10:17, 4 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 3,2 earthquake hit 15km north-east of the village of Bavra near the Georgian-Armenian border at 02:43, May 4, the Armenian Seismic Protection Agency said.
The quake had a depth of 10km and was felt at an intensity of 4 on the MSK scale in the epicenter.
The earthquake was felt at an intensity of MSK 3 in Bavra, Ashotsk, Sizavet, Ghazanchi, Tavshut and Saragyugh of Shirak Province, as well as in Paghaghbyur and Metsavan of Lori Province.
Anti-government protests resumed in Armenia on Friday, with thousands of opposition supporters blocking roads and holding marches in Yerevan for the sixth consecutive day.
“Obviously, the authorities have fears, because our citizens are rising up to fight. They realize how serious the situation is and have now taken to the streets,” MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition With Honor (Pativ Unem) bloc told reporters during a march.
Speaking about Nikol Pashinyan’s May 4 statement in the National Assembly that he would make an important disclosure soon, Abrahamyan said: “Pashinyan is trying to fill the information vacuum and continue their propaganda on the common information platform. There could be nothing else. If Pashinyan had information that could cause sensation, he wouldn’t have waited 4 years and would have disclosed it long ago.”
“The current government is known only for its lies and fabrications, thus it makes no sense to expect anything serious in these conditions,” the lawmaker said.
ArmInfo. Rapid reaction groups of the RA Human Rights Defender’s Office visited on Thursday six police stations in Yerevan and helped 69 detained activists of the Resistance Movement in protecting their legal rights.
The rapid reaction groups also visited Martuni and Sevan and helped six detainees.
In some cases the protesters were detained even after obeying the legal demands of police. In some cases, the police used disproportionate force and, despite the numerous statements by the Human Rights Defender’s Office, mass media disseminated a video of a minor being detained with use of force. Some citizens lodged complaints about the loss of their money and mobile after they were detained.
Monitoring of social media and mass media reports revealed instances of hate speech against police and fellow citizens.
Emilio Alberto Salvatierra presenting at the Immaculate Conception School in Tucumán, Argentina
Although the Armenian Genocide occurred in 1915 and Argentina recognized it in 1987, many young people are still unaware of the subject. That is why the Armenian Volunteer Network (AMVN) decided to provide a lesson about the Genocide to a group of junior and senior high school students at the Immaculate Conception School in Tucumán, Argentina.
I proposed this idea to the school administration last year. School officials and teaching staff agreed that lessons on Armenian history and the Genocide should be incorporated into the curriculum.
The commemoration event on April 29 gave students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of this important field of study and to engage in discussions on the topic. It also provided a space for reflection on the Armenian Genocide and how we treat each other today. The student body of about 420 students was divided into three groups, and our presentation was conducted three times. I led the presentation with facts, videos and images.
Since I’m writing my thesis on human rights and the Armenian Genocide, I have acquired a number of resources that I referred to during my presentation. I have read the scholarly works of Raphael Lemkin, Hannah Arendt, Yuval Noah Harari, Vahakn Dadrian, Dr. Taner Akcam, Sevane Garibian and Nélida Boulgourdjian, who is my professor and the chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Buenos Aires.
Knowing and understanding why and how the Armenian Genocide occurred is the key to preventing its repetition in the future.
The effort to prevent genocide calls for educating young people to make them aware of the processes leading to mass violence and genocide. Education should contribute to the development of a more active sense of social and political responsibility, strengthening the defense of human rights.
Genocide is the result of deep-seated situations of stigmatization and discrimination that lead to human rights violations. Prevention must be rooted in an educational policy that promotes peace, human rights and the defense of people’s dignity.
This was my second time helping lead an educational commemoration about the Armenian Genocide. Last year, I organized a virtual presentation from the Netherlands with AMVN for an international audience.
I was asked by students and teachers several times if I am Armenian. I am not, but I don’t need to be Armenian to share in the pain. I don’t need to be Armenian to stand up for Armenians and take action and demand justice. The only thing I need to be is a human being.
I am optimistic about the future when I see young students looking forward to learning about genocide. As part of AMVN, I look forward to establishing more international connections to promote genocide education.
I would like to thank the University of Saint Pablo Tucumán-Argentina, Yerevan Gladzor University, the Armenian Studies department at the National University of Rosario-Argentina, the Armenian Studies department at University of Buenos Aires, Dr. Nélida Boulgourdjian, Immaculate Conception School Banda del Río Salí and the Armenian Volunteer Network for their commitment to make the tragic date visible.
Emilio Alberto Salvatierra preparing for his presentation
Police detained ASALA fighter Hampig Sassounian during anti-government protests in Yerevan on Thursday, human rights activist Ruben Melikyan said on Facebook.
“’Patriotic’ police have detained Sassounian. They are loudly applauded by the Civil Contract faction and the whole Turkish people. It’s okay, he served 40 years in prison for the sake of his homeland, he’ll hold out for another three hours,” the lawyer sneered.
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Aram Vardevanyan also took to Facebook to denounce Sassounian’s detention, highlighting that it has been long sought by the Turks.
Hampig Sassounian, who was convicted in 1984 for shooting dead Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles Kemal Arikan and was granted parole after almost 40 years, arrived in Armenia in October 2021.
A group of American Armenian youth held a protest rally, with the national flags of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), during a dinner at the embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C.,—and in honor of visiting Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Also, these youth held banners that read, “No to Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azeri protocols.” They demanded to stand up for Artsakh, and to stop the Armenian-Turkish negotiations.
Upon learning about FM Mirzoyan’s visit Tuesday, these American Armenian youth had brought thorny, black roses and a Turkish flag to outside the Armenian embassy.
Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan is on a working visit to Washington, D.C., since Monday.
Croatian President to block Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO
21:12, 3 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Croatian President Zoran Milanović intends to use his veto power at the NATO summit in Madrid to block the entry of Finland and Sweden into the military-political alliance, ARMENPRESS reports, TASS reports referring to the statement of Milanović.
“I, as the representative of Croatia at the NATO summit, will veto (the invitation of Finland and Sweden to join the alliance), if it is at this level,” he said.
At the same time, the President expressed doubt that he will be able to influence the situation if the invitation to Helsinki and Stockholm is sent at a lower political level.
The NATO summit will be held on June 28-30 in Madrid.
FRANKLIN, Mass. — The AYF Camp Haiastan Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Nareh Mkrtschjan of Cranston, Rhode Island has been selected as the 2022 Summer Camp Director. Ani Changelian will return to AYF Camp Haiastan this summer to direct the week-long day camp for the younger children.
“We are pleased to have Nareh lead the overnight camp and Ani the day camp this summer. Their extensive knowledge and experience with the Camp and our youth will be of great benefit to the Camp,” stated Board chairman Hratch Najarian.
Nareh Mkrtschjan
Mkrtschjan has a long history with Camp Haiastan, first as a camper through the 2000s, then a participant in Staff in Training in 2011, a camp counselor in 2012, and an Armenian school teacher from 2012 to 2014. Last spring and summer, she was the assistant to the executive director. In addition to her clerical responsibilities, Mkrtschjan worked on incoming Sundays to help with the complicated registration process due to COVID regulations.
In 2015, she traveled to Armenia with the AYF Internship Program and worked at the widely praised TUMO Center for Creative Technology. She designed and implemented the Center’s first music theory workshop, which later became a permanent course offering. Prior to her tenure at TUMO, she was a counselor at Camp Javakhk, located in the Armenian-populated region of the Republic of Georgia, (Akhalkalaki). Mkrtschjan also served on the AYF Central Executive for four years. During that time, she was the AYF representative to the AYF Camp Haiastan Board of Directors. She was a major contributor to the syllabus and resource catalog produced by the Board’s Educational Committee and helped with the implementation of the Armenian educational and cultural program. “Nareh exemplifies the AYF Camp Haiastan tradition of giving back. This position is the culmination of her two-decade-long affiliation with the Camp,” said AYF Camp Haiastan executive director Kenar Charchaflian.
In 2016, Mkrtschjan received a Bachelor of Education and Music degree from Rhode Island College. She has been teaching violin, recorder, orchestra, chorus and other small instrumental ensembles at the Blackstone Valley Prep Elementary 1 School since 2017. Mkrtschjan also works with the Blackstone Valley Prep Upper Elementary School’s after-school band program. Ultimately, it is the interaction with the students and helping them gain an understanding and appreciation for music that she finds satisfying. “I am grateful for the opportunity extended to me by the Board of Directors. I look forward to helping create a positive, memorable experience for all of the campers and staff. We will continue the Camp’s tradition of mentoring, teaching and nurturing our youth, as well as help them develop and strengthen their Armenian identity,” said Mkrtschjan.
Ani Changelian
Changelian was the co-director of the summer program at AYF Camp Haiastan for the past three years. Prior to that position, she had served as day camp director for several years. She received her Masters in Education from the New York Institute of Technology, Downing College. Changelian lives in Bedford, Massachusetts with her husband Andrew and their two children, who have attended Camp Haiastan and served on staff. She previously worked as a kindergarten teacher at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, MA.
10:44, 2 May, 2022
YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. The number of full vaccinations against COVID-19 in Armenia is 996,530, as of May 2, the ministry of healthcare said.
The number of first dose vaccinations is 131,799.
Another 48,020 received booster shots.
The Armenian delegation of Eurovision has left for Turin.
Armenia’s Rosa Linn will perform 17th in the first semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2022 on May 10.
The running order of the Grand Final will be determined by producers in the early hours of Friday 13 May, after the Second Semi-Final. As Hosts, Italy have already been randomly drawn to perform from 9th position on Saturday 14 May.