Category: 2019

Pashinyan discusses with Eurnekian wine industry development in Armenia

Raffi Khondkarian
ARKA, Armenia
Oct 7 2019

YEREVAN, October 7. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Sunday the farm operated by Tierras de Armenia CJSC, which is owned by Argentinean Armenian businessman, philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian, the press office of the Armenian government reports. The farm is located in Arevadasht village of Baghramyan region (Armavir Marz).

According to the government's press office, Nikol Pashinyan and Eduardo Eurnekian toured the farm, calling at the vineyards and wineries. During the tour, the Premier was introduced to cultivation and irrigation technologies, grape processing and wine production. The Prime Minister also got acquainted with the harvesting process, met with the harvesting staff and talked to them.

After the tour, Nikol Pashinyan and Eduardo Eurnekian held private talks, during which they exchanged views on Armenia’s progress, economic development, implementation of investment programs and a number of other issues.

The prime minister said he was impressed by the achievements of Tierras de Armenia CJSC and highly appreciated the Argentinean-Armenian businessman’s contribution to the development of Armenia’s economy through the use of new technological and qualitative standards in winemaking, and so on.

Eduardo Eurnekian thanked Nikol Pashinyan for appreciation, noting that he was ready to continue investing and implementing new programs for the sake of Armenia’s development and prosperity.

The Armenian premier and the Argentinean-Armenian businessman discussed programs implemented by Armenia International Airports in Armenia. In particular, they referred to the development of Zvartnots, Shirak Airports in Gyumri, inclusive of infrastructure improvements and repairs.

The interlocutors looked at possibility of implementing other business projects by Eduardo Eurnekian-owned companies. Nikol Pashinyan and Eduardo Eurnekian expressed satisfaction with the process of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their readiness to further develop it.

The prime minister then left for Armavir, where accompanied by Armavir Governor Hambardzum Matevosyan and Armavir Mayor David Khudatyan, he toured the city, got acquainted with the current situation and development plans of the city. Nikol Pashinyan also walked in Armavir city park and talked to the locals.

About 400 hectares of vineyards are being cultivated in the Tierras de Armenia farm. Increased grapes are mainly used for wine production. The irrigation system is fully drip irrigation system, tractor sack is equipped with modern equipment, the number of basic and temporary (seasonal) staff is 350. There are 32 types of grapes cultivated in the gardens, mainly international varieties.

Half of the product is consumed in Armenia, the other half is exported to Russia, European countries, North and South America, Australia, China. This year the company plans to increase its export volume to 700,000 bottles of wine. The total land area of the economy is 2301 hectares, within the framework of which development plans are planned to be implemented in parallel with the increase of production volume. -0—


DJ Armin Van Buuren raised the Armenian flag at a Yerevan concert

Vardan Badalian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 7 2019

ArmInfo.The day before in Yerevan, the opening of the 23rd World Congress on Information Technologies (WCIT-2019) was marked by a grand open-air concert.

In the first part of the concert, a unique orchestra performed under  the direction of conductor Sergey Smbatyan, uniting over 100  musicians from 15 countries of the world. In addition to Armenia,  these were the states in which the Congress was previously held:  Canada, the Netherlands, Malaysia, the USA, Greece, Taipei, Spain,  Japan, France, Denmark, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, India.

As part of the performance, music created by artificial intelligence  (AI) was performed for the first time, and the national anthem of the  countries represented by the musicians of the orchestra formed the  basis of the written hymn WCIT-2019.

The second part of the concert was assigned to the Grammy Award  winner, the world famous Dutch DJ and music producer Armin Van  Buuren. During his enchanting performance, he actively communicated  with tens of thousands of spectators gathered on Republic Square. In  the final part of his show, Armin Van Buuren raised the Armenian flag  above his head, which caused great enthusiasm among fans of  electronic music. The concert ended with colorful fireworks.

WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The congress  is held by Armenia with the assistance and under the high patronage  of the RA government. The World Congress on Information Technology  (WCIT) was established by the World Alliance for Information  Technology and Services (WITSA). Its main organizational body is the  Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).

Relatives of Azerbaijani military convicted on fabricated charges of espionage in favor of Armenia demand their rehabilitation

Ani Kharatian
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 7 2019

ArmInfo.Relatives of the killed and arrested soldiers in the "Terter case" held a protest  rally in front of the military unit of the Ministry of Defense in the city of Barda today. 

As Turan reports, protesters dressed in shirts with images of those  killed and arrested. The protesters demanded the rehabilitation of  the dead, a review of their cases and the release of the convicts. "I  am raising two future soldiers, what will I tell them? They already  say that they themselves will find the murderers of their father. We  demand a fair investigation," said one of the protesters.

Participants consider guilty of the death of their loved ones the  unit commander Hikmet Hasanov. The demonstrators demanded the removal  of all guilty officials from office and criminal prosecution.  An  officer came out to the protesters, promising that they would be  received by the unit commander. However, protesters said they did not  believe these promises.

Police forces were brought to the venue. Some of the protesters did  not feel. After that, the protesters dispersed.

To recall, on May 7, 2017, the Prosecutor General"s Office, the State  Security Service, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of  Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a joint statement, announcing  that the detained group of military personnel and civilians were  guilty of espionage in favor of Armenia. On May 3, the military  prosecutor's office of Azerbaijan filed a lawsuit under the Article  274 (high treason) of the Criminal Code. A joint investigation team  was created from among the employees of the above-mentioned law  enforcement agencies.

The detainees were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.   However, it soon became known that during the investigation at least  eight suspects were killed as a result of torture. Later, during the  investigation, the four killed were acquitted, and the investigators  who fabricated the charges against them were sentenced to seven years  of imprisonment.


Ex-top official says Kocharyan gave him no orders during 2008 post-election unrest

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 7 2019

It is 'unacceptable' that ‘one of the presidents who has made a history of 30 years’ is kept in custody, Armenia’s Former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan told reporters on Monday, commenting on the criminal prosecution against second President Robert Kocharyan.

Ohanyan, who served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces during Kocharyan’s tenure, said the criminal investigation should continue with the ex-president in freedom, especially when Kocharyan has proved that he fulfils all the demands issued by law enforcers in a ‘calm and courageous manner’.

He stressed Kocharyan could not hinder the investigation if he were released from custody, since the preliminary investigation into the March 1-2, 2008 post-election unrest is already over.

“Robert Kocharyan had nothing to do with the 1,000 soldiers who gave testimonies. I was one of the persons having close ties with him as chief of the General Staff. Robert Kocharyan did not give any orders to the Chief of General Staff, i.e. to me, let alone the others,” Ohanyan said.

Asked whether he plans to join the announcement of dozens of public, political, cultural and sports figures to release Kocharyan and what influence it could possibly have, he said. “Those public and political figures who assess the situation are taking appropriate measures.”

Ohanyan, who also currently stands trial on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order, has been allowed to leave for Germany from 18 October to 4 November to receive treatment. 

Sports: Eurasian Basketball League: Armenia’s Aragats loses to Arsenal Tula

Anna Tamamian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 7 2019

In the last game of the first round of the Eurasian Basketball League being held in Yerevan, Armenia’s Aragats lost to Russian Arsenal Tula 74-79 in a tough fight.

After two rounds, Aragats, Urartu, Arsenal Tula and Barsy Atyrau of Kazakhstan have 3 points apiece, the National Olympic Committee's press service reported.

A total of six teams from Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus are taking part in the tournament.

Sports: AIBA Women’s World Championship: Armenia’s Grigoryan to face Turkey’s Cakiroglu

Vicken Chmshkian
MediaMax, Armenia
Oct 7 2019
AIBA Women’s World Championship: Armenia’s Grigoryan to face Turkey’s Cakiroglu

Armenia sent three-strong team to the tournament, but only U22 European champion Anush Grigoryan is still in the competition. She will face Busenaz Cakiroglu (Turkey) in 1/8 finals tomorrow.

Grigoryan beat Heaven Garcia (USA) 3-2 in the first fight in Ulan-Ude.

Two other Armenian athletes, Anahit Haroyan (54kg) and Ani Hovsepyan (69) have left the competition.

Music: German based Kuss Quartet to perform in Armenia for the first time

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 7 2019
19:12 07/10/2019 World

On October 9, German KUSS Quartet will perform an exclusive concert at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan. As the press service at the festival reports, the concert will be held in the frames of the 20th edition of "Yerevan Perspectives" International Music Festival and will feature
Beethoven’s -String Quartet Op 59 “Serioso” F Minor, Johannes Brahms’s String Quartet Op 51 No 1. C Minor and Beethoven’s String Quartet Op 132 in A Minor.

The Berlin-based Kuss Quartet was founded by its violinists, Jana Kuss (first violin) and Oliver Wille in 1981, when they were only 14 years old. In 2002, the quartet acquired its superb violist William Coleman, who studied both in Salzburg with Thomas Riebl and Veronika Hagen at the New England Conservatory with Kim Kashkanian. Last but not least, the quartet was joined in 2008 by its exquisite cellist Mikayel Hakhnazaryan.

In early 2019, the Kuss Quartet was the first German string quartet to receive Stradivari’s legendary “Paganini Quartet” on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. The quartet played Beethoven’s complete string quartet cycle on these instruments in June 2019, by invitation of the Suntory Hall, Tokyo.

"Yerevan Perspectives" International Music Festival is an annual, year round festival which invites to Armenia top famous classical musicians, orchestras, ensembles and so on. The festival also organizes special projects by cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Armenia and with the other structures.

Remember Where You Came From: Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Baptise Their Kids in Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Sputnik, Russia
Oct 7 2019
 
 
Remember Where You Came From: Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Baptise Their Kids in Armenia
 
The stars of the Keeping Up with The Kardashians reality television series had to use the presidential exit at the airport to hide from the hundreds of fans who had gathered there to catch a glimpse of their idols.
Kim Kardashian should perhaps have thought twice before she announced on social media her plans to visit Armenia with her sister Kourtney. The aggregate number of Kim’s followers on Instagram and Twitter stands at 210 million, so no wonder when the duo appeared at Zvartnots International Airport in the capital Yerevan they had to be rushed to the presidential exit to escape paparazzi and hundreds of fans.
Kim and Kourtney arrived in Armenia together with their kids – Saint, Psalm, North, Chicago, Mason, Penelope, and Reign. Although the Kardashians’ mother, Kris Jenner, is of Irish, Dutch, English, and Scottish descent, their late father Robert Kardashian was Armenian. The reality stars decided to baptise their kids, except for Kim’s North, who was baptised four years ago in Israel, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is one of the most ancient Christian cathedrals in the world. Father Vahram Melikyan, director of the information department of the cathedral, said that there was no special ceremony and the Kardashians were treated like all other families.
This is the second time that Kim Kardashian travels to Armenia. Together with her sister Khloe, she paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide in 2015. That year marked the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
Since then, she has become quite involved with Armenia. This week, Kim will attend the 23rd World Congress on Information Technology in the country. In September the 38 year old socialite announced that she wants to move the production of SKIMS underwear to Armenia in order to create jobs in the impoverished country.
I will be visiting Armenia in the next 2 weeks and hope to seek ways I can help increase trade and hopefully create jobs for Armenians which includes @skims production there in the future.



Kim Kardashian West christens her children in Armenia

Raffi Khondkarian
Eyewitness News, South Africa
Oct 7 2019

Kardashian's Armenian ancestors on her father's side emigrated to the United States from an area that now lies in Turkey.

US reality television star Kim Kardashian waves her hand as she walks with her son Saint in Yerevan on 7 October 2019. The US reality television star Kim Kardashian baptised her children during a visit to her ancestral homeland Armenia. Picture: AFP
                                           

    ECHMIADZIN, Armenia – US reality television star Kim Kardashian West baptised her children on Monday during a visit to her ancestral homeland Armenia.

    Kardashian wore a tight-fitting beige dress and stopped to take pouting selfies with local fans as she left Holy Echmiadzin, the Caucasus nation's main cathedral.

    She was accompanied by her four children – aged four months to six years – and sister Kourtney Kardashian, according to an AFP photographer. Her husband, rapper Kanye West, was not present.

    The visit was the star's first to the nation since a 2015 trip marking the centenary of mass killings of Armenians that saw her husband give a chaotic, impromptu concert in capital Yerevan.

    Armenia says an estimated 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces in what it calls a genocide – a term rejected by Turkey, which puts the death toll at 500,000, blaming it on World War I raging at the time and starvation.

    Kardashian is due to give a speech on Tuesday at the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT), which is being held in Armenia.

    WCIT is organised by the World Information Technology & Services Alliance, a consortium of ICT associations from 83 countries, representing 90% of the industry, according to the congress's website.

    Kardashian's Armenian ancestors on her father's side emigrated to the United States from an area that now lies in Turkey.

    Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as an official religion, in the fourth century.


A Sibling Affair! Kim Kardashian Gets Her Kids Psalm, Chicago and Saint Baptized in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
People Magazine
Oct 7 2019
 
 
A Sibling Affair! Kim Kardashian Gets Her Kids Psalm, Chicago and Saint Baptized in Armenia
 
The trip comes a little more than four years after Kanye and Kim Kardashian West had their oldest child, daughter North, baptized in Jerusalem
 
By Jen Juneau and Juliet Pennington
02:30 PM
 
Happy baptism to Kim Kardashian West‘s kids!
 
Kim and Kanye West‘s three youngest children — Psalm, 4 months, Chicago, 20 months, and Saint, 3½ — were baptized Monday morning at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Vagharshapat, Armenia, as their aunt Kourtney Kardashian and her kids (Reign Aston, 4½, Penelope Scotland, 7, and Mason Dash, 9½) joined them for the ceremony, a source confirms to PEOPLE.
 
Video footage on one Instagram account showed Kim, 38, walking to the ceremony with all three of her younger kids plus her oldest, 6-year-old daughter North, followed by sister Kourtney, 40, and her three children. In a clip on her Instagram Story, the KKW Beauty founder held Psalm as they walked toward the cathedral.
 
The source tells PEOPLE that Kim and Kourtney are staying with their kids in the nearby capital city of Yerevan, pointing out that the “Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church.” (West, 42, is not along for the trip.)