2020 – Page 1128 – Armenian Directory & News

Dozens of bullets and shells were found in the room where the body of the former head of the NSS was discovered

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Shushan Frangulian

Arminfo, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

ArmInfo. In the room where the body of the former head of the NSS, Georgy Kutoyan, was found, dozens of bullets and cartridges were found. In addition, there are damage on the walls. Artur Melikyan, deputy head of the RA Investigative Committee, said this in an interview with reporters on January 17.

He also informed that at the scene of the incident award "Glock'' pistol was discovered received earlier by Kutoyan from the leadership of Georgian Security Services. When asked if the found bullets and shells apply for this gun, Melikyan noted that only a forensic ballistic examination can determine that.

The forensic report will be received on January 18. Meanwhile, Melikyan said that Kutoyan was gunshot wounded at his temple.

Law enforcement authorities conduct the necessary investigative measures. In particular, video recordings are seized, the spouse and father of the deceased are interrogated. It was the wife who discovered the body upon returning home.

A criminal case was instituted under Article 110 of the RA Criminal Code (Bringing to Suicide), however, Melikyan did not exclude the possibility of proposing other versions. "It could be a murder or a suicide- tuned one," he said, adding that the investigation would answer this question.

It should be noted that on January 17 in Yerevan in one of the houses at Paruyr Sevak Street the body of the former head of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Kutoyan was found with traces of a gunshot wound.

To recall, Kutoyan held the post of head of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia from 2016 to 2018. After Kutoyan left the NSS, some documents disappeared, mainly related to the case on March 1, 2008.

A journey through history on Armenian Street in Singapore

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Ophelia Vardapetian

Panorama, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

Society 11:42 17/01/2020 World

An in-depth look at Singapore’s history reveals a history of civic and commercial involvement by Armenian merchants and entrepreneurs who helped to develop this Asian hub in earlier times. This history is memorialized in part by the existence of Armenian Street in the central district of Singapore, Gus Gomez says in an article published by Asbarez on Thursday.

Armenian Street in Singapore first opened as Armenian Church Street sometime after the construction of the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The street is essentially tucked between Coleman Street and Stamford Road near what is now one of the largest financial districts in the world.

Today, the street serves primarily as a pedestrian mall with store facades featuring galleries, restaurants, and other attractions adjacent to the Singapore Art Museum. Singapore Management University School of Law is located at the northeast end of the street, housed in a modern sleek structure just east of the Singapore River and Fort Canning, famous for Raffles House and Fort Canning lighthouse.

The Armenian population in Singapore is described as a small community with a significant presence in the early history of Singapore, numbering about 100 individuals at their peak in the 1920s, according to Wikipedia. They were among the earliest merchants to arrive when Singapore was established as a trading post by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

The first Armenian settlers in Singapore were descendants of Armenian people who migrated from Persia to other places including India and the Malay Peninsula. In the early 1800s, Armenian trading firms like Sarkies and Moses became more prominent in Singapore’s economy. Armenian merchants began investing in land by the 1830s.

In the 1880s, the Sarkies brothers—Martin, Tigran, Aviet, and Arshak—founded the Raffles Hotel (named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles). The colonial-style hotel is one of the most famous hotels in the world. Today the hotel’s main entrance still opens to Beach Road—what used to be a quieter street along the seashore but is now a busy shopping area along with other luxury hotels in Singapore.

In total, about 830 Armenians lived in Singapore between 1820 and 2000, as noted in Wright’s book, “Respected Citizens: The History of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia.” The Armenian community virtually disappeared by the 1970s. But the small Armenian diaspora’s contribution to business and cultural endeavors was significant.

Armenian Street is of further cultural significance in Singapore, which includes other thoroughfares representative of the ethnic, cultural, and spiritual diversity of this country. The Sultan Mosque, for example, is located at the end of Arab Street.

Gus Gomez is a former mayor and councilmember in Glendale and is now a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. He recently visited Singapore and came upon Armenian Street while exploring the city.

KFOR Deputy Commander hails the high level of preparedness of Armenian peacekeepers in Kosovo

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Emma Nadirian

Panorama, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

Society 19:41 17/01/2020 Armenia

Deputy Commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) Brigadier General Laurent Michaud visited the Armenian peacekeepers serving in Kosovo, the defense ministry press service reported.

According to the source an emergency drill was announced to check the level of preparedness of Armenian peacekeepers. General Michaud hailed the results of the inspection and thanked the Armenian servicemen, the source said.

To note, Armenian servicemen have been participating in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since 2004, carried out by NATO.

Sports: European Figure Skating Championships to be held in Graz

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Vicken Chmshkian

Panorama, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

Sport 18:29 17/01/2020 Armenia

The 2020 European Figure Skating Championships will be held in Graz, Austria, from 20–26 January 2020. As the National Olympic Committee reported, medals will be awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs, and ice dance.

Armenia will be represented at the Championships Anastasia Galustyan competing in the ladies' singles, Slavik Hayrapetyan in the men’s single as well as Tina Karapetyan-Simon Senekal dancing pair.

Archaeologists discover ancient aqueduct near Khor Virap

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Karlen Baghdasarian

Aravot, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

Improving health in Armenia: how can the diaspora be more effective?

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Nyrie Kalashian

Aravot, Armenia

Jan 17 2020

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 01/16/2020

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Jhanna Virabian

                                        Thursday, 

Pashinian Slams ‘Corrupt’ TV Channels

        • Sargis Harutyunyan

Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a cabinet meeting in Yerevan, 
.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian lambasted TV stations critical of him on 
Thursday, saying that they belong to corrupt individuals and wage an 
“information war” against the Armenian government.

Pashinian said the government should expose the “real owners” of the private 
channels. He did not name any of them.

“I would say that the level of democracy in Armenia is so high that even corrupt 
persons have TV companies in Armenia nowadays,” he told a weekly cabinet meeting 
in Yerevan. “The logos of at least two TV channels can be replaced with the 
words ‘Corruption’ or ‘Corruption Group.’”

Pashinian claimed that he is “not unhappy with this situation” because these 
broadcasters help the authorities combat corruption by frequently interviewing 
former officials facing corruption charges and exposing their other “tentacles.”

Nevertheless, he went on, the government needs to enact legislation that will 
require them to reveal their “real owners” and thus increase broader 
“transparency” in the Armenian broadcast media. Justice Minister Rustam

Badasian told Pashinian in that regard that his ministry is already working on 
such a legal “mechanism.” Badasian did not elaborate.

At least two Armenian TV channels are owned by individuals thought to be linked 
to former Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Robert Kocharian or their relatives in 
one way or another. They regularly air strong criticism of the current 
authorities in their news programs and talk shows.

The official owner of one of the pro-Kocharian Fifth Channel, Armen Tavadian, 
was arrested late last month on charges of seeking false testimony in favor of 
the jailed ex-president. Tavadian rejected the charges as politically motivated. 
Some Kocharian loyalists and Fifth Channel executives claim that Tavadian’s 
arrest is aimed at silencing the opposition media outlet.




No Date Set For Next Armenian-Azeri Talks

        • Naira Nalbandian

Armenia -- Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian speaks at a news conference in 
Yerevan, December 2, 2019.

Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian on Thursday declined to give a possible 
date for his fresh talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov 
anticipated by international mediators.

Mnatsakanian and Mammadyarov have met regularly in the last 18 months, most 
recently in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava on December 4. They appeared to have 
failed to make major progress towards a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh 
conflict during that meeting which Mammadyarov described as “tough.”

The U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group said 
afterwards that the two ministers will meet again early next year “to intensify 
negotiations on the core issues of a peaceful settlement.”

“Ever since our government took office in May 2018 we have not dragged out or 
delayed the [negotiating] process at any point,” Mnatsakanian told reporters 
when asked when that meeting will take place. “As you know, we worked quite 
actively last year.”

“The process is going on,” he said after meeting with pro-government lawmakers 
in Yerevan. “You know that we announce a meeting when we reach agreement on it. 
We announce it simultaneously with the co-chairs.”

Mnatsakanian also noted that it is “too early” to talk about fresh talks between 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Mammadyarov claimed later in December that the Bratislava talks focused on the 
most recent version of a framework peace accord originally drafted by the U.S., 
Russian and French mediators in 2007. He said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey 
Lavrov presented it to the conflicting parties two years ago.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry insisted, however, that “no document is being 
discussed” by the parties at present.




Yerevan Mayor Demands Retraction Of Corruption Claims

        • Narine Ghalechian

Armenia -- Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutian speaks to journalists, January 16, 2019.

Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutian on Thursday challenged two leading members of the 
opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK) to substantiate their allegations that his 
administration has accepted dubious cash donations from wealthy businesspeople.

In letters sent to the LHK’s Edmon Marukian and Davit Khazhakian, he said they 
must retract those claims if they cannot come up with any evidence.

Khazhakian is a member of the Yerevan city council who has repeatedly accused 
Marutian of corruption and mismanagement. He sparked a scandal in November by 
revealing that private firms have donated two dozen garbage trucks to the 
municipal administration.

Khazhakian claimed that the donations were made in return for construction 
permits given to them. Marutian strongly denied such a quid pro quo.

The opposition politician subsequently alleged that the municipality also 
accepted cash from private donors.

Marutian’s spokesman, Hakob Karapetian, dismissed that allegation as 
“disinformation.” “After that statement the municipality conducted an additional 
inquiry and did not find any instances of cash donation,” he told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian service.

Karapetian did not exclude that the mayor will take the opposition figures to 
court if they ignore his demands.

Khazhakian insisted, meanwhile, that he does have evidence of the alleged 
wrongdoing and has submitted it an ad hoc commission of the Armenian parliament 
which was formed recently to investigate the controversial donations. He said 
Marutian should cooperate with the commission.




Press Review


Armenia -- Newspapers for press review illustration, Yerevan, 12Jul2016

“When the leader of a post-Soviet state initiates constitutional changes he very 
likely does so in order to extend his rule,” writes “Aravot.” “In countries like 
ours, there is no culture of resigning in a dignified manner after completing a 
term in office. Usually they invent some ploys to keep sitting on the same or 
altered throne forever.” The paper says Russian President Vladimir Putin is 
pursuing the same goal in his latest drive to amend Russia’s constitution. Putin 
wants to stay in power for the rest of his life, it claims.

“Zhoghovurd” says that under Armenian law Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has 
only two more months to choose the new heads of Armenia’s Police and National 
Security Service (NSS). “These agencies have been run by acting heads for the 
last four months,” explains the paper. They cannot temporarily these posts for 
more than six months. “What is the reason for this uncertain situation?” the 
paper goes on. “It is possible that the prime minister cannot find trustworthy 
individuals in the security agencies.”

“Haykakan Zhamanak” weighs in on a growing debate in Armenia about whether media 
outlets and social media users should be allowed to spread false or slanderous 
information and whether a government crackdown on them would constitute a 
violation of freedom of speech. “Those who carry out such propaganda against the 
authorities and political beneficiaries of that think they can spread any lies 
and nobody has the right to tell them off because freedom of speech is an 
absolute right,” writes the pro-government paper. “The opposite side believes, 
however, that … there is a limit beyond which there is a state interest which 
everyone must reckon with.” The daily controlled by Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s family goes on to accuse unnamed media outlets of “using freedom of 
speech against Armenia’s state interests.”

(Lilit Harutiunian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Asbarez: Glendale Teachers Association Endorses Ardy Kassakhian for City Council

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Greg Madatian

Ardy Kassakhian instructing a Political Science course he teaches at Glendale Community College

Major Endorsement Solidifies Kassakhian’s standing as the Clear Choice for Teachers and Education Leaders

GLENDALE—Glendale Teachers Association announced that it has endorsed Ardy Kassakhian’s Glendale City Council campaign. With more than 1,250 members, GTA is Glendale’s local voice for public education, and has led the charge in protecting and promoting the well-being of Glendale teachers and students.

“Our schools are one of the most important reasons why people decide to move to Glendale and set down their roots here. It’s why my family moved to Glendale over 30 years ago,” said Ardy Kassakhian. “Our city needs to support our schools – including our teachers, staff, and administrators who help make GUSD the great district it is. I’m proud to stand with our teachers who work hard every day on behalf of our community and its most vital resource – our children.”

GTA President Taline Arsenian states, “Ardy Kassakhian is a long time community and labor activist who has spent many years working to serve our city in a multitude of roles. He has a clear and unique understanding of the issues facing Glendale, and a plan to address these issues with new and innovative ideas, including shared uses for both city and school properties. We are excited to have him serve as our next city council member.”

Ardy Kassakhian grew up and attended public schools in Glendale. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005. As Clerk, he has reduced government waste by introducing environmentally sound practices, made election information easier to access and worked to increase voter participation. Ardy graduated from UCLA and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in Glendale.

Ardy Kassakhian is running for Glendale City Council. The election will be held on March 3, 2020. To learn more about Ardy Kassakhian, visit his website.

Asbarez: Archaeologists Discover Ancient Aqueduct Near Khor Virap

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Jirair Kafian

Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery located in the Ararat plain in Armenia

ARMENIA (ArmInfo)—Archaeologists have discovered an ancient water supply system in Armenia with almost two thousand years of history.

According to director of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Pavel Avetisyan, not far from the ancient monastery of Khor Virap, the foundations of an aqueduct – a water conduit for supplying water from sources located above them – were found. In total, within the framework of the Armenian-German program, 20 foundations were found, located over a length of half a mile, Avetisyan specified at a press conference on January 14. According to experts, they relate to 114 to 117 AD, and give insight to the water supply system of ancient Artashat.

Avetisyan did not exclude the possibility that the aqueduct was used to supply water from the Garni River. According to him, the research will continue in the current year.

Apart from the aqueduct, archaeologists have yet to study another major find: geomagnetic studies have revealed the surviving foundations of large palace buildings in the vicinity of modern Artashat, near the 13th hill. All foundations are now located on privatized lands, which means that, in order to excavate, archaeologists must come to an agreement with the current owners. Avetisyan expressed hope that this process will begin this year. The excavations will make it possible to present the ancient Artashat to the scientific community in a completely new way, he explained.

The town of Artashat has a long and rich history, as a settlement in ancient Artashat has existed since the Urartian period. From 190 to 189 BC, Armenia gained independence from the Seleucids. Following independence, its first king was Artashes I, who later founded Artashat (“joy of Artashes”).

Asbarez: Dilijan Chamber Music Series to Present ‘Transcendence’

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Diana Dabaghian

“Transcendence,” the Dilijan Chamber Music Series’ 4th concert of the 15th season will be held on Jan. 26

The critically acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series presents its “Transcendence” program at Zipper Hall. The fourth concert in the Series’ 15th Anniversary Season will be held on Sunday, January 26 at 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Choral works by Komitas, the founder of the Armenian classical music tradition (selections from the Divine Liturgy), J.S. Bach’s timeless motet Jesu Meine Freude, as well as David Haladjian’s Domine Deus will be presented by the University of California, Los Angeles’ Seraphic Fire Young Singers under the direction of James Bass, in a Dilijan Series debut. Concluding the program is Beethoven’s masterwork of chamber music, his magnificent String Quartet Op. 135, written in the last few months of his life. The distinguished performers are violist Paul Coletti (Colburn faculty), cellist Peter Stumpf (former Principal, LA Phil), and violinists Varty Manouelian (LA Philharmonic) and Movses Pogossian (Artistic Director of the Dilijan Series).

The winner of the inaugural Tigran Mansurian Music Composition Competition will be revealed at the concert. The newly established Competition’s mission is to encourage the creation of chamber music that demonstrates a tangible connection to Armenian art, culture, and/or history, and is generously underwritten by Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting. In addition to a cash prize, the winning composition will receive a public performance by members of the Armenian Music Program at UCLA and a professional-level recording.

The 15th Anniversary Season of the Dilijan Series presents an exciting mix of old and new, known and unknown. Beloved masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and Haydn will be performed alongside works by Komitas, Arutiunian, Mansurian, Sharafyan, and other Armenian composers. In addition to some of Dilijan favorite returning artists such as singers Tony Arnold and Shoushik Barsoumian, pianist Steven Vanhauwaert, violist Paul Coletti, cellists Antonio Lysy, Clive Greensmith and Peter Stumpf, the Series will be welcoming several musicians in their Dilijan debut: LA Phil oboist Anne Gabriele, remarkable pianist and Artistic Director of the Yellow Barn Festival Seth Knopp, Canadian violinist/violist Scott St. John, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg (Switzerland), cellist Yoshika Masuda (Japan), among others. The three Dilijan commissions of the season are works by Martin Ulikhanyan (homage to Tigran Mansurian’s film music), Dan Sedgwick, and a short film by Alik Barsoumian, which will be premiered alongside a live performance of the Prelude from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde opera.

Established in 2005 by members of the Lark Musical Society (Vatsche Barsoumian, Founder/Director), the Dilijan Chamber Music Series is dedicated to showcasing traditional masterworks of Western classical chamber music, as well as pearls from the treasury of Armenian music. A strong believer in new music, the Series has commissioned and premiered 54 works since its inception. For more information and ticketing, please visit the website. There is ample paid parking available in the nearby garages, including Disney Hall across the street from the Colburn School. Enjoy visiting the Dilijan YouTube channel for a large selection of performances from the previous seasons.

To learn more, follow the Dilijan Chamber Music Series on Instagram and Facebook pages