Author: Christine Harutyunian

Asbarez: ANCA-WR Endorses David Ryu for Los Angeles’ Council District 4

Christine Harutyunian
February 5, 2020


David Ryu pictured with the members of ANCA-WR Board and Staff


LOS ANGELES—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region has endorsed Councilmember David Ryu for Los Angeles’ Council District 4.

The endorsement followed a meeting between Councilmember Ryu and representatives of the ANCA Western Region, the ANCA San Fernando Valley East, as well as the ANCA Hollywood chapters which fall within Ryu’s 4th Council District.

Councilmember David Ryu represents Los Angeles’ Fourth District, which encompasses the Sherman Oaks and Toluca Lake neighborhoods in the Eastern San Fernando Valley, Los Feliz, and other neighborhoods adjacent to Little Armenia, Hollywood.

“During our meeting, the Councilmember reaffirmed his commitment to serving the interests of the Armenian-American community of the 4th Council District,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Councilmember Ryu has been a strong advocate for the Armenian community on city council, supporting the funding of Armenian schools, community organizations, and initiatives, working to support ANCA regional and national efforts such as genocide recognition and Turkish divestment at local council, and issuing his strong support for the self-determination for the Armenians of Artsakh,” she continued.

“I am proud to have the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region,” said Councilmember Ryu. “Whether it’s advocating for the needs of the community at home, or for the rights of the global Armenian community, the ANCA-WR has shown its effectiveness as the voice of the Armenian-American community. I look forward to continue working with the ANCA-WR in my next term.”

Councilmember Ryu represents a significant Armenian-American constituency, including several schools, churches, and community centers. Consistent with his vision of improving civic awareness and participation within migrant communities, Ryu expressed his commitment to empowering the Armenian community, particularly its youth, to achieve greater representation in the civil service and public office – as he has done both as a Councilmember and former staffer for the Asian American community. In this vein, Councilmember David Ryu, who is the first Korean-American to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council, emphasized his and his office’s commitment to diversity in his staff, which includes an Armenian-American.

“We wholeheartedly endorse Councilmember Ryu based on his unwavering support to the Armenian American community in his district and strong track record on issues that are important to our community. It has been a pleasure working with his office locally and we look forward to further collaborative efforts in the future,” remarked ANCA Hollywood chapter Co-Chair Lara Yeretsian, Esq.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Extraordinary session of Armenian parliament cancelled

Christine Harutyunian

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 19:30,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The extraordinary session of the National Assembly of Armenia scheduled on February 6 has been cancelled. ARMENPRESS reports by the decision of President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, his previous decision has been declared null and void.

The National Assembly of Armenia convened an extraordinary sitting on January 30, scheduled for February 6. The sitting’s agenda was to address mainly constitutional issues.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian deputy PM takes part in EEC Council session in Almaty

Christine Harutyunian

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 15:15,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, who is in Kazakhstan on a working visit, is participating in the session of the Council of Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Almaty, the deputy PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The session agenda includes issues relating to the elimination of existing barriers for the functioning of the market in the EAEU space, integration development directions within the Union and digital transportation corridors. The session will also touch upon the formation process of a common market of gas, oil and oil products.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




ECHR judgment: Azerbaijan authorities responsible for torture, death of Armenian captive in 2010

Christine Harutyunian

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 15:20,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found in the Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan case that the Azerbaijani authorities had been responsible for the torture and death of Manvel Saribekyan, an Armenian national who had been detained in a military police cell in Baku.

The ECHR recognized that Saribekyan’s right to life has been violated, and that Azerbaijan violated the Article 3 (prohibition of torture and ill-treatment).

The Court held by six votes to one that Azerbaijan was to pay the applicants (Saribekyan’s next-of-kin) 60,000 euros (EUR) jointly in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 2,200 in respect of costs and expenses.

Manvel Saribekyan, a resident of the Ttujur village of Gegharkunik province (Armenia), was taken captive by Azerbaijani authorities in 2010 September.

“The Court thus found that Mr Saribekyan had been subjected to ill-treatment in the form of severe physical violence during the final days of his life while being detained in the Military Police Department in Baku. The Court found that the suffering he had endured had amounted to torture and that he had suffered a violation of his rights under Article 3”, ECHR said in the judgment.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




PACE urges Azerbaijan to address the problem of political prisoners and fulfil its obligations under ECHR

Christine Harutyunian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 30 2020

There can no longer be any doubt that Azerbaijan has a problem of political prisoners, and that this problem is due to structural and systemic causes,” the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has declared in a resolution on Thursday, the press service of the Assembly reported. 

The resolution urged the authorities to ensure alleged cases are reviewed by an impartial body, and to undertake “fundamental reforms” to fulfil its obligations under the European Convent ok ion on Human Rights.

Approving a resolution based on a report by Thorhildur Sunna Aevarsdottir (Iceland, SOC), the Assembly said that – on the basis of factual findings of the European Court of Human Rights – a number of individuals were “political prisoners” according to the Assembly’s definition. The Court also found a “troubling pattern” of politically motivated misuse of the criminal justice system, the parliamentarians pointed out.

The Assembly urged the government to ensure lists of alleged political prisoners were reviewed “by an independent and impartial body”, and to release those found to be political prisoners according to its 2012 definition.

It welcomed the steps taken by the authorities in recent years to reform Azerbaijan’s penitentiary, criminal justice and judicial systems, but said “much more remains to be done”.

It urged “a holistic approach” to reforms, addressing problems in the judiciary, the Prosecutor General’s office, the police and the detention system together, “to ensure the non-repetition of politically motivated arbitrary detention, as required by the European Court of Human Rights”.


  

Erebuni Plaza gunman’s identity revealed – allegedly Kocharyan’s supporter

Christine Harutyunian

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 19:04,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. News outlets have revealed the identity of the gunman who earlier today opened fire in Erebuni Plaza business center. ARMENPRESS reports “Hraparak” news outlet writes that the gunman’s name is Artur Torosyan.

“Examining his Facebook page it can be assessed that he is the supporter of Robert Kocharyan. Back in August 2019 he made a post, hoping that Kocharyan will be soon in freedom”, the news outlet writes, noting that he has many Facebook friends among other supporters of the former jailed President Robert Kocharyan.

At 14:45, January 23, Yerevan police received a shots fired call in the Erebuni Plaza Business Center. No one has been injured. The gunman surrendered to the Police after talks with the acting Police Chief of Armenia Arman Sargsyan.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Moret: Armenia and Switzerland have historically established friendly relations

Christine Harutyunian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 22 2020

11:32, 22.01.2020
                  

Within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian met with the president of the Swiss National Council, Isabelle Moret, who is also the head of the Switzerland-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Recalling warmly her visit to Armenia two years ago, Moret noted that Armenia and Switzerland have historically established friendly relations.

They touched upon the agenda of Armenian-Swiss relations, highlighted the role of active inter-parliamentary cooperation, as well as exchanged views on opportunities for development of cooperation and implementation of joint programs in modern technologies and innovations, science and technology, and food safety.

The parties also exchanged views on regional issues.

Azerbaijani press: Hikmet Hajiyev: Int’l community should redouble efforts for soonest resolution of Karabakh conflict

Christine Harutyunian
13:16 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.18

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

The international community should redouble their efforts for the soonest resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Assistant of the President, Head of Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev told Radio France Internationale (RFI), Trend reports.

“Security and peace in Caucasus region has been undermined by the existence of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Short history of the conflict is that simply, Armenia by use of force occupied sovereign territories of Azerbaijan. First it is illegal and it is violation of international law. UN Security Council adopted four resolutions condemning Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories and demanding withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Other international organizations, including European Parliament, OSCE, European Council and some others have also adopted similar resolutions and documents demanding Armenia to stop this conflict and withdraw its troops. But unfortunately, we don’t see any particular breakthrough in the conflict,” he said.

Hajiyev went on to add that Armenia continues to preserve the status quo based on occupation, keeps Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees out from these territories that are under occupation.

“In Azerbaijan, we have 1 million refugees and IDPs, who have the right to return back to these territories. Therefore, our appeal to the international community, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries is that they should redouble their efforts for the soonest resolution of the conflict based on the norms and principles of the international law and also bearing in mind the fundamental principle of justice. Of course, they are doing their work and we appreciate that Minsk Group co-chair countries are engaged in the resolution of the conflict in the status of mediators. But of course, more needs to be done. We, of course, always support substantive negotiations. What we see is that Armenia always tries to run away from the substance. What is the substance of the conflict? For the substance of the conflict there are fundamental root causes of the conflict. The fundamental root cause is the occupation of Azerbaijani territories,” noted Hajiyev.

He pointed out that there should be strong demand, political diplomatic pressure by co-chairing countries and they should demand from Armenia to fulfill its obligations under the international law.

“Everything should start from de-occupation. We have also UN Security Council resolutions and they must be respected and fulfilled by all countries,” added Hajiyev.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.


Artsakh President attends exhibition dedicated to 150th anniversary of birth of Hovhannes Tumanyan

Christine Harutyunian

Artsakh President attends exhibition dedicated to 150th anniversary of birth of Hovhannes Tumanyan

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 16:32, 25 October, 2019

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan on October 25 attended an exhibition dedicated to the 150th birthday anniversary of Hovhannes Tumanyan held at the Stepanakert Center of Children and Youth Creativity, the President’s Office told Armenpress.


Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Sports: Armenian football legend Nikita Simonyan honored for services to Motherland

Christine Harutyunian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 25 2019


Legendary footballer Nikita Simonyan has been awarded a first-degree Order for “Services to the Motherland.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan handed the award at a ceremony in Moscow.

“For me, it’s a great honor to hand this award. I was born in 1975, and as long as I remember myself, I have been hearing discussions about Ararat -73 and Nikita Simonyan,” Pashinyan said.

“This name has been accompanying me throughout my childhood, and I am honored for this opportunity to meet you today,” the Prime Minister said.

Born in 1926, Nikita Simonyan is the current vice president of the Russian Football Union, and one of the most noteworthy figures in Russian and Soviet football.

Simonyan began managing and coaching Armenian club FC Ararat Yerevan in 1973. He led the club to victory at 1973 Soviet Top League. That year Ararat Yerevan also won the 1973 Soviet Cup.