Armenia approves visa waiver with Chile for diplomatic, official passport holders
14:02,
YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet approved the agreement on abolishing visa requirements between Armenia and Chile for diplomatic and official passport holders.
According to FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the agreement’s purpose is to boost the development of political dialogue, and development in other sectors between the two countries.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
On April 24, Armenians all over the world are recalling the memory of victims of the genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. All Armenian diaspora – they are mainly descendants of victims of the genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire – organize events dedicated to memory in every country of the world.
On April 24, 1915, Constantinople began mass arrest and persecution of Armenians, which lasted until September 1918. More than a million Armenians died in three years. About so many Ottoman Empire fled and scattered all over the world. Armenian Genocide recognition is the formal acceptance that the systematic massacres and forced deportation of Armenians committed by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 constituted genocide.
Some governments, including Georgian, have been reticent to officially acknowledge the killings as genocide. Reasons for that are thought to be political concerns about their relations with the Republic of Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire. The governments of Turkey and its close ally the Republic of Azerbaijan are the only ones that directly deny the historical factuality of the Armenian Genocide, and both opposed to the recognition of the genocide by other nations, threatening economic and diplomatic consequences to recognizers. Turkey's official position is that the number of Armenian victims was way less and it was caused by civil unrest and not the Ottoman Empire's intentional policy to destroy Armenians.
"Recognize!" – On April 24 of every year, the Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti recalls the massacre with words, posters, flags, and candles. Ethnic Armenian citizens of Georgia are traditionally gathering "stone rocks" and call on the Turkish authorities and other countries to recognize the Armenian tragedy as the genocide of the First World War.
In Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki, the movement started on the evening of April 23 and continued in the morning of April 24. Encell Mkoyan, the majoritarian MP of Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, says that on this day all the Armenians living in the world say: "April 24th we are crying because millions of Armenians were killed in 1915 and we never forget them, many of the world’s developed countries have recognized the genocide and the list is expanding annually."
Must be also noted, that in 2015, on the 100th anniversary of the genocide Armenian religious and secular organizations in Georgia have petitioned to the country’s parliament. They requested Georgian Parliament to begin formal debates on the recognition of the genocide of the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923. As of today, we can tell that demands were fruitless.
The Modern Art Museum of Yerevan opened an installation entitled “The Masters of the XX Century Graphic Art” showcasing artworks from Vardges Boyajyan’s personal collection. The exhibition features graphic works by Jean Carzou, Jean Jansem, and Edgar Chahine, including originals and illustrated books. Among the items on display is the painting “Communication” by Carzou commissioned by UNESCO.
As the Museum Facebook page reports, some exhibits are displayed for the first time. The exhibition opened in the scope of Francophone events will last until April 28.
Pashimyan and Aliyev met in an expanded format that, in addition to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs included the participation of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov, as well as Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Encouraged by the reported “positive” results of last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on the Karabakh conflict resolution process, the European Union and Russia voiced optimism and pledged to support efforts to resolve the conflict.
Federica Mogherinim the EU’s High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the results of the meeting inspired hope for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
“The recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Vienna was positive. In line with the Paris agreement in January, the high-level contacts and significant reduction in ceasefire violations, it gives us certain hope that the process will move forward, and the two countries will fulfill their commitments and will hold negotiations without preconditions,” Mogherini said at a press conference in Brussels after a session of the EU-Azerbaijan Association Council.
The European Union fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the resolution process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, told reporters Wednesday.
“The mediation mission over the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is being carried out by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and they completely guide this process. As for the European Union, we fully support the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” he added.
Following the March 29 Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Vienna, both leaders announced that they deemed the meeting a “success” and directed their foreign ministers to continue talks for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
Also on Wednesday, Moscow pledged to provide the necessary support to Baku and Yerevan to implement the results of the recent Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting, said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, according to TASS.
“Supporting the sides in the Karabakh conflict resolution process is one of the key foreign policy priorities for Russia. This fact attaches specific importance to the ongoing mediation activities, determines great attention to its results,” said Zakharova.
“The negotiation process for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict continues. The sides have shown intent to continue the work aimed at reaching the peaceful settlement,” added Zakharova.
“We welcome the prevailing constructive approach in the negotiations. We will provide necessary support to the sides in order to implement the ideas over which a consensus was reached in the capital of Austria,” explained Zakharova. “However, as it has been repeatedly stated by the presidents of the co-chair countries, the responsibility to put an end to the conflict lies on the sides to the conflict. The most important aspect is to demonstrate political will.
Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
YEREVAN—On the occasion of the third anniversary of the April 2016 War the Armenia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression against the people of Artsakh and called for Artsakh’s participation in the Karabakh conflict negotiations.
Below is the text of the foreign ministry statement.
Three years ago on April 2, 2016 Azerbaijani armed forces resorted to large scale military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan flagrantly violated the ceasefire and its commitment of non-use of force undertaken within Nagorno-Karabakh peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
The use of force was accompanied by atrocities perpetrated by Azerbaijani armed forces against both militaries and civilians in the most horrible manner. They replicated the massacres and ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the beginning of 1990s.
This time the eminent threat of larger scale of atrocities against civilian population was prevented by the effective defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh army. The sacrifice of militaries and voluntaries became a part of continued heroic struggle of the people of Artsakh to live free and in dignity in their ancestral homeland.
The April war demonstrated once again that the right of people of Artsakh to self- determination cannot be suppressed by the use of force. The status and security of Nagorno-Karabakh stand as indispensable issues of substance in any result oriented negotiations that should guarantee the peaceful life of the people of Artsakh.
The non-use or threat of use of force, strict adherence to the ceasefire, introduction of the risk reduction and confidence building measures are essential for the creation of an environment conducive to peace.
The stalemate created by the April aggression showed that there is no alternative to the peaceful and negotiated resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Friday, March 29, 2019
Armenian, Azeri Leaders Meet In Vienna (UPDATED)
March 29, 2019
• Karlen Aslanian
Austria -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan's President
Ilham Aliyev meet in Vienna, 29Mar2019.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
met in Vienna on Friday for fresh talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Neither leader made public statements immediately after the talks which lasted
for more than three hours.According to the TASS news agency, Pashinian said
only that the meeting was “normal.”
The meeting held in a hotel in the Austrian capital began in the presence of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers as well as the U.S., Russian and
French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Aliyev and Pashinian then spoke one
on one for roughly two hours before being again joined by the ministers and the
mediators.
Stephane Visconti, the Minsk Group’s French co-chair, described the summit as
“positive,” saying that the two sides got a better idea of each other’s
position. “We hope that a new meeting will be held soon,” Visconti told
reporters.
Pashinian was expected to comment on the summit later in the day at a meeting
with members of the Armenian community of Austria.
Aliyev and Pashinian previously met on January 22 on the sidelines of the World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They also talked during the summits of
former Soviet republics held in September and December.
Their foreign ministers similarly held a series of lengthy negotiations,
fuelling more speculation about major progress towards a resolution of the
Karabakh conflict. They also met in Vienna late on Thursday.
Pashinian sought to lower expectations from the Vienna talks when he spoke in
the Armenian parliament earlier this week. He also made clear that he will
continue to insist on Karabakh’s direct involvement in Armenian-Azerbaijani
peace talks.
Aliyev and other Azerbaijani leaders have repeatedly rejected the Armenian
leader’s calls for the Karabakh Armenians to become a third negotiating party.
World Bank Approves More Funding For Armenia
March 29, 2019
U.S. -- The World Bank building in Washington, April 9, 2008
The World Bank Group has pledged to provide Armenia with around $500 million in
fresh loans and other funding over the next five years in support of its new
government’s reform agenda.
The group’s executive board approved the 2019-2023 Country Partnership
Framework (CPF) for Armenia at a meeting held in Washington late on Thursday.
In a statement, it said the CPF is “fully aligned” with the Armenian
government’s five-year policy program adopted earlier this year.
“The proposed World Bank Group strategy will capitalize on the momentum and
political will for deeper reforms and renewed commitment to good governance
sparked by recent changes in Armenia to support a rebalancing of the economy
toward a new growth model,” said Sylvie Bossoutrot, the head of the World Bank
office in Yerevan.
The bank’s previous, four-year assistance strategy for Armenia was approved in
2013. It called for $873 million in total funding.
The latest CPF calls for more low-interest loans to Yerevan as well as
investments by the World Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), and risk insurance division, the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
The Armenian energy sector is understood to be a major beneficiary of the
planned aid package. The bank said IFC, which specializes in equity purchases,
will help to modernize the sector in order to reduce its reliance on imported
fuel.
“IFC will also support the government’s efforts to increase competition and
open the economy to foreign investment by providing direct financing to
companies and supporting the development of export-oriented industries,” added
its statement.
“IFC welcomes the opening of Armenia’s economy and the creation of new
opportunities for investment,” said Jan van Bilsen, the IFC regional manager
for the South Caucasus.
The World Bank has already been Armenia’s leading foreign creditor and donor,
having provided it with over $2 billion in loans and grants since 1992.
The government program cited by the bank envisages that the Armenian economy
will grow by at least 5 percent annually for the next five years. In its latest
Global Economic Prospects report released in January, the World Bank forecast
slightly lower growth rates for this year and 2020.
Armenia To Send Rescue Teams To Flood-Hit Iran
March 29, 2019
IRAN -- A general view of flooding in Golestan province, Iran, March 22, 2019
Armenia’s government said on Friday that it will send rescue teams and
equipment to neighboring Iran to help authorities there deal with the
consequences of deadly flash floods which hit the country last week.
The floods caused by heavy rain have reportedly left at least 37 people dead
and tens of thousands of others displaced. Thousands of Iranians are being
housed in emergency shelters provided by the government, according to state
media.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency quoted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as
saying on Wednesday that the floods affected 25 of Iran's 31 provinces and that
the scale of the disaster overwhelmed emergency services in some areas.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said he is “deeply shocked” by the loss
of life. “At this difficult moment Armenia is ready to support the friendly
people of Iran and provide necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of
the disaster,” Pashinian tweeted in English and Farsi.
Armenia’s Minister for Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakian reaffirmed the
offer on Thursday at a meeting with the Iranian ambassador in Yerevan, Seyyed
Kazem Sajjad.
“We want to send humanitarian assistance to Iran,” Tsolakian told fellow
members of the Armenian government the following day. “That will be organized
through the Russian-Armenian humanitarian center.”
“We will be sending technical equipment, machinery and rescuers,” he said,
according to the Armenpress news agency.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, who chaired the cabinet meeting, welcomed
the initiative, describing Iran as a “friendly country.”
Senior officials at the Armenian Rescue Service, which is part of Tsolakian’s
ministry, discussed details of the relief effort later on Friday.
Armenia has maintained a cordial relationship with Iran ever since its
independence. Pashinian and Rouhani pledged to deepen bilateral ties during the
Armenian leader’s recent official visit to the Islamic Republic.
Armenian-Azeri Summit Described As ‘Positive’
March 29, 2019
Austria -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan's President
Ilham Aliyev meet in Vienna, 29Mar2019
Armenia and Azerbaijan described the latest meeting of their leaders as
“positive” on Friday, saying that they again agreed to strengthen the ceasefire
regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and continue their dialogue.
“The meeting took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere and provided
an opportunity for the two leaders to clarify their respective positions,” the
foreign ministers of the two warring nations said in a joint statement issued
hours after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian met with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev in Vienna. “They exchanged views about several key issues of the
settlement process and ideas of substance.”
“The two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment
conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the
negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict,” read the
statement which was also signed by the U.S., Russian and French mediators
co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group.
It said Aliyev and Pashinian “recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire.”
“They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field,”
it said, adding that the two leaders will “continue their direct dialogue.”
Pashinian also called the summit “positive.” “I cannot say that there has been
a breakthrough, revolution or landmark event in the negotiating process,” he
told members of the Armenian community of Austria. “But it is very important
that a new process, which allows us to talk about our agendas, ideas and
issues, has begun.”
“Obviously each of us strongly believes in his own position, but can we start
talking not just about our own positions but also the other side’s positions?”
said Pashinian. “What is logical in the opposite side’s position and what is
not? I find the meeting positive in this sense.”
Pashinian did not say whether he and Aliyev narrowed their differences over a
compromise solution to the Karabakh conflict that has long been advanced by the
mediators. He implied that they discussed his repeated calls for Karabakh’s
direct involvement in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks but did not report any
understandings on this issue.
Aliyev and other Azerbaijani leaders have denounced those calls as an attempt
to obstruct the negotiating process.
The Vienna summit was Pashinian’s and Aliyev’s fourth face-to-face encounter in
six months. The two men spoke for the first time in September on the sidelines
of a summit of ex-Soviet states held in Tajikistan. There has been a
significant decrease in ceasefire violations around Karabakh and along the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border since then.
Pashinian stressed on Friday the importance of maintaining the “stable
situation” on the frontlines and boosting the safety of residents of Armenian
and Azerbaijani border villages.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
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Webpage: www.aua.am
YEREVAN, Armenia ‒ On March 19, 2019, nine incoming startup teams admitted to the Spring 2019 cohort of the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) presented their new venture ideas to fellow students, faculty, alumni, as well as to prominent businesspeople and investors. The event, which took place at AUA’s newly constructed Student Union, gave the teams the opportunity to promote their startups, connect with potential mentors, and get initial feedback from members of the entrepreneurial community.
The startups selected to participate in the Spring 2019 program went through a competitive application process. Following the initial screening of thirty five applications and interviews with the teams, short-listed applicants were invited to pitch their ideas before an independent jury that then recommended accepting the nine teams into the program. “It’s getting more and more difficult to enter EPIC. The quality of the teams applying is improving, as is the effort necessary to make a competitive presentation,” noted Arman Arakelyan, Operations Manager of EPIC.
The EPIC Incubator is a 12-week idea-stage startup incubation program that helps early-stage teams with idea validation and business model creation. During the program, resident teams learn the lean startup framework, are guided and mentored by seasoned entrepreneurs, and participate in workshops while receiving expert advice from experienced professionals from various business domains.
“During the event I had a chance to speak with participants and ask questions regarding their startup ideas. Though some of them were freshmen, they were so mature and inspiring with their ideas. The ventures are so diverse, but at the same time they all want to solve an existing issue for society. I want to wish good luck to all the nine startup teams and hope they will never give up, despite difficulties and challenges they will likely encounter during the implementation process,” shared Mariam Petrosyan (IESM ’11), who will be mentoring one of the teams.
The teams took turns offering a quick, yet comprehensive, one-minute pitch of their business ideas. When the teams finished their presentations, they engaged in networking and could bounce ideas off others and get advice from experienced business professionals.
Elina Hovakimyan, the co-founder of Eventor, praised the occasion saying, “The kick-off event is quite interesting and useful to us. We met marketers, financers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. All of them showed willingness to support and share their knowledge with us. Also, we met startups from the previous batches, who told us how challenging it can be to be a ‘startuper’ and gave valuable advice on how to succeed.” Investors also disclosed that they are prepared to consider investing in these business ideas once they are fully developed.
“There is so much potential here with these startups,” stated Eric Biglari, Birthright intern/marketing specialist at EPIC. “From freshmen to seniors, you can sense the drive in each of these teams ‒ they’re all extremely passionate and thirsty for advice to improve their ideas, striving to create the best end-product they can.”
The EPIC Spring 2019 cohort includes Hooop, a job portal for designers and clients looking to hire designers; BackIDwards, an A.I.-based platform which makes high-quality matches for relationships; Be the Teacher, an online tool for instructors and teachers enabling more effective and efficient lesson-planning; Vactube, an innovative fruit dryer powered by solar energy; Eventor, a database system which allows special events to be bundled and sold to customers with one click; Reboot, a step-pad gaming system which allows people to exercise while having fun; Agourmet, an AR app which shows a 360° view of restaurant dishes; Worthie, a digital system that checks the honesty level of survey takers; and Smart Green, a greenhouse automation system for small-medium sized greenhouses.
“Is there anything better than having fun with your friends and colleagues? It turned out, that seeing strangers react enthusiastically to your ideas and getting their professional feedback might, in fact, compete with the rewarding feeling of eating a slice of delicious pizza,” jokes Monika Stepanyan, Co-Founder of Agourmet.
The 7th round of the European Individual Chess Championship will take place today.
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, who is one point behind the leaders, will compete with Belarusian Vladislav Kovalev. Manuel Petrosyan and Hrant Melkumyan will meet each other.
The matches will start at 18:15. Chess fans can follow the games on our website.
Հսկայական գումար է ծախսվում Հայաստանի կառավարության դեմ սեւ հակաքարոզչության վրա։ Սա որեւէ արդյունք չի տալու, քանի որ նախկին ռեժիմի գնացքը գնացել է։ Այդ մասին մարտի 19-ին մամուլի ասուլիսում ասաց վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը:
Նրա խոսքով, սա այն դեպքը չէ, որ վարչապետը չի տիրապետում երկրի իրականությանը, քանի որ «ես հաճախ մարդկանց հետ ուղիղ շփման մեջ եմ»: Փաշինյանն այս համատեքստում անդրադարձավ կառավարության գործունեության հասցեին հնչող քննադատություններին։
«Այն, որ փորձում են ասել, գրում են, որ երկրում ինչ-որ անկայունություն կա, տուրբուլենտության… էլի սկսվում է ցիկլը՝ թեժ գարուն, թեժ ամառ, թեժ աշուն, հեսա տեսեք ինչ է լինելու: Ոչ մի բան էլ չի լինելու», – արձագանքեց վարչապետն ու հավելեց, որ մարդիկ կան, որ պետք է հասկանան, որ իրենց գնացքը վաղուց գնացել է, եւ եթե հետեւից փորձեն «ֆեռարիով էլ հասնել, իրենց գնացքին չեն կարող հասնել: Իրենց էջը փակված է»:
«Եւ իրենք մի ճանապարհ ունեն՝ կանգնեն ժողովրդի առաջ եւ ապաշխարհեն, եւ ժողովրդից ներում հայցեն: Իրենք ուրիշ անելիք Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունու չունեն: Չնայած ասում եմ, իրենց բոլոր ցանկությունները՝ վարել քաղաքական, հասարակական, մենք երաշխավորելու ենք», – ասել նա:
Վարչապետի խոսքով, այժմ հսկայական գումար է ծախսվում կառավարության դեմ սեւ հակաքարոզչության վրա. «Էն որ միլիոնավոր դոլարներ ամեն օր ծախսվում են կառավարության դեմ սեւ հակաքարոզչություն անելու համար եւ կառավարությունն ընդդեմ դրա ոչ մի գործողություն չի ձեռնարկում, որովհետեւ մեզ համար խոսքի ազատությունը բացարձակ արժեք է»:
Նրա խոսքով, այդ շրջանակները պետք է հասկանան, որ իրենք ՀՀ-ում այդ կարգի անելիք ունենալ չեն կարող, իրենք Հայաստանի ժողովրդի շրջանում աջակցություն ունենալ չեն կարող: «Ուզում ա միլիոն ծախսեն, ուզում ա միլիարդ ծախսեն», – ասաց նա ու հավելեց, որ երկրում անկայունության ու տորբուլենտության մասին լուրերը ստեղծվում են երեք սենյակներում, որոնց տեղը նա գիտի: «Այդ երեք սենյակների տեղը ես գիտեմ։ Այնտեղից ամեն օր գալիս ու մեզ են հայտնում, թե ինչ են անում», – ասաց վարչապետը։
Անդրադառնալով սոցիալական վիճակին՝ Փաշինյանը նշեց, որ բարձրացվել է 85 հազար մարդու սոցիալական նպաստներն ու թոշակները, 200 հազար մարդու աշխատավարձերը. «2019 թվականի հունվարին երկրում համախառն առևտուրը 19 տոկոսանոց աճ է արձանագրել։ Դա ցուցի՞չ է, թե ոչ։ Այո, Հայաստանում կան մարդիկ, որոնք ավելի լավ չեն ապրում, բայց հարց է՝ կա՞ն մարդիկ, որոնք ավելի վատ են ապրում։ Մենք մարդկանց համար պետք է հնարավորություններ ստեղծենք»:
Նա նաեւ վստահեցրեց, որ այժմ կառավարող ուժի հեղինակությունը հանրության շրջանում շատ բարձր է եւ համոզմունք հանտնեց․ «Եթե վաղը լինի ընտրություն, ապա մեր ուժն վելի շատ ձայն կստանա, քան խորհրդարանական ընտրություններին»։