Author: Arbi Tashjian

After the preliminary counting of the votes at the constitutional referendum held on December 6, 2015, President Serzh Sargsyan hosted numerous officials, political and civil figures at the Presidential Palace. The President made a statement at the beginning of which he requested to honor the memory of the victims of the 1988 earthquake with a minute’s silence.

Dear Colleagues,

Yesterday, we together crossed over an important threshold which we were facing for the last two years. Wisdom, vision and light of faith dispelled the fog of uncertainty, suspicions and concern. Yesterday we chose to embark on the road of long-lasting and sustainable development, and because of that the Armenian statehood today is moving into the next stage.

Many of the proponents of “No” were presenting themselves as a “front”. I was trying to avoid that word as much as I could. It is my deep conviction that we have no right to have “fronts” within our country. For a nation which had the history like ours, it would be unaffordable luxury. Besides, among other objectives these changes are aimed at eliminating the necessity of organizing fronts or fighting each other.

Today, we are ready to state that parliamentary system of governance has become a reality for our country. It means we will have strong authorities and strong opposition, the role of political parties will increase, and there will be new opportunities for their development. It means also development of the partisan system which is an important prerequisite for any democratic state. Transition to parliamentary system will provide utmost transparency in the activities of the legislative and executive authorities. Responsibilities of the executive power will become more clear-cut and its accountability will grow, while its activities will become more predictable for the parliament as well as for the people.

Finally, the changes allow to be more confident about the security of our state. Constitutional provisions which envisage administration and operative management of the armed forces allow to adopt swift and efficient decision in the situation which have already become ordinary for us, or in critical situations.

Many of us were concerned with the impact these changes might have for our national security and defense. Be assured, that everything was measured with the utmost precision, otherwise, in case of a tiniest threat, I would stop the entire process.

Dear colleagues,
It is very important that during the campaign, “Yes” was promoted not only by the Republican Party but also by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Prosperous Armenia represented in the National Assembly, as well as by a number of other parties.
“Yes” doesn’t mean that we didn’t have disagreements, disputes, or discussions. There were plenty, trust me. Nevertheless, we always were able to find compromise and develop mutually acceptable options.

I am confident that this framework of cooperation will continue to expand for the benefit of our nation state, for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia.

The reforms are an important milestone for the strengthening of the Armenian state and democratic institutions. We have to breathe new power, new life to our Constitution.

We have not yet reached our destination; on the contrary, today we just stepped on a new road.

Constitutional changes should have their proper reflection in the entire legal system of the Republic of Armenia. New constitutional laws shall be adopted, changes should be made in hundreds of laws. We need to fling ourselves into this hard work right away to prepare a new Electoral Code. These works must be finished by June 1, 2016, so that parliamentary elections of 2017 are conducted in the atmosphere of greater trust, so that results of the election are not doubted by either political parties, or our citizens.

We are ready to conduct the most open and inclusive discussions in all possible formats to finally adopt a new, faultless Electoral Code. We are ready to discuss any mechanism which can provide for transparency and trust. I hope our opponents will accept this offer, and together with us will undertake this important task.

In our turn we are ready to work hard to bring our Electoral Code in line with the best world practices. We are well aware that the quality of the forthcoming elections will shape the future of our state, our nation. For that very reason we will work openly and transparently, because trust, increasing trust is the most important thing for us.

Candid dialogue, resolution of the current problems aimed at the regulation of social life – these are prerequisites of our country’s advancement.

Today we need trust not only among political forces but also public’s trust towards the political forces. This is the only way for the political forces to mature as authorized representatives of the society in the task of carrying out changes. The National Assembly must become the primary platform for ideological disputes, for finding solutions to the most pressing issues.

In the elections, there mustn’t be those who get everything and those who get nothing.
Today when we are ready to embark on a new road, I am expressing my gratitude to all those who for the last two years were promoting this process with their efforts and dedication. I express gratitude to the Chairman of expert commission and the members for their professionalism and principled stance. I thank leaders and representatives of the political forces, to the citizens who believed in and supported this initiative. My thanks to all those who provided for the high organizational level of the referendum. It was a huge and comprehensive work, and we did it standing shoulder by shoulder.

In the process, I spoke more than once about the importance of conducting fair and transparent referendum. I am more than confident that the law enforcment bodies did their best so that this state event was conducted in a due, normal way. Now it’s time for the relevant bodies to conduct proper procedures, true to the letter and spirit of the law, and give assessment to all signal about violations. It is really important for our future.

Dear Colleagues,
Now we are much more well-prepared to move on more confidently on our road towards a well-organized state. I have no doubt that our quarter of a century experience of statehood will allow us to tell the difference between transient and eternal, between primary and secondary. And most importantly, I am confident that probably for the first time in the history of the newly independent Armenia, we will be able to make power a factor which will not separate but will unite all able forces. The strength of the state is not defined by the intentions of the leaders, or by their sincere wishes and promises but by a steady system which will allow to make them true. We have already made the first but a very important step towards an active and logical system. We will make next steps together and together we will pass on our generations an efficient state.

Thank you all for that.

The Police have refuted the reports on alleged shooting in one of the polling stations in the South-Eastern District of capital Yerevan.

Earlier media reports suggested an unknown gunman entered the precinct and opened fire, forcing the public to escape in panic.

RA Police confirm there have been no such incidents either in the mentioned polling station, or elsewhere across the republic.

The Police urge to publicize only authentic data and facts and refrain from spreading misinformation and creating undue tension.

Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the 8th in this week’s top 10 ranked players across Europe’s main leagues, according to , a unique website specializing in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data.

Mkhitaryan provided no goal or assist in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-1 win over Stuttgart, but he did complete more dribbles in a league match than any other player in the Bundesliga this season (10).

Neimar (Barcelona) tops the rating, followed by Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (Leicester).

 

– A delegation comprising members of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the ARF Bureau representative Hagop Der Khatchadourian, Fr. Keghart Kosbakian, pastor of the St. Nshan Armenian Apostolic church of Cambridge, and members of the Vancouver Armenian community were joined by members and representatives of the local Winnipeg Armenian community at an event organized by the Canadian Human Right’s Museum dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. To commemorate the anniversary, the museum had organized a special evening, which took place on Wednesday, November 25, with renowned Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan and actress Arsinée Khandjian.

The museum is the realization of the dream of Canadian philanthropist Dr. Israel Asper, who aspired to create a place where Canadians could learn and promote human rights issues. The Armenian National Committee of Canada, the largest and most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots organization, had been collaborating with the museum since the project was first initiated. The event marking the centennial of the Armenian Genocide was an initiative from the Museum to commemorate the memory of one of the first human right’s largest calamities of the 20^th century, which acted as precedence to later genocides and atrocities around the world.

The event began with a guided tour of the museum, which encompasses 10 galleries that contain both parts of Canadian and International history presented through a high-tech, multi-media based interactive portal. During the guided tour, a large portion was spent accentuating the Breaking the Silence gallery, which focuses on the importance to break the silence about world human rights violations and atrocities and explores the role of denial and secrecy in the promotion and continuation of genocides. It includes a focused examination of the Ukrainian Holodomor, the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide and the Srebrenica Genocide in Bosnia. In the gallery, there was a greater emphasis placed on the importance of education of the Armenian Genocide, as mentioned by the museum tour guide.

Before the beginning of the official event, Svetlana Gharagyozyan of the Manitoba Opera gave a live musical performance for those present in the Bonnie and John Buhler hall.

John Young, director of the Museum gave the opening remarks and hosted the evening.

Armenian National Committee of Canada representative Shahen Mirakian spoke on behalf of the organization thanking guests for attending the event and emphasized the importance of the ANCC grassroots movement in making a change in the world by collaboration with different communities to fight against all forms of human rights violations. He also thanked Dr. Asper for this visionary undertaking, as well as the Museum and fellow Canadians for standing up and raising awareness for human rights issues.

Mr. Haig Vanlian took the podium on behalf of the Winnipeg Armenian community, thanking Canada for being an exemplary country and a beacon of compassion and humanitarian work. In his speech, he remembered the Georgetown Boys, Canada’s first act of humanitarian aid on an international scale, which brought orphaned Armenian boys and girls to a farm in Georgetown, and who later became model citizens that contributed to the Canadian society. He emphasized that the Armenian Genocide is still denied to this day by the Turkish Government, however with such endeavors as the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Manitoba, the demand for recognition and reparation is foreseeable. He stated that: “As we listen to the news these days, the Syrian refugee stories, the Syrian Armenian minority refugee stories, we remember the victims of the past…ethnicity and religion are being used as basis of percussion. Preventing genocide is the personal responsibility of every individual around the world.”

Fr. Keghart Kosbakian spoke on behalf of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He shared a short anecdote about knowing and coming to terms with the truth and reality of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the impact it still has on people today. He said that our efforts and mandate should be concentrated on educating on the matter and as such, the Museum offers the Canadian perspective by remembering the past and transmitting the education to the present. On behalf of the Prelate Bishop Meghrig Parikian, he thanked the Museum for their commitment.

In a short speech, Museum director John Young affirmed: “we want to educate our visitors to examine facts”. He went on to say that in the section in the Museum dedicated to the Armenian Genocide has photos shot by German soldier Armin T. Wagner, who went against direct orders and took pictures of the atrocities he witnessed. Examples of such facts are found through the Armenian Genocide section. The Breaking the Silence exhibit is followed by Actions Count gallery, which promotes visitors to think about concrete actions to counter understand and prevent genocide. It exemplifies Raphael Lemkin who coined the term genocide, based on the atrocities committed against the Armenian people, as well as his own family during the Second World War. It also shows the Canadian government’s first international humanitarian act of bringing in orphaned Armenian young boys and girls, which later came to be known as the Georgetown Boys. Mr. Young also stated that a short film is in the works, set to release in Spring 2016 about the Armenian Genocide, which will be screened in the Breaking the Silence gallery for visitors to see.

Atom Egoyan took the podium and opened a conversation about the Armenian Genocide. In his speech he thanked the Museum for taking on this massive order of representing human right’s issues. While speaking about his 2002 critically acclaimed filmArarat, which won Best Canadian film at the Genie Awards, he said his role was not to prepare a documentary about the Armenian Genocide. His intent was to get the viewer think and draw different lessons tied in the memory of genocide. By using scenes from the film within the film, he did a parallel between two scenes to demonstrate the very-present stereotype found in the descendants of genocide survivors. He pointed out the importance of narratives, and the important role education plays in transmitting knowledge from generation to generation. In the film, the role of the actors portraying Turkish generals represents the view of modern day Turkey, one of complete denial and lies. He ended his speech stating that without compassion we cannot have hope for reconciliation, and as long as denial is present, there is no place for compassion.

Arsinée Khandjian then continued in the conversation. She thanked the Museum, and stated how happy she was for finally having the opportunity to visit the Museum, with the different galleries. She noted that Canada has welcomed people form all over the world and this Museum pays homage to that. She pointed out that this year marked the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, which arose a sense of urgency in many to actively commemorate and remember. She stated that Armenians are always reminded through memory, stories, testimonies, academic literature, different proofs of the reality of the genocide, and cannot abandon their cause. This is not only a history proper to Armenians, but it belongs to the pages of world history and as such, the international community has its role to play and bares universal responsibility in the fight against denial. She mentioned that Hrant Dink stood up for the recognition in a country where at the time, there was little support within the Turkish community to openly speak about this topic. Now, one hundred years later, citizens in Turkey are standing up on the right side of history, and standing up for Hrant Dink and the proper recognition. She mentioned the twelve first occurrences of how denial takes over and shadows reality and stated that Armenians, Turks and the international community together hav
e to stand up and combat this silence and denial, not only to honor the past, but also to create a better now. If not, she stated humankind simply ceases to be kind.

The event ended with a Question period from attendees address to both Atom Egoyan and Arsinée Khandjian, which inquired about any repercussions felt during and after the release of the filmArarat, as well as the importance story telling plays in the continuation of remembrance. Both Arom and Arsinée took the time to answe all questions with great pleasure.

Hollywood star Charlie Sheen has confirmed he is living with HIV in a US television interview, the BBC reports.

“I am here to admit that I am HIV positive,” he said.

It bring to an end days of intense media speculation. The former star of sitcom Two And A Half Men is appearing on NBC’s Today show.

“I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of sub truths,” he said adding he was diagnosed four years ago.

“I think I release myself from this prison today,” he said, referring to the speculation over his health.

He admitted that his use of drink and drugs was a “bad decision” but said it was “impossible” that he would have passed HIV on to anyone else.

Sheen rose to fame in the 80s with hit films including Platoon and Wall Street and, in 2011, was the highest-paid actor on TV thanks to his sitcom role.

He has frequently struggled with drink and drug abuse.

The first meeting of the Armenia-U.S. Council on Trade and Investment was held in Yerevan on November 17, 2015.

This Council was established in May 2015 under a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United States of America for further strengthening and deepening of the Armenian-American economic cooperation, as well as expansion of turnover of products and services between two countries.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Karen Chshmaritian, Minister of Economy of RA, while the u.S. delegation was led by Elizabeth Hafner, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.

The Council on Trade and Investment included a high-level U.S. delegation from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of State and the trade representative’s office. The meeting was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia H.E. Mr. Richard Mills.

From the Armenian side the meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Economy Garegin Melkonyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arayik Petrosyan, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Finance, Agriculture, Development Foundation of Armenia, Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia (AmCham) and other interested institutions.

Addressing the meeting, Armenian Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritian said: “Armenia is ready to become a center of interests for international business community, adding traditional Armenian hospitality to the favorable conditions for business activities. In this context I would propose to consider the opportunities to establish headquarters of international companies in Armenia, especially considering, that the U.S. investors have already appreciated the opportunities of Armenia, particularly in the spheres of tourism, information and high technologies, consulting”.

The perspectives and opportunities of the growth of mutual trade and investment between Republic of Armenia and the United States were discussed. On the agenda were discussions on intellectual property rights, customs clearances, technical barriers to trade, sanitary measures for agriculture, investment promotion efforts, private sector engagement, government procurement, WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and environmental and labor issues.

“By identifying and addressing these technical issues, we will deepen the trade relationship between the U.S. and Armenia,” said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills.

In addition to the bilateral meeting, a roundtable discussion was held with interested private sector stakeholders. This was the first such meeting, with plans to continue them annually.

“Business leaders and the private sector play an important role in policy and regulatory decision-making,” Ambassador Mills said. “This roundtable discussion helped provide an opportunity for stakeholders to consult on the on-going trade discussions.”

A joint action plan outlining further steps for promoting mutual trade and investment, as well as expanding areas of cooperation is expected to be adopted at the outcome of the meeting.

The Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian expressed confidence that “Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United States of America creates new opportunities for promotion of investment and trade between two countries, expanding existing areas of cooperation, identifying new areas of cooperation”.

From artistic renderings of the splendor of the Armenian countryside to the stark beauty of ancient fortresses, heritage sites and cultural treasures hold deep meaning for the Armenian people.
On November 9, 2015, U.S. Ambassador to Armenian Richard Mills, Jr. had the opportunity to visit important pieces of Armenian cultural heritage in Gyumri and Dashtadem, where he unveiled two of the latest projects funded by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

“We are all connected by our shared history, our shared human story. By understanding and respecting Armenian history, we can celebrate our present connections and build our common future,” Ambassador Mills said.

This year, work is being completed on three major projects selected by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP): the renovation of Rafayel Atoyan’s “On the Way to the Watermill” mural, the excavation and restoration of the Dashtadem Fortress complex, and work to safeguard significant archeological finds in the Areni Cave. In total, the AFCP provided almost $200,000 for all three projects.

“It has been more than a year of painstaking, detailed restoration work at all three sites. Now the Armenian people will see the benefit of this investment,” said Ambassador Mills as he unveiled the Atoyan mural and opened the Dashtadem complex. The work at Areni Cave will be unveiled at a later date.

The public presentation of these AFCP sites coincides with Ambassador Mills’ month-long focus on rural development. By preserving such sites, he said, tourists will be more likely to visit areas outside of Yerevan and help build a more diverse rural economy.

“There are so many great examples of cultural and historical heritage in rural Armenia. By working with our Armenian partners to preserve these sites and this mural, we are helping to promote tourism in the regions, which will boost economic development,” Ambassador Mills emphasized.

“ON THE WAY TO THE WATERMILL”

Rafayel Atoyan’s “On the Way to the Watermill” was in danger of disintegration, as the abandoned building was slowly crumbling around it. Now, thanks to the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, it has a new home in Gyumri’s Youth Palace.

The painstaking restoration and relocation of the mural was conducted by the Minas Avetisyan Cultural Foundation, led by Arman Avetisyan, with the participation of Fabrizio Iacopini, a renowned expert from the Restoration Institute in Florence, Italy.

During the unveiling, Ambassador Mills announced that the preservation proposal for another mural, Hakob Hakobyan’s “In the Mountains/Milkmen,” won funding in this year’s highly competitive AFCP selection process. When complete, that mural will find a new home in Gyumri’s Achemyan Drama Theater.

“I look forward to returning once work on that mural is complete,” Ambassador Mills said. “Gyumri has such a unique character and flavor, and I think these two artists truly capture what makes this corner of Armenia unique.”

DASHTADEM

After unveiling the Atoyan mural in Gyumri, Ambassador Mills traveled to the Dashtadem fortress complex. One of the largest medieval fortresses in the Caucasus, the site has great historical and architectural significance. It is the home to the 7^th century Saint Sargis Church, the 12^th century Khan Palace, and 9^th century Christian gravestones.

The U.S. Embassy partnered with the Government of Armenia, the Ministry of Culture, and the AMAP Human Development NGO to make the Dashtadem preservation project a reality.  Thanks to this project, the compound was first cleared of rubbish and the remnants of modern structures, allowing for excavation work on the inner citadel and the surrounding wall. 35 meters of the outlines and foundations of the medieval defensive walls have been uncovered, including two semicircular towers. The excavations also uncovered remnants of late medieval dwellings and items used in commerce, such as ovens.

“Armenian history is rich and long. It is also multi-layered, as different cultural eras came into being, intermingled, and declined,” said Ambassador Mills said. “Preserving this Fortress will help future generations understand the story of how the modern Armenian people came to be.”

Recognizing that celebrating our shared cultural heritage is a way to bring countries and peoples together, the U.S. State Department established the U.S. Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) in 2000. Through the fund, the U.S. State Department each year provides financing for a number of projects around the globe that protect unique cultural heritage sites.

The U.S. Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation has been providing support for Armenian cultural sites since 2005, funding projects such as the mapping and cataloging of items at the Noratus medieval cemetery and its collection of khachkars, preservation of a medieval masonry bridge in the Garni Gorge, and documentation of traditional Armenian music and dance.

Late- night host Conan O’Brien will accompany First Lady Michelle Obama on a trip to Qatar next week as part of a series of specials he is putting together for TBS, the cable network that airs his regular program, “Cona,” reports.

The comedian will join Mrs.  Obama next week on a trip to visit U.S. military personnel stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. He is expected to entertain the troops with a show while the First Lady highlights Joining Forces, an initiative that supports service members, veterans and their families. As with his other recent excursions abroad, O’Brien’s trip to Qatar with the First Lady will be taped to appear as part of an episode of “Conan” airing later this year.

O’Brien recently journeyed to Armenia with his assistant for a

This will mark the second time O’Brien has travelled abroad to perform for the men and women of the United States military. In May 2003, O’Brien visited Kuwait and Bahrain on a USO tour. It will also mark his fourth adventure this year. In addition to Armenia, O’Brien has traveled to the annual Comic-Con in San Diego and to Cuba.

Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the escalation of tensions in the Karabakh conflict zone, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at the 31st Ministerial Conference of the International Organization of La Francophonie. He informed the participants about the ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan, which claimed a number of human lives.

Minister Nalbandian said Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the escalation of the situation, and stressed it’s proven by Baku’s refusal to accept the Minsk Group proposals on the settlement of the conflict, the frequency of deliberate military provocations.

The Minister added that by turning down the Minsk Group offer to create mechanisms for investigating border incidents, Azerbaijan creates obstacles for the efforts of the international community towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The Armenian Minister reminded that at the 15^th Summit of la Francophonie the heads of state and government of the member states expressed their unequivocal support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group targeted at the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov (Russia), Jmes Warlick (USA) and Pierre Andrieu (France), and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the current concerns, namely the escalation of tension as a result of recent ceasefire violations.