Friday,
European Court Reports Further Drop In Appeals From Armenia
FRANCE -- The building of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg,
November 15, 2018
The number of appeals filed by Armenians in the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR) continued to fall rapidly last year, the Strasbourg-based tribunal said
on Thursday.
“For Armenia, the number of new applications allocated to a judicial formation
was 167, more than a two-fold decrease as compared to 356 in 2017,” the ECHR
said in an annual report presented by its president, Guido Raimondi, at a news
conference.
The ECHR recorded 753 lawsuits from Armenia in 2016.
Armenia fell under the European court’s jurisdiction when it joined the Council
of Europe in 2001. Its government lost the first case in Strasbourg in 2007.
The ECHR has ruled against various Armenian government, judicial and
law-enforcement bodies on 94 occasions since then, costing them more than $1.2
million in damages. “The highest number of violations related to the right to a
fair trial, and right to liberty and security,” says its report.
The ECHR handed down 15 rulings against the Armenian state in 2018, up from 11
such judgments in 2017.
“By January 1, 2019, there were 1,901 cases pending for Armenia, a small
increase as compared to 1,819 in 2017. Armenia has remained in the top-ten
states by the number of pending applications,” says the report.
The large number of lawsuits reflects a lack of judicial independence and
corruption among law-enforcement officers and judges in Armenia.
The current Armenian authorities have repeatedly pledged to address the problem
since they came to power in a democratic revolution in May. Their critics
claim, however, that just like their predecessors, they pressure courts to side
with prosecutors in high-profile criminal cases. Government officials -- and
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in particular -- strongly deny this.
Pashinian Praises Eurasian Union
RUSSIA -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian gives a speech at the
headquarters of the Eurasian Economic Commission in Moscow, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian praised the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and
reaffirmed Armenia’s continued membership in the Russian-led trade bloc as he
visited its headquarters in Moscow on Friday.
Pashinian met with the Armenian head of the EEU’s executive body, Tigran
Sarkisian, and its key members three weeks after his country assumed the EEU’s
rotating presidency.
“In the past years the Eurasian Economic Union has proved its viability,” he
said at the meeting. “A positive dynamic has been registered in the main
economic indicators and important decisions have been made regarding many
directions of Eurasian integration.”
In a separate appeal to the leaders of Russia and the EEU’s three other member
states read out at the meeting, Pashinian said: “Armenia will make every effort
to maintain the positive dynamic of integration and to accomplish tasks that
could give an additional impetus to economic growth in our countries.”
In particular, Pashinian went on, the Armenian government will strive for a
harmonization of their economic regulations which he said are currently
hampering greater trade among the member states. He also voiced support for the
EEU’s free-trade deals planned or already signed with other nations, including
China and India.
According to Armenian government data, in January-November 2018 Russia and
other ex-Soviet states making up the bloc accounted for 27 percent of Armenia’s
foreign trade, compared with the European Union’s 25 percent share in the total.
RUSSIA -- Participants pose for a photo during a Eurasian Economic Union summit
in Sochi, May 14, 2018
Pashinian criticized Armenia’s accession to the EEU and even called for its
withdrawal from the bloc as recently as in November 2017. However, immediately
after he swept to power in May 2018 he made clear that he will not pull his
country out of the EEU or the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).
Pashinian was asked about his past position on the issue at a news conference
held at the EEU headquarters. “You know that when I was a member of the [former
Armenian] parliament I voted against that decision [to join the EEU,]” he
replied. “Since then I have repeatedly said that just because we had thought
that it’s a wrong decision doesn’t mean we need to take diametrically opposite
actions in order to correct that mistake.”
“U.S. President Barack Obama thought that President [George W.] Bush was wrong
to invade Iraq and so he decided to … withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. And what
did we get? We got the Islamic State,” he said.
“The fact is that Armenia is a member of the EEU and I don’t think that U-turns
are good in international affairs. And as you can see, our efforts now are
aimed at making the EEU more effective,” added Pashinian.
In that regard, the Armenian premier made a case for setting up a common EEU
market for natural gas and other fuel. He was understood to imply that Russian
gas should be as cheap in Russia as it is in Armenia and other EEU members
importing it.
Russia’s Gazprom giant raised its wholesale gas price for Armenia on January 1.
Pashinian’s government is now negotiating with Armenia’s Gazprom-owned gas
distribution network in hopes of keeping its internal retail tariffs unchanged.
Pashinian expressed confidence on Friday that the existing gas prices set for
Armenian households and corporate consumers will not go up this year. He again
insisted that his government will not be subsidizing it.
The gas issue was high on the agenda of Pashinian’s most recent meeting with
Russian President Vladimir Putin held in Moscow on December 27. The two men
held further discussions on it by phone in the following days.
Pashinian was not scheduled to meet with Putin during his latest trip to the
Russian capital. He was due to hold talks instead with Russian Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev later in the day.
Indicted Tycoon Allowed To Leave Armenia
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - Businessman Samvel Mayrapetian at the official opening of his Toyota
car dealership in Yerevan, 23 June 2009.
An Armenian law-enforcement agency has allowed a prominent businessman
prosecuted on corruption charges to receive medical treatment in Germany one
week after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in his favor.
The businessman, Samvel Mayrapetian, was arrested in October on charges of
“assisting” in payment of a bribe worth more than $4 million. Mayrapetian, who
denies the accusation, was freed on bail on health grounds late last month. He
is reportedly suffering from a serious form of pancreatitis.
Immediately after his release, Mayrapetian asked the Special Investigative
Service (SIS) for permission to leave for Germany. The SIS rejected the
request, leading the tycoon to appeal to the ECHR.
The Strasbourg-based court ruled on January 17 that the Armenian authorities
must allow Mayrapetian to undergo adequate treatment recommended by his
doctors. According to his lawyer Karen Batikian, the SIS gave such permission
late on Thursday.
An SIS spokeswoman, Marina Ohanjanian, said on Friday the decision was
recommended by a team of doctors chosen by the Armenian Ministry of Health. She
said they confirmed that the suspect needs the kind of surgery which is not
performed in Armenian hospitals.
Ohanjanian also told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that Mayrapetian was allowed to
leave the country after two prominent individuals guaranteed in writing that he
will come back after he recuperates from the life-threatening disease. Each of
them posted bail worth 15 million drams ($31,000), said the official.
In Batikian’s words, those individuals are Ruben Fanarjian, a senior professor
at the Armenian State Medical University, and Rev. Vahram Melikian, the chief
spokesman for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The lawyer insisted that his
client will return to Armenia once his treatment in a German clinic is complete.
Investigators have still not publicized details of the accusations leveled
against the tycoon who had greatly benefited from close ties with Armenia’s
former governments.
Mayrapetian, 59, one of the country’s leading real estate developers who also
owns a national TV channel and a car dealership. Some media outlets for years
linked former President Robert Kocharian’s elder son Sedrak to the Toyota
dealership.
Kocharian is currently held in pretrial detention, having been charged in
connection with the deadly breakup of post-election opposition protests in
March 2008. He denies the accusations as politically motivated.
EU, World Bank Pledge More Funds For Armenian Road Upgrades
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- Workers renovate a tunnel on a highway in the Lori province,
14Jul2018
The European Union and the World Bank have allocated over 730 million euros
($832 million) for investments in Armenia’s transport infrastructure that will
be made by 2030, a senior EU official confirmed on Friday.
The loans and grants are part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)
Investment Action Plan announced by them last week. It is designed to “boost
connectivity and economic growth” in six former Soviet republics included in
the EU’s Eastern Partnership program.
“Together, the projects will require an estimated investment of almost €13
billion and foresee a total of 4,800 kilometers of road and rail, 6 ports, and
11 logistics centers,” the World Bank and the EU said in a joint statement.
“Those projects will make possible the construction and rehabilitation of new
and existing roads, rail, ports, airports as well as logistical centers and
border crossing points,” they said.
Armenia will be eligible for 732 million euros worth of such funding, added the
statement.
“This huge program of connectivity will bring Armenia and the European Union
closer together,” Piotr Switalski, the head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan,
told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
“Some of the projects are already being implemented in Armenia,” he said.
Armenia -- Piotr Switalski, head of the EU Delegation to Armenia gives an
interview to RFE/RL, Yerevan, 25Jan2019
Switalski pointed to the ongoing reconstruction of two Armenian highways
running from Yerevan to the Georgian border. The EU has contributed over 90
million euros in loans and 15 million euros in grants to the effort, he said.
The diplomat also mentioned the 54 million-euro modernization of Armenia’s
three border checkpoints with Georgia which was carried out from 2013-2017.The
EU provided the bulk of the sum in the form of a grant and a loan.
According to the joint statement by the World Bank and the EU, road projects
launched in Armenia as part of TEN-T are worth more than 200 million euros.
The bank and the 28-nation bloc have allocated much greater sums for similar
projects in Georgia and Azerbaijan: 3.4 billion euros and 2.8 billion euros
respectively.
“What we have as a result, this initial outline, is the reflection of the
expectations of the Armenian side,” Switalski said when asked to explain the
difference.
Press Review
Lragir.am reports that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun)
mentioned the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a declaration adopted at its
congress held in Stepanakert. The publication says that the wording of the
reference is vague and it is not clear whether the party now supports or
continues to oppose the so-called Madrid Principles of a Karabakh settlement
which were first drawn up by the U.S., Russian and French mediators in 2007.
But as “Zhoghovurd” says, “One can presume that with this statement
Dashnaktsutyun spoke out against any compromise in the Karabakh conflict. That
is to say that it is against any resolution of the Karabakh conflict.” The
paper says that Dashnaktsutyun’s position is disingenuous because the party
never warned former President Serzh Sarkisian against making major concessions
to Azerbaijan when it was part of his government. It argues that both Sarkisian
and his predecessor Robert Kocharian considered making territorial concessions
to Baku. “But now Dashnaktsutyun is creating some myths about the Karabakh
settlement, trying to juxtapose them against the reality and fighting against
its on myths,” it concludes.
“Zhamanak” comments on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s phone conversation with
U.S. National Security Adviser, John Bolton. “The fact that Bolton make a phone
call to Davos the day after [Pashinian’s] meeting with [Ilham] Aliyev suggests
that there is a certain connection between the call and the Pashinian-Aliyev
meeting,” writes the paper. “But that does not necessarily mean that there was
an agreement. It may have just been a question-and-answer session. Washington
may have tried to find out what happened in Davos … But that raises the
question of what regional developments, not mentioned by Bolton but cited by
Pashinian, were discussed [during the phone conversation.] The question of Iran
comes to the fore here.” The paper notes that the Iranian ambassador in Yerevan
met with parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan earlier this week.
(Lilit Harutiunian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2019 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Category: 2019
‘Davos Forum is a global springboard for small Armenia’ – Le Figaro
‘Davos Forum is a global springboard for small Armenia’ – Le Figaro
21:00,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Davos World Economic Forum is a global springboard for small Armenia.
Le Figaro French daily published an article about Armenia. The newspaper interviewed Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
“This is a chance for me to present to the major foreign investors the opportunities that have been created in our country after the Velvet revolution. It’s important to tell the international business-society that after the democratic revolution we are carrying out an economic revolution”, Pashinyan told the newspaper.
Le Figaro says Pashinyan is committed to the matters on adopting new Tax Code, eliminating monopolies and eradicating corruption in the country. The Armenian PM wants to attract investors in the field of tourism, agriculture and energy’s renewable sources. Pashinyan told the French daily that the World Congress on Information Technologies will be held in Yerevan in October 2019 which will be attended by thousands of peoples from all over the world.
Le Figaro also informs that Pashinyan met with the leaders of eBay, Mitsubishi, Apple, as well as heads of different states, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Davos.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Yerevan Mayor says will do everything to increase service quality of kindergartens
Yerevan Mayor says will do everything to increase service quality of kindergartens
21:30,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan met with directors of kindergartens today, the City Hall told Armenpress. The meeting aimed at presenting the demands and approaches within the frames of which the kindergartens must continue their activities.
The Mayor thanked for a dedicated and responsible work and attached importance to the implementation of the main demands which will provide comfortable and equal conditions in the kindergartens.
“Being well aware of all the issues existing today in the kindergartens, I understand that this cannot last long. I will do everything to raise the quality of services of all our kindergartens. This includes everything: both increase of salaries and the conditions, but in line with this you also should participate in this process”, the Mayor said, adding that they all need to take action. “In order to reach the desirable result the process of structural reforms in the kindergartens should be completely implemented”, he said, demanding consistency in solving these tasks.
“The working principles and rules of the game to be used in the kindergartens first of all derive from the interests of the city residents”, deputy mayor Tigran Virabyan said, adding that adherence to these principles is a strict demand. He urged the kindergarten directors to act exclusively by law.
The directors were also informed that the control department of the City Hall will soon carry out intensive check operations in the kindergartens.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
‘U.S. supports Pashinyan’s efforts to secure prosperous future for Armenia’ – John Bolton
‘U.S. supports Pashinyan’s efforts to secure prosperous future for Armenia’ – John Bolton
21:36,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. John Bolton, Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs, posted a note on Twitter about his January 23 telephone conversation with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, reports Armenpress.
“I called Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia yesterday to congratulate him on his re-appointment and applaud the Armenian people on free and fair elections in December. The U.S. supports his efforts to secure a prosperous future for Armenia”, Bolton said.
Earlier PM Pashinyan posted a note on the phone conversation. “A while ago I had a telephone conversation with John Bolton, Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs. We discussed issues referring to regional situation and bilateral relations. We both emphasized the importance of Armenian-U.S. relations for our governments. We agreed to continue the discussions on the future development of our relations”, he wrote, adding that the Artsakh issue was not discussed.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Elected Officials and Community Gather at Armenian Assembly’s Annual New Year Event
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact: Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY
GATHER AT ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY’S ANNUAL NEW YEAR EVENT
PASADENA, CA – Elected officials and a
cross-section of the Armenian American community of southern California, including
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) members and supporters, gathered on
January 13 to celebrate the new year at the home of Assembly Southern
California Regional Council (SCRC) member Al and Diane Cabraloff. The
Cabraloffs generously opened their home to over 125 members and guests for an
evening filled with good cheer and delectable food to usher in a new year of
effective advocacy on pro-Armenian issues on Capitol Hill and in California’s
State Capitol in Sacramento.
Congresswoman
Judy Chu (D-CA-27), California State Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25), California
State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-46), and Los Angeles County 5th
District Supervisor Kathryn Barger participated in the gathering, shared
remarks, and presented certificates of recognition to Al and Diane Cabraloff
for their exemplary work in the Armenian community and in light of their
contributions for the greater good of humanity.
“I’m
always pleased to stand with my friends in the Armenian American community. I’m
proud of the strong relationship between the U.S. and Armenia, and I appreciate
the important part the Armenian Assembly of America has played in helping to
promote and strengthen that relationship. I’m committed to continuing that
relationship, including continued support for foreign aid to Armenia, a new
double-tax treaty to encourage growth in both countries, and an official
recognition of the Armenian Genocide which will finally put our country on the
right side of history,” Rep. Chu said. The Congresswoman is a Member of the
U.S. House Appropriations Committee, and a dedicated champion of consistent
U.S. foreign assistance to the Republic of Armenia, as well as continued
humanitarian and de-mining aid to the Republic of Artsakh.
“It
was such a pleasure to kick off the New Year with the Armenian Assembly of
America. I am always appreciative of opportunities to spend time with this
terrific organization and its hardworking and caring members. It’s truly an
honor to represent the largest Armenian community in the County of Los
Angeles,” said Supervisor Barger.
On
an annual basis during the month of April, Supervisor Barger and fellow supervisors
formally salute Armenian Americans making a positive impact in Los Angeles
County, in addition to officially commemorating the Armenian Genocide, in
partnership with a wide array of community organizations, during a Board of
Supervisors session. Notably, in December 2018, Supervisor Barger spearheaded a
$1 million contribution from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for
the future Armenian American Museum in Glendale, California.
State
Senator Portantino chairs the California State Senate’s Appropriations
Committee and serves as the founding Chairman of the State Senate’s Select
Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural
Exchange. In 2018, Senator Portantino secured state funding for six full
scholarships available to American University of Armenia student candidates to
attend the University of California’s Hastings College of Law.
State
Assemblymember Nazarian chairs the California State Assembly’s Committee on
Aging and Long-Term Care. In 2017, Assemblymember Nazarian authored the
landmark Divestment from Turkey Act, which received broad, bipartisan support
in both chambers of the California State Legislature.
Other
officials and staffers in attendance included California State Assemblymember
Laura Friedman (D-43); Mayor of the City of Pasadena Terry Tornek; the
Honorable Dickran Tevrizian, retired Senior Judge of the United States District
Court for the Central District of California; former California State
Assemblymember Steve Samuelian; Board Member of the Pasadena Unified School
District Roy Boulghourjian; Mary Hovagimian, representing Congressman Adam
Schiff (D-CA-28); Garo Manjikian, representing California State Assemblymember
Chris Holden (D-41); Jack Kayajian, representing City of Los Angeles Attorney
Mike Feuer; Z. Greg Kahwajian, member of the County of Los Angeles Civil
Service Commission; and Harout Semerdjian, member of the City of Los Angeles
Human Relations Commission.
Al
and Diane are dedicated members and supporters of the Armenian Assembly. Al is
a long-time member of the Assembly’s SCRC, which regularly meets with elected
officials to educate them on policy priorities for Armenian Americans residing
throughout southern California.
During
a brief program, Assembly Western Region Director Mihran Toumajan welcomed
Assembly members and guests to the gathering and served as the master of
ceremonies. Assembly Board of Trustees member Lisa Kalustian delivered a
presentation on the Assembly’s advocacy, community outreach, and summer
internship programs’ achievements in 2018, and encouraged attendees to get
involved with the Assembly through membership, volunteerism, and political
activism.
Southern
California-based leaders of the Armenian Assembly in attendance at the
gathering included Board of Trustees members Lisa Kalustian and Talin
Yacoubian; SCRC members Flora Dunaians, Helen Haig, Michelle Kezirian, Jim Melikian,
and Margaret Mgrublian; and Orange County Regional Committee members Sosy
Hachigian, Christine Kotchian, and Nicole Nishanian.
“The
Armenian Assembly is grateful to Al and Diane Cabraloff for warmly welcoming a
diverse group of members and friends of the Assembly to their beautiful home.
The Cabraloff family’s generous hospitality compounded the positive and
forward-looking vibes permeating at the gathering. The Assembly intends to
harness the constructive energy of the gathering in its advocacy, outreach, and
policy planning work in 2019,” stated Western Region Director Toumajan.
Established
in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR#
2019-003
Photo Caption 1: Rep.
Judy Chu (D-CA) with Diane and Al Cabraloff
Photo Caption 2: Paul
Hachigian, Dr. Gary Nishanian, Nicole Nishanian, Diane Cabraloff, Lily Balian,
Colette Nishanian, Sosy Hachigian, and Grace Hachigian
Photo Caption 3: LA
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger with with Diane and Al Cabraloff
Photo Caption 4: CA
State Senator Anthony Portantino with Diane and Al Cabraloff
Photo Caption 5: SCRC
member Jim Melikian, OCRC member Nicole Nishanian, SCRC member Flora Dunaians,
SCRC member Michelle Kezirian, Board member Lisa Kalustian, Diane Cabraloff,
Western Region Manager Aline Maksoudian, SCRC member Helen Haig, Lily Balian,
Western Region Director Mihran Toumajan, Diyana Danielian, and SCRC member Al
Cabraloff
Available online: https://armenian-assembly.org/2019/01/25/elected-officials-and-community-gather-at-armenian-assemblys-annual-new-year-event/
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A1+: Karine Hakobyan: Armenia is not so developed, powerful country (video)
Public figure Karine Hakobyan, referring to the optimization of ministries, said: “Armenia is not so strong, it is not a powerful country so that these experiments would not be done easily.”
According to Hakobyan, there is a risk of going one step back. At the time, they also complained about the shortcomings of the Ministry of Culture and Diaspora. During these years, according to Hakobyan, there were not created mechanisms that would cordinate right and responsibility, but there were mechanisms for avoiding responsibilities.
She also talked about her perspectives on culture, according to which the Armenian culture is not properly represented in the world. People with a rich culture are represented in famous museums as Urartu and even when it is not known what Urartu has with Armenians, the history is distorted.
A1+: Size of family, social allowances and emergency care confirmed
According to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan, at the regular session of January 24, the draft decision on the family disability unit, as well as the size of family allowance, social allowance and urgent aid has been approved by family and social benefits.
A1+: Nikol Pashinyan agrees to meet in Singapore (video)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Davos within the framework of the World Economic Forum, Pashinyan’s office said.
During the meeting Pashinyan said that Armenia is interested in the continuous expansion of cooperation with Singapore in different spheres, and that Singapore’s development experience is exemplary for Armenia.
The Armenian PM attached importance to deepening economic ties, the coherent development of commercial ties and partnership between businessmen. Pashinyan addressed the steps for the improvement of the business climate in Armenia and found it necessary to notify Singaporean businesses about the opportunities of making investments in Armenia.
The sides namely discussed the opportunities for exporting various Armenian products to Singapore, such as brandy, wine, beer, juice and other processed goods.
Shanmugaratnam noted that Singapore’s government is also attaching importance to developing cooperation with Armenia, taking into account the recent positive changes in the country.
He conveyed the Prime Minister’s invitation to Pashinyan to visit Singapore, noting that the visit may boost bilateral partnership in different directions.
Shanmugaratnam added that Armenians are known in Singapore as exemplary citizens and have high reputation among Singaporeans.
Singapore’s Deputy PM said he will present the business circles of his country the opportunities of investing in Armenia. At the same time, he found the Armenian government’s anti-corruption, business climate improvement and modernization of administration system to be ambitious.
Pashinyan said that Armenia will soon host the World Congress on Information Technology in October, and highlighted the participation of Singapore’s IT companies in the event.
Tourism, environmental protection and aviation issues were also discussed.
Arman Pashikyan: The ministry has offered me five times lower salaries (video)
Arman Pashikyan, the Armenian chess champion in 2019, is likely to move to another country because he is close to losing his job. It should be noted that the experienced chess player at the same time is engaged in coaching activities at the GM school founded by Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargsyan.
“The school’s funding has been stopped since October 5 of last year. We continue our work for free, until we can see whether or not we will able to re-finance. If this continues in this way, then, naturally, we cannot work for a long time,” the chess player said in an interview with “A1+.”
As Arman Pashikyan informed, the RA Ministry of Sport has offered to continue the work with five times lower salaries, which, according to him, is unacceptable.
“As for the high money that we have received, all our coaches can earn more money in the private sector by conducting individual exercises. Chess, as opposed to other sports, makes it possible to conduct distance training with the help of a Skype and make money in that way.”
Arman Pashikyan does not hide that in case of the closure of the GM School he will probably accept the offer from abroad. “Now I have an offer from abroad to do training with better conditions than in a GM school, but I just want to live in Armenia and help Armenian chess players. If the school does not get funding, then I will decide how to do it,”concluded the renowned chess player.
LIVE. Gibraltar chess festival
The games of the 3rd round will take place today in the Gibraltar chess festival.
Armenian representative Levon Aronian will meet with Spanish Jose Jimenez, and Hrant Melkumyan will compete with Spanish Ruis Santos.
The matches will start at 18:00. Chess fans can watch the Armenian-Spanish chess matches on our website below.