Arbi Tashjian – Page 56 – Armenian Directory & News

Armenpress: Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan refuse from PABSEC Honorary Medals: Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament urges not to politicize the issue

December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan refuse from PABSEC Honorary Medals: Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament urges not to politicize the issue

11:57, 27 November, 2018

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. During the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Yerevan on November 27 some of the delegates refused from the Assembly’s Honorary Medals, reports Armenpress.

“The constructive position of the parliaments of the structure’s member states opens a broad path for the productive activities of the PABSEC”, PABSEC Secretary General Asaf Hajiyev said during the session.

Thereafter, the awarding ceremony of PABSEC Honorary Medals was scheduled, but the representative of the Georgian delegation announced that the delegation head refuses from the Medal without providing any comment. Head of the Turkish delegation Cemal Ozturk also refused from the Medal. “I think I do not have an honor to receive that Medal”, he said.

PABSEC Secretary General Asaf Hajiyev said the head of the Turkish delegation refuses from the Medal because he hasn’t received a mandate yet. Head of the Azerbaijani delegation Eldar Guliyev also announced that he is working at the structure for just two years and cannot receive such a Medal.

Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia Ara Babloyan received a Medal. Commenting on the aforementioned announcements, Babloyan said he understands their decision. He told reporters that he has discussed with the Secretary General the issue that it is necessary to give Medals to the heads of the delegations who chaired the delegation for many years.

“But our approach is different. By mentioning the name of the head of the delegation we hand over the Medal to the delegation, because we give it on the occasion of the 25th anniversary”, Babloyan said, adding that he agreed with Hajiyev to give the Medals to all. “And later the organization has an opportunity to separately award those for long-lasting work who currently are no longer heads, but chaired the delegation for many years. Armenia and I, as the organizer of this Assembly, are honest and ready to award all. Of course, all those who refused from the Medals, in fact they rejected their delegations to have that pleasure”, Babloyan said.

As for Turkey’s step Babloyan said that the head of the delegation was an acting head, therefore he found out that only the head can accept the Medal. “But as for Azerbaijan and Georgia, let them say why they refused. They stated that they have worked a short period of time and do not deserve a Medal. But we were ready to award”, Ara Babloyan noted.

He said he would not like to politicize this issue as this structure must deal with economic cooperation issues. “We have regional issues, if we politicize this issue, they can undermine our main goals in terms of economic and commercial relations”, he said.

Ara Babloyan informed that the head of the Ukrainian delegation was invited for the session, but couldn’t attend due to personal reasons.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Asbarez: Congressional Leaders Recognized by ELAC at D.C. Event

December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

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Members of the ANCA-WR staff and ANCA Burbank with Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard

MONTEREY PARK, Calif.—East Los Angeles College (ELAC) and the ELAC Foundation recognized Members of Congress Nanette Diaz Barragán, Judy Chu, Lucille Roybal- Allard, Jimmy Gomez, Linda T. Sánchez, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis for their participation in the Washington D.C. Gateway Internship Program (WGIP) during a reception on October 30.

This last summer, Congress members Nanette Diaz Barragán, Judy Chu, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jimmy Gomez, Linda T. Sánchez each hosted a WGIP participant this summer and have served as strong advocates for the program. The ELAC Foundation’s Washington D.C. Gateway Internship Program (WGIP) offers East Los Angeles College students an all-inclusive summer internship opportunity in an effort to promote civic engagement and foster leadership. The WGIP provides students with an opportunity to participate in the legislative, political, and administrative process in Washington D.C. The summer internship has become a shining example to our students and to the communities we serve of the quality of care we have in creating comprehensive students who are civically engaged in our communities.

Dr. Armond Aghakanian, Director of Development and Alumni and Corporate Relations at ELAC and member of the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education, addressing the attendees at the reception.

The Armenian National Committee of America is a partner with the ELAC Foundation to further collaborate and foster relations between the organization’s programs. In August of 2017, participants of ANCA’s Leo Sarkisian Internship Program and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway as well as the ELAC Washington Hilda Solis Internship Program met up at the ANCA headquarters in Washington D.C. and discussed their experiences and opportunities for future cooperation at a networking dinner celebrating public service. The meeting allowed the interns the opportunity to network, collaborate, sharing ideas on developing their professional and personal identities and become better advocates in assisting each other’s respective underrepresented communities.

“This program reinforces East Los Angeles College’s commitment of empowering students to expand their individual potential outside of the classroom. The stories of the interns are truly inspiring and strengthen ELAC Foundation’s mission of transforming lives. I am proud to continue the partnership with the Armenian National Committee of America,” said East Los Angeles College President Marvin Martinez.

“The ANCA-WR is a proud partner of the ELAC Foundation and looks forward to working together to promote student involvement in public service,” said ANCA-WR Government Relations Coordinator Serob Abrahamian who was present at the reception.

Established in 1986 and named in memory of the late ANCA Eastern U.S. community leader who spearheaded Armenian American grassroots advocacy for more than four decades, the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship program now has hundreds of alumni across the world, spreading the message of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide, freedom for Artsakh, and a secure, prosperous, and democratic Armenian homeland.

Launched in 2003, the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program helps secure permanent employment and professional internships in Washington, DC for young Armenian American professionals and students. Through the years, the ANCA has developed many relationships in and around Capitol Hill and identified a wide range of opportunities in the Washington, DC area. The CGP utilizes these resources and contacts to help candidates identify and secure jobs that fit their interests and needs.

VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia build home for family

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

ARKA, Armenia

Nov 30 2018

YEREVAN, November 30. /ARKA/. The Hovhannisyan family from Gyumri has lived in a wooden self-made shelter for three decades after the devastating earthquake of 1988, VivaCell-MTS said in a press release.

The father of the large family, Martin, like many of his compatriots, has tried to find a solution, when he realized that it was nearly impossible to move from the temporary shelter into a new house. However, his attempts to make the deteriorated shelter look like a house also failed.

The Hovhannisyans were not able to build a new house because of poor social conditions. It took three decades to build only the walls and the roof. The temporary wooden shelter, turned into a permanent residence, was the only option left.

The spring of the current year brought good news to the Hovhannisyan family: they were involved in the housing project of the partnering organizations, VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. The teams, united through volunteerism, started the construction of the house with Marat, making his dream a reality. The heads of the supporting organizations were hosted in the new house that has all conveniences.

“For years I have worked to create normal conditions for my family, but couldn’t succeed. I tried to make the wooden shelter look like a house, but still it remained a temporary shelter with cold and rotten from moisture floors. Decades have passed, my children have already formed their own families, but almost nothing has changed. I have never been afraid of difficulties, but I was afraid that my sons would leave their Homeland, and my home would be ruined without even being built. Thanks to your support, not only my house has been built, but also my family has been united. Thank you so much,” said the family father Martin.

“In any undertaking, one should have a point of support. For someone, hope is such a point of support, for another – determination, for the third one –willpower. It does not matter what is the strength one relies on while moving towards the realization of the dreams. The main thing is to have that point of support. For us as a company it is important to become such a point of support for our compatriots. I am glad to state that as a result of our partnership with “Fuller Center for Housing” Armenia, just another family has overcome the longstanding problem and can look to the future with a bright smile,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

“It’s sad that the housing problem still exists thirty years after the earthquake. People living here, are truly an example of determination, endurance and strength not to leave the Homeland. It's a real happiness to share the joy of housewarming with this family that has endured difficulties for many years, but is still full of optimism,” said “Fuller Center for Housing” Armenia President Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

The Hovhannisyans are no longer concerned about the frosty winter that is specific to the area. Moreover, they are looking forward to celebrating the New Year in the new home. -0-

Yelk faction dismisses administrative resource accusations over Pashinyan’s provincial visit ahead of election

November 22, 2018November 22, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

Yelk faction dismisses administrative resource accusations over Pashinyan’s provincial visit ahead of election

13:18,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Yelk faction MP Lena Nazaryan is reassuring that there was no administrative resource usage in the meeting of caretaker PM Nikol Pashinyan with residents of Gegharkunik province.

She was speaking about accusations from Republicans alleging that Pashinyan has begun campaigning ahead of time.

The representative of any party is entitled to visit provinces and meet with the locals, Nazaryan said.

“The caretaker prime minister participated in the opening of a high school in Gegharkunik province, and also had the opportunity to meet with residents of the province. Nikol Pashinyan has regularly met with citizens during his entire time in office. And there is nothing unusual in this. What Pashinyan is able to to – interact with citizens and answer their questions, Republican candidates can also do, no one is disturbing them from going to Gegharkunik or other provinces and interact with the people through a rally. It is another matter that in my opinion they won’t succeed in doing it,” she said.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned on October 16 to trigger the process of disbanding the parliament.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyan’s Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in the 105-seat parliament. Since taking office, Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesn’t represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

In accordance to the Constitution, when a Prime Minister resigns the parliament must elect a new PM within two weeks. Lawmakers deliberately failed to elect a new PM as a formality in order to pave the way for dissolution.

The last round took place on November 1 and the parliament was dissolved by virtue of law.

Later on the same day, President Armen Sarkissian signed an order on dissolving the parliament and calling early elections on December 9.

The parliament will function until the new parliament is elected.

The government is formally a caretaker government until a new government is formed after the election.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijani press: Pashinyan hints at returning Azerbaijani lands… through his 2018 bestseller?

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

9 November 2018 15:12 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 9

By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:

"Reason says: the whole cannot be endangered because of the part, and, at a minimum, it is necessary to declare, loudly declare that we do not need these fields, that we are ready to return these lands for the sake of peace."

The above line is from a translated fragment of the biographical novel of the acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan entitled "The Other Side of the Earth", which became a bestseller in the country in 2018.

The excerpt was published under the same headline on the Armenian analytical portal "Voskanapat".

Pashinyan, who became Prime Minister of Armenia as a result of the velvet revolution, who was sometimes considered a “protégé” of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, was remembered in 2015 for his claims to to return the occupied regions around Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

In 1997-1998, then-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan proposed a plan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, implying the demilitarization of the occupied territories and the return of a number of settlements to Azerbaijan.

As a result, Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan, Minister of Internal Affairs and National Security Serzh Sargsyan and Minister of Defense Vazgen Sargsyan, dissatisfied with such a plan, actually forced him to resign before the end of his Presidential tenure – February 3, 1998.

During the 2008 presidential election, Ter-Petrosyan, made an attempt to return to power, and as a result he gathered 21.5 percent of the votes and settled for the second place. Serzh Sargsyan, the protege of the incumbent President Robert Kocharyan, won the election.

The opposition, however, did not recognize the election results and accused the authorities of fraud. Thousands of people went out to the streets of Yerevan. The confrontation turned into unrest, during which 131 people were injured, eight of whom died from gunshot wounds. On the same day, Kocharyan announced the state of emergency for 20 days in Yerevan.

The mentioned political biographical novel "The Other Side of the Earth", was published in parts in May-December 2008 in the "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper when Pashinyan was hiding.

The author describes in the book how he, allegedly, illegally left Armenia, since he was on the wanted list after the events of March 1, 2008. That is, the book was a direct result of the riots of 2008, when Pashinyan was still a supporter of Ter-Petrosyan. However, we assume that he still remains a supporter of Ter-Petrosyan.

As we see, Pashinyan, like Ter-Petrosyan, even then understood that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is impossible without the return of Azerbaijani lands, about which, as it turns out, he even openly wrote.

So why did Pashinyan change his rhetoric after coming to power? Is the fact that the power struggle in the country, as the Turkish expert on the Caucasus Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu told Trend earlier, is being built around the Karabakh issue, and if someone tries to change the country's position on this issue, then he can be dismissed from the government the next day?

As we remember, the US Ambassador Richard Mills, in an interview with the Armenian portal EVN Report, stated that Armenia would have to make compromises with Azerbaijan in order to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and expressed hope that the transition period which Armenia had entered would lead to a discussion of the options which the country has and the compromises which the country is ready for, because what he heard before was worrisome.

The topic of returning the lands has recently been heard and is being discussed more and more often in Armenia. Perhaps, instead of engaging in populism in order to preserve power, it is worthwhile to start preparing the people for the compromises that the country will have to make anyway?

—

Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov

250MW thermal power plant providing the cheapest electricity to be built in Yerevan

November 11, 2018November 11, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

| 17:23 | November 10 2018

Discussions on fighting tax evasion and capital outflow from the country to offshore companies started in Yerevan

November 10, 2018November 10, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 7 2018

Discussions on fighting tax evasion and capital outflow from the country to offshore companies started in Yerevan

Yerevan November 07

Naira Badalyan. Officials and experts from 20 countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia gathered in Yerevan today to understand how to deal with modern challenges in the field of taxation, follow tax evasion and capital outflow from the country to offshore companies. The issues will be discussed at the IV regional meeting of the two-day IV regional meeting devoted to the system of preventing the erosion of the tax / tax base and the withdrawal of income / profits from taxation (BEPS) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).

According to the head of the international programs and transfer pricing department of the RA State Directorate of Taxation, Nairui Avetisyan, in the age of electronic commerce and unrestricted movement of capital, the country's domestic legislation in a certain sense loses its relevance. Armenia is trying to resolve this issue, including with the help of international tax regulations. "The more the borders open, the closer the cooperation of the tax authorities," she said.

Back in June 2017, Armenia joined the 15th Action of the Organization for the Development of Economic Cooperation in the framework of a program to prevent the erosion of the tax base and the export of profits (BEPS), against transfer pricing. and the country's reliability is improved from the investor's point of view. Accession to the 15th BEPS protocol, as explained by Avetisyan, gives the tax authority of the country an additional lever of control in order to avoid tax evasion in by a foreign organization carrying out the activity of the Republic of Armenia, proving that the company's profit is formed in Armenia and, consequently, it is subject to taxation in Armenia. "The idea of BEPS is that the tax is payable in the country where additional value is created", – she said. At the same time, Armenia will avoid the fate of becoming a country for money laundering.

Today, already with 46 countries, Armenia has agreements against double taxation. Citizens and enterprises of the republic working abroad pay taxes there, and vice versa, the last agreement was recently signed with Israel. Purpose of these agreements

– eliminate double taxation in foreign trade between the two states, prevent tax discrimination against economic entities of the parties, eliminate double taxation of property and income, and create a predictable and stable tax environment for business. In November of this year. An agreement with Switzerland is planned to be signed, which is expected to be signed next year. The conclusion of a similar document with Argentina, Portugal and South Korea is also expected.

It should be noted that the issue of excluding double taxation between Armenia and the USA has been discussed for over 20 years – since 1994, the RA government has repeatedly raised this issue. In 2000, already during the Armenian-American intergovernmental meeting, the question was raised about the need to conclude an agreement. Since then, although preparatory work has been carried out to conclude an agreement, in fact, the negotiations themselves have not started. The current agreement concluded between the Soviet Union and the United States, as stated in the Ministry of Finance, is overdue and irrelevant, only for the simple reason that the Republic of Armenia is not the successor of the USSR. The American side argues its refusal by the fact that it sees no difficulty for US companies from the absence of such a contract. Yerevan, however, believes that even in the absence of obvious difficulties at this stage, the elimination of double taxation can be a barrier to attracting mutual investments, since the prospect of paying taxes twice can scare off potential investors.

Man tries to blow himself up in Armenian government’s office

October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

TASS, Russia

Oct 28 2018

YEREVAN, October 28. /TASS/. A man tried to enter the office of the Armenian Government and blow himself up with a grenade on Saturday evening, a spokesman for the National Security Service, Samson Galstyan, told TASS.

"The man, born in 1975, carried a grenade. He tried to enter the Armenian Government building and blow himself up. National Security Service officers on duty disarmed him," he said.

According to Galstyan, the man, whose name is not disclosed, was detained, and a criminal case was launched against him. His motives are now being established.

Our revolution has no way to be a failure – Pashinyan gives speech in Armavir

October 18, 2018October 18, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

Our revolution has no way to be a failure – Pashinyan gives speech in Armavir

19:47,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, Board Member of My Step Block’s “Civil Contract” Party Nikol Pashinyan participated in the election campaign rally of Davit Khudatyan, My Step block’s candidate of Armavir city mayor.

“I am glad to see you happy with victorious eyes and free and proud citizen's gaze”, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan as saying. He added that hereafter the winner of any election will be the people. “You will win always and in all elections because thereafter none of your votes will be falsified, no one will dare to steal your vote, no one will dare to steal your power and no one will doubt who the highest representatives of the power are in the Republic of Armenia”, he said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, huge political changes have taken place and a Government has been established with an acting PM at the head which acts without a sense of obligation towards any separate group. “Our sole obligation is before the people and this is the key point of our revolution. This is the reason why our revolution has no way to be a failure”, Pashinyan said, noting that up till now hundreds of thousands of citizens of Armenia had the right to vote but had no voice.

Addressing the residents of Armavir, the acting PM introduced their candidate. “He is one of you who grew with you. Go to the polling stations and vote for Davit Khudatyan because these elections are not just city mayor elections, but the continuation of the revolution and the revolution we carried out in the squares now enters into polling stations”, he said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Dr. Umit Kurt to Speak on Gaziantep-area Armenian Genocide

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 Arbi Tashjian

Targeted News Service
 Wednesday 7:12 AM EST


Dr. Umit Kurt to Speak on Gaziantep-area Armenian Genocide

FRESNO, California

California State University's Fresno campus issued the following news release:

Visiting professor in Armenian Studies Dr. Umit Kurt will give his
second public lecture on "Proactive Local Perpetrators: Mehmet Yasin
(Sani Kutlug) and Ali Cenani" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in the
University Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room 191.

In his presentation, Dr. Kurt will recover the stories Mehmet Yasin
and Ali Cenani of Aintab, modern-day Gaziantep, and in the surrounding
district. Biographies of a genocide's local leaders can illustrate the
social processes, institutional cultures, and power relations that
undergirded the violence. This lecture hopes to do this by
highlighting the human element: the actors, their motives, and their
actions.

Kurt was appointed the 15th Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting
Professor in Armenian Studies for the fall 2018 semester. A free
parking code for lots P6 and P5 can be obtained by calling the
Armenian Studies program at 559.278.2669.