Author: Chakrian Hovsep

​EBRD lends support to Electric Networks of Armenia

Chakrian Hovsep
Hungary – Sept 15 2021

EBRD lends support to Electric Networks of Armenia


The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing a loan of USD 70 million, including a B-loan from the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), to Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country’s sole electricity distribution company and long-standing client of the bank, the EBRD said in a statement Monday.

The funding will support the large-scale modernization of the power distribution network in Armenia. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is co-financing this project with a USD 35 million loan.

The loan aims to strengthen ENA’s distribution infrastructure, with a focus on the regions as well as the country’s two largest cities, Yerevan and Gyumri, both of which are part of the EBRD Green Cities program.

Artur Vanetsyan: Using weakness of Armenian authorities, Azerbaijan is trying to silently carry out demarcation and delimitation

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 15 2021

MP Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of the opposition I’m Honored faction in the parliament, reacted to Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the law “On Administrative Territorial Division” adopted in 2010 clearly states that the administrative boundaries of the villages of Shurnukh and Vorotan in Syunik Province correspond to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“These are just fairy tales,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “When the well-known statement was signed on November 9, the Azerbaijani armed forces were at least 60-70 kilometers away from the area where they are stationed today. Then they said, ‘We handed it over as a result of verbal agreements’.”

The opposition leader says it is necessary to set up an interstate commission on border demarcation and delimitation, but Armenia has hostile relations with Azerbaijan.

“Using the weakness of the Armenian authorities and their own “advantages”, Azerbaijan is trying to silently carry out demarcation and delimitation activities,” Vanetsyan said.

He condemned the authorities for “destroying the country and its security system”.

“The people need to realize that by staying in power, these men are destroying our country and its security system on a daily basis, are ceding territories [to Azerbaijan] piece by piece and cannot represent the interests of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh,” Vanetsyan said.


FM: Slovak company in talks to participate in modernization of Armenian NPP

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 14 2021

Relations between Armenia and Slovakia have great potential, Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok told a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Tuesday.

“I am here to reaffirm the growing dynamics of relations between Armenia and Slovakia, which need to be intensified. There is no doubt that relations between our two countries have great potential [for development], in particular in the economic sphere,” the Slovak FM said.

Korčok highlighted the opening of the Slovak Republic Embassy in Yerevan in February last year.

“We have the potential for economic cooperation. Last year, there was a certain growth in trade turnover, but we must surpass these numbers,” he said, adding that the Armenian and Slovak peoples will benefit from it.

According to the Slovak minister, the energy sector is very promising in terms of cooperation.

“A company in Slovakia is currently in talks to participate in the modernization of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant,” Korčok said, adding that there are also opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, tourism, IT and renewable energy sectors.

Jerusalem’s dwindling Armenians preserve oldest Christian traditions

Chakrian Hovsep
Prensa Latina
Sept 13 2021
Online News Editor

 1 minute read

By Joan Mas Autonell

Jerusalem, Sep 13 (EFE).- The 100-year-old stones of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem bear witness to the ethnic Armenian community that keeps the oldest Christian traditions alive, despite its dwindling numbers.

Armenians, the first in the world to adopt Christianity in 301 AD, were able to persist and adapt to preserve their traditions and existence in a place that has seen all forms of ruling regimes, as well as the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

George Hintlian, a historian and the former secretary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, tells Efe the some of the powers under which Armenians have lived include the Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, the British Mandate, Jordan, and now modern-day Israel.

“We are sometimes aggressive when it comes to our rights.

“We have to maintain a certain political balance without being hostile, but also without being vulnerable. So it has made us very tough and very sophisticated.”

As he walks through the courtyard of the Armenian monastery, Hintlian says that the medieval building in the Armenian Quarter that covers one-sixth of the Old City is one of the oldest convents in the Holy Land.

In the convent, Armenian psalms are sung every day by members of the community dressed in black robes and pointed hoods, one of their traditional habits.

Despite the fact that Armenians in the region have always been a minority, their numbers have further shrunk in recent decades.

After the Armenian genocide by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire in 1915, thousands of Armenians ended up in the Holy Land.

​Armenia has new ambassadors in Greece, Belarus and Qatar

Chakrian Hovsep
MediaMax, Armenia
Sept 13 2021

Armenia has new ambassadors in Greece, Belarus and Qatar

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Based on Armenian Prime Minister’s proposals President Armen Sarkissian signed decrees on appointing ambassadors.

With the president’s decree Fadey Charchoghlyan has been recalled from the post of Armenia’s ambassador to Greece and Cyprus.

Tigran Mkrtchyan has been appointed Armenia’s ambassador to Greece.

With another decree the president appointed Razmik Khumaryan Armenia’s ambassador to Belarus and Armenia’s resident representative in the CIS statutory and other bodies.

With another decree Armen Sargsyan has been appointed Armenia’s ambassador to Qatar.

Evelina Barseghyan’s film "The Heiress" included in the main program of Kinoshok film festival

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

The short film “The Heiress” directed by Armenian filmmaker Evelina Barseghyan has been included in the main program of Kinoshok film festival of CIS and Baltic states, the National Cinema Center of Armenia reported. 

The 30th jubilee edition of the festival will be held in Anapa from September 25 to October 2. As the source said,  out of thousand of submissions, 30 films have been selected to participate in the competition during the event. The hairman of the Jury is Vladimir Kot. 

To note the film has been produced by Academy Films through the funding from the National Cinema Center of Armenia. The film features Levon Hakhverdyan, Diana Malenko and Julieta Stepanyan. 

Georgian, Armenian PMs Meet in Tbilisi

Chakrian Hovsep
Civil Georgia
Sept 8 2021
08/09/2021 – 17:17

 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili hosted today his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan, who has arrived in Tbilisi as part of a two-day visit.

In a joint press conference after the meeting, the two officials discussed the security environment in the South Caucasus, and stressed the need for the peaceful development of the region. They also highlighted the importance of utilizing regional economic and transit opportunities and enhancing cooperation.

In his address, the Georgian PM dubbed PM Pashinyan’s re-election in June “an opportunity for Armenia to begin a new era.” PM Garibashvili asserted that after getting to know the Armenian PM’s vision, he is convinced that the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – “a difficult challenge for the region” – can lead to new possibilities.

“The stability of Armenia is of great importance for us,” said the Georgian PM, adding that “it is directly linked” to the stability of Georgia and the region as well.

Citing his involvement in negotiating Baku’s release of 15 Armenian prisoners of war in the exchange for landmine maps from Yerevan, the Georgian PM argued there are more possibilities for cooperation between the South Caucasus states. “I reiterated complete readiness, for Georgia to continue actively mediating,” he added.

PM Pashinyan on his part described Georgia’s mediation efforts in June as a new foundation for facilitating more productive cooperation. He added that collaboration will continue after the new Armenian government is formed, according to a Georgian translation of his remarks delivered by the Georgian PM’s press service.

The Armenian PM will also meet Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili later today.

Ombudsman releases extra evidence of Azeri military’s arson in Armenian village

Chakrian Hovsep

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 10:34, 31 August, 2021

YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian ombudsman has released a video filmed in the village of Kut showing the wildfire which began after Azerbaijani soldiers deliberately set fire to pastures and hayfields. Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan released the video after the Azeri defense ministry denied the “undeniable facts”.

“The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan released an official statement yesterday, denying the published undeniable facts. All these facts were given to the Human Rights Defender’s office by the residents of the villages. We have validated these facts from several sources, including with objective evidence. We’d decided to release not everything with our statement, but now, after the Azerbaijani defense ministry’s denial, we are releasing an additional video-evidence filmed in the village of Kut two days ago around 22:30,” the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said in a statement.

Tatoyan said that the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry is seeking to cover up their crimes against Armenian civilians committed on Armenian sovereign territory itself.

“Everyone must always take into account that the Human Rights Defender of Armenia is publishing only substantiated facts, and there is more than has been published. All of this is recorded and sent to international organizations.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

[see video]

Asbarez: Armenian Educational Benevolent Union Announces 2021 Scholarship Award Recipients

Chakrian Hovsep
by Contributor

 

 September 2, 2021

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

AEBU scholarship recipients in Pasadena, Californa

PASADENA—In three different events, held in Armenia, Lebanon, and the United States, the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union Scholarship Fund Committee announced and presented 10 undergraduate college students with their awards.

After the war in Artsakh and due to the global economic and social crisis facing Armenian communities worldwide, the AEBU Scholarship Fund Committee decided to extend its reach beyond the boundaries of the United States and offer scholarships to college students in Armenia and Lebanon as well.

On August 13, during a visit to Armenia, founding member Mr. Khachig Keshishian presented four recipients with their scholarship awards:

  • Haroutiun Boshkeznian attending European University in Armenia majoring in International Relations
  • Maria Lapaian attending Yerevan State University majoring in Informatics & Applied Mathematics
  • Arusyak Nersisyan attending Yerevan State Medical School/Dentistry
  • Rosealine Tateossian attending Yerevan State Medical School/General Medicine
  • AEBU scholarship recipients in Lebanon
  • AEBU scholarship recipients in Armenia

On August 18, during a visit to Lebanon, founding member Mr. Garo Bekarian presented two recipients with their scholarship awards. The event held at the AEBU center in Beirut was attended by the AEBU chairman Mr. Aram Malian, Sahaguian-Levon Meguerditchian College principal, Mr. Nazo Jerejian, and several representatives of the Armenian Educational Benevolent Union in Lebanon. The scholarship awards were presented to:

  • Sarine Jabotian attending Lebanese International University majoring in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Sarine Tankian attending Lebanese International University majoring in Interior Design

Both recipients are graduates of the Sahaguian-Levon Meguerditchian College operated by AEBU in Lebanon.

On August 29, during a fundraiser event held in Pasadena, California, the AEBU Scholarship Fund Committee presented four undergraduate students with their awards. Many applications were received. After careful review, the following students were selected to receive the AEBU Scholarship Award:

  • Christina Chiranian attending University of California, Irvine majoring in Social Policy and Public Service (Focus: Education) and double minoring in Education & Armenian Studies
  • Narek Daduryan attending University of California, Los Angeles majoring in Computer Science
  • Aleen Kozian attending University of California, San Diego majoring in Human Biology
  • Mary Topoozian attending California State University, Fresno majoring in Biology
Armenian Educational Benevolent Union logo

To qualify for the AEBU Scholarship Award, applicants must be of Armenian descent, be academically accomplished, and above all, be involved in the Armenian community. All our recipients completed these requirements and even at this young age, have proven valuable participants in the different aspects of Armenian life in their respective communities.

The AEBU Scholarship Fund’s mission is to invest in the future of our youth and in turn, the future of our Armenian nation. This is made possible with the support of our donors.

Armenian Educational Benevolent Union is a California-based charitable organization, exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID # 95-3798531. For more information and to donate, please visit the website.

Artsakh to mark Independence Day anniversary for first time without Armenia top leadership attendance

Chakrian Hovsep
News.am, Armenia
Sept 1 2021
10:42, 01.09.2021

After the 44-day war last fall, Armenia, the guarantor of the security of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), will for the first time not participate in the Artsakh Independence Day anniversary events Thursday at the level of its top leadership. Moreover, we are talking about the 30th anniversary of Artsakh independence.

The new speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, has sent a delegation to the Artsakh capital Stepanakert this year.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has decided to go on a four-day vacation, from which he will return on Friday—the day after the anniversary of Artsakh’s independence.

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian is also on vacation these days. The President’s Office told Armenian News- NEWS.am that Sarkissian will issue a message on the Artsakh Independence Day anniversary.

The speaker of the Artsakh NA, Artur Tovmasyan, has invited the leaders and members of the three factions of Armenia’s parliament to Artsakh to attend the special sitting of the Artsakh legislature to be held Wednesday.

Artsakh MP Metakse Hakobyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that these lawmakers had just accepted this invitation, and if there were no invitation, they would not have visited Artsakh on their own initiative.