Armenian News... A Topalian 8 editorials

[BBC article not found with online search

so no details to hand of the allegations made]

Armenpress.am

14 September, 2019

Armenian Church responds to BBC Russia article alleging misconduct

 The Armenian Apostolic Church has responded to an article published by the BBC Russia featuring allegations of misconduct.

“Appreciating journalism as an important public work, we however regret for those journalists who are inflicting harm to the Armenian Apostolic Church in a targeted manner and by being guided with partiality and extraneous interests,” Father Vahram Melikyan,

 the spokesperson of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin said on Facebook.

“We pray for those individuals and in the event of a response we will be willing to receive and explain the existing realities. It is obvious that such persons have absolutely no perception about church life and its rules and laws, the challenges faced by the church and the methods of overcoming them. Sometimes it appears as if they don’t even want to understand this sophisticated world. This article is a bright example of this. We will clarify additionally in the future in the event of necessity.

We are convinced that the efforts of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the clergy in the direction of strengthening, developing the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and its Dioceses all over the worldwide Diaspora, the activation of life during the independence years and preparation of new clergymen are appreciated by the devout people, the church’s friends, the state government and must receive its deserved assessment by the future generations and chroniclers,” Head of the Mother See’s Information Department Vahram Melikyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress.am

16 September, 2019

Tax revenues recorded unprecedented growth in first half of 2019, says Armenia’s PM

Based on the data of the seven months of this year the real GDP growth rate in Armenia comprised 6.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a press conference in Vanadzor town.

“Industry grew by 8.4%, construction by 4.5%, trade turnover by 8.9%, services by 15.2%, and the average monthly salary by 5.9%”, the PM said.

In the first half of 2019 the tax revenues recorded an unprecedented growth – 25%. “In other words, compared to the last year, we have collected 152 billion more in taxes and fees”, he said.

Pashinyan added that 65.037 jobs were created starting from May 2018 up to now.

The PM informed that the compulsory payments to the Military Insurance Fund increased by 347.8 million drams or 9.6% in January-June 2019 compared to January-June 2018.

Trade turnover increased by 208.6 billion drams.

In January-June 2019, 1000 major taxpayers generated 511 billion AMD tax entries to the state budget, against the 446 billion AMD entries in the first half of 2018.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress.am

16 September, 2019

Tourism sector records impressive result: Pashinyan releases details

The number of tourists who visited Armenia has recorded an impressive growth in the first half of 2019, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference in Vanadzor’s Technological Center.

Introducing 100 facts about new Armenia, the PM said the number of German tourists increased by 59.5%, the Chinese tourists – 53.5%, Dutch tourists – 34.9%, Swiss tourists – 30%, UAE – 29.7%, Greece – 29%, Italy – 24.4%, UK – 22.9%, Japan – 22.2%, Russia – 19%, Sweden – 19%, US – 15%, France – 13%.

“Overall, we have a 12.8% increase in tourism in the first half of 2019. According to the calculations of the Central Bank, this year, including also August, tourists in Armenia spent over 200 million USD compared to last year”, the PM said.

The increase in the number of tourists settled in hotels comprised 60% in January-June 2019. “Based on this we can state that there is a certain qualitative increase in tourism field which in its turn leads to additional foreign currency inflows. The taxes paid by economic entities engaged in providing shelters increased by 38%, nearly 1 billion drams, compared to the same period of last year”, the PM said, adding that the taxes paid by tourism companies increased by 53% or 400 million drams.

Pashinyan stated that these are not just statistical data, but an economic indicator, expressed with concrete drams and amounts.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

RFE/RL Report

Armenian Security Chief Sacked 

September 16, 2019  Armenia 

 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Monday that he has dismissed Artur Vanetsian, the head of Armenia’s most powerful security agency.  Pashinian said the decision was made by “mutual consent” and “as a result of several discussions” held with  further activities,” he said, adding that Vanetsian will  continue to head the Football Federation of Armenia. 

Pashinian declined to give any reasons for the move, citing national security  considerations. Nor did Pashinian say who will replace Vanetsian as director of  the National Security Service (NSS).  

“There are different candidates [for the post] and I will consider them and  make a decision,” he told a news conference held in Vanadzor.  Vanetsian indicated, meanwhile, that he himself decided to resign because of disagreements with Pashinian. 

“State-building has its logic: spontaneity of actions and decisions and a work  style of not differentiating between primary and secondary and transient and lasting things is not the path leading to the realization of goals,” he said in  a written statement issued during Pashinian’s news conference. “It has nothing  in common with the officer’s honor: the officer’s epaulettes are incompatible with such a course of events. “Let my resignation be a sobering ‘Stop’ step,” Vanetsian added without  elaborating.  

Pashinian declined to respond to the veiled criticism when journalists told him about it. He said he needs to read the statement first.  The prime minister’s spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian hit out at Vanetsian later  in the day. “It has to be clarified who wrote the text attributed to Artur  Vanetsian,” he told the Armenpress news agency. “We hope that its authors are not the PR offices of corrupt persons who have ‘mistakenly’ avoided  prosecution.” 

“We are calling on General Vanetsian not to lose the officer’s dignity cited by  him,” said Karapetian.  

Pashinian appointed Vanetsian as NSS director two days after becoming prime  minister in May 2018. The 39-year-old career officer of the former Armenian  branch of the Soviet KGB has since been one of the most influential members of  his entourage, overseeing a number of high-profile corruption investigations.  Some Armenian media outlets have reported in recent weeks that relations  between the two men have deteriorated because of Pashinian’s dissatisfaction  with the work of the NSS.   

Armenpress.am

16  September, 2019

Garin Hovhannisian’s “I Am Not Alone” receives prize at Toronto International Film Festival

Armenian-American filmmaker Garin Hovhannisian’s “I Am Not Alone” documentary about the 2018 Armenian Velvet Revolution has received a prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  said on Facebook.

“Garin Hovhannisian’s “I Am Not Alone” film received the first prize (capturing the 2nd place) at the Toronto International Film Festival. Congratulations!”, the PM said.

System of a Down soloist Serj Tankian produced the movie.

The film features interviews of PM Nikol Pashinyan, his wife Anna Hakobyan, Police Chief Valery Osipyan, Tankian and many others.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Panorama, Armenia

Sept 16 2019

Armenian church being restored in Aleppo

Restoration of the dome and belfry of the Church of the Holy Mother of God, an Armenian Apostolic church located in the Sulaymaniyah district of Aleppo, Syria, has kicked off.

The Armenian church partially damaged during the Syrian war is set to welcome thousands of faithful in good condition in the next few days, Kantsasar newspaper reported.  

Armenpress.am

14 September, 2019

Smbatyan’s brainchild WCIT World Orchestra to play AI-composed music in real-time

The upcoming 2019 World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) is expected to gather numerous IT giants and experts in Yerevan from October 6 to 9 and organizers are determined to deliver a real show for everyone.

Armenia will be hosting the congress for the first time and for this special occasion another new initiative has been created – the WCIT World Orchestra.

The orchestra will kick off the congress with an unprecedented concert on October 6 at Yerevan's central plaza, a mix of modern technology and arts – it will play AI-composed music in real-time.  The concert will be conducted by Sergey Smbatyan – the artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.

“They often say that technological advancement is drawing away from one another. We attach importance to education, culture, and by creating the WCIT orchestra we wanted to show that information technology successes can also be displayed in arts,” Smbatyan

 told ARMENPRESS’s Angela Hambardzumyan.

The more than 100-man orchestra is composed of musicians from all those countries who have previously hosted the WCIT Congress.

Now the interesting part: Smbatyan says they have no idea what they will play because an artificial intelligence machine is going to compose the music and the orchestra will have to play it in real-time, without any chance for rehearsing.

“It is interesting when a machine is taught to think in thousands of algorithms, and we are able to understand what abilities intelligence in general has. There are people who don’t even have the talent of AI but there are those who change the world,” Smbatyan said. He said this particular machine has been taught to compose music based on the Armenian chant (sharakan).

DJ and producer Armin van Buuren, among others, will also perform at the concert.

Creating the WCIT World Orchestra is Smbatyan’s brainchild and it was realized with support from WCIT 2019 organizers.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Panorama, Armenia

Sept 16 2019

Henrikh Mkhitaryan named Man of the Match against Sassuolo

Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been named Man of the Match the Italian Serie A match between AS Roma and Sassuolo, the Italian club tweeted on Monday.

“A goalscoring debut! Congratulations to Henrikh Mkhitaryan on being voted the AS Roma

Man of the Match against Sassuolo!” the tweet read.

To remind, Mkhitaryan scored on his debut as AS Roma beat Sassuolo 4-2 in Serie A Sunday match. The Armenia international scored his side's third goal with a low strike.