Author: Rose Khoyetsian

Armenian Foreign Minister to visit US from May 2-6

Rose Khoyetsian
BIG NEWS NETWORK
April 2 2022

ANI
2nd May 2022

Yerevan [Armenia], May 2 (ANI/Sputnik): Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to the United States from May 2-6 to meet with government officials and participate in a bilateral strategic dialogue session, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"Mirzoyan will arrive in the United States on a working visit to participate in Armenia-US strategic dialogue meeting. In Washington, Mirzoyan will hold meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, Special Assistant to President Amanda Sloat and other counterparts," the ministry said in a statement.

Meetings with senior US Congress officials and a speech at the Atlantic Council think tank are also on the diplomat's agenda. (ANI/Sputnik)

Armenia strongly condemns the desecration of Hadrut church by Azerbaijan – MFA

Rose Khoyetsian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 16:14

 1 minute read

Armenia strongly condemns the acts of vandalism and desecration of the St. Harutyun Church in the city of Hadrut, currently underAzerbaijani control, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vahan Hunanyan said in s statement.

“These pre-planned actions carried out by the authorities of Azerbaijan, aimed at destroying and desecrating the identity of Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments in the territories under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, are another manifestation of Azerbaijan’s ethnic and religious intolerance and the continuation of the policy of depriving Artsakh of Armenians and the Armenian trace,” Hunanyan said.

“The atrocities against Armenian churches and other cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh grossly violate the norms of international law, including the decision on application of provisional measures issued by the UN International Court of Justice on December 7, 2021,” the Spokesperson said.

He stressed tgat this case reaffirms the claims of the Armenian side on the urgent need for the visit of UNESCO assessment mission to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian, Turkish Special Representatives to hold next meeting on May 3

Rose Khoyetsian

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 19:35,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The next meeting of the Special Representatives of Armenia and Turkey on normalisation process of the two countries will take place on May 3 in Vienna, ARMENPRESS reports spokesperson of MFA Armenia Vahan Hunanyan said.

The first meeting of the Special Representatives took place on January 14 in Moscow. The second meeting took place on February 24 in Vienna.




Artsakh STEM Expo to be held in Martakert

Rose Khoyetsian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo. On May 8, the Artsakh STEM Expo (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) scientific festival will be held in the city of Martakert of the  Republic of Artsakh, which main goals are raise the motivation and   interest of young people in STEM subjects, encourage to open new STEM  Educational centers in Artsakh and develop tourism. The festival will  be held under the slogan "Dreams become reality when you realize an  idea".

According to the head of the Artsakh STEM Expo program Artavazd  Boyajyan, the event will be organized in 3 stages. As part of the  first part, according to him, an exhibition will be held, which will  present products and solutions of representatives of science and  engineering.

The second part includes STEM-TALK discussions, during which leading  experts will present their success stories, share their experience,  talk about the possibilities of the field, professions, etc. In  particular, STEM- TALK speakers will be representatives of scientific  and business groups working in the field of science, technology,  engineering and mathematics, including YEREVANN Laboratory Director  Hrant Khachatryan, Deputy Head of the Artsakh Science Center Arev  Israelyan, Diego Portales University Postgraduate Tatevik Mkrtchyan  and others.

A competition program will be held within the framework of the last  list of events. According to Boyajyan, young people aged 15 to 25 who  live or work in Artsakh can take part in the competition, and they  must submit innovative ideas in STEM areas. Of the 10 pre-selected,  the jury will select the 3 most promising.  The winning teams will be  provided with mentoring support to turn the presented developments  into a startup that will further interest investors. Next year,  according to the head of the program, students from Armenia can also  apply for participation in the competition.   

Kim Kardashian remembers Armenian genocide anniversary with throwback photos of her 2019 visit to the country with sister Kourtney and their kids

Rose Khoyetsian
Daily Mail, UK
  • The reality TV star released a poignant statement, writing, 'Today is the 107th anniversary of the #ArmenianGenocide. Let's all stand together & remember the 1.5 million people who were massacred' 
  • The SKIMS founder, 41, also expressed her pride in America, adding, 'I'm so proud that America recognizes the Armenian genocide #NeverForget' 
  • The Armenian ancestors are on the Kardashians' father's side – his family emigrated to the United States from an area that now lies in Turkey
  • Kim visited the land with her kids North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two, who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West, 44
  • Also present on the trip was her sister Kourtney, 43, and her little ones, Mason, 12, Penelope, nine, and Reign, seven, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, 38 
  • The Armenian genocide was the systematic killing and deportation of Armenians by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire
  • In 1915, during World War I, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians 

By SONIA HORON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Kim Kardashian took to Instagram on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide with throwback photos of her 2019 visit to the homeland.

The reality TV star released a poignant statement, writing, 'Today is the 107th anniversary of the #ArmenianGenocide. Let's all stand together & remember the 1.5 million people who were massacred.'

The SKIMS founder, 41, also expressed her pride in America, adding, 'I'm so proud that America recognizes the Armenian genocide #NeverForget.'

Homeland: Kim Kardashian took to Instagram on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide with throwback photos of her 2019 visit to the homeland: Pictured with her kids North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two

The Armenian ancestors are on the Kardashians' father's side – his family emigrated to the United States from an area that now lies in Turkey. 

Kim visited the land with her kids North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two, who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West, 44.

Also present on the trip was her sister Kourtney, 43, and her little ones, Mason, 12, Penelope, nine, and Reign, seven, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, 38.

Remembering: The reality TV star released a poignant statement, writing, 'Let's all stand together & remember the 1.5 million people who were massacred'

The Armenian genocide was the systematic killing and deportation of Armenians by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. In 1915, during World War I, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians.

By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were dead, with many more forcibly removed from the country. Today, most historians call this event a genocide: a premeditated and systematic campaign to exterminate an entire people. On April 24, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a declaration that the Ottoman Empire’s slaughter of Armenian civilians was genocide. However, the Turkish government still does not acknowledge the scope of these events.

 SOURCE: HISTORY.COM

During the trip the star and her children were baptized at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia's main cathedral.

In one beautiful photo, the businesswoman was dressed in a traditional floor-length black gown and a large silver necklace as she posed with all her kids. 

She looked glamorous as ever for the occasion, wearing perfect makeup and wore her long raven tresses parted in the middle and cascading down her shoulders.  

In yet another snap she was seen posing in front of a mountain view with her sister as well as North and Penelope.

Kourtney donned a matching dress and necklace for the occasion, while their daughters also sported black dresses.

Additionally, North had on a gorgeous silver headband and metallic necklace. 

Kim then shared another important memory of The Keeping Up With the Kardashian stars meeting with Armen Sarkissian, who was the Armenian President at the time. 

The ladies put on their power suits for the special occasion, with Kim wearing a chic black velvet suit and heels.

Kourtney sported a similar look, wearing a dark suit and a white T-shirt underneath her blazer.

Another beautiful throwback snap featured Kim, Kourtney, Mason and Penelope as they laid flowers at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex in Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan.

The memorial is made up of twelve slabs, which are positioned in a circle and they represent the twelve lost provinces in Turkey. 

An eternal flame is situated in the centre, which is dedicated to those who lost their lives. 

Kim first visited the site on April 24, 2015, the 100th anniversary of the deaths, where she lay red roses. 

Armenian all-in-one platform Podcastle nominated in three categories at 2022 Webby Awards

Rose Khoyetsian

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 09:45,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Podcastle company is nominated in three categories at the 2022 Webby Awards, also known as the "The Oscars of the Internet."

Podcastle Inc. Chief Operating Officer Arsen Hambardzumyan told ARMENPRESS that their competitors include global tech giants Adobe and Canva.

Podcastle enables users to conduct remote interviews without downloading any apps or tools, create, edit and enhance podcasts with a free online audio editor, remove background noise and enhance speech in a few clicks, edit audio by editing text or convert text to speech with realistic voice skins.

Podcastle is nominated in the Best Creative Production Software, Best Use of AI & ML and Best User Interface categories. The winners will be chosen from 14,000 nominees in two rounds: online voting and then by a panel of judges comprised of 2000 experts.

“Imagine an Armenian actor getting the Oscar. It’s the same for the ‘Internet Oscars’. We’d greatly promote our small country. We’ve shared the links to the voting on our Facebook account and our website, people can vote for us online by following the link, registering on the Webby website – which takes just 15-20 seconds,” Hambardzumyan said.

“We saw that people had a problem with becoming podcast hosts. They had to buy rather expensive microphones, get audio-editing trainings, they had to have a platform for downloading and broadcasting. This is a lengthy phase that people avoid. But we offer a platform that doesn’t require downloading. You just have to sign up in our web platform and easily get what you want by studying the machine learning tools that we use,” Hambardzumyan said.

Podcastle offers its tools for free with some limitations. But only $12 a month will enable users unlimited access.

Podcastle was founded 1,5 years ago and consisted only of 4 team members. Now, the company employs 40 people thanks to the investments they received.

“We got our first investment in 2020. Back then it was difficult to attract investments. Investors would search ‘Armenia’ online, they’d see that we are at war and would decide not to make investments. Nevertheless, albeit with difficulties, we were able to attract 2 million dollars in investment, which helped us to expand our team. Then we had our second investment of 7 million dollars,” Hambardzumyan said.

Podcastle founder Artavazd Yeritsyan said that together with Krisp co-founder and CEO Davit Baghdasaryan and Krisp co-founder and President Artavazd Minasyan they launched the BigStory VC Venture Fund to support startups, moreover not only with funds but also with knowledge and experience.

 

Interview by Karine Terteryan




Armenia bans mercury-containing devices

Rose Khoyetsian
17:1520.04.2022

 

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The Armenian authorities have banned the import and sale of devices containing mercury. The parliament of the republic adopted the corresponding law, informs mir24. The stop-list includes mercury barometers, manometers, thermometers.

It is noted, that mercury thermometers available to the population will not be confiscated, but new ones could not be bought in pharmacies. At present time the government is working on a timetable for withdrawing goods from the market.

Armenia joined the Minamata Convention on Mercury five years ago. The interstate agreement is aimed at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds, which can lead to poisoning by this metal.

Pashinyan, Putin welcome the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations launched with Russian support

Rose Khoyetsian

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 21:54,

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow welcomed the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations launched with Russian support, ARMENPRESS reports reads the joint statement of the two leaders.

“Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin welcomed the normalization process of the Armenian-Turkish relations launched with the Russian support.
The Parties noted the successful launch of the "3 + 3" regional consultative format, which aims to provide additional opportunities for dialogue and multifaceted cooperation between all countries in the region”, reads the statement.

Political strategist: Pashinyan admitted that he was being forced to come to terms with the loss of Artsakh

Rose Khoyetsian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.In his speech at the National Assembly yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted that he was being forced to come to terms with the loss of Artsakh behind the doors of his Brussels offices. Political  strategist Vigen Hakobyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"Pashinyan admitted that the Armenian agenda on Artsakh is now devoid  of any assistance and support in the international arena. The latter  means the need for new concessions from Yerevan on the Artsakh issue.   This, in fact, was announced by the prime minister from the rostrum  of the parliament, announcing the need to lower the Armenian bar on  the demands over the status of Artsakh, otherwise the existence of  not only Artsakh, but also Armenia may be threatened, Pashinyan is  preparing the ground for pragmatic concessions on the issue of the  status of Artsakh," he believes.

According to Hakobyan, refusal to determine the status of Artsakh on  the basis of the right of its population to self-determination, means  consent to autonomy or cultural autonomy within Azerbaijan. And this  is at best. Noting that the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group on the  settlement of the conflict – the Madrid principles are far from the  supreme dream of Yerevan and Stepanakert, the political strategist  recalled that these proposals at least assumed the protection of  Armenian interests. At a minimum, in the form of fixing the right of  self-determination of the people of Artsakh through a referendum.

This is what the political strategist determines the post-war  position of Yerevan, which considers it possible to resume  negotiations in the Minsk format even after the defeat in the 44-day  war. And the fact that the format of a single co-chairmanship of the  OSCE Minsk Group actually no longer exists, according to his  estimates, means the destruction of the principles of settlement  formed within its framework, including the right of  self-determination of the people of Artsakh. And all this against the  background of the absence of any other format that would deal with  the final settlement of the conflict and determine the status of  Artsakh.  

"And here we are again returning to the situation around  Ukraine, the current stage of the tough confrontation between the  West and Russia, which, as we see, has already been projected on  Artsakh. As a result, Russia from a country cooperating with the West  within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group has become into a  country conflicting with the West. Accordingly, the statements of the  co-chairs from the United States and France on the preservation of  the format of the OSCE Minsk Group mean that it is maintained, but  without Russia. And the goal of the collective West is to oust the  Russian Federation from all possible international cooperation  formats. Under such conditions, Armenia needs huge professional,  intellectual, analytical, diplomatic, geopolitical resources to  confront all these disappointing international realities. It is  necessary to understand the situation in order to get out of all this  with at least minimal losses.  Resources, the existence of which I  strongly doubt," summed up the political strategist.

Armenia reaffirms its commitment to ensure the right of the people of Artsakh to a free, secure, dignified life in their homeland

Rose Khoyetsian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 19:11

 1 minute read

The Republic of , and emphasizes the urgency of the international community’s efforts to prevent threats to existential security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the 30th anniversary of the Maragha massacre.

The statement reads:

30 years ago, on April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out an unprecedented massacre of peaceful population in the village of Maragha in the Martakert region of Artsakh, which resulted in complete annihilation of the Armenian settlement with a population of about 5,000.

The war crimes in Maragha are documented in the reports of international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which state that the atrocities committed against Armenians resulted in the brutal murder of at least 50 people, and 30 women, 29 women and 9 children were taken hostage, the fate of 19 of whom is still unknown.

The massacre in Maragha, which was the continuation of the pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku, was another manifestation of the policy of ethnic cleansing and hatred against Armenians by the Azerbaijani authorities.

The impunity of the masterminders and perpetrators of the massacres of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and in the Armenian-populated cities of Azerbaijan, their glorification, and the anti-Armenian policy pursued for years laid the foundation for committing new massacres.

Currently, the consistent targeting of the Armenian peaceful population in Nagorno-Karabakh and creation of humanitarian crisis by the Azerbaijani armed forces, as well as the incursion into the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces since March 24, 2022, resulting in forcible displacement of more than 400 people, demonstrate the real objective of the official Baku – the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Maragha massacre. The Republic of , and emphasizes the urgency of the international community’s efforts to prevent threats to existential security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.