Monthly Archives: September 2013

Tokyo to host 2020 Olympic Games

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olympics-rogge-announcementTokyo has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2020 Summer Games.

In voting Saturday in Buenos Aires, the committee picked Tokyo over the two other contenders, Madrid and Istanbul.

Tokyo previously hosted the Summer Games in 1964.

Japan’s bid for 2020 billed the city as the safe choice — despite radiation leaking from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally made a presentation to the committee and promised an effective cleanup.

“A safe and secure Olympic Games will be staged by us — I think that was another hope for their support. I would like to pledge that we will be discharging this responsibility.”

Abe said Tokyo would try to stage a successful Games to thank the world for its support after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan.

Tokyo’s bid came in at $5 billion to $6 billion, compared to $19 billion pledged by Istanbul, said Ed Hula, editor and founder of aroundtherings.com, which covers the business and politics of the Olympic movement.

Turkey would have been the first Muslim country to host the Games, and with a median age of less than 30 years, one of the youngest. However, it missed out for the fifth time.

On Sunday, the three sports competing to be added to the 2020 roster will know their fate.

Squash is hoping to be included for the first time, but is up against a combined baseball/softball bid and wrestling — which is seeking to be reinstated.

The 2016 Summer Olympics will be in Brazil. The Winter Olympics will be held in Russia in 2014 and South Korea in 2018.

 

CHRIS BOHJALIAN TO RECEIVE FREEDOM AWARD AT 7TH ANNUAL ANCA EASTERN REGION BANQUET

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Bohjalian_FreedomPhiladelphia, PA — The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region will be honoring best-selling author Chris Bohjalian with its highest honor, the prestigious ANCA Freedom Award, at the 7th Annual ANCA Eastern Region Banquet on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Philadelphia.

“Really, I am deeply and profoundly honored,” stated Bohjalian upon learning he will be presented with the award.

Since 2007, the ANCA Freedom Award has been presented to former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Samantha Power, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, the late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, former U.S. Senator Robert Dole, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, and Baroness Caroline Cox.

Bohjalian is the critically acclaimed author of 16 books, including nine New York Times bestsellers. His work has been translated into more than 25 languages and three times became movies.

“We’re honored to present Chris Bohjalian the Freedom Award for his continuous efforts to raise the public’s consciousness on the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Eastern Region Board chairperson Nora Kzirian. The Freedom Award is presented to an individual who has made tremendous contributions toward recognition of the Genocide and who has pursued other issues of importance to the Armenian American community.

His new novel, “The Light in the Ruins,” debuted as a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and national Indiebound bestseller. The book is a re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet set in Tuscany at the end of World War II.

His epic novel of the Armenian Genocide – “The Sandcastle Girls” – was published in paperback in April. His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.

His awards include the ANCA Arts and Letters Award for “The Sandcastle Girls,” presented at the 2012 ANCA Western Region Banquet, as well as the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal; the New England Book Award for “The Night Strangers”; the New England Book Award; a Boston Public Library Literary Light; a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award; and the Anahid Literary Award. His novel “Midwives” was a number one New York Times bestseller, a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and a New England Booksellers Association Discovery pick.

Bohjalian has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including the Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He has been a weekly columnist in Vermont for the Burlington Free Press since February 1992.

Bohjalian graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College, and lives in Vermont with his wife, the photographer Victoria Blewer, and their daughter Grace. They are passionate supporters of Homeward Bound (the Addison County Humane Society), Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter, Concord Academy, the United Church of Lincoln, and a small elementary school in rural Armenia, where this year they are funding a new fresh water and plumbing system.

Banquet co-chairs James Kzirian and Lorig Baronian, both active members of the Philadelphia Armenian American community and members of the ANC of Pennsylvania, are working diligently to ensure the success of this annual fundraising event.  “This is a fantastic event that truly showcases the activities and support throughout the Eastern Region. We are looking forward to a spectacular turnout to honor Chris Bohjalian for his many contributions to Armenian Americans and the general public,” James Kzirian commented.

The banquet will begin with an elegant cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner and awards ceremony at 8:00 pm. To purchase tickets or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.anca.org/erbanquet. For more information, please contact James Kzirian at (267) 767-0453.

The ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in outreach to Armenian American communities.

 

Putin: Foreign Nations Try to Destabilize Caucasus

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putinPresident Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian security agencies to act more harshly to fend off foreign attempts to destabilize the restive North Caucasus region ahead of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

Addressing Monday’s meeting of the presidential Security Council, Putin said unspecified “foreign countries and public and international organizations under their control keep seeing the North Caucasus as a foothold for destabilizing Russia as a whole.”

Putin added that “neutralizing the terrorist and criminal threats is particularly important in connection with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.”

The North Caucasus region has been engulfed by an Islamist insurgency following two separatist wars in Chechnya.

 

World’s happiest nations are…

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Those looking for greater happiness and satisfaction in life should head to northern Europe, but steer clear of Egypt and countries worst hit by the eurozone crisis, according to the 2013 World Happiness Report released Monday by Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the world’s happiest countries, according to the survey of 156 countries. Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Benin and Togo — all nations in Sub-Saharan Africa — are the least satisfied with their lives, the report said.

The United States came in at number 17 in the world in terms of overall happiness, but it still lags behind Canada (6), Australia (10), Israel (11) the United Arab Emirates (14) and Mexico (16), according to the Earth Institute.

The report ranks the United Kingdom as the 22nd happiest country in the world. Other major nations included Germany (26), Japan (43), Russia (68) and China (93).

Governments seeking to improve the happiness of their populations should spend a higher proportion of their health budgets on mental illness, which is the single biggest “determinant of misery” in countries assessed, the study authors said.

“If we want a happier world, we need a completely new deal on mental health.”

 

UN Team Could Submit Syria Report Next Week

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UN teamA German newspaper is reporting that a team of United Nations chemical weapons inspectors could submit initial findings from its tests of samples collected in Syria by the end of next week.

The respected weekly Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung says the interim report to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon will likely contain details on the gas, ammunition and delivery systems used in the attack that killed hundreds of people in a suburb of Damscus on Aug. 21.

The newspaper said Saturday its report was based on information provided by two unnamed persons close to the inspection team.

The paper reported that the inspectors collected almost 100 samples from the site of the attack, including pieces of rubble and ammunitions remains, as well as hair, tissue, blood and urine samples from humans and animals.

Germany Joins US in Blaming Assad for Attack

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G20Germany has joined the United States and ten other members of the Group of 20 biggest economies in blaming the Syrian government for a chemical attack against civilians last month.

Germany had been the only European member of the G-20 not to co-sign a joint statement issued Friday at the end of the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The statement calls for a strong international response against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad but stops short of explicitly calling for military action against the Syrian government.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Saturday in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius that Germany wanted to wait for European Union foreign ministers to agree on a common position before backing the statement.

 

15 Die After Blasts Hit Somalia Restaurant

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bombblastSomali militants attacked a restaurant near Mogadishu’s seat of government for the second time in less than a year on Saturday, detonating two large blasts that killed at least 15 people and wounded nearly two dozen, an official said.

The force of the blasts appeared to tear much of the roof off the restaurant, which is frequented by government workers.

Early reports indicated that a car bomb blast and a suicide bomber attacked The Village eatery.

Militants, most likely from the group al-Shabab, attacked The Village last November. That attack, though, was less severe; two suicide bombers attacked but the blast killed only one guard.

African Union forces pushed the al-Qaida-affiliated group al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in August 2011, but the rebels continue to carry out suicide attacks in the capital.

NASA sends unmanned rocket to the moon

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moon-orbiterNASA launched an unmanned rocket to the moon Friday night to study its lunar atmosphere and environment.

The 90-foot rocket carrying the orbiter was expected to be visible to much of the eastern U.S. seaboard when it launched from Virginia, officials said earlier

It launched at 11:27 p.m. ET at the Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island.

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is designed to “orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust,” NASA said.

“A thorough understanding of these characteristics will address long-standing unknowns, and help scientists understand other planetary bodies as well,” NASA said.

Nicknamed LADEE, it is expected to reach the moon on October 6.

Earth’s distance from the moon is between 223,700 miles to 251,700 miles depending on the moon’s position, the space agency says.

 

Angelina Jolie to Receive Academy’s Humanitarian Award

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angelina-jolieAngelina Jolie, along with Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi, will be honored by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. While each of her fellow actors is set to receive the Honorary Award, Jolie will be presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy’s 5th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 16.
The Humanitarian Award is given “to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.” Jolie is praised for being “an impassioned advocate for humanitarian causes,” and her dedication has also shaped her work in films that tackle global humanitarian issues including “In the Land of Blood and Honey“.
“I’m so proud to win an honorary Oscar this year with @TheAcademy, So much love & joy to u all, thank you! Congrats Martin, Lansbury, & Tosi,” tweeted Jolie, who won an Oscar for her supporting performance in 1999’s “Girl, Interrupted”. She joins past winners including Oprah Winfrey and the DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs has made a statement regarding this year’s recipients. “The Governors Awards pay tribute to individuals who’ve made indelible contributions in their respective fields,” said Isaacs. “We couldn’t be more excited for this year’s honorees.”

 

Pope rings pregnant woman to tell her he will PERSONALLY baptise her child after she wrote to him saying the father wanted her to have an abortion

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Pope FrancisPope Francis has telephoned a woman who wrote to him to tell her he will baptise her unborn after she refused to have an abortion.

Shop worker Anna Romano, 35, was on holiday when she received the call from the Argentinian pope, who was elected in March this year.

Anna, from Arezzo near Florence, central Italy, had written to Pope Francis earlier this summer to describe her turmoil at having discovered she was pregnant by a man, who unknown to her, was already married with a child and who demanded she terminate the pregnancy.

Anna, from Arezzo near Florence, central Italy, had written to Pope Francis earlier this summer to describe her turmoil at having discovered she was pregnant by a man, who unknown to her, was already married with a child and who demanded she terminate the pregnancy.

‘I told him that I would not have an abortion and told him to get out of my life.’

Anna added how she was ‘in a desperate and anguished state’ and that she was writing to Pope Francis because she had ‘no-one else to turn to, after being left humiliated and betrayed’.

‘He reassured me and said a child was a gift from God, a sign of Divine Providence and that I would never be left alone. He said that as Christians we should never be afraid.

‘He told me I had been very brave and strong for my unborn child. I told him that I wanted to baptise the baby when it was born but I was afraid as I was divorced and a single mother but he said he would be my spiritual father and he would baptise my baby.

‘I don’t know the sex of the baby but if the Pope does baptise it and it’s a boy I have no doubt of his name – Francis.’

A Vatican spokesman said: ‘I know nothing of this telephone call but then again we knew nothing of the others. The Pope doesn’t tell us when he makes these calls – he just does them and then we find out about them later.’

Hitler’s bodyguard who was one of the first men to find the Fuhrer dead in his bunker dies aged 96

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Rochus MischThe man who served as Adolf Hitler’s bodyguard has died aged 96.

Rochus Misch was by the Nazi leader’s side for five years throughout the Second World War.

It is thought he died on Thursday following a short illness. Misch travelled with Hitler from bunker to bunker throughout the 1940s.

Following a German defeat on January 16, 1945, Misch and the rest of Hitler’s personal staff moved into the Führerbunker in Berlin.

He was told not to leave the bunker for any significant period of time until the end of the war and handled all of the direct communication from the underground area.

After Hitler killed himself on April 30 1945, Misch was one of the first to find the Nazi leader’s body.

He fled the bunker and was captured by the Russian Red Army – but was released in 1954 and lived in Berlin, only two miles away from the bunker, until he died.

Before his death he spoke several times about his experience of working with the Nazi leader.

In a 2005 interview with the Associated Press, Misch said Hitler, who he referred to as ‘boss’, was ‘a very normal man’.

Misch said, ‘He was no brute. He was no monster. He was no superman.’

He told newspaper Berliner Kurier that, with most of the letters he receives asking for autographs, it was ‘no longer possible’ to reply because of his age.

He said: ‘[The letters] come from Korea, from Knoxville, Tennessee, from Finland and Iceland – and not one has a bad word to say.’

 

Welcome to the scariest job interview ever! LG terrifies applicants by faking massive meteor crash through ‘window’ that was actually an ultra high-definition TV screen

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Applicants for a job interview with LG Electronics in Chile had the scare of their lives when the company played a cruel prank on them that has been turned into an amusing TV advertisement.

To promote just how life-like images appear on the company’s 82-inch ‘Ultra HD’ TV, LG created a fake office in which one of its screen was positioned to look like a window.

Four unlucky applicants – two men and two women – were then filmed in the fake office being interviewed for a job with the company.

To begin with, the interview process seems perfectly normal as the interviewer shakes their hand and starts to look at their resume.

But then the cityscape outside starts to change, the blue sky turns black, a meteor emerges from the clouds and suddenly the city explodes.

The combination of high-def images and sound is – apparently – so realistic that each of the four interviewees freaks out, panicking and screaming as they see what they think is their city being destroyed.

Next the lights go out and the poor unsuspecting victims are left in the dark for a couple of minutes to add to the drama.

When the lights go back on, the door suddenly opens and in walks the LG team behind the prank to congratulation the poor unsuspecting targets.

This type of marketing is called a prankvertisement and since the clip appeared on YouTube on Monday it has been viewed more than 700,000 times.

Foreign Minister met the EU Commissioner

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On September 5 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is on a working visit in Brussels, had a meeting with Stefan Fule, European Commissioner on Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.

During the meeting Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union was touched upon. In this context Minister Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s readiness to continue the broad cooperation with the European Union on mobility, enhancement of the reform process, good governance, democracy, human rights, multisectoral economic cooperation and in other areas, underlining the will of Armenia to develop close partnership as much as it is appropriate for the EU and so that it would not contradict Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union.

Minister Nalbandian and Commissioner Fule discussed preparations for the Eastern Partnership informal Foreign Ministerial meeting to be held in Yerevan on September 12-13, ahead of the Vilnius Summit.

Edward Nalbandian and Stefan Fule agreed to continue the intensive consultations between Armenia and the European Union.

Hitler’s swastika ring pocketed by an American troop who raided his Bavarian retreat in 1945 expected to fetch £70,000 at auction

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The ring - Adolf HitlerA rare Nazi bling-ring once owned by Adolf Hitler is going up for auction in Maryland next week and is expected to fetch at least £70,000.

The ‘Hitler Ring’ is made of silver and was originally plated with gold, though not much is left after 75 years.

On the ring is a huge swastika that is supported by other swastikas and swords. The piece is crowned by a large ruby and mounted in a silver globe which rests on an elaborate foot, also with a swastika.

Whether the dictator ever wore the kitschy item is unknown, but the fact that is was made for him will be enough to drive prices sky high for collectors of Nazi militaria when bidding begins next week.
It is being offered for sale by the Alexander Historical Auctions House in Maryland and comes with documents come with it testifying that it was made for the Fuhrer.

 

HitlerThe ring was crafted by the master goldsmith Karl Berthold who was a fanatical Nazi and kicked Jewish craftsmen out of his business in Frankfurt shortly after the regime came to power in 1933 – long before laws forbidding them from working came into place.

The ring was found at Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s mountain retreat in Bavaria, in 1945 by American troops.

One of the soldiers pocketed it as a souvenir before selling it on. It was owned by several collectors over the years, the last of whom died two years ago and whose grandson is now selling it.

 

UN Office in Armenia Marks the International Literacy Day

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Today UN office in Armenia marked the International Literacy Day stressing the importance of literacy in modern world and called for greater efforts to enable children, youth and adults to read, write and transform their lives, emphasizing the fact that literacy is a universal right.

Over fifteen school pupils, including children with disabilities were invited to the UN House to discuss the role of literacy and attend a master class taught by famous Armenian aquarellist Peto Poghosyan.

This year’s International Literacy Day, observed annually on 8 September, focuses on the “literacies for the 21st century” to highlight the need to realize basic literacy skills for all as well as advanced literacy skills as part of lifelong learning.

The goal of the observance of the International Literacy Day is to raise awareness about the role of literacy as a human right and a foundation for lifelong learning, better well-being, sustainable and inclusive development.

“Literacy is much more than an educational priority – it is the ultimate investment in the future and the first step towards all the new forms of literacy required in the 21st century. We wish to see a century where every child is able to read and to use this skill to gain autonomy,” said Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General.

Maria Dotsenko, the Representative of the UN Department of Public Information Office in Armenia, said: “Our young guests have learned that literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and means for social and human development. I am confident that after today’s class, they will share with their peers that the literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and is essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.”

“Thanks to the efforts of the Armenian authorities, the adult literacy rate in Armenia is 99.6 per cent, according to the Human Development Report 2013. The UN supports their efforts to further promote the inclusive education. Even though Armenia enjoys high enrolment and literacy rates, some social groups face disadvantage in the education system. UNICEF survey revealed that 18% of children with disabilities do not attend school. UNICEF is working with the Armenian government to strengthen the inclusive education system”, she added.

After the master class, a 14years old Hasmik B. said: “Tomorrow I will tell my school-friends how important the literacy is. I wish to become a good professional and contribute to the development of my community”.

The event was organized by the UN Department of Public Information Office in Armenia with the support of the non-governmental organization “Bridge of Hope”.

For over 40 years now, UNESCO has been celebrating the International Literacy Day by reminding the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning.

Has Jack Nicholson given up Hollywood? Movie legend ‘retires from acting after he suffers from memory loss’

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He is one of the most famous and much loved actors of this century with a career spanning over five decades.

But it has now been rumored that Jack Nicholson has retired from acting at the age of 76.

The Oscar-winning star has quietly stepped away from the movie business without any official announcement, both Star magazine and Radar Online are reporting.

The source also claims that the incredibly talented star is suffering from memory loss.

Jack first burst onto the Hollywood scene in the 1950s.

Jack’s illustrious career has included three Oscar wins, two for Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good as It Gets and a Best Supporting Actor statuette for his turn in the 1983 film Terms of Endearment.

A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted about the retirement reports by Mail Online on Wednesday.

 

Stubbs the cat, Alaska town mayor, mauled by dog

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stubbs-the-cat-mayor-of-talkeetnaHe’s a beloved mayor, who’s held the top office in Talkeetna, Alaska, for 16 years. So imagine the townfolks’ shock when he was attacked.

Brutally mauled.

By a dog.

Oh, did we mention, this mayor’s a cat?

Mayor Stubbs, a yellow tabby with more responsibility than your average cat, survived — but is in bad shape.

A punctured lung. A fractured sternum. A 5-inch gash on his side.

Doctors took out a chest tube Tuesday, and he was breathing on his own for the first time since the weekend attack.

The story of how Mayor Stubbs rose to power made international news after he was found in a box full of kittens in front of Nagley’s General Store in town.

Stubbs was strolling about the town Saturday night as he does every night, when an unleashed dog came running across the street and bit into him.

Stubbs’ medical bills could top $2,000, Stec said.

 

ANCA VOICES ARMENIAN AMERICAN OPPOSITION TO U.S. STRIKES AGAINST SYRIA

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anca_syriaWASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), citing the Armenian American community’s profound concern for the fate of Syria’s Armenian population and the welfare of all of Syria’s citizens, circulated letters today across Capitol Hill calling on Members of the U.S. House and Senate to oppose legislation authorizing U.S. strikes against Syria.
“As our nation’s elected representatives gather this week to consider potential U.S. actions against Syrian targets, we wish to add our voice, as Americans of Armenian heritage, to those of our fellow citizens who oppose American military strikes and are against any escalation of violence.  Such an escalation would very likely create further challenges and lead to serious additional harm to Christian communities, including Syria’s Armenian minority,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian in letters to U.S. legislators.  “We take this stand mindful of the horrific human suffering that armed conflict has already visited across Syria, including the death and destruction being endured, to this day, by Armenians and other Christian communities.  There has already been too much bloodshed, too much brutality, and too much suffering.  An escalation in aggression can neither save lives nor help bring about peace.”
The ANCA message went on to stress that, “We believe that the advancement of our national interests, the enhancement of U.S. standing, the strengthening of the international rule-of-law system, and the promotion of stability and humanitarian and democratic values in this vital region, will not be facilitated by American attacks.  We look to our government to seek a diplomatic settlement, and to reinforce our nation’s call upon all parties to cease any attacks on civilians, to limit armed operations to military targets, and to refrain from violence, intimidation, and discrimination against Christians and other vulnerable minorities.”
As a follow up to longstanding ANCA advocacy for effective, needs-based delivery of humanitarian aid to Armenian and all at-risk populations, Hachikian noted that Armenian Americans “remain troubled that, despite the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, serious gaps remain in terms of U.S.-supplied and funded relief aid actually reaching at-risk Armenian and other minority populations, in Aleppo and throughout Syria.” He added that   Equally troubling has been the very limited U.S. support for landlocked and blockaded Armenia’s efforts to support and resettle thousands fleeing the Syria crisis.  We urge you, in cooperation with your colleagues and our community (which is very actively engaged in relief efforts), to work with the Administration to urgently address these shortcomings.”

 

‘It’s a cat – from the rear’: Russian President Putin shows rarely seen fun-loving side as he draws animal’s bottom for giggling students

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President PutinThe Russian President showed off his skills with a classroom sketch on a white board at a middle school in the Siberian Kurgan.

Pupils were left giggling when the president revealed that he had drawn a cat’s behind for the class.

‘This is for you to remember’  he said, before carrying on with his sketch, the Huffington Post reports.

When a pupil asked what the drawing was, Putin replied: ‘It’s a cat – from the rear’, causing the class to collpase into giggles.

It comes days after the Russian President displayed a less flippant attitude to art, when police seized a painting of him wearing women’s underwear from a gallery, saying the satirical display had broken the law.

 

President invited a meeting on the Sevan Lake related problems

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3683President Serzh Sargsyan invited today a meeting which was attended by the RA Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian, Vice Prime Minister Armen Gevorkian, Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunian, Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetian, Minister of Finance David Sarkissian, Minister of Economy Vahram Avanessian, governor of Gegharkunik marz Rafik Grigorian, Chairman of the Commission on the Sevan Lake issues Vladimir Movsissian and relevant officials from the Presidential Staff.

At the meeting, discussed were issues related to the restoration of the Lake’s endemic fish population and other Sevan related problems. Participants of the meeting discussed also the preliminary results of the Sevan endemic fish growing program at the net and cage farm on Sevan. Discussed were main provisions and directions of the comprehensive program related to the restoration of the Lake’s endemic fish population, as well as mechanisms for its implementation which will considerably improve the situation related to the augmentation and natural reproduction of the fish population of the Lake.

Along with the resolution of Sevan’s foremost problems, in the phase of program implementation the President stressed the importance of the creation numerous jobs and enhancement of the economic development in the context of the equal development of the region.