Armenian minister to discuss strategic infrastructural projects with Lithuanian counterparts

Save

Share

 12:53,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan will depart for Lithuania to take part in the Transport and Logistics 2050 international transport innovation forum on October 21, the ministry said in a statement.

Minister Sanosyan will deliver remarks at the event.

He is also scheduled to meet with Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis and Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys. The ministers are expected to discuss the current political and economic matters, strategic infrastructural projects connected with transportation innovations and digitization.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Azerbaijan’s Emerging Arsenal Of Deterrent

By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
 
Tensions have increased between Iran and Azerbaijan over road tax imposed on Iranian truck drivers that want to enter Armenia through Azerbaijan, over Azerbaijani ties to Israel and plans for a corridor linking Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave with mainland Azerbaijan. The latter's occurence could see Tehran lose its connection to Armenia altogether, hindering its access to the regional market. While current tensions between Tehran and Baku have so far been confined to diplomatic tensions and military exercises along their respective borders, some fear that mounting tensions between the two countries could one day escalate into an all-out regional conflict.
 
In early October, Tehran launched a number of exercise along its northern border with Azerbaijan. Although presumably aimed at sending a strong message to Baku, the 1960s-era Chieftain MBTs, BMP-1 IFVs, M577 APCs and M109 SPGs covered by ZSU-23 SPAAGs did little to impress international spectators. However, later footage also revealed the deployment of short-range ballistic missiles, and the unimpressive equipment does not accurately represent the scores of newly-developed loitering munitions and ballistic missiles that have entered service with Iran's armed forces in recent years.
While Iran's extensive arsenal of missiles and drones has received plenty of attention, Azerbaijan also maintains an emerging arsenal of deterrent. In addition to being one of the most modern and capable in the region – combining modern equipment from sources like Israel, Turkey and Belarus – it is also one of the fastest-growing. In recent years, Azerbaijan has also initiated the development of several guided armament types, so far including the design and production of a number of guided missiles and bombs. This list aims to catalogue these armament types currently in Azerbaijani service.
(Click on the equipment to get a picture of them in Azerbaijani service)

  •  9K111 Fagot [Range: 2.5km]
  •  9M113 Konkurs [Range: 4km]
  •  9K114 Shturm [Range: 5km] (For use by Mi-24V/P attack helicopters)
  •  Spike-LR [Range: 4km] Two launch configurations: (2)
  •  Skif [Range: 5km]
  •  R-2 Baryer ''Barrier'' [Range: 5km] (For use by Mi-24G attack helicopters)
  •  9M133 Kornet [Range: 5.5km]
  •  9P157-2 "Khrizantema-S" [Range: 6km]
  •  9M120 Ataka [Range: 6km] (For use by Mi-35M attack helicopters)
  •  Spike-ER [Range: 8km] Three launch configurations: (2) (3) (Also for use by Shaldag Mk V patrol vessels)
  •  Spike-NLOS [Range: 25km] Two launch configurations: (2) (For use by Mi-17 attack helicopters and Sa'ar 62 patrol vessels)
  •  Experimental Tactical Missile (ETR-M) [Range: 60+km]
  •  STM Kargu [Range: 10km] [1.3kg warhead]
  •  Orbiter-1K [Range: 100km] [3kg warhead] (In service with the State Border Service)
  •  Zarba-K [Range: 100km] [3kg warhead] (In service with the State Border Service. Azerbaijani-manufactured version of the Orbiter-1K)
  •  SkyStriker Early [Range: 100km] [5 or 10kg warhead] (In service with the State Border Service)
  •  SkyStriker Late [Range: 100km] [5 or 10kg warhead] (In service with the State Border Service)
  •  IAI Harop [Range: 1000km] [23kg warhead] (In service with the State Border Service)
  •  85mm divisional gun D-44 [Range: 15.6km]
  •  122mm (D-30) howitzer 2A18 [Range: 15.4 km or 21.9 km when using RAPs]
  •  130mm (M-46) field gun M-1954 [Range: 27.5 km or 38 km when using RAPs]
  •  152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B field-gun [Range: 15.2km or 21.9km when using RAPs]
 
  •  100mm T-55 (Used as an indirect-fire platform)
  •  120mm Cardom [Range: 8km]
  •  120mm Spear Mk2 [Range: 10km]
  •  120mm 2S31 Vena [Range: 18km]
  •  122mm 2S1 Gvozdika [Range: 15.2km or 21.9km when using RAPs]
  •  152mm 2S3 Akatsiya [Range: 18.5km or 24km when using RAPs]
  •  152mm SpGH DANA [Range: 20km]
  •  152mm 2S19 Msta [Range: 25km or 28.9km when using RAPs]
  •  203mm 2S7 Pion [Range: 37.5km or 55.5km when using RAPs]
  •  155mm ATMOS 2000 [Range: 24.5km or 41km when using RAPs] (Documented by a few sources. Not yet seen)
  •  220mm TOS-1A [Range: 6km]
  •  107mm T-107 'Boran' [Range: 11km]
  •  107mm MRLS-107 [Range: 11km]
  •  128mm RAK-12 [Range: 13km]
  •  122mm BM-21 'Grad' [Range: 40km]
  •  122mm RM-70 [Range: 40km]
  •  122mm KRL 122 [Range: 40km]
  •  122mm T-122 'Sakarya' [Range: 40km]
  •  122mm Grad 'Lynx' [Range: 40km]
  •  160mm LAR-160 'Lynx' [Range: 45km]
  •  300mm BM-30 'Smerch' [Range: 90km]
  •  230mm TRLG-230 [Range: 70km] [CEP: 2m] (Used in conjuction with Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs)
  •  300mm TRG-300 Kasirga [Range: 120km] [CEP: 10m]
  •  306mm Extra [Range: 150km] [CEP: 10m]
  •  300mm Polonez [Range: 200km] [CEP: 30m]
  •  300mm Polonez-M [Range: 290km] [CEP: 45m]
  •  OTR-21 Tochka-U [Range: 120km] [CEP: 95m]
  •  LORA [Range: 430km] [CEP: 10m]
 
  •  SOM-B1 [2021] [Range: 250+km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
 
  •  QFAB-50-ISAB [Range: Up to 65km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  QFAB-100-SAB [Range: Up to 65km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  QFAB-250-LG [Range: 12+km] (Aselsan LGK laser guidance kit integrated on an Azerbaijani-produced QFAB-250 bomb. For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  QFAB-250-KAB [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  FAB-50-KAB [Range: 25km or 50km with a rocket booster] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  FAB-75-KAB [Range: 30+km or 60+km with a rocket booster] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  Konteyner-250/10 gliding cluster bomb (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  Unknown Guided Bomb (1) [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  Unknown Guided Bomb (2) [Range: ?] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  MAM-L [Range: ~15km] (For use by Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs)
  •  Groza R-934UM2 [Range: Up to 65km] (For use by Su-25 attack aircraft)
  •  Koral (Documented by a few sources, not yet seen)

Recommended Articles:

The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Ballistic Missiles and Artillery Rockets

The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Drones
The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles

Opposition MP: Goris-Kapan road section de facto handed over to Azerbaijan

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 6 2021

A section of the road linking two Armenian towns, Goris and Kapan, has in fact been handed over to Azerbaijan, MP Anna Grigoryan from the opposition Armenia faction told reporters in the parliament on Wednesday.

“Members of the Civil Contract faction were recently in Goris and I understood from their posts that they were in Tatev. I wonder why they didn’t pass through the Goris-Kapan road section to understand the feelings of our compatriots,” she said.

In her words, the facts indicate that the Goris-Kapan road section has de facto been handed over to Azerbaijan.

Grigoryan noted that Iranian citizens have a stamp placed in their documents when entering Armenia at the Meghri customs checkpoint, and Azerbaijanis place their stamp over the Armenian one on the Goris-Kapan road section.

"When leaving Armenia, our customs officers put another stamp over the Azerbaijani one, de facto recognizing that the Azerbaijanis have full control over this road section. But there is no legal document in this regard," the MP said.

Grigoryan recalled that as a result of the previous construction works an Azerbaijani customs checkpoint was set up on the road, adding new construction is currently underway and it is not known yet what is being built.

She noted that in order to clarify these issues, the opposition factions invited the heads of the relevant agencies to the National Assembly, but the latter refused to appear in parliament or attend a meeting of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

"Judging from that, I can assume that they have some kind of secret agreement, which they don't want to speak about, or they simply don't know what is going on," said the lawmaker.

According to her, there are no well-maintained roads to the villages of Bardzravan, Shurnukh, Vorotan and no construction works either.

She said that the dirt road leading to the villages passes through a wooded area and is extremely inconvenient for travel in winter.

Anna Grigoryan added that currently the Goris-Kapan road is used less often than the Tatev road.

Armenian, Italian Presidents discuss Karabakh conflict settlement

Save

Share

 16:57, 6 October, 2021

ROME, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting with his Italian counterpart in Rome, President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian presented his assessment to the situation around the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, reaffirming Armenia’s readiness to continue the works on peacefully settling the conflict with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Armenpress correspondent reports from Rome.

President Sarkissian has arrived in Italy on a state visit at the invitation of President Sergio Mattarella.

“In this sense we valued the importance of maintaining balanced positions and approaches over the issues that are sensitive for us. We highly appreciate the readiness of the government of Italy to continue the support to the ROCHEMP (Center for Cultural Heritage) program and contribute through this program to the preservation of historical-cultural monuments both in Armenia and elsewhere”, the Armenian President said.

He stated that Armenia is grateful to friendly Italy for demonstrating sensitivity on human rights matters. Sarkissian added that Armenia highly appreciates the resolution adopted by the Italian Parliament on March 2 which calls for the release of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

“We also welcome the documents adopted by nearly 50 regional and city councils of Italy in support of Artsakh and its people. We attach importance to the participation of the Italian specialists to the preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural heritage, as well as the direct cooperation with UNESCO”, Armen Sarkissian said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Troops of Russian Southern Military District to conduct drills in Abkhazia, Armenia

TASS, Russia
Oct 5 2021
The exercise will be conducted as part of the final check for the 2021 academic year

ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 5. /TASS/. Units of Russia’s Southern Military District will conduct drills at training grounds in 14 Russian regions, as well as in Abkhazia, Armenia, and South Ossetia amid NATO’s naval exercises, the press service of the Southern Military District said on Tuesday.

The NATO drills involve warships, aviation, air and missile defense systems. Apart from that, the drills envisage the deployment of US troops to Black Sea countries, near the Russian borders.

"Battalion tactical groups of the Southern Military District army units have set off by railway, sea-going and motor transport to the designated areas of training grounds located in 14 Russian southern regions and in the military bases in the South Caucasian republics of Abkhazia, Armenia, and South Ossetia. This approach will ensure a comprehensive check of military units," the press service said, adding that the drills will be conducted as part of the final check for the 2021 academic year.

PRESS RELEASE – AUA Receives $813,135 USAID/ASHA Grant for its Media Lab Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


PRESS RELEASE

AUA Receives $813,135 USAID/ASHA Grant for its Media Lab Project

YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is happy to receive the approval notification of a competitive grant award of $813,135 from the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant is for the establishment of the AUA Media Lab, which aims to strengthen democratic culture, promote the development of a civic press, foster citizen engagement in social media, and advocate for the proper discernment of information.

Through cutting-edge equipment and tools, the AUA Media Lab will serve as a medium for pinpointing target areas of media intervention most crucial for the industry. The initiative will promote the co-creation of well-grounded and reliable approaches to curtail pervasive misinformation and disinformation that corrupt the media landscape and falsely amplify narratives that undermine the legitimacy of democracy. With a focus on strengthening American values and practices and catalyzing collaboration with civil society, the Media Lab will serve as a platform for fostering public trust, tolerance, and empathy between and among various communities. This is expected to improve the media landscape and the level of civic engagement, as well as nurture civic skills that advance an effective and results-driven reform agenda.

As a 21st century American educational institution, part of AUA’s role is to inform, educate and enlighten large numbers of learners within the AUA community, as well as in the extended urban and rural populations. By serving as a community media hub, the AUA Media Lab is expected to generate a competitive advantage for AUA in identifying the most optimal strategic directions for civil society capacity building. This will expand learning opportunities and advance leadership competencies among students, particularly those majoring in humanities and social sciences or business by fostering dialogue and seminal discourse and communication initiatives.

The AUA Media Lab will not only promote civic engagement among all members of the AUA community, other users, guests, invited speakers, and participants of public events, but also expand institutional linkages and collaborations with other local and international universities and research centers. The larger community will have the opportunity to take part in targeted professional and specialized training in high-impact media concepts and related topics. Moreover, AUA will be able to build expert capacity and attract new collaborative initiatives and research through the Media Lab.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. 


Kind regards,
Margarit

Margarit Hovhannisyan | Communications Manager

Մարգարիտ Հովհաննիսյան | Հաղորդակցության մենեջեր

+374 60 612 514,  

mhovhannisyan@  

__________________________________________

Հայաստանի Ամերիկյան Համալսարան

Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն, 0019, Երևան, Մարշալ Բաղրամյան պող. 40

40 Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia


Media Lab.jpg

JPEG image

The California Courier Online, October 7, 2021

1-         Pres. Aliyev’s 11-Year-Old Son Owned

            $45 Million Property in Central London

            By Harut Sassounian
            Publisher, The California Courier
            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2-         Palestinian-Armenian dispute over Jerusalem land deal intensifies

3-         Letter to the Editor

4-        Yvette Vartanian Davis Elected to

            CA Community College Trustees’ Board of Directors

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19

************************************************************************************************************************************************

1-         Pres. Aliyev’s 11-Year-Old Son Owned

            $45 Million Property in Central London

            By Harut Sassounian
            Publisher, The California Courier
            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
This sensational report was exposed by the international news media on
Oct. 3, 2021. While this is not the first time it has been revealed
that the family of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has purchased
hundreds of millions of dollars of properties in foreign countries
through offshore companies, it is the latest and most detailed such
scandalous news.

The report about Aliyev’s 11-year-old son Heydar Aliyev was exposed by
the Pandora Papers—the largest collection of leaks of concealed
financial documents. These secret files were organized by the
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with the
participation of over 650 reporters worldwide. The records contain
“nearly 12 million documents and files from 14 financial service
companies in several countries, the British Virgin Islands, Panama,
Belize, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Switzerland,”
according to the BBC.

While many of “the revealed transactions involve no legal wrongdoing,”
there are serious “concerns that some property buyers could be hiding
money-laundering activities,” the BBC stated. “Offshore companies can
offer to help people hide dodgy cash or avoid tax. They are using
those offshore accounts, those offshore trusts, to buy hundreds of
millions of dollars of property in other countries, and to enrich
their own families, at the expense of their citizens,” added Fergus
Shiel from ICIJ.

The BBC went on to report that “The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and his family, who have been accused of looting their own country,
are one example. The investigation found the Aliyevs and their close
associates have secretly been involved in property deals in the UK
worth more than £400 million [$540 million]. Azerbaijan’s ruling
Aliyev family, long accused of corruption, have built a vast offshore
network to hide their money.” Pres. Aliyev’s annual salary is
$228,000.

BBC also revealed that the Aliyevs bought 17 buildings in the UK,
including an entire block of office buildings in the posh Mayfair area
of London for $45 million in 2009 for the president’s 11-year-old son,
Heydar Aliyev, who was then in grade school.

The Aliyevs bought another building in London for $47 million in 2008
and sold it in 2018 for $89 million, making a profit of $42 million.
The Aliyevs sold that property “to the Crown Estate—the Queen’s
property empire that is managed by The [UK] Treasury and raises cash
for the nation.” BBC reported that “The Crown Estate said it carried
out the checks required in law at the time of purchase but is now
looking into the matter.”

A separate article on the ICIJ website, under the title of “The Power
Players,” highlighted the incredible wealth of Azerbaijan President’s
three children: Arzu Aliyeva, Heydar Aliyev, and Leyla Aliyeva.

The ICIJ article explained that “Ilham Aliyev became president of
Azerbaijan in a 2003 election widely regarded as manipulated…. He has
de facto control over the state oil fund, which generates annual
revenue of $9 billion. His presidency has been marked by brutal
political crackdowns and human rights violations, including the
imprisonment and torture of journalists and dissidents. Despite
accusations of running a kleptocracy, Aliyev maintains close
relationships with European leaders through what has come to be known
as ‘caviar diplomacy.’ The 2017 Azerbaijani Laundromat investigation
by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed how
almost $3 billion linked to Aliyev was laundered through shell
companies, with much of the proceeds spent on gifts for European
politicians. Other media investigations, including ICIJ’s Offshore
Leaks and Panama Papers, have shown that the Aliyev family controls
significant wealth in Azerbaijan and that the president’s three
children also own properties in the U.K. and Dubai.”

ICIJ further revealed that “The Pandora Papers provide a view of the
startling scale of the Aliyev children’s luxury property investments.
They were shareholders of 44 companies registered in the British
Virgin Islands between 2006 and 2018. The records show the children
owned five companies used to buy more than $120 million worth of
high-end London properties between 2006 and 2009, many of which were
later sold for vast profits.”

Besides the $45 million London office building owned by then
11-year-old Heydar Aliyev, his sister Arzu purchased anther office
building one block away through an offshore company for $47 million.
“In 2009, a company owned by the eldest child, Leyla Aliyeva, bought a
$13.5 million corner building behind London’s Oxford Circus, which has
housed a string of businesses run by Aliyev family friends,” according
to ICIJ.

In an effort to obscure the ownership of these properties, “starting
in 2013, the children transferred shares in their offshore companies
to their maternal grandfather, Arif Pashayev. The holdings were later
transferred to a series of trusts based in the Isle of Man, a British
dependency and secrecy haven. Pashayev and two close associates bought
further properties in and around London worth more than $500 million
between 2006 and 2017,” ICIJ revealed. Not surprisingly, none of the
Aliyev family members responded to ICIJ’s repeated requests for
comment.

While it is disgraceful that funds belonging to the citizens of
Azerbaijan were misused, the good news for Armenians is that
Azerbaijan did not use these large sums to purchase more arms, to
inflict further damage on the people of Armenia and Artsakh!

************************************************************************************************************************************************

2-         Palestinian-Armenian dispute over Jerusalem land deal intensifies

JERUSALEM—The Synod of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a
statement on September 9 ratifying and confirming the decision to
lease the lands owned by the patriarchate in Goveroun Bardez to a
company which will build a hotel (this statement appeared in The
California Courier on September 16, 2021).

The Higher Presidential Committee of Church Affairs in Palestine
issued a letter on September 22 expressing concerns about this lease.
On Sept. 22, a letter was sent by Ramzi Khoury, head of the
Palestinian Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in
Palestine, to Catholicos of All Armenians Patriarch Karekin II calling
land transactions in the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem
a violation of international law, since the area inside the Old City
is an “integral part of the Palestinian occupied territories” governed
by relevant international resolutions.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has also been “urged to intervene,”
according to a statement by the Higher Presidential Committee.

Father Baret Yeretzian, Real Estate Director of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sent an open letter to the Head of the
Palestinian higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in
Palestine, responding to accusation leveled against the Armenian
Patriarchate for leasing a property in Jerusalem’s Old City known as
the Cows' Garden to an Israeli hotel company. The California Courier
received the full text of the open letter, from Yeretzian to Khoury,
which is printed below:

“The Armenian Patriarchate is the exclusive owner of its property and
shall remain so at all times, the Patriarchate’s ownership was not
undermined under the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, the
Jordanian and the Israeli regimes.

The un-protected lease is for a limited period of time and for the
specific purpose of a hotel.

The Patriarchate has full authority and exclusive prerogative to do as
it pleases with its properties.

The denomination and race of the counter party is irrelevant. The
Patriarchate was negotiating similar deals indiscriminately with
Armenians from Russia, with an Arab from Jordan, and people of other
nationalities none of whom followed through.

It is our duty to utilize our properties for the welfare of our
Patriarchate and we have been doing so for centuries.

Irresponsible comments that are made public might encourage extremists
to take extreme measures. One should also remember that he might be
held responsible for such consequences.

You claim that you want to protect our land, let me remind you when we
begged your committee to help us against the Abu Hawa family who
infiltrated in our property on Mount of Olives, you turned blind eye
on us, we did request also others without mentioning their names, they
did the same.

We cannot help suspecting that your criticism against us is aimed to
undermine and weaken the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in favor
of your own religious leadership who sold properties in the heart of
the Old City of Jerusalem. The Armenian Patriarchate maintains its
neutrality and un-involvement in political and racial matters. Please
do not drag us into such disputes and do not use us in order to
promote your political agenda.

Let me remind you we hold in highest esteem and sympathy the
Palestinian and Jordanian people, and I have the honor of being a
Jordanian citizen myself.”
************************************************************************************************************************************************

3-         Letter to the Editor

To The Editor:

From the start of Mr. Harut Sassounian’s journey publishing The
California Courier, I looked forward to receiving the weekly issues,
In particular reading Mr. Sassounian’s thought-provoking column on
page 4.

This letter is following a lengthy telephone conversation I had with
Mr. Sassounian last week regarding matters of concern to us all
Armenians.

Mr. Sassounian’s appeal for the medical emergency fund-raising for the
children of Armenia and Artsakh came to my attention recently. This
came as no surprise as it has always been his ongoing commitment to
come to the aid of the nation of Armenia.

The ruthless war declared on Artsakh and Armenia by Azerbaijan with
the collaboration of Turkey, which took advantage of the situation to
continue its history of barbarism and genocidal fervor against
Armenians. In addition to those two mighty combined forces, the
participation of the hired mercenaries from other countries
transported to the front lines to facilitate and complete the crime.

Yet we survived. We cannot give up, we will not surrender.

The late Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia Vasken
Sarkissian, wrote in his diary

“I fear those who do not fear, I fear those who are indifferent.”

Nor do I forget the words of the late Varsenig Abolakian, who on the
occasion of a meeting in 1999 at our home discussing establishing a
hotel in Stepanakert, in response to the question, “Will the
investment be secure?” Varsenig said, “Yete anonk arian kinov ge
vjaren, mern al togh ka tramin.” (If they are paying with their blood,
let us at least be ready to pay with money.)

These words have never left me. Call it emotional, if you wish. We are
not made of the hardest substance on earth!

With four partners we founded ‘Nairi Hotel’ in Stepanakert, 20 years
ago in 2001. Throughout the years ‘Nairi Hotel’ accommodated many
visitors, dignitaries, compatriots and other guests from around the
world. ‘A home away from home’.

It became a shelter for families from the ‘four-day war’ during April
of 2016 and again with a larger numbers of refugees who are still
living there from the 44-day war that began on September 27, 2020
which resulted in incalculable damage and loss of life and our lands
in Artsakh.

Of course I would contribute to participate in Mr. Sassounian’s current project.

It seems this is part of our destiny, our inheritance, an ongoing
burden. So be it.

It is a fact that our people gets together in times of need and under
immense pressure and at critical times I believe most respond
generously and continue to help the homeland and the children of our
beloved Armenia. We are thankful for the support of our compatriots.

Please allow me to acknowledge Mr. Sassounian’s contribution to our
people and homeland. In his own way, he has set the standard and
example to follow. I still remember on one occasion visiting Mr.
Sassounian in his office in Los Angeles. His complimentary remarks
touched me and have touched me since. He is a rare individual. Thank
you, Harut, for your relentless work to help the people of our
homeland.

Varoojan Iskenderian

Sydney, Australia

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

4-        Yvette Vartanian Davis Elected to

            CA Community College Trustees’ Board of Directors

The Glendale Community College District (GCCD) Board of Trustees is
proud to announce the election of Trustee Yvette Vartanian Davis to
the California Community College Trustees’ Board of Directors (CCCT).
The 21 member CCCT Board takes positions on and formulates education
policy issues that come before the California Community Colleges’
Board of Governors, the State Legislature, and other relevant
state-level boards and commissions.

Trustee Vartanian Davis is the first Armenian American woman in
California to serve in this prestigious role, having received a vote
of confidence by trustees serving the 116 community colleges and with
more than 2.1 million students attending community colleges in
California. She was the second highest recipient of votes in
California which indicates the respect she has garnered amongst her
peers during her first term.

“It is rare that a trustee in her first elected term reaches this
level of accomplishment,” said Dr. Armine Hacopian, GCC Board
President.

Vartanian Davis was elected as a Trustee of (GCCD) Board in 2017,
representing the South Glendale District where she resides. In
addition, in 2020-2021, she was unanimously elected as President of
the GCCD Board.

Trustee Ann Ransford, a former CCCT Board President herself and a
current member, who is the Vice-President of GCCD Board of Trustees,
expressed that “Trustee Yvette Vartanian Davis always puts students
and their success at the heart of her decisions. Having representation
at the state level continues to put GCCD at the center of community
college issues and provides the GCCD Board with current policies, data
and information.”

According to Dr. Viar, GCCD Superintendent/President “…as state laws,
regulations, and funding are under review in Sacramento, it is
essential that Glendale Community College needs are understood and
addressed. Trustee Davis’ role on the state board is pivotal and
provides GCCD that needed advocacy and recognition on behalf of our
students and our community.”

It is important to note that the hard work of Vartanian Davis has been
recognized by multiple associations and she has been honored for her
leadership roles as she continues to serve on various boards. Through
her volunteer work, Yvette Vartanian Davis has been able to serve and
support various global organizations with the purpose of improving the
quality of life for those in need of a helping hand.

Vartanian Davis plans on running for the Glendale Community College
Board again and she is very appreciative of the mentorship provided to
her by Trustee Ann Ransford, Dr. Hacopian, and Dr. Viar.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19

Armenia is continuing the fight against the third wave of COVID-19
cases, as the country continues promoting the vaccination phase.

The U.S. State Department on July 26 warned American citizens to
reconsider travel to Armenia due to the increase in cases of the
Covid-19.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a
Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Armenia due to COVID-19, indicating a
high level of COVID-19 in the country,” said the State Department.

The State Department also urged U.S. citizens not to travel to the
Nagorno-Karabakh region due to armed conflict.

“The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S.
citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh as U.S. government employees are
restricted from traveling there,” the State Department added.

There were 15,078 active cases in Armenia as of October 4. Armenia has
recorded 265,317 coronavirus cases and 5,397 deaths; 244,482 have
recovered.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

************************************************************************************************************************************************

California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week's issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
address, . Letters are published with
the author’s name and location; authors are required to disclose their
identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or telephone
numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses
by emailing .

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 01-10-21

Save

Share

 17:18, 1 October, 2021

YEREVAN, 1 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 October, USD exchange rate up by 1.12 drams to 485.32 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.52 drams to 561.95 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 6.64 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.60 drams to 654.99 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 150.71 drams to 27193.6 drams. Silver price down by 11.68 drams to 335.86 drams. Platinum price down by 27.60 drams to 15026.07 drams.

Moscow’s Rebuke of Aliyev’s Threats

Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Alexei Zaytsev

Confrontational rhetoric does not contribute to overcoming disagreements, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Alexei Zaytsev told reporters on Thursday, in an apparent rebuke of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who has continuously threatened that Baku will open the so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” linking Azerbaijan proper with Nakhichevan through Armenia.

“Instead, it is extremely important to create opportunities for finding mutually acceptable solutions,’’ advised Zaytsev, adding that both Baku and Yerevan have expressed, at the highest level, their “readiness to open a new page in relations and a gradual normalization of relations.’’

Saying that Russia is proponent of “such positive approaches,” Zaytsev added that the working group tasked to address the unblocking of transport routes in the South Caucasus continues its efforts with the participation of the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“For our part, we welcome the positive attitude of Baku and Yerevan towards reaching mutually acceptable, package agreements, which in the future will give an opportunity to jointly advance toward a partnership,’’ said Zaytsev.

The foreign ministry official also said that Moscow is hopeful that a proposed visit by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region will contribute to the organization of a meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

‘’Russia has always believed that constant dialogue, particularly at the highest level, contributes to the ensuring of mutual understanding and finding solutions to problematic issues in a constructive atmosphere,” said Zaytsev.

He also said that Russia is continuing to work with Yerevan and Baku to ensure the return of Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for maps of minefields, which he said will help normalize relations between the two countries.

Exhibition dedicated to Alexandr Spendaryan’s 150th anniversary to open in Yerevan

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 24 2021

CULTURE 19:49 24/09/2021 ARMENIA

A unique exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Armenian composer Alexandr Spendaryan will open on September 25, at 14:00 in the large exhibition hall of the National Library of Armenia. As the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport reports, the event is organized as part of the European Heritage Days and inter-museum cooperation. 

The exhibition is titled "The Founder of the Armenian classical symphony music" and is organised jointly by the Museum of Printing of the National Library of Armenia, Alexandr Spendaryan Museum-House, Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Art. Among the exhibition are the handwritten scores of Spendaryan, gramophone records and other materials saved from the creative activity of the composer.  

As the Ministry added, most of the exhibits are from collections of the Spendaryan Museum-House and the Museum of Literature.