Author: Garo Vardanian

President Sarkissian congratulates Ethiopia on National Day

Garo Vardanian

President Sarkissian congratulates Ethiopia on National Day

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14:44,

YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has congratulated Ethiopia on its National Day through a letter sent to President Sahle-Work Zewde.

Ethiopia marks the Derg Downfall Day on May 28th, commemorating the 1991 end of the Derga junta.

In the letter, President Sarkissian told Zewde that relations beween Armenia and Ethiopia are developing in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, Sarkissian’s Office said in a news release.

“The two peoples’ history of friendship spanning through millennia is a solid basis for further strengthening and deepening relations and cooperation between the two countries,” the President of Armenia said in the letter.

Sarkissian wished Zewde success, and to the people of Ethiopia – peace and welfare.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




557.6 million drams of non-target material resources were acquired by the Ministry of Defense. prosecutor’s office

Garo Vardanian
  • 22.05.2019

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  • Armenia:

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  • arm

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  • rus

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In the State Interests Protection Department of the RA Military Central Prosecutor’s Office, compliance of the purchase of material resources for the needs of the RA Ministry of Defense in previous years with the requirements of the legislation is studied, including from the point of view of the necessity and applicability of the resources acquired. This was informed by the Public Relations Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office of RA.


“As a result of the studies, it was found that the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, based on the reports of the relevant officials of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, that the acquired material resources are very necessary for the needs of the army, in 2010 with 2 contracts signed on December 16, purchased material means of military medical significance with a total value of AMD 557.587.600. Meanwhile, as a result of studies carried out for the protection of state interests, it was found and substantiated that these acquired material means are primarily of high value, are not intended for RA climatic conditions, have no military-medical significance and therefore cannot be used in the RA Armed Forces, because their use requires a large number of human and technical resources.


This is also evidenced by the fact that according to the results of the study, after being acquired, the mentioned products never served their intended purpose, suffered certain damages over the years, and after 8 years, a decision was made to re-evaluate and disassemble them. As a result of this, as accumulated depreciation, the initial value of the common property was reduced by AMD 103,075,700, and individual components included in the composition of the common property were distributed to different units of the RA Armed Forces.


Based on the above, the need to purchase similar material resources for the needs of the RA Defense Ministry, the effectiveness and justification of the use of state financial resources, as a result of which the state suffered a loss of 557,587,600 AMD.


Bearing in mind that the factual circumstances described above may apparently contain data indicating abuse of official position, abuse of power or abuse of official authority, as well as waste of state funds by officials with official powers of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia due to selfish or other personal interest or group interest, the study documents were sent to the Main Military Investigation Department of the RA KP to find out the scope of the guilty persons, the latter the further process of preparing materials for the legal evaluation of the acts to solve.

4,000 Attend USC Innovate Armenia Program

Garo Vardanian 
For Immediate Release
USC INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, USA
Contact: Syuzanna Petrosyan, Associate Director
[email protected] | 213.821.3943
4,000 Attend USC Innovate Armenia Program
INNOVATE ARMENIA - the festival of ideas and innovation - took place at the 
University of Southern California (USC) on May 18, 2019. Organized by the USC 
Institute of Armenian Studies, the program featured fifty participants, from 
six countries, and nearly 4,000 attendees. This is the fourth time in five 
years that this unique event has been staged by the Institute.
“Innovate Armenia is an inclusive, fun, provocative platform that tackles the 
greatest challenge of any homeland-diaspora relationship: how to better 
understand each other. Following the critical, radical changes in Armenia’s 
politics last year, a discussion of policy remains crucially needed both in 
Armenia and in the Diaspora. This was a part of that discussion. The rest – 
music, beer, coffee, storytelling, chess – that’s all an authentic but light 
reminder of who we are and who we can be,” said Salpi Ghazarian, director of 
the Institute. 
The day-long festival had multiple intersecting parts.
In the morning, scholars inside the USC Bovard Auditorium delved into topics of 
identity and memory. George Aghjayan’s Genealogy as Identity, Heghnar 
Watenpaugh’s The Tangible Past, Mehmet Fatih Uslu’s Identity: It’s Complicated, 
Matthew Karanian’s Landscapes of Memory, and Avedis Hadjian’s How to Forget all 
explored identity as a changing and shifting force, and memory in regards to 
cultural heritage, genocide, and land. 
At noon, Element Band, in collaboration with the Institute, presented a 
different type of musical performance, entitled “SOUND STORIES: The Songs You 
Know, with the Stories You Don’t Know.” 
Following the musical production, government officials from Armenia, 
policymakers, and scholars from around the world tackled the most urgent issues 
facing the Armenian nation. 
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the standing-room only 
audience by Skype. 
Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan, Deputy Foreign 
Minister of Karabakh Armine Aleksanyan, Former Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan, 
Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Irina Ghaplanyan, Deputy Minister of 
Education Arevik Anapiosyan, Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan spoke about 
security, policy, statehood, the environment, and the economy. 
Zaré Baghdasarian, Chairman and CEO of Avata Intelligence, spoke as part of a 
panel on Armenia’s IT policy choices. Having also participated at Innovate 
Armenia in 2015, Baghdasarian commented on the diversity of the event as well 
as how it had grown in popularity over the past four years. “I see people that 
I know from different corners that are showing interest, they are coming to see 
what is happening. The crowd has definitely grown, it is much bigger, has more 
diversity, which is what you need to be able to pay attention to innovation and 
growth in Armenia.”
With a diverse array of topics ranging from education to healthcare to 
questions concerning the diaspora, Bovard auditorium was abound in intellectual 
spark that extended into the many organizations represented outdoors. This 
year’s participating exhibitors included the Armenian Tree Project, Caucasus 
Research and Resource Center (CRRC), CivilNet.am, The HALO Trust, The Hrant 
Dink Foundation, The IMAGINE Center for Conflict Transformation, and VLUME.
Innovate Armenia attendees had the chance to speak to representatives of these 
organizations, learn about their work, ask questions, and foster potential 
relationships. One of these exhibitors, Haig Norian from VLUME, a technology 
company that seeks to inspire generations through reading and storytelling, 
reflected on the event. “It’s a fantastic event that brings all these new ideas 
together. A major problem in the Armenian community is that ideas tend to 
stagnate, but events like this give us the ability to rejuvenate ourselves and 
to come together. To bounce ideas off of each other and to keep things fresh.” 
Another exhibitor that made its way from Armenia was CivilNet.am, an online 
platform featuring news-based, research-based, and data-driven video reports 
and articles, led by young citizen journalists practicing advocacy journalism. 
The CivilNet team not only presented their work but also documented the program 
on location and via a LIVE broadcast of the auditorium talks with simultaneous 
Armenian translation. 
Chess games featuring local Armenian chess masters, craft beer from Armenia and 
Los Angeles, coffee tastings from Kavat and Henry’s House of Coffee, were all 
part of the outdoor programming. Journalist Liana Aghajanian held podcast 
recording sessions entitled Dialects of Coffee, where attendees were asked to 
share their noteworthy memories related to the drink.  
A full day of music was provided by three groups. Garabala, whose members play 
a combination of folk, jazz, and tzigane music, came from Beirut. The Nur Qanon 
Ensemble consisting of three young girls and their instructor, presented what 
can be done with a diatonic stringed zither known as “qanon,” a traditional 
instrument dating back to the 10th century. The great oudist and master 
musician Richard Hagopian and his Family Quartet rounded out the eclectic stage.
Innovate Armenia is part of the Institute’s larger mission to bring academics 
and their work to policymakers and the community at large. The enthusiastic 
response from the university and the Southern California community is a 
testament to the Institute’s mission. This September, the USC Institute of 
Armenian Studies will celebrate its 15th anniversary, marking years of impact 
and growth, but looking forward to establish a solid foundation for the next 15 
years. The 15th anniversary gala will take place in Los Angeles on September 
29.     
About the Institute
Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports 
multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex 
issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience—from post-genocide to 
the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving diaspora. The institute 
encourages research, publications and public service, and promotes links among 
the global academic and Armenian communities.
For inquiries, write to [email protected] or call 213.821.3943.

President Sarkissian meets Armenian community representatives in Kazakhstan

Garo Vardanian

President Sarkissian meets Armenian community representatives in Kazakhstan

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17:58,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Sarkissian, who is in Kazakhstan on a working visit, on May 18 met with the Armenian community representatives in Nur-Sultan, his Office told Armenpress.

The meeting was also attended by Armenians who arrived from Uzbekistan.

At the meeting President Sarkissian appreciated the contribution of the Armenian community to the development of Kazakhstan. “It’s very important for you to be good citizens of Kazakhstan. But at the same time you shouldn’t forget your religion and culture and should proudly represent the Armenian people”, he said.

Armen Sarkissian said in the 21st century the human resource, rather than natural resources, are the most important. In this sense he highlighted the use of the Diaspora’s potential and the fact of the Armenian people’s being united. “Our strength is in our unity. We need to learn to live together and support each other. We are small, but one nation and ought to support each other. The first one is our national unity. There is no other way to success. This is one of the guarantees to success”, the Armenian President said.

He also mentioned the honest and dedicated work as the next guarantee to success.

At the same time the President highlighted providing the new generation with higher education as a guarantee to a firmer and reliable future. “We have wealth, that is the human wealth, that is you and your children. For me the next generation is very vital. Starting from schools we should be able to educate right our children. As a President I consider my duty to guide the people with certain concrete visions. And the first one from these visions is that the attention to the children in the country should be a priority issue. The soldier, that will defend the homeland tomorrow, is today’s child. In order to be able to defend his country tomorrow, he should have the latest technology because he will not defend it with a weapon, but with drones. And for this he should have received right education. Armenia should produce its own drone. But for this purpose it must have a high-quality education system, starting from kindergartens up to universities”, he said.

The President said the 21st century belongs to Armenians, and they have an opportunity and potential to become a successful nation.

In the end Armen Sarkissian listened to the Armenian community representatives and answered their questions. 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Lucy T. Tovmasian, MD is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who

Garo Vardanian
PR Newswire
Friday 5:43 PM EST
Lucy T. Tovmasian, MD is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who
 
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.,
 
PR Newswire
 
Lucy T. Tovmasian, MD is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Lifetime Achiever in the medical industry for her work at Kbve Professional Associates as an OBGYN.      
 
Kbve Professional Associates is an Obstetrics and Gynecology practice currently servicing women and families in the New Jersey Area. This practice employs a team of experienced and compassionate doctors who prioritize accessibility for their patients. Proudly catering to all age groups, Kbve offers Gynecologic care, Maternity care, Family Planning and an array of surgical procedures.
 
Dr. Tovmasian’s experience can be found in the surgical branch of the Kbve practice. While traditionally trained, her distinct skill set is minimally invasive surgery, made up of laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery. After 11 years in the industry, her sentiment remains that a person must love what they do every day, even when it’s hard to love.
 
In 2001, Dr. Tovmasian Graduated from Columbia University where she earned her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Biological Sciences. Her education continued at St. George’s University School of Medicine, where she spent time as a member of Iota Epsilon Alpha and the International Medical Honor Society. She completed her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2007. Finally, she attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where she completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in 2011.
 
Dr. Tovmasian is a current standing Board Member of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization. She is also currently a member of the American Medical Association.
 
During her residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Tovmasian was awarded with the Residency Achievement Award from the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.
 
Ever appreciative of her roots in Armenia, Dr. Tovmasian is fluent in the Armenian language and each year travels to Armenia to provide healthcare to underprivileged women and families.
 
Dr. Tovmasian dedicates this recognition to her parents, Mania and Thomas Tovmasian. She thanks them for their continuing love and support.
 
For more information, please visithttps://northernjerseyobgyn.com/
 
Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634,
 
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Sports: Aleksandr Tarkhanov: I’ll help raise the level of Armenian football

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia

Newly appointed head coach of Yerevan’s FC Pyunik, Russian specialist Aleksandr Tarkhanov talked about his plans for the Armenian football club.

“I have known this team for a long time. I started following FC Pyunik more closely when my good acquaintance Artur Soghomonyan became the football club’s president. After Andrei Talalayev left, I received and accepted the offer to become the head coach. I was on vacation when the club’s president phoned me and said the club needed a head coach, and I came to Yerevan.

Local specialists will help me with coaching, not Russian specialists. I’ll help raise the level of Armenian football.

I know Armenia well and have a lot of Armenian friends. This is where I started pursuing my coaching career.

Armenia has ideal playing fields. Republican Stadium is great, but of course, there are no new stadiums.

FC Pyunik’s objective is to score a pass to the qualification stage of the Champions League or the Europa League, and there are 5 teams competing for 3 passes,” the Russian specialist said, according to sovsport.ru.

PM Nikol Pashinyan chairs briefing with Cabinet members on ongoing economic reforms

Garo Vardanian

PM Nikol Pashinyan chairs briefing with Cabinet members on ongoing economic reforms

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17:48,

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has chaired a consultation today with Cabinet members, heads of governmental agencies, Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan and representatives of the Central Bank and other government officials.

The PM’s office said the consultation addressed the process of implementation of Pashinyan’s assignments given during the February 15 Cabinet meeting regarding actions boosting the economic revolution.

Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the ongoing actions, interim results and upcoming steps.

Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed that the Government’s objective is to encourage the diligent, creative and law-abiding citizen, and that the Government should work in this direction with its toolbox maximally quickly and effectively.

In terms of increasing efficiency of the work and succeeding in the economic revolution, the PM attached importance to digitization of the processes, clear defining of procedures and issued concrete tasks to officials in-charge in these directions.

PM Pashinyan tasked to continue the coordinated work between governmental agencies and regularly brief on the process.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




MIT Scholar on Armenians in Post-Genocide Turkey and Turkish Denial

Garo Vardanian
Appalachian State University


MIT Scholar on Armenians in Post-Genocide Turkey and Turkish Denial


The ASU and High Country communities are invited to a talk by Dr. Lerna Ekmekçioğlu, the McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a specialist in modern Turkish and Armenian history. The lecture on the past and present denial of the Armenian Genocide and struggles of Armenian survivors in post-genocide Turkey will begin at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 15. It is entitled “What Can Genocide and its Denial Do to Feminism? The Existential Paradoxes of Armenians in Post-Genocide Turkey” and will take place at the Blue Ridge Ballroom 201, Plemmons Student Union, on the ASU campus. It is free of charge. No tickets are required.

Prof. Ekmekçioğlu is a historian of the modern Middle East and an affiliate of the Women and Gender Studies Program as well as the Center for International Studies at MIT.  She specializes on Turkish and Armenian lands in the 19th and 20th centuries. Her work focuses on minority-majority relationships and the ways in which gendered analytical lenses help us better understand coexistence and conflict, including genocide and post-genocide. 

Prof. Ekmekçioğlu is the author of Recovering Armenia: The Limits of Belonging in Post-Genocide Turkey (Stanford University Press, 2016), which offers the first in-depth study of the aftermath of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and the Armenians who remained in Turkey. She also co-edited of Bir Adalet Feryadı, Osmanlı’dan Cumhuriyet’e Beş Ermeni Feminist Yazar (1862-1933) [A Cry for Justice: Five Armenian Feminist Writers from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic (1862-1933)], which appeared in 2006. Currently, Prof. Ekmekcioglu is collaborating with Dr. Melissa Bilal in compiling a critical anthology of the history of Western Armenian feminism. In addition, she is working with Dr. Kent Schull (Binghamton, SUNY) on an edited volume on the entangled histories of Armenians in the 19th century Ottoman Empire.

Her work is also the focus of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies (CJHPS)’s final lunch research colloquium. It will take place at the new conference of the Center in Edwin Duncan Hall on Monday, April 15. RSVP required. 

To RSVP for the symposium and more information on her visit, please contact the CJHPS at 828.262.2311 or [email protected].

With the events, the CJHPS begins to mark this year’s Genocide Awareness Month, which will be continued with the Holocaust Cantata on April 30. Organized by the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies, the visit is co-sponsored by the ASU Departments of Culture, Gender and Global Studies, English, and History, the local chapters of Hillel and AEPi, the Peace and Genocide Education Club, the Temple of the High Country, and UNCC’s Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Studies.

Bright Armenia faction MP: Armenian agenda was not discussed at Vienna meeting

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia
Bright Armenia faction MP: Armenian agenda was not discussed at Vienna meeting Bright Armenia faction MP: Armenian agenda was not discussed at Vienna meeting

17:00, 30.03.2019
                  

Friday’s meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Vienna contains both positive and negative—or at least bewildering—records.

Arman Babajanyan, a member of the opposition “Bright Armenia” Faction at the National Assembly, wrote the aforesaid in a Facebook post.

In particular, he noted that, first and foremost, the positive thing is the fact of the holding of these actual talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

As per Babajanyan, the fact that the co-chairs have described this meeting as “constructive” and that the parties agreed to continue these talks also should be considered a positive result of the Vienna meeting.

As for the “bewilderments” with respect to this meeting and afterwards, the Armenian opposition MP noted that there was no word on returning Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to the negotiating table.

Also, as per Babajanyan, Prime Minister Pashinyan said nothing about the interpretation of the three Madrid principles and six elements that are included in the negotiation process. Thus, as maintained by the MP, we can record that either the Armenian agenda was not discussed at the Vienna meeting, or it was discussed in such a context that no record was made about it.

As per Arman Babajanyan, the only tangible record of this meeting is the arrangement on taking humanitarian steps.

According to the Armenian lawmaker, reaching agreements on maintaining the ceasefire should be considered a pivotal achievement of the Vienna meeting.

As maintained by the MP, this period is an opportunity for Armenia to get stronger and to bring its economy and public life to a qualitatively new level. But, according to Arman Babajanyan, we do not observe any respective visible changes yet.