Author: Hovhannisian John

Asbarez: ABMDR Holds Donor Recruitment Drive to Help Save Life of Rev. Harut Khachatryan

Hovhannisian John
by Contributor

 

 August 21, 2023

 

in Latest, News, Top Stories

A scene from the donor-recruitment drive

80 UACC congregants register as potential bone marrow donors

LOS ANGELES — The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry conducted a donor recruitment drive in Los Angeles on August 13 to help save the life of Rev. Harut Khachatryan, senior pastor at United Armenian Congregational Church.

Event organizers and volunteers

Rev. Khachatryan, 39, is suffering from leukemia, a life-threatening illness. He may urgently need a bone marrow stem cell transplant, which requires a matched donor.

ABMDR president Dr. Frieda Jordan addresses congregants

The recruitment drive, which was organized jointly by UACC, ABMDR, and Rev. Khachatryan’s family, took place at the hall of the church.

Prior to the recruitment drive, during church service, ABMDR president Dr. Frieda Jordan addressed the congregants. She familiarized them with the mission of ABMDR as well as the simple, painless process of becoming a donor, and urged every healthy person between the ages of 18 and 50 to register with ABMDR as a potential bone marrow stem cell donor.

“Being a donor is a wonderful opportunity to bring hope to someone,” Dr. Jordan said. “Imagine, you could be the one who saves Rev. Harut’s life, or the life of any of the numerous Armenian patients who are currently waiting for their hero: a matched donor who will enable them to have a life-saving transplant.”

The congregation responded enthusiastically to Dr. Jordan’s appeal, as a total of 80 individuals registered as potential bone marrow stem cell donors.

“I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the United Armenian Congregational Church administration, and especially Aleen Khanjian, for organizing this great event,” Dr. Jordan said.

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 33,500 donors in 44 countries across four continents, identified over 9,000 patients, and facilitated 40 bone marrow transplants.

Azerbaijan disrupts internet in Nagorno-Karabakh 5 minutes prior to online press briefing featuring ex-ICC prosecutor

Hovhannisian John

 11:09,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has cut off the internet fiber-optic cable near its illegal checkpoint in Lachin Corridor, disrupting Nagorno-Karabakh’s (Artsakh) internet access, a senior Nagorno-Karabakh official said Friday.

Artak Beglaryan, the advisor to the State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, said in a statement that Azerbaijan cut off the cable at 17:55 on August 17.

Nagorno-Karabakh specialists tried to approach the area together with Russian peacekeepers to restore the cable but were not allowed to proceed by Azeri authorities.

Beglaryan said negotiations between the peacekeepers and the Azerbaijani side continue in order to allow specialists to access the site and repair the cable.

“I don’t find it to be a coincidence that this new crime took place after the UN Security Council meeting and literally five minutes before the start of a press conference on the genocide in Artsakh. As a result of this provocation, the Artsakh-based speakers of the press conference, the Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan and displaced citizen Alvina Nersisyan, were able to join the two other speakers, Artsakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan and former ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, 45 minutes late using unstable and alternative communication. Despite the Azerbaijani efforts, the press conference took place, with 130 participants from 27 countries. Now, very limited volume of internet is accessible in Artsakh through unstable radio communication, which is also continuously under Azerbaijani jamming,” Beglaryan added.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 18-08-23

Hovhannisian John

 17:14,

YEREVAN, 18 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 18 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 386.13 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.72 drams to 419.49 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 4.12 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.19 drams to 491.00 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 98.68 drams to 23541.98 drams. Silver price up by 0.11 drams to 281.87 drams.

Serj Tankian urges Imagine Dragons to cancel Baku show

Hovhannisian John

 10:44,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. System of a Down lead vocalist, musician Serj Tankian has called on American pop-rock band Imagine Dragons to cancel their planned concert in Baku, Azerbaijan in order not to “help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image there.”

“Now it has to be said. A few months ago, it came to my attention that Imagine Dragons had planned a show on Sept 2nd in Baku Azerbaijan. I was sure they were unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic dictatorial regime was starving 120k people in Nagorno-Karabagh which is now being called a Genocide by the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo. So through representatives, I sent them a kind letter urging them to reconsider playing their show in Azerbaijan as it would help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image there. I included various articles including one by Amnesty Int’l who I was told they have worked with in the past. There was no response. No answer, no response. As the humanitarian crisis worsens in Nagorno-Karabagh with starvation already being recorded I am forced to publicize this letter and their disregard for this humanitarian catastrophe. Maybe they felt they had a legal liability to play the show, maybe they just don’t care. My whole life I have been an advocate for genocide recognition and have always said there has to be a price to pay for Genocidal regimes or deniers. Another genocide is looming by Azerbaijan and while this happens they get to enjoy an American band from LV. [expletive] that!
That’s not right. Go to my profile to sign a petition to the band on if you care to sign and you can see my letter to the band on my Facebook page,” Tankian posted on social media.

Top Ukrainian diplomat tragically died in Armenia. Details of the tragedy HELP UKRAINIAN NEWS

Hovhannisian John
Ukrainian News
Aug 14 2023
Editor: Daria Zubkova

This was reported by European Pravda with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

“The tragedy happened in Armenia,” the ministry emphasized.

According to local mass media, which refer to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, a Ukrainian diplomat drowned in the Lake Sevan.

In the evening of August 13, information was received that on one of the beaches of the Lake Sevan, rescuers, while on duty 25 meters from the shore noticed a man in the water who disappeared while swimming.

Rescuers swam to this area, pulled him out from a depth of about 1.5 meters and brought him ashore in a motor boat.

Medics who arrived at the scene declared the man dead.

AW: Introducing Victoria Atamian Waterman’s debut novel Who She Left Behind

Hovhannisian John
 Guest Contributor Literary Corner, Fiction, Announcements 0

Who She Left Behind is a captivating historical fiction novel spanning multiple generations. It is set in various time periods and locations, immersing readers into the declining days of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the 1990s. The narrative is framed by a mysterious discovery of Armenian dolls at Victoria’s mother’s grave, which leads her on a quest for redemption as an immigrant, wife, sister and aunt. The story revolves around themes of survival, motherhood and love, drawing inspiration from the author’s own family history. 

Who She Left Behind is Victoria (Atamian) Waterman’s debut novel. The author was born and currently resides in Rhode Island. Her upbringing in an immigrant, bilingual and multi-generational household, which included survivors of the Armenian Genocide, has greatly influenced her storytelling. She is dedicated to bringing attention to the often-overlooked narratives of brave women who not only endured but resisted the atrocities of the Genocide. These women played crucial roles in rebuilding their communities in the aftermath of war.  

Victoria Atamian Waterman

Waterman’s journey to writing a historical fiction novel about her family’s survival and immigration to the United States began when she discovered flowers at her late aunt Vicky’s gravesite. Her aunt passed away in 1963 and had no children. Intrigued by the mysterious flowers, Waterman embarked on an extensive investigation to unravel the secrets surrounding her family’s past, resulting in her debut novel.

Waterman serves as a trustee of the Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. She was a presenter at the 2023 AGBU Women Shaping the World Conference.

Who She Left Behind will be released in October this year by The Historium Press. Pre-orders will be available beginning October 1st.


Lillian Avedian appointed assistant editor at The Armenian Weekly

Hovhannisian John
August 9, 2023 Weekly Staff Announcements 0

Lillian Avedian

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Weekly is delighted to announce the appointment of staff writer Lillian Avedian as the newspaper’s new assistant editor.

Avedian joined the Weekly three years ago as a summer intern and quickly became an integral part of the team. As the 2020 Artsakh War broke out in September, Avedian began her position as staff writer, assisting the editorial team in pivoting from the paper’s traditional weekly format to a daily report of events as they unfolded during the war.

After the war’s devastating conclusion, Avedian’s weekly front page news reporting on the events in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the South Caucasus and the geopolitics of the region, have become required reading for Armenian Weekly subscribers and supporters. Avedian has also authored incisive investigative reports, stories about the global diaspora communities, and opinion pieces tackling culture and identity. 

“It has been an honor to work for the Armenian Weekly for the last three years, and I am grateful to continue serving this historic publication in a new capacity as assistant editor,” Avedian says. “The Weekly is unique in our modern media landscape. It is a publication in which Armenians can trust that their experiences and opinions will be reflected. From stories with global implications to local community features, the Weekly will always spotlight the Armenian perspective, led by journalistic integrity and a personal understanding of the nuanced issues facing our community. This perspective is multiple, as the global Armenian community is rich and diverse in geography, language, identity, religion and political affiliation. It is my wish that Armenians of all identities feel represented by the Weekly.”

Avedian came to the attention of the editorial team as one of two winners of an essay contest held by the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) in 2019. She read her award-winning essay to resounding applause at NAASR’s gala celebration of its 65th anniversary and inauguration of its new Vartan Gregorian building on November 2, 2019. 

Avedian graduated in May this year from New York University with master’s degrees in journalism and Near Eastern studies. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in peace and conflict studies and Armenian studies from the University of California, Berkeley.

Avedian’s writing has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Democracy in Exile and Girls on Key.




Sports: Hosts win four golds at the SAMBO Cup of the President of the NOC of Armenia

Hovhannisian John
Aug 6 2023
 
  • By Neil Shefferd

    •  

  •  Saturday, 5 August 2023

Hosts Armenia won four gold medals at the SAMBO Cup of the President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Armenia.

The tournament in Yerevan, which featured sambists from 21 countries, was held in the name of NOC of Armenia President Gagik Tsarukyan.

Competition was held across seven men’s categories and two women’s categories, with participants competing for a total prize fund of $200,000 (£156,000/€181,000).

The hosts four golds all came in men’s categories, with victories for David Hovsepyan at under-58 kilograms, Maksim Manukyan at under-64kg, Vahagn Chalyan at under-88kg and Arsen Khandzhian at under-98kg.

Other wins in male categories came courtesy of Rakhat Zhananiyet of Kazakhstan at under-71kg, Sarbon Ernazarov of Uzbekistan at under-79kg and Ilie Natea of Romania at +98kg.

Armenia NOC President Gagik Tsarukyan pictured with competitors at the sambo cup named after him ©FIAS

In the female categories, victories went to Maria Amyulina Guedez, competing for the Refugee Sambo Team, in the under-54kg category.

The other female gold medallist in Yerevan was Elene Kebadze of Georgia, who won at +80kg.

Guedez was the first athlete representing the Refugee Sambo Team to win World Championship gold after her success in Bishkek last year at under-50kg.

Tsarukyan has been President of the NOC of Armenia since 2005.

He was declared the world armwrestling champion in 1996, founded the Prosperous Armenia political party in 2004, and is believed to be one of Armenia’s richest men.  

Sports: Malta in FIBA women’s U-18 European Championships final after Armenia win

Hovhannisian John
Aug 5 2023

Late victory as Malta come back in fourth quarter

Kurt Aquilina 

Malta made it to this year’s FIBA women’s Under-18 Division C European Championships when they beat Armenia 68-60 in the semifinal on Saturday.

It was a comeback to remember for Giovanni Gebbia’s clan as they suffered an agonising third quarter, scoring just one point, but came back to trump Armenia in the fourth and secure passage to the gold medal game.

They now face the winner of the other semifinal between Albania and Andorra on Sunday (tip-off: 6pm).

Danika Galea was Malta’s and the game’s top scorer yet again with 29 points and 24 rebounds for another impressive double-double. Anna Fenech Pace was closest with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Lia Krumian was Armenia’s top scorer with 20 points. Seda Gabrielyan followed with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Natalya Nersisyan rounded the double-digit scorers with 10.

Read the full story at https://sport.timesofmalta.com/2023/08/05/watch-malta-in-fiba-womens-u-18-european-championships-final-after-armenia-win/

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-fiba-women-u18-european-championships-final-armenia-win.1047922

Demonstrators in Yerevan protest outside ICRC office

Hovhannisian John

 11:48, 31 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. A group of demonstrators have blocked the entrance to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Armenia office in Yerevan in protest of the Azerbaijani kidnapping of a Nagorno-Karabakh patient who was being evacuated by the ICRC.

The demonstrators want to have a meeting with the head of the ICRC Armenia office.

A 68-year-old medical evacuee from Nagorno-Karabakh, Vagif Khachatryan, was kidnapped by Azerbaijani border guards while being transported by the ICRC to Armenia for treatment . The Armenian foreign ministry said the Azerbaijani actions amount to war crime.

The demonstrators said that the ICRC ought to regulate its functions because at this moment the organization is unable to ensure the safety of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross can ask any organization to ensure its free movement, even by using measures of force, however they allow the kidnapping to take place. If the Red Cross knew that it could be obstructed it should have applied to any security organization to ensure its free movement,” one of the demonstrators, who has been a long-time ICRC volunteer, told reporters.