Author: Hovhannisian John

EU condemns coup in Myanmar, calls for release of all detainees

Hovhannisian John

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 13:12, 1 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel condemned the military’s seizure of power in Myanmar and demanded the immediate release of all those it had detained in raids across the country, Reuters reports.

“I strongly condemn the coup in Myanmar,” Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, and called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all those detained.

Charles Michel also commented on the incident. “I strongly condemn the coup in Myanmar and call on the military to release all who have been unlawfully detained in raids across the country. The outcome of the elections has to be respected and democratic process needs to be restored”, he said on Twitter.

Polish politician Tomasz Lech Buczek sends brochure on Azerbaijani war crimes against Armenians to Biden

Hovhannisian John
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 5 2021

Polish lawyer and politician Tomasz Lech Buczek has penned a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to take steps to free Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

Buczek also attached a publication on Azerbaijani war crimes against Armenians. He had earlier sent a copy to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you, first of all, as an ordinary person, a Polish citizen by chance born on July 4, on a day so special for the history of the United States.

I am fighting for the truth to prevail. Artsakh, who fought for Independence, this small piece of Armenian sacred land.

On February 3, I received a very personal letter from Mrs Armine of Stepanakert, an Armenian mother.

During the Nagorno-Karabakh war, she lost her son and husband, and the youngest son, 19, was taken prisoner by Azerbaijan. In this letter, she stated that this letter was a Great Hope for Her, because as a simple woman she did not know who to turn to for help.

Then I remembered the letter. The Bixby letter a brief, consoling message sent by President Abraham Lincoln in November 1864 to Lydia Parker Bixby, a widow living in Boston, Massachusetts, who was thought to have lost five sons in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam, I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln

I replied to Ms Armine quoting this letter and added one sentence – only one that I would do everything to free the Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

In the twenty-first century, the world cannot accept the violation of fundamental human rights. The world must take steps to free the Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

To this letter, I attach my evidence-based publication on the Azerbaijani War Crimes against the Armenians in Karabakh 2020.

Armenian minister, Russian Ambassador discuss bilateral economic cooperation

Hovhannisian John

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 15:46, 5 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan received Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopykin and his delegation in order to discuss the process and prospects of the Armenian-Russian commercial cooperation, the ministry told Armenpress.

“Armenia’s partnership with Russia is developing successfully, however there is potential to further deepen it. We are planning to develop a multi-sector cooperation agenda with Russia, and I hope it will contribute to intensifying the economic ties between the two countries”, the Armenian minister said.

In his turn the Russian Ambassador said that economy is among the priority fields of the bilateral cooperation, adding that it’s time to think of strengthening the economic ties and further intensifying them, which will lead to the attraction of new investments.

The minister shared the view of the Ambassador and highlighted creation of business financing infrastructure in Armenia.

Thereafter, the sides discussed a number of issues relating to the Armenian-Russian economic cooperation.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Opposition’s PM nominee accuses Armenian authorities of ‘deliberately’ losing war in Artsakh

Hovhannisian John
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 26 2021

During the previous war in Artsakh, the people were aware of all developments on the frontline and Armenia managed to secure a victory, but it was not the case in the recent autumn war, Vazgen Manukyan, the joint candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for interim prime minister, told a meeting with residents of Armenia’s Ararat Province on Tuesday.

According to Manukyan, while Azerbaijan was preparing for victory in the war, Armenia was preparing for defeat.

He condemned the prosecution and arrests of army generals by the authorities in 2018 over alleged corruption offences, adding it caused distrust in the military.

The opposition leader believes the modernization of the army was another step that led Armenia to defeat.

“In 2016, Azerbaijan attempted an attack, but realized that it was facing the army which had defeated the country in 1994 and stopped the war. We, in turn, realized what could await us during the next war – use of UAVs, new technologies, but no steps were taken in that direction,” he stated.

He said the former Armenian authorities sought to acquire Tor missile systems to guard against UAVs, however after the change of government the arms purchase plan was revised and, instead, the authorities decided to purchase “toy” airplanes.

“These planes were of no use during the war and were never used. On October 3, France proposed to provide us with weapons to protect against the drones, but we refused. On October 11, France reiterated its offer, but we again turned it down,” he said.

Referring to the recent interview of the former Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, Vazgen Manukyan highlighted the part in which he said that they failed to control the armed forces regularly.

“Reserve forces were taken to forests and left there, with one of the members tasked to lead the groups. It was not a war; it was a slaughterhouse,” he said. “Secret talks were held, due to which Shushi was handed over to the enemy. Russia repeatedly proposed to stop the war, but they [the authorities] did not agree. On the 4th day of the war, the chief of the General Staff [of the Armenian Armed Forces] and the Artsakh leadership called for stopping the war and making concessions, but they did not agree. This was a deliberately defeated war aimed at getting rid of Artsakh,” Vazgen Manukyan said.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 29-01-21

Hovhannisian John

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 17:32,

YEREVAN, 29 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.11 drams to 518.27 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.23 drams to 627.83 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 6.80 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.43 drams to 708.16 drams.

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

Gold price down by 41.75 drams to 30887.77 drams. Silver price down by 3.15 drams to 419.99 drams. Platinum price down by 246.04 drams to 18162.41 drams.


Asbarez: Hoops 4 Hayastan Hosts an Incredible All-Star Weekend

Hovhannisian John

January 14,  2020



The Hoops 4 Armenia team

Hoops 4 Hayastan, a sports-focused non-profit organization founded in 2017 by two Armenian-American members of that year’s Armenian National Basketball team, just wrapped up its biggest fundraiser, successfully raising about $50,000 last weekend. The initial goal of raising a total of $10,00 t0 12,000 during the three-day event was surpassed the very first night.

Fundraising events don’t get any more exciting for today’s youth than the one organized by the seven-member team of Hoops 4 Hayastan (H4H). Targeted ideally for its sports minded followers, H4H hosted brief interesting interviews with an amazing group of movers and shakers in the sports world. Guests included well known current professional athletes, well-respected sports veterans, business professionals in the sports field, coaches, and sports enthusiasts. The fundraiser was hosted via Instagram Live over three evenings last weekend. The informal and relaxed vibe created by the H4H hosts with their guests kept the atmosphere fun, upbeat and friendly.

More than twenty-five interesting guests shared their inspiring stories, career highlights/challenges, and advice for today’s youth who are interested in sports. Many of them expressed heartfelt messages for the youth to pursue their dreams with hard work and determination, while remembering to care about the world around them and giving back to their communities. Hundreds of viewers from all over the country and some from as far away as Brazil watched the exciting live program and many of them participated by offering live comments and questions for the guests and the hosts.

The two co-founders of Hoops 4 Hayastan, Garen Spendjian from New York and Matt Madoian from Rhode Island, described to the guests and viewers, how after their first visit to play in a basketball tournament in Armenia, they both realized that as in most developing countries, soccer was the main team sport in Armenia (especially in villages), and that most other sports were individual ones. Contrary to soccer which in its most basic form requires an open field and a ball, basketball requires a proper outdoor or indoor court, hoops, basketballs, etc. As big lovers of basketball, they decided to find a way to bring the love of the game to the villages of Armenia.

During the next two years, they expanded the H4H team to five members who all loved the game and the mission of H4H. Joining the team were Aram Spendjian from New York, Vigen Sarkisov from Boston, and Arakel Aristakessian from the San Francisco Bay Area. This ‘starting five’ organized a few small fundraisers, collected gently used athletic shoes from their local Armenian communities and after their summer tournaments in Armenia, visited a few schools in villages and distributed shoes and uniforms to the local children.

These experiences of interacting with the children and seeing the happiness in their young excited faces, were life changing for the H4H team. They realized then and there that this was going to be their mission as Armenian Americans and lovers of basketball. They decided to double their efforts, add a few more basketball enthusiasts to the team and focus on larger fundraising efforts so they could take on bigger projects in the villages, such as renovating or building gyms and possibly finding sponsors to bring basketball shoes, uniforms, gear, etc. to the villages of Armenia.

In 2020, two more members joined the team from the San Francisco Bay Area. Sisters Natalie and Claudia Leist, also lovers of basketball and whose careers are in the sports field, became the newest members to join the team of five guys. Although due to COVID, the team didn’t travel to Armenia, they made the most of their time while working from home and met regularly via Zoom calls to discuss future projects and potential fundraising events.

In 2020, fundraising events via Instagram Live had become very popular. The H4H team began discussing the possibility of planning such a fundraising event for their future projects as well. Having team members who have made connections with professional athletes and coaches during their basketball careers or through their current jobs in the sports field, they brainstormed potential guests for such an event. Before too long, an impressive list of guests emerged and an exciting IG Live fundraiser was planned for January 2021.

The list of amazing guests included current and retired, well known professional basketball players such as Danny Green, Eric Paschall, Damion Lee, Glenn Robinson III, Will Magnay, Carlos Boozer, Jason Smith, John Petrucelli, Troy Caupain, and Patrick Rembert. From the NFL, great guests included retired players Andrew Hawkins, Will Blackmon, Lance Moore and Justin Forsett.  Other awesome athletes and personalities who joined the Live event were Olympic gymnast Houry Gebeshian, MMA fighters Georgi Karakhanyan and Katlyn Chookagian, NBA Assist. Coach Rex Kalamian, Dir. of Football for the Patriots Berj Najarian, Former pro Soccer Player Alecko Eskandarian, NBA Asst. Coach Jay Hernandez.

Many professionals in the sports field also joined, including, Allie Clifton, Christian Endrigian, Ariana Andonian, Careen Chapjian, Blaise Ffrench, and basketball enthusiast and Michigan State Representative, Mari Manoogian. Not only were they all gracious guests and warmly engaged with the hosts and viewers, but many of them generously donated to the H4H cause and urged everyone watching to do the same.

This Hoops 4 Hayastan All-Star Weekend truly lived up to its name and was incredibly successful in every way. It not only surpassed all fundraising expectations of the H4H team members, but provided an amazing opportunity for all the viewers to relax safely at home, tune in to Instagram, enjoy hearing inspiring stories from many role models for those who are lovers of sports, and to donate to an amazing cause that will bring the joy of the sport of basketball to underserved kids in the villages of Armenia.

The H4H team deserves much appreciation and gratitude for their weeks of planning, excellent preparation of material and questions for the guests, and for their heartwarming dedication to bring the love of sports to our youth in Armenia.

Hoops 4 Hayastan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Please visit their website and social media pages to learn more about them, to contact them and to support their great efforts.

Connect with Hoops 4 Hayastan through its website and on Facebook and Instagram.




31 years after Baku pogrom Azerbaijan continues the policy of ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh

Hovhannisian John
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 13 2021
To date, Azerbaijan continues the policy of ethnic cleansing and annihilating Armenians in Artsakh, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the 31rd anniversary of the Baku pogroms.
 
“Thirty-one years ago, the international community witnessed another crime against the Armenian population of Azerbaijan: the Armenian population which was an essential part of then Baku’s multicultural identity was subjected to the massacres and mass deportation carried out with particular cruelty. Hundreds were murdered, maimed, many went missing, tens of thousands became refugees. The anti-Armenian massacres in Baku of January, 1990, completed the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Azerbaijan,” the Foreign Ministry said.
 
It stressed that the anti-Armenian policy of the authorities of Azerbaijan targeted not only the Armenian population living and prospering in Baku for centuries, but also the Armenian historical-cultural heritage of the city.
 
“So far, the masterminds and perpetrators of the anti-Armenian massacres in Baku have not been held accountable, and they continue to be glorified as heroes,” the statement reads.
 
“Moreover, to date, Azerbaijan continues the very policy of ethnic cleansing and annihilating Armenians in Artsakh. A vivid evidence of that is the wiping out of the entire Armenian population from the territories that fell under the Azerbaijani control, which was carried out through massive war crimes and ethnic cleansing,” the Foreign Ministry said.
 
“Today by paying tribute to the innocent victims of the anti-Armenian massacres in Baku, we once again emphasize the joint commitment of the Republic of Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenians all over the world to ensure the right of all Armenians to free, secure and dignified life in their homeland,” it concluded.
 

Pashinyan: I am very glad that we achieved at least some result after these talks

Hovhannisian John
News.am, Armenia
Jan 11 2021
21:06, 11.01.2021
Region:Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia
 
I am very glad that we achieved at least some result after these talks, and it’s very important. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during the bilateral meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, referring to the results of the trilateral meeting with the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan.
 
“I am certain that the agreements formulated in our joint statement can seriously help change the economy in the region and seriously increase the potential for investments…However, in my opinion, the economic issues will become difficult to solve, if the humanitarian issues aren’t solved and, of course, as I already said, the humanitarian issue related to the exchange of prisoners of war, missing persons and bodies of deceased is the most sensitive and most painful issue for us Armenians.
 
I would like to thank you for supporting this position. Of course, your personal contribution to the peace process is very, very tangible, especially now after the well-known events. I am certain that the relations between Armenia and Russia will grow deeper. Russia has been and remains Armenia’s key strategic ally…also in the security sector. Of course, we need to discuss not only the future of the region, but also the agenda for bilateral relations, and I am glad for this meeting and this opportunity,” Pashinyan said.

Armenian prime minister self-isolates, skips Christmas service

Hovhannisian John
Business Recorder
Jan 6 2021
  • “Due to the epidemiological situation the prime minister is in self-isolation,” press secretary Mane Gevorgyan said.
AFP 06 Jan 2021

YEREVAN: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan — who faced backlash over a peace deal that ended recent fighting in the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh — did not attend a Christmas service on Wednesday and is currently self-isolating, his press secretary said.

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6 and on Wednesday a national church service was led by the country’s religious leader Catholicos Garegin.

The service held in the largest cathedral of the capital Yerevan is usually attended by the country’s leadership and Pashinyan’s presence was expected.

“Due to the epidemiological situation the prime minister is in self-isolation,” press secretary Mane Gevorgyan said.

Gevorgyan did not specify whether the prime minister, who already had the coronavirus last June, had tested positive again.

Early Wednesday morning, several dozen opposition activists gathered outside the cathedral saying they would not allow “traitor Pashinyan to enter a holy place”.

Pashinyan has been under fire at home over the controversial peace deal with Azerbaijan that ended weeks of clashes over the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Under the Moscow-brokered accord that was signed in November, Armenia agreed to cede swathes of territory to Baku that had been controlled by Armenian separatists since the 1990s.

For weeks, protesters staged rallies against the ceasefire agreement and demanded Pashinyan’s resignation.

During Wednesday’s service, Catholicos Garegin spoke about the “martyrdom” of those who died in Karabakh and the “pain and sorrow” of the Armenians who were forced to flee their homes in the region.

He said the events of the Karabakh war had turned the life of Armenians at home and abroad into an “impenetrable, dark night”.

The influential leader of the Armenian church had earlier spoken in favour of Pashinyan’s resignation.

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkisian was also absent from Wednesday’s service as he tested positive for the coronavirus earlier in January and is self-isolating in London where he was spending the holidays with his family.

The small Caucasus country, home to around three million people, has struggled to contain the effects of the pandemic, which was further aggravated by the six weeks of fighting over Karabakh.

On Wednesday official figures showed the country has so far registered over 160,000 cases, 2,890 of them fatal.


Human rights advocate: Ottoman Empire’s genocide against Armenians should teach us about cost of doing nothing

Hovhannisian John
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 29 2020
Politics 11:07 29/12/2020 Armenia

The case of the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against the Armenians is a case that should teach us about the cost of doing nothing, Ewelina U. Ochab, a human rights advocate, author and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response, said in an article on Forbes on Monday.

The Armenian Genocide took place between 1915 and 1923 when 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were arrested, deported or murdered by the Ottoman Empire. Currently, some 32 countries recognize the events as meeting the legal definition of genocide.

“The official recognition of historic cases as genocide is not a matter of semantics. Such an official recognition is crucial for survivors and their families in their efforts to move on. It is crucial for reconciliation and discovery of the truth. It is also crucial to deter similar crimes in the future, to ensure that such atrocities do not happen again. As we witness some concerning signs that the atrocities may happen again, we see little political will to engage and prevent the atrocities from materializing,” the author said.

“The question is then, why there is no political will to prevent genocide and address it once it occurs?

“For many of us, genocide happens far from home, and falls within the purview of “foreign policy.” As such, genocide is not a top priority for politicians. Ultimately, politicians rely on their electorate in their respective countries. If the people who choose politicians do not raise the issue, do not show that this is what they want their politicians to engage with, nothing will be done. The question is then how to engage the general public on the topic of genocide?” she added

According to the human rights advocate, “to address the general lack of interest in early warning signs and risk factors of genocide, some public figures have become more vocal on the issue, for example in the recent case of the atrocities in Nagorno-Karabkh.”

“Artists and celebrities such as Cher and Kim Kardashian, with millions of fans and followers on social media, have been speaking out about the deteriorating situation. Others, such as the heavy metal band System Of A Down, turned their messages into music. Amid the deteriorating situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, System Of A Down released two singles, “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” to engage the public and to raise funds to help those affected. The two singles have raised over $600,000 for the Armenia Fund. Members of the band have also been using their social media presence to inform their followers about the situation in Nagorno-Karabkh and the concerning developments as the situation was deteriorating. Their engagement and important voice on the issue shows that raising awareness of genocide is not a matter to be left to legal experts, researcher and journalists only. In fact, in order to turn the slogan of “Never Again” into reality, everyone needs to play their part. Genocide prevention is not a job of a few, it is a job for the whole humanity,” Ochab wrote.