Author: Ani Kharatian

Asbarez – On February 4, 2017 the first ever Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Malaysia was celebrated in Kuala Lumpur by Very Reverend Father Zaven Yazichyan, Pastor of the Armenian Spiritual Pastorates of Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh and the Representative of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians to The Far East. The Divine Liturgy was delivered at the Archangel Michael Russian Orthodox Church in Kuala Lumpur. The event was organized by Emil Petrosyan, the President of the Armenian Society in Malaysia, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians. Ashot Tunyan, a prominent member of the Armenian Society in Malaysia hosted the Spiritual Father for the occasion.

The Divine Liturgy was attended by all the members of the Community, guests and friends of the Armenian Society in Malaysia, Armenians living in Johor Bahru (Malaysia), as well as Armenians from Indonesia.

During the Divine Liturgy Father Zaven Yazichyan addressed his message to the faithful and expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Emil Petrosyan, the President of the Armenian Society in Malaysia, as well as to all the members of the Community for their outstanding efforts and contributions towards organizing this historic and brilliant event. Particularly, Father Zaven Yazichyan emphasized stating that: “…strong faith and boundless love towards our Mother Church and Homeland unites us today in this sacred place… despite the reality that there is no Armenian Church in Malaysia, your zeal, enthusiasm and keenness deserves appraisal, as well as your love and devotion, efforts and energy for making this beautiful vision become a reality… you truly and proudly continue to be the heirs to the legacy of our forebears who came to this country and established a good name and created history.” On this landmark occasion Father Yazichyan conveyed the appreciation and blessings of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians and wished that the Almighty God multiple the successes and grant new achievements and the very best in everything as the Community prepares for new and remarkable events in the days to come.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Sacrament of Baptism was performed and three children were reborn a spiritual birth and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and became as children of God and true members of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The ceremony of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism was a kind of “rebirth and resurrection” of the Armenian community in Malaysia; lik e a bell -sound which once again proved the dedication of the community towards the Armenian Apostolic Mother Church. The happiness and joy of the faithful audience was boundless, expressed in mixed feelings of hope and faith in our future.

After the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, a Requiem service was offered; for one of the relative of the member of the Community, who suddenly passed away in Armenia. Father Zaven stated in his speech that “…it was with deep sorrow that we learned of the untimely death of Sasun Tunyan, cousin of Ashot Tunyan, one of the members of the Armenian Community in Malaysia. We all are with you in this difficult moment. No one can prepare you for a loss; it comes like a swift wind. However, take comfort in knowing that he is now resting in the arms of our Lord. A person that departs from this earth never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and minds, through us, they live on. Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed. May the love of family and friends comfort you during these difficult days. Please accept our heartfelt condolences.”

The day ended with lunch in the Church hall, during which Emil Petrosyan, the President of the Community expressed his gratitude to Father Zaven stating that “…today a memorable, unforgettable, unrepeatable and prayerful day was recorded in the history of the Armenian community in Malaysia”. Afterwards, on behalf of the Women’s Guild of the Community, Emil Petrosyan handed a souvenir to Father Zaven as an expression of their gratefulness. All the Community members thanked the visiting Pastor for his strong spiritual encouragement.

Armenians settled in South-East Asia from 16-17 th centuries. Settling on the foreign soil and forming communities, the priority was and still is to preserve their identity, language, culture and faith. Armenians have come to Malaysia mainly from India and Old Jugha, Iran. They have settled in the Malay Peninsula, southern part of Indochina peninsula. Currently, it is divided between Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. Armenians mostly settled in the city of Georgetown, Penang State and after a short while played an important role in the shaping of the economic and cultural history of the state. Till today the most famous street in Georgetown is called Armenian Street or Lebuh Armenia which is an indelible part of the history of Penang. The locals proudly recount to everyone about the rich legacy of the Armenians. Today the street and almost all the buildings on that location which were once owned by prominent Armenians are under the protection of UNESCO World Heritage.

Legendary and famous Sarkis brothers, who were the most eminent businessmen in South-East Asia, established The Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang. The Sarkis brothers also founded the Strand Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar and the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, as well as the Crag Hotel on Penang Hill which in the 1950’s became the first home of the Uplands School.

Another prominent Armenian Dr. Avetoom who went on to become one of the leading figures in Penang Society founded the first George Town Dispensary. Despite the small numbers, the Armenians were responsible citizens and built an Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator on Bishop Street. Unfortunately, in 1906 the Church was demolished and an elegant monument took its place.

Although there are no Armenians in Penang now, they have undoubtedly left behind a rich cultural legacy that all Armenians can be proud of. Today Armenians are mostly settled in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot trigger the Brexit process without consulting MPs, the BBC reports.

In December, the UK government appealed against a High Court ruling that Parliament must approve the Article 50 process of leaving the EU.

The Welsh Government told the hearing that if the sovereignty of Parliament was not upheld it would undermine the basis for devolution.

The UK government dismissed that argument as “tortuous”.

It claimed the prime minister could invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to launch the formal two-year process of leaving the European Union using crown prerogative – powers used by ministers that do not require the permission of MPs.

But Wales’ top legal advisor, Counsel General Mick Antoniw, argued that starting this process would “modify the competence of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government”.

He said on Tuesday that if judges say legislation is needed a vote would be needed in the assembly.

– The Red Devils sit sixth in the Premier League table but the Armenia international insists that a first league title in four years is not beyond the Old Trafford outfit.

Manchester United have not given up hope of winning the Premier League as Henrikh Mkhitaryan eyes trophies in 2017.

Heading into the Boxing Day clash against Sunderland at Old Trafford, United are sixth in the table and 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

But with 21 matches remaining, Mkhitaryan said his team-mates are still dreaming of silverware.

“My wishes are for the team to have the best year possible – for Manchester United, for the players and for the fans,” Mkhitaryan told The Times of India.

“I hope we have an amazing season and fight for all the titles. Hopefully, in 2017, we can win some trophies. But United are a long way behind the leaders at the moment.

“We haven’t given up yet, we’re not saying we are out of the competition. There are a lot of games remaining, especially at this time of year, so we’re trying to do our best to be in the top four.

“And, of course, in the Europa League we’re going to try and go as far as we can.”

Having struggled to initially convince manager Jose Mourinho following his big-money arrival from Borussia Dortmund in the off-season, Mkhitaryan is now thriving in Manchester.

Mkhitaryan scored in the Europa League win over Zorya earlier in December, and he netted the only goal in United’s victory against Tottenham three days later before missing back-to-back Premier League games due to injury.

Asked if he was ever worried that he would not force his way back into Mourinho’s calculations, the Armenia captain said: “No, because I was trying to do my best in training to earn a place to play. You have to earn it.

“It doesn’t matter if the club bought me for £40 million, I knew that I am not guaranteed to play. Even when you are selected you many not play every game, depending on the tactical situation and the opponent.”

 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and the $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity were established on behalf of the descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and in gratitude to those who risked their own wellbeing to help them survive.  At the inaugural awards ceremony, held in Yerevan, Armenia, on April 24, 2016, Marguerite Barankitse from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi became the first laureate.

Barankitse was recognized for the extraordinary impact she has had in saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi. Consistent with the rules of this unique prize, the laureate selected the following three organizations as recipients of $1 million in humanitarian support: the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de La Grande-Duchesse du Luxembourg, Fondation Jean-François Peterbroeck (JFP Foundation), and the Fondation Bridderlech Deelen Luxembourg.

In a continuing effort to transform the Armenian experience from that of ‘victim’ to dignified, active global citizen, each year’s Aurora Prize ceremony is a celebration of the spirit of shared humanity – and resilience.  This time, that celebration will culminate on May 28, in Yerevan, Armenia.

Known as First Republic Day, May 28 embodies the resilience of survivors who, just three years after the Genocide, declared and sustained an independent Armenian Republic from 1918 to 1920. The ceremony and accompanying events will highlight this journey from death to life, from horror to hope, from tragedy to revival.

The 2017 Aurora Prize finalists will be announced on April 24, 2017, the annual day of remembrance for victims of the Armenian Genocide.  One of these finalists will then be named as the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate at a special ceremony on May 28, 2017, in Yerevan, Armenia. The Laureate and finalists will be chosen by the Aurora Prize Selection Committee from a total of 558 nominations submitted from 66 countries around the world.

Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, observed: “Underpinning the Aurora Prize is a desire to pay tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to help others survive and thrive. It is gratifying that in such a short time this initiative has found resonance and appreciation in communities and countries around the world.”

Ruben Vardanyan added, “On May 28, Armenian survivors dared to declare independence in the aftermath of the Genocide and in the midst of regional tumult. Their plight embodies our conviction that victims very soon became not just survivors but also active, committed members of global society.  The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative highlights the promise of transformation from helpless to hopeful, a possibility that is the right of all people.”

During the month between April 24 and May 28, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative will organize a global program of activities to profile the inspirational stories of the 2017 finalists, as well as broader humanitarian endeavors.  The Aurora Dialogues – a series of thought-provoking discussions featuring international humanitarian figures – debuted in Yerevan during the inaugural Aurora weekend. Those dialogues will also be expanded and shared with communities around the world and will also be a major component of the Aurora May 28 weekend, in Yerevan.

New figures confirm that security is the main concern for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and that combined support for independence or unification with Armenia grows from 91.7% in 2015 to 95.1% in 2016.

Hovhannes Grigoryan, CEO of the Institute for Political and Sociological Consulting (IPSC), presented results of a new opinion poll on socio-economic developments, public perceptions of foreign affairs, international recognition, and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. The poll was conducted in July 2016 (shortly after the Four-Day War) on a sample of 1,081 people in Stepanakert and the 7 regions of Nagorno-Karabakh, and cross-referenced with a similar survey conducted in March 2015.

The figures show an increase in the number of people who believe Nagorno-Karabakh should be independent, compared to those who prefer it become a part of Armenia. An even more significant trend was observed among younger and educated, who support the independence in a much higher proportion (61.2% of population between 18 and 30 years support independence; 53.6% of university educated support independence).

Furthermore, public’s approval of Government’s performance in the sectors of Defence and Foreign Affairs has decreased, while the perception that Nagorno-Karabakh is on the right track is still considerably high at 78.9% percent.

The question of peace and security remains the predominant concern for half of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, followed by unemployment and international recognition of the NKR. Despite these concerns, declared intentions for migration remain at a very low level.

Commenting on this last aspect, Hovhannes Grigoryan said that: “the poll has showed that the Four-Day war of April 2016 has not affected the migration tendencies of the Nagorno-Karabakh population, which remain the lowest in the South Caucasus region, when compared to figures from similar polls conducted in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In other words, people of Karabakh, regardless of the hardships of the unexpected war outbreak in April, are determined to stay in their country”.

Member of the European Parliament Frank Engel underlined the political maturity of people in Nagorno-Karabakh: “The Four-Day War changed the situation, but it hasn’t changed it fundamentally. People of Nagorno-Karabakh are very mature about their positions, especially on the independence of the Artsakh, and it is obvious that despite them becoming more critical of their state and authorities, they express strong loyalty to their country. Further tensions are likely to strengthen these sentiments, rather than to invalidate them.”

Following the presentation of the research, Diogo Pinto, EuFoA Director said: “The results of this latest opinion poll, conducted after April’s Four-Day war, very clearly show the determination and the resilience of the citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh, in spite of the continued Azerbaijani aggression and attempts for destabilisation. Although an overwhelming majority believes that further aggressions are likely to happen in the near future, they crave for peace and trust the OSCE Minsk Process and the international community. As European Friends of Armenia, we urge the international community and the EU in particular, not to let the people of Nagorno-Karabakh down. Pressure must be kept on Azerbaijan so that it understands that only a peaceful solution is acceptable and that no further violations of the cease-fire will be tolerated”.

For full results click.

The City Council of the Spanish City of Malaga has unanimously adopted a statement, officially recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide.

The statement describes the events at the turn of the century as a crime against humanity, which resulted in the creation of the Armenian Diaspora.

The Malaga City Council has expressed its support for world-spread Armenians. It has also noted that a cross stone dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims will be erected in Malaga’s Central Park in the near future.

Armenian serviceman Hayk Levon Hambartsumyan was wounded in Azeri firing at about 08:30 this morning, when protecting one of the military units located in the southern direction of the NKR Defense Army.

Probe into the details of the incident is under way, the NKR Defense Ministry said.

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire about 50 times last night, firing more than 1,800 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has broken his silence on his absence from Manchester United’s squad by revealing that he is still working towards regaining full fitness.

Mkhitaryan last featured for United in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on September 10. The Armenia international has been sidelined with a thigh problem since then.

And now, Mkhitaryan has revealed via Facebook that he has returned to training ahead of his return: ‘Really happy to have started training with team and I am on my way to getting fully fit!

A delegation of the distance learning group from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, led by the coordinator of the information management system of the “Partnership for Peace” program and the “GlobalNet” program, Davit Ghazaryan, participated in the NATO distance learning forum, taking place at the modelling and simulation center in Suffolk, Virginia.

During the forum, the working group from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia presented its achievements in distance learning. The distance learning program designed for servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia took firm place in the presentation-competition that took place during the forum. Among the 11 participants in the competition were, NATO member states, the US, Finland, Turkey, as well as NATO institutions such as the NATO school, the NATO Defense College, etc.

Currently, the working group of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia is cooperating with the “Partnership for Peace” consortium of the NATO reform command. Aid for the distance learning program is obtained from OSCE Yerevan.

The distance learning program that took first place is already being implemented in the education and academic programs of the staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in Stepanakert today to participate in the events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of proclamation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

At Stepanakert Airport President Sargsyan was welcomed by NKR President Bako Sahakyan.