ITAR-TASS, Russia August 12, 2017 Saturday 5:34 PM GMT Armenia to host one of Army Games competitions in 2018 - General Staff chief KUBINKA /Moscow region/ August 12 Armenia plans to hold one of the competitions within the framework of the International Army Games on its soil, Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ General Staff, Movses Hakobyan, told reporters on Saturday. KUBINKA /Moscow region/, August 12. /TASS/. Armenia plans to hold one of the competitions within the framework of the International Army Games on its soil, Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ General Staff, Movses Hakobyan, told reporters on Saturday. "We are planning to hold some competition in our country. Let's see what competitions we will have, and we will choose the one that can be held in Armenia," he said. Hakobyan noted that the Tank Biathlon is one of the most spectacular and important competitions. "The technical condition of the tank, its ability to overcome obstacles, conduct accurate fire and, of course, the crew’s readiness play a special role. What we saw today is impressive, especially the tank crews' training," he said, adding that Russia created good conditions for the competitions. The International Army Games were held in five countries from July 29 to August 12. The Russian team won the Tank Biathlon competition.
Author: Ani Tigranian
Officials Angry At Billboard Ban For ‘Architects Of Denial’ Film
Deadline
Aug 12 2017
A California State Senator has weighed in on a controversial decision to ban a billboard advertisement for the film documentary Architects of Denial, which covers the Armenian genocide as told by survivors.
State Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents Glendale, issued a statement asking the mall to reconsider their decision.
“I thought to myself that Hollywood has long-celebrated thought provoking and hard-edged filmmaking that stimulates conversations about historical event,” Portantino said in a statement posted to his web site. “It seems like labeling art as ‘too political’ was an odd reason to deny the appropriate free _expression_ of a historical documentary. As a former filmmaker and current State Senator, it was important for me to share my concerns and urge reconsideration.”
Portantino’s professional experience includes working in the art department and as property master with the American Playhouse, and he was also a production designer on Grizzly Adams: The Mark of the Bear and an art director on TV’s Unsolved Mysteries.
The Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America has also requested that Caruso reconsider its position. Artin Manoukian, the chairman of the Glendale chapter, said that there has been “no genuine effort from the Americana to reach out to the Armenian-American community.” The organization has requested a meeting with mall officials, but has been ignored. “It’s very offensive, how they’re treating us,” said Manoukian.
A representative of Caruso Affiliated did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Center for Urartian studies to be established under archeology development program
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Thursday Center for Urartian studies to be established under archeology development program YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s government approved the 2017-2025 action plan contributing to development of archeology, as well as the timetable, reports Armenpress. The action plan aims at obtaining resources for all aspects of human life, creating laboratories with international standards through respective measures, excavations and research. Under the action plan, it is expected to expand the excavations of unique monuments of Armenian historical-cultural heritage and strengthen the international cooperation, engage in tourism programs, as well as create center for Urartian studies to study the history of the kingdom of Van. By the adoption of the action plan, active and effective cooperation with public administration and local self-government bodies, academic organizations and universities, as well as international structures is expected.
Armenia to host seminar on agriculture development within Eastern Partnership program
news.am, Armenia
Armenia to host seminar on agriculture development within Eastern Partnership program
17:23, 24.07.2017
YEREVAN. – Armenia’s capital city will host a seminar devoted to the development of agriculture and rural areas within the framework of Eastern Partnership program, Armenian deputy agriculture minister Armen Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.
“This kind of discussions are usually held in Brussels, but our European colleagues agreed to visit us. The main topic is innovation in agriculture,” he said, adding that seminar is set for October.
Representatives of Eastern Partnership member countries as well as experts from western and eastern Europe have been invited.
Religion: Hungary donates $1.7 million for restoration of churches in Lebanon
Pravmir, Hungary
July 22 2017
Source: The Christian Times
The Hungarian government is donating $1.7 million to help with the restoration of Christian churches in Lebanon, government records revealed.
The Sourp Nshan Armenian church in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
The donation, which will help fund the restoration of 31 churches, is part of the Hungarian government’s efforts to support Lebanon’s Christian community so that they could continue living in their own country, and help preserve the Christian identity and presence in the Middle East.
Apart from funding the project, Hungary will also be involved in coordinating the restoration of the churches. According to Hungarian Free Press, the project will be overseen by the Embassy of Hungary in Beirut, as well as Hungarian academics from Pázmány Péter Catholic University and Lebanese specialists from the Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslikot.
The government is also funding the restoration of Christian minority places of worship in Hungary. A total of 100 million forints (about US$381,000) has been allocated for the restoration of an Orthodox church in Budapest and 2.4 billion forints (about US$9 million) has been pledged to support properties in Hungary that are associated with the Moscow Patriarchate.
The conservative publication Magyar Nemzet has suggested that the government’s support for the Russian Orthodox Church stems from the political alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who closely follows the fate of Orthodox communities outside Russia.
Hungary has shown its eagerness to support Christians in the Middle East, and it was the first country in the world to create a government office that aims to support persecuted Christians in the region.
In January, the Hungarian government announced that it wants the country to become a “hub and supporter” of groups that assist Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.
The announcement was made during an international conference in Budapest where leading advocacy groups gathered to discuss the persecution of Christians across the globe.
Bence Rétvári, the state secretary of the Ministry of Human Resources, told the delegates attending the event that “more Christians are being persecuted today throughout the world than during the reign of Roman Emperor Nero.”
He said that religious leaders in the Middle East have asked to help persecuted Christians in the region by providing humanitarian aid “rather than taking them in.”
“When I travelled through Iraq I also met with numerous church leaders. Everybody asks that we don’t help the Iraqis and the persecuted get into Europe. Instead we should help locals start up their lives again,” he stated.
During the conference, Rétvári also announced that Hungary will launch a traveling exhibition throughout Europe about the persecution of Christians.
Music: 9 days with classical music
Aravot, Armenia
A true feast of the classical music – the 1st “Armenia” International Festival and Competition has come to the end. “Armenia” satisfied even the capricious connoisseurs of the classical music, presenting both masterpieces of classical music and pieces by contemporary composers.
The “Armenia” International Festival and Competition held between July 4-12, 2017 was not another regular cultural event. It was an event that managed to unite three major collectives – the Armenian National Philharmonic, the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and the National Chamber Orchestra under one umbrella! It was an exceptional case in Armenian cultural life.
A festival and competition – two in one: here is the formula for success of the “Armenia”. Famous cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, pianists Nareh Arghamanyan and Lilit Grigoryan, violinists Roman Kim and Fedor Rudin, Khachaturian Trio, Abgar Muradyan Duo performed during 9 festival concerts. And, undoubtedly, the peak of the festival was the performance of the world famous violinist Maxim Vengerov.
“There are lots of music festivals, but the “Armenia” International Festival and Competition is unique. A festival-competition format is special for the young performers.
I have heard about the “Armenia” International Festival and Competition in different countries, specifically in France and Germany, and from various sources. It is a great pleasure for me to be a part of the first festival”,-world famous violinist Maxim Vengerov noted before his performance.
Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan added: “I am very happy that Armenia hosts such high-level Competition and Festival. The Armenian audience enjoys high-level music”.
Within the framework of the festival, famous artists presented masterpieces of classical music to the audience. The compositions by the composer-in-residence of the festival Alexey Shor were also performed.
The piano competition was held parallel to the festival and 48 pianists from 14 countries competed. During their visit they got a chance to discover Armenia, to enjoy the concerts of the festival and communicate with world famous artists and gain huge experience!
The total prize fund of the competition was 20 000 Euro (the 1st prize – 10 000 Euro, the 2nd prize-5000 Euro, the 3rd prize- 3000 Euro and special prize-2000 Euro). The first prize winner was Hripsime Ahgaqaryan (Armenia), the second prize winner was Khachik Andreasyan (Armenia), the third prize received Dominik Wizjan (Poland). The special prize was awarded to Seolhwa Kim (South Korea). The best 5 finalists were granted vouchers of participation to Malta International Piano Competition held within the framework of the Malta International Music Festival.
The jury of the competition consisted of world-famous musicians Paolo Baglieri (Italy), Ratko Delorko (Germany), Vladimir Ovchinnikov (Russia), Valerian Shiukashvili (Georgia). They were headed by the jury chairman professor, pianist Armen Babakhanyan.
“The festival was really impressive with its scope: three orchestras, four conductors, many international stars and the majority of them were from Armenia. I would like to highlight the piano competition that was held within the framework of the festival. It was a pleasure to see that my compositions were included as a mandatory program for the competition”,- Alexey Shor noted.
The most important cultural event of the year was organized by the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and European Foundation for Support of Culture. It was held under the high patronage of the first lady of the RA Rita Sargsyan and with the support of RA Ministry of Culture.
It should be mentioned that this was not the first time that the Youth Orchestra organized a high scale international event. For four and thirteen years it has been organizing the Khachaturian International Festival respectively, which has managed to find its unique places in the Armenian cultural life.
The Artistic Director of the festival and competition Sergey Smbatyan noted that the “Armenia” has been a huge project with its content and mission. Maestro added that this festival once again proved to the world that Armenia is a platform where high-level international events are implemented.
…Another important event has come to the end and the world revealed a constellation of talents. We will undoubtedly see them on the international stages. The next step is Malta International Piano Competition. During the event, Armenia will be represented by two talented pianists. The expectations are very high.
Anahit Gevorgyan
BAKU: Armenian woman visits graves of Azerbaijani civilians killed in Alkhanli
APA, Azerbaijan
July 14 2017
Oksana Altunyan, an Armenian woman who has joined the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Platform and is in Azerbaijan for the first time in the past 30 years, has visited the graves of the Azerbaijani toddler and her grandmother, both of whom were killed in an Armenian shelling of Fuzuli’s Alkhanli village, the Peace Platform’s press service told APA.
On July 4 at about 20:40 (GMT+4 hours), the Armenian armed forces, using 82-mm and 120-mm mortars and grenade launchers, shelled the Alkhanli village of Azerbaijan’s Fuzuli district. As a result of this provocation, the residents of the village Sahiba Allahverdiyeva, 50, and Zahra Guliyeva, 2, were killed. Salminaz Guliyeva, 52, was injured.
Oksana offered her condolences to the families of the victims and condemned the aggression against the civilians.
She was born in Baku and lived in the Azerbaijani capital until 1987 but moved to Moscow afterwards. She could not return to her homeland because of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
On the first day of her visit to Azerbaijan, Oksana has also visited the graves of Heydar Aliyev, Muslum Magomayev, and Rashid Behbudov in the Alley of Honor.
Oksana called on intellectuals from both sides to unite their efforts to restore peace and good neighborly relations.
Oksana Altunyan then paid a visit to Baku’s Armenian Church, where she was shown copies of exceptional books, manuscripts, and unique examples of Armenian literature. The Armenian woman thanked the library for the preservation of rare Armenian books and manuscripts.
She could not hide her amazement at how beautiful Baku has become since 30 years ago, noting that she was very happy to finally be in the city she had been unable to tread for decades.
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/14/2017
Friday, Sarkisian `Satisfied' With Armenian Military Arsenal . Artak Hambardzumian Armenia - President Serzh Sarkisian speaks at a meeting with Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian (L) and other officials in Dilijan, 13Jul2017. President Serzh Sarkisian has insisted that the Armenian military has enough modern armaments to cope with security threats to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Meeting with military personnel, government officials and public figures in the resort town of Dilijan on Thursday, Sarkisian clarified his controversial 2016 remark that Armenian soldiers are "fighting with weapons from the 1980s." "Firstly, the context [of the statement] was a bit different," he said in televised remarks publicized by his office on Friday. "Secondly, there is not a single army in the world that possesses all modern types of weaponry. Neither the American army nor the Russian army nor any other army can claim to have all the modern weapons because no army, no state can gain them [at once.] "But every army needs to have sufficient weaponry in order to be able to accomplish its tasks. That is evaluated in its entirety. On top of that are soldiers' skills. Today our army possesses not the most advanced armaments # but sufficient weaponry and ammunition to achieve objectives set for it." "A sufficient quantity and quality of weapons and ammunition plus intelligent and resilient fighters: this is the formula for success which I don't doubt," added Sarkisian. He did not disclose news types of weapons which Armenia has acquired in recent months. Armenia - The Armenian army demonstrates Buk air-defense systems recently acquired from Russia as well as S-300 surface-to-air missiles during a parade in Yerevan, 21Sep2016. Two years ago, Russia allocated a $200 million loan to Armenia which is being spent on the purchase of more Russian weapons at internal Russian prices that are below market-based levels. The Russian government subsequently publicized a long list of items which the Armenian side is allowed to buy with that money. It includes, among other things, the Smerch multiple-launch rocket system, TOS-1A heavy flamethrowers, anti-tank weapons and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. The arms supplies envisaged by the loan agreement appear to have begun last year. According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Russia delivered 300 air-defense systems to Armenia in 2016. Those most probably were shoulder-fired Igla and Verba systems. In late 2015 or early 2016, the Armenian military also acquired advanced Russian Iskander missiles. The acquisition was apparently not covered by the low-interest Russian credit. Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian said in January that Yerevan is planning more arms acquisitions in addition to the $200 million defense contracts signed with Moscow. He gave no details. Russia has long been Armenia's number one arms supplier, reflecting close militaries ties between the two states. Membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has enabled Armenia to receive Russian weapons at discounted prices or even for free. IMF Lauds Armenian Reform Efforts U.S. - The International Monetary Fund logo is seen inside its headquarters at the end of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2016. The International Monetary Fund has praised the Armenian government's efforts to improve the domestic business environment, reform tax administration and attract more foreign investment, saying that is essential for speeding up economic growth. In a statement released late on Thursday, the IMF reported details of a June 23 meeting of its Executive Board that discussed the macroeconomic situation in Armenia and reforms announced by Prime Minister Karen Karapetian's cabinet. "[IMF] directors called for continued efforts to advance structural reforms to foster sustainable and inclusive growth," read the statement. "They underscored the need to promote private sector development and diversify the economy by attracting [foreign direct investment.] In this context, they welcomed the authorities' growth-promoting initiatives to improve the business environment, encourage competition, and strengthen governance." The IMF board also praised government efforts to combat tax evasion and improve tax administration, saying that they have already translated into a sizable rise in tax revenue. Its overall assessment of government policies is in tune with statements made by an IMF team that visited Yerevan on a two-week mission in April. The mission chief, Hossein Samiei, told reporters that Karapetian's cabinet is "reform-minded and committed to improving the structural environment." Karapetian has repeatedly pledged to create "equal conditions" for all business since he was named prime minister in September. Opposition politicians dismiss the premier's ambitious reform agenda, however. They say, in particular, that wealthy businesspeople close to the government continue to enjoy a monopoly on lucrative imports of essential goods and commodities. The IMF board stood by higher economic growth rates that were forecast for Armenia by the Washington-based Fund earlier. "With improving outlook in major trading partners and a pickup in private sector activity, real GDP is projected to grow by around 3 percent in 2017, while inflation would reach around 2 percent by end-2017," it said. "Medium-term growth is projected at 3.5-4 percent." "Nevertheless, there are risks: the recent recovery in remittances and copper prices may not endure, and growth in key trading partners could be weaker than expected," it warned. The government expects that the Armenian economy will expand by at least 3.2 percent this year. In its policy program approved by parliament last month, it committed itself to ensuring that annual growth accelerates to around 5 percent in the following years. Economic activity in Armenia was largely stagnant last year amid a continuing recession in Russia, the country's leading trading partner and the main source of multimillion-dollar remittances from Armenian migrant workers. Yerevan `Still Wants' New Nuclear Plant . Sargis Harutyunyan Armenia - A general view of the Metsamor nuclear plant, 20May2013. The Armenian government has not abandoned its ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station in place of the aging plant at Metsamor, Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielian claimed on Friday. President Serzh Sarkisian pledged to replace Metsamor, which generates roughly a third of Armenia's electricity, by a modern and more powerful facility meeting safety standards shortly after taking office in 2008. The project never got off the drawing board as his government failed to attract an estimated $5 million needed for the new plant's construction. The government decided instead to extend the life of Metsamor's 420-megawatt reactor by 10 years, until 2027. Russia is playing a key role in this endeavor, having provided Armenia with a $270 million loan and a $30 million grant in 2015. The money is due to be mainly spent on the purchase of Russian nuclear equipment and additional safety measures that will be taken at the Soviet-era facility located 35 kilometers west of Yerevan. "If we start the new nuclear plant's construction now it will not be timely," Gabrielian told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).Work on the plant might only get underway in 2022 or 2023, he said. The government initially planned that the new plant would have a design capacity of 1,000 megawatts. In Gabrielian's words, it now believes that 600 megawatts is a more realistic and cost-effective target. "In the coming years much smaller and cheaper nuclear plants will start going into service [around the world] in 50-megawatt blocks," the vice-premier went on. They could represent an even cheaper option for Armenia, he said. Visiting Armenia in April 2016,the first deputy head of Russia's state nuclear energy agency Rosatom, Kirill Komarov, said that the authorities in Yerevan have yet to come up with convincing "economic grounds" for implementing the expensive project. Two Armenians Wounded In Egyptian Beach Resort Attack Egypt - The entrance to one of two beach resorts in Hurghada where a stabbing attack occurred on . Two Armenian nationals were wounded on Friday in a mass stabbing in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada which left two other foreign tourists dead. News reports said an Egyptian man stabbed two German women to death and wounded two other tourists at a local hotel and then swam to a neighboring beach to attack at least two more people at the Sunny Days El Palacio resort before he was arrested. The motive for his attack was not immediately known. The Egyptian Interior Ministry said that the wounded tourists were rushed to a local hospital. The security manager at the El Palacio hotel told Reuters that two of them are Armenians. Armenia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that, citing information received from the Armenian Embassy in Cairo. "The Embassy has contacted the injured Armenian citizens," it said on its Twitter page. "Their life is not in danger. Medical aid is provided." The ministry spokesman, Tigran Balayan, tweeted separately that "the attacker was neutralized with the help of our wounded citizen." The stabbings came hours after five Egyptian police officers were shot to death in Cairo's twin city of Giza. Twenty-three Egyptian troops were killed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula a week ago, in an assault claimed by the so-called Islamic State militant group. The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan urged Armenians to refrain from trips to Egypt following the October 2015 bombing of a Russian plane over the Sinai. The ministry repeated the warning in January 2016. Press Review "Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that a senior Georgian official, Zurab Abashidze, has refuted reports that Georgia and Russia have finalized an agreement on the opening of two transport corridors that will pass through Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Armenia welcomed those reports earlier this week, with Transport Minister Vahan Martirosian expressing hope that Armenia will get more reliable trade routes to Russia. Abashidze said, however, that the Russian and Georgian governments are only negotiating on a "monitoring of cargo turnover" between. According to "Zhoghovurd," the French ambassador in Yerevan, Jan-Francois Charpentier, has complained about the modest volume of Armenia's trade with France which amounted to roughly $50 million last year. The paper recalls in this regard that President Serzh Sarkisian held a special meeting with senior Armenian officials and called for closer commercial ties with France in March last year. It says that the Armenian government has since taken no "serious steps in that direction." Davit Ishkhanian, a leader of the Nagorno-Karabakh branch of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), assures "Hayots Ashkhar" that Nagorno-Karabakh's image abroad will not suffer after its president, Bako Sahakian, extends his rule by at least three years. "Artsakh must never be compared with Azerbaijan," Ishkhanian tells the paper. "Such statements are wide of the mark. Democracy is very important for us. We have no right or desire to register a setback in that area." He argues that Sahakian will govern Karabakh until 2020 only as an interim president. "What's the point of exploiting that?" he complains. "Hraparak" quotes a food and agriculture expert as saying that agriculture is one of the few sectors that has already benefited from Armenia's accession to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). He points to rising exports of Armenian agricultural products and prepared foodstuffs to Russia. "All you have to do is to produce and deliver them to the Russian market," he says. (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Third-generation composite banknotes to be put into use in Armenia in 2018
ArmBanks, Armenia
Third-generation composite banknotes to be put into use in Armenia in 2018
12.07.2017 18:34
12.07.2017 18:34
YEREVAN, July 12. /ARKA/. New composite banknotes of third generation will be put into use in Armenia in 2018, and they will gradually oust current banknotes, the press office of the Central Bank of Armenia reported on Wednesday.
The central bank says that the 25th anniversary of the Armenian dram will be marked in 2018.
The regulator says in its press release that a printing office will be chosen through a tender.
The new-generation banknotes will be designed in conformity with the central bank's special requirements.
In particular, the new banknotes will be highly protected and they will be more durable.
It has also become known from the central bank's press release that a banknote of the nominal value of 2,000 drams will be issued.
Instead, banknotes of the nominal value of 100,000 drams no longer will be issued.
The central bank's board, approved the idea to place Paruyr Sevak picture on a 1,000 drams banknote, Tigran Petrosyan on a 2,000 drams banknote, William Saroyan on a 5,000 drams banknote, Komitas on a 10,000 drams banknote, Hovhannes Aivazovsky on a 20,000 drams banknote and Saint Gregory the Illuminator on a 50,000 drams banknote.
The regulator has announced a contest to choose sketches for the banknotes. –0—-
Analyst: Turkey would not rush with unblocking Armenia border
news.am, Armenia
YEREVAN. –The opening of borders with Armenia can be costly for Turkey, Armenian political scientist Garik Keryan believes.
The analyst said this may damage Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan.
“I remember when the Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed in Zurich in 2009, next day the nationalists burned the Turkish flag in Azerbaijan. Of course, this did not last long, and everything returned to normal, when it became clear that these protocols would not be ratified,” he added.
According to Keryan, Turkey is well aware of what it can lose, and therefore Ankara would not rush with the unblocking the border with Armenia in the near future.