Antranik Varosian – Page 45 – Armenian Directory & News

Armenpress: Azerbaijani President put himself in deadlock – Armenian PM

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Antranik Varosian

Azerbaijani President put himself in deadlock – Armenian PM

16:10, 19 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. The united security system of Armenia and Artsakh is more than ever ready to protect the Armenian people’s security in each part of the homeland, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the joint session of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh in Yerevan.

“The use of force will not remain without a consequence and will always receive more than adequate response both at the military and political domains. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also understands this, who, in fact, has put himself in a deadlock. For more than 15 years he has promised his own people to solve the Karabakh issue through military means, billions of dollars have been spent under this title, which quite often result in money laundering, which eventually settle in the accounts of famous peoples in offshore zones. And now he is unable to explain his own people why the reality is as it is. He understands that his possible adventure will bring irreversible damages not only to Azerbaijan, but also will destroy his anti-national power. And in order to divert the people’s attention, he raises the temperature of his statements in order to get out of this deadlock, trying to compensate the failures of the past with new and more absurd promises about the future”, Pashinyan said.

The PM added that recently at the guidance of Azerbaijani special forces a so-called “western Azerbaijan” initiative has been created, meaning the Republic of Armenia. According to Pashinyan, by this the regional policy run by Azerbaijan is becoming more complete, and this so-called “western Azerbaijan” absurd initiative came to replace the so-called “southern, northern, north-western Azerbaijan” ridiculous series, highlighting Azerbaijan’s destabilizing aspirations in the context of the whole region.

“But I want to state in this regard that when we talk about the stability, security of the Karabakh conflict zone, in fact, we talk about the stability and the security of our entire region, and in this sense Armenia is becoming the security guarantor of not only the Karabakh conflict zone, but also our entire region. I think here we should demonstrate a special responsibility towards this regional role and be strong, firm, but not to give in to meaningless and absurd provocations. Especially now when our societies are fighting against a global challenge – the novel coronavirus pandemic, we should call on to refrain from the propaganda of hostile actions. Whether we want it or not, the history and geography made us neighbors, and we should derive from the simple truth that our peoples are equal, cannot be under one another’s rule and should determine their fate based on their will, the right to self-determination. The acceptance of this equality will greatly contribute to preparing our populations to peace and will put reliable basis for the long-term and stable development of our region”, the Armenian PM said.

Armenian servicemen rehearsing ahead of military parade in Moscow

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Antranik Varosian

Public Radio of Armenia

Armenian servicemen are holding rehearsals in Moscow ahead of the Victory Parade expected on June 24.

The 75-member division will carry the flags of Armenia and the Tamanyan Division.

The parade dedicated to the 75th anniversary of victory in World War Second was initially planned for May 9 but was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has informed Russian President Vladimir Putin he will not be able to travel to Moscow because of the epidemic situation.

The Armenian delegation will be headed by Defense Minister David Tonoyan.

“Media Advocate” Initiative of Armenia: New bill on audiovisual media services is problematic

June 21, 2020June 21, 2020 Antranik Varosian

News.am, Armenia

13:12, 20.06.2020

YEREVAN. – The new draft law “On audiovisual media services” has not been discussed in public, the authorities and the authors of the draft law did not organize professional hearings and did not create a platform for exchanging professional opinions. “Media Advocate” Initiative of Armenia has noted this in a statement, which also reads as follows:

The project contains a number of problematic aspects. For example, Article 7 of the draft specifies detailed requirements for the content produced and broadcast by audio-visual media. Furthermore, some of these requirements apply only to news programs, and the other, at least, may be assumed to apply to all programs.

The concepts of Article 7 of the draft are quite subjective and evaluative. This refers to concepts that may be interpreted differently by different people according to their desire and expediency.

This article is a good basis for censorship, as there are no clear explanations and criteria, and only a decision may be made with the subjective explanation of the person examining the case or the person in charge of the case, which is very worrying, as violating Article 7 may result in a fine (23 part of the 59 article of the draft).

One can not judge from the draft how many TV stations can operate in the public multiplex in case that the places are limited. This issue is regulated by Article 47 of the current law. This article describes how many and what kind of TV channels can broadcast via digital broadcasting network. Meanwhile, this issue is not regulated by Article 44 of the Draft. Article 44 of the draft defines that the content and concepts of thematic directions are defined by the decision of the regulatory body (TRC – Television and Radio Commission). However, the draft does not even specify which body will determine the maximum possible number of TV companies operating in the public multiplex.

While reading the project, we also notice problems with the involvement of private TV companies in the public multiplex. For example, it is not clear whether licensing under Article 45 of the Draft will provide the TV company with a de facto opportunity to operate in a public multiplex.

If licensing itself implies the use of slot in a public multiplex, then why does the 5th part of the Article 53 define that a private multiplex operator must provide 20 percent of its multiplex audio-visual information to the audiovisual service licensed by the state regulatory body?

That is, why does a private multiplex operator have to provide 20% of its multiplexes to licensed (actually those given slot) TV companies?

And if the licensing itself does not imply the occupation of slot in the public multiplex, then by what criteria will be determined which licensed TV companies will receive slot in the public multiplex? The licensing criteria set out in Article 47 of the draft essentially refer only to the provision or non-provision of a license, and not to the question of which licensed companies will actually receive a slot in the public multiplex.

After all, what will be the fate of those TV stations that will not be licensed and/or will not have the right to take part in the public multiplex? Part 5 of Article 53 of the draft specifies that the private multiplex operator must provide 20% of the video audio information of its multiplex to audiovisual media service licensed by the regulatory body and the rest audiovisual information may use on its own, exclusively for the purpose of re-broadcasting in accordance with the procedure provided by this law.

That is, it turns out that 20% of the opportunities of a private multiplex should be provided to licensed and public TV companies that have the right to occupy slot in the public multiplex. The remaining 80% must be used either by the multiplex operator personally or only for the purpose of re-broadcasting.

In general, the law has a number of conceptual issues such as the ambiguity of definitions, the rights and responsibilities of Internet and terrestrial broadcasters are intertwined, the regulatory body is endowed with disproportionately large powers, and opportunities have been created for interfering into media editorial policy. All of this raises serious concerns that it will open a wide field for arbitrary interpretations and restrictions on the right to freedom of _expression_.

The draft including this and many other problematic issues has accepted in the first reading in the National Assembly, while there is no discussion conducted for public groups and professional groups, they are trying to pass the incomplete draft in the National Assembly.

“Media Advocate” initiative urges TV companies and professional groups, to demand from the National Assembly and the authors of the law that the latter ones organize professional discussions and public hearings before the second reading of the draft.

The new law should contain provisions that will not restrict freedom of speech.

Armenian government approves 20th anti-crisis measure

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 Antranik Varosian

14:07,

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved today the 20^th measure aimed at eliminating the economic consequences of the novel coronavirus.

During today’s Cabinet meeting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan said the measure aims at assisting the hired employees, employees working under civil law contract and individual entrepreneurs of the private sector.

According to the decision, the sectors affected from the COVID-19 are the followings: hotel and guesthouse services, public food services, tourism, pre-school (private kindergartens), sports clubs, cinemas, photography, etc.

The assistance is provided in a lump sum, at the amount of the minimum salary. It will be transferred to the beneficiaries’ credit cards.

The assistance will be provided based on the applications submitted.

This measure will apply to nearly 36,800 persons, and the total budget of the measure comprises 2,5 billion drams.

The acceptance of applications will start from June 22.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

COVID-19: Armenian PM says his personal experience showed wearing face mask is an effective mean

June 13, 2020June 13, 2020 Antranik Varosian

14:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he has been convinced by his own experience that wearing a face mask gives certain guarantee that the virus will not spread, as he supposedly has not infected any other people except his family when he contracted the novel coronavirus.

During a special session in the Parliament which was convened to debate the issue on extending the state of emergency, the PM reminded that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus on May 31. After that his family members also passed a test for COVID-19. The result of double testing was received overnight June 1. “Next Sunday the result was negative. This means that I, most likely, have been infected with the coronavirus before that at least for another one week. Starting May 23 I always wore a face mask everywhere I visited. I didn’t contact with anyone without wearing a face mask, except my family. And this proves that wearing a face mask is a certain guarantee, at least for 95%, that the virus will not spread. The fact that during that 14 days I supposedly have not infected anyone except my family once again proves that wearing a face mask, keeping a social distance and washing hands are effective means”, the PM said.

On June 1 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he and his family members have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. However, the PM and his family have already recovered.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 15,281, out of which 5,639 patients have already recovered. The number of active cases stands at 9,298. The death toll has risen to 258.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Rapid response group of Armenian Ombudsman’s Office heads to police station after protesting lawyers detained

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 Antranik Varosian

Panorama, Armenia

A rapid response group of the Armenian Human Rights Defender's (Ombudsman) Office headed to the Arabkir Police Department after lawyer Ruben Melikyan and several other individuals protesting outside the parliament building were detained.

The group will hold private meetings with the detained citizens to find out the grounds for their apprehension and to examine the status of theirs rights, as well as the police report on the incident, the office said in a statement.

Ruben Melikyan, along with Armenia’s first Human Rights Defender Larisa Alaverdyan, lawyer Robert Hayrapetyan and several others were holding separate protest actions in front of the National Assembly demanding the authorities to lift the ban on peaceful assemblies in the country which remains in place amid the extended state of emergency.

They were detained for failing to comply with the police demand to end the action “prohibited during the state of emergency”.

Speaking to reporters earlier on Friday, Alaverdyan decried the government’s decision to extend the ban as not only a violation of human rights but also the Constitution and conventions.

"During the days of the pandemic, the government has found itself in a helpless state. I raise my voice against such absurd restrictions in a state of emergency,” she said, adding that the ban on rallies is also not in the interests of the state and authorities.

Armenia Constitutional Court President refuses to receive bonuses

June 10, 2020June 10, 2020 Antranik Varosian

News.am, Armenia

June 9 2020

17:29, 09.06.2020

President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan has refused to receive bonuses. This is what Chief of Staff of the Constitutional Court Edgar Ghazaryan said during a discussion on the performance of the 2019 State Budget, responding to deputy of the My Step faction Arusyak Julhakyan’s question on the amount of bonuses and surcharges that the judges of the Constitutional Court have received.

“The salaries of the judges and the amounts of their surcharges are prescribed by law, and they differ in terms of a particular judge’s work experience. As in the case of other state bodies, the bonuses of the Court’s judges are also in the amount of 30% of the fund for total salaries, and the Constitutional Court has paid the salaries in the amount of 28.6%. The bonuses are paid under the order of the President of the Constitutional Court. As a rule, the Court tries to pay everyone in the amount of 30%, but the President has refused to receive bonuses for a long time now. Recently, an exception was made for Vahe Grigoryan due to the fact that he doesn’t attend the Court’s sessions,” Ghazaryan said.

PM says the COVID-19 pandemic peak in Armenia may take place in late June

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020 Antranik Varosian

News.am, Armenia

June 5 2020

19:14, 05.06.2020

PM Nikol Pashinyan said the peak of COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia may take place in late June.

According to him, during the meeting on COVID-19 situation in Armenia, they have discussed several scenarios, including the option of declaring a total lockdown, the announcement of a curfew, as well as the ban on most economic activities.

"I do not agree with any of the decisions during those discussions. Because before making such decisions, we must make sure that they will solve our problems," he said.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic continues all over the world with different dynamics, at different rates, and therefore, there are many uncertainties in this regard.

Covid-19: Armenia reports 596 new cases, 45 recoveries, 7 deaths – TOTAL: 11,817

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020 Antranik Varosian

Public Radio of Armenia

June 5 2020

Armenia has reported 596 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 11,817.

The results of 1,106 tests have been negative.

According to the data of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 45 patients have recovered, bringing the total to 3,513.

Seven patients have died in the past 24 hours. The death toll has reached 183 another 69 patients with coronavirus have died because of other diseases.

The number of active cases is 8,052.

Persian Codices written in Armenian script

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020 Antranik Varosian

Aspirantum

June 6 2020

Jun 06, 2020 in Persian Language

HASMIK KIRAKOSYAN

The New Persian language has been written in various scripts throughout its long history (from the 8th century onwards): Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, and Armenian characters.

In the 8th century in Samarqand, in the heart of northern Central Asia, a new form of Persian now known as New Persian became the spoken language. The Samanids, a local dynasty that ruled the northern region of the Amu Darya River and part of eastern Iran between the 9th and 11th centuries, revived Persian as a language of literature, scholarship, and historical chronicles, utilizing the Arabic script to write it.

The earliest Persian manuscript in Arabic script is the Ketāb al-abnīa by Abū Manṣūr Heravī (10th century). The copy was made by the poet Asadī Ṭūsī in 1055-1056 and is preserved up to the present. In this manuscript, we can observe the principles of the adaptation of the Arabic script to render Persian phonetically.

There are two main innovations for rendering the Persian phonemes that are not found in Arabic. New letters were created for the four Persian consonants p, č, g, and ž. In final position, Persian short vowels are always represented by consonantal letters: final o by “w”, and both final e and a by “h”.

New Persian written in Arabic script began to flourish in the 9th century and continues to do so to this day.

Persian was also written in Hebrew script in a form known as Judeo-Persian. It was utilized for centuries by the Jewish community of Iran. There was never one form spoken by all Jews and the variety of spoken forms is reflected in the early Judeo-Persian literature that began to be used in the 8th century. In fact, the Judeo-Persian material that has been discovered from that time provides important information about early forms of New Persian itself.

Judeo-Persian literature includes both religious and secular texts.

The Latin alphabet also was used to write Persian. One of the most important Latino-Persian texts is the Latin-Persian-Turkish /Cuman/ dictionary of Codex Cumanicus. It contains rich Persian material written in the Latin alphabet. The authors of the aforementioned dictionary were probably Franciscans active in the Crimea in the first half of the 14th century.

The manuscript of the Qur’ān written in Latino-Persian and kept in the Vatican Museum also provides evidence regarding Latino-Persian literature. This manuscript was probably written by a Spanish Carmelite who was a member of the missionary expedition to Persia from 1608-1624.

Latin transcriptions of many Persian words and sentences are included in 17th-century European grammars of Persian.

The Persian corpus written in the Armenian script is comprised of literary and religious texts. The Armenian script was used by the Armenian Christians of Iran to write down mainly Persian translations of scripture. Armenian poets used Persian poetry fragments written in the Armenian script in their works.

The Persian codices written in Armenian script are kept in the collection of Armenian codices of the Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts of Yerevan — the Matenadaran. In general, the literary Armeno-Persian texts of the Matenadaran can be divided into the following classification system:

1) Works and fragments of a religious nature,
2) Persian poetry fragments used by Armenian authors, ashughs or troubadours,
3) Bilingual dictionaries used as manuals of Persian.

In the Fund of Armenian manuscripts of the Matenadaran, there is a large number of religious fragments written in Armenian script interspersed amongst the Armenian manuscripts. The oldest fragment is the Armeno-Persian Lord’s Prayer from 15th century that is in the MS 7117. Armeno-Persian fragments of the New Testament make up the majority of the Armenian manuscripts.

Two Armeno-Persian codices of the Gospel are also kept in the fund of Armenian manuscripts: MS 3044 and MS 8492, written in the 18th century by Armenian scribes. The two codices have the following structure: the introduction, the four canonical Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the content of the passages. These manuscripts were written for Persian-speaking Christian Armenians.

Matenadaran collection, Ms 3044, f. 10r
Matenadaran collection, Ms 8492, f. 187r

Armenian authors and ashughs used passages from Persian poetry in their works without changing their content but wrote them in the Armenian script. Many Persian literary passages and sentences written in Armenian script are stored amongst the Armenian manuscripts of the Matenadaran. This phenomenon is evidence of the spread of Persian among Armenians.

In the educational system of the Middle Ages, bilingual dictionaries and philological works were used in foreign language instruction. The Persian-Ottoman Turkish dictionary Tuhfe-i Šāhidī (The Gift of Shahidi) (921/1514) is a work that includes the vocabulary of the Masnaviye ma’snavi of Jalal ad-din Muhammad Balkhi (13th century), one of the most studied and copied works. In the Fund of the Matenadaran, one of the manuscripts of this bilingual dictionary is written in the Armenian script (18th century). One of the most important dictionaries written in Armenian script is the Persian-Armenian dictionary of Gevorg Dpir Ter-Hovhanissyan (known as Palatatsi), again written in the 18th century.

Armeno-Persian literature is the result of the cultural interactions of the Armenians in the Persianate world.