19:23,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Gagik Isakhanyan, Assistant to Prime Minister of Armenia, will leave for Artsakh on February 17-19, ARMENPRESS reports the decision has been signed by PM Pashinyan.
Isakhanyan will hold working meetings in Stepanakert.
21:05,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the humanitarian cooperation, the Azerbaijani side handed over bodies of 106 soldiers killed during the 44-day war under the mediation of the Command staff of the Russian peacekeeping units in Artsakh, ARMNPRESS reports President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan wrote on his Facebook page.
Harutyunyan added that the searching works of bodies and survivors of the 44-day war still continue. ''In addition, we have started making joint efforts for discovering the bodies of Armenian and Azerbaijani victims of the war of the 1990s'', he wrote.
20:06,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Wendy Morton, United Kingdom's Minister for European Neighborhood and the Americas, who highlighted the establishment of the ceasefire regime in Nagorno Karabakh and the unblocking of the regional infrastructures. Ararat Mirzoyan hoped that the United Kingdom, as a partner country which is a member of the UNSC, will make all possible efforts for the speedy return of the POWs according to the principle of ''all for all''.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Armenia, greeting the guest, the President of the parliament noted that the partnering relations between the two countries need to be further activated, which can be greatly fostered by the activation of inter-parliamentary interactions.
Referring to the situation over Nagorno Karabakh, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that for the implementation of the November 9 trilateral declaration and preservation of the regional peace the speedy return of the Armenian POWs and other detainees is priority for the Armenian side. Ararat Mirzoyan added that the negotiations on the status of Artsakh under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs remains on the agenda of the Armenian side.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the reform agenda of Armenia, as well as the process and achievements of the program ''New Armenia, modern parliament'' carried out in the National Assembly of Armenia by UK funding.
OSCE MG Co-chairs hold video-conference with Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs
21:47,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released a statement today. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the OSCE, the statement runs as follows,
‘’The Co-Chairs spoke separately by video conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on 16 February. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the calls.
The Co-Chairs engaged with each minister in a lengthy and substantive exchange of views on issues related to the promotion of stability in the region, the modalities of the mediation process, and the role of the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office’’.
Amnesty International – Activists pledge solidarity with prominent human rights defender Feb. 15, 2021 Responding to the conviction and sentencing of veteran human rights lawyer, Eren Keskin to six years in jail on absurd grounds of ‘membership of an armed terrorist organization’, Amnesty International’s Turkey Campaigner, Milena Buyum, said: “Today a human rights lawyer who has spoken out against injustice for more than three decades, has become the victim of injustice herself. “Eren Keskin has dedicated her life to defending the rights of women, prisoners and fought for justice for the families of the disappeared. This verdict is yet another shocking example of anti-terrorism laws being used to criminalize legitimate, peaceful activities. “’I have been prosecuted many times and jailed for my thoughts. I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere,’ Eren Keskin tweeted after she was sentenced. “We are not going anywhere either.” Background Eren Keskin is a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Turkey. She is the Co-Chair of the Human Rights Association (İHD). Today, four defendants in the case concerning Özgür Gündem, a daily newspaper that was shuttered in 2016, received prison sentences on "terrorism-related" charges. The court sentenced Zana Kaya, the newspaper's editor-in-chief to one year and 13 months in prison for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization." The newspaper's grant holder Kemal Sancılı, managing editor İnan Kızılkaya and attorney Eren Keskin have been sentenced to six years and three months in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization." They remain at liberty pending their appeals.
TUFENKIAN FOUNDATION BEGINS MAJOR HOME RENOVATION PROJECT IN THE VILLAGES OF MARTUNI
The Avagyans, a Family with Six Children, Return to Their Restored House in Tsovategh Village
Tsovategh, a small village situated in Artsakh’s Martuni region, is home to a little more than 150 residents. It was recently made a target during heavy bombardment in the region in the course of the 44-day war against Azerbaijan. “Our home was hit twice and suffered substantial damage—it was no longer habitable,” explained Gegham Avagyan, whose family has lived in the village for generations. He, along with his wife Elina, are parents to six children, with a seventh on the way. “We never intended on leaving here. This is our home,” Gegham added.
The Avagyan children—Vahram, 15; Raffi, 13; Arinka, 12; Zaqar, 9; Marinka, 7; and Varushik, 5—were excited to see their once damaged home completely renovated in just a few weeks. “We are excited to move back as we expect the birth of our new sister. She will grow up here like we have,” explained Vahram, the eldest of the six.
A veterinarian by education, Gegham intends to continue and develop his agricultural work by enlarging his farm and planting more crops this spring. Both he and Elina are hopeful that they will also expand their family in the coming years. “We want 10 kids. Ten is a good number,” said Gegham.
The Avagyan family home is the first of a total of 13 homes in the region, which the Tufenkian Foundation has decided to renovate and restore following the perils of the war. The program will focus on Herher and its surrounding villages, including Tsovategh and Kherkhan, and completely renovate residences that have suffered major damages during the war, as well as the family homes of fallen soldiers.
“We are happy to announce the launch of this program, the main purpose of which is to help our compatriots return to a normal life in their own homes,” said Tufenkian Foundation executive director Raffi Doudaklian. “We are excited that the Avagyans—a family with six children with a seventh on the way—are the first to return to their restored home,” Doudaklian added, during a visit to the home on Feb. 11, at which the village mayor, Samvel Abrahamyan, was also present.
According to Mayor Abrahamyan, the renovation program is an important way to ensure that the region's residents remain in their villages and help safeguard their future success. “Tsovategh is an ancient Armenian village that has been around for more than a millennium. We’ve uncovered an eighth-century khatchkar (cross-stone) here; we have an ancient church here. We have to make sure that our villagers remain here and carry on their families’ legacies,” Abrahamyan said.
Established in 1999, the Tufenkian Foundation addresses the most pressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Since its inception, the Tufenkian Foundation has supported various community initiatives as well as civic activism and public advocacy campaigns to help improve life in Armenia, while providing housing, education, social, health, and livelihood support for the Armenians of Artsakh.
ATTACHED IMAGES (For full-resolution images, visit: https://we.tl/t-Z9S1ye4YaC)
1. The Avagyan family was given a second chance at life in Tsorategh, following a complete renovation of their damaged home.
2. The renovated Avagyan home. The residence was severely damaged after being hit twice by Azerbaijani fire.
3. Before (L) and after (R) images of the Avagyan home
4. Five of the six Avagyan children: Raffi, 13; Vahram, 15; Varushik, 5; Marinka, 7; and Zaqar, 9
5. A scene from the renovations of the Avagyan family home. The residence was fully renovated in just a few weeks. (Photo: Artsakh Press)
6. Zaqar, 9, and Raffi, 13, Avagyans at their renovated home
7. Representatives of the Tufenkian foundation meeting Mayor Samvel Abrahamyan
8. Raffi is all smiles inside his renovated home.
9. Vahram (far L) and Raffi (far R) pose with their father Gegham
PRESS RELEASE - Tufenkian Foundation 02-15-2021 (Home Renovation Project, Martuni).pdf
9. Vahram (far L) and Raffi (far R) pose with their father Gegham.jpg
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6. Zaqar, 9, and Raffi, 13.jpg
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3. Avagyan Family Home - Before and After.jpg
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Roughly 110,000 people have returned and currently live in Artsakh (Karabakh), Chief of Staff to the President Artak Beglaryan said on Monday, noting that another 40,000 remain in Armenia.
According to Beglaryan, majority of those in Armenia are refugees whose homes are now in Azerbaijani-occupied areas of Artsakh, including Hadrut and Shushi regions.
During the 44-days of the war, Azerbaijani missiles shelled almost all of the residential towns and villages in Karabakh, including churches and hospitals. Most of the roughly 150,000 residents of the region escaped to Armenia, leaving behind homes and everything they owned.
February 15, 2021
Students at the Dzovinar Christian Education Center in Ghegharkounik Province
Dr. Neshan Tabibian and his son Dr. Hagop Tabibian, of Burbank, California, have made a donation of $35,000 to refurbish the Dzovinar Christian Education Building located in Armenia’s Geghargunik Province. The building is used by more than 100 children daily who receive Christian education.
Father Kevork Ter Parseghyan, the parish priest in charge of this Christian Education Project started teaching the students in a home in Dzovinar. As the number of students grew the city gave the project a building that needed a great deal of repair to make it usable. Over the years parishioners of St. Paul Armenian church and other parishes in the United States helped to fund some improvements to the building and the play yard.
Doctors Neshan and Hagop Tabibian donated $35,000 to refurbish the facility
Dr. Neshan Tabibian visited Dzovinar and was very impressed with how the children were learning under difficult conditions and as a result he and his son decided to create a modern and safe environment for the children to learn in every day after school.
With the generous $35,000 contribution that the Tabibians made in the past year the project truly came to reality. The painting and repair of all floors and walls, windows, electrical, etc. quickly took place. Once that phase was completed, then desks, chairs, computers, bookcases and all other furniture needed to make the classrooms and meeting hall totally usable were placed in the building in their appropriate rooms.
Today, each day after school students from elementary to high school age gather to use the facilities to learn more about their Armenian Christian beliefs.
February 15, 2021
The Avagyan family was given a second chance at life in Tsorategh, following a complete renovation of their damaged home.
The Avagyans, a Family with Six Children, Return to Their Restored House in Tsovategh Village
TSOVATEGH, Martuni, Artsakh—The Avagyans, an Armenian family of eight, whose home sustained major damage by Azerbaijani shelling last year, was given a second chance at life in the region.
The Avagyan family residence was renovated thanks to the efforts of the Tufenkian Foundation. Theirs is the first home restored in a new initiative initiated and undertaken by the Foundation, in cooperation with the Hayastan All Armenian Fund.
Tsovategh, a small village situated in Artsakh’s Martuni region, is home to a little more than 150 residents. It was recently made a target during heavy bombardment in the region in the course of the 44-day war against Azerbaijan. “Our home was hit twice and suffered substantial damage—it was no longer habitable,” explained Gegham Avagyan, whose family has lived in the village for generations. He, along with his wife Elina, are parents to six children, with a seventh on the way. “We never intended on leaving here. This is our home,” Gegham added.
The Avagyan children—Vahram, 15; Raffi, 13; Arinka, 12; Zaqar, 9; Marinka, 7; and Varushik, 5—were excited to see their once damaged home completely renovated in just a few weeks. “We are excited to move back as we expect the birth of our new sister. She will grow up here like we have,” explained Vahram, the eldest of the six.
A veterinarian by education, Gegham intends to continue and develop his agricultural work by enlarging his farm and planting more crops this spring. Both he and Elina are hopeful that they will also expand their family in the coming years. “We want 10 kids. Ten is a good number,” said Gegham.
The Avagyan family home is the first of a total of 13 homes in the region, which the Tufenkian Foundation has decided to renovate and restore following the perils of the war. The program will focus on Herher and its surrounding villages, including Tsovategh and Kherkhan, and completely renovate residences that have suffered major damages during the war, as well as the family homes of fallen soldiers.
“We are happy to announce the launch of this program, the main purpose of which is to help our compatriots return to a normal life in their own homes,” said Tufenkian Foundation executive director Raffi Doudaklian. “We are excited that the Avagyans—a family with six children with a seventh on the way—are the first to return to their restored home,” Doudaklian added, during a visit to the home on Feb. 11, at which the village mayor, Samvel Abrahamyan, was also present.
According to Mayor Abrahamyan, the renovation program is an important way to ensure that the region’s residents remain in their villages and help safeguard their future success. “Tsovategh is an ancient Armenian village that has been around for more than a millennium. We’ve uncovered an eighth-century khatchkar (cross-stone) here; we have an ancient church here. We have to make sure that our villagers remain here and carry on their families’ legacies,” Abrahamyan said.
Established in 1999, the Tufenkian Foundation addresses the most pressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh. Since its inception, the Tufenkian Foundation has supported various community initiatives as well as civic activism and public advocacy campaigns to help improve life in Armenia, while providing housing, education, social, health, and livelihood support for the Armenians of Artsakh.