Author: Babken Chilingarian

Junior Eurovision: Armenia: Karina Ignatyan releases video for “Colours Of Your Dream”

Babken Chilingarian
ESCXTRA
Nov 2 2019
Armenia: Karina Ignatyan releases video for “Colours Of Your Dream”

Costa Christou


Back in June, ARMTV – the Armenian national broadcaster – launched a call for song for their national final. Depi Mankakan Evratesil was used to select their entrant for Junior Eurovision. Having won the selection with “Colours Of Your Dream”, we now have an official music video for the song.

Having emerged triumphant from the 10-song selection back in September, we now have the official video for Karina’s Junior Eurovision entry. The styling and ethereal colour scheme is very much in tune with her staging from Depi Mankakan Evratesil.

You can watch the clip below: [please fo to the link below]

Junior Eurovision 2019

This year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Gliwice Arena, Poland, on the 24th November 2019. Excitingly, it marks the first time Poland will host a music-based Eurovision event! Last year, Roksana Węgiel brought Poland its first Eurovision-adjacent win with “Anyone I Want To Be”. Roksana has since been announced to be hosting the contest, along with Ida Nowakowska and Aleksander Sikora.

The following nineteen countries have confirmed their participation, and all have now revealed their entries! However, Ireland is yet to reveal the revamp of its entry. 

  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Belarus
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Kazakhstan
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Spain
  • Ukraine
  • Wales

Armenia debuted at the Junior Eurovision in 2007, when the contest was hosted in Amsterdam. That year, they came second with Arevik’s “Erazanq”, scoring 136 points. Since then, Armenia have participated in every edition of the contest since and are one of the most successful countries in the contest.. 

In 12 participations, Armenia have yet to miss the top 10. To date, the country has two third-place finishes (2012 and 2014) and four second-place finishes (2007, 2009, 2015 and 2016). They also won the contest in 2010 with Vladimir Arzumanyan’s “Mama”, achieving 120 points.

Last year, Armenia were represented with Levon Galstyan, who won Depi Mankakan Evratesil with “L.E.V.O.N”. In Minsk, he finished ninth out of 20 participants, with 125 points. Although this was still a top 10 finish, this was the country’s lowest placing to date.


The holding of the International Biology Olympiad in Armenia in 2022 will help equip local schools with high-tech laboratories

Babken Chilingarian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 31 2019

ArmInfo.The holding of the International Subject Olympiad in Biology in Armenia in 2022 will help equip local schools with modern equipment. As Minister of  Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia  Arayik Harutyunyan said at a budget hearing in the parliament on  October 31, hundreds of laboratories will be acquired for the  competition to be transferred to school institutions.

Harutyunyan informed that in 2020 the budgetary financing of the  ministry will amount to 179.5 billion drams, of which 2.2 billion  drams will be allocated to support the apparatus, 145 billion drams  to the education sector, and 12.6 billion drams to science. Another  12.9 billion drams were used in the field of culture and 4 billion  drams will be used to develop sports. In general, budget financing of  the education sector will increase by 18.9 billion drams. Part of the  additional budget increase will be directed to a 10% increase in  teacher salaries. The Minister also said that the budget plans to  almost 2.5 times increase the payment of compensation for  transportation costs to teachers and students. This item of  expenditures in 2020 will be about 200 million drams.

He also reminded that due to the increase in tax collections, it was  possible to implement a program worth over 800 million drams, under  which engineering laboratories are being created in schools. It is  expected that these works will cover up to 50% of local schools.

The Office will continue to implement programs aimed at improving the  conditions in secondary schools.  Schools in 22 communities of the  country will be repaired. In the coming years, the number of  preschool educational institutions will also be increased. According  to Harutyunyan, in 2020 it is planned to overhaul 8 agricultural  colleges.

The Minister drew attention to the fact that investment programs  worth 2.5 billion drams were implemented this year. <We have  ready-made draft programs for 2020-2021, requiring financing in the  amount of 28 billion drams. If there are additional budget revenues  that can be directed to our sphere, we will be able to immediately  provide existing projects for implementation>, he said.

To recall, on July 10, at a closed meeting, the Armenian government  approved a medium-term spending program for 2020-2022. According to  the program, economic growth is projected to average 5% per annum.  Growth will mainly be driven by growth in services and industry. So,  in 2019, a 5.4% growth is forecasted, against the budgeted 4.9%, and  during 2020-2022. – 4.9%, 5% and 5.1%, respectively.

President Sarkissian extends condolences over death of painter Henry Elibekyan

Babken Chilingarian

President Sarkissian extends condolences over death of painter Henry Elibekyan

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 16:21,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian extended condolences over the death of famous painter, sculptor, Honorary Worker of Art of Armenia Henry Elibekyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

“The art of Henry Elibekyan, the son of the famous family of painters, contained a unique psychology and philosophy which was transformed into a color and an image, a picture and a sculpture by the impressive combination of imagination and effort. His work has found its permanent place in time and space”, the President said in his letter, offering condolences to the artist’s family.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Chile interested in imports of Armenian goods

Babken Chilingarian
ARKA, Armenia
Oct 11 2019
 
 
Chile interested in imports of Armenian goods
 
YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Armenia's Deputy Minister of Economy Varos Simonyan received Friday Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile for Economic Affairs  Rodrigo Yanez.
 
Simonyan said the visit was  a good opportunity to rethink the framework of bilateral economic relations. Yanez said the delegation comprised government officials and private sector representatives. According to him, cooperation between Armenia and Chile can be of great importance in the context of the fact that both countries serve as hubs for other large foreign markets.
 
He expressed interest in considering the possibility of importing Armenian goods to Chile. Yanez also said that the Chilean side is interested in identifying opportunities for cooperation with the EEU member countries.
 
Simonyan spoke about  free trade agreements between EEU and third countries. He also spoke at the request of the guests, about the framework of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union.
 
The parties discussed then the  planned visit of a Chilean delegation to Armenia in the near future to discuss the technical details of a cooperation framework and determine the areas where both countries can cooperate. -0-
 

Opportunities to deepen Armenia-Chile economic ties discussed in Yerevan

Babken Chilingarian

Opportunities to deepen Armenia-Chile economic ties discussed in Yerevan

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 14:02, 11 October, 2019

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian deputy minister of economy Varos Simonyan received Rodrigo Yáñez, Under – Secretary for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, the Armenian ministry told Armenress.

Deputy minister Varos Simonyan welcomed the official in Armenia and stated that this meeting is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the bilateral economic cooperation.

Rodrigo Yáñez informed that his delegation includes both state officials and private sector representatives. He noted that the cooperation of Chile and Armenia can be significant in the context that the two countries are a unique hub to other major foreign markets. He was interested in considering the opportunity to export Armenian goods to Chile, adding that his country is interested in revealing cooperation opportunities with the EAEU states.

Varos Simonyan provided information about the free trade agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union and the third countries. He also introduced the partnership framework with the EU, in particular within the frames of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

The officials discussed the upcoming visit of Chile’s delegation to Armenia.

Rodrigo Yáñez thanked the Armenian side for the readiness to effective cooperation.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




New weapons being designed for Armenia army

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 27 2019
New weapons being designed for Armenia army New weapons being designed for Armenia army

13:04, 27.09.2019
                  

Self-operating combat modules may one day replace real soldiers.

A company’s respective designs, including a self-operating combat module—a machine gun, were introduced within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) “Ararat-Anti-terror 2019” joint antiterrorism military exercises that were conducted in Armenia.

“It’s a fully self-operating combat module which itself seeks out targets, finds and transfers [them] to the operator from long distance,” Arman Khachatryan, the co-founder of this company, told reporters. “The decision is made by the operator.”

As per Khachatryan, their second such machine gun option rises from below the ground.

“It’s designed to be installed next to the trench,” he noted. “The cover opens, rises 40 centimeters, plays the role of an automatic soldier; this option is suitable when the target is already known.”

According to Arman Khachatryan, the third option is another machine gun which is still under development, and yet another development—upgrading of a zenith machine-gun device—is being designed for air defense forces.

Number of registered employees rises above 600 thousand for 1st time – Pashinyan

Babken Chilingarian

Number of registered employees rises above 600 thousand for 1st time – Pashinyan

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 19:12,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced at the National Assembly that the number of registered employees in Armenia rose above 600 thousand for the 1st time, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan announced, answering MP Tigran Urikhanyan's question.

''For the 1st time in the history of Armenia the number of registered employees rose above 600 thousand, and according to the recent data that number reached 604 thousand on July 31. Since May of the last year the number of officially registered employees rose by 63 thousand’’, Pashinyan said, adding that these are the numbers submitted by the employers to the State Revenue Committee.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Sanitek can’t pay salaries to its employees because of financial difficulties

Babken Chilingarian
ARKA, Armenia
Sept 11 2019

YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. Sanitek, waste management company operating in Yerevan, released yesterday a statement saying it faces a financial crisis and therefore paid no salaries for August to its employees. Responding to the city municipality's statement that it has transferred AMD 165.34 million to Sanitek for August, the latter said that the municipality had to transfer about AMD 430 million for August.  

As a rule, the municipality pays twice a month. According to Sanitek, the city authorities transferred AMD 141,831,000 in the first part of August, underpaying AMD 69,546,191 as fine, but transferred nothing for the second half of the month.

More than that – Sanitek says the municipality didn't accept the invoices and performance acts submitted by the company.

In its press release, Sanitek apologizes to its employees for the failure to pay their salaries.

For several months, residents of Yerevan have been complaining over the failure of Sanitek’s Armenian division to collect garbage throughout the city.

Earlier, Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan publicly expressed displeasure at the work of the Sanitek company, stressing that Yerevan residents will no longer tolerate its ineffective work.

In the spring of this year, Sanitek was twice fined for failing to fulfill its contractual obligations in the amount of 13 million drams (more than $26,800) and 26 million drams ($54,100).

Sanitek Armenia, the branch of Sanitek International Group –a multinational waste management company headquartered in Lebanon, was chosen by the Yerevan Municipality to handle sanitary cleaning and waste recycling of the capital city and until recently it was a monopolist in this business. ($1 – AMD 476.35). -0–

Sports: UEFA’s Aleksander Čeferin visits Armenia

Babken Chilingarian
UEFA.com
Sept 8 2019

Sunday 8 September 2019

The football relationship between UEFA and Armenia has been further reinforced by a visit to the country by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, which included talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has visited Armenia, where he held talks with the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and senior officials of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA).

Aleksander Čeferin and Nikol Pashinyan (Photo: Government of Armenia press office)©FFA

At a meeting also attended by the FFA President, Artur Vanetsyan, Mr Pashinyan gave warm praise to UEFA for its crucial contribution to strengthening football in Armenia through its HatTrick and UEFA GROW programmes. 

UEFA's HatTrick assistance programme to its 55 member associations has contributed over the years, among other things, to the building of a football academy and national team technical centre in Armenia, and has helped give impetus to the development of regional youth football infrastructures.

"HatTrick is not about any one competition or the bigger countries," Mr Čeferin said. "It is about developing football throughout our 55 countries."

The FFA is implementing a nationwide project to improve the country's footballing infrastructures. Among others, ten full-sized pitches have been built in different regions of Armenia. In addition, the building of artificial pitches is providing increased opportunities for young footballers to train throughout the year.

A grassroots event organised by the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA)©FFA

On the grassroots front, the association is striving for greater football participation, with the objective to get 80,000 children and adults involved in grassroots and amateur football. UEFA will also be assisting Armenia in its drive to develop women's football and futsal. 

As part of its UEFA GROW project aimed at helping the progress of Europe's national associations and maximising their potential, UEFA has worked closely with the FFA on drawing up an overall association strategic plan, as well as a new communications strategy.

"The Prime Minister highlighted the close and productive cooperation between UEFA and the Football Federation of Armenia for the benefit of the development of football in Armenia," a statement said.

Aleksander Čeferin presented Nikol Pashinyan with a UEFA pennant (Photo: Government of Armenia press office)©FFA

"Nikol Pashinyan appreciated UEFA's support for the development of football infrastructures in Armenia, noting that as a result, a range of projects aimed at popularising football are underway in our country.

"The Premier expressed confidence," the statement continued, "that the UEFA President's visit would foster partnership between the UEFA and the Football Federation of Armenia, including the construction of a new national stadium in our country."

Aleksander Čeferin praised the work being undertaken by the FFA to foster Armenian football at all levels. "The association is doing a great job," he said. "We have a friendly relationship, and I'm sure that football in Armenia will only go upwards.

The UEFA delegation visited a wine and brandy factory in Yerevan©FFA

"The cooperation of the Armenian Football Federation with UEFA is at a high level,” added Artur Vanetsyan. "We implement many joint projects, and we hope that in the coming years, this cooperation will become even closer."

"We have discussed important issues during the visit of the UEFA President," said FFA General Secretary Armen Melikbekyan, "such as the development of football in the regions of Armenia, the need for a bigger national stadium and the prospects for development of grassroots and youth football."

The Armenian FA has also proved itself to be an excellent organiser of a UEFA final tournament, staging the latest UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in the capital Yerevan in July.

Aleksander Čeferin said he hoped that the Under-19 event would leave a legacy for Armenia. "It's necessary to host competitions like this to promote football for the future," he explained.

Aleksander Čeferin was guest of honour at the wine and brandy factory©FFA

During his trip, the UEFA President attended Thursday's European Qualifier between Armenia and Italy in Yerevan, and visited a wine and brandy factory in the Armenian capital.