LOS ANGELES – The goal was to donate 1.5 million meals to help families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. But thanks to the Armenian American community over 5 million meals have been donated to Feeding America.
Friday, April 24, 2020 marked the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide but due to Stay at Home orders commemorative events throughout Los Angeles were canceled… but that didn’t stop people from honoring the lives lost.
11:39,
YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted newly-elected President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
Pashinyan once again congratulated Mr. Harutyunyan on his victory in the presidential election, wishing success in this responsible position. The officials highlighted the active cooperation between Armenia and Artsakh in all areas.
Arayik Harutyunyan introduced the Armenian PM on his upcoming actions and plans.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan welcoming Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Jackie Speier (D-CA) to Artsakh in October, 2019
The Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America Raffi Hamparian recently wrote letters to both U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging them to reprogram at least $25 million in U.S. assistance to help Armenia respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ANCA’s Government Affairs Director, Tereza Yerimyan, recently spoke to Asbarez to explain the details of this request.
Asbarez: We are pleased to be interviewing you Tereza. As the Government Affairs Director for the ANCA – the point person of the organization’s legislative efforts on Capitol Hill – could you help our readers understand the ANCA’s effort to bolster American support for COVID-19 relief efforts in Armenia? As you can imagine, while all our readers want to see America do all it can to help Armenia, many of them won’t be very familiar with the legal intricacies and policy precedents related to federal authorizations, appropriations, and allocations.
Tereza Yerimyan: The most straightforward example I can share to help your readers understand what we are trying to do is the following. Imagine your readers are thinking about buying a nice new car – but on the way to the auto dealership – they learn that the roof on their house has a big leak – and it’s April – rainy season. While your readers might want to buy a new car – they all know the responsible and reasonable action is to delay that purchase and immediately repair or replace their roof. This is an example of a smart reprogramming of funds – dollars once destined for your new car are quickly repurposed for roof repair.
The same example can be applied to understand why the ANCA is urging that existing U.S. funding be reprogrammed for COVID-19 efforts in Armenia. Prior to this global pandemic, U.S. funds were going to be used for a variety of projects in Armenia – but now with the pandemic – we are arguing to urgently reprogram a portion of these funds – at least $25 million – to save lives across Armenia.
Asbarez: When you say reprogramming U.S. funding for Armenia – is the ANCA asking for new funds?
T.Y.: No, we are not asking for new funds for Armenia. We are asking that U.S. funds already appropriated by Congress last year be reprogrammed to meet three basic needs in Armenia. First, to assist the Ministry of Health in Armenia with their urgent efforts to contain the pandemic and bend the curve in Armenia. Second, to use these funds to enhance data collection to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the country. And third, we are eager for these U.S. funds to be used to help the large number of impoverished people in Armenia – who are being financially devastated by this pandemic.
Asbarez: How large is the U.S. aid program for Armenia this year?
T.Y.: Thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Jackie Speier and thousands of ANCA Rapid Responders across the nation – Congress acted last year to boost funding to Armenia by over $40 million dollars. Specifically, in June of last year, Congresswoman Speier offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2020 Foreign Aid bill to bolster aid to Armenia. Thankfully – with the great efforts of Congresswoman Speier and the backing of the ANCA’s grassroots supporters – the Speier amendment was adopted by a vote of 268 to 152.
Asbarez: Thank you for that clarification about U.S. aid levels for Armenia. Is it true that Congresswoman Speier recently commented about the wisdom of reprogramming funding U.S. aid to Armenia?
T.Y.: Yes, she did. At a recent San Francisco/Bay Area tele-townhall meeting the Congresswoman responded to a question on reprogramming Armenia aid from longtime ANCA leader Roxanne Makasdjian. Specifically, the Congresswoman made the following remark on reprogramming funding – “The effort to redirect some of the $40 million that I was able to get into the budget for this fiscal year, is something that we will certainly pursue and it makes all the sense in the world, when you are in a pandemic like this, what’s the most urgent need? The urgent need is to provide care to those who are sick, to prevent those from getting sick, and certainly to test those who may or may not be exposed.”
Asbarez: Has the U.S. Government shared any COVID-19 assistance with Armenia to date?
T.Y.: Yes, the U.S. sent $1.1 million dollars to Armenia as part of a global package focused on certain countries. Most recently, the U.S. shared an additional $600,000 to address issues related to the pandemic in Armenia. In contrast, the European Union is delivering over 90 million Euros to Armenia to address immediate and short term needs related to the pandemic.
Asbarez: Thank you Tereza for your responses and for distilling this federal policy matter and sharing the nuts and bolts of the ANCA’s work in this area.
T.Y.: I very much appreciated our dialogue on this issue. If any of your readers would like to know more about the ANCA’s efforts to reprogram $25 million in U.S. aid to help with Armenia’s COVID-19 efforts – I would encourage them to visit our website at www.anca.org or find the information on our twitter handle, on Facebook, or via Instagram.
09:24,
YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on April 15 had a telephone conversation with Greek foreign minister Nikos Dendias, the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.
The two FMs discussed the actions of both sides on preventing the further spread of the novel coronavirus and overcoming its socio-economic consequences.
On behalf of the Armenian government minister Mnatsakanyan expressed his support to the brotherly Greek people in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the role of international cooperation and mutual support in addressing the global challenges the Armenian and Greek FMs emphasized the importance of Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral platform.
The ministers also exchanged views on regional issues.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
“The Red Cross has come to the rescue of the Armenian people throughout the past 100 years and more,” stated Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian. “The Red Cross was there for the Armenian people when its founder and philanthropist Clara Barton brought aid from the United States in response to the Hamidian Massacres. The Red Cross was there for the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide, and the American Red Cross was among the first international response teams to arrive in Armenia after the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake,” the Co-Chairs continued.
In March of 1991, at a dedication ceremony cosponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America, American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole unveiled a memorial statue donated by Armenia in appreciation for America’s relief efforts in the wake of the 1988 earthquake.
Founded by Clara Barton in 1881, the American Red Cross has been dedicated to serving people in need. The Red Cross received its first congressional charter in 1900 and to this day is tasked by the federal government with providing services to members of the American armed forces and their families as well as providing disaster relief in the United States and around the world.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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13:10, 6 April, 2020
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of the Netherlands, which is quite active and law-abiding, follows all the instructions of the Health ministry to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and tries to understand what developments are expecting, Head of a major tourism agency operating in the Netherlands Erik Aghabekyan told Armenpress.
“In Netherlands we have major problems in the healthcare system, as there is a little panic connected with the number of intensive care units. And the restrictions will be in force until April 28, therefore all citizens must follow all the rules, and Armenians here are not an exception. At the moment we cannot talk about a major progress because the changes to the good are not so great. We all hope that there soon will be a positive progress and all opportunities, which existed before the spread of the novel coronavirus, will open”, he said, adding that he doesn’t have any information whether there are infected people among Dutch-Armenians.
He said the Armenian community members are under quarantine as much as possible. He personally didn’t visit his father for 3, 4 weeks, in order not to put him at risk. “There are some people, especially among the youth, who look at the issue not so seriously, but, they are also cautious. The local Armenians are very informed”, he said, urging Armenians living in Armenia to seriously accept this issue and refrain from making mistakes.
As for the activities of the Armenian Embassy in the Netherlands, Aghabekyan said the Embassy is actively working, searching for medicine, ventilators to send them to Armenia, as well as is also supporting Armenians who want to return to Armenia.
In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in more than 200 countries.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Hayastan All Armenian Fund continues to support the Armenian Ministry of Health to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Armenia with continuous delivery of medical supplies and equipment.
Thanks to the generous support of the fund’s affiliates around the world, both financial as well as equipment and supplies, 7 artificial mobile ventilators will arrive in Armenia within a week, two financed by the Hayastan All Armenian Charitable Trust GB and one by the fund’s affiliate in the Netherlands. Also, 20 remote thermometers and 20 oxygen concentrators, half of which will be delivered to Artsakh are expected soon, thanks to the fund’s French affiliate.
On March 25, 800 3M high quality face masks were delivered to the Nork Infectious Clinical Hospital and an additional 70 medical hazmat suits to the Armenian Humanitarian Aid Center. A further 1,000 face masks and 100 protective hazmat suits are expected soon, the fund reports.
On March 13, approximately 800 kg of preventive, protective medical supplies and devices, including medical hazmat suits, face respirator masks, hand sanitizers, bottles for disinfectants, eye shields, digital thermometers and other items were delivered to the Ministry of Health thanks to Armenia Fund Inc (the US Western Region affiliate of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund), Chevy Chase Surgery Center and the Armenian Relief Society charity organization.
The fund has launched a dedicated online fundraising campaign to fight the COVID-19 pandemic with over $50,000 donated so far. These funds will be used for the most urgent needs of the Ministry of Health.
11:27, 19 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk issued a statement, noting that the OSCE Mission temporarily suspends monitoring exercises, including in the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact, given the current situation caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the OSCE told Armenpress.
“The ongoing situation following the spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure of international borders throughout the region, travel restrictions for international and local staff, as well as restrictions put in place to avoid face-to-face contact to reduce the risk of infection. In view of the above, and following consultations with the sides, monitoring exercises will be suspended until these restrictions are lifted”, the Ambassador said in a statement, adding that he continue to be in contact with the relevant military authorities.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
11:38, 20 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. The Office of spouse of the Armenian prime minister Anna Hakobyan released details from the March 4 meeting of Mrs. Hakobyan with US First Lady Melania Trump in Washington D.C..
Mrs. Hakobyan’s spokesperson Hasmik Harutyunyan told Armenpress that the meeting was held before the International Women of Courage Award.
“Before the award Anna Hakobyan and Melania Trump held a brief meeting. First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Anna Hakobyan’s visit to the United States and highlighted her participation to the Award. In her turn Anna Hakobyan introduced the activities of the two foundations chaired by her. Both sides talked about their role and mission, and in this context emphasized the importance of the role of women. Anna Hakobyan and Melania Trump also discussed the holding of the Award and stated that such events are very important and serve as a great example, as well as inspire the other women”, Hasmik Harutyunyan said.
On March 4 Armenian PM’s wife Anna Hakobyan participated in the annual International Women of Courage Award in Washington D.C. at the invitation of the US Department of State.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
19:42, 20 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory messages to Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of Nowruz.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Officeof the Prime Minister of Armenia, the message addressed to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei runs as follows,
”Your Highness,
I cordially congratulate you and the friendly people of Iran on the occasion of the Iranian new year, Nowruz.
I wish the coming year to be a year of achievements, peace and welfare for Iran.
I am confident that the friendly relations and cooperation between our countries will strengthen further for the benefit of the progress of our peoples and regional stability and peace.
I also wish the friendly people of Iran good health and patience for overcoming the pandemic facing all of us with the help of God and speedy recovery from its damages”.
PM Pashinyan’s congratulatory message addressed to Iranian President runs as follows,
”Your Excellency,
I cordially congratulate you and the friendly people of Iran on the beautiful spring holiday, Nowruz.
I wish this ancient holiday to bring peace and welfare to the friendly people of Iran.
I am confident that with mutual efforts we will be able to bring to life the agreements reached during my visit to Iran for the benefit of our peoples.
During these days, when the humanity is facing this challenge, I want to express the solidarity of the Armenian people with the friendly people of Iran and wish everyone good health. It’s sad that as a result of this situation Armenia was unable to host our friends from Iran during the days of Nowruz this year. But I am full of hope that next year our doors will be open in front of all the citizens of Iran”.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan