Category: News

President Serzh Sargsyan attended the opening ceremony for the Energy Week-2017 being held in Yerevan within the framework of the Solar Energy Investment Conference. The Conference is organized by Armenia’s Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund and the Expomedia Center of Exhibition Projects, President’s Press Office reports.

The Conference aims to present the recent developments of the energy efficiency and renewable resources area in Armenia, the existing problems, investment opportunities, possible funding sources, technological and design solutions, and prospective projects. The Conference is attended by over thirty companies from different countries which are interested in the possibilities for the construction of solar energy stations in Armenia.

The program of events to be conducted on January 25-27 includes also a three-day exhibition which will present the local manufacturers and companies specializing in this area. According to the organizers of the exhibition, the event will allow the participants to familiarize with the heat insulation materials, energy efficient systems of illumination and heating, samples of solar technology and services offered in this area.

Welcoming remarks of President Serzh Sargsyan at the opening ceremony of the
Solar Energy Investment Conference

Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I cordially salute the participants of the Solar Energy Investment Conference which is being held in the framework of the Energy Week-2017 event.

As one of the most important areas of the Armenian economy, the energy area in recent year has registered substantial achievements. The works conducted in this area are aimed at raising the level of the energy security of Armenia, providing dependable and uninterrupted services.

With the assistance of the international financial institutions, the high-voltage substations of structural importance have been almost totally renovated. Constant and persistent activities aimed at the creation of new capacities, construction of new power lines, and introduction of new technologies are being carried out in this area. In the regional context, we are efficiently cooperating with our neighbors – the Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia. Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Georgia power lines will be put into operation in 2019 which will allow to elevate the energy system of Armenia to a qualitatively new level. The implementation of the mentioned above programs will allow to carry out the transit of energy power, seasonal sub-flows and swaps, as well as other commercial deals.

As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia can become a unique bridge between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union. This factor creates excellent opportunities for the implementation of various investment projects by the state as well as private sectors.

In the long-run, the economies based on “green” principles are more promising and stable. For that very reason, in the development strategy of this particular area, we especially stress the importance of the development of the renewable energy such as solar, wind, thermal and hydro energy.

According to numerous of scientific explorations, Armenia possesses a great potential for the development of solar energy. In order to create an attractive milieu for the investors, in recent period of time we have implemented a number of legislative reforms, using the best world practices.

It is necessary to note that in recent years the cost of technologies for solar photovolt panels has decreased by nearly 80%. For that very reason, compared to other technologies for energy production, the industrial-scale technology for solar photovolt panels has become competitive. The preliminary studies show that thanks to these modern technologies currently it has become possible to get a competitive price for solar photovolt panels which in turn will allow to avoid negative impact on the set energy price for the ultimate consumers.

Thus, the world famous companies have every opportunity to participate at the tenders in Armenia and to build great capacity solar photovolt panels.

In coming years, we are planning to dramatically increase the share of renewable energy in the general energy “balance sheet” through the construction of solar, wind, and thermostations.

Distinguished Colleagues,

This Conference may become an excellent platform to discuss the latest developments in the area of renewable energy in Armenia and investment opportunities.

I wish you productive work and every success. I am confident that the results will not be long in coming.

Thank you.

Head of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC), political scientist Stepan Grigoryan offers to organize a forum on human rights in Belarus and invite prominent dissidents from that country.

The situation around the arrest of the Russian-Israeli blogger and the plans to extradite him to Azerbaijan are conditioned by the bilateral interests of Baku and Minsk, Stepan Grigoryan said in an interview with Public Radio of Armenia.

The political scientist considers that Armenia should respond to Alexander Lapshin’s issue with a propaganda campaign and by seeking support from human rights organizations.

Stepan Grigoryan is confident that Alexander Lukashenko does not want problems with those structures, as the relations with Europe are important to him now.

– NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has joked about her unpronounceable last name and says ‘just call me Gladys.’

But the new premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, is a pioneer – not just because she’s first Liberal woman to hold the job.

She’s part of Australia’s small but successful Armenian community. The 2011 census estimates there are about 10,000 Armenian speakers in Australia.

But a tragic history hangs over the Armenian diaspora. And could this complicate life for the new premier?

The ABC Radio has talked to  Stepan Kerkysharian, founding director of SBS Radio, about the Armenian identity, the Armenian Genocide, the Karabakh issue, etc.

The situation was relatively calm at the line of contact between the armed force of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh last night, the NKR Defense Ministry reports.

The rival violated the ceasefire about 15 times in due period, firing over 140 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The Azeri forces used an antitank grenade launcher in the eastern direction, the Ministry said.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army refrained from response actions and continued with the reliable protection of the military posts.

Armenia will celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Armed Forces on January 28. The Public Radio of Armenia has prepared a special gift on this occasion.

Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin has appealed the decision of the Belarusian Prosecutor General’s Office on his extradition to Azerbaijan, Sputnik reports.

The appeal filed at Minsk City Court is set to be considered on January 26.

The blogger is defended by Israeli and Russian lawyers.

According to Belarusian legislature, Lapshin has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, as well.

Alexander Lapshin, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, was detained by Belarus authorities in December 2016 at the request of Azerbaijan. Earlier this month the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus decided to satisfy the request of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan on the blogger’s extradition.

On January 23, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved President Donald Trump’s Secretary of State nomination of Rex Tillerson by a party line vote of 11 to 10, clearing the path for approval by the full Senate.

As genocide denialists are calling upon President Trump and his team to guarantee that the Armenian Genocide will not be recognized by his administration, Trump’s cabinet nominees are taking a considered view of this important human rights issues, the Armenian Assembly of America reports.

Responding to a question for the record posed by New Jersey’s senior Senator, Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the Secretary of State nominee, for his part, said: “The tragic atrocities of 1915 remain a painful issue in the relationship between Armenia and Turkey, and it is in the U.S. interest to ensure peaceful and stable relations between the two countries. If confirmed, I will support a full accounting of the historical events and an open dialogue between Armenia and Turkey in the interest of regional stability.”

Additionally, President Trump’s U.S. Representative to the United Nations nominee Nikki Haley responded to Senator Menendez’s question about supporting a U.S. declaration calling the Armenian Genocide as such and whether the failure to do so hereto speaks ill of our values and encourages the continuation of such crimes. She promised: “I will never shy away from calling out other countries for actions taken in conflict with U.S. values and in violation of human rights and international norms.”

Focusing on Turkey’s violations of basic freedoms, Tillerson made it clear that he is “very concerned about many of the measures recently taken by the Turkish government.” He stated: “Religious freedom is a core American principle and an important aspect of international peace and stability. If confirmed, I will work with Turkey to safeguard religious minorities and promote respect for their cultural heritages, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Halki Seminary.”

“The Armenian Assembly greatly appreciates Senator Menendez’s long-standing commitment and leadership on Armenian issues and the questions he raised for the nominee,” stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.  As Tillerson awaits a final vote by the full Senate, more responses to questions regarding U.S.-Armenia relations and the region are anticipated.

“We look forward to working with the new Administration and Congress to further strengthen the permanent bonds between the United States and Armenia as well as expand economic opportunities for Armenia,” Ardouny said.

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has announced the jury for the Aurora Photo Competition. The professional jury chaired by American photographer John Stanmeyer will select the best photos illustrating the ideas of humanism.

“The narrative of our world is always before us. Within us. At the ground beneath our feet. It takes courage to grasp this importance. Working towards awareness, peace, takes commitment. Not in complexity, but in kindness and humility. The result, a profound impact that shepherds our collective humanity forward, towards the betterment of all. It is in this spirit, this purpose, that I am honored to be the Chairperson for this year’s Aurora Photo Competition. Please join me in helping turn, through photographic storytelling, the wheel of change,” said John Stanmeyer.

The members of the jury are photographers Anush Babajanyan and Zaven Khachikyan, art historian and curator Vigen Galstyan, composer and member of the Aurora Prize Creative Council Marine Ales and CEO of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Arman Jilavian. The short bios of the jury members are presented below.

Aurora Photo Competition launched in December, 2016 expects to receive photos exploring the understanding of themes including humanity, hope, selflessness and a belief in a brighter future. Aurora Humanitarian Initiative will award US$2,500 to the photographer of the best image. Second and third places will receive awards of US$1,500 and US$1,000 respectively. The deadline for submissions is March 20, 2017. More information about the competition is .

Competition Jury

John Stanmeyer (Chairperson) – American photographer John Stanmeyer has been working for National Geographic magazine since 2004. He has photographed in over 100 countries. For 10 years John worked for TIME magazine. In 2014 he received prestigious World Press Photo of the Year award. In 2015 Stanmeyer arrived in Armenia working on a National Geographic story. Ghostlands, a story on what genocide means all of us today, 100 years ago and in the future, using the Armenian Genocide at the fulcrum for the overarching narrative. Since then, John worked in a number of projects and workshops in Armenia, including his latest, @Bridging.Stories, working with 24 young photographers in both Armenia and Turkey to tell their own stories to bridge hope, build peace.

Marine Ales – Marine Ales is a famous Armenian composer and theatre critic. She is the author of 300 songs in Armenian and Russian. Her songs were released in 5 albums: I’ll Leave You (1999), My Poplars (2001), Thoughts (2003), With and Without You (2007), Barefoot in the Sky (2010). She was jury member of the 2016 Golden Apricot International Film Festival. Marine Ales is co-founder of Gift of Life Foundation. She is the laureate of numerous awards for life-time achievements. In 2010, Marine Ales published the collection of her poetry Shards. Marine Ales is the member of the Aurora Prize Creative Council.

Anush Babajanyan – After completing her degree in Journalism from the American University in Bulgaria in 2006, Anush Babajanyan began working as an independent contractor for the BBC Monitoring Service in Yerevan, Armenia. After more than one year working at the BBC, Anush began, and has since been working, as a freelance photographer in Yerevan, focusing on women’s issues in Armenia, the aftermath of the Gyumri earthquake and social narratives related to women. In 2012, Babajanyan co-founded a women’s cooperative 4Plus. Much of Anush Babajanyan’s activity has been dedicated to peace building processes between Armenia and Turkey. Anush Babajanyan’s photography has been published in Washington Post, VICE News, National Geographic, and other international and regional publications.

Vigen Galstyan – Working between Australia and Armenia, Vigen Galstyan is an art historian and curator specialising in photography, film and Armenian art of the modern era. In 2011 he co-founded ‘Lusadaran’ Armenian Photography Foundation, which aims to collect, study and preserve photo-media art from Armenia and beyond:. Since 2006 he has authored numerous exhibitions, essays and books related to photography and Armenian art: His essays on photography and cinema have appeared in significant publications such as ‘Sweet sixties’ (Sternberg Press, 2013), ‘We used to talk about love’ (Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, 2013) and ‘Garden of the East: photography in Indonesia 1850s-1940s’ (National Gallery, Canberra, 2014). He is currently completing his PhD thesis on indigenous, 19^th century Armenian photography of historic architecture at the University of Sydney.

Arman Jilavian – Arman Jilavian leads Aurora Humanitarian Initiative as CEO. He is a member of the Board of Directors at RVVZ Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees of UWC Dilijan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MEDIACRAT. In 2011, he was named the Media Manager of Russia in the Printed Media / Magazines category. Arman Jilavian graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State Universtiy with a PhD in philology. He has held various positions in Russia’s leading media groups (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Eurasian Media Group) and managed the Time Inc.’s business in Russia (FORTUNE and Popular Science magazines).

Zaven Khachikyan – Zaven Khachikyan is an Armenian photographer and documentarian. He started his career in 1980s. Since 1988 as a photographer he documented the Karabakh movement from its inception to the years of war. He was present at the war zone for a few times. His focus is on man with all his feelings, hardships and problems. He worked on assignments for AP, TASS, Time, Paris Match and many other magazines.

On 24 January Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address to Mrs. Gledis Berejikyan, Prime Minister of the New South Wales of Australia.

The address runs as follows:

“Respected Mrs. Berejikyan,

On behalf of the people and authorities of Artsakh and personally myself I cordially congratulate You on the appointment to the post of prime-minister of the New South Wales state of Australia.

I am confident that Your knowledge and rich experience will effectively contribute to further raising the welfare of the state’s people.

New South Wales, having a leading role in the economic and political life of Australia, is famous also as a region, where peoples’ freedom and equality, human rights and universal democratic values have always been of primordial significance.

The bright evidence of this fact is the resolution on recognition of NKR’s independence and its right to self-determination, adopted by the legislative body of the state on October 25, 2015.

I hope that during Your tenure a fresh content will be brought to the friendly ties between Artsakh and New South Wales, contributing to the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation.

I once again congratulate You, wishing robust health and great success in the realization of Your mission.”

The negotiations on a new Armenia-EU Framework Agreement are in a final stage, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski told a press conference in Yerevan. He hpes that the 2017 will bring the new Framework Agreement into reality.

“By the EU standards the pace of negotiations on a new Armenia-EU Framework Agreement has been very fast and very constructive. Normally, negotiations on bilateral  on similar bilateral agreements take more time,” Piotr Switalski said.

He said there are issues that are still open, but there is no doubt they will be settled within a reasonable period of time.

He said “the issues are related to the new circumstances that emerged after 2013, after the aborted agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), Artmenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as other developments, even on the EU side.”