Wednesday 22 May 2019

Armenian News...9 editorials

News.am, Armenia
May 3 2019
Armenia FM: What is arms trade for Israel is a weapon of death for our people 

What is arms trade for Israel is a weapon of death for our people, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with Israeli state-run KAN NEWS,

“We have been witnessing the use of such weapons against our people, and we have losses because of your weapons. So you understand how we look at it,” Mntasakanyan emphasized.

He went on to explain that Armenia is a very security conscious nation.

“And I am sure that you will understand very well what is meant by security consciousness. We have been be and we remain very confident about the way we defend ourselves, our people. You will understand me very well on this point. We are very dedicated to developing peace and security in our region, to finding peaceful resolution to conflicts on the grounds that are acceptable to all parties. Arms race in our region is not contributing to building peace and security,” he said.


Panorama, Armenia
May 3 2019
Armenian de-miners clear over 25,000 sq km territory in Syria

Armenian de-miners who are carrying out humanitarian mine clearance activities in Syria have cleared some 25,290 sq territory in the period from February 19 to May 2.

As the Centre of Humanitarian Demining and Expertise SNCO reports, the Armenian specialists came across anti-tank and other handmade mines many of them improvised. Meanwhile, the Armenian medics of the humanitarian mission performed operations and other medical assistance to hundreds of local residents.

Moreover, clinical. biochemical and laboratory examinations have been conducted. To remind, Armenia dispatched an 83-member team of doctors, sappers, as well as personnel ensuring their safety to Syria to carry out humanitarian mine clearance activities, raise mine awareness among the population and offer medical aid in Aleppo exclusively outside the zone of military operations.

The Armenian government made the decision to provide humanitarian aid to Syria taking into consideration the war-triggered humanitarian crisis in the country and especially in Aleppo, the UN Security Council Resolutions 2393 (2017) and 2401 (2018), a written request from the Syrian side, as well as the existence of a large Armenian community in Aleppo.


News.am, Armenia
May 4 2019
Newspaper: 70-100 thousand Armenians working in Turkey may face deportation 
                   
Some reports suggest that the Armenian citizens may face massive deportation from Turkey in the near future, Past newspaper writes on Saturday.
Many Armenian migrants are working in Turkey, and some of them do not leave for seasonal work, but stay there for years.

Turkey has repeatedly voiced this problem, and now one of the main reasons for this policy is sending the Armenian humanitarian mission to Syria in June 2018.

The issue was a subject of discussions in Armenia as well, as it was mentioned that the humanitarian mission was sent “secretly” and without any debates in the parliament, the newspaper writes.

If the reports are confirmed, Armenia may face another big problem, as, according to different estimates, 70-100 thousands Armenian nationals who are working in Turkey and sending money to their families, will have to come back.


News.am, Armenia
May 3 2019
Armenian ambassador on Erdogan's statements during OSCE session 
                   
In his speech in light of the current issues under consideration during Session 1226 of the OSCE Permanent Council, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Ambassador Armen Papikyan drew the OSCE member states’ attention to the statements made by the President of Turkey on April 24th, the day marking the 104th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Turkey’s hindrances to peaceful rallies and freedom of speech, reports the news service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

Touching upon the April 24th statement of the President of Turkey, Ambassador Papikyan stated that those kinds of statements are more than offensive and painful manifestations of disrespect towards the memory of the victims and the survivors, as well as an extremely troubling attempt to justify the genocide and one of the brilliant manifestations of Turkey’s policy of denial.

The ambassador noted that the Turkish president’s statement attests to the intention to fully or partially annihilate the Armenian people as a national, ethnic and religious group in the Ottoman Empire.

Touching upon the violations of the fundamental rights to peaceful assemblies and freedom of speech in Turkey, Ambassador Papikyan particularly touched upon the Turkish authorities prohibiting the Armenian Genocide remembrance event held by the Turkish Human Rights Association Istanbul Office at Sultanhamet Square in Istanbul, the square where 235 prominent Armenian figures, including Members of the Ottoman Parliament, religious and community leaders, remarkable writers and artists were brought on 24 April 1915 and later murdered.

The ambassador also informed that, according to press releases, on the same day, an Armenian activist was apprehended by Turkish police officers for speaking out about the Armenian Genocide. In closing, Ambassador Armen Papikyan expressed gratitude to the OSCE member states for Armenian Genocide recognition and the decisions, proclamations and initiatives aimed at commemorating the victims of the genocide and called on the international community to strictly condemn the Turkish government’s insult to the memory and dignity of the Armenian Genocide victims and survivors.


Panorama, Armenia
May 3 2019
Restoration department to open at Manuscript Library of Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem

Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran of Yerevan will support the formation of a manuscript restoration department at the Manuscript Library of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which houses the second-largest collection of Armenian manuscripts after Matenadaran.
The department will be opened this year, and its creation, organization and work-planning will be carried out with Matenadaran’s support. 

At the invitation of the Armenian patriarch of Jerusalem, from May 5 to June 5 Gayane Eliazyan, the head of the Restoration Department of Matenadaran, together with two senior restorers of the department, Susanna Kirakosyan and Emma Sarkisova, will be sent on mission to Jerusalem, Matenadaran said in a Facebook post. 

They will take part in the establishment of the department as well as in the monitoring, conservation and treatment of the collection. They will collaborate with local employees, for whom they will hold master classes.

News.am, Armenia
May 3 2019
Armenia exports drop 8.6%, minister explains why 
14:04, 03.05.2019 
                   
Armenia’s exports dropped by 8.6% in the first three months of this year; and some of the indicators that recorded a drop are related to the mining industry. The Minister of Economic Development and Investments, Tigran Khachatryan, noted this at a press conference on Friday.

As per the minister, exports in Armenia’s mining sector decreased by $51 million in the first quarter, of which $21 million were the drop in concentrates, and this decrease is also associated with seasonality in this domain. But the minister projected that, though there was a drop in prices, Armenia would have the same—or slightly larger—indicator in this sector over the course of the year, as to what it had last year.

“Electricity exports have declined in the first quarter, as compared with the previous year; that’s also related to seasonality,” Khachatryan said. “We have a slight decline along the lines of tobacco exports, but there is assurance that the gap will be filled in the months to come.

“The export of aluminum foil has had some decline, which is due to the fact that some restrictions were imposed on the Russian producer in the international market. (...). [But] now the problem has already been resolved and there has been a growth, already in March. On a yearly basis, a 22% to 25% growth in the amount of production envisaged, as compared with the previous year.”

“That is, although we [Armenia] have had a more than 8% reduction in exports, we believe that the year will be concluded with a certain growth. The program envisages a 7% to 8% growth in exports this year—it will be either that much or around it,” the minister added. “We don’t see a reason for concerns at this phase.”


Panorama, Armenia
May 4 2019
Production volumes of Armenian pullovers and jackets increased by 1.7 times

The production volumes of socks have increased by 2.2 times amounting for 2 million 436.8 for the period January-February 2019.

As Armenia’s Statistical Service reported in January-February 2018, 1 million 119.1 pairs of socks.

Meanwhile,  the production volumes of Armenian pullovers and jackets and  related products have increased by 1.7 times, amounting for 666.3 items.


Arminfo, Armenia
May 3 2019
Nikol Pashinyan today raised issue of Church taxation: We need to  understand what approach to take on the issue of the property tax of  the AAC
Tatevik Shahunyan

The first meeting of the working group on relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church took place.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia  Nikol Pashinian and the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

In his welcoming speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan, in particular,  noted: "As a result of discussions with the Supreme Patriarch, we  came to the conclusion that it is necessary to create a working group  to regulate the relations of the RA government and the Holy Armenian  Apostolic Church in order to have a permanent working format, discuss  and solve emerging issues. I want to say that one of the key points  of the election program of the "My step" bloc is the question of  preserving our national identity". 

According to Pashinyan, this issue  has been in the constituent program of the force headed by him since  2013.

At the same time, he stressed the need to clarify how the views of  the government and the Church are identical on various issues: "We  must try to understand each situation and listen to all the  arguments. We must leave the field of arbitrary decisions and take  clearly reasoned, informed decisions. The very first question to be  answered is whether we differentiate the history of the Armenian  people from the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church? If so, why?  If not, why?, etc.".

Another question, according to the prime minister, is related to the  AAC real estate, property tax: "We need to understand what approach  to take here, because it is not yet clear whether this movable  property is homogeneous or not, whether a tax approach should be  applied to various segments of this property or No, in the case of  the application, should it be one or not? I have already discussed  this topic with the Catholicos, and this is especially relevant in  light of the fact that today we are conducting an extended campaign,  urging citizens to pay taxes, because as a result of these paid  taxes, the amount of work that the government must do is formed and  drawn up. In this issue, we need the support of the Armenian  Apostolic Church. Thank God that our call has been worth  understanding>.

The prime minister assured that this year the government will  overfulfill the state budget revenues by at least 40 billion drams,  which will make it possible to raise the salaries of the military,  teachers, and make serious capital expenditures in various fields.
He again urged to discuss all the accumulated issues in an open,  constructive atmosphere. 

The prime minister assured that reading the Bible has become a new  starting point in his life: "The teaching of Christianity in all  respects, including in terms of state-building, is revolutionary. I  am confident that this doctrine can open the door to happiness not  only for the Armenian people, but also for all mankind, "said  Pashinyan, stressing that Christian values can and should serve to  strengthen the Republic of Armenia and the prosperity of the Armenian  people.

"I don't know whether such a format existed in the past or not, but I  am sure that this is an important stage for us, because structural  questions without dark corners should really be given to questions.  From time to time, we will discuss the issues raised during our  periodic meetings, but I hope that as a result of the work of the  working group, we will hear more solutions than problems, "Pashinyan  concluded.

In turn, the Catholicos of All Armenians expressed satisfaction with  the meeting of the working group in terms of achieving results in  regulating Church-State relations. "This is a good opportunity to  discuss issues of mutual interest and find ways to solve them in  order to achieve the mission of our Church, in the name of our  country and people".  According to him, the expansion of Church-State  cooperation should help strengthen the national and spiritual life of  the people, families, the brightness of the church and the power of  the state, the formation of a conscious and law-abiding citizen. 


Panorama, Armenia
May 3 2019
Mkhitaryan: A step closer to Europa League final

London Arsenal beat Valencia 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash on Thursday.
Armenian national football team and Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a substitute and entered the pitch in the 75th minute.

“First leg lead and a step closer to the UEL Final. Thank you to our fans for being behind us!” Mkhitaryan said in a Facebook post after the game. 

The next match is scheduled for 9 May. 

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