Levon Aronian, leading chess player of Armenia, had no problems with South African chess player Daniel Cawdery in the second chess game and easily overcame the first phase of Men’s World Chess Championship.
Our GM, who was playing with black pieces, started the chess game without any pressure and chose a waiting strategy, as he won yesterday’s first round. African chess player tried to take the initiative, but uselessly.
So, our chess player won by 2:0 score and entered 1/32 final.
Netgazeti , Georgia, 28 Aug 17 Armenia in the Eurasian Economic Union and disappointed citizens Armine Avetisyan [Armenian News note: the below is translated from Georgian] Two years have passed since Armenia joined the [Russian-led] Eurasian Economic Union [EEU]. What benefits has our country gained from the membership in the union and which expectations have our citizens fallen short of? Government notes Armenia's achievements as EEU member To discuss the issue, a round table was even held in Armenia, where Armenian Deputy Prime Minister and International Economic Integration and Reforms Minister Vache Gabrielyan said that over the past two years, Armenia's resources had increased and prices on imported goods had decreased. Armenian Economic Development and Investment Mistier Suren Karayan said that as a result of two years of Armenia's membership in the EEU, trade turnover of the aforementioned organisation's member states was increasing every year. He presented the data of 2016. According to the EEU data, in 2016, Armenia's exports to the EEU countries increased by 53 per cent, making Armenia the leader according to the production growth rate. Independent experts disagree However, independent experts insist that the true picture is different. In 2015, when Armenia joined the EEU, economic growth decreased by 3 per cent and it was only the country's national debt that increased. In 2014, the national debt amounted to 4.4bn dollars. In 2015 and 2016, it amounted to 5.08bn and 5.8bn. According to forecasts for 2017, the national debt is going to amount to 6.3bn dollars and make 54 per cent of the GDP. "Becoming a member of the EEU was a political step, not economic. From the economic point of view, the organisation proper is at the forming stage and it is too early to speak about achievements. Before joining the organisation, its member states did not even try to unite or take joint efforts. They have made no such attempts after joining it, either. This was just Russia's attempt to restore the former Soviet Union, gathering former Soviet countries around it, no more, no less," economist Mesrop Arakelyan told the Netgazeti [website]. In his opinion, compared to 2016, relatively dynamic processes have been noticeable in the Armenian economy anyway. "In 2016, the war delivered a severe blow to the Armenian economy. The damage caused by Azerbaijan was really substantial and it ruined [the Armenian economy]. Our economy has just begun to revive. Indeed, compared to 2016, 2017 has been much more positive from this point of view. However, compared to previous years, we are still in a dire situation." Expert explains difference between EEU, EU According to Arakelyan, any union, be it Eurasian or European, should be organised in such a way that its member states should unconditionally cooperate in the sphere of foreign trade. This cooperation will make it possible to speak about economic growth. The EU ensures connections of the kind. However, I cannot say the same about the EEU. "Sixty per cent of the foreign trade of European countries is conducted within the EU. Due to close relations, they can import local products to neighbouring countries, conducting trade and sales there. In the EEU, this showing does not exceed 25 per cent. This implies that we cannot sell our products to the EEU member states. However, we can conduct trade in third countries." EEU not to be blamed - economist According to economist Babken Tunyan, low economic showings are not linked to Armenia's membership in the EEU and they have nothing to do with this. "We are witnesses of a paradoxical phenomenon. When Armenia's economic showings are positive, public sector employees directly link this to the EEU. When they are negative, they either make no comments on this or make illogical statements. The same applies to the opposition. When we get low figures, they link this to the EEU, and so forth. In actual fact, our connection with the Russian market has deep roots. Economic factors and the problems Russia is facing are our problems. Sanctions imposed on Russia make an impact on us, too," Babken Tunyan said. And if economists carry out a professional analysis of the situation, citizens of Armenia speak about their experience: Ordinary Armenians dissatisfied with EEU membership "The EEU is the area of great opportunities. However, political games do not allow us to gain benefits. It would be better if the union could really work. However, our dreams have failed to come true," 38-year-old citizen of Armenia Karine Harutyunyan said. Karine lives in the settlement of Bagratashen [near the Georgian border] [square brackets as published]. Bagratashen is one hour away from Tbilisi and three hours away from Yerevan. For many years now, local residents have been going shopping to the regions of neighbouring Georgia, which are adjacent to the border. As Karine put it, two years ago, when Armenia joined the EEU, she was sure that Armenia would soon become economically strong. "I have never strived for Europe. Similar to my friends, I said that I preferred the EEU, as borders with its member states were nearer. I thought that it would be easier to import or export goods. However, we are still facing problems. At that time, they said that by entering the EEU, we would be able to conduct trade with neighbouring Georgia. However, at present, thousands of problems have emerged, causing hindrances. Earlier, we used to go to [the Georgian village of] Sadakhlo [near the Armenian border], to buy household products there and bring in some [products] to sell here. This time, I was able to bring only six water melons." As from 1 July 2017, the new requirements introduced by the EEU Commission came into force. According to them, without customs formalities, only 5 kg of phytosanitary products can be imported to the territory of the European [Eurasian] [square brackets as published] Union. Such products are fruits and vegetables. Those, who live near the Armenian-Georgian border and used to bring products from Georgia for many years to run small businesses, say that they now feel bewildered, facing major problems. The thing is that they can no longer engage in trade, which was their only source of income. In protest, on 25 July, residents of Bagratashen staged a rally near the [border] crossing point, temporarily blocking the road to Armenia for trucks. By doing so, they tried to show their dissatisfaction. In response to the protest, the customs service chose not to come out to with the protesters. In their interview to Netgazeti, the agency people said that they obeyed only the law. Members of the [local] community are not the only people dissatisfied with [Armenia's] membership in the EEU. In Yerevan, one can come across a lot of people saying that membership of the union has not brought them any changes for the better.
Bewegendes Drama mit Oscar-Gewinner Christian Bale und Golden-Globe-Gewinner Oscar Isaac über den Genozid an den Armeniern während des Ersten Weltkrieges
HISTORIENFILM, DRAMA, LIEBESFILM | 133 MINUTEN | THE PROMISE | USA 2016 | CAPELIGHT
Regie: Terry George
Darsteller: Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale, Charlotte Le Bon, Jean Reno, James Cromwell, Angela Sarafyan, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Kevork Malikyan, Marwan Kenzari, Rade Serbedzija
Beschreibung: Konstantinopel kurz vor Ausbruch des Ersten Weltkrieges 1914: Die einst so lebendige und multikulturelle Hauptstadt des Osmanischen Reiches droht im Chaos zu versinken – und mit ihr der begabte Medizinstudent Michael (Oscar Isaac). Als die attraktive Künstlerin Ana (Charlotte Le Bon) an der Seite ihres Geliebten, dem amerikanischen Fotojournalisten Chris Myers (Christian Bale), aus Paris eintrifft, verliebt er sich Hals über Kopf in sie. Verbunden durch ihre gemeinsamen armenischen Wurzeln entfacht zwischen Ana und Michael eine unbeschreibliche Anziehungskraft, der Beginn einer leidenschaftlichen Liebe. Doch schnell werden sie von der harten Realität des eskalierenden Krieges eingeholt und müssen aufgrund eines drohenden Genozids auf der Flucht bald nicht nur füreinander, sondern auch ums nackte Überleben kämpfen.
Erwähnenswert: 100% der Filmeinnahmen dieses 90 Millionen US-Dollar Films werden an wohltätige NGOs gespendet.
Trailer und Filmclips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvWM7yD0Nkc , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDC4d2yZCCA
Spielzeiten: https://www.kino.de/film/the-promise-die-erinnerung-bleibt-2016/kinoprogramm/ , https://www.film.at/kinoprogramm
"Film der Woche":
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact: Danielle Saroyan
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CO-CHAIR
MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JERUSALEM
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Co-Chair and Massachusetts
Council of Churches President Anthony Barsamian travelled to Jerusalem this
month, where he met with religious leaders, including the Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian.
“It was an honor meeting with the Armenian Patriarch
and Armenians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and holding vibrant discussions with
the Armenian community in the Holy Land. The Patriarch made a point to welcome
us and encourage Armenian Americans to visit the Armenian Quarter and meet with
members of this important Armenian community. His Eminence made sure we had the
opportunity to pray with our Christian brothers and sisters at Saints James Cathedral
and participate in Divine Liturgy at the tomb of Christ, also known to
Armenians as the Holy Resurrection Church and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
while having an opportunity to visit the numerous Armenian shops and enjoy
Western Armenian culture which continues to exist since the 4th
Century,” Barsamian stated.
The participants visited Srpots Tarkmanchatz (Holy
Translators) Armenian School within the Armenian Quarter. They were led by Fr.
Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and Fr. Krikor
Sabounjian, a member of the Eastern Diocese Council and Pastor of Holy
Translators Church in Framingham, Massachusetts. They had the pleasure of
meeting the Gulbenkian Library Director and Principal of the Tarkmanchatz
Armenian School, Very Rev. Norayr Kazazian, who reported the number of students
at the school has increased from 90 to 180 in recent years.
“This trip to the Holy Land was inspirational and eye-opening.
Jerusalem is one of the important centers for us and we should all make an
effort to visit the Holy Land and experience the richness of Armenian life
unbroken throughout the centuries,” Barsamian added.
During his visit, Barsamian also met with Rabbi
David Rosen of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and had the opportunity to
join Rabbi Rosen in prayer at the West Wall, where they both reflected upon the
need for peace and justice following the protests in Charlottesville.
AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris wrote a
letter to President Donald Trump, and stated: “What we witnessed in
Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday was nothing short of horrifying. It was
sickening enough to see people drawn together by the siren songs of white
supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazism. But however repugnant their views
may be, so long as they conducted themselves peacefully, their freedom of
speech is protected in our blessed land. But it was abundantly clear that at
least some of these racists, anti-Semites, and homophobes came to Charlottesville
looking for trouble.”
The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, recently held high
level meetings with the Israeli Government as relations continue to expand. During
his discussion with the Minister of Regional Cooperation of Israel, Tzachi
Hanegbi, Nalbandian highlighted the deep historical roots between Armenian and
Jewish people, “which create a good basis for the development of inter-state
cooperation.” They also discussed holding consultations between the foreign
ministries, enhancing their collaboration within international organizations,
and increasing inter-parliamentary exchanges, as well as developing mutually
beneficial cooperation in culture, science, and education.
“I welcome these encouraging trends in
Armenia-Israel relations and extend my appreciation to our friends in the American
Jewish community who support this development,” Barsamian said.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of
America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting
public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#
2017-060
Photo Caption 1:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian with Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian
Photo Caption 2:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, St Nersess Armenian Seminary Dean
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Gulbenkian Library Director and Principal Very Rev.
Norayr Kazazian, and Eastern Diocese Council Member Fr. Krikor Sabounjian
Photo Caption 3:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian and Rabbi David Rosen of the
American Jewish Committee
Available here: http://bit.ly/2wvYz4z
JPEG image
IMG_4599.JPG
JPEG image
Sts. Tarkmanchatz School in Jerusalem.JPG
JPEG image
Mon 11:27 GMT | 7:27 Local Time
Over the last twenty-five years, the relationships between Israel and Azerbaijan have improved critically and drastically. It is historical fact that no country in Eurasia has closer or warmer ties with Israel than Azerbaijan. The relationship between the two countries is particularly surprising because Azerbaijan is a majority- Muslim country.
In the development and strengthening of relations between countries, political and economic interests play a special role. I am more than confident that human relations, a human bridge between the Azerbaijani and Jewish people, play a special and vital role in the relations between Israel and Azerbaijan. We can look at the recent history of these relations and actually see the reflection in today's reality.
Relatively few people outside the Azerbaijani or Jewish communities know about the remarkable role that the Jewish community has played in Azerbaijan. The first health minister of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic of 1918-20 was Jewish, and there were representatives of Jewish groups in parliament. In addition, during the existence of the Republic from 1918 to 1920, Jewish communities published a Caucasian Jewish Bulletin, the Palestine newspaper and a biweekly magazine, Youth of Zion. Moreover, throughout the Soviet period, Jews played a major role in the intellectual, economic and political life of Azerbaijan.
Unlike many cultures, Azerbaijanis have never viewed Jews as foreign or alien. Israelis with roots in Azerbaijan many years are doing a great deal to foster the emerging economic and even geopolitical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel. The Jewish people have lived in the territory of Azerbaijan for over 2600 years and have never experienced harassment, insults, pogroms and anti-Semitic
actions.
It is necessary to point out the words of 9th Israeli President Shimon Peres, during his historical visit to Azerbaijan: “I know that the policy of Azerbaijan is of peace, friendship, development but also of independence. With your unique geographic location, there is no doubt that you already are, and will continue to be, a key country in this part of the world.”
Today it is not secret that Israel has always been attracted to Azerbaijan, not only because there is no anti-Semitism in that country. At the same time, Baku has repeatedly denounced manifestations of anti-Semitism elsewhere and Azerbaijan today is center and wonderful multiculturalism sample for the world. The multiculturalism and tolerance historically inherent in the life of Azerbaijanis today became an integral feature of everyday life of each citizen of the Azerbaijani state, irrespective of national identity, language and religion. Azerbaijan, a predominantly Shiite Muslim country, is also home to several other ethnic and religious groups, including ancient Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish communities. Respect and tolerance for national minorities has played a vital role in the development of the country from antiquity to the days of the Silk Road to modernity. Azerbaijan has for millennia been a safe haven for a wide array of diverse peoples fleeing persecution and oppression, perhaps most notably, the Jews. Today, the close bilateral relations of Israel and Azerbaijan—owing much to the hundreds of thousands of Jewish Azerbaijanis who left during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, only to return to a free and prosperous Azerbaijan—provide an interreligious, geopolitical, and cultural map for how Jews and Muslims can and do act toward one another and how they can and do coexist.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev also celebrated the strength of the relationship between the two countries by using these words: “For centuries, Azerbaijan and Jewish peoples have lived in peace and this friendship and brother relations continues to exist between our countries. The Jewish community in Azerbaijan actively helps to strengthen our bilateral relations. In Azerbaijan, there are seven synagogues, five of which are located in the capital Baku and there are Jewish schools in the area. In recent years the relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel produced many advantages for both countries".
On the one hand, the military agreements signed between the two countries, worth about five billion dollars, granted Azerbaijan with better technology and an ally to the Northern border with Iran. Fundamentalist Iran and aggressive Armenia, which continues to occupy 20% of Azerbaijan lands, are interested in Azerbaijan turning off cooperation with State of Israel on security issues and struggle against terrorist threat. Official Tehran is trying to isolate Azerbaijan from Israel and the West, although this is even theoretically impossible, because in this sense Iran is a more neutral country with respect to the Karabakh conflict than Israel. Israel is very important for Azerbaijan, not only an economic, political, but also a strategic partner for security issues and geopolitical and military partnership.
Despite the fact that official Baku has not yet opened its diplomatic mission in Israel, the Azerbaijani government permanently sends numerous official delegations to Israel and, in turn, receives even more Israeli guests in Baku. This is especially true and revealing, given the sharp and continuing expansion of economic ties with Israel, given the purchase of Azerbaijani oil and Israeli investments in the Azerbaijani economy and agriculture. In turn, Azerbaijan needs modern high technologies in agriculture, military industry, telecommunications, and this list can be continued. At the same time, countries promote educational, humanitarian and cultural projects.
The visit of the Israeli Prime Minister to Azerbaijan on December 8, 2016 was super historic. Despite the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu was in Baku in August 1997, this visit was the first official visit of the head of the Israeli government to Azerbaijan for the 25-year history of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Azerbaijan. This meeting between Prime Minister of Israel and Azerbaijan President in Baku once again confirmed that the political dialogue between the two countries is at the highest level, while the economic component and trade turnover are constantly growing. Azerbaijan-Israel cooperation and partnership are flourishing; trade turnover between the countries is almost 3.5 billion dollars. If earlier this turnover was focused on the oil and gas industry, currently the development of this relationship is diversifying, covering other sectors of the economy.
As Alexander Murinson wrote that in the near future, "it is likely that Azerbaijani-Israeli relations will only increase in areas such as scientific cooperation, information technology, medicine, water purification, agriculture and cultural exchanges. More importantly, strategic cooperation in defense and intelligence fields, as well as in the fight against terror, has proven that two small countries located in an expanded Middle East, have found the unique blend for a successful symbiotic relationship in a highly insecure environment".
Military-technical partnership between Israel and Azerbaijan is actively and permanently developing and strengthening. In recent time, some Israeli media, with the help of some representatives of the Armenian lobby in Israel, are trying to spread false information about the "problems" in Israeli-Azerbaijani military cooperation. After the April events of 2016 – during a rapid counter-offensive, the Armenian side's front defense line was broken in multiple places and Azerbaijan army has retook several strategic heights and inhabited places. We actually have seen anti-Israeli hysteria and antisemitism in Armenia, even in Israel the Armenian community held rallies against the Azerbaijani-Israeli partnership.
Concerning the criticism of Armenia on Israeli-Azerbaijan military cooperation, it necessary to emphasize that Azerbaijan and Israel themselves choose their friends and partners, and these countries themselves determine the level of strategic cooperation and partnership in the military-technical field. Moreover, no one has the right to interfere with it. Azerbaijan does not ask that there are military bases of the third state – Russian Federation on the territory of Armenia and what military assistance this country provides and will provide to the Republic of Armenia, which occupied 20% of Azerbaijan territories. It is absolutely absurd and senseless when a country that has been occupying the territory of Azerbaijan for more than 25 years accuses official Baku in violating the norms of international law. Armenia started its undeclared war, with the goal of extending Armenian territory to the greatest degree possible at the expense of Azerbaijan.
At the beginning of 1992, Armenia began using Russian military and material assistance to intensify its occupation, starting with settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh. The worst atrocity took place on February 26, 1992, when Armenian forces perpetrated a genocidal massacre against Azerbaijani civilians in the town of Khojaly. The bloody massacre that transpired in the small Azerbaijani town of Khojaly was also a crime against humanity. Armenian armed forces, like the Nazis before them, committed unspeakable atrocities and barbaric acts. 613 people were killed, 487 people were crippled, and 1,275 civilians — men, women, children and the elderly — were captured, murdered, raped and tortured in manners reminiscent of the Nazis. Most notably, the mass extermination of the civilian population of Khojaly was carried out for one reason — all were Azerbaijanis. International journalists and an official Azerbaijani investigation reported disfigured corpses, dead women and children, and the murder of fleeing civilians.
Unlike in the aftermath of World War II, the Nuremberg Trials, and the ongoing hunt for Nazis, the perpetrators of the extermination of Khojaly live freely in the modern-day Republic of Armenia. Many, even today, occupy high-level positions in government — former defense minister Seyran Ohanyan, current Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, to name a few of the notables. Each participated in atrocities and like the Nazis, they must be brought before an international court to answer for their crimes. Like the Nazis, copious records exist attesting to their involvement and complicity. Unlike the Nazis, who were personally secretive about their crimes, several of these men gave interviews to the media lauding their criminal acts. Their reign, too, will end, as the Nazis did and as Armenia grows out of its warring infancy.
Unlike modern-day Germany, which meticulously teaches its young people about the horrors that Nazi Germany committed, a profound blemish on the modern Armenian society as a whole is the cult of personality that exists today around Dro and Nzhdeh. In honor of them, coins are minted with their likenesses, monuments are erected, and films are produced about their lives and deeds, as if they are some sort of diabolical folk heroes. History will not forget the cruelty of a 20,000-strong Nazi Wehrmacht Armenian legion during WWII. Led by an Armenian nationalist commander called Dro they participated in death marches and the annihilation of thousands of Jews and others disliked by the Nazi regime.
It is even more absurd when you consider the current official ideology in Armenia: The Republican Party, which has ruled since 1998, openly claims its fidelity to anti-Semite and fascist Garegin Nzhdeh a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. It is worth emphasizing that the forces of some marginal political groups do not support the cult of these bloodthirsty fascists and anti-Semites, behind these actions is the state, or rather the criminal terrorist leadership of the modern Republic of Armenia. The fact that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan once again confirm that they consider themselves real and genuine heirs of the Armenian fascist and anti-Semite Nzhdeh in the opening ceremony of the monument to the fascist and anti-Semite, General Garegin Nzhdeh. A square is named after Garegin Nzhdeh and monument of Garagin Nzdeh is created and opened in the heart of Armenian capital. Let`s underline: a cult cannot be created by some marginal political groups – it is the government that stands behind these acts.
At different times, Armenia has tried to avoid peace negotiations by artificially escalating the situation and violating the ceasefire regime. To this end, the Armenian army has intensified armed provocations in the occupied territories, targeting Azerbaijani residential settlements and the civil population.
President Sargsyan often declares that Armenia is consistently building up its defense capability in the framework of military-technical cooperation with Russia. He stressed the role of the 102nd Russian military base located in Armenian territory. Moreover, Armenia joined the anti-aircraft defense system of the Russian Federation in November 2016.Clear, Armenia does not have independent defense strategy as well as military procurement policy. Armenia is a member of Collective Security Treaty Organization and bilateral agreement on establishment of joint military union with Russia deprives Armenia from all tenets of having independent armed forces.
I believe that the possible military cooperation between Israel and Armenia are nothing more than a political bluff. In order to supply the weapons to Armenia, Israel should have strategic relations with this country, and really these relations on zero level. Armenia does not have financial means to make serious defense procurement contracts with Israeli companies.
From commercial point of view, Armenia does not promise any perspective. Armenia, as a subsidy and donation, acquires Russian military equipment and technology. Isolated in the South Caucasus region, Armenia, due to the occupation of the Azerbaijani lands, has remained largely outside the main geopolitical and geo-economic projects associated with the gas and oil resources of the Caspian Sea. It is an indisputable fact that Armenia is the most dependent and poor country in the South Caucasus. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia has been completely tied up and depends on Russia's external political and economic ambitions. Armenia, a small country with a population of 1.5 million, has been in the position of geopolitical isolation in recent years.
The State of Israel supports the fair position of Azerbaijan – it actively supports the territorial integrity of the country and calls for resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. For more than 25 years, the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia has continued. As a result of this aggression, there are 1 million refugees in the country. In this complex geopolitical situation, support for Azerbaijan's fair position on the part of such an important strategic partner and strong geopolitical actor in the Middle East as the State of Israel is very necessary and very important for the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Other than military, the relations between the two countries also concern the energy, medical, agricultural and technological sector. Today Israel represents the second importer after Italy of Azeri oil; 40% of oil imported from Israel, corresponding to about 30 million barrels a year, comes from Azerbaijan via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. More over Israel participates to the economic diversification efforts promoted by the Azerbaijani government to reduce the vulnerability of oil market.
"We obviously have a strong energy relationship," Netanyahu said in an interview with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. "We are talking not only about the sale of oil from Azerbaijan to Israel, which is a very important part of our oil imports, we are talking about the use of common facilities for exporting gas and gas, Interconnection of Israel's gas exports potentially to a large gas pipeline that is being built as we are now talking about Azerbaijan in Turkey ". Prime Minister Netanyahu referred to a plan to export Israeli gas via Turkey to European markets, using The Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipelines run by Azerbaijan.
As an Israeli citizen, I can say proudly that the leadership of Azerbaijan shows a great degree of deference and partnership to the Jewish community. Under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev two synagogues and the largest Jewish educational center in the South Caucasus have been built. Plans are in place for the first Azerbaijani Jewish museum, which will be the first Jewish museum in the South
Caucasus.
If one wonders how the majority Muslim country of Azerbaijan came to such a rich alliance with Israel today, one need look no further than the Red Village, a tiny river conclave in the mountainous region of Quba. There, for centuries, a Jewish community has thrived amid a Muslim population. The ancient town of ‘Krasnaya Sloboda’ (Quba) in northern Azerbaijan, said to be the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel, is the pride of Azerbaijan.
During historical visit of World Jewish Congress Ambassador Ron Lauder to Azerbaijan I had honor to ask him about his impressions of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan. Ronald Lauder pointed out that it was very interesting to be acquainted with the Jewish identity and Jewish way of life in Azerbaijan. "I know that during the Holocaust, Azerbaijan became one of the few havens for the European Ashkenazi Jews who saved their lives and the lives of their children from the Nazis. The notion of "Mountain Jews" once seemed very abstract to me. I have heard a lot about them, but I have never seen their settlements. However, in Azerbaijan’s Guba district, I saw a warm and friendly attitude of the Azerbaijani people and leadership towards the Mountain Jews. I visited a beautiful synagogue in Krasnaya Sloboda and was very inspired to see a large number of people who met our delegation and me
Honestly, I did not expect to see a powerful Jewish community in a Muslim country with a Shiite majority. There are no such precedents in the world. I think that the Krasnaya Sloboda is a great role model for other countries. Azerbaijan can be proud of its achievements in the area of multiculturalism. As a President of the World Jewish Congress, I highly appreciate the respectful and warm attitude of the Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijani leadership towards the Jewish community and I want to express my sincere gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan," – said me Ronald Lauder during his visit to Azerbaijani
In this region, Jewish and Muslim Azerbaijanis have been living harmoniously for centuries. Despite Armenia’s ethnic cleansing and aggression toward Azerbaijan, which includes occupation of 20% of its territories and one million refugees and internally displaced people, Azerbaijan is a true model of inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue. Tolerance and multiculturalism are key foundations of the Azerbaijani society. Azerbaijan has made a concerted effort to create and foster the necessary political and social conditions for developing and strengthening the country’s traditions of multiculturalism and tolerance.
Time and again, Azerbaijan has demonstrated that harmony is possible, and issues can be resolved without resorting to violence or strife. Importantly, President Aliyev as earned the respect of a wide swath of Israeli society for his dedication in this realm and to the Jews of Azerbaijan.
ARMENIA TREE PROJECT 400 W Cummings Park, Suite 3900 Woburn, MA 01801 USA Tel: (617) 926-TREE Web: www.armeniatree.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2017 ATP Leadership Provides Update on Forest Fires in Armenia We were saddened to witness the forest fires in the Khosrov Forest Reserve and in Artavan, Vayots Dzor on 13 August 2017. Unfortunately, our country lost many hectares of old growth forests, with estimates ranging from 2,500 hectares to 10,000 hectares. In addition to the benefits to tourism and other ecosystem values of these 600-year-old forests, we lost a large stand of 150-year-old juniper trees, as well as habitat for the animals living in these forests. Information is still being gathered by organizations and governmental agencies involved in the recovery effort. We expect to know more in the coming days and clarify the extent of the losses, and hopefully identify the causes of the fires, as well as the action plan to prevent such disasters in the future. There is an ongoing risk in Armenia to forest fires, especially in summers when temperatures are hot and the air and soil is dry. This threat is further exacerbated by climate change which has caused higher temperatures and more erratic weather patterns including drought in summer. We often see smaller fires, but these have been the largest in recent memory. Of course the issue raises questions about Armenia's capacity to fight such fires or withstand other natural disasters. The weekend events have revealed a lack of resources and infrastructure to fight massive fires, though the men and women deployed to fight the fires are to be commended for their hard work and bravery to bring the disaster under control. We also received technical support from Russia in the form of water distribution and a firefighting air vehicle, which helped disaster management workers to control the spread of the fires. Clearly there is more room for improvement and capacity building, and we would like to see this become more of a national priority to protect our natural heritage. None of the sites were planted by ATP, but we have already begun to take action and reach out to the major stakeholders involved in the recovery and future prevention efforts. These include the Ministry of Nature Protection, World Wildlife Fund, Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, Caucasus Nature Fund, and the United Nations. All of the parties are interested in coordination and a proactive approach to preventing similar disasters in the future. Here are a few initial steps that ATP has taken: . We are visiting our planting sites to assess any areas of risk and ideas to prevent the outbreak or spread of fire . We have extended a hand to partners working in or around Armenia's forest reserves, to assist with monitoring for threats . We are already developing educational materials for the public to learn about threats and think twice about practices that can cause forest fires Protecting our green infrastructure is a team effort. At this stage, we wanted to let people know that we're aware of the threat, we are concerned and our experts are talking to the appropriate parties to determine an action plan for solutions. Carolyn Mugar, ATP Founder Jeanmarie Papelian, Executive Director Lucineh Kassarjian, Country Director
Armenian winger grabs his third and fourth assists of the new Premier League season to cap a man of the match performance for the Red Devils at the Liberty Stadium
YEREVAN. – The reports of Israeli daily Maariv are a serious blow to Azerbaijan's image , Armenian military analyst Arkadi Grigoryan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.
His comment came in response to the recent Israeli media publications saying Israeli company was asked by Azerbaijan to test the drones on Armenian positions.
According to the analyst, the aim of this “leak” was probably to soften Armenia's criticism over Israel’s role in supplying arms to Azerbaijan: “If they believe that we will slam them less, they are mistaken. We will still scold them. There will be people in their country who will criticize their government, too.”
Arkadi Grigoryan considers that there is also the second point which we don't see under the influence of emotions: “Perhaps, some circles of Israel aren't really happy with military cooperation with Azerbaijan. This is an interesting message addressed to Azerbaijan.”
At the same time, the analyst emphasized that the operator of the UAV must get special permission of the Ministry of Defence, but not be guided by morality.
“This also shows the low level of training of Azerbaijani specialists. In fact, they have been working with the Israeli side for 10 years, but they still need help to operate the equipment. There were rumors that during the April war Israeli drones were operated by Israeli experts. This report confirms the speculations could have been right,” Arkady Grigoryan noted.
At the same time, he believes Azerbaijan’s behavior is a blow to the authority of Israel as reliable military partner and supplier of arms.
“In fact, Baku tried to force the Israeli experts to take an illegal step.”
<img data-format="16×9" src=”"/image/policy:1.5891821:1502497931/image.jpg?f=16×9&h=334&w=597&$p$f$h$w=ee82183" alt="La scrittrice di origini armene Antonia Arslan" title="La scrittrice di origini armene Antonia Arslan" />
L'Altopiano le ricorda la sua Armenia. La scrittrice padovana di origini armene Antonia Arslan, andata in scena al teatro Millepini con lo spettacolo “Dessaran – Orizzonti”, ritorna volentieri sull'Altopiano, un luogo che le parla di casa. Quell'Armenia sempre presente nei suoi pensieri e nei suoi scritti. Terra montuosa teatro di numerosi conflitti e dove, tra il 1915 e 1916, l'Impero Ottomano attuò un genocidio da 1,5 milioni di morti, innescando una diaspora arrivata anche in Italia.
«Asiago è una città splendida – afferma Antonia Arslan –. mi ricorda la montagna armena coi suoi altipiani. Sono entrambe terre che hanno qualcosa di magico». Arslan è stata più volte ospite ad Asiago. «Ricordo una serata molto piacevole del Rotary club Altopiano nella quale conobbi Nereo Sartori, impegnato in Armenia per la realizzazione di un ospedale. In un'altra occasione venni invitata dall'allora presidente Franco Gollin dove mi annunciarono il finanziamento di un ambulatorio medico ad Arpeni, piccolo paese nel nord ovest dell'Armenia».
L'Armenia per Arslan è diventata quasi una missione. (…)
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Armenian medicine producers work with various countries to expand the geography of medicine export, Albert Sahakyan, the deputy director of “Scientific Center of Drug And Medical Technology Expertise” told Armenpress. According to him, some shifts have already been registered.
“About 10% of the drugs registered in Armenia are of Armenian production and provide 7% of the drug demand of the republic. About 90% of the drugs necessary for the republic residents and medical establishments are imported. According to the order of import amounts, the large importers as to 2016 are Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, France, Slovenia, Russia, Austria, Georgia, UK, USA”, Sahakyan said.
According to him, the drugs produced in Armenia are substantially exported to Iraq, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Latvia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Ukraine, Yemen and Vietnam.
“Accordnig to the data we have, the Armenian drug producers implement activity in various countries to enlarge the export, and some shifts have already been registered. For example, “Liquor” CJSC started to export drugs to Iraq and Vietnam after receiving GMP certification”, Sahakyan said.
The geography of export really expands year by year, according to the Head of “Arpimed” Vachagan Ghazaryan. Drugs are exported to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan since 2014, as well as to Yemen starting from this year.
According to Albert Sahakyan, the main problems in medicine production are the financial investments and the lack of qualified specialists. However, extensive work has been initiated in the sphere of legislation towards medicine circulation regulation as the adoption of RA law “On medicine”.