Category: News

On September 21, 2016 “HayPost Trust Management” B.V. put into circulation two stamps dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

The official cancellation ceremony of the stamps took place at the Presidential Palace. The cancellation was carried out by the Presidential of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.

The stamps have been printed in “Cartor” Printing House, France, with face values of 200 and 300 Armenian drams.

The stamp with face value of 200 drams depicts “25^th anniversary” and “INDEPENDENCE” texts, as well as the waving tricolor flag of the Republic of Armenia on the background of blue sky symbolizing the twenty five years of independence and statehood of the country.

The stamp with face value of 300 drams depicts “25^th anniversary” which consists of a collage made with the sights of Yerevan showing thus the advancement of the country through twenty five years of its independence.

The stamps have been designed by the Managing Director of “HayPost Trust Management” B.V., Juan Pablo Gechidjian and the designers of “HayPost” CJSC Vahagn Mkrtchyan and David Dovlatyan.

Date of Issue: 21 September 2016
Face value: 200 AMD
Design by: Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Printing House: Cartor, France
Size: 40,0 x 30,0 mm
Print run: 50,000

Date of Issue` 21 September 2016
Face value: 300 AMD
Design by: Juan Pablo Gechidjian, David Dovlatyan
Printing House: Cartor, France
Size: 30,0 x 40,0 mm
Print run: 50,000

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in recognition of Armenia’s Independence Day:

“Today, we join the Armenian community – here in Canada, in Armenia, and around the world – in celebrating the country’s 25^thIndependence Day.

“Canada and the Republic of Armenia enjoy a dynamic and friendly relationship, rooted in the shared values of democracy and freedom, bilateral relations, and our collaboration in international organizations such as La Francophonie.

“I look forward to working with President Serzh Sargsyan and newly-appointed Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan to further strengthen the relations between our two countries, and to work together on global and regional issues including peace, security, and development cooperation.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I invite all Canadians to reflect on the important contributions of Canadians of Armenian descent to our national fabric, and offer our best wishes to everyone celebrating today.”

Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, James Warlick, Pierre Andrieu and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk on the sidelines of the General Assembly session in New York.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of implementing the agreements reached at Vienna and St. Petersburg summits for furthering the peace process.

Edward Nalbandian noted that “Azerbaijan has been turning down the agreements reached on the presidential level for several months now, thus preventing the creation of favorable conditions for the progress of the negotiation process.”

The Michigan State University (MSU) has been granted $1.2 million to develop new less commonly taught language courses, reports.

Center for Language Teaching Advancement, or CeLTA, faculty have been awarded funding by the Mellon Foundation for 38 months to create new language programs through a partnership with the Big Ten Academic Alliance.

Though MSU already offers 29 less-commonly taught languages, or LCTLs, CeLTA faculty hope to add many more, including Armenian, Burmese, Gaelic, Hmong, Serbo-Croatian and Sinhala, according to the Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages’ website.

The new LCTL courses will be taught via CourseShare, an online distance-learning program used throughout Big Ten Academic Alliance schools.

Although LCTL learners agree that access to these languages is important, some students think the university could be doing more.

“Hopefully in the future MSU will show its commitment by hiring a full-time, in-person teacher instead of relying solely on digital language instruction,” doctoral student Shelbi Meissner said.

Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on the sidelines of the 71^st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The interlocutors exchanged views on issues on OSCE agenda, as well as urgent international and regional issues.

The parties discussed the current state of the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Edward Nalbandian and Lamberto Zanier referred to the activity of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the programs it implements and the perspectives of their expansion.

On 20 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan attended the solemn opening ceremony of the park adjacent to the Stepanakert Republican Medical Center after Sargis and Amalya Karapetyans, NKR President’s Press Office reports.

President Sahakyan considered the beautification of the medical complex an important component of its efficient functioning.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to national philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who was present at the event, for the realization of the project highlighting his constant support to Artsakh.

National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, prime-minister Arayik Haroutyunyan and other officials were present at the event.

Photo: AP

 

The UN has suspended all aid convoys in Syria after its lorries were attacked by warplanes near Aleppo on Monday, the BBC reports.

The convoy had received proper permits, and all warring parties – including Russia and the US – had been notified, a UN spokesman said.

Eighteen of the 31 lorries, containing wheat, winter clothes and medical supplies, were destroyed.

A senior local official of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was among a number of civilians killed.

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, has described the attack as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The US has expressed “outrage” over the attack, which took place in the town of Urum al-Kubra hours after the Syrian army declared a US-Russian brokered truce over.

Tonight, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Republic, President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan attended the Prayer for the Republic at  Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan.

The  ceremony was presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, participated in the liturgy.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev is in a hotel of Turkish Izmir under medical surveillance, Anadolu Agency reports.

Because of health problems, the Kyrgyz leader had to cancel a working trip to New York, where he was due to have taken part in debates at a session of the UN General Assembly.

He felt unwell at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, where he made a stopover on the way to the US. He had a medical exam right at the airport, and Turkish medics said the president had symptoms of heart problems necessitating a thorough medical examination.

By the Presidential degree, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence a group of individuals were bestowed high state awards – orders and medals, for their contribution to the state building, strengthening of defensibleness and security, upholding of law and order, development of the economy, strengthening of Armenia-Spyurk relations and contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity, momentous achievements in the areas of science, education, health care, culture, and arts. Awarded were also honorary and military titles.

Today, at the award ceremony, which took place at the Presidential Palace, Serzh Sargsyan handed the awards to the individuals who have registered considerable achievements in different areas. The President of Armenia congratulated all awardees on the occasion of Independence Day and receiving awards, and wished them all the best.

Congratulatory speech by President Serzh Sargsyan at the award ceremony

Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. This great holiday suggests also making a glance back, reckoning over and assessing the journey we’ve made, its momentous milestones. Almost from scratch, we created new state, public, and political institutions. On each intersection of this difficult and honorable road and at each zigzag were standing people – devotees and personalities. They were standing at the origins of our statehood and until now they have their authoritative voice in our life.

Today we recognize them and pay tribute.

Dear Awardees,

I cordially congratulate you on receiving Fatherland’s high awards. You are different and your activities are different too – a military serviceman, an author, a scientist, a public, a state, and a political figure. However you all, we all are fulfilling one common task. Your work and line of conduct, your activities have already earned you our people’s esteem. Your stance, composure, and opinion about the problems we face and ways to solve them are important and have their impact on our society.
These days, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia, we are handing awards to the individuals who have been bearing great historic responsibility, and they do it with honor, with great dedication. We are awarding the individuals who have long ago become symbols. We also decorate individuals who have made a considerable input to different areas of our society’s life¸ young people who have already brought their important contribution to the development of our country. Distinguished Attendees, you all represent people who are being awarded today. We are happy and proud that you are with us, that you have your unique place, role, and also opinion.

Dear Awardees,

On behalf of the Republic of Armenia and my own behalf I congratulate you. Thank you for being what you are. I wish you excellent health, long years, and unbound energy in all your undertakings because you have been doing very gratifying work for our people, and I am confident will continue to do everything possible. You will do it for Armenia. Thank you, and once again my congratulations.