Author: Hovhannisian John

Greece, Cyprus and Armenia Sign MoU on Expatriates Issues

Hovhannisian John
Greece –
By Athens News Agency

ATHNS – Greece, Cyprus and Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation on issues concerning expatriates during a trilateral meeting held on Friday in Patras.

Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of Hellenes Abroad, Andreas Katsaniotis, stressed in his statements, “we are working together for the international recognition of the Pontian Genocide, the Armenian Genocide, as well as for the international condemnation of the occupation of Cyprus.”

The memorandum is comprised of nine separate articles, which describe the joint actions that the three countries will take to exchange information and know-how in the field of diaspora, but also to promote their national positions.

According to the foreign ministry, “Greece, Cyprus and Armenia are committed to the joint effort for international recognition of the Pontian Genocide, the Armenian Genocide and the international condemnation of the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.”

https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece-cyprus-and-armenia-sign-mou-on-expatriates-issues/

CivilNet: Armenia’s FlyOne airline launches flights to Beirut

Hovhannisian John
CIVILNET.AM

20 Jun, 2022 10:06

  • EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar has been criticized after welcoming Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s speech, which included threats against Armenia.
  • The ruling Civil Contract party has nominated Anna Vardapetyan, Pashinyan’s assistant, to the post of Prosecutor General.
  • Armenian private airline FlyOne Armenia has launched direct flights between Yerevan and Beirut.

Ella Madatyan brings the community delectable Armenian treats with a side of hope

Hovhannisian John

June 16 2022


By SARAH GOLDMAN

 



When it comes to Armenian culture and its exquisite delicacies, CEO of Papillion Bakery Ella Madatyan, has quite literally discovered the secret sauce to her success. From the sweetest custard filled ponchiks and Nutella bread boats to cheesy potato khachapuri and freshly baked perashki stuffed to perfection with spicy pork, Papillion’s eclectic menu serves as a nod to the rich heritage and offers patrons a modern take on its traditional delights.

Born in Armenia and relocated to America at the young age of three years old, Madatyan was very close with her father and observed him closely as he opened one business after the other in search of achievement and profitability. With unwavering curiosity about how each business was operated, Madatyan began working alongside him and eventually, she attended school for marketing until her father requested that she take over one of his failing ventures—Papillion Bakery. Not only did she gain control of the business, but she used her education and knack for social media to create further awareness and transform one lacking bakery into five.

And they are all thriving.

“We have advantages now that we didn’t have before,” says Madatyan. “We can use social media platforms to engage with our customers, push new products, and get feedback.” With locations throughout Los Angeles and two additional bakeries planned to be opened next year, Papillion has been in business for nearly 15 years and has become a flourishing bakehouse for those seeking to satisfy their sweet and savory cravings while inspiring the community to acquaint themselves with Armenia’s vibrant culinary history.

“The dough is the one thing that differentiates our bakery from others,” she says. “Only two people know the recipe, and that includes myself.” Since its initial opening in 2008, Papillion has gained notable eminence from Hollywood clientele, including Kim Kardashian, and has been featured on Fox News as well as KTLA 5. In addition, the bakery has been awarded a Certificate of Recognition by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, representing the 46th California Assembly District.

Unlike many other unfortunate business owners, Madatyan’s bakeries thrived during the Covid-19 pandemic, but her former restaurant OG Wingz, suffered greatly. Despite its highly regarded mango habanero pepper sauce and unparalleled customer service, the two Hollywood-based eateries shut down due to the high overhead and diminishing clientele. While she considers this one of the biggest obstacles faced on her road to success, Madatyan never gave up.

While Madatyan genuinely enjoys working and puts her heart into everything she does, she is also a wife, a mother of three children, and is currently on the brink of launching a clothing line to help in launching a non-profit organization for domestic violence victims. Following a very difficult public divorce, Madatyan was able to utilize her platforms to speak out about her experience and quickly became as a support system to other women navigating their way out of harmful relationships.

“Women in my culture are shamed so much for leaving marriages,” she says. “We are supposed to be okay with so much and put up with a lot. It’s embedded in our brains that toxic relationships are normal. My next goal is very important to me. I eventually want a place where women can come and receive the help they need to leave toxic relationships. I want women to know they aren’t alone.”

These days, Madatyan finds herself incredibly motivated by the messages she receives on Instagram from a diversity of women searching for guidance. So, as she continues to franchise her bakeries and open the non-profit, she keeps one big goal in mind: to make the world a sweeter place—with dessert and bringing hope to the younger generation.

This article was written in cooperation with Kimberly Haddad



Armenian parliament majority discusses stripping opposition MPs of their seats

Hovhannisian John
Panorama
Armenia –

Members of the Armenian ruling Civil Contract party’s parliamentary faction are discussing the possible expulsion of opposition lawmakers, its secretary Artur Hovhannisyan said.

“The faction is discussing the matter. It’s backed by popular demand,” he told a briefing in the parliament on Thursday.

According to him, many people have laid out a demand to strip MPs from the opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs of their seats after their boycott of parliament sessions to take part in daily protests in Yerevan.

“The [Civil Contract] faction MPs have different opinions on the matter. There are discussions, but no decision has been made yet,” Hovhannisyan said.

Opposition MP reiterates need for sweeping army reforms

Hovhannisian John
Panorama
Armenia –

Tigran Abrahamyan, a lawmaker from the opposition Pativ Unem bloc, on Tuesday reiterated the need for major reforms in the Armenian army as the summer conscription kicked off in the county.

In a public post on Facebook, he wished all draftees safe service.

“Sweeping changes are needed in the army, which experts have been talking about for a long time,” the MP wrote.

Abrahamyan outlined four key factors for the military which “have nothing to do with funds, Azerbaijani threats or technical problems”.

“These factors include the spirit, will, idea and discipline. Without them, the army will not be able to solve problems regardless of the armaments, equipment or means acquired,” he stated.

Armenian PM expresses hope for opening border and establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey

Hovhannisian John

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 10:26,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented on the ongoing process of normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey in an interview to Al Jazeera, calling the current dialogue “positive” and expressing hope for achieving “tangible results”.

“We have started conversation through special representatives of Armenia and Turkey. The situation is that the conversation itself is very positive, and we hope that we will have tangible results. Now I can’t say that we have no any results because after the start of the conversation, for example, we have established direct flights between Armenia and Turkey. But it is something that we had before. I hope we will be able to establish diplomatic relations and open the border between Armenia and Turkey which is closed for thirty years”, he stated.

UK’s Johnson secures Conservative vote of confidence, remains Prime Minister

Hovhannisian John

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 11:32, 7 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS. Leader of the UK Conservative Party and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson received support of Conservative lawmakers and will remain in these offices, according to the outcome of the vote of confidence, announced by Graham Brady, leader of the 1922 Committee, reports TASS.

According to the Committee leader, who plays the key role in appointing a new party head when it becomes necessary, a total of 211 Conservative MPs voted in Johnson’s support, while 148 voted against him. In order to remain a party leader, Johnson needed to secure a simple majority of votes. The vote of confidence became necessary after 54 Conservative lawmakers expressed their discontent over the scandal around the parties that took place in the Prime Minister’s office amid Covid restrictions in 2020-2021.

Johnson has been leading the government since 2019.

Prayers Offered for ABMDR Patients and Families at Western Diocese

Hovhannisian John
by Contributor

 

 June 7, 2022

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian with representatives and supporters of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and family members at the Western Diocese. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry


LOS ANGELES—Prayers for patients of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and their families were offered on June 5 at Saint Leon Cathedral of the Western Diocese, in Burbank, California. The occasion was led by Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, who officiated the Mass at the cathedral.

In keeping with a longstanding tradition of providing ABMDR patients and families with spiritual support, various Western Diocese churches offer prayers for them on a designated Sunday every year.

In his sermon, Archbishop Derderian prayed for the speedy recovery of ABMDR patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses, including 13-year-old Alex Darbinyan. In order to survive their illnesses, the Primate explained, these patients urgently need to undergo bone marrow stem cell transplants, which would be possible only if matched bone marrow donors are found among the Armenian community.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian during Mass at Saint Leon Cathedral. To his left is Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, Catholicos Karekin II’s pontifical envoy-at-large. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Archbishop Derderian praised the thousands of supporters who registered as potential bone marrow donors at a series of donor recruitments in April, organized by the ABMDR. These events, which were held in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Watertown, Yerevan, and Gyumri, sought to find donor matches for young Alex as well as many other cancer patients. Archbishop Derderian also prayed for strength and forbearance for the families of patients.   

As he spoke of ABMDR’s mission of saving lives, Archbishop Derderian expressed admiration for the dedication of the pan-Armenian organization’s volunteers, supporters, and bone marrow donors. The Primate went on to reaffirm the Western Diocese’s strong advocacy of ABMDR’s outreach efforts, in the diaspora and the homeland alike, and urged congregants to support the organization by joining its ranks as potential bone marrow donors, for a chance to save someone’s life.

Among the congregants at St. Leon Cathedral were members of the ABMDR Board and volunteers, including Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of the organization. Following the church service, Dr. Jordan said, “It’s extremely gratifying to see our work being supported by our churches and communities. In this respect, I’d like to convey our deep gratitude to Archbishop Derderian, for his leadership and exemplary efforts in raising public awareness of our life-saving mission.”

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 32,000 donors in 44 countries across four continents, identified over 9,000 patients, and facilitated 38 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit the ABMDR website.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry Edits Lavrov’s Comments About Artsakh’s Parukh

Hovhannisian John
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Parukh village in Artsakh’s Askeran region


Russia’s foreign ministry apparently has edited comments made Thursday by the country’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov, who said that the issue of Azerbaijan’s incursion into the village of Parukh in Artsakh’s Askeran region in March will be solved within the current talks between Baku and Yerevan on delimiting and demarcating the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Lavrov, who was speaking at a press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, was specifically asked what the Russian peacekeepers were doing to de-occupy Parukh and push Azerbaijani forces back to their initial positions, since 400 residents of the area are unable to return to their homes because of Azerbaijan’s continued aggression.

“As for the situation [in Parukh], it is one of the priorities of the Russian servicemen, and our Armenian friends are very well informed about that,” said Lavrov. “There are also some results in terms of easing of tension on the ground, and we view that these issues will be observed and will be definitely solved within the launching substantive border delimitation efforts.”

Official Baku was quick to counter Lavrov’s statements, insisting that the Parukh region “has no connection with the border demarcation issues with Armenia” since it is located in Azerbaijan’s Khojalu region,

“The commissions created by Azerbaijan and Armenia are aimed at delimitating and demarcating of borders between the two countries,” Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdulayeva said in a statement.

Abdulayeva emphasized that it is not envisioned that the border process will address areas outside of the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, including those areas where Russian peacekeeping forces are temporarily being stationed.

According to a report by RFE/RL’s Armenian service, the Russian Foreign Ministry altering the Parukh reference in the text published on its official website, writing instead: “We hope that the launch of the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will contribute to the increase of trust between Baku an Yerevan and prevent incidents like Parukh in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.”

The Russian “Kommersant” newspaper, meanwhile, quoted Lavrov’s unedited statement in an article, stating that the Parukh issue has become a “sore subject” for Baku.

“In March, a confrontation almost started between the Russian peacekeepers and the Azerbaijani soldiers, who occupied the village without agreeing with Moscow. At the same time, from Baku’s point of view, the military had the right to do so, as Azerbaijani power extends to the entire territory of Karabakh,” wrote Kommersant, according to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

“Kommersant” states that the foreign ministers of both Armenia and Russia spoke with optimistic emphasis on regional developments, including the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish relations. At the same time, the article added, experts in both Yerevan and Baku do not share that optimism, saying that during recent efforts for the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict settlement, initiatives have failed many times.

Armenian President Meets Georgian Leaders in Tbilisi

Hovhannisian John
Civil Georgia
June 1 2022
01/06/2022 – 01:51

 

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has made his first bilateral visit abroad after taking office in March to Tbilisi, where he met Georgian counterpart Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

The two Presidents on May 30 discussed the prospects to develop relations between the two countries, including in transport, communications and information technology, the Armenian Presidential administration reported. They also talked about security issues in the South Caucasus.

In a joint press briefing after the conversation, President Zurabishvili asserted that the South Caucasus “faces new challenges and opportunities. ”

“The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine is a new challenge for everyone, as it violates all international norms and principles on which international order and the global security architecture are built,” she said.

The Georgian President also highlighted the “dire” situation in Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, adding that “the neglect of sovereignty and gross human rights abuses continue and intensify.”

But she said that “new opportunities for European integration for our country and for the Eastern Partnership region represent a very great chance.”

Also, President Zurabishvili stressed the role of the EU in talks between Yerevan and Baku, going on to assert that “the outcome of these negotiations lays the establishment of full peace in the region, economic development and all the new plans that affect the region and give it great prospects for the future.”

In the briefing, the Armenian President stressed that Yerevan puts “a great emphasis” on bolstering ties with Tbilisi, and stressed the importance of the recently frequent reciprocal visits of Georgian and Armenian officials.

Elaborating on discussions about cooperation in transport and communication, President Khachaturyan said the sides had talked about projects such as the Persian Gulf-International Transport corridors.

On May 31, the Georgian PM and Armenian President had a conversation about security in the South Caucasus, as well as bolstering bilateral ties in energy, transport and trade, the Georgian Government Administration’s press service reported.

In the meeting, PM Garibashvili also brought up his Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative, a proposed platform for confidence-building in the South Caucasus with the participation of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the U.S., and the EU.

Also on May 31, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and President Khachaturyan touched upon current developments in the South Caucasus and discussed steps taken to establish regional peace and stability, the Parliament’s press service reported.

The Armenian President’s administration said that the sides highlighted both countries’ interest in establishing long-term, stable peace in the region.