Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Wednesday President Sargsyan hosts representatives of Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. President Serzh Sargsyan on May 31 held a meeting with the representatives of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), including the founders and the members of board of trustees, representatives of consulting council and the fund’s Executive Director, press service of the President’s Office told Armenpress. Executive Director, architect of innovative ecosystems Armen Orujyan introduced the fund’s formation process, the members of board of trustees and consulting council which include leading Armenian scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs throughout the world, as well as the fund’s activity goals and the programs aimed at reaching those goals. Speaking about the fund’s objectives, the Executive Director said they are aimed at coordinating and promoting the activity of Armenian scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs of the world with the purpose to create and develop harmonious atmosphere for technological innovations in Armenia, as well as to mobilize scientific, technological and financial opportunities of Armenian and international scientific communities. The meeting participants exchanged views on issues relating to effective organization of the fund’s activity and discussed the necessary conditions, mechanisms and opportunities to implement the expected objectives, listened to the President’s views and proposals in that regard. President Sargsyan said he is happy that this idea eventually turned into a reality, by forming a council, finding an executive director with the relevant experience and ability to unite potential. Serzh Sargsyan wished good luck to the fund and expressed readiness to assist implementation of this idea that is a part of common vision of Armenia’s development.
Category: 2017
Sevan National Park reform and development concept discussed at Government
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Wednesday Sevan National Park reform and development concept discussed at Government YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan, a consultative meeting on the reform of Sevan National Park was held at Government on May 31. As “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, the meeting specifically focused on the draft concept of Sevan National Park reform and development. Acting Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan noted that the concept is meant to achieve investment-driven increase in economic activity and tourism in the region based on the right balance of economic and environmental benefits. To achieve these objectives, steps will have to be taken to conserve the Lake as a freshwater basin of national and regional importance, restore and improve the ecosystem’s ecological balance, expand the recreational zone and develop an investment-conducive legal (fiscal) framework that may help address problems related to economic management, environmental protection, urban planning, land use etc. The meeting discussed the stakeholders’ recommendations on Sevan National Park’s management system, lakeside area development vision for 2018-2030 and the proposed investment projects. The Prime Minister was reported progress in the implementation of his previous instructions concerning the activities of Sevan National Park. Appreciating the solutions and approaches set out in the concept, the Premier stressed the importance of clear definition of rules for business operations and issued appropriate recommendations.
Stepanakert dismisses Azeri reports of destroyed fortification
Interfax - Russia & CIS Military Newswire Wednesday 6:19 PM MSK Stepanakert dismisses Azeri reports of destroyed fortification YEREVAN. May 31 The defense ministry of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has dismissed claims by the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan about a defensive fortification in the conflict zone having been destroyed. "The information about destruction of a defensive fortification of the NKR defense army is untrue. In fact, no serious violations of the truce have been registered throughout this day," the NKR defense ministry said in a statement. For his part, head of the Military-Medical Department of the Armenian Armed Forces, Col. Kamavor Khachatryan told journalists on Wednesday that one NKR serviceman, Alik Avanesyan, was injured in Azeri shelling last Tuesday. "The health condition of the injured serviceman has been described as serious. So far it is not possible to move him to Yerevan," Kachatryan said.
Baku criticizes Cypriot foreign minister for attributing Karabakh to Armenia, says Cypriot Turks have right to self-determination
Interfax - Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama Wednesday 6:28 PM MSK Baku criticizes Cypriot foreign minister for attributing Karabakh to Armenia, says Cypriot Turks have right to self-determination BAKU. May 31 Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides's remark to the effect that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Armenia encourages Armenia's 'policy of occupation' and is at odds with Nicosia's international obligations, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev said. "The remark by Kasoulides goes directly against the obligations which Cyprus has undertaken under international law, the Helsinki Final Act and other documents and is an illustrative example of propaganda of the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and Yerevan's policy of occupation," Hajiyev said in a statement on Wednesday. "Remarks of the sort harm efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs fostering a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and lasting peace in the region," he said. A number of media outlets earlier quoted Kasoulides as saying at a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, "It would be wrong to compare Northern Cyprus to Nagorno-Karabakh because, in contrast to Northern Cyprus, which is occupied by Turkey, Artsakh [the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh] is historically an Armenian territory." Hajiyev said this remark by Kasoulides is at odds with the opinion on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict maintained by the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, whose member Cyprus is. "What is more, the Cypriot foreign minister negates his own words by making this controversial statement. I'd like to recall that, while speaking at the January 26 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in the capacity of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers chairman, Kasoulides said that Cyprus firmly supported the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of states," Hajiyev said. "I should also say that Northern Cyprus is a territory for centuries inhabited by Turks, who also have the right to self-termination," Hajiyev said. "There are also some questions and suspicions about military cooperation between Cyprus and Armenia. Hopefully, the European Union and the OSCE will look into this matter from the angle of military aspects of the conflict," he said.
The Azerbaijani agitprop must at least understand one thing very clearly: Senor Hasratyan
168 Hours, Armenia
June 1 2017
.In regard to the May 31 disinformation and threats of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine and other issues of public interest, ARTSAKHPRESS had an interview with Colonel Senor Hasratyan, head of the information and PR department of the Artsakhi Defense Army.
ARTSAKHPRESS – Mr. Hasratyan, yesterday on May 31 the Azerbaijani side released a statement on Artsakhi ceasefire violations and at the same time on shelling their settlements. Is there any accuracy in this information?
Colonel Hasratyan – I’ve already had the occasion to answer this question and I have completely denied Azerbaijan’s agitprop’s May 31 and other disinformation. This is mainly in regard to the statements related to the made up and circulated ‘accusation’ and imaginable success of the Azerbaijani defense ministry’s press service, where the Azerbaijani side in one case attributes the ungrounded accusations of shelling their settlements to the Armenian forces, and in another case thunderously state that they have “destroyed one firing positions of the adversary” on the same and “caught a surveillance device by special measures.”
Regarding the ‘destruction’ or ‘catching’ of the firing position and the surveillance device, let me say that this information is nothing but a typical example of Azerbaijani primitive propaganda.
Regarding the shelling of peaceful settlements, I have to say that this kind of a tactics doesn’t have anything to do with the Armenian side neither in today’s “neither peace nor war” conditions, but even during the most heated and violent combat operations, something I can’t say about Azerbaijan. Moreover, in order for you to clearly understand the baseless and misleading essence of the Baku military agitprop’s provocative statements, let me notify that on April 30 and overnight April 31 no single ceasefire violation with the use of mortar weapons were recorded from the conflicting forces.
ARTSAKHPRESS – In addition to the accusation, the Azerbaijani side said in its statement that “in case of continuation of such provocations of the Armenian side” their artillery will open fire on Armenian settlements deeper from the frontline. What will you say in this regard?
Colonel Hasratyan – Making this kind of loud statements after false accusations is the typical style of the Azerbaijani agitprop. The number one task of our army is ensuring the complete security of our people, and we are ready for this at any moment in any event, especially that the Armenian Army has not only professional soldiers, but also opportunities surpassing the adversary’s armaments and strategictechnical characteristics. The Azerbaijani agitprop must at least understand one thing very clearly –making loud statements all the time in the information arena doesn’t mean succeeding in the real battlefield. The experience of wars, including our war experience, shows this.
ARTSAKHPRESS – And in the end, taking this opportunity, one more question. What is the reason of changing the frequency of daily statements regarding the tactical situation on the frontline?
Colonel Hasratyan – Lately, the media is quite often asking this question to the Army’s Command, and specifically to the press service. Let me try to present my view briefly in this regard. All of us, and especially reporters covering the Army, must realize one thing very clearly, that those decisions which are being made in our Armed Forces, are deeply thought through, and they stem from not the necessity of satisfying public interest, but are exclusively related to solving strictly important issues of strategic essence. This is one of the important peculiarities of the military, which each of us must realize and respect.
It’s impossible to continue living under constant ceasefire violation and mutual offence: Jean¬-Francois Charpentier
168 Hours, Armenia
June 1 2017
“OSCE MG is in its active status. The Co-Chairs regularly keep in touch and there is regular socialization with presidents and FMs of two negotiating countries,” French Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Jean-Francois Charpentier told reporters today.
He also informed that 10 days later the Co-Chairs will pay a regional visit.
“Mission of the Minsk Group is undertaking measure ensuring the opportunity to find a solution, however, those finding solutions aren’t the Co-Chairs, but the two sides,” the Ambassador said. Touching upon position of France on the issue, Jean-Francois Charpentier said,
“Quite recently—in March meeting of French president Francois Hollande and Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan was held, in the agenda of which there was a reflection to Karabakh conflict, and during that meeting president of France once again confirmed readiness to receive the sides and organize a meeting when a proper moment comes.”
He believes everything should be done to provide solution as soon as possible, and that there was a solution, which would be acceptable by both sides, and an option based on the three fundamental principles,
“Simply from human and also political perspective it’s impossible to continue living under constant ceasefire regime and mutual offense,” the Ambassador said.
Reflecting to recent statement issued by OSCE MG addressed to Azerbaijan, the Ambassador said, “These recent statements are more addressed, than previous ones, however, those preceding them were also quite addressed, if it’s possible to read between the lines.”
By Roza Hakobyan
Azerbaijani military present exercise targets as Armenian objects in false footage
168 Hours, Armenia
June 1 2017
Azerbaijani media outlets posted footage allegedly firing at Armenian targets. “Military exercises, seemingly artillery exercises, are currently underway in Azerbaijan. During these exercises, they install some targets and shoot them. Azerbaijan is presenting these as Armenian targets, just the way they do in other actions,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan, spokesman of Armenia’s defense minister, said. According to him, the border situation is calm, the usual daily few shots happen.
Any attempt of Azerbaijan to implement its threats will have extremely dangerous consequences, first of all, for Azerbaijan itself: Artsakh MFA
168 Hours, Armenia
June 1 2017
Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Artsakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artak Nersisyan commented on the disinformation of the Azerbaijani side in an interview with news.am.
Question: Recently, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has accused the Armenian side of shelling the Azerbaijani territory and threatened to strike an artillery blow on the NKR settlements. How would you comment on this statement?
Answer: The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh has already refuted this statement of the Azerbaijani side. We, in turn have repeatedly noted that by accusing the Armenian sides of violating the ceasefire regime the Azerbaijani authorities, in fact, try to conceal their responsibility for escalating the tensions on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan and undermine the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group cochairs aimed at the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict exclusively by peaceful means. As for the threats of Azerbaijan to shell the settlements in the depth of the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, this is an extremely irresponsible statement.
It should be noted that it is not for the first time that the Azerbaijani side makes such statements. Thus, back in April 2016, the Azerbaijani Defense Minister threatened to launch missile strike on Stepanakert, the capital city of Artsakh. It seems that the Azerbaijani side does not fully realize the seriousness of its actions and statements, since any attempt to implement such threats will have quite predictable and extremely dangerous consequences, first of all, for Azerbaijan itself.
It seems that the Azerbaijani side does not fully realize the seriousness of its actions
news.am, Armenia
June 1 2017
It seems that the Azerbaijani side does not fully realize the seriousness of its actions
- Politics – , 20:24
Comment by Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Artsakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artak Nersisyan to news.am AgencyQuestion: Recently, the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has accused the Armenian side of shelling the Azerbaijani territory and threatened to strike an artillery blow on the NKR settlements. How would you comment on this statement?Answer: The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh has already refuted this statement of the Azerbaijani side. We, in turn have repeatedly noted that by accusing the Armenian sides of violating the ceasefire regime the Azerbaijani authorities, in fact, try to conceal their responsibility for escalating the tensions on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan and undermine the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs aimed at the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict exclusively by peaceful means. As for the threats of Azerbaijan to shell the settlements in the depth of the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, this is an extremely irresponsible statement. It should be noted that it is not for the first time that the Azerbaijani side makes such statements. Thus, back in April 2016, the Azerbaijani Defense Minister threatened to launch missile strike on Stepanakert, the capital city of Artsakh. It seems that the Azerbaijani side does not fully realize the seriousness of its actions and statements, since any attempt to implement such threats will have quite predictable and extremely dangerous consequences, first of all, for Azerbaijan itself.
ANKARA: ‘Fleeting City’ by Hovhannes Tekgyozyan
Hurriyet, Turkey
June 1 2017
‘Fleeting City’ by Hovhannes Tekgyozyan
William Armstrong – [email protected]
Mount Ararat (Ağrı in Turkish) rises behind the Armenian capital Yerevan.
‘Fleeting City’ by Hovhannes Tekgyozyan (Mosaic Press, 128 pages, $18)
You pick up “Fleeting City” by Hovhannes Tekgyozyan with some anticipation. The short novel promises something unique, billed as a taboo-breaking work by an important voice in a new generation of Armenian authors. Tekgyozyan is an award-winning writer, actor, and playwright, and “Fleeting City” is described as a kind of movie-novella, combining humor, mysticism and grotesquery.
The narrative centers mainly on Gagik and Grigor, two young men who appear to narrate a trip out of the capital Yerevan to Lake Sevan with a visiting Turkish traveler. The details of these characters are refracted through a bewildering prism of phantasmagorical impressions past and present. Scenes cut and shift abruptly, glimpsed through a dizzying array of perspectives. Tekgyozyan’s experience as a screenwriter is clear from the almost cartoon-animated quality of the description, at times like an animation on paper.
The impression is like a fever dream, where reality and fantasy are blurred beyond recognition. The grey and conflict-ridden landscape of post-Soviet Armenia is enriched with surprising, colorful imagery. Proustian reveries are provoked by the characters’ sensory experiences; time frequently collapses in on itself; motifs swirl in and out of the narrative. There is a kind of synesthesia at work, as the boundaries between senses become ineffable and ultimately evaporate.
Tekgyozyan leaves behind the themes of corruption and economics probed in more traditional Armenian novels. But does his cocktail of virtual reality, sexuality, suicide and drugs say anything original?
Unfortunately, its effect quickly becomes tiring. “The day changed—and fleeted… The night lights turned on—and fleeted… The café emptied—and fleeted… Valodik appeared at our table—and fleeted,” we read in one of the more coherent passages. There are many far less coherent ones: “My cut hair itched. The itch flapped in my throat. I flapped until the scissors fell out of the bull’s hand. The half-blunt blade tore the redness of Coca-Cola and hurled me home.” Tekgyozyan’s fantastical style has been compared with “Alice in Wonderland” or the movies of Tim Burton. Sadly, in “Fleeting City” such playfulness often slips into boring po-facedness.
Perhaps it’s down to the translation, but I found the experience of reading “Fleeting City” akin to the frustration experienced trying to read in a half-understood second language. You are constantly beset by a faint panic: What am I missing? Am I not getting that right? In the end I suspect there is little to actually get.
Tekgyozyan should be applauded for addressing themes of homosexuality in a traditional society in a unique and uninhibited way. But many readers will find “Fleeting City” an endurance test. Personally I limped my way to the end of the book. There is small comfort in the fact it only goes on for just over 100 pages.
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June/01/2017