Author: Hagop Kamalian

Armenia Ombudsman, Russia Human Rights Commissioner discuss cooperation during COVID-19

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020

15:34, 03.04.2020
                  

Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan today had a video call with Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation Tatiana Moskalkova.

During the conversation, the parties discussed issues related to human rights protection amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and specifically discussed protection of the rights of citizens of Armenia in Russia or people permanently residing in Armenia, but working in Russia.

Tatoyan informed that he has released a guide for human rights protection in the conditions of the novel coronavirus and state of emergency that has been printed in Braille script, translated into English and Russian, as well as the languages of national minorities living in Armenia, including Kurdish, Yezidi, Assyrian and Indian.

Tatoyan also emphasized the cooperation with the Embassy of Armenia in Russia and the existence of mechanisms for rapid and effective exchange of information between the Embassy and the Ombudsmen.

The parties discussed issues on supporting citizens more rapidly and effectively through the hotline service since there have been more calls to the hotline during the pandemic and state of emergency.

Coronavirus: Yerevan Subway temporarily suspends operation

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:40, 1 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Metro has been temporarily closed within the frames of the operations aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Armenia, the Subway’s spokesperson Tatev Khachatryan said on Facebook.

“Under the order of the State of Emergency Commandant, the restrictions on certain types of movement and economic activity have been extended until April 12 inclusive. According to the new decision, public transport operation, with the exception of railway transport, has been suspended. The operation of taxis is allowed”, she said.

On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Karabakh presidential candidate Arayik Harutyunyan on problems caused by coronavirus: It is extreme situation

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
April 1 2020

15:56, 01.04.2020
                  

The Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic’s reserves are not so much that we can withstand; decisive steps are needed, disaster is expected. Presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan said this at a press conference Wednesday.

"Having been appointed prime minister since 2007, I was screaming and call out from morning to evening, 'We have an important security issue: food, energy and military,’'' he said. “We shall not split apart. If we break up, we will lose a lot; the ‘flood’ is still coming. If this [coronavirus] epidemic continues until August, Armenia, including Artsakh, will have a dire problem in terms of Armenia's balance of payments. Already today we have no transfers, no tourism. Fortunately, the external reserves have increased by about 550 million in 2019. It is an extreme situation now; we will have a food problem.

Two more servicemen test positive for coronavirus in Armenia

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia

Two more servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said in a Facebook post on Friday.

A total of 37 soldiers were tested after coronavirus had been confirmed in three servicemen not involved in combat tasks, she said.

The tests of the other 35 servicemen produced negative results, Stepanyan noted.

According to the spokeswoman, the two soldiers have been hospitalized and are in a satisfactory condition.

None of the five infected servicemen has developed pneumonia, she said, adding only one of them has fever.

The close contacts of all five servicemen remain in isolation in an area provided with all necessary living conditions for full isolation.

The Defense Ministry will keep providing updated information on the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the armed forces and the current situation, Shushan Stepanyan said.

“We urge you to follow only official reports. The armed forces are taking all possible measures to combat the virus,” the post read.

Armenia reported 39 new coronavirus infections on Friday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 329 in the country. 

Asbarez: More than 250 Gather for 4th Annual Armenian Genocide Education Luncheon

Hagop Kamalian

More than 250 community leaders, dignitaries, educators, and supporters attended the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region Education Committee’s fourth annual Armenian Genocide Education Luncheon. The event was held on Saturday, March 7 in Burbank, CA. Held since 2016, the Luncheon seeks to honor K through 16 public school educators who have gone above and beyond to incorporate a comprehensive lesson plan on Armenian Genocide studies within their classroom curriculum.

The event opened with the singing of the United States and Armenian national anthems, performed by Sosie Haboyan and Sose Hovannisian, respectively.

Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Petrossian then led a moment of silence for former Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian, who had unfortunately passed away a few days prior to the event.

Following Petrossian, Event Committee Chairwoman Sedda Antekelian welcomed the attendees and thanked them for making the sold-out event a success. She then opened the program with a clip of testimony from Armenian Genocide survivor Hagop Asadourian, who is one of 400 interviewees from the testimony collection of the Armenian Film Foundation, that have all been integrated and digitized into the University of Southern California Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive and used for educational purposes via USC Shoah Foundation’s online website for teachers and students, IWitness.

Following the testimony presentation, KTLA 5 News Reporter Ellina Abovian, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, took the stage to recognize the dignitaries and educators who were present at the luncheon. The list of dignitaries included Congresswoman Jackie Chu, Glendale Councilman-Elect Ardy Kassakhian, Glendale Community College representatives, including Superintendent David Viar, Board of Trustees President Vahe Peroomian, Clerk Yvette Vartanian Davis, Board Member Armine Hacopian and Trustee-Elect Sevan Benlian, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Scott Schmerelson. From Glendale Unified School District representatives included, Superintendent, Vivian Ekchian President, Jennifer Freemon, Board Members, Armina Gharpetian, Shant Sahakian, Nayiri Nahabedian, Greg Krikorian and Glendale Teachers Association President, Taline Arsenian. From Pasadena Unified School District, representatives included, Assistant Superintendent, Eric Sahakian and Board Member Michelle Richardson Bailey. From Burbank Unified School District, representatives included, Board Members Armond Aghakhanian, Roberta Reynolds, and Steve Ferguson, as well as Burbank Teacher Association President, Diana Abasta.

Following Abovian’s remarks, Congresswoman Chu took the stage to thank the organizers for their tireless efforts to advocate for the education of the Armenian Genocide.

Next, filmmaker Ani Hovannisian- Kevorkian, who served as the Keynote Speaker of the event, presented a trailer of her newly featured documentary “The Hidden Map,” which depicts the gripping encounters of Hovannisian-Kevorkian’s travels through Turkey in search of her forbidden ancestral home along with a solitary Scottish explorer that she met along the way.

Following the keynote speech by Hovannisian-Kevorkian, ANCA-WR Board Member Anahid Oshagan, highlighted the litany of projects that the tireless members of the Education Committee members have been engaged in for years, including teacher workshops, preparations of teaching resources about the Armenian Genocide, as well as their continued advocacy to include Armenian Genocide in various educational curriculums.

The program also featured talented musicians from Lark Musical Society, who performed “Adagio” by Aram Khachatryan and “Haberban” by Komitas, as well as a beautiful dance performance of “Vagharshapat” by AYAC Areni Dance Group.

Master of Ceremonies Ellina Abovian presented the Armenian Genocide Education Award, awarded to educators teaching in K through 12, who have gone above and beyond to educate their students about the Armenian Genocide and are committed to teaching about it in classrooms. Three Armenian Genocide Education Awards were presented to Jennifer Davis, Clark Magnet High School (GUSD), Michelle Herczog, EdD, Los Angeles County of Education, and Susan Quintana, Pojoaque Valley School, Pojoaque Valley School District (New Mexico).

Education Committee member and Genocide Education Project Executive Director Roxanne Makasdjian presented the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award, named after educator Sara Chitjian, who was also the daughter of Genocide survivors, which is awarded to educators of Armenian descent who have gone above and beyond to teach and preserve the Armenian heritage through the prism of the Armenian Genocide. Two Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Awards were presented to Saakanoush Markarian, R.D. White Elementary School (GUSD), and Nancy Nazarian, Glen Hammond Curtiss Magnet Middle School (LAUSD).

Master of Ceremonies Ellina Abovian presented the Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award, awarded to college professors who are dedicated to highlighting the history of the Armenian Genocide and its impact in students’ lives today in higher education institutions. The Armenian Genocide higher Education Award was presented to Dr. Maria Armoudian, Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Rubina Peroomian, Lecturer and Research Associate at the University of California, Los Angeles, presented the prestigious Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award, of which she was also a past honoree. The Award is presented to educators who have dedicated a lifetime of efforts aimed toward educating and providing resources for their students and other educators about the Armenian Genocide and its lasting legacy for humanity. The recipient of 2020 Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award was presented to Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, Professor Emeritus, UCLA.

ANCA-WR Treasurer Hermineh Pakhanians, as well as ANCA-WR Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Petrossian partook in the ceremony of presenting the awards.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair Alice Petrossian announced the renaming of the Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award to the Richard G. Hovannisian Higher Education Award. Petrossian concluded by stressing the importance of genocide education within school curriculum and requested the attendees to nominate educators from their local districts for next year’s luncheon.

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.

Number of airlines cancel flights

Hagop Kamalian
Aysor, Armenia

A number of airlines canceled flights stemming from commercial interests, Civil Aviation Committee reports.

“In particular Armenia airline canceled Yerevan-Lyon-Yerevan and Yerevan-Tel Aviv-Yerevan flights and Ryanair airline Milan and Rome flights,” the statement said.

Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Belavia, Pegas Fly will also cancel some flights.

Armenia coronavirus cases reach 20

Hagop Kamalian

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 21:56,

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Two more quarantined people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Armenia, bringing the total number of infections to 20, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said on social media.

He said that 12 others were also tested but the results were negative.

Torosyan said the latest infections are direct contacts of an earlier case that was diagnosed in a resident from Etchmiatsin.

“At this moment we have 20 confirmed cases”, he said.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Zakharova: It’s for Armenian Foreign Ministry to comment on meeting of Minsk Group co-chairs, Turkish FM

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia
March 3 2020

The Armenian public was informed about the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. It remains unclear whether the Armenian Foreign Ministry was aware of the meeting, its agenda and purposes.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who was referred in Adekvad party leader Artur Danielyan’s Facebook post on the matter, urged Armenian experts and Facebook users to ask Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan for comments on the meeting.

"Neither the Minsk Group nor Russia comments on the meeting, as they have similar contacts with different countries regularly," Zakharova commented, recalling that the Russian co-chair also attended the meeting.

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan took to Twitter to react to the Karabakh remarks of the Turkish foreign minister rather than the meeting itself.

“Mevlut Cavusoglu's advice to OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is reminiscent of Luke 4:23, ‘Physician, heal thyself’,” the minister tweeted.

Meanwhile, Cavusoglu stated that the Karabakh conflict should be resolved on the basis of “Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, recognition of its international borders and sovereignty.”

It’s hard to say whether the Turkish minister will ‘heal himself’, but the important thing is for the Armenian Foreign Ministry to react to the meeting of the diplomats dealing with the Karabakh conflict settlement with the foreign minister of an unfriendly country of Armenia.

Poland confirms first coronavirus case

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:38, 4 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARH 4, ARMENPRESS. Poland has confirmed its first coronavirus infection, Poland’s Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski said on March 4, Reuters reported.

Szumowski said the sick man is in hospital in Zielona Gora, western Poland, and that his condition is good.

The patient arrived in Poland from Germany, RIA Novosti said.

Expert: The issue of waste disposal of solar energy is not discussed at the State level in Armenia

Hagop Kamalian
Arminfo, Armenia
March 5 2020

ArmInfo.  The issue of waste disposal of worn-out devices of solar stations, batteries and other waste of solar energy is not discussed at the State level in Armenia.  This was stated by "EcoLur" Informational NGO Youth Branch  Coordinator Victoria Burnazyan during the "Environment, Climate and  Sustainable Energy in the South Caucasus" workshop held in Tbilisi.

The expert drew attention to the fact that Armenia has a great  potential for solar energy: the average annual value of the influx of  solar energy per 1 square meter of horizontal surface is 1720 kWh /.  A quarter of the territory of the republic has solar energy resources  with an intensity of at least 1850 kWh / m2 per year.  With this in  mind, it is planned to build a solar photovoltaic station on an  industrial scale with a peak capacity of 55 MW in the village of  Masrik, Gegharkunik region of RA. This will be followed by the  construction of five additional stations with a total capacity of 60  MW. Meanwhile, at the stage of implementation of this project there  is a conflict of interests. So, for the construction of Masrik 1, the  agricultural lands of three villages – Mets Masrik, Masrik and Arpunk  – were recognized as an exceptional public benefit. Meanwhile, local  residents express dissatisfaction, since high-quality agricultural  and arable lands were taken.

The problem is that the issue of waste disposal of worn-out devices  of solar stations, batteries and other waste of solar energy is not  discussed at the state level by any of the responsible departments.  At the same time, as Burnazyan notes, the Government of Armenia  intends to increase the share of solar energy production up to 10% by  2026, which means that we will have 1.2 billion kWh of solar energy  production, which requires a total capacity of 700 MW of solar power  plants, including autonomous ones power plants Over the years,  Armenian ecologists have been trying to draw the attention of the  responsible authorities to the situation that arose as a result of  the development of the small hydropower sector. With the  participation of EcoLur, a study of 125 small hydropower plants  operating in the republic was conducted, as a result of which a  number of problems were identified. In particular, non-compliance  with environmental runoff; lack of standards and requirements for  SHPP equipment; reduction of river biodiversity; the construction of  SHPPs at the maternal sources forming the watercourse of the rivers.   Burnazyan drew attention to the fact that 189 small hydropower plants  with a total capacity of 375 MW were already built in the republic.  In 2019, they generated 980,825,762 kWh of electricity, i.e. 12.8% of  all electricity generated in the country. According to the Armenian  Hydropower Concept, by 2036 the total capacity of SHPPs should be 400  MW. Meanwhile, taking into account the planned construction of  another 26 SHPPs with a total capacity of 59 MW, the 400 MW limit has  already been exceeded.