Armenian News... A Topalian... Panorama, Armenia tension
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 28 2017
Karabakh reports relative tension on frontline over past week
The situation along the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh/NKR) and Azerbaijan is reported to have been relatively tense over the past week.
Apart from firearms, the Azerbaijani forces also fired SPIKE anti-tank guided missile, as well as mortars and grenade launchers of various calibers to target Artsakh positions from 22 to 28 October, the press service of the Artsakh Defense Ministry told Panorama.am.
The frontline units of the Defense Army continue to maintain full control over the frontline situation and confidently fulfil their military tasks.
RFE/RL Report
EU, Armenia Poised To Sign Landmark Deal
October 27, 2017
Hovannes Movsisian
The European Union and Armenia will almost certainly sign next month
an agreement aimed at significantly deepening their relations, a
senior EU official said late on Thursday.
Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner for European neighborhood policy,
confirmed that the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) is due to be signed during or on the sidelines of an EU summit
in Brussels scheduled for November 24.
"This agreement with Armenia will be signed, no doubt about it." Hahn
said at a meeting with civil society members from Armenia and other
ex-Soviet states held in Estonia's capital Tallinn.
"I think it's pretty sure that this will be done around the summit or
at the summit," he added.
In an apparent reference to Russia, Hahn suggested that the EU's and
Armenia's "neighbors" do not object to the deal. "At least they accept
it," he said.
Russian pressure exerted on Yerevan is widely believed to have
scuttled a more ambitious Association Agreement which Armenia and the
EU nearly finalized in 2013. President Serzh Sarkisian precluded that
accord with his unexpected decision to join the Russian-led Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU).
The spokesman for Sarkisian's ruling Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK), Eduard Sharmazanov, made clear late on Thursday that Yerevan is
"planning" to sign the CEPA in Brussels. "Had we seen any problems in
the agreement we would not have initialed it [in March,]" he said.
Unlike the Association Agreement, the CEPA would not make Armenia part
of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" with the EU. Still, the
350-page document commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic
laws and regulations to those of the EU.
Hahn stressed that Armenia is the first EEU member state that will
sign a "far-reaching agreement" with the EU. "This is important # This
shows that co-existence is possible," he said.
Hahn went on to reiterate his view that the CEPA will serve as a
"blueprint" for other countries interested in closer ties with the EU.
A bridge, which was frequently used by 17th century Julfa Armenian merchants as passageway, was named
ARMEENSEBRUG (Armenian Bridge) at an official ceremony in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
Amsterdam
The inauguration was attended by Armenian Ambassador Dzunik Aghajanian, Rev. Daron Tadevosjan of the city’s Sourp Hokee Armenian Apostolic Church, Amsterdam Chief of Planning Rob Kaatee, General Secretary of Street Naming Hans Tomson, and Nicolai Romashuk Hairabedian, the man, who after years of effort, achieved his dream of giving the ancient bridge its Armenian name. Also present at the unveiling ceremony were representatives from the AGBU, Abovian, and Ararat organizations, in addition to members of the Sourp Hokee Church congregation.
Ambassador Aghajanian said she was “very proud because the bridge symbolizes the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples and will continue to do so for centuries.” Mr. Tomson said that while the process of naming the bridge had taken a long time, he hoped the structure will symbolize the continued friendship of the people of the Netherlands and Armenians.” Addressing Armenians, his colleague, Mr. Kaatee, said: “This is your bridge.” He also echoed the sentiments of Mr. Tomson and the ambassador.
Watching the culmination of his many years of effort, Jerusalem-born Mr. Romashuk Hairabedian, said: “This is big victory for the Armenian people because of their worthy share in Dutch history, starting in the 4th century when Armenian Saint Servatsius/Servaas of Maastricht arrived here and continuing with the participation of Armenian merchants in the Golden Age of the Netherlands, the printing of the first Armenian Bible (1 666-1668 ) and the participation of Soviet Armenian soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands at the end of the Second World War.”
Mr. Romashuk Hairabedian, who gave each bridge crosser a red clove signaling victory, spent years researching at the Dutch National Archives at the University of Amsterdam to establish the bridge’s connection to the Armenian merchants and then several more years to convince the municipality to consider his initiative to name the bridge Armenian. “I am dedicating my work to the centenary of the Genocide of Armenians,” he said.
A resident of Assen who settled in Holland in 1976, Mr. Romashuk Hairabedian is the founder and chairman of the Armenian Social and Cultural Foundation. He was responsible in bringing a large khachkar from Armenia and in establishing an Armenian cemetery in Assen, the only one in the country. The cemetery is named Hrant Dink.
The Times of Israel
Oct 28 2017
Legendary singer Aznavour given award for family efforts to save Jews in WWII
French-Armenian receives honor from President Rivlin, speaks of the historical
French Armenian singing legend Charles Aznavour was honored in Israel on Thursday for his family’s efforts to protect Jews and others persecuted by the Nazis during World War II.
The 93-year-old known as France’s Frank Sinatra still performs and is scheduled to give a concert in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
He received the honor from President Reuven Rivlin, who spoke of his love of Aznavour’s music, saying “La Boheme” was his favorite song.
Rivlin presented him with The Raoul Wallenberg Award, named for the Swedish diplomat who helped thousands of Jews flee Nazi-controlled Hungary during World War II.
Aznavour’s family “hid a number of people who were persecuted by the Nazis, while Charles and his sister Aida were involved in rescue activities,” Rivlin’s office said in a statement.
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, based in New York, presents the award and Aznavour chose to receive it in Israel, it said.
President Reuven Rivlin is seen with French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour on October 26, 2017, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. (AFP Photo/Gali Tibbon)
Aznavour, who was born in Paris, spoke of his Armenian origins on Thursday, referring to the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire and the Holocaust.
His parents fled to France to escape the massacres that more than 20 countries have recognized as a genocide, a charge strongly denied by Turkey.
“We have so many things in common, the Jews and the Armenians, in misfortune, in happiness, in work, in music, in the arts and in the ease of learning different languages and becoming important people in the countries where they have been received,” he said.
Aznavour’s hits have included “She,” “Hier Encore” and “La Mamma.”
He is also credited in more than 60 movies, defying detractors who pointed to his unconventional looks to become one of France’s most iconic singers.
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
October 27, 2017 Friday
President of Israel confessed that Tel Aviv does not recognize the
Armenian Genocide for political reasons
Tatevik Shahunyan.
During the ceremony of awarding medals of the Swedish diplomat Raoul
Wallenberg for "heroic actions during the Holocaust" to Aznavour and
his sister Aide, the world famous chanson asked the Israeli leader
when Israel recognizes the Armenian Genocide.
"I will not ask you a secret question, and I do not expect an answer.
However, it is important to raise this issue. Why do not you recognize
the Armenian Genocide, while they themselves suffered from the fascist
regime? "Aznavour said.
In response, the President of Israel confessed: "Unfortunately, the
Israeli government, for political reasons, could not recognize the
tragic events in the Ottoman Empire of 1915 as genocide, but I myself
raised the issue in the Knesset and the UN."
armenianliefe.com
Posted on October. 28. 2017
The fate of the 41-year-old Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), commonly known as Metsamor, is up for debate yet again as reports have emerged questioning whether the Armenian government will abandon plans for renewal or replacement altogether.
Metsamor, which is the only nuclear energy plant in the South Caucasus and one of the five remaining Soviet nuclear reactors of its kind, provides energy to 40% of Armenian consumers. Despite its critical role in Armenia’s modern energy economy, its aging design and proximity to earthquake-prone areas make it among the most dangerous nuclear plants in the world.
Built in 1976, the plant was shut down in 1989 by Soviet officials, following the devastating Spitak Earthquake. However, the economic difficulty and energy scarcity in Armenia after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, motivated the new Armenian government to relaunch the second of the plant’s two units.
Since then, the reactor’s operations have been a contentious issue both domestically and internationally. The issue was even addressed in an impending EU-Armenia trade agreement, where a 350-page, publicly-released draft text stipulated the reactor should be closed and replaced (though practical measures in enforcing this were notably vague).
For years, Armenian officials have pledged to build a new nuclear plant, which was originally scheduled to expire in 2016, but in 2015, an extension was granted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) allowing the site to continue operating until 2027.
In the past, politicians have failed to live up to promises of replacing the plant with a modern facility that meets international standards of safety. Metsamor was one of the issues on which current President Serge Sarkisian ran in 2008. However, while Vice Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan recently stated that authorities intend to honor plans for construction of the plant that are expected to start in 2022 or 2023, a very different position was represented by Armenia’s Minister of Justice David Harutyunyan, who allegedly told journalists, “Imagine that, let’s say tomorrow, modern technology will allow us to receive the same amount of energy without a nuclear power station. And then our energy, produced with the help of the nuclear station, will cost much more for consumers.
So what path should we go down? The path of modern technology of course.” Replacing the plant will require serious investment—around five billion dollars—which would fund a medium capacity plant (600 megawatts). Closing the plant would deprive millions of people of electricity, without a viable alternative, and would deal a blow to the security of the country.
October 27, 2017 Friday
Children of Armenians from other countries will be able to obtain
Armenian citizenship in a simplified manner
Alexander Avanesov. Children of Armenians, who are citizens of other
countries, will be able to obtain Armenian citizenship in a simplified
manner. Corresponding amendments to the Law "On Citizenship" were made
at the meeting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on
October 27.
In addition, as the Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Vardan
Yeghiazaryan stated, in order to reduce the number of fictitious
marriages for the purpose of acquiring citizenship, the law requires a
minimum of two years to live with a citizen of Armenia in a registered
marriage, provided that they live in Armenia for one year. Issues
related to the granting of citizenship will be handled by an
interdepartmental commission that will submit proposals to the Prime
Minister, and the latter will have the right to apply to the president
for granting citizenship.
Oct 28 2017
New “gallery” of rock art discovered near Armenia mountain (PHOTOS)
The small gorge, which is located between Ughtasar and Iskhanasar Mountains nearby Sisian town in the Syunik Province of Armenia, seems to be a picture gallery. There are two rows of stones there parallel to each other, and with prehistoric drawings on them ( PHOTOS ).
The best-known place with such drawings here is the Ughtasar Mountain peak, which many tourists visit.
But our guides, Gagik Navasardyan, a local branch employee of the Agency for the Protection of Monuments of History and Culture, and Hrach Hakobyan, a local resident, claim that there have been no visitors yet at where we are.
Navasardyan informed that rock pictograms, as a rule, date back to between 5th to 4th millennia BC and 3rd to 1st millennia BC.
“They give so much important information about human activity of those times,” he added. “These are works of art by the Stone Age man, and which depict the fight against the forces of nature.
“The rock pictograms can be classified as world historical heritage. This isn’t the treasure of only Syunik; this is one of the first phases in the development of all mankind.”
The Ughtasar archeological monument is full of rock pictograms. By and large, hunting scenes, man’s surrounding nature, and rituals are depicted on them. In addition, they represent the cosmic conceptions of the prehistoric man.
Click to see images of the art:
https://news.am/eng/news/ 417682.html
Smithsonian Magazine
Oct 27 2017
How Mobile Wine-Tasting Rooms Could Revolutionize Armenian Wine Country
“Wine Cubes” will be popping up on Armenian vineyards—and building up the country’s enotourism industry By Laura Kiniry
Imagine sitting in a 6,100-year-old mountain vineyard in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor province, sipping a glass of red wine with subtle hints of juniper. Nearby is a plate of cheese made from the milk of a bezoar goat, drizzled with local honey and paired with perfectly ripe apricots, while the man beside your table—the one who’s pouring himself a glass of wine to join you—is both the vintner and the farmer responsible for this incredible spread. For four generations, his family has been tending this vineyard in Armenia’s southeastern corner, one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world.
Creating experiences like this is the aim of Farm-to-Bottle , a joint crowdfunding project between Semina Consulting (a viticulture consulting firm devoted to promoting and developing the country’s wine region) and the philanthropic non-profit ONEArmenia, which hopes to create a new wave of local enotourism in southeastern Armenia and empower small family farmers to thrive there. “Normally, the link between the grape grower and the consumers is lost,” says Vahe Keushguerian, a local wine expert and the head of Semina Consulting—particularly in Armenia where, until recently, many grape growers were selling their crops to larger corporations for a fraction of the going price, and keeping only a small portion of the fruit to craft wine for themselves. “With Farm-to-Bottle, we’re working to change that.” A large portion of the campaign’s $61,515 in fundraising will go toward building “WineCubes,” compact wine-tasting rooms that can be placed right in the vineyards. More intimate than a typical tasting room, the cubes are intended for grape farmers who don’t yet have their own customer-friendly wineries, providing them the opportunity to interact with their consumers directly. Each one will feature an open-air patio lined with bench-style tables, a tasting bar with stool seating and a restroom—all perched on a concrete platform with timber-clad walls. Depending on the farmer, says Keushguerian, “tastings may be accompanied by a few snacks or even a full sit-down meal.” Armenia’s DZ Architectural Design Studio is responsible for both the design and building of each “cube,” devising simple venues that are affordable, easily transported and that blend seamlessly with their surrounds, showcasing the vineyards.
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