Author: Tania Jagharian

Speaker of Parliament of Armenia takes part in divine liturgy dedicated to Artsakh Defense Army in Shushi

Tania Jagharian

Speaker of Parliament of Armenia takes part in divine liturgy dedicated to Artsakh Defense Army in Shushi

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15:08,

YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan attended a divine liturgy dedicated to the Defense Army of Artsakh in Holy All-Saviour Ghazanchetsots Church of Shushi in the morning of May 10, the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress.

Speaker Mirzoyan was accompanied by Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan and high-ranking military officials.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia’s jailed ex-president: I’ll join struggle against new leaders

Tania Jagharian
Reuters
May 8 2019
 
 
Armenia's jailed ex-president: I'll join struggle against new leaders
 
Margarita Antidze
 
 
TBILISI (Reuters) – Armenia’s imprisoned former president Robert Kocharyan told Reuters powerful opposition forces were coming together to challenge the ex-Soviet state’s new leadership soon, and that he hoped to be among them.
 
 
Kocharyan, who was president from 1998 to 2008, was arrested last year, charged with acting unlawfully by introducing state of emergency in March 2008, following a disputed election. At least ten people were killed in clashes between police and protesters.
 
The 64-year-old ex-president was arrested in July after peaceful protests drove his former ally and successor, Serzh Sarksyan, from power and propelled opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan into the prime minister’s job in May, last year.
 
Critics have accused Kocharyan and his former allies of cracking down on democracy, corruption and mismanagement during their time in power Armenia, a country that depends heavily on Russian aid and investment. They have denied those allegations.
 
Writing from the detention center where he is being held, Kocharyan told Reuters the charges against him were politically motivated, and accused Pashinyan’s government of selectively applying the law to keep him in jail.
 
Pashinyan bolstered his authority in Armenia as his political bloc won early parliamentary elections in December last year. The My Step Alliance, which includes Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party, won 70.4 percent of the vote.
 
Kocharyan said that new politicians and opposition parties were emerging in Armenia.
 
“This process will certainly lead to the creation of a powerful political force capable of challenging the authorities very soon,” he said in written answers to questions sent by Reuters earlier this week.
 
Asked if he would be personally involved in the emerging opposition, he replied: “Yes, of course.”
 
But he did not give details about what form that involvement could take.
 
Looking back at the mass protests last year that led to power change in the South Caucasus country of about 3 million people, Kocharyan said they were caused by “accumulated discontent in the society and desire for change”, but were not a revolution.
 
“I would not call it a revolution as fundamentally nothing has changed in the country, except for the appearance of a big share of aggression in the society, and populism and dilettantism in the leadership,” he said in written answers to questions the Reuters had sent to him.
 
Kocharyan also defended the decisions he took during the 2008 protests.
 
“Order was restored only after the introduction of the state of emergency and thanks to it,” he said. “Not doing that would have meant official inaction on the part of the president.”
 
Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore

Crimea to establish museum district on the basis of Aivazovsky Gallery

Tania Jagharian
Panorama, Armenia
Culture 12:22 16/04/2019 World

A museum district will be created on the basis of the Aivazovsky National Art Gallery in Feodosia (Theodosia), the Crimea in the next two years, TASS reports, citing Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov.
The top official said leading experts from the Tretyakov Gallery have arrived in Crimea to assess the museum fund.

“Such a program has never been implemented in the Crimea or in Russia’s south,” he said on Facebook.

The Russian news agency says the museum district will be set up under a federal target program, with some of the funds to be allocated by the Ministry of Culture, while the Aivazovsky Gallery and the house of his sister will remain the property of Theodosia.

The gallery runs in the house designed by Aivazovsky in 1848. Later, the artist built a large exhibition hall adjacent to it. The galley holds the largest collection of the seascape painter’s artworks, featuring over 400 paintings and graphic works.

Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky Aivazovsky (1817–1900), was a Russian painter of Armenian descent, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings. Aivazovsky was born to a poor Armenian family in the city of Theodosia. 

At the age of 20, he graduated from the Art Academy of St. Petersburg with a gold medal. He moved to Italy to continue his studies and returned as an internationally acclaimed seascape painter. Neither financial security nor life in Palace interested him. He returned to his native land, built a studio on the seashore and, until the last days of his life, dedicated himself to the work that he loved. 

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry Secretary General Meet with ARF Leaders

Tania Jagharian
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7 hours ago

ARF Bureau and Western US Central Committee members with Secretary General of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Vahagn Melikian

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau and Western U.S. Central Committee on Tuesday hosted the Secretary General of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Vahagn Melikian, who was visiting Los Angeles as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Armenia’s Consulate General to Los Angeles.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining Armenia’s foreign policy priorities, the latest developments in the Karabakh conflict resolution process and regional security concerns.

Melikian, who was accompanied by Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles, Dr. Armen Baibourtian, said that the ARF has always played and will continue to have a critical role Armenia’s every-day life. He said that the work the ARF does to advance Armenia’s interests around the world was critical to advancement of Armenia’s standing in the international community.

He also praised the efforts of Armenian advocacy organizations and the impact it has on advancing Armenia’s foreign policy initiatives, singling out the work of the Armenian National Committee of America and its regional offices in engaging American public officials to further relations between Armenia and the United States.

The ARF Central Committee members, who were joined by ARF Buream members Dr. Viken Yacoubian and Aram Kaloustian, welcomed Melikian and emphasized that party has and will continue to fight for the strengthening of Armenia’s statehood and ensuring the growth and prosperity of Artsakh. The ARF’s keen focus of advancing the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, as well as its insistence for just resolution to the Karabakh conflict were underscored by the party leaders.

The ARF leader reiterated the party’s commitment to advancing the aspirations of the Armenian state, ensuring stability and security for the Armenian and Artsakh republics and enhancing Diaspora-Armenia relations.

If we are forced into war, we will force peace – Pashinyan

Tania Jagharian

If we are forced into war, we will force peace – Pashinyan

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22:07, 8 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia does not plan to launch any military operations, but if anyone does it, Armenia will force peace, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashiyan told the reporters at the National Assembly. Speaking about his last meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, Pashinyan said that it went on in a constructive atmosphere.

“It was mentioned in the joint statement of the Co-chairs, as well as the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan that the meeting was constructive. An agreement was reached to respect and strengthen the ceasefire regime. If someone asks if there is any possibility that we will break the agreement, I will say “no”, but if anyone breaks that agreement, it does not mean we will not protect ourselves”, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan as saying.

The reporters asked Pashinyan to comment on the announcement of Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, who had said that the principle of “territories for peace” will no longer exist. The Minister had even re-formulated it, saying “new lands in case of new war”.

“We say, do not threaten us by war, because we are not afraid of war. There is nothing illogical or unconstructive in the announcement of the Defense Minister. If someone wages war against us, do they think Armenia will surrender? Of course, not. We say that we are number one advocate for a peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and we have said that we will do everything to push forward the peace agenda. And if we always speak about the peace agenda, there should be no impressions that we will be threaten by war. Azerbaijan has to be threatened by war as much as we have, and the region has to be threatened in general. If we are forced into war, we will force peace. We do not plan to launch any military operations, but if anyone does it, Armenia will force peace”, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




RFE/RL Armenian Report – 03/30/2019

Tania Jagharian 
                                        Saturday, 

Authorities ‘Still Hunting’ For Sarkisian’s Fugitive Brother

        • Naira Nalbandian

Armenia -- President Serzh Sarkisian awards a medal to his brother Levon, March 
22, 2016.

Armenian law-enforcement authorities have so far been unable to track down and 
arrest a fugitive brother of former President Serzh Sarkisian facing corruption 
charges, Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian claimed on Friday.

Levon Sarkisian was charged with “illegal enrichment” after tax inspectors 
discovered in June that he and his two children hold almost $7 million in 
undeclared deposits at an Armenian bank.

Under Armenian law, such asset declarations are mandatory for high-ranking 
state officials and their family members. This legal requirement applies to 
Levon Sarkisian because he worked as ambassador-at-large at the Armenian 
Foreign Ministry until his brother was overthrown in last spring’s “velvet 
revolution.”

Levon Sarkisian is thought to have left Armenia shortly before being indicted. 
One of his business partners, Gabriel Jemberjian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
service in December that Sarkisian is now living abroad but planning to return 
to Armenia because “his issues should be solved very soon.”

The head of the National Security Service (NSS), Artur Vanetsian, stated 
recently that the ex-president’s brother is in Lebanon at the moment.

Davtian downplayed Vanetsian’s statement, arguing that it has not yet been 
officially confirmed by Lebanese authorities. “We can start an extradition 
process only if he is found and arrested [in a foreign country] and we are 
formally notified about that,” the chief prosecutor told reporters. “That has 
not happened yet.”

Also prosecuted is Serzh Sarkisian’s second, more controversial brother, 
Aleksandr. He was charged with fraud in February several months after the NSS 
had his $30 million bank account frozen as part of a separate criminal inquiry.

The NSS announced early this month that it has allowed Aleksandr Sarkisian to 
“temporarily” leave the country after he donated $19.6 million of that money to 
the Armenian military.

Sarkisian, who is better known as “Sashik,” also paid $6.5 million in back 
taxes. The nearly $3.9 million remaining in his frozen account will also be 
transferred to the state to fully settle his tax debt, according to the NSS.




Press Review



Lragir.am quotes a former Azerbaijani foreign minister, Tofik Zulfugarov, as 
predicting that Friday’s meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will end in failure. He says that the 
conflicting parties will fail to bridge their substantial differences on the 
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The online publication suggests 
that summit’s possible failure would lead to either a continued “imitation” of 
peace talks or an escalation of tensions of the Karabakh frontlines. “The 
Armenian side is reviewing the whole negotiating process and demanding a public 
interpretation [by Baku and the mediators] of the proposed principles [of the 
Karabakh settlement,]” it says.

“Zhoghovurd” describes as “quite sharp” Pashinian’s criticism of the United 
States which he voiced on Thursday. “It is the first time that Pashinian spoke 
about the United States in such a tough manner,” comments the paper. It notes 
that he also criticized the European Union during and after a July 2018 visit 
to Brussels and stressed the importance of respecting Armenia’s sovereignty in 
his first talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Why did at least 95 percent of the public support the revolution in April last 
year?” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “Because at least 95 percent of the public 
felt that Armenia needs radical changes, and in all areas.” The pro-government 
daily does not exclude that Pashinian’s approval ratings have fallen since 
then. But it insists that even those Armenians who are now disappointed with 
the prime minister continue to demand radical changes. They are only unhappy 
with the pace of those changes, it says. Some of them may also not like 
government efforts to make every citizen pay taxes, the planned downsizing of 
the state bureaucracy or a perceived lack of individuals jailed for corruption, 
according to the paper.

(Lilit Harutiunian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Armenpress: Pashinyan government achieves ‘unprecedented’ extra budget revenues, announces wage raises in military, education sectors

Tania Jagharian

Pashinyan government achieves ‘unprecedented’ extra budget revenues, announces wage raises in military, education sectors

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10:53,

YEREAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. The 2019 state budget’s revenues will be over-performed by at least 40 billion drams, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told lawmakers today in parliament.

“This is approximately 90 million dollars. This means state revenues in 2019 will be this much more than it was envisaged by the budget passed by parliament. This is an unprecedented occurrence for at least the past 9 years because for at least a quite long period of time we didn’t have a situation when the budget’s revenues were over-performed, left alone in such huge volumes,” he said.

He also elaborated what the government plans to do with the extra money.

“We intend to raise the salaries of military servicemen by 10% starting July 1 2019, and from September 1 the salaries of public school teachers will be raised by the same amount. I am talking about approximately 38,000 teachers. In addition, this year we plan to carry out various level of renovation of nearly 303 kilometers of roads, which is also an unprecedented indicator for the last 9 years, but we also hope and know that savings will happen during this process”, he said, noting that the North-South Road Corridor construction isn’t included in this figures.

He said the government will allocate another 10 billion drams for implementing subvention programs.

Speaking about the additional 40 billion drams in collected revenue, the PM said: “This is first and foremost a result of the government’s and the state revenue committee’s policy against the black market. And since I predict that concerns will be raised as to what extent can this negatively impact our economy, I would like to note that repressive methods weren’t at all used during this process, analytical, negotiations and dialogue methods are applied”. He also mentioned “cooperation between citizens and the government” as the next important factor.

“I am happy to note that Armenian citizens are truly broadly reacting to the government’s calls that they themselves also have things to do in combating shadow economy. Do you remember my calls that people must demand [payment bills] whenever they buy anything from anywhere, and I am happy to note that from May 2018 until now 65 million more payment bills have been printed than in the previous period. This is yet another proof that the society and the government are in a practical dialogue with one another and this dialogue is giving concrete results”, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Internet overtakes TV in Armenia as source of news

Tania Jagharian
ARKA, Armenia

YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. The Internet and, in particular, the social networking services  as a primary source of news have overtaken TV for the first time in Armenia, Director of the Region Research Center Laura Baghdasaryan told reporters today, presenting the findings of a media consumption study.

The study conducted from January 10 to February 10, 2019 embraced 1,150 residents in 19 rural and 34 rural communities across Armenia. It was conducted to clarify the amount of information citizens get from television, newspapers, social networks, online media and other sources.

"For the first time in many years, 58.9% of respondents said that the main source of news and information for them was the Internet (66% together with social networking services), television ranked second (35.7%), and online media ranked third. It is noteworthy that the radio and print media have significantly given in to such sources of information as relatives, friends and neighbors," said Baghdasaryan.

According to her, the main reason for this result is the fact that television is absolutely not adapted for Internet users.

“If television channels want to endure this competition with the Internet and social networking services, they need to enforce radical reforms,” said Baghdasaryan, stressing that some changes are already being observed, in particular, the Public Television of Armenia represents not only the government’s opinions, but also the opinions of the opposition and ordinary citizens.

Users noted Facebook (73%), Instagram (30.3%), Odnoklassniki (23.4%) and Twitter (4.3%) social networking services as the most popular sources of news and information. A small number also named Vkontakte and Telegram.

The study showed that 37% of users consider Facebook as the main source of news and information in particularly tense times; it is followed by the online media. At the same time, about a quarter of the population read the news only in Facebook, ignoring newspapers and television. At the same time, 53% of active users use Facebook as a source of distribution news and information.

"Recently, politicians have begun to actively use Facebook to communicate with the population via live broadcasts, and polls show that about half of the population consider this format useful, while 41.4% have a negative attitude to this format," said Baghdasaryan. -0-


Yerevan in top 10 best cities for start-ups

Tania Jagharian

Yerevan in top 10 best cities for start-ups

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20:07, 6 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Business leaders have started to view Armenia as a technological and innovative hotspot, ARMENPRESS reports Danish platform Valuer specialised in start-ups and innovations writes. It has made a list of the 25 cities with the best start-ups, where Yerevan raks 6th.

'Self-described as the “Silicon Mountains”, the number of software startups quadrupled between 2015 and 2017 to reach approximately 280. The government is legislating to facilitate further growth of this market, offering a five-year tax break for startups and creating two free economic zones in Yerevan in which tech startups can operate without paying VAT, property tax, income tax, or export customs duty.

These reforms have seen the tech industry grow by 20% annually, exploding compared to Armenia’s overall economic growth (hovering at 2%). The large US tech corporations in Armenia are also funding educational programs, further developing Yerevan’s talent pool. With the industry accounting for 15% of Armenia’s exports, the startup scene here is only expected to continue to grow”, Valuer writes.

The top 5 cities of Valuer's list are Warsaw (Poland), Tallinn (Estonia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Portland (USA) and Riga (Latvia).

Earlier, Yerevan was included in world's top 10 cities for tech career list by Enterprise Times.

“Research shows that by 2025, the need for programmers in Armenia will have tripled to 30,000. This is largely due to the ever-increasing innovation in their tech sector. A sector that is growing at an annual rate of 20% and shows no signs of slowing down. If you haven’t considered a move to the country previously, it’s worth considering. Cost of living is very low, crime rates are low and culture is in abundance. Currently the main speaking languages are Armenian & Russian but the English language is becoming more and more popular”, Enterprise Times said in the article published in October 2018.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan