Author: Jirair Kafian

Government transfers 6,8% shares of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine to ANIF for management

Jirair Kafian

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 12:32, 24 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia transferred the management of 6,8% shares it holds at the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine to the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF).

The government holds ownership right for the shares and ANIF will manage it under fiduciary management.

“ANIF is a 100% state-owned commercial organization whose mandates include the effective representation of the state, as the owner, in assets of strategic importance for the state,” the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Bagrat Badalyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

PM Nikol Pashinyan reminded that back in 2021 the Government received from the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine 15% of shares as donation, and these 15% were given by the government to ANIF for management.

“Now in 2022, on March 24, we received another 6,8% in donation. Back then we accepted this donation by a confidential decision. Why? Because the donator had a request relating to their commercial affairs and asked for secrecy. Now, they don’t have the need for secrecy anymore and we are handing over these 6,8% shares to ANIF for management. After March 24 the Armenian government holds 21,875 percent shares, which is a very important development,” the PM said.

Paylan issues query to Turkish parliament over assassination plot

Jirair Kafian

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 13:13,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. The ethnic-Armenian Member of Parliament of Turkey Garo Paylan submitted a query to the presidency of the Turkish parliament regarding the 2016 assassination plot against him.

Questions include whether or not parliament has launched a probe into the plot, which lawmakers provided Mehmet Sinan Injei with access to parliament, among others.

Paylan earlier filed a report to the Ankara general prosecution regarding attorney Mehmet Injei’s claims that he plotted to kill Paylan back in 2016.

Safaryan: Opponents of Armenian-Russian friendship and alliance are trying to denigrate Armenia`s participation in the EAEU

Jirair Kafian
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 26 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. Eurasian economic integration is an important direction for Armenia's policy, which occupies one of the key places in the development of the Armenian  economy, and the country is obliged to more closely, deeply and  proactively follow the processes within the framework of the EAEU.

On August 26 at a press conference in Yerevan, presenting the seventh  economic study of the Eurasian Expert Club, Coordinator of the Club,  head of the Integration and Development NGO Aram Safaryan expressed a  similar opinion, regarding the Armenian economy in H1 2022 in the  context of the country's membership in the EAEU,.

In this vein, he stated that H1 2022 was an unprecedented year for  Armenia in terms of economic growth in the post-Soviet space.  "Economic activity in H1 2022 increased by 10.5%. This is a very  high, unexpected and surprising indicator. It was unexpected, since  the largest international financial organizations, such as, the World  Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for  Reconstruction and Development, the Eurasian Bank, forecasted much  more modest forecasts for the first half of the year at the end of  last year and at the beginning of the current year," Safaryan said,  recalling that at the beginning of the year the Armenian government  projected a possible economic growth of 7.5%, which was also expected  last year.

According to the expert, the economic indicators of Armenia are  supported by the dynamics of GDP, which increased by 8.5% compared to  the same period last year. "But we state that the growth, which was  mainly based on industry, construction and trade, gives rise not only  to a sense of satisfaction, but also causes paradoxes and  uncertainties," Safaryan noted.

At the same time, he stressed that the EAEU market is the most  favorable for the sale of Armenian finished products. Moreover,  according to him, the role of the Eurasian market in the context of  the last three years has been growing for Armenia from year to year,  with the exception of the pandemic one-year period.  "With proper  work and positioning itself, our country can reach even more  favorable indicators, expand economic contacts with the integration  Union, crossing the threshold of 30% by the end of the year," the  expert added. At the same time, Safaryan stated that there is a  specific situation when the unprecedented development and growth of  the economy gave rise to parallel processes, the most dramatic of  which is the growth of poverty.

"Yes, by the end of the year, the country will see some reduction in  the level of extreme poverty. But, at the same time, the World Bank  and rating agencies warn that, along with double-digit economic  growth in Armenia, the level of poverty will also rise significantly  by the end of the year. Thus, the poverty rate may reach 48% by the  end of the year, from 27% at the beginning of the year. This is a key  message to the Armenian authorities, the political field, public  activists, in particular the research community, by joining efforts  to try to mitigate the manifestations of these bad indicators as much  as possible," Safaryan said.

As a positive light, the expert noted that in the first half of the  year, compared to the same period last year, the volumes of exports  and imports in the direction of the EAEU increased. "Russia continues  to be the largest investor and economic partner of Armenia. The  Russian market is the largest for Armenian finished products. Russia  continues to be a country from which cheap gas is supplied to Armenia  and wheat is imported. The presence of Russian companies in Armenia  has increased many times, etc. Our trade and economic cooperation  with the Russian side is the largest contribution to ensuring and  strengthening the security of the Republic of Armenia," Safaryan  noted, emphasizing this is due to the fact that anti-Russian  propaganda has recently increased in the Armenian socio-political  field.

According to him, opponents of the Armenian-Russian friendship and  alliance are also trying to denigrate Armenia's membership in the  EAEU, falsifying reality and spreading the news that Yerevan was  forcibly thrown into the trap of the Eurasian Economic Union in  2013"We claim that this is not the case, moreover, we can confidently  state that the EAEU market is indispensable for the Armenian economy,  and the resources of this integration Union and the growth of trade  not only with Russia, but also with Belarus and Kazakhstan (which are  impressive) allow us to confidently notice that "this vector of  cooperation will continue to be the most important not only for our  trade and economic, but also political contacts and security issues,"  he concluded.

West-Iran nuclear deal affords opportunities for Armenia as well – Emma Begijanyan

Jirair Kafian
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 22 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo. The West-Iran nuclear deal affords opportunities for Armenia as well, as it will defuse tension between Tehran and Brussels in tandem with Washington, Emma  Begijanyan, an expert for the Armenian Institute of International and  Security Affairs (AIISA), said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

On August 18, Iran's authorities send their response to the EU's  proposals to revitalize the nuclear deal.  The content of the message  is a secret. The U.S. received Tehran's response to Brussel's  proposal to revitalize the Joint to Comprehensive Plan of Action  (JCPOA). 

The Iran International channel reported a list of concessions the  U.S. is allegedly ready to make, including removal of sanctions from  17 Iranian banks and immediate release of Iran's $7bln assets in  South Korea. 

"I think that the opportunities for Iranian economy could hardly be  overestimated. And removal of sanctions from Iran meets our interests  as well. The point is that Iran and Turkey are interdependent now.   And should the nuclear deal remain on paper, it will enable Ankara to  exert further pressure on Tehran, including over the so-called  'Zangezur corridor' via Armenia," she said. 

Recep Erdogan needs this corridor even more than Ilham Aliyev,  whereas this Turkish idea is thee redline for Tehran, which is now  sparing no effort to oppose it. And since the corridor is the redline  for Armenia, Yerevan must coordinate its actions with Tehran.

"The concurring interests of Armenia and Iran in opposing the  implementation of the Turkish-Azerbaijani plans leave Armenia and  Iran with no alternative but to cooperate. I think Yerevan too should  undertake initiative, as I am rather pessimistic about the prospects  of Western and Russian support to Armenia for thee simple reason  that, in contrast to Iran, it is not in their interests," Ms  Begijanyan said.

ECHR comments on the displacement of the population of Berdzor and Aghavno communities

Jirair Kafian

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 20:52,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS. On August 19 of this year, based on the request of the Republic of Armenia to apply an interim measure by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the protection of the rights of the civilian population of a number of settlements of the Artsakh Republic, the ECHR reaffirmed the interim measures applied on September 29, 2020 and further expanded on November 3 of the same year, stating that it remains in effect, ARMENPRESS reports the office of the representative of the Republic of Armenia on international legal matters informed.

"The ECHR requested the parties to refrain from actions that could lead to the violation of the rights of the civilian population protected by the Convention, including endangering their rights protected by Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the Convention," reads the statement.

The ECHR also recorded that the decision of September 29, 2020, which is still in force, is applicable to the actions referred to by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, that is, armed attacks on peaceful settlements, threats of displacement of the population of Berdzor and Aghavno communities.

Aug. 17 earthquake on Iran-Turkey border felt in Armenian towns

Jirair Kafian

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 10:52,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Two earthquakes measuring 3 or higher on the MSK scale were registered in the region from August 11 to 17, the Regional Service for Seismic Protection of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

One of the earthquakes – measuring 3-4 on the MSK scale – was recorded some 42km north-west from the town of Akhaltskha in Georgia on August 15.

On August 17, an MSK 4 earthquake was recorded 41km north-east from the town of Maku at the Iran-Turkey border zone, which was felt in the Armenian towns of Artashat and Ararat, as well as in the villages of Vosketap, Yeraskh and Surenavan at an intensity of 2-3 MSK.

No earthquakes measuring 2-3 or higher were recorded in Armenia or Artsakh in the past week.

CoE Secretary General sends condolence message to the Prime Minister of Armenia

Jirair Kafian

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 20:22,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, sent a condolence message to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the explosion in Yerevan's "Surmalu" shopping center, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. The message reads as follows,

“Dear Prime Minister,

It is with deep sadness that I learned about the tragic incident at Surmalu market in Yerevan, as a result of which many have lost their lives, have been injured or are still missing.

On behlaf of the Council of Europe, I would like to express our condolences to the families of the victims and to your authorities. We commend those who work valiantly to rescue possible survivors and send our sincere wishes for a prompt and rapid recovery to all those injured”.

Azerbaijani military controls 42km2 if Armenia’s territory – official

Jirair Kafian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – Aug 8 2022
August 6, 2022 – 12:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Azerbaijani military has been controlling about 42 square kilometers of the territory of Armenia since its invasion in May 2021, the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Defense has said, according to Sputnik Armenia.

"The total area occupied by the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces as a result of the incursion into the sovereign territory of Armenia since May 2021 is 41.78 square kilometers," the Ministry said.

At the end of May, however, the Armenian Foreign Ministry announced the occupation of more than 45 square kilometers of territory in the Sotk-Khoznavar region alone.

Azerbaijani MoD announces work at key heights in Karabakh

Jirair Kafian
Caucasian Knot
Aug 11 2022
Engineering work and road construction are underway on Mount Buzdukh and other heights that came under the control of Azerbaijan as a result of the “Retribution” operation, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan reports.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that following the results of the fighting on August 3, Azerbaijan occupied the Sarybaba height in the Shusha District and Gyrkhgyz height in the Khodjaly District. According to analysts, that gave Azerbaijan a tactical advantage. On August 6, Azerbaijan also announced the capture of the strategic height of Buzdukh (Buzukh).

The control over the Buzdukh height creates a springboard for new military operations in Karabakh, if such a need arises, Baku analysts say. “Today, the Azerbaijani army occupies dominant positions almost along the entire perimeter of Karabakh,” noted Telman Abilov, the head of the “Military Officers” NGO.

The control over the Gyrkhgyz height allows the Azerbaijani army strengthening the security of the city of Shusha and the Azerbaijani villages of the Shusha District when the forced migrants return there, expert Azad Isazade believes. The occupation of the heights of Sarybaba and Gyrkhgyz allowed Azerbaijan significantly strengthening control over the Lachin corridor, emphasizes Shakhin Gadjiev, an observer for the “Turan” agency.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 06:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:
Russian MFA rejects criticism of peacekeepers in Karabakh conflict zone, Azerbaijan announces completion of road bypassing Lachin, Wording of agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh gives rise to conflict escalation.

Source: Caucasian Knot
Источник:
© Кавказский Узел

Asbarez: Inspiring Professionals Lead Preparations for AUA’s 30th Anniversary

Jirair Kafian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

AUA's "Engineer the Future" campaign will focus on strengthening STEM skills


YEREVAN—In preparation for the American University of Armenia’s 30th anniversary celebration, the University’s Office of Development has recognized that it would necessitate a special group of experienced individuals to pull off the planning and orchestration of this milestone event.

Such an ambitious undertaking requires leaders to dedicate tremendous time and effort to steer the preparations and guide by example. For these significant roles, seasoned education professional Alice Petrossian and pharmacist Liza Bagamian were tapped to co-chair the 30th Anniversary Committee, complemented by a number of influential women from the Armenian community. The team has been working tirelessly to pull together essential resources, paying attention to every detail necessary to render the 30th anniversary celebration an unprecedented success. The members of the Anniversary Committee recognize that paying tribute to three decades of accomplishments by the University is a huge responsibility, which can be deemed successful upon the realization of the fundraising goal earmarked for the construction of the new Science & Engineering building. 

Alice Petrossian, Co-Chair of AUA’s 30th Anniversary Committee

The event, scheduled for September 10, at the private residence of co-chair Liza Bagamian and her husband Vahan Bagamian, will be meticulously curated, featuring special performances and two discussion panels including several influential Armenian-American diasporans who are leading the way in science and technology. The current and former presidents of the University will also join the discourse. 

AUA is truly fortunate to count on the support of so many visionary philanthropists who, understanding the power of an AUA education, have come forth to lay yet another brick into building the future of Armenia. The strength of the brick wall we build together is bound to withstand Armenia’s complex new challenges by way of producing AUA graduates who will deliver innovative solutions and discoveries to advance the country.

Generously volunteering to host the 30th anniversary celebration at her beautiful home in Hidden Hills, CA, Bagamian recounts how her family was first introduced to AUA. “On our family trip to Armenia four years ago, we toured AUA and met many members of this remarkably dedicated community — a community committed to achieving the highest level of excellence with ‘no upper limit.’ We were excited by what we learned about the University, including what it had accomplished over the past 30 years and the new aspirations it had for further advancement. We were impressed and wanted to contribute, especially considering that education has always been the primary focus for our family.”

Liza Bagamian, Co-Chair of AUA’s 30th Anniversary Committee

Petrossian, a retired professional whose 44-year career has included service in various administrative capacities in different school boards within the greater Los Angeles area, speaks of the tremendous growth she has witnessed at AUA since its founding. She is proud to continue supporting the University, rallying around many of its development initiatives. “Having attended AUA’s 30th Commencement this year, and comparing it to the very first graduation ceremony which I had the privilege to attend, the changes were obvious. AUA has grown and prospered in the past 30 years, providing the most outstanding education available in Armenia. 

Moreover, and most importantly for the future, is the growing percentage of AUA graduates who remain in Armenia and reinvest their knowledge into the country. These are development milestones worth celebrating and supporting as we look forward to the next 30 years and the miracles that can happen.”

The “Build a Better Future” with AUA 30th anniversary celebration, which is also the namesake of the capital campaign, is designated for the construction of the new Science & Engineering building. Bagamian asserts that the new building will support a significant increase in the number of faculty and students and accelerate collaborations with industry and government. The state-of-the-art facility will provide a welcoming space where visiting professors and entrepreneurs can spend time on campus working closely with faculty and students. It will serve as a meeting place for bold ideas and a focal point for scientific discoveries and technological advancement that will benefit not only Armenia, but also the world around it.

The announcement for the construction of this new building comes at a critical time in Armenia’s history, given the hardships the country and its people endured during and following the 2020 Artsakh War and COVID-19 pandemic. This new undertaking provides for the realization of a strategic vision most critical to moving Armenia forward through augmented innovation and research. Petrossian adds, “Armenia has a critical shortage of scientists and engineers in this difficult time when the future is in the hands of highly qualified experts. We know we have the brain power, but we need systems that will motivate and direct these bright minds to build their future and a better future for our Homeland. If we believe in a brighter path forward for Armenia, we must support this valiant undertaking. Each person must give what they can, no matter how small or large, in full confidence that the funds will be spent as pledged.”

With a campaign goal of $15,000,000, half of which has already been raised, the AUA Office of Development is confident that the global community and staunch AUA supporters will come together once again to help the University attain this goal and break ground to advance this important and historic initiative. Indeed, it will be one more brick in Armenia’s wall of global advancement! 

Click here to learn more about the event and various sponsorship opportunities. 

AUA is grateful to the members of the AUA 30th Anniversary Committee: Committee Co-Chairs Liza Bagamian and Alice Petrossian and Committee Members Maral Adalian, Elizabeth Agbabian, Arsho Aghjayan, Jackie Ajemian, Maral Anjargolian, Naz Atikian, Lena Basmajian, Nelly Der Kiureghian, Sonya Doumanian, Katherine Mahdessian, Hilda Fidanian, Lisa Karamardian, Gayane Karapetyan, Ruzan Kuzoyan, Carmen Libaridian, Hilda Sinanian, Tanya Tsarukyan, and Marlene Yerevanian.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.