Armenian News.... A Topalian... Nov 6 2017 Indiana recognizes Armenian Genocide

In pictures: Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zor liberated 
https://www.armradio.am/en/2017/11/06/in-pictures-armenian-genocide-memorial-church-in-deir-ez-zor-liberated/ 

News.am, Armenia
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb issued a powerful proclamation memorializing the Ottoman Turkish Empire’s centrally-planned and executed annihilation of close to three million Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and Syriacs, making the Hoosier State the 48th U.S. state to properly recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America - Eastern Region (ANCA-ER). 

Governor Holcomb also declared November 6-12, 2017 as “Armenia Awareness Week” and invited the citizens of Indiana to “duly note this occasion.” 

“We welcome this proclamation by Governor Holcomb, making Indiana the 48th state in the union to officially re-affirm this international crime against humanity," said ANCA-ER Community Outreach and Communications Director Artur Martirosyan. “This proclamation serves as a reminder not only for the citizens of Indiana, but also for the denialist government of Turkey, which -- for over a century -- has been trying to hold truth hostage. Such policy is doomed to failure as we stand even stronger today with the people of good conscience in Turkey as well as our coalition partners, who have made this and other similar resolutions and proclamations a reality.” 

“The Armenian community in Indiana is small, but mighty," said ANC of Indiana Chairperson Seda Arzumanyan. “Armenians have called Indiana home for several generations and have made noteworthy contributions to the development of our great state. We are glad to see the Hoosier State join the rest of the nation in properly memorializing and condemning this horrific atrocity and look forward to celebrating our culture and heritage with our fellow Indianans during the week of November 6-12 and beyond.” 

Noting that the Ottoman Turkish government’s crime “still requires justice,” Gov. Holcomb’s proclamation cites Hoosier State's active participation in the Near East Relief, an example of outpouring of generosity by the American people from the onset of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) and for 15 subsequent years in rescuing and providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who were victims of the genocide. The document recounts the cycle of subsequent genocides of the 20th and 21st centuries, specifically mentioning the Islamic State's genocide against Middle East Christians, Yezidis, and other minorities. It concludes with the assertion that by “recognizing, consistently remembering, and educating about the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and all cases of past and ongoing genocide, we help protect historic memory, ensure that similar atrocities do not occur again and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution, and tyranny.” 


Commentary
Istanbul Armenian Community’s Dilemma
In Trying to Elect a New Patriarch
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier 

A major controversy has been brewing in Istanbul for several years among members of the Armenian community over plans to elect a new Armenian Patriarch. 

The controversy has long historic roots and more recent complications which started with the terminal illness of Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan who is unable to carry out his duties because of dementia. 

When some members of the Istanbul Armenian community tried to elect a new Patriarch to replace the incapacitated Mesrob Patriarch, the Turkish government officially announced that as long as the existing Patriarch is alive, no new Patriarch can be elected. Even the request to elect a Coadjutor Patriarch was rejected by the Governor of Istanbul. 

The Turkish government used the excuse that the Armenian community’s constitution of 1863 contained no such office as Coadjutor Patriarch. The problem was that the Turkish government had declared the constitution to be invalid several decades earlier. If the government was basing its decision on a defunct constitution, it meant that it was recognizing its validity. If the constitution is valid, then the community has the right to elect delegates who in turn could elect a new Patriarch. Regrettably, the Armenian community did not think of bringing this contradiction to the attention of the Turkish government! 

We remember that Mesrob Patriarch also faced opposition from the Turkish government prior to his election in 1998. Eventually, he went to Ankara and “made a deal” with Turkish officials behind closed doors, which allowed him to be elected Patriarch. Soon after, he started promoting various Turkish causes, including going throughout Western Europe to advocate for Turkey’s membership in the European Union and several visits to the United States to make public appearances at the Turkish government’s request! 

Earlier this year, some members of the Istanbul Armenian community decided to make another attempt to elect a new Patriarch motivated by their dislike of Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Vicar General (“pokhanort”) of the Patriarchate, and their desire to have a full-fledged Patriarch. The problem was Abp. Ateshyan would not resign from his post, blocking the door for new elections.... After much pressure from Armenians locally and around the world, particularly by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All-Armenians in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, an agreement was reached for Abp. Ateshyan to resign and for the Primate of the Armenian Church in Germany, Abp. Karekin Bekjian to be elected as Locum Tenens (“deghabah”) to organize new Patriarchal elections. 

Soon after this agreement, a group of prominent Istanbul Armenians formed a committee to initiate the Patriarchal elections, even though everyone in the community knew that the Turkish government was against such an election. As a matter of fact, while Abp. Bekjian was being elected as Locum Tenens, Abp. Ateshyan received a letter from the Governor of Istanbul informing him that the Turkish government does not recognize Abp. Bekjian’s election and continued to consider Abp. Ateshyan as the legitimate Vicar General. Unfortunately, Abp. Ateshyan presented the letter to the Initiating Committee only after they had elected Abp. Bekjian to his post. This episode increased the antagonism of those opposing Abp. Ateshyan and continued their support for Abp. Bekjian. 

To resolve this dilemma, Abp. Bekjian wrote a letter to the Governor of Istanbul asking for a meeting. After waiting for 60 days for a reply, Abp. Bekjian flew to Germany to meet with Catholicos Karekin II during his visit there. 

While Abp. Bekjian was out of Turkey, the Governor of Istanbul invited Abp. Ateshyan, Bishop Sahag Mashalian and the head of the Initiating Committee for a meeting. The timing was no coincidence. It was clear that the Governor did not want to meet with Abp. Bekjian, someone whose election he did not recognize! 

The argument in the local Armenian community intensified between those who considered themselves to be realistic, acknowledging the Turkish government’s role in the Patriarchal elections, and those who rejected any interference by the Turkish government. The supporters of Abp. Ateshyan pointed out the uselessness of going against the wishes of the powerful Turkish government that had jailed thousands of opposition members and even defied major countries such as Germany and the United States. Furthermore, Abp. Ateshyan’s proponents indicated that if Catholicos Karekin II could intervene in the elections of the Istanbul Patriarchate, an autonomous branch of the Armenian Church, then it would be understandable, no matter how undesirable, that the President of Turkey would have the right to interfere in elections held in his own country. 

To make matters worse, before Abp. Bekjian returned from Germany, five members of the Initiating Committee had resigned after meeting with the Governor of Istanbul. The rest of the committee members wanted to wait until Abp. Bekjian’s return before making a decision.
Following Abp. Bekjian’s arrival in Istanbul, after consulting with the Initiating Committee, he announced that he would write a letter to the Turkish Minister of Interior, asking for a one-on-one meeting. Defying Istanbul Governor’s clear instructions, Abp. Bekjian continued to remain in his post. 

Abp. Bekjian’s intent to meet privately with the Minister of Interior is fraught with pitfalls. As was the case with Patriarch Mesrob, Abp. Bekjian could make a private deal with the Minister, pledging to carry out the Turkish Government’s instructions henceforth. During his tenure as Primate of Germany, Abp. Bekjian had spoken out periodically about the Armenian Genocide.
Abp. Bekjian’s other option would be to resign from his post, opening the door for Abp. Ateshyan to be elected Patriarch, which would be against the wishes of the majority of the local Armenian community, but complying with the preference of the Turkish government!


RFE/RL Report
Government Defends Caps On Social Spending
November 06, 2017
Astghik Bedevian
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Artem Asatrian defended on Monday
the Armenian government's decision not to raise public sector salaries
and pensions next year despite a planned rise in its overall
expenditures.

The draft state budget approved by the government in late September
calls for over 1.46 trillion drams ($3.1 billion) in total
expenditure, up by 7.6 percent from the government's 2017 spending
target. Most of the extra spending would be channeled into various
infrastructure projects. By contrast, the 2018 budget would
practically not increase public spending on social programs.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and other officials have said that
increased spending on capital projects is a better way to ease
socioeconomic hardship as it would stimulate economic activity in the
country.

Asatrian echoed these arguments at a meeting with standing committees
of the Armenian parliament that focused on the draft 2018
budget. Their opposition members strongly criticized the government's
reluctance to spend more on salaries, pensions and poverty benefits,
which were most recently raised in 2015.

Asatrian insisted that the government cannot opt for more such rises
for now without additional borrowing that would only add to Armenia's
mounting public debt. "Raising pensions by just 1,000 drams would
require an extra 5 billion drams in spending," he said.

The opposition lawmakers were unconvinced, however. Nikol Pashinian, a
leader of the Yelk alliance, said stagnant pensions and salaries mean
lower living standards and greater poverty.

"The biggest impact on poverty reduction comes from economic growth,"
said Asatrian.

"This budget will not reduce poverty," countered Pashinian.

"The people's social plight is worsening," Gevorg Petrosian of the
Tsarukian Bloc said for his part.

Deputy Finance Minister Atom Janjughazian denied Petrosian's claim. He
said that unemployment in Armenia fell from 19 percent to 17.8 percent
in the first half of this year.

According to government projections, economic growth, which all but
ground to a half in 2016, will reach 4.3 percent this year and 4.5
percent in 2018.


ARKA, Armenia
Nov 6 2017
Armenia’s 1000 largest corporate taxpayers paid a total of 580.79 billion drams 

for 9 months of 2017 
Armenia’s 1000 largest corporate taxpayers paid a total of 580.79 billion drams in various taxes for the first 9 months of 2017, the State Revenue Committee (SRC) said, adding that the figure represents a 10.6% or 55.8 billion drams growth from the year before. SRC said some 421.7 billion drams of that amount were collected by the tax authorities, and about 159 billion drams by the customs authorities.

About 193.9 billion drams were direct taxes (income tax and payroll tax), and 310.2 billion drams were indirect taxes, including VAT and excise taxes. Also 76.5 billion drams were collected as other taxes. According to SRC, the 1000 largest taxpayers accounted for 69.5% of all taxes collected in the first nine months, which amounted to more than 835.1 billion drams, an increase of 6.2%.

The list of Armenia's largest corporate taxpayers was topped by Gazprom Armenia national gas distribution company, which paid more than 32.2 billion drams in various taxes, up from 29.8 billion drams it had paid for the same period in 2016.

It was followed by Grand Tobacco, which paid a total of 22.1 billion drams, an increase of 34%. The national power distributor Electric Networks of Armenia paid 18.8 billion drams, up from 14 billion drams paid in the same time span of 2016. The fourth was Alex Holding, which paid about 16.1 billion drams. Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine was fifth having paid about 13.1 billion drams against 11.1 billion drams paid for the same period in 2016.

The list of top 10 tax-payers also included GeoProMining Gold (10.2 billion drams), CPS OIL CORPORATION (9.2 billion drams), Teghut company (9.1 billion drams), International Masis Tabak (7. 93 billion drams) and Flash oil trader (7.92 billion drams). ($ 1 - 484.37 drams). -0-


ARKA, Armenia
Nov 6 2017
Passenger traffic through Armenia’s two airports up 24% in Jan-Oct 2017 to over 

2 millionPassenger traffic through Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport and Gyumri’s Shirak Airport grew 22.7 percent in Jan-Oct 2017, compared with the same period a year before to 2,154,092 people, the press office of the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia reported on Monday.

Some 231,909 people went through the two airports in October alone, exceeding the result of the same period of the previous year by 12.5%.

Zvartnots International Airport’s passenger traffic grew 7.4% to 220,726 in October 2017, and in Jan-Oct 2017, compared with the same period a year earlier, it grew 18.8%.

Freight traffic through Zvartnots totaled 18,910 tons in Jan-Oct 2017 showing a 42.2% year-on-year growth.

Passenger traffic through Shirak Airport was 11,183 people in October 2017 against 624 people in October 2016 and 77,072 people in Jan-Oct 2017 against 7,689 in the same period a year before.

The number of takeoffs and landings in Zvartnots and Shirak grew 19.2% in Jan-Sept 2017, compared with the same period a year earlier.

Two airports operate in Armenia now Yerevan’s Zvartnots and Gyumri’s Shirak. Both airports are run by the Armenia – International Airports in accordance with a 30-year concession management agreement sealed with Armenian government in 2001.

The company belongs to American International Airports, an Argentine company owned by Eduardo Eurnekian, an Argentine entrepreneur of Armenian descent.


Panorama, Armenia
Nov 6 2017
Armenia’s brandy production volumes on the rise 
The volumes of brandy production increased in Armenia in January-September 2017, the statistics say.

According to the data released by the National Statistical Service, the brandy production volumes totaled to 21 134.0 thousand liters within nine months of this year compared to the 13 503.3 thousand liters produced in the indicated period of the past year.

In the third quarter of this year, brandy production volumes went up by 56.5%.

According to the data, 5 872.6 thousand liters of wine was produced in Armenia in January-September 2017, showing a 36.7 percent rise against the same period of 2016.


A1+
Jeremy Harmer in Armenia
November 6 2017

British Council Armenia is happy to announce that within its 2017 Teacher Development programme will host Jeremy Harmer the worldrenowned and acclaimed teacher educator, writer, and speaker in Armenia from 10 to 12 November to deliver talks and training sessions for Language Teaching (ELT) specialists working in Armenia. The latter will conduct conversations and retraining courses for English teachers in Armenia on November 10-12.

Jeremy Harmer, and experienced teacher and trainer, is a writer of methodology titles, learner literature and coursebooks. Among his titles are The Practice of English Language, How to Teach English and Essential Teacher Knowledge (Pearson), and Trumpet Voluntary and Solo Saxophone (Cambridge University Press). He is a member of the writing team for Jetstream, a new adult course from Helbling.

Jeremy is a course designer and tutor on the MA TESOL at the New School New York and an occasional tutor at the Norwich Institute of Language Education (NILE). Away from ELT Jeremy enjoys life as a practising musician, songwriter and spoken-word performer.

In addition to teaching English, Jeremy is also involved in music.

The British Council regularly conducts meetings and lectures with the UK’s best specialists, enabling Armenian teachers and English specialists to get acquainted with the changes and trends in the field.

All the sessions are open to all interested teachers and educators – free of charge. However, interested individuals need to register in the event by filling in our online registration form and indicating the sessions they would like to attend.

The British Council also provides online resources and training to deliver the best British experience to Armenian specialists.

AGBU Press Office
CELEBRATED DIRECTOR KRIKOR SATAMIAN HONORED WITH ST. SAHAG–ST. MESROB MEDAL

ST. SAHAG–ST. MESROB MEDAL IS AWARDED FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS,
CULTURE, EDUCATION, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. 
On November 1, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, bestowed
St. Sahag–St. Mesrob Medal of Honor and Holy Encyclical upon popular actor and
director Krikor Satamian who was honored for his lifelong dedication to the
arts and contribution to Armenian theatre.

Surrounded by friends, family and colleagues at the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, Satamian accepted the award, thanking His Holiness Karekin II
and the Diocese. “Receiving this medal of honor is an unparalleled moment for
me. It has been a great journey and I feel lucky to have had this unique
opportunity to do what I love,” said Satamian. “I am proud to serve the
Armenian people through Armenian theatre and cultural programs of AGBU.”

Satamian’s decades-long commitment to his craft has had a significant impact on
the development of theater across the diaspora. In 1960, he first joined the
famous AGBU Vahram Papazian Theatre Company in Beirut, Lebanon, as a young
actor and later was appointed as its artistic director. In the following years,
he became AGBU’s national artistic director in New York and had since
established several AGBU theater companies in Boston, Detroit, New York,
Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires. Since 2013, Satamian is the
artistic director of the AGBU Krikor Satamian Theatre Group in Los Angeles,
previously known as the AGBU Ardavazt Theatre Company.

Satamian has directed over 87 plays, three operettas and has acted in over 70
plays, shows and films, including “24,” “Subterfuge,” “Mad TV” and “Suddenly
Susan.” He also worked with celebrities like Brooke Shields, Joey Travolta and
John Cusack. He also taught drama at the American University of Beirut (AUB),
his alma mater, and the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park for
thirteen years.

Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest non-profit
Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and
promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians
around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
www.agbu.org.