Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ABUDHABI: MASDAR STUDENTS RAFAEL HARUTYUNYAN AND ASHOT MNATSAKANYAN DESIGN APP TO RIVAL TINDER

The National, UAE
March 24 2015

Masdar students design app to rival Tinder

Emmanuel Samoglou

ABU DHABI // Two PhD students from the Masdar Institute are taking
on Tinder with their own spin on traditional ways of online networking.

Rafael Harutyunyan, 25, and Ashot Mnatsakanyan, 27, both from Armenia
– who form the Abu Dhabi company BROgrammers – have developed Jeltee,
which takes its name from the Hindi word “jaldee”, meaning “hurry up”.

Like Tinder, users swipe through the accounts of others, but the
difference is that after you start chatting to someone you have only
24 hours to decide whether or not to meet before the chat “disappears”.

“You either like, or dislike people,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

Users, who must be over 18, create a profile through their Facebook
account. Profiles show the age, the number of shared interests and
the distance between two users.

To maintain anonymity, Jeltee does not share names, which they say will
prevent people from searching for extra information on the internet.

Once a match is made, the chat begins, and the clock starts ticking.

“When it ends, the only option left is to invite them somewhere.

“If you don’t, the chat will disappear,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

“We noticed how much time people were spending online in different
applications and we were like, this is crazy. For months, they can
chat, never meet, and just share pictures. Just endless chatting,”
Mr Mnatsakanyan said.

“We ran through some scientific research that showed even three
minutes is enough to know if you would like to go out with that
person or not. In our case, we make it 24 hours. We shouldn’t need
more than that.”

Mr Harutyunyan said: “It’s pretty hard to understand what a person is
like when you’re just reading what they’re writing. You cannot feel
their emotions. The other person can write whatever they want. You
will have an illusionary portrait of that person. We are promoting
quick interactions.”

There is another incentive to meet – restaurants and cafes that
Jeltee has partnered with will offer discounts to those who are
meeting through the app – so called “Jeltee specials”.

Each user receives half of a discount code. Only when they meet can
they join their discount codes and receive the deal.

Since launching in early February, Jeltee has attracted more than
8,000 users and established 17,000 different matches. It is available
on iTunes and Windows Mobile in the UAE.

“Because the UAE is so multinational, it’s a very good place to test
the application and to understand how people use it,” Mr Mnatsakanyan
said.

They hope to release an Android version of the app soon and expand
to other countries.

To avoid the fate of Tinder, which was partly blocked in the country,
they are not marketing Jeltee as a dating app.

“One problem with them is that they are positioned as a dating app,
which is not the case with ours,” Mr Mnatsakanyan said. “We are
definitely not about dating, it’s about social discovery.”

Mr Harutyunyan said: “We are trying to build a community of social
enthusiasts who are keen to meet new people in real life.”

They are monitoring registrations and filtering out users who do not
use the app as intended. User profile photos are also moderated. Any
complaints are investigated.

Peter Crasta, a senior security consultant at First Information
Security, advised anyone using social media apps to be careful sharing
personal information.

“Don’t give out crucial information such as telephone numbers,
addresses, and PO box numbers,” he said.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

25 March 2015

ACNIS CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) is preparing to mark the twentieth year of its founding with
an official program to be held at the Armenia Marriott Hotel here on
March 31 at 6pm.

ACNIS kicked off its series of commemorative events the autumn past
with public policy meetings, seminars, and roundtables. In the days
to come, it will release a full-color almanac detailing its activities
and accomplishments over the past two decades.

Last September the Center organized a landmark conference, entitled
`The Mountainous Karabagh Republic in the Emerging International
Environment,’ in the fortress city of Shushi with the participation of
political scientists, analysts, and politicians from Armenia and
Artsakh.

———————————————————————

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an institution committed to conducting professional
policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level of
public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the policy
process as well as to foster greater and more inclusive public
knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of
Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Over the past 20 years, ACNIS has achieved a prominent reputation as a
primary source of professional independent research and analysis
covering a wide range of national and international policy issues.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

3.7-POINT EARTHQUAKE HITS ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 24 2015

24 March 2015 – 9:55pm

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 points has been registered at
40.98 degrees north longitude and 44.21 degrees east latitude at a
depth of 10km. The magnitude at the epicenter of the earrthquake was
4-5 points, News.am reports.

The populations of Stepanavan, Urasar and Katnakhpyur could feel an
earthquake of 4-5 points, Lori-Berd and Amrakits 3-4 points.

A CENTURY LATER, ISRAEL IS MORALLY BOUND TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

i24news, Israel
March 24 2015

Forty-four members of the US Congress recently submitted a bill calling
on the Obama administration to recognize the Armenian holocaust as a
“genocide”. It is unclear when it will be voted on, however it seems
the US might soon join the list of 21 countries that formally recognize
the first genocide of the 20th century.

As World War I broke out, the Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia.

The Armenians, who sought to realize their national aspirations and to
found an Armenian autonomy in the Empire, were perceived as traitors
and collaborators with the Russians. The “young Turks”, the Turkish
nationalist party, which deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid II, had other
plans regarding the Armenians in its territory. The party acted for
“Turkification” of the territories under its control, which meant
ethnic cleansing of the Christian minority. Those responsible for
the Armenian genocide were the top brass of the Young Turks, Interior
Minister Talaat Pasha and Minister of War Enver Pasha. These senior
officials ordered the founding of a paramilitary organization, the
“Special Organization” – Techkilat-i Mahsousse – in order to solve
the “Armenian problem”. The organization was tasked with banishing
and destroying the Armenians. Criminals and specially freed convicts
were drafted into its ranks to execute the plan.

On the night between April 23rd and 24th, 1915, the Turkish army
came to the homes of the Armenian minority leaders, cruelly killing
hundreds. Therefore, April 24th symbolizes the beginning of the
Armenian genocide and was set as its official Day of Remembrance.

Investigators believe that from 1914 to 1918, between one to
1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were cruelly and
systematically murdered. Modern Turkey vehemently refuses to admit
its historic involvement in the murder of the Armenian people and
invests great funds in propaganda denying the Armenian holocaust.

One of the Nuremberg trial documents reveals that the apathy
of the international community toward the Turkish slaughter of
Armenians during World War I and the lack of appropriate response
from then-powers encouraged Adolf Hitler to conquer territories and
annihilate Jews in Europe. “Who remembers those Armenians?” Hitler
told his staff, informing them of his decision to invade Poland,
adding that they shouldn’t fear an international response, using the
slaughter of the Armenians as proof.

Israel never formally recognized the Armenian genocide. The policy
of the Israeli foreign ministry was always “not to upset” the Turks.

Hints were conveyed to the media not to publish articles on the
subject and editors knowingly withheld from the Israeli public the
right to know about the Armenian tragedy. Many Israelis are unaware
of the issue despite its importance and influence on Jewish history.

Israel, in general, and the Jewish people, in particular, have a moral
duty to recognize the Armenian genocide. A people that lost a third
of its number in the Holocaust cannot deny the genocide of another
people, which lost two thirds of its number. Any attempt in recent
years to promote recognition of the Armenian genocide failed, mostly
as a result of Israeli concern about the Turkish response. Today, when
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains a clear anti-Israeli
and anti-Semitic line, the foreign ministry continues to ignore the
Armenian holocaust and to be guided by petty politics based on wrong
considerations.

There is a moral and historic justification to recognize the Armenian
genocide. The Armenian holocaust must be taught in schools. In a
month, on April 24, we will commemorate 100 years to the murder of
1.5 million Armenian people. On this opportunity, in addition to the
Facebook page I have opened (“Recognize the Armenian Holocaust”),
I call on the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate steps to recognize the Armenian
genocide, which was ignored by all their predecessors.

Edy Cohen is a Middle East scholar and senior researcher at the
department of Middle East studies of Bar-Ilan University.

ARMENIA’S C.BANK HOLDS KEY REFINANCING RATE AT 10.5 PCT

Reuters
March 24 2015

Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:16pm IST

YEREVAN, March 23 (Reuters) – Armenia’s central bank on Tuesday left
its refinancing rate unchanged at 10.5 percent, saying the current
level of its main lending rate reflected elevated investment risks.

The bank added in a statement that the rate decision reflected
long-term interest rate trends in emerging markets.

Armenia in February raised its refinancing rate by 1 percentage point,
in part to try to protect itself from Russia’s financial crisis,
which has driven Armenia’s dram currency lower.

Armenia, a former Soviet republic of 3.2 million people, is closely
tied to Russia through trade and remittances.

Annual inflation in Armenia was at 5.4 percent in February, up from
4.3 percent in January, according to central bank data.

The government forecasts annual inflation in a range of 2.5-5.5
percent in 2015, the same as last year’s target. (Reporting by
Hasmik Lazarian; Writing by Margarita Antidze and Alexander Winning;
Editing by Jason Bush)

ELITE MUSICIANS UNITE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL CONCERT IN GLENDALE

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
March 24 2015

By Robert D. Thomas, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Three well-known local artists will make their first appearance as the
Glendale Trio on March 28 at First Baptist Church of Glendale as part
of the Glendale Philharmonic’s fifth annual Positive Motions series.

Violinist Roberto Cani, the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra concertmaster,
will join pianist Armen Guzelimian and cellist Ruslan Biryukov, the
series’ curator, in performances of Arno Babajanian’s Piano Trio in
F-sharp minor and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor.

The concert is being performed in memory of Armenian genocide victims
as the 100th anniversary of the start of the genocide is April 24.

Portions of the proceeds will be donated to the Armenian General
Benevolent Union and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Guzelimian is well known for his work as a piano virtuoso, chamber
musician, vocal coach and teacher. He appears often in local piano
series, has played many times in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green
Umbrella series, and has performed around the world.

“Ruslan asked me last fall how I would like to join with Roberto and
him for a recital,” says Guzelimian, whose brother, Ira, is provost
and dean at The Juilliard School in New York City. “I, of course, had
heard Roberto’s work with the L.A. Opera Orchestra and was delighted,
particularly because of the pieces chosen and the fact that it would
be near the centennial of the start of the Armenian genocide.”

The two pieces were written eight years apart, 1944 for the
Shostakovich, 1952 for the Babajanian. “Both men were brilliant
pianists,” explains Guzelimian. “They each liked to employ folk music
in their pieces, both received the People’s Artist of the Soviet
Union award, and both were influenced by Prokofiev’s music.

“Babajanian’s piece is a masterpiece of the piano trio literature,”
continues Guzelimian. “He wrote in a grand romantic style, similar
to Rachmaninoff. On the other hand, Shostakovich employed fascinating
sound effects to create eerie moods in his trio.”

For Guzelimian and people of his generation, the Armenian genocide
resonates deeply in their psyche and that’s particularly true in
Glendale, which has a sizable population of people with Armenian
heritage.

The Armenian genocide rivals the Holocaust of World War II for its
terror. In 1915 the Ottoman government began a systematic destruction
of its Armenian community that resulted, according to most accounts,
in more than 1.5 million people having perished. Present-day Turkey
denies these allegations, in part because it claims no relationship
to the Ottoman Empire, except for geography.

“My maternal grandmother was left an orphan by the genocide,” recalls
Guzelimian. “She managed to escape and went first to Greece and then
to Egypt. She had nothing — not even a birth certificate. When she
died, we didn’t know for sure how old she was.”

Like Jews with younger generations and the Holocaust, Armenians
struggle to keep the memory of the genocide alive in everyone, not
just those with Armenian heritage.

“The feelings are different for those of us in the first and second
generation,” he acknowledges. “The genocide is taught as historical
fact now and there are, of course, plenty of pictures, chronicles and
world news reports from the periods (1915-1918 and 1920-1923). But
the failure of Turkey to acknowledge the truth of what happened is
still a wound.”

Although the concert’s dedication is significant, Guzelimian cautions,
“I don’t want people to be scared away from this concert thinking it
will be a sad, somber occasion. This is great music that would stand
on its own.”

Robert D. Thomas is a freelance music writer.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSSED ARMS SALES TO AZERBAIJAN WITH CSTO CHIEF

19:36, 25.03.2015

YEREVAN. – The sale of Russian arms to Azerbaijan was discussed during
the meeting with CSTO Secretary General Nokolay Bordyuzha, Armenian
Defense Minister told reporters commenting on the recent meeting.

As to Boryuzha’s response, Ohanyan asked to address the question to
CSTO Secretary General.

“We are certainly concerned over any arms sales to Azerbaijan,
from any state. And we are working in this direction. Military and
political leadership is not sitting still,” he said.

The issue or arms sales to Azerbaijan has been recently raised by
President Serzh Sargsyan and was followed by comments of the Armenian
officials who also expressed their concerns.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

ANASTASIADES TO VISIT ARMENIA

CYPRUS – FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE*
Thursday, 26 March, 2015

President Anastasiades will visit Armenia participate in events
commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
according to Asbarez.

“Nicos Anastasiades has accepted the official invitation of the
President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian to visit Armenia
from 23 to 25 April to attend the Armenian Genocide centennial
commemoration events to be held in Yerevan and confirm the support
of the Government of Cyprus to the Armenian people,” Asbarez reported.

— (FG/Agencies)

BAKU THREATENS “TO TAKE MEASURES” AGAINST ARMENIAN MEDIA FORUM GUESTS

15:53, 25.03.2015

The Azerbaijani authorities threaten to take “measures” against the
participants of the media forum “At the Foot of Ararat” that was held
in Armenia last week.

The reason for the threats was participants’ trip to Karabakh, APA
agency reported.

“Participants of media forum held in Armenia on March 18-23 have
visited Nagorno Karabakh illegally,” the agency

The Azerbaijani side particularly mentioned Elena Dumitru from
Romania’s Adevarul newspaper, Alexander Kolesnichenko from Russia’s
Argumenti i Fakty newspaper, Monika Khorsakova from Czech radio.

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev said
“relevant measures will be taken in relation to the journalists who
illegally visited the occupied territories”. Their names will be
included in the so-called “black list” of the Azerbaijani authorities.

The reasons of the Azerbaijani official are absurd.

“Those who visited occupied territories should consider their own
safety. Along with the state of war, human trafficking, arms smuggling,
drug production and transit, terrorist training and other illegal
activities are carried out in those territories.”

However, it is clear that the Azerbaijani authorities do not care
about foreign journalists, their main goal is to try to keep Karabakh
isolated.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ON MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND HERITAGE MEMBERS

16:39 25/03/2015 >> POLITICS

Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian says the March 12 meeting of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan with Heritage Party representatives
Ruben Hakobyan and Armen Martirosyan as part of the constitutional
reform process was an “informal intra-party consultation” between the
Republican Party of Armenia chairman and two of Heritage board members.

At a meeting with reporters, Mr Hovannisian said that he himself would
not participate in such a meeting. He noted that he did not receive
an invitation from President Sargsyan and this proves that this was an
“informal intra-party meeting.”

Hovannisian added that Heritage is against the constitutional reform
and it presented its position earlier.

Source: Panorama.am