Author: George Mamian

Police arrest suspect over attack on Armenian church in Istanbul

George Mamian
AHVAL News

  • 10:57 Gmt+3
  • Last Updated On: 11:02 Gmt+3

Istanbul police arrested on Saturday a suspect connected to an attack on a city church earlier this week, Diken news site reported.

The suspect was detained after he was caught on video allegedly removing a cross outside an Armenian church in Istanbul’s historical Kuzguncuk neighbourhood on May 28, it said.

The suspect was detained after the incident, but released shortly thereafter. He was taken into police custody again after the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest.

This is the second attack on a church in Istanbul this month. A man attempted to set fire to another Armenian church in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district on May 9.

Covid-19: Armenia reports 374 new cases, 62 recoveries

George Mamian
Public Radio of Armenia


Armenia has reported 374new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number to 6,302.

The results of 1,052 tests have been negative.

According to the data of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 62 patients have recovered; a total of 2,936 people have now been discharged from hospital.

Seventy-seven deaths have been reported, 32 patients with coronavirus have died because of other diseases.

The number of active cases is 3,257.

Israeli Political Scientist: Formation of government and opening of Armenian Embassy in Israel are the key to enhancing relations

George Mamian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo. The emergence of a finally formed government in Israel and the opening of the Armenian Embassy are the key to enhancing relations between our countries.  Dr. Alexander Tzinker, co-chair of the Armenia-Israel international  public forum, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"In my opinion, the presence in Israel of a finally formed, and not  transitional, government will become one of the main factors for  intensifying relations with Armenia as I have expected. Last year I  told you in an interview that I did not expect much development of  relations between our countries before the end of the elections and,  most importantly, the final formation of the Israeli government. This  period is finally over and now it will be much easier for our  diplomats and parliamentarians to establish contacts, "he stressed.

Israel was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic  relations with Armenia. The diplomatic relations between Armenia and  Israel were established in April 1992, however, neither the Armenian  ambassador in Israel nor the Israeli one in Armenia had residences in  the countries of accreditation. In September 2019, the Armenian  government decided to transfer the residence of the Armenian  diplomatic mission from Yerevan to Tel Aviv. The corresponding decree  was signed by the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on February  25, 2020.

Noting that the coronavirus pandemic prevented the opening of the  Armenian embassy in Tel Aviv, scheduled for May, Tzinker expressed  confidence that the embassy would open after quarantine in Israel was  completed. According to his forecasts, inter-parliamentary diplomacy  has played a significant role in the development of relations.  According to Tzinker, this issue is already under discussion.

"The process of deepening and developing relations between our  countries is developing steadily, a lot of effort is being made in  this direction, moreover these efforts are bilateral. I think that  after the opening of the Armenian embassy in our country, it will  become a venue for important meetings to discuss new ideas in the  direction of developing cooperation between Armenia and Israel, "the  Israeli political scientist concluded. 

Azerbaijani press: Legendary hero of Tehran-43 – Trend News Agency’s video project

George Mamian
POLITICS 10:49 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19

Trend:

A video project entitled 'Legendary Hero' was prepared by Trend News Agency, which narrates the story of legendary Azerbaijani intelligence agent Mammadhuseyn Asadov, Trend reports.

Some time ago, ‘Azerbaijani intelligence officer and the Tehran-43 Conference’ book was published in the Azerbaijani and Russian languages, timed to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The book features the life of legendary intelligence officer, his professionalism and heroism during the Great Patriotic War.

The book authors are Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan’s ‘Alliance’ Public Union of Veterans of Security Bodies Azer Garayev, and Azerbaijani MP Arzu Naghiyev.

The facts and testimonies published in the book also expose the intentions of the Armenians to falsify the events of the Great Patriotic War period.

The video project is based on archival documents and historical facts reflected in the book.

The project tells in details how Asadov obtained information about German intelligence' plan to assassinate the USSR, US and UK leaders Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt on the eve of the Tehran Conference, which was held on November 28, 1943, with their participation.

For the exceptional role in the successful conducting this operation, Mammadhuseyn Asadov was awarded ‘Lenin’ and ‘Red Star’ orders.

Yerevan court rejects motion to release Robert Kocharyan on bail

George Mamian
Panorama, Armenia

The Yerevan court of general instance rejected on Wednesday another motion brought by second President Robert Kocharyan’s defense team to release him on bail. The decision of the court under presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan was announced moments ago.

The court ruling will be send to the parties within a day. Kocharyan was not present at the hearing as he had undergone a surgery at Yerevan medical centre. May 19 is scheduled as the next date for the court hearing.
To remind, Armenia’s former PMs Vazgen Manukyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Karen Karapetyan as well as former PM of the Artsakh Republic Anushavan Danielyan appeared in court on May 8 and offered personal guarantees for changing the preventive measure for Kocharyan.

The ex-president’s defense team also argued that their client is in risk contracting coronavirus at pre-trial detention as the does not meet the minimum requirements for social distancing. The lawyers also pointed to the ex-president’s health condition and the fact that in his 60s the president remains in high risk group to contract the virus.


Leopard caught on cameras in Armenia’s Tavush for first time in 50 years

George Mamian
Panorama, Armenia
May 7 2020
Society 15:53 07/05/2020 Armenia

The trap cameras installed in the village of Yenokavan of Armenia’s Tavush Province have caught a leopard, WWF Armenia reports.

Earlier on 19 November 2019, a leopard reportedly attacked a Yenokavan resident. A laboratory examination of the animal’s hair taken as a sample from his clothes denied the claims that the villager had been attacked by a leopard. The test was performed in Germany and was said to show 99% accuracy. No leopard was also found during a field research.

Trusting the affected resident, Arman Gabrielyan, who still insisted he had been attacked by a leopard, WWF Armenia specialists continued the field research. As a result, the geography of cameras was expanded. Arman Gabrielyan, the residents of Yenokavan, as well as the Future Resort company provided great support to the research, WWF Armenia said.

The research gave a positive result and the cameras captured a leopard.

Thus, after a 50-year break, the leopard has returned to Tavush. The animal was last spotted in the area in the 1970s. Tavush became the fourth region in Armenia where a leopard lives, the fund said.

"It's like a real miracle, because the initial laboratory tests left only a 1% chance that the samples belonged to a leopard,” WWF Armenia Director Karen Manvelyan said, adding the research will go on.

 

World Singles Launched The new ArmenianPassion.com For Armenian Singles

George Mamian
Benzinga
April 30 2020
PRWeb           
April 30, 2020 3:00pm                                                      

Head of Committee of International Relations of PARLACEN condemns Armenian Genocide

George Mamian

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 20:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Head of the Committee on International Relations and Migration Affairs of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) Daniel Ortegah issued a statement on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, recognizing and condemning the crime committed against Armenians in Ottoman Empire. ARMENPRESS reports the Embassy of Armenia in Mexico presented the text of the statement.  

‘’105 years ago, in an ordinary day for the world like today, the world learned with horror that during the World War I nearly 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman Empire. The leaders of the empire that was already shaking due to the military defeats allied with Germany to withstand the Entente Alliance during the period when the propaganda of the military leadership of the empire was trying to present Armenians as troublemakers of the fifth column serving the Russians’', reads the statement, noting that Armenians were either killed or deported to the Syrian Desert by the Ottoman Empire, the successor of which is Turkey.

The Head of the Committee of PARLACEN announced that he joins the countries, organizations and individuals that have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Reporting by Noraysr Shoghikyan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

Economist: Armenian government’s resources inefficient and inadequate

George Mamian
News.am, Armenia
Economist: Armenian government's resources inefficient and inadequate Economist: Armenian government's resources inefficient and inadequate

20:12, 29.04.2020
                  

During a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, former deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, economist Vardan Bostanjyan said the government’s resources are inefficient and inadequate and added that the new authorities haven’t been able to achieve major results over the past two years.

“As far as the measures for support are concerned, they could have been more effective. Based on the statistics, there are very few beneficiaries of the social support programs. Per diem workers are in the most complicated situation,” the economic explained.

According to the economist, it is hard to make predictions based on economic indicators since the uncertainty and incompetent management can’t allow one to conduct an adequate analysis, but the government still predicts a 2% economic growth.

“The government’s idea of increasing capital expenditures is not a bad idea, but it’s actually not easy,” the economist added.

AGBU Young Professionals Solve for Social Distancing with Live Stream Series

George Mamian 
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Website: 

 
  
PRESS RELEASE
  
Monday, 
  
AGBU YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SOLVE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH LIVE STREAM SERIES

The Young Professionals of Los Angeles (YPLA) have launched an innovate virtual 
series aimed to unite individuals throughout the AGBU community during this 
global pandemic. With seven successful episodes under their belt and three more 
in the works, the Young Professionals are continuously working to keep the 
community engaged, entertained, and enlightened. From Armenian cooking classes 
in Madrid to a remote comedy show featuring YPs from all over the world, the 
live series has garnered over 300 avid participants with an ever-increasing 
audience.

"Even in the most isolating moments, we're able to connect with chapters around 
the world. We've met Young Professionals from other countries and chapters that 
we may not have met otherwise or have been able to connect with," noted YPLA 
Communications Manager Rita Chakrian. 

The idea for an episodic virtual series came to fruition during a virtual YPLA 
meeting when co-chairs Tenny Kachatourian and Carin Kellzi and Communications 
Chair Rita Chakrian realized that all future events would have to be conducted 
virtually. Rather than view this as a loss, YPLA leadership decided to keep 
their momentum going by orchestrating a virtual event they had long wished for: 
a global talent show. After reaching out to various chapters, YPLA leadership 
gathered musicians and dancers from all over the world to participate, engaging 
a global audience of almost 100 participants on their first episode. 

"This all happened within two or three days," said Chakrian. "We had the call 
with our YP Group and the mass chain started." The YPLA leadership credit the 
inspiration behind this series to the AGBU spirit of unity. "We launched YP Live 
as a way to bring everyone virtually together while we must physically stay 
apart," noted Kachatourian, adding that this initiative will continue as long 
this quarantine persists. "We will be continuing our YP Live virtual events for 
as long as social distancing measures last in any of our global YP communities 
so we can all be together, keep our spirits up, and learn some new skills while 
being safe." 

The first episode of the YP Live series, "YPs Got Talent" launched on March 28th 
and featured talent from all over the world. "We wanted it to be open to all the 
YPs, but we really didn't know it would become this huge event involving 
chapters in Buenos Aires to Toronto to London and all their communities," said 
Kellzi. After a successful first run, the YPs of Texas carried the virtual torch 
and kept the momentum going with a square-down tutorial, re-creating the YP 
Houston Hoedown that was cancelled due to COVID-19. "Every episode hits a 
different target audience. We figured every locality would have something unique 
to bring to the table, and we could use that for continual content," commented 
Chakrian. 

Shortly after came a Zumba tutorial from YPLA, an Armenian Cooking Class hosted 
by the YPs of Madrid, and a virtual game of "YPictionary" hosted by the YPs of 
Buenos Aires. Each episode is highly curated, with Kachatourian as the host and 
interactive messaging encouraged throughout the hour-long episode. 

One of the most recent episodes, "Coast to Coast Comedy," provided comedic 
relief and became one of the most highly attended virtual episode to date, 
eliciting laughs from Egypt to LA and New York. "The comedy show really proved 
that a lot of people would tune in because there were over 300 people." 

"We may be on the other side of the world, but even though we can't go out and 
see each other anyways, it feels like we're all two feet apart," mused YPLA 
co-chair Kachatourian. 

The AGBU Young Professionals (YP), a global network, strive to promote the 
Armenian identity and heritage for young Armenians between the ages of 22 to 40 
and empowered ambitious individuals to make a positive difference in their 
communities. It has grown to become one of the largest Armenian networks of its 
kind, with over 33 groups across the globe. 

Tune in to the next YP Live using this link:  bit.ly/AGBUYPLIVE. 

May 2: Young Professionals Live: Episode 10 - Music for the Soul
May 3: Young Professionals Live: Episode 11 - Boozy Brunch Recipes

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world's largest non-profit 
organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, 
cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a 
difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the 
Armenian diaspora.  Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: 
to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit 

 .