Moderna Therapeutics biotechnological company, co-founded and managed by Afeyan, has created a vaccine against coronavirus, which is being clinically tested in Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle (Washington State, USA) since March 17.
During the phone conversation, Noubar Afeyan has told President Sarkissian about the creation and testing of the vaccine.
ArmInfo. Ameriabank, within the framework of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), donated 20 million drams to encourage the medical staff of the Nork Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital. ArmInfo was informed about this in the press service of the bank.
Ameriabank, as an organization with high corporate responsibility, decided to provide the amount to more than 200 health workers, who these days work in conditions of overload and frequent risk. The report notes: “The Bank, guided solely by the priority of having a healthy society, believes that with joint efforts and support we can together overcome new challenges.”
These days, Ameriabank has carried out and continues to carry out a number of activities aimed at facilitating steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, as well as maintaining the health and safety of employees and customers. The Bank provides “credit holidays” (for a period of 2 months, from March 13 to May 13 – Ed. note) to individuals and legal entities, as well as preferential conditions for financial transactions through remote service systems.
To recall, Ameriabank CJSC is a universal bank providing investment, corporate and retail banking services in the form of a comprehensive package of banking solutions. The bank has been operating in the Armenian market since October 31, 1996. The shareholders of Ameriabank on January 1, 2020 are Ameria Group CY Ltd. – 56.47%, EBRD – 17.76%, Asian Development Bank – 13.94%, ESPS Holding Limited – 11.83%.
ArmInfo. Donations for the fight against coronavirus exceeded 43 million drams. According to the Ministry of Finance, as of March 18, 2:00 am, 43 million 121 thousand AMD was transferred to the account opened yesterday, with a total of 218 payments.
To recall, the Ministry of Finance opened a treasury account in order to facilitate the activities of the Ministry of Healthcare aimed at preventing and overcoming the coronavirus. Treasury account is: 900005001947; recipient: -Central Treasury. Before transferring funds, the amount must be indicated as the purpose of the transfer to contribute to the fight against coronavirus. The funds received will be used to encourage medical personnel, purchase medical supplies and equipment, as well as to improve the conditions in the buildings of medical centers. To note, according to the latest data, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Armenia has reached 84 people.
Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convened on Wednesday a working consultation with the heads of institutions under the jurisdiction of Stepanakert Municipality.
As the information department at the president’s Office reported, issues related to the process of complex activities being carried out within the framework of preventing the spread of new coronavirus and maintaining stable epidemic situation in the city were discussed during the consultation.
President Sahakyan gave relevant assignments to the attendees to provide proper and systematic solution to the issues under discussion.
Minister of State Grigory Martirosyan, Mayor of Stepanakert David Sargsyan and other officials partook at the consultation, the source said.
18:20,
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. 8 new cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number of infected to 72, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said on Facebook.
“We have 8 more confirmed cases, some of them have been under quarantine from the beginning, whereas the direct contacts of the remaining cases are being clarified. One of these new cases is connected with the case in Etchmiadzin, while the remaining 7 are contacts of a case detected in a manufacturing company in Yerevan. As of this moment, we have a total of 72 confirmed cases, 1 of whom has recovered”, the minister said.
On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, at 17:00.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenia economy ministry ‘comprehensively’ analyzing situation as ruble plummets in oil market chaos
14:57, 9 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Economy of Armenia is carrying out a comprehensive research regarding the global oil price decrease-related depreciation of the Russian ruble in order to be able to relay accurate signals to Armenian manufactures and exporters, Ministry of Economy spokesperson Anna Ohanyan told ARMENPRESS when asked how the situation could impact the Armenian economy.
Ohanyan said since Russia is Armenia’s main trade partner and the market of a significant portion of Armenian products is the Eurasian Economic Union, namely Russia, therefore the changes taking place there can’t bypass the Armenian economy.
“The ruble’s depreciation in other equal conditions against other main currencies could impact Armenian producers’ competitiveness. Everything depends on to what extent these changes are short-term or long-term. Given the fact the changes were preceded with global oil price declines, we should wait for the ruble’s purchasing power to get restored together with the oil prices,” Ohanyan said.
She noted that short-term assessment can’t reflect all sides of the situation in such events. “Therefore we are comprehensively analyzing the situation in order to relay accurate signals to our producers and exporters,” Ohanyan said, adding that the economy ministry is closely following the developments and soon they will present their assessments in order for the expectations in the private sector to be objective and in line with the situation.
“It is obvious that the developments seen these days once again emphasize the importance of diversification of our products and export markets,” Ohanyan added.
Oil prices suffered an historic collapse overnight after Saudi Arabia shocked the market by launching a price war against onetime ally Russia.
The Russian ruble plummeted almost 10% overnight, falling to its lowest level in more than four years, as oil prices crashed following the breakdown of the Russia-Saudi Arabia pact to limit production.
The ruble was trading at a low of 74.9 to $1 on Monday morning.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Secretary Pompeo calls for release of US citizens detained in Iran
10:16, 11 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Iran to release the US citizens who are currently detained, reports CNN.
“Reports that COVID-19 has spread to Iranian prisons are deeply troubling and demand nothing less than the full and immediate release of all American citizens”, Pompeo said.
“Our response will be decisive”, Pompeo warned in a statement.
At least four Americans are imprisoned in Iran, which has had more than 8,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 300 deaths.
Courts across Iran have granted eligible inmates furlough as part of the measures to contain coronavirus in the country.
Pompeo said the furlough of tens of thousands of prisoners demonstrated Iran’s “ability to grant clemency and show mercy”.
The English translation of Bedros Keljik’s “Armenian-American Sketches”
FRESNO—Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno, announced that the English translation of Bedros Keljik’s “Armenian-American Sketches” has been published by the Armenian Series of The Press at Fresno State.
“Keljik’s stories offer us a glimpse into the soul of the Armenian people, whether in their historic homeland or finding their way in America,” noted Eastern Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan.
Co-editor Lou Ann Matossian familiarizes the reader to Keljik in her introduction. She discusses how author, activist, and entrepreneur Bedros Arakel Keljik (1874–1959) belongs to the founding generation of Armenian-American authors, yet his “sketches” of early immigrant life are only now emerging. Keljik was a maternal uncle of Vahan Totovents, author of “Life on the Old Roman Road” and other works. He was also the elder brother of novelist and poet Krikor Keljik, also known as “K. Devrish.”
A foreword by co-editor Christopher Atamian discusses the genesis of the book and the significance of its publication. He places Keljik’s works in the early history of Armenian-American literature. Atamian also notes the role of translator Aris Sevag, whose meticulous work has brought Keljik’s work to life.
“Armenian-American Sketches” includes 29 short stories written originally in Armenian by Bedros Keljik. Twenty of the short stories were translated by Aris Sevag, one by Lou Ann Matossian, and eight of the stories originally published in “Hairenik” were translated by Vartan Matiossian.
The volume also includes an enlightening biography of Keljik, “An Armenian Odyssey: From the Euphrates to the Mississippi,” written by his grandchildren, Mark and Thomas Keljik. Roupen Zartarian’s “How Death Came to the Earth,” translated by Bedros Keljik, is also part of the volume.
Edited by Christopher Atamian, Lou Ann Matossian, and Barlow Der Mugrdechian, “Armenian-American Sketches” provides a wealth of interesting stories about the early Armenian community in America.
Armenians began arriving to America in large numbers at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. They established themselves in communities throughout the United States, maintaining their Armenian culture, while also becoming acclimated to life in America. In “Armenian-American Sketches,” author Keljik brings to life this period in Armenian-American history. With keen observation, Keljik provides the reader with an often-humorous insight into that life, with all of its sadness and joy, with the sense of community, and with the hard work and challenges faced by the immigrants. This is a book that will appeal to any reader who seeks to understand the immigrant experience in the United States.
The English translation of “Armenian-American Sketches” is available through Amazon.
Contact The Press at California State University, Fresno, by calling 559.278.3056. Bulk publishing discounts are available for bookstores.
General inquiries may also be directed to the Armenian Studies Program, at 559.278.2669.
The English translation of “Armenian-American Sketches” by Bedros Keljik; edited by Christopher Atamian, Lou Ann Matossian, and Barlow Der Mugrdechian (9 x 6, 195 pp. $20.00 paper, ISBN 13: 978-0-912201-61-0) has been published as Volume 8 in the Armenian Series, of The Press at California State University, Fresno.
A retired gendarmerie intelligence officer, allegedly involved in the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, has been murdered in the Black Sea province of Düzce.
Former intelligence officer Şeref Ateş was released from prison in December 2017 after being arrested as part of the case into the murder of the journalist.
The prosecutor’s office had claimed that Ateş was in contact with people who had been scouting around Dink’s home and publishing house for the planning and implementation of his murder.
He was targeted by an armed attack while driving his car in the Çavuşlar neighborhood on March 11, according to reports.
The emergency teams dispatched to the scene determined that Ateş had been shot dead and found body drenched in blood in his car.
The car belonging to the suspects reported by the residents was detected by the security forces a few hours after the assassination.
While the three people in the vehicle were taken into custody, the vehicle was taken to the Düzce Police Department for examination.
Dink, the editor-in-chief of the Istanbul-based Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, was shot dead at the age of 52 in broad daylight by an ultranationalist outside his office in central Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007.
Ogün Samast, then a 17-year-old jobless high-school dropout, confessed to the killing and was sentenced to almost 23 years in jail back in 2011.
The case grew into a wider scandal after it emerged that security forces had been aware of a plot to kill Dink but failed to act.