Month: February 2019

YEREVAN—Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government on Wednesday approved its five-year plan, which is to be submitted to parliament by the end of the week. The plan prioritizes economic growth and reduction of poverty, bolstering of the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as ensuring the security of Artsakh.

Foreign Policy
The government said that it will conduct foreign policy guided by the collective interests of Armenia and its people and its plans aims to preserve Armenia’s sovereignty, ensure the security of Armenia and Artsakh, raise Armenia’s international reputation, while constantly developing the equitable relations with all states.

The plan also aims at increasing Armenia’s engagement in international and regional processes, deepening the cooperation in bilateral and multilateral structures, with an emphasis on the sustainable development of Armenia and the modernization of its economy that will ensure access to new markets and attract new foreign investments to Armenia and Artsakh.

The priorities of the government’s foreign policy are ensuring international and regional security and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, strengthening of democracy and prevention of crimes against humanity.

The draft says in the foreign policy field the government will work toward resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict exclusively through peaceful means and within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen’s initiatives. The plan adds that any resolution of the Karabakh conflict must be based on the fundamental principles of the international law, in particular, the peoples’ right to equality and self-determination. Artsakh’s status and ensuring its security are Armenia’s top priorities in the negotiation process.

The government will also take actions to ensure the continuation of the international recognition and condemnation process of the Armenian Genocide. The recognition of this crime against humanity will lead to regional security, stability and solidarity between the peoples, as well as the prevention of crimes.

According to the draft, the government will actively work on ensuring Armenia’s active participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) by contributing to raising the effectiveness of these structures further.

The government will develop the strategic-allied relations with Russia considering this goal as one of its key priorities. The Armenia-Russia relations are based on friendship, equality and the readiness to solve the issues with joint efforts. The government views Armenia’s strategic partnership with Russia as a key component on ensuring Armenia’s security system.

The draft states that the government will consistently develop a friendly partnership with the United States. The government is inclined to deepen the partnership with the US aimed at assisting Armenia’s development and reforms agenda and expanding the dialogue for regional stability.

The government will deepen the friendly relations and will expand the partnership with the European Union, its member states and other European countries.

It will also develop the unique and friendly ties with Iran and Georgia. The government is also inclined to develop the relations with China and the partner states of the Middle East.

Military Enhancement
According to the program, the government plans to equip the military will modern long-range precision guided missile systems, artillery and air defense complexes, multi-role aviation and automated and robotized aerial systems, thus enhancing deep reconnaissance abilities, troop mobility and fire range, precision and efficiency.

An important component of ensuring security will be the development of local military industry, and coherent re-equipment of the frontline with technical devices, efficiency of combat shifts and increasing security will remain in focus.

Actions will be taken in order for the command system to be maximally automated, having the required tactics and skills for operating modern warfare, vitality, mobility, technological superiority, as well as necessary abilities for ensuring cyber-security, and be guided by the Command Through Order principle aimed at proactively encouraging the speedy orientation and decision making.

Education of servicemen will also be among priorities to advance troop morale and discipline with the aim of significantly improving the protection of human rights in the military.

The government also plans to develop a social protection system for military families.

Economic Growth
The program declares the government’s commitment to a “competitive and inclusive economy” primarily driven by hi-tech industries. It says the government will strive for this by significantly improving tax administration, easing business regulations, guaranteeing fair competition, attracting foreign investment and stimulating exports and innovation.

This, the document adds, should translate into an average GDP growth rate of at least 5 percent in 2019-2023. “At the same time, a considerably larger number of citizens should participate in economic development, and economic output created as a result of their work should be distributed more evenly,” it says.

Urges Strong Voter Turnout for March 5 Special Election

GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region this week announced its endorsement of Jackie Goldberg who is a candidate for the special general election for Los Angeles Unified Board of Education District 5 set for March 5.

Goldberg is a lifelong activist with a long record of public service. A former teacher who served in the California State Assembly, Goldberg was elected to the LAUSD Board of Education in 1983 where she served for two terms. Her leadership was instrumental in creating a districtwide K-12 dual language (bilingual) education program, creating and implementing a secondary peace curriculum, establishing on-campus health clinics, improving curriculum in reading, math and science, fostering policies that helped the District overcome an acute teacher shortage, successfully building new schools and additions to begin to address multi-track calendars and other overcrowding issues, and developing school-based management to create accountability and ownership for teachers and administrators at each school site.

In the 1990s, Goldberg was elected to the 13th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council representing Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Historic Filipinotown, Hollywood, Little Armenia, Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown, Thai Town and Silver Lake. She was responsible for getting the city to approve the designation of Little Armenia. During her time as a California State Assemblymember, Goldberg also supported the grassroots efforts of the ANCA-WR to pass the Trade Office Bill in 2002, whose goal was to establish a California Regional Trade Office in the Republic of Armenia to facilitate trade and commerce between the two entities. After the devastating earthquake in Armenia in 1988, Goldberg collected donations from students and personally delivered the generous aid to quake-ravaged areas in Armenia.

As a part of this endorsement process, the ANCA-WR Board worked in conjunction with its Education Committee and local chapter constituents to carefully review Goldberg’s track record. An interview was then conducted where it became obvious that Goldberg’s long-standing affinity toward the Armenian community and issues of importance to it remains steadfast. For this reason, the ANCA-WR proudly endorses Jackie Goldberg for LAUSD District 5 and urges our community to turn out to vote for her.

LAUSD District 5 begins Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park, curves through Highland Park and Eagle Rock, then slices down through a sliver of El Sereno into the southeast cities of Vernon, Huntington Park and South Gate.

Anyone who needs assistance with mail-in ballots or voter information, please contact the ANCA-WR office at 818-500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.

GLENDALE—The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA’s Regional Executive Board met with Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Dr. Armen Baibourtian, Advisor of the Consulate Varazdat Pahlavuni and the Second Secretary Kanakara Hovhannisian on January 28.

The main purpose of Dr. Baibourtian’s visit was to bridge the cooperation between the two institutions. The meeting was also attended by the Vice Chairperson of the ARS Central Executive Board, Dr. Nyree Derderian.

ARS Regional Executive Board Chairperson Silva Poladian welcomed the delegations and briefed them on the programs of the 25 ARS chapters throughout the western region, the four Social Services offices, the ARS Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center, 16 one-day schools and other programs.

Next, Dr. Nyree Derderian conveyed information about the ARS and its international activities, which includes health and social services programs focused on education, activities that empower the youth, and the ongoing humanitarian aid for the Syrian-Armenian community that gets implemented in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk, and throughout the Diaspora. She also mentioned ARS activities in the United Nations as a member of the Economic and Social Council.

Consul General Baibourtian explained that he is well aware of the instrumental worldwide activities that the Armenian Relief Society carries out and highly values its role throughout the homeland and the Diaspora. He expressed his readiness to expand close relationships and promised to help with resources to advance the mission of the organization.

At the end of the meeting, the Consul General was given the ARS Vision 2020 Signature Plate, which has been prepared by Armenian-American designer Michael Aram.

The Armenian Relief Society, founded in 1910 in New York City, has chapters in 27 countries around the world. The ARS of Western USA is one of 10 regional bodies that govern the international network of ARS chapters. There are 1,240 members of the Armenian Relief Society in the Western Region.

Our region’s pivotal programs are aimed at offering assistance to individuals and families in need through the areas of educational, social and family services, humanitarian aid, cultural advancement, and more. The ARS of Western USA operates a Social Services Division; a Child, Youth and Family Guidance Center; 16-one day schools and 3 full-time day care preschools. ARS also provides support to kindergartens and youth centers in Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk.

The harvesting, to facilitate ABMDR’s 32nd transplant to date, marks the organization’s 20th anniversary

LOS ANGELES—Stem cells were harvested from Christina, a Yerevan resident and a registered donor with the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry on January 23.

Following the safe, painless procedure, performed by Dr. Andranik Mshetsyan at ABMDR’s Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan, the harvested stem cells were flown to Barcelona, Spain, through a special courier, to be used for a potentially life-saving transplantation. In order for the transplant to be successful, the harvested stem cells had to be infused into the patient’s body within 48 hours of the harvesting.

Christina had joined ABMDR in 2015, with hopes of being of help to a young leukemia patient who needed a matched donor. In 2018, Christina’s own nephew, Areni, was diagnosed with leukemia. Desperate to save Areni’s life, his family moved to Spain for a chance to provide a transplant for their child. Subsequently the Spanish transplant center where Areni had been undergoing treatment contacted ABMDR, with an urgent request to find a donor for the seven-year-old boy. At this point, as ABMDR searched its global database, a perfect match was located. The matched donor turned out to be none other than Areni’s aunt, Christina.

“We are just overjoyed by this wonderful development,” said Dr. Sevak Avagyan, Executive Director of ABMDR. “Christina had joined our registry out of a selfless desire to help save someone’s life. And now, as she has been identified as a perfect donor match for her own nephew, her role as a donor is all the more touching — it is a testament to our shared quest for bringing hope to families of patients struck by life-threatening blood-related illnesses. The harvesting of Christina’s stem cells is also deeply significant for our organization because it was performed to facilitate our 32nd transplant to date, and it is the first such procedure to be carried out in 2019, our 20th-anniversary year!”
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the Registry has recruited over 29,000 donors in 31 countries across four continents, identified 9,000 patients, and facilitated 32 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.