Author: Ani Basmajian

Kouyr Arabella is First Female to Earn the Rank of Eagle Scout for Troop 127

Ani Basmajian
Dec 23 2021

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 Community Contributor

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Despite the recent worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties surrounding social interactions, Troop 127 was able to continue its service to the community.

In addition, the hard work of the leadership spearheaded by Scoutmaster Yeghpair Adrian Hairapetian and Assistant Scoutmaster Yeghpair Alec Issai of Troop 127 has made history with Kouyr Arabella Ishkhanian.

Troop 127 HIYER is delighted to announce that Kouyr Arabella Jolie Ishkhanian has earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Thursday, October 28, 2021, making her, according to the Verdugo Hills Council BSA, 

A. The 1st female Armenian Eagle Scout in the Verdugo Hills Council.

B. The 1st female Armenian Eagle Scout who has earned both the Eagle Rank and Gold Award in the Verdugo Hills Council.

C. The 1st female Armenian Eagle Scout & Gold Award recipient in California and United States of America.

Kouyr Arabella is currently a senior at John Burroughs High School and will graduate on May 26th of 2022.

Kouyr Arabella Jolie
Ishkhanian

She earned the Gold Award on March 10, 2021, from Girl Scout Troop 636, of which she has been a member since 2010. For her Gold Award project, she co-founded a club called, “Women in S.T.E.M.” at her high school with the goal of helping break the stigma of women entering the field and providing them with the resources to continue pursuing careers in the S.T.E.M. fields. She was selected as a parade participant of the 2022 Tournament of Roses-Tournament Troop due to her Gold Award achievement.

She joined Troop 127 HIYER a little less than 2 years ago as soon as the Boy Scouts of America allowed young girls to join the ranks of Scouts, where she joined her brothers Yeghpair Grant and Yeghpair Drake. Both of whom are working diligently to earn the rank of Eagle Scout following their older sister.

Kouyr Arabella’s Eagle Scout Service Project involved painting and landscaping signs in four different park locations in the city of Glendale: Pelanconi Park sign, Glenoaks Park sign, Upper Scholl Canyon Athletics Field sign, and Lower Scholl Canyon Park sign. The purpose of the project was to refurbish and paint four signs in all the four parks and to landscape around the Pelanconi Park sign.

Her Eagle Scout Board of Review was on October 28, 2021, where she earned the Eagle rank, making her the 31st Eagle scout from Troop 127.

In addition to her scouting accomplishments, she is also the Vice President of both the National Honors Society and the Medical Academy at her high school. Additionally, she is a member of the Armenian Club and Scholarship club and the Vice President of the St Gregory Armenian Church ACYO (Armenian Church Youth Organization), in Pasadena.

She is currently applying to several universities in California and would like to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

We are honored and grateful that Kouyr Arabella will continue her scouting work with both Troops for the foreseeable future. The Troop 127 scouting family, her parents Charlene and Ara Ishkhanian, brothers Grant and Drake, the 30 Eagle Scouts who preceded her, their families, as well as the current adult leadership wishes her the best and continued success.

Troop 127 meets at the Raymond Ave Scout house Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 am

For more information and how to join, please email :
Yeghpair Adrian at [email protected]
or Yeghpair Alec at [email protected].

https://myburbank.com/kouyr-arabella-is-first-female-to-earn-the-rank-of-eagle-scout-for-troop-127/

CivilNet: In Dastakert, Syunik, a family struggles for survival

Ani Basmajian
CIVILNET.AM

22 Dec, 2021 09:12

In Dastakert village in Armenia’s southern Syunik region, 13-year old Abrik is learning to read and write. In 2020, his mother committed suicide, his father has abandoned the family. Abrik and his four siblings live with their aunt Shogher, who has two other children. The family lives on government benefits and still struggle to make ends meet. CivilNet’s team went to Dastakert to find out more about Abrik and his family.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 21-12-21

Ani Basmajian

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 17:40,

YEREVAN, 21 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 21 December, USD exchange rate up by 0.50 drams to 481.11 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.35 drams to 543.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.51 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.64 drams to 637.42 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 147.27 drams to 27785.25 drams. Silver price down by 5.05 drams to 344.86 drams. Platinum price down by 124.18 drams to 14323.41 drams.

Armenia foils Azerbaijan’s propaganda event as part of UN anti-corruption conference in Egypt

Ani Basmajian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 14 2021
, 23:59

 2 minutes read

The Armenian delegation headed by Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan has foiled an anti-Armenian event organized by Azerbaijan within the framework of the 9th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) under way in Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt, Armenpress reports.

During the event titled “Misuse of fund raising activities for corruption and related criminal purposes” the Azerbaijani delegation attempted to label Armenian organizations as institutions financing terrorism and to present the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination as “separatism” and “terrorism.”

In an abuse to the platform, the Azerbaijani delegates began to discredit Armenia, Artsakh Republic, Armenian organizations and Diaspora individuals instead of touching upon the manifestations of rampant corruption in their own country.

To give legitimacy to the event, the Azerbaijani delegation decided to use the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its political speculations, inviting UNODC representatives to take part in the thematic discussion as speakers. In addition, without permission from the UNODC Secretariat, Azerbaijan used the structure’s logo on the event materials to try to create the impression that UNODC and the 9th session of the UN Convention against Corruption are co-organizers of the event.

The Armenian delegation undertook measures to counter the Azerbaijani propaganda. In particular, at the request of the Armenian delegation, the UNODC Secretariat demanded that the Azerbaijani delegation remove the logos of the UNODC from all documents related to the event. In addition, at the request of the Armenian delegation, the UNODC expert, who was supposed to speak at the thematic discussion, stated that the UNODC Secretariat usually provides speakers for relevant events at the request of the participating countries. He also stressed that the presence of the Secretariat at the event in no way means that UNODC endorses any speeches or announcements made during the event.

Consul of Armenia in Egypt Rafayel Movsesyan then took the floor, strongly criticizing the anti-Armenian event and demanding that Azerbaijan stop hate propaganda against famous Armenian organizations and figures who tried to draw the attention of the international community to the violence against the civilian population of Artsakh, crimes against humanity, violations of international humanitarian law, destruction of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage during the war in 2020 and the humanitarian crisis created as a result of the aggression of Azerbaijan. He reminded Azerbaijan of the December 7 decision of the UN International Court of Justice to indicate provisional measures against Azerbaijan, obliging the latter to take steps to stop propaganda of racial hatred and discrimination against persons of Armenian descent, including by officials and public institutions.

A very limited number of foreigners physically participated in the meeting. They left the hall immediately after the speech of the Armenian delegates.

Tigran Abrahamyan comments on Armenian-Turkish developments: Another closed, secret process is being disclosed

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 14 2021

“Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced about a reached agreement to appoint envoys as part of normalization steps with Armenia. It seems, Armenia has started a process, despite Turkish preconditions on a corridor,” lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook. 

“No official clarifications have been given from Armenia, and considering the fact, that details about Armenian-Turkish relations have always been provided by the Turkish side, reports about appointment of envoys and backroom agreements seem quite possible,” Abrahamyan wrote, reminding of Erdogan’s recent statement that through Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili Pashinyan had offered to meet him for talks on improving relations. 

The opposition lawmaker reminded next the Armenian FM had admitted himself that the issue of the corridor  was considered a precondition for the Armenian-Turkish process which has always been presented by Armenian authorities under positive light 

“Another closed, secret process is being disclosed the devastating consequences of which are yet to be assessed,” Abrahamyan stressed.

Former Armenian FM: ‘3+2’ format may be an attempt to cast a shadow over OSCE Minsk Group format

Ani Basmajian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 14 2021

Armenia has always expressed a desire to launch a process of normalizing relations with Turkey without any preconditions, but for quite a long time there has been no dialogue with Ankara, former Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian told reporters at the Yerevan State University on Tuesday.

His comments came after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Turkey and Armenia will mutually appoint special envoys to discuss steps to normalize ties.

“We positively assess the statement of the Turkish FM regarding the appointment of a special representative as part of normalization of relations and confirm that the Armenian side will appoint its envoy for a dialogue,” Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahan Hunanyan said on Tuesday, responding to the statement.

Commenting on Yerevan’s intention to appoint a special representative for talks with Turkey, Aivazian recalled the saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

“Naturally, there is a need to distinguish between the normal conditions and the current situation, especially Turkey’s direct involvement in last year’s war and the preconditions set forth by it,” the diplomat said.

Aivazian believes it is extremely important for the Armenian Foreign Ministry to have an understanding of how to conduct negotiations with Turkey. In this regard, he underlined that the true goals of Baku and Ankara are well known.

“The spokesperson of the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated today that the negotiations are without preconditions. But on the other hand we see the launch of “3+2″ format. I hope our diplomats are well aware of all the threats and challenges that may emerge during the further work in this format,” Aivazian said.

He undermined that the signals coming from Ankara are far from positive. “On the contrary, we see persistent demands rather than any steps inherent in good neighborly relations. Thus, I am somewhat confused and doubtful about the objectives of the “3+2” format,” the former minister explained.

“I have concerns that the “3+2” format may be an attempt to neutralize and cast a shadow over the format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship,” Aivazian said.

Armenia PM: Mutual understanding was reached during meeting with Russian and Azerbaijani presidents in Sochi

Ani Basmajian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 8 2021
23:22, 08.12.2021

Mutual understanding of the unblocking of transport communications was reached during the meeting with the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on November 26 in Sochi. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in response to deputies’ questions during today’s question-and-answer session with government officials in parliament.

However, according to the Prime Minister, the Azerbaijani side violated the reached agreements. Pashinyan particularly commented on President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s recent statements that the Armenian side needs to state the time limits for opening of the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’.

“In Sochi we had a mutual understanding, and I affirm all that I talked about during the meeting. All that I have said was confirmed in the statement that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued yesterday. I expressed that stance, and a certain agreement was reached in regard to that stance,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia-Azerbaijan ministers’ meeting cancelled, POWs exchanged for mine maps

Ani Basmajian
Dec 7 2021
 6 December 2021

A planned meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers was cancelled within hours of it taking place. That same weekend, ten Armenian POWs were returned in exchange for landmine maps and an Armenian resident of Nagorno-Karabakh was killed by Azerbaijani troops.

A meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers was expected to be held during the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Stockholm. 

On 4 December, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva commented on the cancelled meeting. ‘A few hours before the meeting, the visit of Armenian parliamentarians to Nagorno-Karabakh, the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, was a provocation, and Azerbaijan refused to meet,’ she said.

A statement from the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, the United States, and France —  expressed ‘regret’ that the meeting did not take place and stressed a ‘readiness to host such a meeting as soon as circumstances allow to continue discussions begun in New York in September and in Paris in November’.

This was only one of several notable developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the weekend.

On 4 December, 10 Armenian prisoners of war were returned to Armenia following their capture in border clashes on 16 November. Armenia, meanwhile, turned over a series of maps locating landmines in territories ceded by Armenia to Azerbaijan during and after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

[Read more: Worst fighting since the end of Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]

A statement from the Azerbaijani State Security Service thanked the Russian Ministry of Defence for facilitating the talks that led to the exchange. 

Additionally, on 3 December, Nagorno-Karabakh authorities reported that a 65-year-old resident of the town of Chartar in the region of Martuni (Khojavend)  was taken captive and killed by Azerbaijani soldiers. 

According to the Nagorno-Karabakh Prosecutor’s Office, Seyran Sargsyan, ‘was apparently arrested and taken’ by Azerbaijani soldiers to a military post, ‘where he was shot and killed’.

In a statement commenting on the incident, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense said that a person of Armenian origin was ‘neutralised during an attack on a soldier serving in the district of Khojavend’.

‘The man tried to seize a weapon. After firing into the air, our serviceman neutralised the provocateur who attacked him in self-defence’, the statement reads. An investigation has reportedly been launched.

The Russian Peacekeeping Mission in Nagorno-Karabakh also noted the incident as a ‘violation of the ceasefire regime’. 

‘According to the results of the work of the operational group of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and representatives of the military prosecutor’s office of the Fizuli garrison of the armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the scene, the Azerbaijani side opened a criminal case on the death of a civilian’, the statement reads.

The death of Sargsyan marks the third killing of an Armenian civilian by Azerbaijani troops in Nagorno-Karabakh in the last eight weeks.

[Read more: Major road closed as Nagorno-Karabakh civilian reportedly shot dead]

For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.

Additional reporting by Ismi Aghayev.


Nagorno Karabakh conflict discussed at 28th OSCE Ministerial Council

Ani Basmajian

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 16:42, 7 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been discussed on the sidelines of the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council, which was held in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 2-3.

It can be recorded that contrary to the statements made by the top leadership of Azerbaijan that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is over, the statements made by the representatives of different countries and international organizations within the frames of the Ministerial Council come to prove that the issue of the settlement of the conflict is still relevant for the international community, as well as to reaffirm that the NK conflict settlement is viewed in the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format and under its mandate through peaceful negotiations.

Ann Linde, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said in her remarks: “In the context of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict there are unresolved issues which were demonstrated also by the resumption of hostilities in the region last month. The OSCE plays a vital role in the region, and we all must provide full support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office during and after this ministerial council”.

In his turn US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken welcomed the resumption of direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We urge them to make progress on humanitarian issues including detainees, demining, missing persons, with investigations of alleged human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law with the perpetrators held accountable.  And I hope there, we can all work together including with Russia to continue to make progress. We urge all parties to resolve other outstanding issues like border delimitation and demarcation, the restoration of economic and transport links, and to continue to engage with the Minsk Group co-chairs for a lasting peaceful end to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict”, he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in his speech highlighted the role of the OSCE in the conflict’s settlement process.

Head of the French delegation at the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council Franck Riester also welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. “We call on the sides to agree on taking such actions under the auspices of the Minsk Group, which would reduce tension and contribute to creation of a respective environment for progress in other areas for the benefit of peoples. We reaffirme our trust to the work to be done by the Co-Chairmanship with the sides. We call on to remain committed to the agreements reached by the November 9 statement”, Franck Riester said.

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to achieve peace. “Border clashes between troops from Armenia and Azerbaijan have resumed one year after a deadly conflict. I will kindly ask the parties to get together and agree for a long, lasting peace”, she said.

A number of other top officials also touched upon in their speeches the current situation in the Nagorno Karabakh zone, expressing their support to the efforts aimed at the lasting solution of the conflict. All in their speech highlighted the return of prisoners of war and other persons held as a priority issue requiring urgent solution.

In its statement the European Union also made a reference to the necessity of the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict. “The European Union supports and is ready to complement the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group towards a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement”, the statement says.

The “Quint” (Albania, Sweden, Poland and North Macedonia) statement also made a reference to the NK conflict, calling for taking additional measures for the de-escalation of the situation and resumption of substantive negotiations.

In fact, the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council showed that there are two contradictory approaches over the NK conflict: on the one hand, the positions of Armenia and the international community mostly match, and on the other hand, Azerbaijan’s attempts to present the developments caused by the use of force as a base for the solution of the situation, its made-up visions and propaganda, have not been “encouraged” by the international community.

Perhaps, this is the reason that the Azerbaijani side avoided the meeting with the Armenian Foreign Minister under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs planned in Stockholm.

Truly, after the statements of both the representatives of the Co-Chair countries and other member states of the OSCE, this meeting everywhere would have been viewed in the context of moving forward the peace process for the settlement of the NK conflict, not in the context of solving the so-called “post-conflict” issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan, like the Azerbaijani side was trying to present to its public the meetings held in New York and Paris.

It’s worth noting that at the end of the Ministerial Council, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair made a statement, noting that although they held separate meetings with the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, a joint meeting under their auspices didn’t take place.

“They express their readiness to host such a meeting as soon as circumstances allow to continue discussions begun in New York in September and in Paris in November”, the statement says.