Tuesday, January 9, 2017 Opposition Bloc Schedules First Anti-Government Rally Of 2018 . Tatevik Lazarian Armenia - Nikol Pashinian (C) and other leaders of the Yelk alliance lead a demonstration in Yerevan, 21Apr2017. The opposition Yelk alliance has called on Armenians to take to the streets on January 19 and protest against the latest increases in the prices of fuel and some foodstuffs. The prices of petrol and liquefied natural gas, which powers most vehicles in Armenia, rose by roughly 5 percent on January 2 following the entry into force of a new Armenian Tax Code mandating higher excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol. Recent months' increase in the international oil prices may have also been a factor. Also, Armenia tax authorities also began collecting this month higher customs duties from around 40 types of imported products, including cooking oil, butter and poultry. This stems from Armenia's membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which sets higher uniform tax rates for most goods and commodities imported from third countries. Yelk blamed the Armenian government for the price hikes when it announced the upcoming demonstration in Yerevan late on Monday. In a statement, it urged supporters to join Yelk leaders in marching through the city center in protest. "It's a vital issue that directly impacts the welfare of all citizens," Ararat Mirzoyan, a parliament deputy from Yelk, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on Tuesday. "The rally must demonstrate that it's not just the opinion of nine parliament deputies [representing Yelk] # I hope it will demonstrate that the issue preoccupies many people," he said. Mirzoyan claimed that the cost of living in the country has been rising because "for many years Armenia's citizens have been tolerating the Republican Party (HHK) rule." The HHK-led government's economic policies have been a gross failure "in all areas," he said. Senior government officials said last month that economic growth in Armenia is on track to accelerate to at least 6 percent in 2017 from just 0.2 percent in 2016. Despite continued growth projected for this year, the government decided not to raise public sector salaries and pensions in 2018. Instead, it is planning a sizable rise in public spending on infrastructure projects. Officials say this is a better way to further stimulate economic activity and thus reduce poverty. Yelk, which holds 9 seats in Armenia's 105-member parliament, has condemned the caps on social spending. Government Defends Higher Income Tax Rates Armenia - The Prime Minister's Office and Finance Ministry buildings in Yerevan, 30Sep2017. The Armenian government's controversial decision to change personal income tax rates will place a heavier financial burden only on high-income individuals, a senior official in Yerevan insisted on Tuesday. Armenia's new Tax Code which came into effect this month introduced, among other things, more progressive income tax rates. In particular, the code raised from 26 percent to 28 percent the tax rate for monthly incomes ranging from 150,000 to 2 million drams ($310-$4,150). It is set at 36 percent for those Armenians who earn more. The 800-page legislation praised by the International Monetary Fund at the same time cut the tax rate from 24.4 percent to 23 percent for workers making less than 150,000 drams a month. Armine Matosian, a senior official from the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, emphasized this fact as she defended the code in an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). She insisted that Armenians making between 150,000 and 280,000 drams will also pay less taxes because of a complex method of income calculation. "If I, for example, get a monthly salary of 300,000 drams, 150,000 drams of it will now be taxed at a 23 percent rate and the remaining 150,000 drams at 28 percent," explained Matosian. This means, she said, that only those people whose wages or incomes exceed 280,000 drams will have to pay more. The average monthly wage in Armenia stood at almost 188,000 drams ($390) as of November 2017, official statistics show. The Tax Code was passed by the Armenian parliament in 2016 amid strong criticism from the opposition and even some pro-government lawmakers. They said that the higher tax rates will encourage more private employers to underreport their workers' wages. They also criticized other provisions of code, including higher excise duties on fuel, alcohol and tobacco. IMF officials backed, however, government arguments that the new legislation will improve tax administration and allow a badly needed increase in public spending. Tycoon Sanctioned By U.S. Reveals Armenian Government Post . Anush Muradian Russia - Businessman Ruben Tatulian, 8Apr2014. A controversial Russian businessman blacklisted by the United States for his alleged ties to organized crime has worked as an "adviser" to Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan acknowledged on Tuesday. The U.S. Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions on the ethnic Armenian businessman Ruben Tatulian and nine other Russian nationals last month. The department's Office of Financial Assets Control (OFAC) accused them of joint involvement in "serious transnational criminal activities." Tatulian, who is based in the Black Sea city of Sochi, holds an Armenian diplomatic passport, raising questions about his ties to Armenia's government. The businessman shrugged off the U.S. sanctions in an interview a Sochi-based Russian blogger published over the weekend. He said he cannot be affected by them because he has no assets in the United States. Tatulian also said that he not only has an Armenian diplomatic passport but also uses cars belonging to Armenia's Embassy in Russia. "I am an adviser to the foreign minister of Armenia," he added when asked about the reason for that. "Ruben Tatulian was a freelance adviser to the foreign minister and he does not have that status now," the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tigran Balayan, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). Balayan declined to clarify when Tatulian had such a status. Nor would he say why or when the Russian-Armenian tycoon reportedly nicknamed "Robson" received his diplomatic passport. According to Russian media reports, Tatulian has extensive business interests and strong government connections in southern Russia. An OFAC statement released on December 22 described him as a regional "overseer" of the alleged organized-crime syndicate targeted by the U.S. Treasury Department. Insurance Agents Protest At Armenian Border Crossing . Karine Simonian Armenia- Insurance brokers protest outside the Bagratashen border crossing, 9Jan2018. About 60 insurance agents gathered outside Armenia's main border crossing with Georgia for a second day on Tuesday to protest against what they see as the government's privileged treatment of their competitors. The protesting brokers work for five private firms selling mandatory car insurance to the owners of vehicles entering the country through the Bagratashen crossing. Their offices are located just a few hundred meters from the border checkpoint. Another private insurer called Top Spin also rented premises nearby until being allowed by the Armenian customs service to open an office inside the checkpoint and start operating there this month. The company thus found itself in a position to approach car owners before they get to buy insurance policies from its competitors. The brokers working for the other firms say Top Spin gained an unfair competitive advantage and is now effectively driving them out of the business. They say that their daily revenues have already plummeted as a result. "The clients must be able to choose [an insurer,]" said one of the angry protesters. "But a single company has now become a monopolist." The protesters blocked a highway leading to the Bagratashen checkpoint and kept it closed for around 30 kilometers. Traffic through the highway resumed only after police intervention. Local Top Spin representatives refused to comment on the controversy. The company reportedly won the exclusive right to do business inside the checkpoint as a result of a purported tender administered by Armenia's State Revenue Committee (SRC). The protesters claimed that their firms were never notified about the tender in advance. The SRC, which comprises the national customs service, declined a comment on Monday and Tuesday. Press Review "Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that the prices of petrol and liquefied natural gas used by many cars in Armenia went up considerably last week. The paper blames the price rises on a recent increase in excises taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes mandated by Armenia's new Tax Code. It predicts that they will push up the cost of other essential products in the country. "In theory, inflation in Armenia is not high," it says, pointing to a year-on-year inflation rate of 2.2 percent registered by the National Statistical Service (NSS) in November. The NSS also reported a 5 percent year-on-year increase in food prices. "Zhamanak" claims that the price hikes are "the price which Armenia's citizens will pay" for faster economic growth. The paper sees a link between higher inflation and a nearly 7 percent growth rate recorded by the government in 2017. "Seven percent [growth] is considered a magical target which [President] Serzh Sarkisian set in late 2013," it says. "Aravot" carries an editorial on a traditional "post-holiday syndrome" in Armenia which follows weeklong celebrations of the New Year and Christmas. "Psychologists and sociologists invited to news conferences will certainly come up with more in-depth explanations and advise people to return to work slowly and gradually," writes the paper. "They may be right in the professional sense. But in practice, it probably makes more sense to fully switch oneself off during the holidays and fully switch oneself on while returning to work." (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Author: Ani Basmajian
Remembering Armenak Alajajian – Armenia’s Basketball Legend (photos)
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Famous Armenian basketball player Armenak Alajajian (Armenak Alachachan) passed away at the age of 87 in Toronto, Canada, on December 4th, 2017.
Armenak Alajajian’s achievements and support to the Armenian world are countless – starting from his achievements as one of the most famous Soviet athletes in the 1960s and ending up with his continued support to the Armenian community of Canada as AGBU’s basketball team player and coach. Armenak’s life was not an easy one. His life went through struggles, but he always did his best to go the extra mile to perfection and didn’t forget to give back to his community.
Early Life and Repatriation to Armenia
Armenak Alajajian was born in Alexandria, Egypt on December 25, 1930 and was part of the Armenian Diaspora caused by the 1915 Genocide. His mother had been an orphan who had barely escaped the Ottoman Empire’s deportations and mass killings of Armenians. Young Armenak attended Poghosian High School in Egypt and graduated in 1947. In 1948, there was a patriotic wave of Diaspora Armenians going to repopulate Soviet Armenia, which was part of the USSR at the time. After his move to Armenia in 1948, Armenak was accepted into the Yerevan Institute of Physical Education.
Despite being short by basketball standards, Alajajian began to excel in the sport. He first played with Yerevan SKIF, then the Armenian republic team and later with Alma-Ata Burevestnik in the soviet republic of Kazakhstan. He would become a basketball star not by natural size and talent, but made himself one by hard work and careful analytic study of the game. He was loved by his fans and coaches alike.
The Basketball Legend
Following success in Kazakhstan, Alajajian was invited in 1959 to CSKA-Central Sport Club of the Soviet Army in Moscow. From that time on, Armenak was no longer considered an above average basketball player, but an accomplished professional. He was one of the best shooters in Soviet basketball. In 1960, shortly after he joined the CSKA Central Sport Club, his team set a record which was unmatched at the time: 11 games – 11 victories!
It is worth mentioning that from 1953 to 1960, the Red Army team had never been champions of the Soviet Union. There were other strong teams, such as the ones from the then soviet republics of Latvia, Estonia and Georgia, and thus, it was very hard to achieve first place. Starting from the very first year that Armenak joined the team and during the subsequent eight years, his teams were repeatedly champions of the Soviet Union.
Alajajian’s fans loved his style, particularly the tricks he performed. These made him stand out as an exceptionally exciting player on the court. One remarkable story was his play against the American team, as told in Anatoly Pinchuk’s book “I Shall Limit Myself with Basketball” (Moscow, 1991). It cites excerpts from Armenak Alajajian’s book “Not Only About Basketball.” In 1964, during a game against the American basketball team playing in Moscow, he did one of his tricks for which he was famous. As he was moving forward, he finished dribbling, and he had to choose either to pass or dash to the basket.
Instead, Alajajian firmly shot the ball off the backboard in such a way that the basketball immediately rebounded to him. He thereupon immediately passed the ball to a team member who had been deliberately stationed close to the basket – swish, two-points! As a professional who had mastered the extraordinary trick, Armenak had calculated that all five American opponents would instinctively look at the ball and backboard. In that brief instant, they would lose sight of his whereabouts. But both Armenak and his teammate knew the value of a fraction of a second in such a setting and the manoeuvre worked.
Upon seeing the unorthodox and innovative play, the USA national team coach John McLendon jumped up from his bench and gave Alajajian a long, standing applause. Armenak had earned his distinguished opponents’ respect. As each of the American players were substituted onto the court, Alajajian was the first and foremost player from the Soviet team that they would approach and generously acknowledge. Armenak Alajajian played wearing sweater number six on both the CSKA and USSR national team. The ovations that number six received had no equal at the time.
All this success did not come by itself. It was a result of long, hard work and much perseverance. His coaches greatly admired him. During his long career, none of his coaches would ask him to do more than he was already doing. The reason for that was the simple fact that there was no need to tell him that “he had to work more and to try harder”, because he was already doing more and more. Every time he could, he sought to do more in a long series of steps towards perfection. During his entire life in a country where men smoking was the norm, Armenak did not try one single cigarette, even for curiosity. In a country where heavy drinking was too common, he didn’t consume any alcohol either. Only once did he try a few sips of cognac at a celebration party. As he took several sips from the shot glass, he called out with laughter: “I am drunk, I am drunk!” The next morning, he approached his friends with genuine surprise and posed the serious question: “How can you even drink this by the bottle?”
As he continued his career with the Soviet national team, he set new records with his teammates. Most notable, as the pivotal point guard, he led the team to the Olympic Silver medal in Tokyo in 1964 with an 8-1 record, coming second only to the American team.
Immigration and Life in Canada
While Armenak was breaking new records in his basketball career, grave problems began to emerge and create significant obstacles in his life. At that time, the KGB secret police monitored and controlled much of Soviet society. Even famous people fell under its powerful influence. Suddenly, Armenak was not allowed to play as much; he was not even allowed to travel to play in Europe. The pretext offered was that he had an older sister living in Canada and that he might defect. In one later interview, Armenak recalled that the KGB had attempted to recruit him, but he bravely and firmly refused. He was not interested in power politics or international intrigue. His passion was sports. He observed: “Finally, in 1963 I was able to go to Madrid for the European Cup games – Marshall Grechko personally vouched for me, so I would be allowed to go. In 1968, I became the head coach of the Red Army team. In that season, we won the European Cup from the “Real Madrid” team in Barcelona. It was a difficult game, with overtime.
Until then the Spanish team was always proud that they never lost on their home base… but we made them loose”. Continuing he added: “When we returned to Moscow, they started searching – apparently someone told the Ministry of Defense that every player of the (Red Army) team had received $6,000 cash, which was an absolutely false allegation, and that I had something to do with it. They even complained that the team members were not participating in the work of the Komsomol [Youth Branch of the Soviet Communist party]. This made me understand that they were not going to let me work, and I applied to leave for Canada to join my [extended] family.”
Repeated threats and intimidation by the KGB brought Armenak – Soviet Armenia’s basketball legend with 17 gold medals and a Silver Olympic Medal from Tokyo (1964) – to realize that he was no longer safe remaining in the Soviet Union. Accordingly, he and his family decided to immigrate to Canada, where his mother and both sisters lived. Arriving in Canada in 1974, life turned out to be initially quite difficult for the older immigrant in his mid-forties. At the time, the most popular game in Canada was hockey, with very little attention paid to basketball. Armenak had professional friends in the United States, one of them was Larry Brown, who had played for the United States against the Soviet team in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Brown was now a coach in the NBA.
He offered Armenak a job in basketball, but Armenak’s mother was anxious about the prospect of her son leaving for the USA and breaking up the recently reunited extended family. Armenak decided to stay in Canada. His immigrant work challenges started with long hours in a manual labour job moving cars around in a downtown parking lot. Being used to struggle and hard work all his life, Armenak worked swiftly and for long hours, even in innovative and unorthodox ways.
One day, unexpectedly two former fans from the Soviet Union, who were now businessmen, recognized him and offered to tutor him in the gold business in Toronto. After a number of months of apprenticeship learning the gold and jewelry business and with a modest family loan, he opened up “AAA Diamonds LTD”. It proved to be a highly successful manufacturing and retail venture in downtown Toronto that operated from then until now.
Armenak continued his basketball wherever he could. In 1974-1975, he was the coach of Humber College basketball team in Toronto. From 1974 to 1990, Alajajian coached the Armenian General Benevolent Union basketball team in Toronto. He was also a philanthropist to the city’s Armenian Holy Trinity Church, the Armenian General Benevolent Union and numerous other Armenian causes.
Armenak Alajajian’s books, brochures, essays and notes were published in hundreds of thousands copies in the Soviet Union. His words appeared in Russian and Armenian newspapers and on TV and radio programs. Most notable were his two published books in Russian: “Notes of a Basketball Player” (Moscow, Publishing House of Physical Culture and Sport, 125 pages); and “Not Only About Basketball” (Moscow, Molodaia Gvardia, 319 pages; translated into Estonian as well).
Starting in the late 1990s, there were unsuccessful efforts to have him inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts, United States. At that time, there was less interest in international basketball stars, let alone from the former Soviet Union. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed recognition of Armenak Alajajian’s pioneering role. The winner’s trophy at a recent pan-Armenian basketball tournament in Yerevan is named after him. Certainly, many local Toronto Armenian basketball players continue to be inspired by his legacy.
Friends and Relatives about Armenak Alajajian
Distinguished writer and genocide scholar Alan Whitehorn remembers his uncle with pride and recalls hearing exciting comments from his high school football coach Rolly Goldring, who was also a member of the Canadian Olympic basketball team. Whitehorn adds “Among my special memories was speaking with Rolly Goldring in 1964 as he prepared for Canada’s Olympic basketball team. The first game Canada played in Tokyo was against the Soviet team, which included my uncle. Defying the Cold War barriers, these two Olympians exchanged personal and private best wishes. Upon Rolly’s return to Canada, I was grateful for his kind comments and insights. Sadly, they both died in Toronto within weeks of each other.”
Levon Yazejian, a dear family friend and former treasurer of the Toronto AGBU, who spoke at the church funeral service, observed that Armenak brought energy and brilliant strategy to the game. Quoting the player himself: “In basketball the game changes constantly: one moment it is defense, the next is attack! I like the control in directing the game”. Levon also added that “it is not surprising that Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, commented that ‘Armenak blasts like a rocket.’ In an overview of Armenak’s career, Levon Yazejian pointed out that “Armenak, during his Soviet national basketball team years, won 17 gold medals, a silver medal in 1964 at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. …Accordingly, it is not surprising that on January 17th, 2000, the Russian Basketball Federation recognized Armenak Alajajian as one of the top five players of the century. Moreover, in that same year, the Armenian government issued a commemorative stamp honouring Armenak Alajajian as a champion of many basketball games in the former Soviet Union and Europe.”
Levon Yazejian noted that in later years in Canada “Armenak invariably attended and coached every game tournament that the AGBU held all over the world – Canada, North and South America and Europe. Not only did he attend and coach the young athletes, he generously supported financially towards their trips overseas. His generosity had no bounds. At the AGBU Centre, he had the basketball arena floor refurbished and supported many events at the Centre by donating jewelry items for lottery prizes.”
Salpi Der-Ghazarian, Executive Director of the Armenian General Benevolent Union of Toronto, says Armenak Alajajian had a key role in the formation and development of the AGBU in Toronto’s Armenian community. “He was the AGBU’s basketball team coach, and played a vital role in Toronto’s AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre since its opening in 1981. He was a great mentor to the youth and a vigorous supporter of the AGBU sports program, especially basketball. Other than basketball, Armenak had another passion: Armenia and Armenian culture. Whenever we invited young artists from Armenia, children artists, Armenak was there with his big heart and generosity. He was the Santa that put a huge smile on their faces, and that made him very happy,” said Salpi Der-Ghazarian.
He was a remarkable man who grew up in a difficult world. He defied the odds, as both a basketball player and Diaspora son of a genocide survivor.
Awards in Basketball
1953, 1961, 1963, 1965: Gold Medal for playing on the winning team at the European Championship for the years listed.
1959-1966: Winner of the USSR Championships
1960, 1961: European Cup Basketball Winner
1961: Master of Sport (International Category)
1960-1965: Most Valuable Basketball Playmaker award, USSR
1963: Medal for Distinguished Sports Achievement
1964: Silver Medal in Basketball at Tokyo Olympics
1964: Order of recognition of USSR (“Znak Pocheta”) for winning silver medal at Tokyo Olympic Games.
Prepared by Kamo Mailyan
Toronto-Yerevan
RFE/RL Armenia Report – 01/04/2018
Thursday, January 4, 2018 Migrant Remittances To Armenia Soar Emil Danielyan Armenia - View of the Armenian capital Yerevan and mount Ararat (5137m), Yerevan, Armenia, 17 February 2013. After three years of rapid reduction, multimillion-dollar remittances from Armenians working abroad grew strongly in 2017, contributing to faster economic growth in Armenia. Data from the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) puts the total amount of incoming cash transfers from individuals processed by commercial banks in January-November 2017 at $1.56 billion, up by 18 percent from the same period in 2016. The figure was equivalent to roughly 15 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. The increased remittances seem to be one of the factors behind a 6 percent year-on-year rise in nationwide retail trade reported by the National Statistical Service (NSS). Senior officials in Yerevan said last month that the Armenian economy is on track to grow by at least 6 percent in 2017. The economy stagnated in 2016 amid a continuing recession in Russia, Armenia's leading trading partner and main source of remittances. The Russian economy recovered slightly in 2017. More importantly, the Russian ruble has strengthened against the U.S. dollar by more than 30 percent since the beginning of 2016. Armenian remittances shrank from $2.3 billion in 2013 to $1.53 billion in 2016 amid the ruble's sharp depreciation resulting from the collapse of world oil prices. Money sent home by Armenians working in Russia accounted for over 60 percent of overall remittance inflows in January-November 2017, according to the CBA. It was up by about 18 percent year on year, suggesting that there were equally significant rises in wire transfers from other ex-Soviet states and the European Union. Remittances from the United States, which also has a sizable Armenian community, rose by only 2 percent. The stronger ruble also contributed to a 23.5 percent rise in Armenian exports recorded by official statistics in the eleven-month period. NSS data shows Armenian exports to Russia soaring by as much as 44 percent to $494 million. Overall, Armenia exported $2 billion worth of goods and commodities in January-November 2017. Almost 29 percent of them went to the EU. Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Pumpkin Preserves for the Cheese Plate
The New York Times
Friday 19:00 EST
Pumpkin Preserves for the Cheese Plate
Front Burner
FLORENCE FABRICANT
Made in Armenia, these mellow preserves combine a somewhat crisp texture with earthy richness.
The pumpkin preserves from Murray’s Cheese will give quince paste (membrillo) some mellow competition on the cheese plate. The preserves are made in Armenia and combine a somewhat crisp texture with earthy richness: Murray’s Preserved Pumpkin, $7.99 for 10.9 ounces, Murray’s Cheese, 888-692-4339, .
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/dining/pumpkin-preserves-for-the-cheese-plate.html
Political expert: Turkey is not interested in Artsakh, but in energy resources of Azerbaijan
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia December 21, 2017 Thursday Political expert: Turkey is not interested in Artsakh, but in energy resources of Azerbaijan Yerevan December 21 David Stepanyan. In the context of relations with Armenia, I can say with all certainty that in reality, Turkey is not interested in Artsakh, but about the energy resources of Azerbaijan and the preservation of its influence on Baku. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo scientist of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, political scientist Alexander Skakov. On October 10, 2009 in Zurich Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers signed the "Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations" and the "Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations." The documents should be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, however, on April 22, 2010, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, having signed the decree on suspension of ratification of the protocols, actually froze this process. "Moreover, from the regional powers neighboring to Artsakh, the real interest is shown not so much by Turkey as Iran, as regards the unrecognized republic, I find that in the issue of establishing relations with Armenia, in addition to Turkey's desire or unwillingness, there is also a principally categorical position of Azerbaijan, and Baku periodically reinforces its "against" opportunities and levers at its disposal, including tariff and energy, "the political scientist said. Skakov, in particular, does not consider possible the progress in the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations right now, given the attempts to improve the communication between Turkey and Azerbaijan through the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway. At the same time, the political scientist considers the return of Armenia and Turkey to the issue of normalization of relations quite probable. According to him, the problem of establishing relations between Yerevan and Ankara will remain relevant, the whole issue in terms of the appearance of the necessary geopolitical changes for this. On December 13, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian announced Armenia's readiness to "meet the spring of 2018 without the Armenian-Turkish protocols," explaining this by the groundlessness of the preconditions put forward by Ankara, contradicting the essence of the protocols. On December 14, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister, announced Ankara's commitment to the Armenian-Turkish protocols, describing the statements of the Armenian counterpart as "not reflecting reality and aimed at misleading the international community."
Armenian PM receives Iranian Foreign Minister
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received today Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Welcoming the guests, the Prime Minister noted that Armenia-Iran relations are at a high level and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two countries. According to the head of the government, despite the fact that a lot of work has been done and there are many joint achievements, there are still many things to do yet.
Minister Zarif said: “Your visit to Iran was very important and successful. We perceive Armenia as a good neighbor. Our relationships have a long history of more than 25 years, and this good relationship is a valuable for both countries, and we should use this.”
400 Educators Participate in Prelacy Schools’ Professional Development Day Conference
Board of Regents Members with Archbishop Mardirossian and Dr. Kaloust Hagopian, Executive Council Member
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools held its 2017-2018 Annual Professional Development Day (APDD) conference on Saturday, October 28th at California State University, Northridge.
This year’s APDD, which has been taking place for over fifteen years, was once again organized in cooperation with CSUN’s Armenian Studies Program. Alongside the Prelacy Armenian Schools and Preschools, the conference also included teachers and faculty from Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, Armenian Sisters Academy, Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School of Fresno and Armenian Relief Society Saturday Schools, bringing the number of participants to over 400.
Dr. Hasmig Baran, Board of Regents member, welcomed all the participants to this year’s APDD and invited Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to deliver the invocation. In his address, the prelate emphasized the significance of ongoing professional development. Archbishop Mardirossian stated, “Competent and well-performing teachers are the most valuable assets to any educational institution, and can have a great impact on the quality of education. Thus, it is crucial for both new and veteran teachers to have adequate support and training and ongoing opportunities to learn from each other, as well as to keep up-to-date on new learning methods and resources, emerging technology, and more.
Lisa Gaboudian, Chairwoman of the Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools, welcomed the educators and expressed her appreciation for the level of dedication and commitment from all the participants. After commending the attending Armenian Daily Schools and Preschools and their respective Principals and Directors, she thanked Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program at CSUN, for working in tangent with the Board of Regents and for once again hosting the Annual Professional Development Day conference. During her remarks, Gaboudian underscored the importance of “teachers becoming learners themselves” and the significance of instilling Armenian principles and values in students while also preparing them to become well-rounded and outstanding Armenian-American citizens. She asked the participants to think about the following quotation from John Meehan, “We are not ‘just’ teachers, we are managers of the world’s greatest resources: CHILDREN.”
Some of the 400 participants at the Prelacy Board of Regents annual Professional Development Conference
The keynote address of the day was delivered by Mrs. Vivian Ekchian, Associate Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Mrs. Ekchian, who is not a stranger to the Prelacy Schools, shared her dual experiences within both the Armenian and non-Armenian communities and highlighted the opportunities these conferences provide for teachers to grow both personally and professionally. She qualified teachers as “heroes” who dedicate their time, energy and expertise educating the next generation of adults. She asked teachers to carry on their responsibilities with pride.
Following the keynote address, Suren Seropian, Director of Development – College of Humanities at CSUN, shared the logistics for the day, including a general overview of the scheduled sessions and their presenters.
An unprecedented variety of topics were presented by experts in their own fields and many Prelacy Armenian school teachers.
- Effective Communication with Press & Media – Ara Khachatourian
- Teaching Language Through Song – Dr. Karenn Chutjian Presti
- The Art of Communication and Effective Listening – Nora Chitilian Kalachian
- The Psychological Effects of Bullying and Prevention Programs – Natalie Jambazian
- Educational Apps – Dr. Brian Landisi
- Differentiated Instruction – Ari Ryan Sarafian
- RTI – Interventions vs. Strategies – Souzy Ohanian
- Design-Based Learning – Natalie Bezdjian
- Integrating Academic Language Across the Curriculum – Sandra Halajian
- How to Crank Up the Rigor & Engagement in Your AP Classes – Lilit Vartanian
- Armenian Digital Library – Razmig Haroun and Tamar Tufenkjian
- What Does STEM Excellence Look Like In ECE – Kristina Movsessian
- World of Puppets – Lilit Alajajian
- Armenian Language Revitalization Committee Projects – Armen Abrahamian
- Classroom Observation – Dr. Brian Landisi, Lena Kortoshian, and Armineh Papazian
- Integrating Technology Into the Classroom – Ara Chouljian
- A Taste of Good Health – Best Practices in School-Based Obesity Prevention – Jocelyn Harrison
- New Resources for Armenian Education – Saro Nazarian
- Introduction to Robotics – Hrant Papazian
- Importance of Abstract Quantitative Reasoning in Real World Math Problems – Armond Khodagulyan
- Preparing Students for Success in AP Literature – Mashelle Kirkman
- Course Expectations and Introduction to AP Sciences – Moushegh Bedhoian
- Effective Teaching Methods: Spelling, Vocabulary, and Fluency – Talin Ordekian
- Early Intervention for Preschool/Kindergarten Students with Challenging Behaviors – Jeannine Topalian
Based on the positive feedback from the attendees, the Board of Regents is confident that this year’s conference was a tremendous success. The Annual Professional Development Day conference serves as a unique opportunity for educators of Armenian Schools to come together, get acquainted with one another, and share their experiences and expertise. These workshops are designed to further advance the educational knowledge of the participants, while expanding their horizons with innovative and new educational approaches.
Elimination of the risk of rock slide
On November 8-14 RA MES Rescue Service employees went to Drmbon Community of the Republic of Artsakh for the prevention and restoration work.
There were quarries in the mentioned area, making the highway impassable. The joint efforts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia will allow avoiding further dangers and accidents.
$134mn to be allocated to extend Armenia nuclear plant lifetime in 2018
News.am, Armenia
Oct 31 2017
$134mn to be allocated to extend Armenia nuclear plant lifetime in 2018 $134mn to be allocated to extend Armenia nuclear plant lifetime in 2018
16:18, 31.10.2017
YEREVAN. – A total of $134 million will be allocated in 2018, to extend the operation of the nuclear power plant of Armenia.
The aforesaid is noted in the draft of the 2018 State Budget, whose joint debates continue Tuesday at the standing committees of the National Assembly.
The plant accounts for up to 40 percent of the electricity produced in Armenia.
According to next year’s budget draft, about 57.6 billion drams ($120 million) will be provided within the framework of the respective loan program, and the grant funding will amount to close to 6.8 billion drams ($14 million):
To note, the Russian government has allocated a $270-million loan and a $30-million grant for this project.
The operation of this nuclear plant will be extended until 2027.
At present, the Armenian authorities are considering the prospect for building a new nuclear plant and extending the old plant’s lifetime for a second time.
General-Lieutenant Levon Mnatsakanyan receives participants of Youth Forum
On October 28, General-Lieutenant Levon Mnatsakanyan, NKR Defense Army, hosted the participants of the Youth Forum of the Armenian parties in Artsakh. The commander of the army, attaching importance to the role of young people with active civil position in terms of strengthening our country’s defense capacity and improving the public atmosphere, spoke about the operational-tactical situation on the Line of Contact, and complex actions of the army building process.
The participants of the Youth Forum thanked the army commander for the reception, and noted that such meetings were beneficial for the organization of further work of youth organizations, youth councils and youth wings.