Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Solar roofing installations to begin in Shushi and Askeran communities in 2018

By

The project of roof-top solar installations with photovoltaic panels that generate electricity and solar water heating panels will be implemented in Askeran and Shushi communities of Artsakh Republic in 2018.

As the Executive Director of Shushi-based Yeznik Mozyan Vocational School Vaspurak Karapetyan told Artsakhpress, the project will be implemented with the funds of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s French affiliate and installed by the school students.

“Roof-top solar installations will be placed at the schools and kindergartens of the mentioned communities, while solar water heating panels will be installed on all houses of Artsakh Qarin Tak village,” Karapetyan said, adding the project is sponsored by Hayastan Al-Armenian Fund and envisages to construct solar power stations in all regions of Artsakh.

The installation works will involve both the members of the vocation schools and Arpi Solar organization which is specialized in installing solar power plants.

Karapetyan next spoke of this year’s Thanksgiving Day Telethon by Hayastan Fund that will be held on November 23. To note, proceeds from the event will be used for building irrigation and solar-energy infrastructures across Artsakh, within the organization’s new flagship program “Fruitful Artsakh.”

In his words, the program will solve acute problems, including offsetting electricity demand by the residents and the decentralize the energy system of the republic.

 

Source Panorama.am

Armenia government approves Russian defense-loan agreement

By

YEREVAN. – At Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, the government of Armenia approved the agreement on a $100mn defense loan from Russia, and forwarded it to the parliament for ratification.

Under this document, Russia will provide a 20-year state export loan to Armenia, in order to fund the supply of Russian-made military products to the country.

The Armenian government’s respective rationalization states that this new agreement is in line with Armenia’s strategic interests, and it will serve the objective of enhancing the country’s security.

In June 2015, Armenia signed a $200mn loan agreement with Russia, so as to purchase Russian-made weapons.

Source: News.am

Chris Cornell posthumously honored with Promise Award from Human Rights Watch

By

Chris cornell

The Los Angeles Committee of Human Rights Watch presented its inaugural Promise Award to the song The Promise during the Voices for Justice Human Rights Watch Annual Dinner on November 14, 2017, Human Rights Watch reported.

Inspired by the film and song that powerfully depicted the atrocities committed against the Armenian people, the award recognizes an outstanding song, television show, or film that advances the values of equity and justice in an original and powerful way. Fittingly, the inaugural honor was given to the late legendary singer and songwriter Chris Cornell in recognition of his song, The Promise.

The pioneering recording artist Chris Cornell, who sadly passed away in May, wrote the title song for the film, The Promise, the first major Hollywood film about the Armenian genocide. The song and its video fittingly weave the genocide with humanitarian crises of today. The song focuses on courage, perseverance, and hope – connecting with emotions that characterize and amplify the worldwide struggle for human rights. Cornell donated all proceeds from the song to benefit refugees and children, and his song continues to inspire millions as an anthem for the human rights movement.

We’re so grateful to @RyanTedder and #DrewBrown of @OneRepublic for their performance of @thepromisefilm song in honor of the talented @chriscornell at tonight’s #VoicesforJusticeLA dinner. #KeepThePromise #NeverStaySilent @esrailian pic.twitter.com/uGA6COYu6K

— HRW California (@HRWSoCal) 15 ноября 2017

Armenian students protesting draft deferment bill suspend strike

By

Armenian university students protesting against the new draft law on eliminating military deferment decided to suspend the hunger and student strikes, one of the protesting students, Davit Petrosyan said following a meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan and Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov.

He informed that they had agreed to hold round-table discussions over the controversial legislative measure on 22 November, adding they will also try to attract scientists and civil society representatives to the debates.

“The purpose of conveying a round-table discussion is to make the voices of all the concerned parties heard. Through the general discussion, we will try to reach amendments in this legislative measure limiting military deferment. Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan said if we manage to prove the draft law wrong, we will be able to influence it. It was officially announced that the striking students will not face pressures. We believe a round-table [discussion] is the best option at the moment, since our goal is to make changes in the draft law,” Davit Petrosyan remarked.

Meantime he stressed he cannot point out any further step following the upcoming meeting in a round-table format, adding it depends on the process and outcome of the discussions.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov in his turn said the public round-table debates will bring together all the interested parties.

“We embark on a constructive phase, asking to end the strike. The discussions scheduled for 22 November will address global concerns. The outcome will be clear after discussions,” he added.

Earlier today the Armenian parliament adopted on the second reading the amendments into the Armenian law “On Military Duty and Military Service” that would abolish temporary exemptions from Armenia’s mandatory military service for graduate and undergraduate students of government-funded educational institutions.

The controversial bill debated at a plenary session of the parliament on Wednesday was completely adopted with 86 votes for and 6 against.

Critics of the legislation point to the adverse impact of the new law on the education and science, suggesting the elimination of conscription deferments will prevent prospective students from professional, scientific or educational activities. Meanwhile, the proponents of the law insist the deferments are a violation of social justice. Additionally, cancelling all exemptions for compulsory service would minimize corruption risks in the military and education spheres in cases when eligible citizens would wish to avoid the army.

Vancouver, Armenian DM pays tribute to the memory of genocide victims

By

 Armenian delegation led by Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan arrived in Canada in the evening of November 14 to participate in the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial in Vancouver.

This conference, which is the largest gathering of Defense Ministers dedicated to UN Peacekeeping, features more than 500 representatives from 80 countries.

Before the opening of the conference, the Armenian delegation, together with representatives of the Armenian community of Vancouver, paid tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

 

President Aoun calls Saudi detention of Hariri ‘aggression against Lebanon’

By

Lebanese President Michel Aoun

Lebanese President Michel Aoun says Saudi Arabia is holding Prime Minister Saay Hariri, calling the detention as an act of aggression against his country and a violation of international human rights regulations.

“Nothing justifies Hariri’s lack of return for 12 days. We therefore consider him detained. This is a violation of the Vienna agreements and human rights law,” Aoun said at a meeting with Lebanese journalists and media executives.

Aoun underlined the need for Hariri’s immediate return to Lebanon, saying, “We cannot wait a long time for Hariri’s return, we cannot stop the state’s work.”

Later on Wednesday, Hariri repeated his previous statements that he would return home. “I want to repeat and affirm that I am perfectly fine and I will return, God willing, to dear Lebanon as I promised you, you’ll see,” he wrote on Twitter.

Hariri announced his surprise resignation in Riyadh on November 4, shortly after traveling to Saudi Arabia. The televised announcement saw him reading out from a statement.

Lebanese government officials and senior sources close to Hariri believe that Riyadh forced him to step down and placed him under effective house arrest since he touched down in Saudi Arabia on November 3, a day before he announced his shock resignation.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry has pledged to keep up pressure on Saudi Arabia not to impede Hariri’s return, the al-Akhbar paper reported, citing sources within the ministry.

In a Sunday interview, the first since he flew to Saudi Arabia, Hariri described himself as a “free man” who intended to “return” to his home country “within days,” denying widespread speculations that he had been under house arrest.

Observers say even if he returned to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia could still hold his family “hostage.”

Hariri had taken to Twitter on Tuesday, saying he is “well” and will return to Lebanon “within says,” but that his family will stay in Saudi Arabia.

Hariri has cited several reasons, including the security situation in Lebanon, for his sudden decision. He also said that he realized a plot was being hatched against his life. Furthermore, Hariri also accused Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, of meddling in the Arab countries’ affairs; an allegation the two have strongly rejected. Hezbollah is part of the coalition government led by Hariri.

In the interview, Hariri added that he would be willing to “rescind the resignation” if intervention in regional conflicts – particularly “by Hezbollah” – stopped.

Zimbabwe’s Military, in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of Mugabe

By

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s military said early Wednesday that it had taken custody of President Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state and one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, in what increasingly appeared to be a military takeover in the southern African nation.

After apparently seizing the state broadcaster, ZBC, two uniformed officers said in a short predawn announcement that “the situation in our country has moved to another level.” While denying that the military had seized power, they said that Mr. Mugabe and his family “are safe and sound, and their security is guaranteed.”

“We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice,” said the main speaker, who was identified as Maj. Gen. S. B. Moyo, the army’s chief of staff.

Publisher: Is Turkey’s new PR agent in U.S. really Armenian?

By

Harut Sassounian

By Harut Sassounian

President of the 5W Public Relations firm based in New York City Ronn Torossian had signed a contract to represent Turkey as its PR agent, The California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian said in an article on Wednesday, November 15.

Justice Department records indicate that Torossian signed the agreement on May 25, 2017. His firm will get paid an additional $60,000 for the period of May 16-Nov. 16, 2017, which is automatically renewable for another six months. This payment is in addition to the amount specified in the contract signed on August 10, 2016.

It is noteworthy that Torossian signed the agreement with Turkey nine days after Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan watched his bodyguards beat up a group of demonstrators in front of Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC. Three days after the protesters were beaten and injured, Torossian published an article in The Algemeiner, titled: “Deport Radical Islamist Preacher [Gulen] and Maintain American Interests.”

“I called Torossian’s office twice. Each time a staff member assured me that he would return my call. I never heard from him. Torossian is not only impolite in not responding to phone messages, but he is reported to have a bad temper against his employees and others! The New York Times described him as “brash and aggressively outspoken.” He is also reported to have business dealings with shady Jewish and Russian oligarchs, according to [journalist] Louise Neu. Even though Torossian has an Armenian last name, I was not able to confirm if one or both of his parents are Armenians, or neither one!” Sassounian says.

Ronn Torossian is also “a partner, Chief Marketing Officer and advisory Board member of JetSmarter,” according to his Linkedin profile. JetSmarter is a controversial company described as “uber for planes.” The CEO of JetSmarter is Sergey Petrossov, the son of Vatchagan Petrossov, who definitely has an Armenian name.

“The main reason I was interested in Ronn Torossian’s employment as a PR agent for Turkey is that there was a similar situation with Barry Zorthian who worked from October 1980 to February 1984 for the lobbying firm of Gray and Co., hired by Turkey. Zorthian was a former executive for Voice of America and Time, Inc. In 1968-69 he was the chief U.S. spokesman in Saigon, Vietnam,” Sassounian says.

“After I had become aware that Zorthian was simultaneously an executive at a lobbying firm for Turkey and Board Member of the Armenian Assembly of America, I called him to ask if his dual roles did not create a conflict personally or for his firm. As a sign of respect for a fellow Armenian, I cautioned him that if he answered my questions, it could lead to his dismissal from his job. Zorthian, 63, replied that he did not care if he lost his $65,000-a-year job as senior vice president of Gray and Co. He went ahead and honestly answered all my questions. Zorthian explained that he worked in the public relations office and not on the Turkey account which was handled by the firm’s lobbying department.

“As soon as my article was published on the front page of the California Courier on January 19, 1984, the Turkish newspaper Tercuman reported my interview with Zorthian which caused a great embarrassment to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, finding out that an Armenian-American was a top executive for the lobbying firm that was getting paid $300,000-a-year by Turkey.

“On Feb. 21, 1984, the lobbying firm’s vice chairman, Alejandro Orfila, told Zorthian that the Turkish Ambassador Sukru Elekdag was extremely irate reading the newspaper report. Orfila quoted Amb. Elekdag stating: “I hired you guys to help me with my political problems, and instead you’re creating problems for me… You must do something drastic that I can report back to my government or else I’ll be forced to cancel the contract.”

“The PR firm’s chairman, Robert K. Gray, cut his vacation short in Acapulco, Mexico, and immediately returned to Washington. Zorthian was fired after rejecting Mr. Gray’s request to resign.

“Even though I was not pleased to see Mr. Zorthian lose his job, but as a young reporter who had started working as a journalist six months earlier, it was very satisfying that my obscure article made the headlines in Turkey and came to the attention of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Amb. Elekdag. Furthermore, the Washington Post wrote a lengthy article on April 13, 1984, quoting from my article and mentioning my newspaper as the source of this international controversy.

“I urged Zorthian to file a lawsuit accusing Gray and Co., of employment discrimination due to his national origin. Zorthian did file charges with the Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights, claiming he was illegally fired because of his Armenian background.

“Unfortunately, I do not know the outcome of Zorthian’s lawsuit. Both he and his wife have passed away since then.

If Mr. Torossian is truly an Armenian, how could he do PR for Turkey? More importantly, how could Turkey hire him given Mr. Zorthian’s experience?”

5 of Yerevan protesting students declare hunger strike

By

YEREVAN. – Five of the capital city Yerevan university students, who have refused to attend classes in protest of the bill that curtails the right of military deferment in Armenia, have declared a hunger strike.

“For the Development of Science [in Armenia]” initiative member Davit Petrosyan, who is also among these students that have gone on a hunger strike, informed about the aforesaid.

“The objective of the hunger strike is the fight against public apathy as well as the bill that limits the right to deferment,” he noted, in particular. “Our objective is just, pacific.”

The hunger strike is held in a lecture hall at Yerevan State University.

The bill on Military Service and the Status of Military Servicemen proposes to considerably limit the right to deferment in Armenia.