Author: Frangulian Shushan

Anna Hakobyan to leave for Switzerland on working visit

Frangulian Shushan
  • 17:07 | December 11,2018 | Official
  • Armenian:

Anna Hakobyan, spouse of Armenia’s acting prime minister, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of My Step and City of Smile Foundations, will pay a working visit to Switzerland on December 12-17.

During the visit Mrs. Hakobyan will meet with the members of the Armenian-Swiss parliamentary friendship group, as well as a number of philanthropists. She will also visit the Frank Muller company, the Armenian Genocide Memorial, as well as will meet with the Armenian community representatives in the Armenian center in Geneva. During the visit Anna Hakobyan is also expected to attend the graduation ceremony of the students of Geneva’s Topalian College, as well as a concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake

Armenian university courts Lebanese students

Frangulian Shushan
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
November 24, 2018 Saturday
Armenian university courts Lebanese students
 
by Finbar Anderson
  
Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian might not have returned to his ancestral home of Armenia had it not been for the 1988 earthquake that devastated the north of the country.
 
BEIRUT: Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian might not have returned to his ancestral home of Armenia had it not been for the 1988 earthquake that devastated the north of the country. At the time, the engineer, with a specialty in earthquakes, was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and went to Yerevan for work purposes.
 
However, his visit to Yerevan set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the establishment of the American University of Armenia.
 
Since opening in 1991, the university has grown to over 2,000 students. Now, one of the university’s main goals is to diversify its student body and increase the number of international students, Kiureghian told The Daily Star on a recent trip to Beirut to reach out to Lebanese youth and promote the university.
 
“We want to diversify both the student population as well as the faculty, because it enriches the educational experience for everyone,” says Kiureghian, one of the university’s founders and its sitting president.
 
In the late 20th century, many of Armenia’s neighbors, including Lebanon, provided shelter to refugees of the Armenian genocide, something the university has not forgotten: one of its scholarships, the Aurora Gratitude scholarship, is awarded annually to a number of students from those countries.
 
While those of Armenian heritage are eligible to apply for a special passport that entitles them to pay the reduced fees of local nationals, any Lebanese citizen is eligible to apply for the scholarships.
 
Indeed, Kiureghian says, the university actively encourages people who are not ethnic Armenians to apply in order to encourage diversity among the student body.
 
A small number of Lebanese students have already made the trip to Yerevan: In the past academic year, 19 Lebanese citizens chose to shun Mount Lebanon to study in the shadow of Mount Ararat, the mountain close to the Armenian capital that many Christians believe was the final resting place of Noah’s Ark.
 
Compared to its namesakes, such as the American University of Beirut, the American University of Armenia is not old, but it is no younger than the republic of Armenia.
 
Kiureghian and his colleagues first conceived the idea of the university when Armenia was part of the former Soviet Union, a fairly radical notion for a university with strong ties to the University of California.
 
The principal university building, indeed, was once the local congress hall of the Communist Party, where, in the 1,300-seat auditorium, such dignitaries as former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev reportedly spoke.
 
However, Kiureghian says, “the day we opened classroom doors, the Parliament in Armenia declared independence, so we are to the day as old as the republic.”
 
Despite its youth, Kiureghian believes his university has a lot to offer Lebanese students.
 
One of the main practical advantages, he notes, is that it is considerably cheaper than its private counterparts in Beirut, with tuition fees at approximately $8,000 per year.
 
He nevertheless advocates traveling abroad to study as having merit in its own right: “Experiencing a different culture [and] a different country is always an enriching experience,” he says.
 
Kiureghian, who grew up in Iran but now spends his time between Yerevan and San Francisco, says the cultural scene in the former has much more to offer than his U.S. home.
 
The Armenian capital, he says, is “culturally extremely rich from the Soviet tradition. Opera, ballet, jazz music, folk music, arts, theater: It’s so abundant.”

Karabakh authorities have high sense of responsibility, do not give in to provocations: Davit Shahnazaryan

Frangulian Shushan
Aysor, Armenia
Nov 30 2018

The statement made by Armenia’s acting PM Nikol Pashinyan addressed to the authorities of Artsakh was not impulsive, it was well developed statement voiced as if unprompted, Republican party candidate Davit Shahnazaryan told the reporters today.

“It comes in the same chain with the statement of Sasun Mikayelyan,” Shahnazaryan said.

“The authorities of Karabakh did not respond to that provocative statement as Pashinyan’s experiment, he already carries out with his team, is aimed at creating public opposition with the authorities of Artsakh,” he said, adding that of course the latter will not give in to such provocation and unlike the ruling regime in Armenia they have high level of responsibility.

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Shahnazaryan said till now no one in Armenia spoke in such manner with not only Artsakh authorities but Artsakh’s citizen as well.

Verelq: There is no need for a revolution in Artsakh. the march initiated by Pashinyan has started (live, photo)

Frangulian Shushan
  • 24.11.2018

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  • Armenia:

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  • arm

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  • rus

13
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The pan-Yerevan march initiated by Nikol Pashinyan started today at 10:00 am from the 6th mass of Nor Nork in Yerevan.


As reported VERELQ, the correspondent of Nikol Pashinyan, his daughter, members of the government, many citizens, the acting head of the government regularly states that the “coup government” has fulfilled all the promises made to the public.



“We promised that if the people of the Republic of Armenia express their will peacefully, directly in the squares and streets, that they want a change of government, we will make that will a reality. And we made that wish a reality,” Pashinyan declared, noting that they had promised to wage an unyielding fight against corruption. “And today that commitment has been fully fulfilled. “The fight against corruption in Armenia is going on with the greatest possible scope and momentum,” he emphasized.



The Acting Prime Minister reminded that they said that they would reach extraordinary parliamentary elections. “And do you remember when I was resigning, there was a lot of anxiety among the people, but with your help, with the help of tens of thousands of citizens who besieged the National Assembly on October 2, we reached the extraordinary parliamentary elections. Therefore, all the promises we made for this revolutionary stage have all been fulfilled,” said Pashinyan. He also emphasized that they have fulfilled their biggest promise that they will return the power to the people. He emphasized that at this moment everyone’s fate is in the hands of the people, because the parliament is dissolved, and he is the acting prime minister, the ministers are also acting.



According to the notification submitted to the municipality, the march will go along the following route. From the 6th block of Nor Nork: Davit Beki 286 – Gai Avenue – Rubinyants Street – Davit Anhaghti Street – Komitas Avenue – V. Vagharshyan Street – Davtashen Bridge – Yeghvardi Highway – Leningradyan Street – Sebastia Street – Raffu Street – Bagratunyats Avenue – Arshakunyats Avenue – Kristapori Street – T. Metsi Avenue – Republic Square.



Pashinyan, referring to the statement of Jirayr Sefilyan, representative of the “Sasna Trees” party, that there should be a revolution in Artsakh, said that he does not see such a need.


“I expressed my full support to the current authorities of Artsakh and I am sure that another election will be held in Artsakh. The people of Artsakh will form a legitimate government. The decisive force in Artsakh is the people of Artsakh and that is how we perceive Artsakh,” said the Acting Prime Minister.


Earlier, the car march of the “Sasna Tsrer” party to the Republic of Artsakh took place.

Tarmac tragedy: Armenian embassy confirms identity of individual run over at Sheremetyevo

Frangulian Shushan
TASS, Russia
Nov 21 2018
Emergencies

November 21, 13:31 UTC+3 MOSCOW

MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. The Armenian Embassy confirmed on Wednesday that a man who was run down on the tarmac by a plane that was going to take off at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport is an Armenian citizen.

Earlier reports said late on November 20, a Boeing passenger airplane bound for Athens taxying along the runway at Sheremetyevo Airport hit a 25-year-old man, who died instantly.

“We can verify the information on the death of Armenian citizen Albert Yepremyan, born in 1993. He died during an incident on the runway at Sheremetyevo Airport,” the embassy in Moscow said.

A source familiar with the situation told TASS that Yepremyan, who had been deported from Spain, was heading to Armenia through Moscow. He had started a brawl onboard the plane and was later detained by Russian police officers upon landing at the airport.

The troublemaker was taken to a police station at the airport and was charged with an administrative offense, according to the source.

Later, the police officers escorted Yepremyan to a terminal bus, which was due to take him to a plane en route to Armenia’s capital of Yerevan. However, the man escaped from the police and dashed towards the runway, where he was run down by a plane traveling from Moscow to Athens.

Acting FM introduces Armenia’s recent domestic political developments to UN Special Rapporteur

Frangulian Shushan

Acting FM introduces Armenia’s recent domestic political developments to UN Special Rapporteur

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Acting foreign minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on November 14 received UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the foreign ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting the acting FM stated that the Armenian government attaches great importance to the cooperation with the UN structures dealing with human rights. Both highlighted the UN Special Rapporteur’s visit to Armenia which is a good opportunity to get acquainted with the recent developments in the country and outline the future partnership framework.

Acting FM Mnatsakanyan introduced the guest on Armenia’s recent domestic political developments, highlighting the government’s commitment to carry out a comprehensive agenda of reforms based on the broad mandate given by the people aimed at strengthening the rule of law and justice, fighting corruption, as well as providing equal opportunities in social and economic sectors. The officials emphasized the importance of the engagement of the women and youth and dialogue with the civil society in this process as an integral part of the sustainable development agenda.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Fresno was special to Grandpa — and he made it special to us

Frangulian Shushan
The Fresno Bee
Nov 10 2018

By Sevag Tateosian

05:26 AM

The two of them were an ideal couple. Where one was weak, the other strong. One’s voids were filled by the other’s talents. When my grandma passed away, we knew that my grandpa, Kevork Baghdassarian, would be impacted tremendously. I’ll never forget his comment at the funeral. Looking at her casket, he said, “I’ll be by you soon.” It sent chills down my body. Approximately a year and a half later, he too passed away.

Grandpa had a tough life. His parents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. During the mass deportations of Armenians, they were forced to march from their homes in the village of Eskisehir, Turkey (historic Armenia) and ended up in Lebanon, where grandpa was born.

Sevag Tateosian
Courtesy photo

He lost his mother at a young age and was forced to care for younger family members. I recall a story he told me once about how they didn’t have tea to drink, so he found a chestnut tree and used its leaves to make tea.

I think of the chestnut tree tea story often, especially when looking at our lifestyle here in the United States. What do we sometimes do when our latte isn’t hot enough or our meal isn’t the way we wanted it to taste? We return it and ask for a replacement. Those who come from war-torn areas don’t have that luxury. Grandpa lived through the Lebanese civil war where he was forced to survive on whatever was available. As a teenager, he would work as a sign maker to earn money for his family. He brought his talent to America in 1980. Actually, his work is all over the world, including, the Stratosphere sign in Las Vegas that he and my uncles made years ago.

Fresno had a special place in grandpa’s heart. From 1991 to 2014 he and grandma made the long drive from their Southern California home over the Grapevine and up Highway 99 to visit us. The cutest part of the trip came when he and grandma stopped at the same rest area for their picnic on the way up. Sandwiches, fruit and vegetables were on the menu. After their mid-drive snack, a hot cup of Armenian coffee to wash down the food and wake them up. They used the same beat up Thermos flask to keep the coffee hot.

When we were kids we knew that when they visited, we would work. Grandpa had a few places where he went to pick olives so he could cure them to have all year. We would all pack up in the car and head to the fields. As we pulled up to the olive trees, dust would get everywhere. Then the hard work of picking the olives would start. For us, it was annoying. For them, it was a family affair. Once the olives were picked, it came time for preparation. We’d sit for hours poking holes in each olive. The work was tedious. As I look back, some of my favorite memories came from the olive fields.

Grandpa also was familiar with Fresno because of William Saroyan. He was proud of Saroyan’s fame and Armenian roots. It’s unfortunate that he never got to see the new William Saroyan House Museum. I am sure he’d be impressed.

Grandpa also knew that billionaire Kirk Kerkorian was from Fresno. He was a fan of Kerkorian because of his philanthropic efforts in Armenia. For instance, I remember grandpa telling me that Kerkorian helped with rebuilding efforts in northern Armenia after a devastating earthquake, and also funded infrastructure projects in much-needed areas.

He’d get his information from print news. Grandpa was an avid reader. His kitchen table was full of newspapers. Up until his death, he read newspapers every time he had the strength. Perhaps that is where I get my love for news and the good old-fashioned hard-copy edition.

He died at 87 after a nasty fight with Parkinson’s disease. Holidays will be difficult without his presence, but the silver lining is that we are left with wonderful memories and stories from a man who worked hard and kept fighting despite a challenging life filled with unimaginable obstacles.

I’ll be sure to pass down the olive-picking tradition by loading up my kids in our van and heading to the olive trees. If they complain, I’ll argue that it’s family tradition. They’ll hate it now, but I bet they’ll cherish the memories later.

Sevag Tateosian of Fresno is host and producer of The Central Valley Ledger on 90.7 KFSR FM and CMAC Comcast 93 and Att 99.

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Intellectuals of Armenia and Russia call on establishing a new discussion platform

Frangulian Shushan
Arminfo, Armenia
Oct 27 2018
Intellectuals of Armenia and Russia call on establishing a new discussion platform

Yerevan October 27

Alexander Avanesov. A number of intellectuals of Armenia and Russia call on Russian and Armenian societies establishing a new discussion platform.

In the Statement received by ArmInfo, in particular, it is noted that Russia and Armenia have developed centuries long relations. “During this time, our peoples experienced together the bitterness of losses and the joy of victories. We also had difficult periods of mutual misunderstanding and distrust, fortunately, they were short. But our countries, our peoples always had an ineradicable sense of justice and a desire to preserve peace and trust.

This is all the more relevant now, when in international relations signs of instability, intolerance and unpredictability are growing, many regional conflicts are becoming aggravated and hardening “, the message says. The document also notes that both Russia and Armenia must be strong in order to overcome external and internal challenges to their sustainable development. It is not by chance that at all stages of independence Russia and Armenia supported each other, which is confirmed by joint participation in the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In such a situation, only joint, bilateral and multilateral actions can be productive. “However, this is not enough, especially now. It is vitally important to establish and maintain informal contacts between representatives of both states from the most diverse sectors of scientific, cultural, government and social activities, as well as business structures. The more extensive and regular such contacts are, the higher will be the level of mutual trust between the public and state organizations of Russia and Armenia, the societies of our countries. As an informal, free and permanent platform for meetings and exchange of views, we, as representatives of different field of the socio-political, economic and cultural life of Russia and Armenia, are taking the initiative to set up a new discussion platform for deepening the dialogue between our civil societies. We suggest calling it the “Lazarev Club” in the name of Armenian benefactors Lazarevs, the founders of the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages in Russia, which became the forerunner of the Institute of Asian and African Countries at Moscow State University and of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs of Russia) “, the statement reads.

The Club is expected to become a voluntary association of citizens of Russia and Armenia who will work jointly to support the Russian-Armenian public dialogue at various levels, establish, maintain and strengthen working, business and scientific contacts, encouraging interaction and mutual enrichment of the cultures of our peoples. It is also planned to carry out joint public-political initiatives and projects, freely share private and expert opinions on the most pressing issues of bilateral relations, conduct expert and analytical assessments of the state and prospects for the development of bilateral and multilateral relations in the Caucasus region. The club’s task will also include holding collective meetings of club members to discuss topical issues of regional and global politics, economics, issues of history and culture, meetings of bilateral working groups, joint participation in scientific, social and cultural events organized by partner organizations concerning relations between Armenia and Russia, bringing the results of joint research, appeals and proposals to the highest level of executive and legislative power of both states, leadership of leading international organizations.

“Lazarev Club” will conduct its work publicly and openly, by organizing meetings, “round tables” and public hearings in Russia and Armenia. We hope that the meetings in the Club will help form a positive attitude for further constructive work to strengthen mutual trust and allied cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, in the interests of ensuring security and stability throughout the Greater Caucasus region.

The Russian-Armenian Lazarev Club is open for cooperation in the interest of fostering dialogue, developing and strengthening people’s diplomacy for the benefit of the peoples of Armenia and Russia, both with state and public organizations and with private individuals, the message reads. The statement was signed by the Head of the Board of Directors of the AVILON Group of Companies Kamo Avagumyan, journalist Roman Babayan, public figure Zori Balayan, deputy of the National Assembly Artashes Geghamyan, State Duma MP Konstantin Zatulin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Vladimir Kazimirov, President of the Tashir Group of Companies Samvel Karapetyan, Chairman of the Public Council of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan, Member of the Council of Federations Nikolay Ryzhkov, State Duma Deputy Vyacheslav Nikonov, State Duma Deputy Artur Chilingarov, Director General of the Mosfilm Studio Karen Shakhnazarov and others.

Whose is author of Artik’s mural? (video)

Frangulian Shushan
  • 16:36 | October 23,2018 | Regions
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

The mural discovered in one of the buildings of Artik recently has made a lot of interest. Both professionals and ordinary citizens have expressed their opinion about the author of the mural.

At first, there was a view that it was one of Minas Avetisyan’s works, but the experts denied this option. Some people thought that Gyumri’s well-known painter Khachatur Vardparonyan was the author of this mural.

More information is available in the video of “Tsayg” TV.

Foreigners tried to transport 3.5 kg of cocaine to Turkey through Armenia. SRC

Frangulian Shushan
  • 05.10.2018

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  • Armenia:

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  • arm

1
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The employees of the operational intelligence department of the anti-smuggling department of the State Revenue Committee, while implementing the operational data received on September 30, in the customs control zone of the arrival hall of the “Zvartnots” airport, as a result of the customs control of Hernandez Aguilar Ondina Liset, a citizen of the Republic of Guatemala who arrived from Dubai to Yerevan, found 4 metal containers, about 3.5 kg, in his suitcase. with a liquid mass similar to “cocaine” type drug.


According to the information and public relations department of the RA State Revenue Committee, according to the conclusion of the forensic department of the RA Police, the found substance is cocaine. A criminal case has been initiated in the investigation department of the SRC.


In the framework of the criminal case, as a result of immediate large-scale operative-investigative measures implemented together with the employees of the Department of Combating Illegal Drug Trafficking of the Main Department of the Police to Fight Organized Crime, it was found that the Guatemalan woman transported the drug to Armenia from the city of São Paulo, Brazil. He had to hand over the contraband to a person unknown to him in a pre-rented room in one of the hotels in Yerevan or in the adjacent area.


As a result of operative-investigative measures, on October 3, the investigative department of the SRC brought into custody the citizen of Kazakhstan, Elena Koltisheva, who had arrived in the Republic of Armenia from Turkey by plane on the same day in order to receive the drug and transport it to Turkey.


As part of the criminal case, operative-investigative work continues in order to identify other possible persons involved and the person who ordered the drugs.