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Armenia PM on National Security Service and fight against corruption

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Some corrupt officials thought the situation at the National Security Service is mixed up and they can solve their problems in this period. This is what Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page, expressing certainty that the National Security Service will go after all corrupt officials anyway.

“In the new Armenia, the National Security Service is not a person. It is a system and will be after all current and former corrupt officials, spies and other elements of this category. The same goes for the Investigative Committee, the Special Investigation Service, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Police and the Investigation Department of the State Revenue Committee.

There will be a full-fledged fight against corruption and crimes.

Those who have stolen and are stealing from the people will be imprisoned. I understand that this doesn’t sound good, but there is no other option,” he wrote.

Azerbaijan does not have internationally recognized borders except for its Russian-Azerbaijani section – Artsakh Foreign Ministry responds to Georgia and Ukraine

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The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has responded to statements by the Georgian and Ukrainian Ministries of Foreign Affairs regarding the recently held local government elections in the second Armenian republic.

The official remarks, released by the agency’s Public Relations Department, are provided below:  

“On September 8, elections to local self-government bodies were held in the Republic of Artsakh, which became another achievement of Artsakh authorities and society in the process of the consistent development and strengthening of democratic institutions in the republic.

“Azerbaijan’s nervous reaction to the elections was predictable and became another manifestation of not only the denial of the fundamental rights of Artsakh citizens, but also the rejection of democratic values in general.

“The statements of the Foreign Ministries of Georgia and Ukraine, which associated themselves with the anti-democratic regime of Azerbaijan were perplexed. Such statements not only contradict the declared commitment by Georgia and Ukraine to democratic values, but also constitute an interference in the internal affairs of the Artsakh Republic and violate the principles of equal rights of peoples and sovereign equality of states.

“Statements by the Foreign Ministries of Georgia and Ukraine also contain provisions that distort the essence of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict with the aim to reduce it to a territorial dispute and express support for the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

“In this regard, we would like to remind the Georgian and Ukrainian sides that Azerbaijan does not have internationally recognized borders, except for its Russian-Azerbaijani section. Moreover, a significant segment of the Georgian-Azerbaijani border has not yet been finalized. The borders of Azerbaijan are not defined, not only with Georgia, but also with other neighboring countries. With some of them, the delimitation and demarcation of borders has not even begun.

“We call upon the authorities of Georgia and Ukraine to remain committed to the declared system of values based on democratic principles and respect for human rights and freedoms and in the future refrain from the statements regarding the realization by the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh of their fundamental rights, which are enshrined in fundamental international documents.”

Turkey Issues New NAVTEX Blocking Off Sea Between Rhodes and Castellorizo

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Turkey issued a new Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) on Monday, by which it blocks off a large sea area between the Greek islands of Rhodes and the archipelago of Castellorizo.

The new NAVTEX, which expires on Wednesday, comes right after an initial NAVTEX was issued for the exact same area on Friday.

The Friday NAVTEX expired on Monday morning.

Turkey claims that it wants ti use this area of the Mediterranean to conduct oceanographic research with its vessel called ”Bilim-2.”

For this reason, Turkey’s Oceanography, Navigation, and Hydrography office issued a statement in which calls upon all vessels in the area to keep a great distance from the ”Bilim-2” ship.

Of course, this is not the first time Ankara has blocked off large areas of the seas between individual Greek islands.

By doing so, Turkey is attempting to establish a de-facto presence in the region, undermining Greece’s sovereign rights in the broader region of the Mediterranean Sea.

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Armenia’s National Security Service head: Let my resignation be a sobering move calling “Stop it!”

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The director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan filed a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Below is the translation of the text from the official press statement in Armenian.

“Dear compatriots,

Distinguished officers of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia,

I hereby inform you that I have made a decision to submit a letter of resignation from the position of the director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. In the current situation and in the context of the forthcoming, I consider such a decision as most preferred and most well founded option for serving to the Republic of Armenia and to my fellow compatriots.

I have made this decision with same confidence, as the one of agreeing to assume the office of the director of the National Security Service during that decisive period for our country.

My service of the past year and a half has been in front of you all; I have made every step guided by one principle: the Homeland and the honor of an officer are above everything.

Statebuilding has its logic. Spontaneity of decisions, the turbulence of actions and the workstyle of not distinguishing primary and secondary, ephemeral and substantial issues is not the road that will lead towards fulfilling our goals. That does not have anything in common with the officer’s dignity: officer’s stripes and such flow of developments are incompatible.

Let my resignation be a sobering move calling “Stop it!”: in all other options the duty to the Homeland will prevail. May peace and security be with our country.

I have the honour!”.

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Armenia has what to show the world: The country is preparing for WCIT 2019

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The field of information technology is actively developing in Armenia today, and the country has what to show the world during the World Congress of Information Technologies WCIT 2019, President of the Union of Advanced Technology Companies (UATE) Alexander Yesayan said during the meeting of volunteers that took place at the American University of Armenia today.

Conducting WCIT in Armenia is our dream since 2014, he said adding that many famous people from the global IT industry will come to Armenia. According to him, the event will receive a lot of attention around the world: representatives of many foreign media have already accredited to come to Armenia to cover one of the most important events of the year.

The congress will bring together many experts in the field of information technology, officials and senior representatives of leading IT companies in the world. 

The organizers are preparing special programs for guests to give them the opportunity to get acquainted with Armenian companies working in the IT sector and in any other areas of interest to them; it is possible that in the future some of them will want to invest in these companies, he noted.

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More than 300 volunteers will participate in WCIT 2019. According to the head of the WCIT 2019 Volunteer Corps Ghazar Hakobyan, volunteers were selected very carefully: preference was given to those who know foreign languages, have experience in volunteering, and also work in the IT field.

One of the volunteers, Ruzanna Gevorgyan, was a lawyer by profession, but, according to her, had long dreamed of participating in WCIT, and when she found out that volunteers were hiring for the congress, she immediately filed an application. Ruzanna knows Italian, English, Armenian and Russian, and she has already had experience in volunteering. According to her, she still doesn’t know exactly what the tasks will be set for her at the congress, but she is sure that this will be a very interesting and useful experience.

It is interesting that there are significantly more girls among volunteers than boys. According to Hakobyan, this reflects the general situation in Armenia as girls in the country are usually more active, more motivated and more willing to participate in such events.

WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The Congress is held with the assistance and under the high patronage of the Armenian Government. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the World Alliance for Information Technology and Services (WITSA). Its main organizational body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).

Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Malcolm Johnson and vice president of Quantstamp blockchain Olga V. Mack, founder and CEO of GIPHY Alex Chung, world-famous businessman, chair of VaynerX and VaynerMedia Gary Vaynerchuk, founder of Infosys N. R. Narayana Murthy, and an American media personality, businesswoman, socialite Kim Kardashian will also be present.

Azerbaijani Dictatorship interfering with American constitution and freedom of speech and Attempts to Prevent LA Speech by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan has called on the Los Angeles City Council to prevent Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from speaking at a massive rally in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22.

In a letter addressed to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Consul General, Nasimi Aghayev, urged the City “not to allow the misuse of the Grand Park by the Government of Armenia.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian condemned this effort by the Azeri Council General, calling it an excoriated attempt to enlist LA City leaders, including Mayor Garcetti, in this effort.

“(Your) letter urges the elected leaders of Los Angeles to violate the United States Constitution by censoring free expression,” wrote Krekorian. “Our country is founded on the idea that the free exchange of ideas makes us stronger and in fact is necessary to make our democratic government possible.”

“Please allow me to be as clear as I can be,” proclaimed Krekorian, “Prime Minister Pashinyan absolutely will be my guest in Los Angeles City Hall, he absolutely will address the public in Grand Park, and he absolutely will be welcome to say anything about any topic he chooses to speak about, without limitation.”

The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 pm, with the Prime Minister speaking around 4 pm.

Armenian Genocide survivor Asdghig ‘Starrie’ Alemian dies in U.S. at 109

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Asdghig “Starrie” Alemian, one of the last Armenian Genocide survivors in Massachusetts and a strong presence at every Genocide commemoration at the State House, died on September 5, 2019. She was 109, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator reported.

She was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, which took the lives of her parents and brothers, leaving her orphaned at age 5. She lived in an orphanage in Syria until 12 years old when her uncle Garabed Tetezian assisted her and her sister Anna in coming to the United States.

Starrie worked alongside her husband in running Alemian’s Delicatessen for more than 30 years.

Beginning in the 1980s, Alemian was honored yearly at the State House for Armenian Martyrs Day. On her 90th birthday, she traveled to Egypt and Syria with family, revisiting parts of her childhood.

She liked to celebrate her birthdays at the Red Parrot in Hull.

She was skilled at needlepoint, Armenian needle lace, piano and cooking.

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE PASSES TURKISH DIVESTMENT BILL

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Author of the Bill Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian to Speak at Armenian Assembly National Advocacy Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The California State Senate passed the Turkish Divestment Bill, AB 1320, on September 11, with 33 out of 40 State Senators voting in favor and the remaining 7 abstaining, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. CA State Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-8), whose district covers California’s San Joaquin Valley, served as the floor manager of this bill. AB 1320 now moves back to the California State Assembly, where it has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, for a concurrence vote before it is sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Formally known as the “Public employee retirement systems: prohibited investments: Turkey” bill, this legislation was introduced and principally authored by California State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-46). The bill would prohibit California’s public employment retirement agencies – CalPERS and CalSTRS – from making new investments or renewing existing investments in Turkish government-issued and controlled debt securities and bonds, pending U.S. government sanctions on Turkey for the latter’s state-sponsored denial of the Armenian Genocide. In addition to Assemblymember Nazarian, AB 1320 was co-introduced by State Assemblymembers Laura Friedman (D-43) and Jesse Gabriel (D-45), principally co-authored by State Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25), and co-authored by State Senator Scott Wilk (R-21) and State Assemblymembers Phillip Chen (R-55), Luz Rivas (D-39), and Chris Holden (D-41). Prior to this vote, AB 1320 was approved on August 30 by the CA State Senate Appropriations Committee, on July 2 by the CA State Senate Judiciary Committee, and on June 26 by the CA State Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement (LPER) Committee. Significantly, Armenian Assembly of America Southern California Regional Council member, Helen Haig, jointly testified with Assemblymember Nazarian about the moral and economic merits of AB 1320 during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and vote, while Armenian Assembly Western Region Director, Mihran Toumajan, joined Assemblymember Nazarian to testify before the Senate LPER Committee’s hearing and vote. “On behalf of Armenian Assembly of America activists and members in the State of California, we extend our gratitude to CA State Assembymember Nazarian for authoring and shepherding this bill in both state legislative chambers,” stated Armenian Assembly of America Western Region Director Toumajan.  On Monday, September 16, attendees of the Armenian Assembly of America’s 2019 National Advocacy Conference will have an opportunity to hear directly from Assemblymember Nazarian about his legislative achievements in California, in addition to understanding his insights on the importance of advocacy. He will be joined on a panel with fellow Armenian Americans active in politics. Tickets are still available for the National Advocacy Conference at www.aimhye.com/events/tickets.  Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

The stance must be lawful, PM says on Amulsar decision

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the decision over the Amulsar mine project must be lawful.

“My position is the following: the stance must be lawful, because we are speaking about a state of law,” he told in parliament during a Q&A session in response to MP Arman Babajanyan.

“There are different approaches to the issue but the resolution must be lawful. We must pursue the truth and be guided by it without a presumption of what the truth should be. This is the only position stemming from the status of Prime Minister of Armenia which can be justifiable and legitimate,” PM Pashinyan said.

 Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Kim Kardashian to visit Armenia to participate in WCIT 2019

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WCIT announced today that activist, entrepreneur, beauty mogul and producer Kim Kardashian West will be a special keynote speaker and panelist at the 23rd World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019), which will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from October 6 through 9, 2019, Armenpress reports citing WCIT website.

Ms. Kardashian West will address a plenary session of WCIT 2019 called “Marketplace of Ideas,” which will examine how decentralized technologies have democratized the worlds of entertainment, media, and journalism and revolutionized the manner in which we create and disseminate art and information, making new stars along the way. “Marketplace of Ideas” will explore what these developments mean for personal privacy, social relations, trust in institutions and new business models.

Ms. Kardashian West will set the stage for the “Marketplace of Ideas” session by engaging in an intimate, one-on-one conversation, and will then be joined on stage by a group of distinguished panelists, including Mr. Hovhannes Avoyan, co-founder & CEO of the globally recognized Armenian company PicsArt, to further explore its themes.

Mr. Alexander Yesayan, chairman of the WCIT 2019 Yerevan organizing committee, president of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises of Armenia (UATE) and co-founder of UCom! the largest telecommunications provider in Armenia, issued the following statement about Ms. Kardashian West’s visit:

“We, the organizers of WCIT 2019 Yerevan, decided to take a bold, unconventional approach to framing the agenda of WCIT 2019 that takes ideas, even controversial ones, seriously, from everyone in the world today who has something relevant to say, from both within the information and communications technology (ICT) industry and beyond.

Kim Kardashian West is one of the most followed people on social media with nearly 240 million followers. She is one of the most influential voices in the world today, period. We felt that as an extraordinarily savvy and successful business woman, as a pioneer in this space and as a wife and mother she would have something important and interesting to say about the world of social media entrepreneurship which she helped invent and has helped shape for nearly two decades.  In our opinion, a serious conversation about this subject matter is not possible without her participation.

We look forward to welcoming Ms. Kardashian West to the land of her ancestry and to the big stage of ideas at WCIT 2019 Yerevan.”

Ms. Kardashian West has been passionate about using her platform for the fight on criminal justice reform and she announced in May that she began studying for a law degree through the apprenticeship program in California. This September, she will launch her anticipated shapewear collection, SKIMS, alongside her KKW BEAUTY and KKW Fragrance collections which launched in 2017.

WCIT is the signature event of the World Information Technology & Services Alliance, the consortium of ICT associations of 83 countries, representing 90% of the industry.  For 40 years, technology leaders—CEOs and investors, policy makers and government officials, academics and technologists—have joined in this annual event to discuss the state of the industry, where it is headed, and what it means for our future.

This year, WCIT will address The Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril and explore how information and communications technology is transforming our lives for better and for worse, and its impact on profits and prosperity, safety and security, democracy and humanity. The conversation that begins at WCIT 2019 will continue beyond the close of the conference in an ongoing series of discussions called The Yerevan Talks.

WCIT is expected to attract more than 2,500 participants from more than 70 countries. For more information about WCIT 2019 and the agenda, visit www.wcit2019.org.

The Government of Armenia has declared IT a strategic area of focus and its legislation creates favorable conditions for foreign direct investments in the IT sector. Furthermore, consistent efforts are made to promote the development of high-tech innovations, ecosystems, and start-ups in the industry. Over 45 percent of the industry exports go to the USA and Canada, 25 percent to Europe, and 11 percent to Asia. Armenia is a home to over 900 ICT companies, including the globally-recognized PicsArt, Renderforest, Softconstruct, and Joomag.

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WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The Congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high patronage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Its main organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).