2017 – Page 77 – Armenian Directory & News

The Football Faithful

Nov 15 2017

Uzair Madhani 15/11/2017 Opinion

Manchester United have endured a largely miserable month in the Premier League. One key factor has been the form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Jose Mourinho may need to take action before this run of poor performances weighs his team down further.

Mkhitaryan started the season in stunning form. In Manchester United’s first six Premier League games, the Armenian attacking midfielder bagged one goal and five assists.

Since then, the well has run dry. As United were brought back down to earth in October, Mkhitaryan has come crashing down with them.

Since the 1-0 win against Southampton, on the 23^rd of September, Mkhitaryan has not played more than 75 minutes in a Premier League game. This seems to insinuate that Mourinho believes that the Armenian is not the player he needs to close out tight games.

His performances in the games since have taken a noticeable downturn. Up to and including the Southampton game, Mkhitaryan averaged 1.67 shots, 3.17 key passes, and 1.5 successful dribbles per game.

Since then, all these numbers have dropped. In the five games since, he has averaged 0.6 shots, 0.8 key passes, and 0.6 successful dribbles per game. The total passes per game and accurate crosses have also decreased in this time.

Mkhitaryan’s loss of form has coincided with a dip for Romelu Lukaku as well. With the Armenian serving as the main conduit for United’ attacks, his stuttering autumn has led to a lean spell for the Belgian striker.

In the games against Chelsea, Huddersfield and Liverpool, United needed more thrust from their attacking midfield. The energy and drive to get to goal just was not there, and counter-attacks lacked speed and sharpness.

United’s attacks have been rendered stagnant by Mkhitaryan’s reduced effectiveness, as his errant passes and touches allow defences to reorganise and close up any open space.

The absence of Paul Pogba has not helped, as the Frenchman provides another element for opposing sides to cope with, drawing markers and freeing up the space that Mkhitaryan needs.

Once the November international break is over, United are in action against Newcastle, who have reacclimatised themselves well in their return to the top flight.

It might be time for Mourinho to drop Mkhitaryan to the bench, give him a rest and allow him to shake off this slump.

He does not lack options, with Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard both capable of playing behind the striker. Additionally, either one of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial might also relish the chance to play more centrally.

If United want to stand any chance of reeling in an imperious Manchester City team, they cannot afford to drop more points before the Manchester Derby in December.

To do that, they may need to make a tough call regarding their talented Armenian.

Should Mourinho drop Mkhitaryan? Will his form return when Pogba does? Who should replace the Armenian? Leave a comment below.

Pan Armenian, Armenia

Nov 15 2017

Two of Armenia's players leading World Chess Championship R2

The second round of the World Junior Chess Championship was held on Wednesday, November 15, with two Armenian grandmasters snatching victories again.

After a successful start in round 1 and 2, Hayk Martirosyan and Manuel Petrosyan are leading the championship alongside 20 other players.

International master Tigran Harutyunyan drew in the second round too, while Siranush Ghukasyan from the girl's team lost the match.

Harutyunyan and Ghukasyan have one point each.

The championship is set to run through November 25.

Pan Armenian, Armenia

Nov 15 2017

– 18:35 AMT

Armenia's Henrikh Mkhitaryan among Man United's 11 int'l record-holders

ManUtd.com provides a look at the current and former Reds stars who also hold the goalscoring record for their nation.

Armenia: Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 25 goals / 70 caps

United's midfield maestro broke his nation's goalscoring record in 2013, when he netted in a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Italy, to surpass Arthur Petrosyan's previous record of 11 goals.

Mkhitaryan now captains Armenia and recently netted in friendly wins over Belarus and Cyprus, to take his international tally to 25.

Belgium: Romelu Lukaku – 31 goals / 65 caps

Lukaku's goal in the 1-0 friendly win over Japan made it three strikes in this international break alone, after he netted a fine double in the 3-3 draw with Mexico last week.

The Antwerp-born front man's brace in Brussels took him level with Bernard Voorhoof and Paul van Himst on 30 goals, before his header against Japan took his tally to 31.

But his new status is disputed by FIFA, who nullified a 2014 friendly between Belgium and Luxembourg in which he hit a hat-trick because the Rode Duivels made seven substitutions – one more than the permitted six. It also meant ex-Reds winger Adnan Januzaj's debut for his country was wiped from FIFA's records.

Bulgaria: Dimitar Berbatov – 48 goals / 78 caps

The languid and stylish striker netted 56 goals in 149 league and cup games during a four-year spell at United before leaving for Fulham in 2012. And his record on the international stage was even more impressive.

Berbatov's 48 goals in 78 caps marks an impressive return for a player who played in just one major tournament (Euro 2004), and he tops his nation's goalscoring charts alongside Hristo Bonev, who represented Bulgaria between 1967 and 1979.

Colombia: Radamel Falcao – 28 goals / 70 caps

The Monaco striker, who plied his trade at Old Trafford in the 2014/15 season, became his nation's leading scorer with a bullet header in a 2-2 friendly draw with Spain earlier this year.

That goal was Falcao's 26th for his nation, taking him above Arnoldo Iguaran's tally of 25. The former Chelsea man has since taken the Colombia captaincy and he netted twice in their final four qualifiers to help Jose Pekerman's side secure a spot at the World Cup finals in Russia.

England: Wayne Rooney – 53 goals / 119 caps

Rooney became United's all-time leading scorer last season as his free-kick against Stoke City took him to 250 goals for the club, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton's previous record.

However, the powerful forward also holds the illustrious record of being England's most deadly marksman, having scored 53 goals in 119 games before his international retirement in August this year. He also the Three Lions' most-capped outfield player, second only to Peter Shilton in the all-time list.

Mexico: Javier Hernandez – 49 goals / 99 caps

Chicharito enamoured himself to the United faithful during his five-year stint at Old Trafford between 2010 and 2015, in which he bagged 59 goals in 158 appearances across all competitions.

Hernandez has been prolific for his country throughout his career; however, he only surpassed Jared Borgetti's record of 46 goals in May this year, when he found the net in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Croatia.

Netherlands: Robin van Persie – 50 goals / 102 caps

Van Persie famously helped United win our 20th league title, after joining from Arsenal before the start of the 2012/13 campaign, but he also has pedigree on the international stage, too.

The leggy attacker surpassed Patrick Kluivert's record of 40 goals in style, with a hat-trick in an 8-1 World Cup qualifying win over Hungary in 2013. He also once netted four goals in a single game – an 11-0 Euro 2012 qualifying thrashing of San Marino.

Northern Ireland: David Healy – 36 goals / 95 caps

A product of United's famed Academy, Healy only went on to appear three times for the Reds' first team, though he did flourish for Northern Ireland and eventually became their all-time leading goalscorer in 2004 with a brace against Trinidad and Tobago.

Healy is also the only player to date to net two hat-tricks for the Green and White Army, against Spain and Liechtenstein in 2006.

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo – 79 goals / 147 caps

The former United star has a whopping 79 goals for his country, having surpassed Pauleta's previous record (47) in 2014 with a double in a 5-1 friendly thrashing of Cameroon in Leiria.

Since then, Ronaldo has gone from strength to strength and led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title. The Real Madrid forward is now just five goals behind Europe's most prolific scorer, Ferenc Puskas, who netted 84 goals in 89 games for Hungary and Spain.

Scotland: Denis Law – 30 goals / 55 caps

Part of the 'United Trinity' alongside George Best and Charlton, Law netted 237 goals in 404 appearances for the Reds between 1962 and 1973, placing him third in our all-time goalscoring charts.

However, he went two better on the international stage, as his 30 goals in 55 international outings make him Scotland's joint-highest scorer, sharing the record with Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.

Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 62 goals / 116 caps

Having made his international debut in a goalless draw with the Faroe Islands in 2001, the big Swede went on to fire an impressive 62 goals in 116 matches for his country over a 15-year period, before he announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2016.

The most memorable of his 62 strikes is arguably that overhead kick against England in Stockholm in 2012, a spectacular 30-yard effort that beat Joe Hart and rescued Sweden a 2-2 draw.

*Statistics correct as of .

AzerNews, Azerbaijan

Nov 15 2017

16:25 (UTC+04:00)

The Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (ITV) of Azerbaijan has sent a letter to Director General of the European Broadcasting Union Noel Curran, the public relations department of ITV told Trend on November 15.

According to the letter, the fact that the Armenian representative Michael Grigoryan’s attempt to lead to a political sabotage in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Georgia, has raised concerns in Azerbaijan, about 20 percent of territories of which are occupied by Armenia.

The Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company states that it is unacceptable that Grigoryan demonstrates a flag of the illegal regime created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories under the pretext of being a Khankandi-origin, and says that he is a member of the “Voices of Artsakh” music group.

The ITV believes that the European Broadcasting Union, which has repeatedly and insistently stated that it is far away from political games, will grasp Azerbaijan’s position in this sensitive issue, will prevent the political sabotage, and will not allow the children to become victims of separatism and instruments of political tricks, says the letter.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 is a music platform and this magnificent event should bring joy to all children of the whole world, and good memories, added the ITV in its letter.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Trend, Azerbaijan

Nov 15 2017

18:13 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

The process of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resumed, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said in an interview with Italy’s Agenzia Nova.

He said the work carried out by Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the chairperson-in-office, is of great importance in terms of preventing the escalation of the conflict, especially along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

"The OSCE’s work is to control the process, rather than to resolve the conflict," Greminger said. “The sides of the conflict [Armenia and Azerbaijan] are responsible for the conflict settlement.”

As for all the protracted conflicts in general, Greminger said the OSCE plays the role of a mediator, but the conflict settlement depends on the political will of the sides involved.

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Harut Sassounian

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

The website Medium.com posted two articles by Louise Neu revealing that Ronn Torossian had signed a contract to represent Turkey as its PR agent! Torossian is President of the 5W Public Relations firm based in New York City.

Justice Department records indicate that Torossian signed the agreement on May 25, 2017. His firm will get paid an additional $60,000 for the period of May 16-Nov. 16, 2017, which is automatically renewable for another six months. This payment is in addition to the amount specified in the contract signed on August 10, 2016.

It is noteworthy that Torossian signed the agreement with Turkey nine days after Pres. Erdogan watched his bodyguards beat up a group of demonstrators in front of Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC. Three days after the protesters were beaten and injured, Torossian published an article in The Algemeiner, titled: “Deport Radical Islamist Preacher [Gulen] and Maintain American Interests.”

Interestingly, Louise Neu revealed that Torossian had written another article in Newsmax on Feb. 17, 2017, criticizing the media coverage of Michael Flynn’s resignation. Ironically, Torossian had written an earlier article in Newsmax on May 20, 2015, critical of PR Firm Levick Communications’ work for the Embassy of Qatar, in which he stated: “There are those who feel it is OK to spin for dictators and terrorists. Yet, this writer [Torossian] agrees with the owner of the world’s largest PR firm, Richard Edelman, who said, ‘PR is not like the law — Not everyone deserves representation.” Contradicting himself, Torossian engaged in the hypocritical action of defending the interests of Erdogan, the dictator of Turkey!

Ronn Torossian

In addition, Torossian wrote on January 27, 2017, in The Observer, published by Pres. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, criticizing PR firms that “whitewash repressive regimes….” He concluded: “dictators and terrorists don’t deserve any PR help.”

I called Torossian’s office twice. Each time a staff member assured me that he would return my call. I never heard from him. Louise Neu had a similar experience when she tried to reach Torossian. When she tweeted him about his connections to Turkey and Trump associates, Torossian tweeted back: “I shot JFK! My ex-wife is Russian!!!! I even ate caviar this week!” Torossian is not only impolite in not responding to phone messages, but he is reported to have a bad temper against his employees and others! The New York Times described him as “brash and aggressively outspoken.” He is also reported to have business dealings with shady Jewish and Russian oligarchs, according to Louise Neu. Even though Torossian has an Armenian last name, I was not able to confirm if one or both of his parents are Armenians, or neither one!

Ronn Torossian is also “a partner, Chief Marketing Officer and advisory Board member of JetSmarter,” according to his Linkedin profile. JetSmarter is a controversial company described as “uber for planes.” The CEO of JetSmarter is Sergey Petrossov, the son of Vatchagan Petrossov, who definitely has an Armenian name.

The main reason I was interested in Ronn Torossian’s employment as a PR agent for Turkey is that there was a similar situation with Barry Zorthian who worked from October 1980 to February 1984 for the lobbying firm of Gray and Co., hired by Turkey. Zorthian was a former executive for Voice of America and Time, Inc. In 1968-69 he was the chief U.S. spokesman in Saigon, Vietnam.

After I had become aware that Zorthian was simultaneously an executive at a lobbying firm for Turkey and Board Member of the Armenian Assembly of America, I called him to ask if his dual roles did not create a conflict personally or for his firm. As a sign of respect for a fellow Armenian, I cautioned him that if he answered my questions, it could lead to his dismissal from his job. Zorthian, 63, replied that he did not care if he lost his $65,000-a-year job as senior vice president of Gray and Co. He went ahead and honestly answered all my questions. Zorthian explained that he worked in the public relations office and not on the Turkey account which was handled by the firm’s lobbying department.

As soon as my article was published on the front page of the California Courier on January 19, 1984, the Turkish newspaper Tercuman reported my interview with Zorthian which caused a great embarrassment to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, finding out that an Armenian-American was a top executive for the lobbying firm that was getting paid $300,000-a-year by Turkey.

On Feb. 21, 1984, the lobbying firm’s vice chairman, Alejandro Orfila, told Zorthian that the Turkish Ambassador Sukru Elekdag was extremely irate reading the newspaper report. Orfila quoted Amb. Elekdag stating: “I hired you guys to help me with my political problems, and instead you’re creating problems for me… You must do something drastic that I can report back to my government or else I’ll be forced to cancel the contract.”

The PR firm’s chairman, Robert K. Gray, cut his vacation short in Acapulco, Mexico, and immediately returned to Washington. Zorthian was fired after rejecting Mr. Gray’s request to resign.

Even though I was not pleased to see Mr. Zorthian lose his job, but as a young reporter who had started working as a journalist six months earlier, it was very satisfying that my obscure article made the headlines in Turkey and came to the attention of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Amb. Elekdag. Furthermore, the Washington Post wrote a lengthy article on April 13, 1984, quoting from my article and mentioning my newspaper as the source of this international controversy.

I urged Zorthian to file a lawsuit accusing Gray and Co., of employment discrimination due to his national origin. Zorthian did file charges with the Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights, claiming he was illegally fired because of his Armenian background.

Unfortunately, I do not know the outcome of Zorthian’s lawsuit. Both he and his wife have passed away since then.

If Mr. Torossian is truly an Armenian, how could he do PR for Turkey? More importantly, how could Turkey hire him given Mr. Zorthian’s experience?

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A scene from the AYF Youth Corps program

Apply to AYF Youth Corps 2018 today!

GLENDALE—The application for the 2018 Armenian Youth Federation Youth Corps summer program is now available. AYF Youth Corps is a six-week program in Armenia, of which five weeks are dedicated to hosting summer camps for youth ages 9-16, and one week is scheduled for exploring the treasures of Armenia.

“Living in Armenia allows you to witness the everyday lives of the locals. Not only do you witness it, but you become a part of it. We spent hours outside playing sports or hanging out with locals rather than glued to our phones.” emphasized Knar Baghdassarian, a 2017 youth Corps participant. “Armenia’s living environment is very different from what we’re used to in America and living there definitely made me realized how much I take things for granted,”

Youth Corps participants get the opportunity to go on excursions to Armenian landmarks including Dzidzernakapert, Temple of Garni, Geghard Monastery, and more. The program participants run camps in various regions of Artsakh and get a chance to visit the Armenian community in Javakhk, Georgia during their time volunteering.

AYF Youth Corps participants during the morning flag ceremony

During the summer camps, Youth Corps participants lead children in competitions, sports, Armenian history lessons, arts and crafts, singing, and other aspects of Armenian culture. Participants are immersed in the city in which they host the camp for children that week.

The AYF Youth Corps provides a unique and hands-on opportunity for Armenian youth to connect with their Homeland, impacting both those who join as Youth Corps participants and the local communities that welcome AYF Youth Corps.

“Youth Corps is so unique in that you build bridges, memorable connections with the young kids who wait all year long to meet you as your campers at jampar; you reconnect to your roots, ignited by the day to day experience from waking up early by the cheerfully inpatient campers, ready for jampar, walking with you to and from the campsite, excited to show you their home,” said Alique Cherchian, a Youth Corps 2016 participant. “However, above all else, the humbleness of the beautiful kids and the community locals makes you realize truly how much of an impact you are making on them, their village community, and our Hayastan as a whole, simply by participating in the program.”

The deadline to submit an application is March 1, 2018. Apply today!

Founded in 1933 with organizational structures in over 17 regions around the world and a legacy of over eighty years of community involvement, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the world, working to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of Armenian youth.

| 15:29 | November 14 2017

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Politics

Deputy defense minister of Armenia Artak Zakaryan reassures that the law on military service and status of servicemen isn’t aimed at hindering the development of science and education in the country.

Zakaryan told reporters in the parliament that fighting against the bill with the “For the Development of Science” slogan is entirely unreasonable.

“I am aware that several students who are displeased with the law have declared hunger strike. I call on the young people to end the hunger strike, because it isn’t the right way, and this law isn’t the law which can be fought against by all means. During a meeting with these very students with the Prime Minister, we suggested them to participate in the designing of sub-legal acts which stem from the law. During these discussions we will take into account all proposals, we’ll see to what extent the mechanisms are effective, whether or not we are creating new possibilities for “dodgy” people, so they find ways to avoid serving. We didn’t present any initiative hindering the development of education and science”, Zakaryan said.

He added that deferment will continue being in force, but under conditions. Moreover, under conditions affordable and accessible for all. “Today deferment is in force only for those who gain points, while we suggest giving the right to deferment to all students who say that they aren’t avoiding military service, but are requesting to be allowed to continue education. Can there be a better proposal?”, he said.

“While accepting their demands will mean to return to the same situation, when the abusers will continue abusing, the avoiders will continue avoiding, and science will in no way benefit”, he said

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ANCA-WR’s HyeCitizen Campaign

LOS ANGELES—True to its mission to empower Armenian American communities, the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region has launched HyeCitizen – a bilingual training video for the United States Citizenship Civics Test designed specifically for native Armenian speakers.

“HyeCitizen – the latest tangible example of our commitment to our community’s diverse civic needs – enables thousands of qualifying Armenian American permanent residents across the United States to learn US civics and pass the Citizenship test amid ongoing federal uncertainties over immigrant rights,” remarked ANCA-WR chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

“Our grassroots outreach across the region has identified the urgent need to assist Armenian Americans in preparing for the Civics portion of the USA citizenship test, since many permanent citizens delay or even forego applying for naturalization, in part, due to the lack of accessible training programs. According to the University of Southern California, the naturalization rate among local Armenian-speaking legal permanent residents has been 84%, much higher than the lowest of 55% among Spanish speakers yet below the highest rate of 91% among Vietnamese speakers. Among Eastern Armenian-speaking residents born in the Republic of Armenia, the naturalization rate is even lower – 80%,” continued Hovsepian.

“Green card holders who fail to apply for US citizenship not only risk losing their legal status, even under such commonplace circumstances as undertaking prolonged overseas trips, they also miss out on unique opportunities to become policy influencers as voting constituents. The political climate over immigration makes the need to naturalize at the earliest available opportunity even more critical, which is why we are pleased to have created a widely-accessible training program to help native Armenian speakers to learn US civics,” continued Hovsepian.

Produced by ANCA-WR’s Denver-based Community Development Coordinator and Political Scientist Simon Maghakyan, with narration, production, and translation assistance from ANCA-Colorado volunteers Susanna Avagyan, Angela Ginosyan, George Cole, and Hasmik Kachaturian, HyeCitizen is a 50-minute-long bilingual video training for native Armenian speakers for the Civics Test required for US naturalization. The training covers all 100 questions issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Service, including 57 questions about principles of American democracy, system of government, and rights and responsibilities, 30 questions covering topics from the colonial period to the past few decades, and 13 questions about geography, holidays, and national symbols. The training has built-in bilingual closed-caption, as well as pronunciation tips, making it accessible to individuals with hearing impairment.

HyeCitizen is in both English and Eastern Armenian, which enables native Armenian speakers, especially those born in the countries of Armenia, Artsakh, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union, to not only learn the US Citizenship Civics Test by memorizing the questions and answers in English but also by understanding the concepts and contexts. Additionally, HyeCitizen enriches the training with background information, including maps and original documents, to further contextualize many of the civics test questions and explain their historical meanings. Notably, the program explains the USA’s unique Electoral College, even though the test itself has no direct questions about this complex yet vital institution of American democracy. For current public official, state and district specific questions that are subject to change due to elections or appointments, HyeCitizen references reliable weblinks for finding out accurate, up-to-date answers.

Native Armenian speakers who are applying for US citizenship can access ANCA-WR’s free HyeCitizen bilingual training program for the US Citizenship Civics Test on www.ancawr.org/hyecitizen.

The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.

                                        Tuesday, 

Activists Opposed To Military Service Bill Go On Hunger Strike


 . Karlen Aslanian


Armenia - Students hold a protest against a bill restricting draft
deferments, Yerevan, 7Nov, 2017

Several students from a pressure group protesting against restrictions
on draft deferments went on a hunger strike in Yerevan as Armenian
lawmakers began to debate the controversial bill in its second reading
on Tuesday.

The protests sparked by the legislation considerably restricting draft
deferment opportunities for students, including those wishing to
pursue scientific careers, entered their second week today.

Several hundred students have been boycotting classes since November
7, going around the campus of Yerevan State University, Armenia's
oldest and largest educational establishment, and urging their
fellow-students to join their protest, as well as marching towards
government building to show their disagreement with the bill already
passed in its first reading late last month.

Representatives of the protesting students were received by Armenia's
prime minister, education and defense ministers, but they did not
agree to stop their protests even after being offered to join the work
on drafting relevant decisions after the adoption of the law.

The bill stipulates that in order to get a draft deferment all male
students who want to pursue their studies must sign contracts with the
Ministry of Defense and agree to serve three years in the military
after completing their studies at the location chosen by the
Ministry. Otherwise, the students will be drafted to the army once
they attain the age of 18.

The protesting students as well as several opposition parties and
public figures in Armenia believe this measure will only harm the
development of science in the country as it will imply interruptions
in the education process or will otherwise discourage the few students
who want to pursue scientific careers.

Five members of the group called `For Science Development' locked
themselves inside one of the lecture rooms of the Faculty of
Sociology, Informatics and Applied Mathematics of Yerevan State
University, saying they will stop their hunger strike only after the
bill is withdrawn from parliament.


Armenia - RFE/RL Armenian Service reporter Karlen Aslanian interviews
David Petrosian who together with four other protesters went on a
hunger strike inside a locked lecture room of Yerevan State
University, 14Nov, 2017

Among the hunger-strike participants is also student and activist
David Petrosian. He told RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) that
they in particularly protest against the parliament's decision to
proceed with the discussions of the bill without paying heed to their
concerns and without making any changes in it before the second
reading.

"Besides, with this hunger strike we try to show to all citizen that
their voice matters# Public apathy that has spread among us is very
sad. And this way we contribute to the overcoming of this apathy," the
activist said.

Petrosian, who already served in the army, said that three other
students in the five-member group also completed their military
service. "Four of us have served in the army. And by this we want to
prove that this is a movement for fairness and justice," he said.

Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian has also repeatedly stated that the
new bill is aimed at restoring justice among those male students who
get draft deferments and exemptions from military service and those
who don't. He has insisted that its aim is not to man the
military. The minister and other government officials believe that the
law will not harm science in any way, but will only eliminate
corruption by closing a key loophole to avoiding compulsory military
service.

Activist Petrosian, meanwhile, urged other students engaged in the
protests to continue to focus on boycotting classes. He answered
RFE/RL's questions from behind a closed door, saying that the group
had decided to keep the door to the lecture room shut even to other
students, including those who may wish to join the hunger strike.

Meanwhile, about three dozen students of the Yerevan State
Conservatory also joined the protest held on the Yerevan State
University campus.



Market Traders In Yerevan Protest Against `Tax Terror'


 . Astghik Bedevian


Armenia -- Traders protest in front of the Parliament, Yerevan,
14Nov2017

Several dozen market traders again rallied outside the Armenian
parliament on Tuesday to protest against what many of them described
as `terror' tactics used by the State Revenue Committee (SRC).

The traders mainly selling clothing at open-air or indoor markets in
Yerevan have paid fixed monthly taxes until now. Citing Armenia's new
Tax Code, the SRC informed them recently that they will now be taxed
under a different mechanism that will measure their business
turnovers. For that purpose, the government agency has introduced
standard accounting rules and other extra paperwork for them.

At the rally the demonstrators claimed that the SRC is taking harsh
administrative actions against them, including frequent inspections,
fines and other forms of `tax pressure'.

One woman selling clothes imported from Turkey complained that tax
inspectors pay visits to her pavilion three days in a row at the end
of every week, accusing her of understating her turnover.

"But my sales are low now. People leave the country, only the rich and
the poor remain here. We are among the poor today. They want us to
leave our country, but we will not go. We will stay and fight," the
woman said.

Another protesting trader said that they came to the National Assembly
to urge the political parties to ensure that tax agencies deal with
businesses fairly.

Deputy speaker of parliament Mikayel Melkumian, who represents the
opposition Tsarukian alliance, came out to the traders and told them
that he had raised their issue in front of all four factions in the
legislature and that all were now aware of the problem. "We again
stressed that the State Revenue Committee continues its tax terror,"
the opposition parliamentarian said. "Our job as members of parliament
and my job as a deputy speaker is not shutting down businesses that
have been established over years of painstaking efforts# Instead of
opening new jobs, the government wants the few existing ones to be
closed as it uses terror."

This is the second protest held by market traders within just two
weeks. On October 31, they also gathered outside the National Assembly
building demanding changes in the Tax Code and reduction of paperwork.

The SRC chief, Vartan Harutiunian, then dismissed these complaints,
accusing the protesters of trying to evade taxes. Harutiunian claimed
that traders had rejected SRC offers to provide them with free
accounting services. "Everyone must pay taxes in a manner defined by
the law," he told reporters.



Armenian FM Meets Mediators, Discusses Meeting With Azeri Counterpart


Russia/Armenia/Karabakh/OSCE - Edward Nalbandian (C from R), Armenian
Foreign Minister, meets with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
Moscow,14Nov,2017

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian discussed a possible
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, as he met
on Tuesday with international mediators advancing peace efforts in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

The meeting between Nalbandian and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, of
Russia, Stephane Visconti, of France, and Andrew Schofer, of the
United States, took place during the top Armenian diplomat's working
visit to Moscow, Russia, the press office of Armenia's Ministry of
Foreign Affairs reported.

According to the report, the meeting was also attended by Andrzej
Kasprzyk, a personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office.

"During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the necessary steps
towards creating conducive conditions for the advancement of the
process of exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The interlocutors discussed the steps aimed at the
implementation of the agreements reached during the summits in Vienna,
St. Petersburg and Geneva," the Ministry said in a statement.

"The possibility of organizing a meeting between the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Azerbaijan was discussed," it added.

Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian said earlier this
month that Armenia's and Azerbaijan's foreign ministers were planning
to hold fresh talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to try to build
on understandings reportedly reached by the two countries' presidents
in October.

Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev pledged to intensify the
peace process and bolster the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone
when they met in Geneva on October 16. The American, Russian and
French mediators announced in the Swiss city that they will soon hold
follow-up "working sessions" with Foreign Minister Nalbandian and his
Azerbaijani counterpart Mammadyarov.

Mammadyarov said late last month that he may meet with Nalbandian in
Moscow on November 16. The Azerbaijani minister is scheduled to meet
with the mediators there on that day. Nalbandian will accompany
President Sarkisian on a trip to the Russian capital, which is due to
start on November 15.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to
Armenia and then to Azerbaijan in the near future, Russia's TASS news
agency reported.

"At the beginning of next week my visits to Yerevan and Baku are
planned. They are related to the 25th anniversary of the establishment
of Russian-Armenian and Russian-Azerbaijani diplomatic ties. Issues of
bilateral relations are on the agenda, we have rich relations with
these two countries," Lavrov said.

According to him, international issues will be discussed during the
meetings. "We will try to understand at what stage our efforts on the
Karabakh settlement are after the meeting of the presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan in Geneva," the top Russian diplomat said.

Meanwhile, ahead of Lavrov's regional tour Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev reiterated his country's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement. Speaking at a meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of
the foundation of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Aliyev again stated
that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be settled "within the
framework of the principle of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity."

"There is no other way. We will never allow the establishment of a
second Armenian state in our historical territory," the Azerbaijani
leader claimed. He further claimed that Azerbaijan will restore its
territorial integrity at any cost. According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan
will consistently strengthen its armed forces.

"According to international ratings, our army is one of the most
powerful armies in the world. The army will be given as much means and
equipment as it will be required, without restrictions," Aliyev said.

The Armenian leadership did not immediately react to Aliyev's
statements.



Press Review



"Zhamanak" notes the absence of Prime Minister Karen Karapetian from
two major events held in Yerevan yesterday when the Tashir group of
companies owned by Russia-based billionaire Samvel Karapetian
inaugurated another shopping mall in Yerevan and launched jointly with
partners a project promising an investment of a total of $1 billion in
Armenia's energy sector over the next few years. "The thing is that
Samvel Karapetian is practically considered as a social-political
support base for Karen Karapetian and it is within this logic that the
Armenian Investors Club was established with Samvel Karapetian's clear
leadership. The outlines of the first portion of investments of this
club are now becoming clear and this is being made in President Serzh
Sarkisian's presence, while Karen Karapetian is absent from the
events. Does this mean that there is more certainty in the matter of
power?"

"Zhoghovurd" observers that for the third straight year the government
plans no rise in pensions in its draft budget - this time no such rise
in planned for 2018. The last time pensions were slightly raised was
in 2015 when the government was headed by Hovik Abrahamian. "No rise
in pensions has taken place under Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and
no rise in planned for next year. As a result, in conditions of rising
prices, more than half a million pensioners of the country have become
even poorer, while the government continues to feed the public with
promises of sizable investments," the daily writes.

"Hraparak" writes: "Within a few months our country will finally
complete its transition towards a parliamentary republic as all
institutions envisaged by the new Constitution will be formed. It is
then that it will become clear whether all this has been done for one
purpose - to keep Serzh Sarkisian and his team in power - or it will
really bring in its wake more democratization in the country."

The editor of "Aravot" writes on last week's ruling by the
Constitutional Court on the situation in the municipal council of
Vanadzor where a pro-government minority proceeds with its work and
decision-making despite the boycott of the opposition parties enjoying
a majority. He notes that the sides have diametrically opposite views
on the legal decision: "It is here that an impartial non-political
legal expert should give his assessment to explain to us what the
Constitutional Court's ruling means. Because MP Edmon Marukian thinks
that the ruling means that Vanadzor's municipal council should be
dissolved and new municipal elections should be held and current mayor
Mamikon Aslanian thinks that nothing proceeds from the ruling and that
they will continue to hold power in the city as they have done so
far."

(Tigran Avetisian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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