenians who have taken both cultures into the diaspora and have made us proud through their achievements across almost every sector.

Via Walid Maalouf

A Lebanese-Armenian Engineer, born on May 5th, 1952, in Beirut, Anis Garabet migrated in 1972 to the United States with his family. In 1978, he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and in 1980, a Master’s Degree in Seismology from the University of Southern California (USC).

In 1982, he earned the Professional Engineering license from the State of California. In 1989, he joined the staff of NASA’s space shuttle program working for Rockwell International. He received an award from Columbia’s first mission astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen for successfully testing the Thermal Protection System for the space shuttle. 

Via Vimeo

Haroutune K. Armenian is a Lebanese-Armenian Medical Doctor born on June 18, 1942, in Beirut. A Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Armenian currently serves as President and Dean of the College of Health Sciences for the American University of Armenia (AUA) and has done so since 1997.

He has received numerous awards throughout his distinguished career for his research, and more specifically for studying the effects of the Lebanese Civil War at the population level, as well as his research on cancer and psychopathology. He has published more than 100 journal articles in prestigious international publications on various subjects relating to epidemiology and public health.

Via Metal Head Zone

John Dolmayan, born in Beirut in 1972, is a Lebanese-Armenian-American songwriter and drummer. He joined the famous heavy metal band System of a Down in 1997 and he recorded five albums with the band: System of a Down (1998), Toxicity (2001), Steal This Album! (2002), Mezmerize (2005), and Hypnotize (2005).

When the band went on hiatus in 2006, Dolmayan teamed up with the band’s guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian and formed a new band called Scars on Broadway, which recorded their eponymous debut album in 2007 and 2008.  In August 2009, Scars on Broadway traveled to Iraq for a USO tour across the U.S. army bases. 

Via Serouj Official

An internationally renowned pianist, accompanist, and composer, Serouj Kradjian was born in Lebanon to Lebanese-Armenian parents in 1973. He moved to Toronto, Canada, as a teenager, and went to pursuing music studies at the University of Toronto, where he received a B.A. in Piano Performance. 

He completed his postgraduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Hanover, Germany and then resided for several years in Madrid, Spain, where he founded and directed the Camerata Creativa, and where he met his future wife, the also very-famous Isabel Bayrakdarian, an opera singer born in Lebanon.

Kradjian’s discography includes the acclaimed Transcendental Etudes and Piano Concerti by Franz Liszt, and Robert Schumann’s three sonatas for violin and piano (with Ara Malikian). With Isabel Bayrakdarian, he recorded songs by Pauline Viardot-Garcia, which brought both artists international accolades and a 2006 Juno award for ‘Classical Album of the Year.’

Via ArmenianPulse

With the Amici Chamber Ensemble, of which he is co-artistic director, Kradjian has recorded Armenian Chamber Music and Levant, which won in 2013 the Juno for ‘Best Classical Recording.’

Via Cannes Festival

Born 1958 in Beirut to Lebanese-Armenian parents, Arsinée Khanjian is famous Canadian actress and producer. She is married to Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who regularly casts her in his films, in addition to her independent work and stage roles. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in French and Spanish from Concordia University in Montreal and a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Arsinée’s husband Egoyan credits her for inspiring him to further explore his Armenian roots. In addition to starring in his films, Khanjian has made a name for herself on television and the stage.

Via Alliance Entertainment

Her filmography includes: The Adjuster (1991) and Calendar (1993), an uncharacteristic comedy in which Khanjian played a translator opposite Egoyan. In 1994, the prize-winning success of Egoyan’s Exotica at Cannes helped to introduce the actress to a wider audience.

Via Armenian Embassy

Born 1974 in Zahle, Lebanon, into a Lebanese-Armenian family, Isabel Bayrakdarian moved to Canada as a teenager, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1997 with an Honors Bachelor of Applied Science in Biochemical Engineering. She initiated her opera singing career, bursting onto the international scene at winning the first prize in the 2000 Operalia competition founded by Plácido Domingo.

Isabel went on performing on the world’s top stages and was honored with four Juno awards, Canada’s highest recording prize. She’s the singer you hear on the soundtrack of The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, and the multiple award-winning Canadian movie “Ararat.”

Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1976, Manoukian is a Lebanese-Armenian musician, composer, and pianist. He was also a basketball player in the Lebanese Basketball League for Homenetmen Beirut basketball club for a while before he retired from it altogether. 

Via @Youtube via itsmyseat.com

Manoukian has worked with some of the biggest names in the US. His fusion of oriental melodies with modern arrangements has given him an international platform and made him one of the most unique faces in music, selling out concerts in London, Singapore, Cairo, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, Yerevan, Sydney, Byblos, and Beirut to name just a few. 

Guy Manoukian started playing piano at the age of four. He first appeared on television when he was six years old and was only seven when he performed at the Lebanese Presidential Palace. He started composing music a year later, winning his first competition.

Via Lebanon Events

Manoukian is still selling out at arenas and stadiums all around the world, with his most famous show in Lebanon being his Valentine’s Day performance – one of the most successful and prestigious events on that day in Lebanon.

Via Hurdler49

Born on August 16, 1985, in Ghadir, Lebanon, Taslakian is a Lebanese-Armenian sprinter who specializes in the 200 meters sprint. She is the first Lebanese woman to participate in two and three Olympic Games. She is actually the current Lebanese national record holder in the outdoor 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. She also holds the record for the 60 meters. 

Taslakian won two gold medals for Lebanon in the 2007 Pan Arab Games in Cairo, Egypt, and achieved her personal best in the 200 meters is 23.56 seconds in the final of the 200 meters in November.

Via Armenian on Web

She also competed at the 2007 World Championships; the 2008 Summer Olympics; the 2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships; the 2011 Pan Arab Games, winning a silver medal in the 100 meters and a gold medal in the 200 meters; the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships, taking home a silver medal as well as in the 2012 Summer Olympics – all representing Lebanon.

Via @PaulaYacoubian

Born on April 4, 1976, in Beirut, Lebanon, Yacoubian is a Lebanese-Armenian politician and law-maker. She gained her fame and prominence as a journalist and a television host, and she is one of Lebanon’s most popular and internationally recognized television personalities. Throughout her career, she had worked as a host in a number of Lebanese and pan-Arab international television stations.

Paula became one of the experts chosen by the World Bank Group as a member of their External Advisory Panel for Diversity and Inclusion as a result of her advocacy for women’s rights, her efforts for women empowerment, as well as for being a fierce defender of electoral women quota and a fair electoral law in Lebanon.

Via Executive Magazine

Last year, she received the Order of the Crown from King Philippe of Belgium, one of the highest national order in Belgium. She announced her candidacy for the 2018 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections, running for the Armenian Orthodox seat in the Beirut I constituency. She currently serves as one of the only 6 women in the Lebanese Parliament.

Via Krikor Agopian

Multi-award winning artist in Visual Arts based in Canada, Krikor Agopian was born in Beirut on December 14, 1942. His amazing talent was revealed during his studies of engineering in 1967 at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, leading his professor to push him towards design and arts instead. Krikor went then studying as well at the Washington School of Fine Arts in Washington, DC.

By 1972, back in Lebanon, Krikor became a university professor in arts, teaching consecutively in various prominent universities in Lebanon, and that until his return back to Canada in 1985.  Krikor held some forty individual exhibitions in Beirut, Canada, and the USA. That in addition to his participation in over 250 group exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Via Galerie Richelieu – Krikor Agopian

Known as a master of the trompe-l’oeil style and the airbrush painting technique, Agopian earned numerous awards, and his artwork can be found in many museums, private and public collections, and art societies. And his creativity continues to date!

PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral meetings with counterparts from Armenia

Nahapetian Samvel
Financial Express
Sept 26 2019
 
 
PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral meetings with counterparts from Armenia
 
By: PTI |
Published: 10:17:38 AM
 
The prime minister sought Armenia’s support for concluding an expeditious trading arrangement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) of which Armenia is a member.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly here, including with his counterparts from Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and New Zealand Jacinda Ardern. In his meeting with the Armenia PM on Wednesday, Modi stressed on the need to considerably enhance the volume of bilateral trade and investment. He expressed interest of Indian companies to explore opportunities in IT, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism and other sectors of Armenia, said a Ministry of External Affairs statement.
 
The prime minister sought Armenia’s support for concluding an expeditious trading arrangement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) of which Armenia is a member. India and the EaEu are set to start negotiations on this soon. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction at their steady growth.
 
External Affairs Minister Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, “PM @narendramodi met with Armenian PM @NikolPashinyan. Had a fruitful discussion on deepening the age-old relationship between the two countries.” Modi thanked Pashinyan for Armenia’s consistent support for India’s candidature for the permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.
 
Recalling the historical linkages, Modi and Pashinyan highly valued the goodwill existing between the two peoples which provides a solid basis for their bilateral cooperation. About 3,000 Indian students study in Armenia. Also, a large number of Armenian candidates benefit from training programmes conducted by India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Pashinyan briefed Modi on the new initiatives of openness of his government and in that context invited Indian investments in Armenia.
 
Referring to popularity of Indian culture, films, music and yoga, he called for greater cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The Armenian PM invited Modi to visit Armenia and the invitation was accepted with gratitude, the MEA statement said. Speaking to reporters at a briefing, the MEA spokesperson said PM Modi also met New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern and discussed bilateral ties. Modi’s fourth bilateral of the day was with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid.
 
Modi had a meeting with his counterpart from Belgium Charles Michel earlier in the day. They agreed to intensify efforts on early conclusion of negotiations on the bilateral investment and trade agreement and enhance closer cooperation on counter-terrorism, multilateral institutions and migration and mobility.
 
 
 
 

Vahe Davtyan: “Situation with railway is indicative of relations between Armenia and Russia”

Hunanian Jack
Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 26 2019
25 Sep in 16:00 By Vestnik Kavkaza

Last week, there was a scandal over pressure Armenian government put on Russian railways: Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Vladimir Tokarev said that the South Caucasus Railway, the railway infrastructure operator and subsidiary of Russian Railways, has to work in conditions, under which normal operation was impossible: all records for the past 10 years were seized, false charges were initiated, arguments of the Russian side about fulfillment of concession conditions were ignored. Tokarev stressed that due to this, Russia is considering all options for development of events, including termination of Russian Railways management of SCR. Vestnik Kavkaza discussed what this outcome would mean for Armenia with energy and infrastructure issues expert Vahe Davtyan.

– What does termination of the Russian Railways’ management of the South Caucasus Railways means for Armenian infrastructure?

– Today South Caucasus Railway is responsible about 20% of all cargo transportation in Armenia, both export-import and domestic ones. If Russian Railways leaves, this segment will be paralyzed. The fact is that in 2008, when concession agreement was signed between the government of Armenia and Russian Railways, the Russian company bought all trains previously owned by Armenian Railway CJSC, which is about 2500 units – freight and passenger cars, locomotives and electric sections. The agreement stipulates that if it’s terminated due to non-fulfillment of obligations by Armenia, SCR will sell everything back to Armenia at a residual value, but there’s a problem: over the past years, a large number of trains were simply decommissioned, and this obligation doesn’t apply to new equipment acquired by SCR. Meanwhile, during over 10 years of work in Armenia the Russian company has acquired many diesel locomotives, electric locomotives and construction equipment, so if the contract is terminated, the transport deficit will begin in the republic.

– What are the consequences of Russian Railways’ departure for economy and citizens of Armenia?

– Obligation of SCR to resell previously purchased trains to Armenian side creates financial difficulties for the state budget of Armenia, because buying back about 2000 cars is simply expensive, there are no reserve funds for this. In other words, there’s no budget money. If Armenia will just rent it, freight transportation tariffs will immediately begin to increase, which will result in higher prices for gasoline, diesel fuel, wheat and so on.

Right now we can already see how much money Armenian government will need. If we tak

e one half-open freight car as a basis, today it costs around 1.5 million rubles in Russia, taking into account ten-year operation, they will be worth about 1 million rubles each. Even without taking into account the rest of the financial costs, purchasing freight cars alone back will require about $35 million. I would like emphasize that that’s just freight cars, and it will also be necessary to buy locomotives – electric and diesel locomotives – which are much more expensive.

– How do you assess actions of the Armenian government in this situation with Russian Railways?

– In my opinion, they initially chose wrong tactic. Problems that arose on the Armenian railway during management of the SCR had to be resolved not by presenting them to the media, but through diplomatic channels, through work between special services or at the level of state leaders. Over the past year and a half, four meetings have been held between Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Putin, and it was possible to resolve this situation without going to the media. Issues are displayed in the information field only when all other tools have been exhausted – and we haven’t even used these tools, everything went public and there were many scandals since the beginning. As a result, it became clear that situation with the railway, which we are now observing, is indicative of Russian-Armenian relations.

– What is Russian Railways’ contribution to the development of infrastructure and economy of Armenia over the years of cooperation?

– Total investments of Russian Railways in the Armenian railway, according to concession agreement signed in 2008, is about $579 million, $250 million of which has been invested in the first 10 years. Lion’s share of these investments, about 70%, was aimed specifically at upgrading infrastructure – track and station facilities. We can state that, as a result of the investment policy pursued by Russian Railways over the years, safety conditions in rail transport infrastructure of Armenia have been significantly improved. This, in turn, had a positive effect on commercial attractiveness of cargo transportation in Armenia. At the same time, the main problem of SCR was its loss-making: the company works without bringing profit, it works at a loss, wages of the three-thousandth railway staff are paid mainly from the funds of the investment program. This, as well as the fact that the company has modernized trains through the same investment program, is also a part of the claims of the current government: Yerevan demands Russian Railways to invest more in the republican infrastructure.

Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Agreement to Promote Trade and Investment with Armenia

Greg Madatian
The Pine Tree
Sept 26 2019
Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Agreement to Promote Trade and Investment with Armenia

By admin on 10:22 pm

New York, NY…Governor Gavin Newsom met with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today and signed an agreement to create a Trade and Services Desk in Armenia, promoting two-way trade and investment by businesses in Armenia and California – home to the largest Armenian community in the United States. “California is fortunate to share in the rich heritage of the Armenian people,” said Governor Newsom. “This agreement builds on our strong ties and will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs from both California and Armenia.”

The agreement was signed today in New York City at a meeting with the Governor, Prime Minister Pashinyan, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Armenian Ambassador to the United States Varuzhan Nersesyan, Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, Armenia’s Consul General in Los Angeles Armen Baibourtian and Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge). Today’s meeting follows the Prime Minister’s visit to California earlier this week, where he met with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Governor Newsom’s International Affairs and Trade Development Representative.

“California’s deep and longstanding friendship with Armenia has contributed to economic prosperity, inspired opportunities for students, and enriched our collective cultural values,” said Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis.

“I am very pleased that Governor Newsom has a bold, vibrant vision for California in regard to international trade and I am extremely honored to have witnessed the historic MOU and Trade Agreement signing with the Governor and the Prime Minister,” said Senator Portantino. “Formal trade relations between California and Armenia has long been a priority of the Armenian American community in California. I am also particularly excited to have helped launch this administration’s first official trade effort.”

The Governor also acknowledges the contributions of Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood) who, since serving at the then California Trade and Commerce Agency in 2000, has worked tirelessly to establish a California trade presence in Armenia. Assemblymember Nazarian proudly serves as the only Armenian American elected to the California Legislature.

Through today’s agreement, California will establish a Trade and Services Desk in Armenia to be utilized by delegations and California’s trade representative for Europe and Eurasia from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, to encourage trade and investment by Californian and Armenian businesses. The Trade and Services Desk will foster economic cooperation and development by assisting entrepreneurs in connecting with their counterparts to engage in various trade and commercial activities.

While in New York City this week, Governor Newsom also delivered remarks at the Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony and the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit, and participated in a panel alongside foreign dignitaries at the United Nations Headquarters. Today, the Governor joined fellow U.S. Climate Alliance governors to discuss the progress member states are making toward their bold climate action goals.

‘Lights! Camera! Saroyan!’ film has Yerevan premiere at Cafesjian Centre

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 26 2019
Culture 10:57 26/09/2019 Armenia

The Renaissance Cultural and Intellectual Foundation has presented the Yerevan premiere of “Lights! Camera! Saroyan!”, a new documentary on renowned American-Armenian writer William Saroyan on the sidelines of the William Saroyan House Museum project.

The film screening took place at the Special Events Auditorium of the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts at 6:30pm on Wednesday, September 25, the William Saroyan House Museum said.

Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, the director of Armenian Studies Program at California State University in Fresno, delivered opening remarks at the event.

“Lights! Camera! Saroyan!” examines the career and personal life of Fresno native William Saroyan, a Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning author, playwright and artist. Through exclusive interviews with his family and friends, the documentary spans the artist’s years living in Fresno and abroad.

You will find small episodes of a whole story, the history of the museum creation, the answers to the interesting questions the project’s team had.

Film was presented in its original language with subtitles in Armenian.

Armenia’s religions leader comments on PM’s statement to ‘bring clergymen to their knees’

Hovik Karapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 26 2019

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II says the church is waiting for the return of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from New York for clarifications over his statement on ‘bringing clergymen to their knees.”

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he reminded the Armenian church has already expressed its view on the matter.

Asked whether he plans to meet with the PM, the Armenian church leader said: “We meet regularly to discuss issues relating to the church and homeland. We will most probably touch upon this issue as well.”

At a news conference in Los Angeles on 22 September, Pashinyan, referring to the state-church relations, noted if some clergymen think that ‘this government is week and let’s destroy it, they will be brought to their knees.” 

Sports: Gaël Andonian on recovery from injury and Armenian squad chances

Emma Nadirian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 26 2019

By Samvel Sukiasyan

During the summer transfer window, Armenian defender Gaël Andonian moved to the French Ajaccio, playing in Liga II.

However, the 24-year-old football player suffered a shoulder injury, which for several weeks did not allow him to debut as part of his new team.

In an interview with NEWS.am Sport correspondent, Andonyan spoke about the rehabilitation process, the desire to return to the field and the chances of the Armenian team in the Euro 2020 qualifying group.

“I trained on an individual program for four weeks. On Monday, September 30, I will resume training in the general group, together with the team,” he noted. “Let’s see how I will feel when I train at full strength. Hope to start playing soon. The Armenian team played excellently against Italians and Bosnians. How do I assess our chances of reaching the final stage of Euro 2020? Everything is possible. This would be a huge achievement for our country,”

Azerbaijani Press: Entrpreneurs in Upper Karabakh economic region get financial support

Kanayan Tamar
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2019
20:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Leman Mammadova

Entrepreneurship Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy continues to provide financial support to entrepreneurs for the implementation of investment projects.

In this regard, training on the mechanism of allocation of funds has been organized at the business forum held in Agdam region on September 26. The presentation of investment projects on the creation of establishment of cotton, vegetable growing, breeding stock farms and milk processing enterprises, held to realize the economic potential of the region.

As part of the forum, 21 entrepreneurs operating in Upper Karabakh economic region received more than 1.9 million manats ($1.12 million) of soft loans. These loans will be used to implement projects in the areas of livestock, cotton, fish farming, bread production etc. The implementation of these projects will open 50 new jobs.

Sahib Mammadov, Deputy Economy Minister, said that the Entrepreneurship Development Fund issued soft loans up to 116.4 million manats ($68.49 million) to finance investment projects since early 2019. “The implementation of these projects will open up 3,800 jobs in the country.”

He noted that in particular, the entrepreneurs operating in Upper Karabakh economic region received 44.6 million manats ($26.24 million) of soft loans for the implementation of over 1300 investment projects.

Mammadov stressed that stimulation of citizens’ involvement in entrepreneurship in border and front regions, provision of soft loans to them is one of the main priorities.

Azerbaijani Entrepreneurship Development Fund was established on the basis of the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support, operating in the country since 1997.

The authorized capital of the Fund was set at 1.9 billion manats ($1.1 billion).Loans are issued for 5,000 ($2,933) to 50,000 manats ($29,326) for a period of 3 years, from 50,000 to 1 million manats ($586,510) for 5 years and from 1million to 10 million ($5.87 million) for 10 years. The annual loan rate is 5 percent.

The Fund intends to issue soft loans worth 160 million manats ($94 million) this year. In general, the Fund has issued soft loans in the amount of more than 2.3 billion manats ($1.35 billion) so far. About 68 percent of the loans was directed to the agricultural sector.

Sports: World Weightlifting C’ships: Armenia’s Samvel Gasparyan wins small bronze

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 26 2019
Sport 16:22 26/09/2019 Armenia

2019 European silver medalist Samvel Gasparyan took the 5th position in the 102 kg weight class of the World Weightlifting Championships being held in Pattaya, Thailand from 18 to 27 September. 

The weightlifter from Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri lifted a total of 390 kg (178+212). In the snatch Samvel Gasparyan won a small bronze medal and in the clean and jerk he came 6th, the National Olympic Committee’s press service reported.

Earlier Armenia’s representatives Hakob Mkrtchyan (89 kg) had become a world champion and Andranik Karapetyan (81 kg) had captured a small bronze medal in the snatch.

Armenia’s other representatives Simon Martirosyan (109 kg), Gor Minasyan (+109 kg) and Ruben Aleksanyan (+109 kg) will also come out in the World Championships.