Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

THE FRESNO BEE: IN UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NKR WILL ASSERT ITS NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY

17:57 01/04/2015 >> SOCIETY

US Fresno County Supervisor Andreas Borgeas will serve as a political
observer of upcoming national elections in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, The Fresno Bee reports.

“In the face of opposition from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the
Armenian-populated Nagorno Karabakh is holding elections to assert
their national independence and sovereignty,” the article reads. It
is also noted that Borgeas will be gone from April 25 to May 5. Two
more representatives from the US, Mexico, Argentina and Canada are
among those invited. They will assess Nagorno Karabakh’s election
process by international election standards.

According to the article, in a formal invitation letter, Ashot Ghulyan,
chairman of the national assembly, said the parliamentary elections
May 3 represent the sixth time since Nagorno Karabakh’s declaration
of independence that residents will exercise their right to vote.

“We see the upcoming elections as yet another opportunity to reaffirm
the adherence of Nagorno Karabakh people to universal freedoms and
liberties and therefore attach great importance to international
election observation mission,” Ghulyan wrote.

It is highlighted in the article that the election comes on the heels
of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Borgeas stressed that
this circumstance means a lot. Between the Turks in the west and
Azerbaijanis in the east, Armenians are still precariously situated.

On April 23, the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County passed a
resolution officially recognizing the Nagorno Karabakh Republic – a
region historically and ethnically Armenian situated between Armenia
and Azerbaijan – and also called upon the California Legislature,
Congress and the US President to grant official recognition. The
resolution also called on Congress and the US President to officially
recognize the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915, taking up
the commitment to fairly presenting the fact to the decedents.

On 27 August, 2014, California State Senate by an overwhelming majority
of votes passed the resolution AJR 32, encouraging Artsakh’s (Nagorno
Karabakh) continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent
nation and formally calling upon the President and Congress of
the United States to support the self-determination and democratic
independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Thus the State of
California joined Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine and Louisiana
in adopting legislation which supports the independence of Artsakh.

Related:

Fresno County passes resolution recognizing independence of Nagorno
Karabakh Republic

From: Baghdasarian

HISTORIAN: AS MANY AS 27,000 ARMENIAN CULTURE MONUMENTS DEMOLISHED IN NAKHIJEVAN IN 1998-2006

by David Stepanyan

Wednesday, April 1, 13:49

As many as 27,000 Armenian culture monuments were demolished in
Nakhijevan in 1998-2006, Argam Ayvazyan, Armenian historian and expert
in cultural studies, has told ArmInfo.

“It is noteworthy that before 1998 the process of demolition of
Armenian churches, chapels, khachkars and other cultural and historical
monuments was going on relatively slowly. Nearly 30 monuments were
destroyed in the Nakhijevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
during the Soviet years,” he says.

Ayvazyan points out that during the years of the Karabakh war, not
a single monument of culture was demolished in Nakhijevan up to the
year 1998. The process intensified starting from 1998. “The latest
act of that barbaric policy was the demolition of the khachkars
(cross-stones) in the Old Jugha cemetery in 2005- 2006”, he says.

An honored man of culture of Armenia, Argam A. Ayvazyan is author of
200 works. He has studied the historical monuments of Nakhijevan for
45 years.

From: Baghdasarian

UNEMPLOYMENT IN ARMENIA REACHES 17.6% IN 2014

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. Unemployment rate in Armenia rose 1.4
percentage points in 2014, compared with the previous year, to 17.6%,
the National Statistical Service reports referring to the preliminary
figures.

According to the report, unemployment in cities was recorded at 24.7%
in 2014 against 23.4% in 2013 and in rural areas 6.7% against 6%
respectively.

The number of economically active people in Armenia was 1,375,400,
of which 1,133,700 employed and 241,700 unemployed.

The number of economically not active people was 804,200 in 2014
against 800,700 in 2013.

The country’s human resources were 2,179,600 people in 2014 (0.4%
decline). —0—–

From: Baghdasarian

TURQUIE : DES REFORMES DRACONIENNES POUR LA REPRESSION POLICIERE

Publie le : 01-04-2015

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous invite
a lire cette information publiee sur le site d’Amnesty International
le 30 mars 2015.

Amnesty International

Turquie. Des reformes draconiennes octroient des pouvoirs etendus a
la police pour reprimer l’opposition

[30/03/2015]

Une serie de reformes en matière de securite, inscrites dans un projet
de loi adopte par le Parlement turc vendredi 27 mars, accorderaient
aux forces de police du pays de nouveaux pouvoirs etendus et dangereux
les habilitant a incarcerer des personnes et a utiliser des armes a
feu afin de reprimer la contestation, a declare Amnesty International.

L’organisation redoute que ce projet ne banalise le recours deja
très repandu aux arrestations arbitraires lors des manifestations
et ne favorise de nouvelles violations des droits humains, notamment
des enquetes judiciaires motivees par des considerations politiques,
et des atteintes au droit a la vie.

>,
generalement appelee >, a ete
soumise au Parlement le 17 fevrier et a suscite des debats intenses.

Amnesty International a declare que les dispositions de ce texte
relatives au recours a la force par la police va a l’encontre des
normes internationales en matière de droits humains. Aux termes des
Principes de base sur le recours a la force et l’utilisation des armes
a feu par les responsables de l’application des lois, l’utilisation
d’armes letales ne saurait etre justifie que pour defendre des tiers
contre une menace imminente de mort ou de blessure grave, et seulement
si l’emploi d’autres moyens a letalite reduite a echoue.

From: Baghdasarian

PUTIN TO TAKE PART IN EVENTS IN MEMORY OF 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN YEREVAN – RUSSIAN LAWMAKER

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 30, 2015 Monday 07:38 PM GMT+4

YEREVAN March 30.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Armenia to take part in
memory events on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, visiting speaker of the Russian State Duma lower parliament
house Sergei Naryshkin said on Monday

“A fresh impetus to our contacts will be given by a forthcoming visit
to Armenia by Vladimir Putin, who will take part in events dedicated
to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire,” Naryshkin said at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart
Galust Saakyan.

Naryshkin said that the Russian State Duma will also send its
representatives to the memory events in Yerevan. Apart from that,
he said, the Duma will pass a document to convey its attitude towards
the Armenian Massacre.

Earlier, Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the
date of Putin’s visit was being coordinated. “Indeed, such visit is
on the agenda,” he told journalists.

Events in memory of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire
will be held in Yerevan on April 22-24. Armenia’s leaders have
invited heads of state and governments and delegations from dozens
of countries.

From: Baghdasarian

FEAR AMONG TURKEY’S ARMENIANS, AMID ANGER AT GERMANY OVER ATROCITIES

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
March 31, 2015 Tuesday 12:05 PM EST

By Can Merey, dpa

They were sent on death marches into the desert, beaten to death or
shot: 100 years ago, Turkey’s atrocities against the Armenians began.

Some descendants of the survivors are now living in Turkey in fear,
but they are also angry – and want Germany to apologize for its role.

Diyarbakir, Turkey (dpa) – Hardly any of his ancestors survived the
massacre of the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire a century ago.

Gafur Turkay’s grandfather was one of the lucky few.

The grandson, now 50 years old, sits in the courtyard of St Giragos
Armenian Church in the south-east Turkish city of Diyarbakir, now a
Kurdish stronghold, in the spring sunshine.

When asked what life is like for the descendants of the massacre’s
survivors, he says: “If you consider that the word ‘Armenian’ is
still used as an insult, you can imagine how hard it is.”

Turkay alludes to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said during
his election campaign in August that although he is a Turk, he was
often called a Georgian as an insult, or “even uglier things” like
an Armenian.

Turkay harbours a barely concealed grudge, aimed also at Germany.

He is the chairman of the local foundation for the church, which is
the largest Armenian place of worship in the Middle East, but which
was a ruin until it was restored in 2010 with donations from Armenians
in Turkey and in the diaspora.

St Giragos Church, which German soldiers used as a barracks during
World War I, is shining with renewed splendour, although there are
very few services held there as the Armenian community in Diyarbakir
numbers a mere handful of believers.

On the most important religious days, a priest flies in from Istanbul,
where there are an estimated 60,000 Armenians, making it the largest
community in Turkey.

Diyarbakir was an Armenian stronghold until the expulsions during
World War I. “At the beginning of the 20th century, 60 per cent of
the population was Christian,” Turkay says.

“Three groups survived the genocide: children, pretty girls and master
craftsmen.” Turkay’s grandfather belonged to the first group.

Nearly all the survivors converted to Islam either because they were
forced to or because they hoped it would offer them protection.

The grandfather was raised as a Muslim by a Kurdish family, and even
Turkay’s father went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Turkay was himself
raised as a Muslim, but he says he always knew of his Armenian
background.

Five years ago, he returned to his roots, and was even baptized.

An increasing number of Turkish Armenians are acknowledging their
background, but very few are brave enough to turn their backs on Islam.

“Some are ashamed,” Turkay says. “They grew up as Muslims.” Added
to the fact that Armenians have been “murdered and repressed” for a
hundred years it is not surprising that “they are really afraid.”

In 2004, just one single married couple in Diyarbakir admitted to
the fact that they were Armenian. Today there are between 300 and
400 people who are willing to do so, according to the Kurdish former
mayor of Diyarbakir old city, Abdullah Demirbas.

The majority have remained Muslim, he says, adding that the real figure
for the number of people with Armenian roots must be much, much higher.

Ergun Ayik, the chairman of the Armenian Church Foundation living
in Istanbul, said that only 10 or 20 people had been baptized in
Diyarbakir, but he said that the reconstruction of the local church
had encouraged people to acknowledge their Armenian roots.

“But many remain Muslim. They have families, they have a life. It is
very difficult for them,” Ayik says.

Armenians in Turkey are still very cautious about revealing their
background to their fellow citizens, Ayik says. “If it is not
necessary, we don’t say it.”

Demirbas, who is a candidate in June’s parliamentary elections for
the pro-Kurdish party HDP, supported the reconstruction of the church
when he was mayor.

His work for the Armenians and other minorities caused him a lot of
trouble with the Turkish state, which to this day does not recognize
any genocide against the Armenians, nor does Germany, Demirbas says.

“For me, it was genocide and a crime against humanity,” he says. “I
have personally apologized for it.”

Turkay thinks the issue of classifying the atrocities of a century ago,
when Armenians say 1.5 million people were killed, is unreasonable.

“We shouldn’t even be discussing it,” he says, visibly angered. “Even
my grandmother said that the cows in the field know it was genocide.”

The Germans, whose empire was allied with the Ottomans in World War I,
are just as responsible for it as the Turks, he says.

“The Germans bear the responsibility for every drop of Armenian blood,”
Turkay says. “In my opinion, the Armenians have the right to hate the
Germans for the next 100 years. If they hadn’t supported the Ottoman
Empire, it would all not have happened.”

Ayik puts it a little more diplomatically, saying that he does not
care if the German government recognizes the massacre of his people
as genocide. “An apology would be enough.”

From: Baghdasarian

CONTAMINATED CHICKEN SOLD IN MAJOR FOOD STORES IN ARMENIA

00:31, April 1, 2015

Marine Madatyan

Despite tests in 2013 showing excessive hormones in imported chicken,
government meat inspectors in Armenia appear to inadequately test
meat coming into the country.

In early 2013, Arm, the State Service for Food Safety (SSFS) of the
Ministry of Agriculture found that chickens sold under the Sadia
and Frangosul brand names contained several thousand times the legal
limit of the male hormone testosterone.

The chickens were exported to Armenia by the Brazilian companies BRF
S.A. (formerly BRF-Brasil Foods S.A.) and Doux Frangosul S.A. Agro
Avicola Industrial. When the meat was tested for bacteria, antibiotics
and hormones that February, the Armenian testing firm Standard Dialog
Ltd. found the massive amounts of testosterone.

Samples were taken from the Komitas Street branch of the Yerevan City
supermarket chain, which is owned by Aleks Grig Ltd. Aleks Grig is
closely connected to two members of the Armenian National Assembly.

Mher Gharibyan, the sole shareholder of Aleks Grig, is married to the
sister of Samvel Aleksanyan, a deputy in the assembly. Gharibyan is
also the father-in-law of another deputy, Koryun Nahapetyan.

According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission website,
BRF is the world’s largest poultry exporter. It was formed in 2009
from an association agreement between Perdigao S.A. and its main
competitor, Sadia.

>From 2008 to 2012, Armenia imported Brazilian chicken both from Brazil
itself and via 10 other countries. According to figures compiled
by Armenia’s State Revenue Committee, in 2012 most of the Brazilian
chicken (6,551 of 6,658 tons) came from Brazil; another 25 tons was
imported from Georgia and 26 tons from Holland; and the rest from
other countries.

Aleks Grig imports frozen poultry packed by BRF under the Perdigao
and Sadia brands, which are sold through the Yerevan City chain of
supermarkets. Tests revealed no problems with the Perdigao brand
chicken.

After testosterone was found in the Sadia and Frangosul chicken,
reporters for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
(OCCRP) sent several inquiries to Sadia and its parent company,
BRF, asking how the hormone wound up in the chickens and whether
future imports would be safe. Sadia did not respond; Frangosul was
not contacted.

What happened in the months after the testosterone discovery is
puzzling.

Armenia continued to import Brazilian chicken in both 2013 and 2014.

Hovhannes Mkrktchyan, who heads the SSFS livestock unit, says imported
meat must undergo two tests: bacterial tests, performed by the SSFS,
and hormonal tests, done by the testing company Standard Dialog.

Shipments of chicken arrived in 2013 on March 21, May 5, June 21
and Aug. 20. Despite the findings in February, the Standard Dialog
company tested this chicken for hormones–but not for testosterone.

Mkrktchyan says an SSFS inspector at the border decides what tests a
specific shipment should undergo. He said he could not say why these
four batches were not tested for testosterone.

In September, four more shipments of chicken arrived. Three were tested
for testosterone but none was found; the fourth was not tested for
hormones. Mkrktchyan again said the decision was made at the border
and he could not say why.

He did, however, explain that testing costs are paid by the importer,
and that the amount and extent of testing depends less on the
professional judgment of the border inspector and more on the amount
paid by the importer to the SSFS.

In 2014, tests were conducted on four shipments of Brazilian chicken,
which arrived on Jan. 21, Feb. 20, May 29 and Sept. 17. The January
shipment passed all tests. The February and May shipments were not
tested for testosterone. The September shipment contained low levels
of testosterone, safely below the legal limit.

According to Armenian law, if the documentation accompanying imports
fulfills domestic legal requirements, the produce is not subject to
laboratory inspection.

Aleks Grig did receive a certificate of safety from the Brazilian
Ministry of Agriculture in 2013, two months after the initial
testosterone was detected. The certificate, for 26 additional tons of
chicken, was signed by Rogeria de Carvalho, a senior expert with the
Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture who deals with food safety matters.

Read more

From: Baghdasarian

LOCAL ARMENIANS TO MARK GENOCIDE’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Asbury Park Press, NJ
March 30 2015

by Dan Radel

LONG BRANCH – Silva Terjanian has a story about the Armenian Genocide.

The chairwoman of the Women’s Guild of St. Stepanos Armenian Church,
Terjanian recalls how her grandparents lost their parents when the
Turkish government began the attempted extermination of the Armenian
people during World War I.

“They were able to escape when they were little but unfortunately they
lost their parents,” said Terjanian, taking a break from preparing
food for the church’s Easter bake sale. “It is very depressing to me,
I still get emotional about it.”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the genocide in which, experts
estimate 1.5 million people died. Members of St. Stepanos Church,
located in Long Branch, will participate in several commemorations
of the tragedy.

“Today at least we are able to talk about it. We are the voice of
these people who lost their lives,” Terjanian said.

The Turkish government however, has not spoken about it, she explained:
“Still to this day they deny it.”

On April 12 the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide
Education at Brookdale Community College will unveil the book,
“Hundred-Year Legacey of Courage: Celebrating the Lives of Armenian
Genocide Survivors in Our Community.”

There are more than 50 personal accounts of the genocide from the
local Armenian community in the book, including Terjanian’s.

On April 24 St. Stepanos will hold a flag raising, followed by a talk
“Our 100th April 24,” followed by a prayer service and commemorative
classical concert. April 24 is the date the genocide began.

“That is when the main massacre began. That’s when they started
taking our people out of Istanbul to different places and they never
returned,” said Terjanian.

The Republic of Armenia has made the forget-me-not flower the official
emblem of the worldwide observance of the centennial year.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 31, 2015
_________________

A 90th Birthday Surprise for Opera Legend Lucine Amara

By Florence Avakian

>From the moment legendary opera diva Lucine Amara walked in to her surprise
90th birthday party, to the last spirited and musical tributes, the event
was a joyous and glittering affair.

Taking place on Monday evening March 2, at the Diocesan Center in New York,
close to 100 invited friends, colleagues and admirers had come-from Florida,
Delaware, upstate New York and other faraway locations-to honor the
internationally acclaimed singer, who has performed in 882 productions at
the famed Metropolitan Opera in New York during 41 years, along with 57
radio broadcasts, and many recordings to her credit.

And in the last 20 years, Lucine has been the Artistic Director and guiding
light of the Verismo Opera in Fort Lee, N.J., helping and inspiring young
budding artists in their careers.

On the day of her birthday, March 1, New Jersey’s Bergen Record published a
frontpage profile of her in its Better Living section, focusing on why she
was not only the leading star of countless productions at the Metropolitan
Opera, but also the Met’s “reliable pinch-hitter” when there was a
cancellation. Notable was the time when with a 102 fever, Lucine had to be
roused from a sickbed to play in Die Meistersinger because no one else could
sing it. She was the only artist who could step in and sing any role.

As Lucine stepped out of the elevator on March 2, with her daughter, singer
Evelyn La Quaif, who had planned and organized the surprise tribute, her
warm smile turned to utter disbelief, as the crowd dressed in their tuxedos
and gowns sang a rousing “Happy Birthday” to her. “I’m glad Evelyn told me
to wear my lashes”, she gushed happily in her typically ebullient manner, as
she wiped away tears. “This is the biggest surprise of my life.”

On Monday evening, the banquet hall had been transformed into a gala setting
with blown up framed photos of her with the Met’s celebrated former general
manager Sir Rudolph Bing, Charles Aznavour, Anita Darian, and several fellow
performers. Running on a screen throughout the evening were stills of her
performances from the time she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in November
1950. And hanging from the ceiling were huge balloons depicting champagne
glasses and musical instruments. The dinner tables were festooned with large
white flower bouquets.

Sitting with Lucine and her daughter at the head table, topped with a
multi-layered birthday cake decorated with the titles of some of the many
operatic leads she had sung, were three of her well known fellow Met
performers, including Rosalind Elias, Elaine Malbin, and Eleanor Ross.

Among other dignitaries present were Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, St.
Vartan Cathedral Dean the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, and noted
Armenian-American benefactor and supporter of the arts Ardemis Nazarian who
had quietly made a large donation to the Verismo Opera Co. as a birthday
gift to the honoree. Also present were film star Marni Nixon, Dr. Robert
Campbell, makeup artist Victor Caligari, and Anthony Morss, conductor of the
Verismo Opera Company. Met luminary Martina Arroyo was among many who had
sent congratulatory messages.

Opening the program, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian read a special message from the
Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian “to the Great Lucine Amara” on
her 90th birthday, calling her “a distinguished artist, humanitarian, and an
exemplary daughter of the Armenian Church” He extolled her constant presence
and devotion which he said has been “a jewel in the crown” of this center.
“She has been deeply involved in the cathedral since the very beginning,
being instrumental in determining the way it looks and functions. As a
community, we all felt a part of her great artistic achievements. She is
another precious gift of our community to the wider world, and to
posterity.”

The evening then became a spontaneous humorous repartee between the honoree
and the guests, with Lucine piping in with personal stories. “On my first
visit to Armenia, they asked me to sing the lead roles in both Aida and Il
Trovatore at the Yerevan Opera House because they thought I was Italian due
to my name, Amara,” she remembered.

“That was changed when I found out that Trovatore would be sung in Armenian.
They then asked me to do two Aidas, instead of Trovatore. Was I relieved”,
she declared, as the crowd roared with laughter. And with the Opera House
packed to bursting including the aisles, she asked where the fire exits
were. “There are no fire exits tonight,” came the manager’s reply.

Director of the Verismo Opera Gianni Simone, who had come to America from
Italy in 1971, recalled that as a lover of classical music, and especially
of two of his favorite operas, Cavalleria and Pagliacci, he first heard
Lucine. “She belongs to the era of the Golden Age of Singing, the era of
mostri sacri (sacred monsters). These are the artists who have greatly
impacted the world of Grand Opera.”

Referring to some of the Met artists who were “busy in the gossip pages”, he
said Lucine, on the other hand, “was on stage creating some of the most
incredible roles.” He pointed out a review of one of Lucine’s eight Aida
performances in Rome’s Baths of Caracalla on July 1, 1954, which wrote of
Egypt’s former King Fuad II “crying profusely. He was so profoundly moved
that he could no longer stay for the rest of the performance.”

Gianni Simone also revealed that on April 30, Lucine will be honored with
the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the State of New Jersey. “Thank you
Lucine for all the great performances you have given us over the years, and
may the Lord reward you for all the joy and passion you have shared with
us,” he said to loud applause.

The evening also became one of musical delights as young talents of the
Verismo Opera Company, displaying the inspiring spirit of the honoree, rose
and shared operatic solos, with the guests spontaneously joining in the
choruses with joyous singing.

With the audience cheering her on, Lucine Amara then rose and graciously
sang with great emotion, “Never Forget Me”, “When I Have Sung My Songs for
You,” “Vienna My City of Dreams”, and “O Mio Bambino”, bringing many to
tears, and garnering a standing ovation lasting several minutes. “I hope I
can sing this well when I’m a 100,” she quipped to more thunderous cheering.

Lucine’s daughter Evelyn who was in tears during Lucine’s performance,
announced that the Daughters of Vartan, in San Diego, last year, had named
Lucine Amara as the first recipient of their “Woman of the Year Award”. She
added, “those who follow will have a hard act to follow.”

Among the many guests who were present for this gala, and have known and
admired Lucine Amara for decades, was longtime television columnist for The
New York Daily News, George Maksian. In 1993, he staged a performance called
“Live at the Diocese”, in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the
Armenian Diocese, featuring several outstanding Armenian-American artists,
including Lucine Amara.

Following this birthday celebration, he commented that the piece de
resistance was the front page tribute to her in New Jersey’s Bergen Record
on the day of her birthday. “During this birthday party, I never saw Lucine
looking so happy,” he said. “The highlight was her singing which she so
graciously shared. She couldn’t stop singing which thrilled the audience.
She had a ball, and so did we all.”

###

From: Baghdasarian

SARGSYAN, NARYSHKIN COMMEND ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS

NEWS | 31.03.15 | 10:48

Photo:

Armenian-Russian relations were praised on Monday as Yerevan hosted
Chairman of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin.

President Serzh Sargsyan received Naryshkin that day, pointing out that
due to the long-term activities of the intergovernmental commission
on cooperation between the Armenian and Russian parliament, relations
between Armenia and Russia have become “stable and dynamic”.

According to the presidential press service, during their meeting
Sargsyan and Naryshkin discussed a broad range of issues concerning
the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership, the agenda of bilateral
relations, including all areas of cooperation.

“The parties highlighted importance of inter-parliamentary relations
for the strengthening of allied cooperation between Armenia and
Russia,” a report of the presidential press office said.

“President Sargsyan and State Duma Speaker Naryshkin touched upon the
development of the Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations in
the context of the new integration processes.

They emphasized that by joining the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia
and Russia raised mutually beneficial partnership to a new level, and
the countries must do everything to make this integration association
to be fully used for the benefit of the two friendly nations,” it said.

On the first day of his two-day visit to Armenia the Russian State
Duma speaker Naryshkin also met with his Armenian counterpart Galust
Sahakyan. He is also due to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan and attend a conference dedicated to the approaching 70th
anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

From: Baghdasarian