Author: Chmshkian Vicken

President Sarkissian proposes leadership of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to expand projects in Armenia

19:42, 9 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is in Portugal on a working visit, visited Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation on April 9.

Noting that he last visited that place 15 years ago, President Sarkissian said, “It’s always a pleasure and pride to return here. Calouste Gulbenkian’s heritage and charity activities have become exemplary”.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, President of the Foundation Isabel Mota presented the charity and humanitarian activities of the Foundation, particularly focusing on the projects implemented in Armenia and the Diaspora.

Armen Sarkissian highlighted the pro-Armenian activities of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and its great contribution to the preservation of the Armenian identity and development of Armenian studies.

The President of Armenia talked about the scientific-research activities of the Foundation, noting that since the Soviet years it has supported Matenadaran.

Armen Sarkissian proposed the leadership of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to expand projects in Armenia.

President Sarkissian also visited Calouste Gulbenkian museum, who was a great fan of artist and his rich collection was exhibited at the museum.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian community of Boston raises $150,000 for Anna Hakobyan’s City of Smile charitable foundation

10:42, 8 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Nearly $150,000 was raised by the Armenian community of Boston, USA during a sold-out gala Friday night for Anna Hakobyan’s City of Smile charitable foundation at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, the Boston Globe reported.

Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, was in attendance of the event as part of her visit to the United States.

Hakobyan is Chairman of the Board of City of Smile, the Yerevan-based charitable organization that helps children with cancer in Armenia.

“In wealthy and developed countries, cancer is just a disease, but in many less-developed countries, it is equal to a death sentence,” Boston Globe quoted Hakobyan as saying in her remarks.

Around 450 guests attended the event, including Ambassador of Armenia to the United States Varuzhan Nersesyan, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, designer Michael Aram, artist Arpi Krikorian and others.

 “I dream to establish . . . a hospital in Armenia which has all of the necessary drugs and techniques so no parent has to take their child to Europe, Russia, or the United States. My dream is that our children stay at home in Armenia and receive treatment in close proximity of their houses”, she continued.

Burlington resident and event co-chair Cynthia Kazanjian — who said City of Smile hopes to appropriate the St. Jude Children’s Hospital model in that it wants to ensure children in Armenia receive treatment regardless of family income — likened Hakobyan’s stature in Armenia and with the Armenian Diaspora to that of former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

“She and her husband, who was elected in December, are trying to build a new Armenia and for the first time, the people there have hope. For a long time, people were either very poor or very rich, with no middle class,” Kazanjian said. “With new leadership, that is changing. It’s very exciting.”

Boston is one of five cities Hakobyan is visiting on a 17-day trip to the United States. While in Boston, she also met with medical professionals and students at Harvard and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, visited the Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway, and met with Armenian dignitaries for lunch at Union Oyster House. She also visited the Armenian Museum of America and St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, both in Watertown.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Pashinyan gets acquainted with community problems during tour in Ararat province

15:25,

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan got acquainted with the community problems in Ranchpar village of Ararat province during his unannounced visit and tasked to deal with them, reports Armenpress.

The first issue concerns the kindergarten of the village which will be solved.

“We cannot solve all problems together. Now we focus on the issue of the kindergarten”, the PM said.

The village residents introduced their issues of concern to the PM, such as inter-community route network, loan interest rates and etc.

After touring the village Pashinyan departed for Sis community.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

ArmInfo. A number of  Armenian media outlets that are located in the building at 1/3  Byuzand Street, which is on the balance sheet of the Yerevan  Municipality, today received a notification from the city  administration, in which they are suggested to leave the occupied  territories within five days.

As editor of the Hraparak newspaper Armine Ohanyan informed, in the  notification to the Municipality, the reasons for such a decision of  the city administration are not specifically indicated. Nevertheless,  she explained that the editorial offices of the media have an  agreement on the gratuitous lease of occupied territories until 2020.  Ohanyan also assured that the editors fulfill all contractual  obligations. ArmInfo failed to get any comments from Yerevan  Municipality. A spokesman for Mayor Hakob Karapetyan assured that in  the near future they would make a corresponding statement.

To note, in the building at Buzand 1/3 Street, there are the  editorial offices of the Hraparak newspaper, the A1 + channel, the  ARKA news agency, the Hetq news agency of investigative journalism,  and the “Hayeli.am” portal. 

To recall, earlier similar notifications were received by some media  outlets (including the ArmInfo news agency), operating at  Arshakunyats 2 Street and Isahakyan 28  Street (press houses), which  are on the balance sheet of the State Property Management Committee.