Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Turkish press: First Armenian museum opens in Turkey’s Hatay

Hambardsumian Paul
  • 13:27:10

Turkey’s first Armenian museum has been established in Vakıflı, an Armenian village in the Samandağ district of the southern province of Hatay.

In the museum, different cultures are also presented besides the Armenian culture.

Stating that they have been working for the establishment of the Musadağ Museum for a long time, Cem Çapar, chairman of the Vakıflı Village Armenian Orthodox Church Foundation, said, “This museum has traces not only from the Armenian culture but also from the culture of all the peoples living in Anatolia.”

Vakıflı village, which is a natural continuation of the Hıdırbey Valley on the foothills of Musa Mountain, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and located 30 kilometers from the Yayladağı-Syria border, is known for being the only village of the dwindling community in the country and still maintains Armenian life and culture.

Stating that they have been working with his journalist wife, Lora Çapar, to complete the cultural museum project for a long time, he said the museum was established with the objects from the village’s locals.

“We could not make the opening because of the coronavirus outbreak. As we have now entered the normalization phase, we are now opening the museum to visitors. We will make our official opening in the coming days,” he said.

Local clothes, historical items and jewelry are exhibited at the Musa Mountain Armenian Museum and images of traditions are published on screens.

Newspaper: Karabakh newly appointed national security chief trying to strengthen his position

Hambardsumian Paul
News.am, Armenia
June 6 2020

09:27, 06.06.2020
                  

Coronavirus: Armenia reports 13-fold increase in cases in two months

Hambardsumian Paul
Panorama, Armenia
June 2 2020

The epidemic situation in Armenian remains dire, the Head of Armenia’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Artavazd Vanyan stated on Tuesday.

“We had threefold increase in coronavirus cases in April to compare with March, while in May the cases soar 13-fold in two months. That is to say after lifting the restrictions, large public gatherings followed,” Vanyan said at a briefing following the regular meeting at the Commandant’s Office.

The Head of the Center called once again on the public to maintain safety measures and avoid organizing and attending public events.

“If we fail to limit our interactions, the negative dynamics will continue. It is especially recommended to refrain from attending memorial ceremonies and funeral. Another problem remains people’s gatherings in the their yards in the evenings,” said Vanyan.

Vanyan also warned against pilgrimages which may result in uncontrolled spread of the virus. 

Armenpress: Armenian PM’s spouse holds phone talk with Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister

Hambardsumian Paul

Armenian PM’s spouse holds phone talk with Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister

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 09:52, 1 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. Spouse of the Armenian prime minister, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of My Step and City of Smile charitable foundations, Anna Hakobyan had a telephone conversation with Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister Vartine Ohanian-Gevorgian, Mrs. Hakobyan’s Office told Armenpress.

Anna Hakobyan congratulated Vartine Ohanian-Gevorgian on holding an important and responsible position, wishing productive work.

During the phone talk the sides discussed the current situation of the Lebanese-Armenian community, the difficulties and ways to overcome them.

Given the fact that Mrs. Ohanian is also serving as the director of Zvartnots care center for children and teenagers, Anna Hakobyan was interested in the activity of the Center.

The possibility of future cooperation in several directions was also discussed during the phone conversation.

Minister Ohanian thanked Anna Hakobyan for the interest shown and asked to convey her warm greetings to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Asbarez: Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte Featured in Upcoming Documentary ‘Under the Same Sun’

Hambardsumian Paul

Filming in the village of Khndzoresk—the hometown of Anna’s grandfather Yegishe, May 2018

PORTLAND, Maine—In 2017, Armenian American author, human rights advocate and city councilmember Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte was invited to be featured in the filming of a documentary by French-Canadian filmmaker Francois Jacob titled “Under the Same Sun.”

The film’s world premier will take place at the Canadian Hot Docs Film Festival on May 28 in Ontario, Canada. The 10-day festival will last through June 6 online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later in the year, the film will premiere in the United States and other locations.

Astvatsaturian Turcotte was filmed across the United States, Armenia and Artsakh during the last two and a half years. The documentary explores the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the eyes of various individuals, including Astvatsaturian Turcotte, delving into her childhood as an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan, her current life as a public citizen, human rights advocate, activist for the people of Artsakh, author and politician.

The filmmaker showcases Astvatsaturian Turcotte’s work of advocating for and supporting the people of Artsakh through various projects. The film crew also filmed her childhood home and school in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In addition to Astvatsaturian Turcotte’s story, the documentary also attempts to look at the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from opposing viewpoints. Astvatsaturian Turcotte does not endorse and does not agree with the views of these individuals. Nor is she endorsing the viewpoint of the film as a whole, while recognizing that Jacob, as an outsider, had to work with various multifaceted components of a complicated conflict, explore the history of the region and demonstrate conflicting sides to give the conflict and the film the respect that it deserves. Astvatsaturian Turcotte does, however, endorse the humanity behind the film, the beauty of Armenia, Armenian history, the Armenian people and the awe-inspiring resilience of the people of independent and free Artsakh.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte

Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an author, lecturer, lawyer, businesswoman and human rights advocate.  She is an Armenian refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan. After fleeing Baku in the fall of 1989 due to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians, Anna and her family spent three years in Armenia as refugees before coming to the United States in 1992.

Anna received Bachelor of Arts degrees in English & Literature and Philosophy & Religion with a minor in Russian Language & Literature from the University of North Dakota. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law. As a law student Anna was named an Outstanding Law Student of the Year by Who’s Who American Law Students. In 2004 Anna was one of the first Americans to clerk at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands after working toward and observing the ICC’s creation at the United Nations in New York.

In 2012 Anna published her book entitled, “Nowhere, a Story of Exile,” which she wrote at the age of 14 as her family settled in North Dakota as refugees. The book is based on the childhood diaries she kept as her family was fleeing Baku, Azerbaijan and during the years as refugees in Armenia. In April 2013 Anna successfully spearheaded the recognition efforts of Nagorno-Karabakh independence at the State of Maine House of Representatives. In November 2015 she was elected to the Westbrook Maine City Council by a 64-percent landslide. In 2017 the Russian translation of Anna’s book was published. She was re-elected to the Council in November of 2018 and is currently serving as a Vice President of the Council.

Anna is the recipient of the Mkhitar Gosh Medal, the Republic of Armenia’s highest civilian honor awarded by President Serge Sargsyan for exceptional achievements in the political-social spheres, as well as outstanding efforts in the fields of diplomacy, law and political science. Anna also received a Gratitude Medal from the President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakian; the Vahan Cardashian award for her contributions within the Armenian Diaspora from ANCA-WR; and the Activism Award from ANCA-ER for enhancement of human rights, democracy, truth and justice.

Aside from speaking worldwide on genocide prevention, refugee issues, international law and human rights, Anna has a 16-year career in banking regulatory compliance and risk management, currently as a Vice President, Senior Risk Manager at Androscoggin Bank. Anna lives in Westbrook, Maine with her husband John and their son and daughter.

Armenpress: PACE monitor welcomes Armenia’s request for Council of Europe expert legal advice

Hambardsumian Paul

PACE monitor welcomes Armenia’s request for Council of Europe expert legal advice

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 18:06,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the monitoring of Armenia, Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) assesses Armenia’s decision to request an opinion from the Venice Commission on the Constitutional situation in Armenia a good example of both the quality and the level of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Armenian authorities, ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the PACE.

”The Armenian authorities have decided to request the opinion of the Venice Commission  the Council of Europe’s body of legal experts on possible changes to the Constitution regarding the Constitutional Court and this is very good news’’, Kimmo Kiljunen said.

”The suspension of the referendum due to the coronavirus, and the choice made by the government to request this opinion and return the issue to parliament are all the more relevant given that the Armenian authorities will now have time to reflect on the opinion of the Venice Commission before taking further action and informing the public. I am looking forward to reading the opinion and seeing how it is taken into account’’, Kimmo Kiljunen said, adding that this decision is a good example of both the quality and the level of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Armenian authorities.

The referendum was scheduled on April 5, but was suspended due to the state of emergency as a result of the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was about suspending the powers of the President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan and a number of other members of the Constitutional Court.




Parliamentary committee investigating 2016 April War to deliver report in September

Hambardsumian Paul

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 16:28,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the circumstances of the 2016 April War will deliver its report in September, committee chair Andranik Kocharyan told reporters.

“At this moment we have the issue of one key individual remaining, who has until June 4 to participate in the committee’s work. The person is Colonel General Yuri Khachaturov,” Kocharyan said.

Kocharyan said that Khachaturov himself knows that he has to make an appearance.

“His brothers-in-arms, who participated in the hearings, I suppose consider that it would be the right thing for Khachaturov to participate in the committee’s work,” Kocharyan said.

The committee will complete its work on June 4 and will prepare its report.

“No one possesses this much information about the April events as the parliament committee”, he said.

“In September we will be ready to present the public the important episodes which are of everyone’s concern,” he said, adding that they have garnered sufficient information in order to have a full analysis.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Minister presents details of coronavirus infected patients’ health condition

Hambardsumian Paul

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 21:28, 15 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 15 ARMENPRESS. 690 coronavirus infected patients in Armenia have developed pneumonia, ARMENPRESS reports Healthcare Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan told azatutyun.am.

‘’35 are in critical situation, 65 in serious situation and 11 are switched to artificial ventilation devices’’, Torosyan said.

He noted that the numbers with pneumonia grows together with the growth of patients, but the number of patients in critical or serious situation remains relatively stable, which is a good indicator.

‘’The number of patients switched to artificial ventilation devices is near 10, we never recorded more cases, I mean 11 is the highest number we have ever recorded’’, the Minister said.

A total of 4044 cases have been recorded in Armenia by May 15, 1666 of which have recovered.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Coronavirus cases in Russia grow by 10,699 in one day

Hambardsumian Paul

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 11:58, 8 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia has confirmed 10,699 new COVID-19 cases over the past day, taking the total case tally to 187,859 in all regions, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

Some 26,608 people have recovered and 1,723 patients have died of the coronavirus.

According to the crisis center, the daily growth rate stood at 6%, becoming the lowest figure since the outbreak of the virus. The number of recoveries per day has risen by 11.8%.

A total of 5,232 new patients (48.9%) have not shown any symptoms of the disease.

Armenia Constitutional Court President congratulates new head of ECHR

Hambardsumian Paul
News.am, Armenia
May 7 2020

17:46, 07.05.2020