Author: Lilit Nahapetian

At a meeting with Head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) Abuzar Ebrahimi Torkaman in Yerevan on Sunday, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, lauded Iran’s influential role in helping to restore peace in the region.

“The religious dialogue pursued by Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization will result in the promotion of peace in the region,” His Holiness Karekin II said.

“We thank the Iranian government for preserving the Armenian artifacts in Iran and registration of Armenians’ churches in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage as well as freedom of Armenians in performing their religious ceremonies in Iran,” he added.

The Armenian Catholicos reiterated the need for the expansion of mutual cooperation between Iran and Armenia, and said, “The two countries’ cultural relations are satisfactory.”

His Holiness Karekin II said that boosting Armenia-Iran relations in the religious sector can be of paramount importance because religious ties can be a model for the entire world.

President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with high-ranking representatives of the legislative, executive and judiciary authorities, regional and local self-government bodies. President Sargsyan offered a speech on the implementation of the Constitutional changes.

President Sargsyan voiced confidence that as a result of the Constutional changes Armenia’s political system will become more open, flexible and internally complex.  “It will correspond to the dynamically and comprehensively developing social structure of our society. As in many democratic states, parties will lead the political struggle.  Parties and their coalitions will form executive bodies, will nominate candidates to head the state and local self-government bodies,” he said.

“The political system will be reformed and will improve thanks to the competition between political units,” the President said.

“We have two main values – the Armenian nation and Armenia. They should stand above all other values. Our steps, decisions and behavior should stem from these two values,” the President added.

Serzh Sargsyan added that taking into consideration the situation in the region, we are simply obliged to have a strong state, where everyone will be ready to become a soldier if necessary.

“It is the duty of any of us to do the utmost to have a full-fledged state and a society, where the authorities are transparent and reliable, where all members are equally accountable before the law,” the President added.

President Sargsyan said “the new Constitution is a new breath for a new beginning.” “We have created a unique opportunity to give new impetus to development and correct the shortcomings. This applies to all of us – both the President of the county and the common citizens.”

Arman Saghatelyan has been appointed as Executive Director of the Public Radio of Armenia. The candidacy was confirmed at a sitting of the Council of Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia.

Born on August 26, 1975, Arman Saghatelyan graduated from Armenian Agricultural Academy in 1997 and completed his post-graduate studies at the National Academy of Sciences in 2000.

In 1997-1999 he served his compulsory military service at the information department of the Ministry of Defense.

Saghatelyan worked as a civil expert on public relations in the Ministry of Defense in 2000-2004 and hosted a TV program Zinuzh (armed force).

Between 2010 and 2011 he worked as Adviser to Director of the “Public Relations and Information Center” State Non-Commercial Organization.

Saghatelyan was the Director of the ArmRadio FM 107 Radio, and worked as Deputy Director General of the “Pan-Armenian Media Group” CJSC.

Between 2011 and 2013 he headed the the scientific-educational center of information and public communication technologies at the Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences

He holds an Associate’s Degree in Political Science and has authored over a dozen of scientific articles and educational programs.

Arman Saghatelyan worked as RA President’s Spokesman from 2013 to 2015.

Saghatelyan has been awarded with “participant of 1992-1994 military operations” and “Garegin Nzhdeh” medals.

From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, our sacred sanctuary established by Christ, We extend Our Pontifical blessings and congratulations to the brave officers and soldiers of the Armenian Armed Forces, and all Armenians throughout the world on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.

The formation of the Armenian Army is a great achievement of our independent state which is the result of the struggle, love and devotion of our brave soldiers for the Homeland.

Today, through the feats of our soldiers and commanders; and sometimes by sacrificing their lives, the borders of our country are intact and protected. The valiant spirit of the Armenian soldier gives encouragement to our people, guiding us to serve to our Homeland with devotion, zeal and love for each other.

In front of the Holy Altar, we pray that our Heavenly Lord blesses and keeps all the soldiers and commanders victorious.

And may the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us. Amen

Acting Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Aram Ateshian has downplayed the importance of the permission to celebrate Masses more often in the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van, Ertmenihaber.am reports.

He said they can hold a religious service only once a year, because of decreased number of participants and the situation in the region. He reminded that the September Mass was cancelled due to the armed clashes in the region.

“People will hardly be able to come here more than once a year. The number of participants went down from 1,000 to 500 in  the past years. This decision brings no change for us. However, if some group arrives from abroad and asks for a Mass, we’ll be able to use this right,” the Acting Patriarch said. He added that in any case the annual Mass will be celebrated every year in the second week of September.

President Francois Hollande has unveiled plaques to the victims of last January’s jihadist attacks in Paris as anniversary commemorations begin, the BBC reports.

Seventeen people died in three days of attacks targeting Charlie Hebdo magazine, police and a kosher store.

The first plaque was unveiled on Tuesday outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo, where 12 people were shot dead.

However it was immediately covered up as onlookers expressed shock that the name of one of the victims, Georges Wolinski, had been spelt incorrectly with a Y.

Mr Hollande then took part in further ceremonies for a policeman killed as he chased the Charlie Hebdo attackers, and at the Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris where four shoppers died.

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Russian Federation on a working visit, participated today in the session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

President of the host country Vladimir Putin at the beginning of the session welcomed the participants and wished them productive work. After that the session was presided over by Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia, which assumed the chairmanship of the CSTO. At the moment, the negotiations are being conducted in a restricted format with the participation of the Presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and the Secretary General of the Organization. Later, the heads of the CSTO member states will continue the session in the extended format with the participation of the members of the delegations.

At the plenary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council the parties will sign a number of documents, including the Declaration of the Heads of the CSTO on fighting international terrorism, drafts of the resolutions of the Collective Security Council “On the Secretary General of the CSTO” and “On the rotation of the officials – members of the permanent bodies of the CSTO.”

In the framework of the agenda, the leaders of the CSTO member states will exchange views on the current global situation and future activities of the Organization.

 

 

Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy at the Armenian border and the line of contact with Artsakh, the periodic ceasefire violations drag out the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute of the National Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference today.

Azerbaijan showed in 2015 that it’s not only uninterested in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, but is also taking certain steps to drag out its resolution.

Speaking about the expectations from the upcoming meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Safrastyan said: “Judging from the logic of Azerbaijan’s actions throughout 2015, the growing aggression at the Armenian border and the line of contact with Artsakh, the meeting will hardly produce real results. All through 2015, Azerbaijan’s policy has been aimed at frustrating the negotiation process,” Safrastyan said.

Turning to the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, the political scientist said the only positive thing the Minsk Group Co-Chairs manage to do is to organize presidential meetings. “This gives some hope that the Azerbaijani leadership has not finally abandoned the peace process.”

Ruben Safeastyan added that “taking into consideration the developments in the Middle East, it becomes obvious that the military factor is strengthening in the region.” “This is the trend,” he said, adding, however, that the recent meeting between the US Secretary of State and the Russian leadership and the fact that Russia and the US presented a joint initiative of curbing funding of the Islamic State, is positive.

100 LIVES has announced the launch of a new annual scholarship established in partnership with esteemed international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney,  reports. 

The new ‘Amal Clooney Scholarship’ is part of an ongoing effort by 100 LIVES – the organization behind the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity – to strengthen cross-cultural education and understanding through collaborative social and philanthropic projects.

“As a leading human rights barrister and campaigner, Amal Clooney is an inspirational role model for young women around the world. She exemplifies integrity, compassion and dedication – and typifies what it means to be a global citizen across all cultures.” said Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of 100 LIVES and UWC Dilijan College, an international co-educational boarding school hosting students from 64 countries. ” 100 LIVES recognizes the need for future generations to have greater cross-cultural understanding. The college strives to make education a force for peace by bringing together aspiring young leaders from all over the world.”

Through this new scholarship, 100 LIVES will send one female student from Lebanon to Dilijan each year to enroll in a two-year international baccalaureate program. Recipients of the Amal Clooney Scholarship will be chosen annually based on their exemplary academic performance and demonstrable interest in the promotion of human rights and international issues. The first Amal Clooney Scholarship will be awarded to Pamela Tebchrany – a dedicated Lebanese student who graduated top of her class and is fluent in Arabic, French and English. She will be using the scholarship to pursue her interests in human rights and women’s equality.

“This scholarship will give young women from Lebanon the opportunity of a lifetime,” Amal Clooney said. “Cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative. I am grateful to 100 LIVES for helping to open doors for these bright and talented young women.”

Beyond this scholarship, both Mrs. Clooney and her husband, George, have philanthropic ties to 100 LIVES. Mr. Clooney is co-chair of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity – a new $1 million global humanitarian prize recognizing those who put themselves at risk to enable others to survive. He will present at the inaugural Prize at a ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia on April 24, 2016. Mr. Clooney’s Not On Our Watch foundation is also a partner of 100 LIVES – the two organizations share a commitment to focus public attention on the impact of genocide and work to prevent mass atrocities around the world.

The annual selection process is managed by a dedicated UWC National Committee in Lebanon and based on the UWC entry requirements and Amal Clooney Scholarship criteria.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a for Armenia under which it will over the next four years give priority to enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, improving the business environment, developing local the capital markets and funding infrastructure development.

Armenia’s economic growth has slowed down this year as a result of the broader regional downturn which affects the country via reduced trade, remittances and investment flows. In addition, the depreciation of the Armenian dram and a decrease of foreign currency reserves have impacted the country’s economy.

To speed up economic growth and support the government’s ambitious reform programme, which includes improving the business environment, the EBRD will focus on the following key priorities in its new strategy for Armenia:

• Enhancing private sector competitiveness: For Armenia’s small and open economy, a significant improvement in competitiveness is key to attracting investment. The EBRD will continue financing the private sector. The Bank will target assistance for improvements to the regulatory and administrative environment and strengthen its assistance to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Developing capital markets and promoting local currency financing: As the authorities roll out mandatory pension reforms, the majority of pension fund investments will be channeled in local currency. Success will largely depend on the emergence of a healthy supply of capital market issues on the local market, and enough different investors to create market liquidity. The EBRD stands ready to support the development of the local capital market.
• Developing public utilities: Armenia’s energy, transport and municipal infrastructure still needs much update. For this, it is important to increase private participation in public service provision. The Bank will support commercially viable energy and energy efficiency, transport and municipal service projects and engage in policy dialogue.

The EBRD is the largest single investor in Armenia. To date, the Bank has committed almost €950 million in over 140 projects in all major sectors of the economy.