Author: Kalashian Nyrie

 13:28, 5 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, accompanied by the top officials of the ministry, visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the National Hero of Armenia, Hero of Artsakh, Vazgen Sargsyan, the ministry said.

March 5 is the birthday of Commander Vazgen Sargsyan. He would have turned 63 today.

The Defense Minister and other officials laid flowers at the tombs of Vazgen Sargsyan and the servicemen fallen for the defense of the homeland.

Press Contact:

Shant Sahakian, Executive Director

Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California

(818) 644-2214

[email protected]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ARMENIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM HOSTS CONCRETE POURING CEREMONY

 

Glendale, CA (February 22, 2022) – The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California celebrated the first concrete pour of the historic project by hosting a Concrete Pouring Ceremony at the construction site of the landmark center at Glendale Central Park.

 

Executive Director Shant Sahakian officially kicked off the Concrete Ceremony by welcoming the Board of Trustees, Board of Governors, Construction Committee, and government officials to the construction site.

 

“Today, we are one step closer to the dream of the Armenian American Museum and we are all so privileged that the museum is going to be in the City of Glendale,” stated Glendale Mayor Paula Devine. Mayor Devine was joined by her colleagues on the Glendale City Council including Councilmember Ara Najarian, Councilmember Vrej Agajanian, Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian, and Councilmember Daniel Brotman as well as City Manager Roubik Golanian.

 

“The concrete pouring is a historic milestone that represents the foundation of the museum and a symbol of unity for the Armenian community here in Los Angeles and throughout the world,” stated Ambassador Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles.

 

“The Armenian American Museum will serve as a hub and stand forever as a center that celebrates the rich culture and history of the Armenian people and brings our diverse communities together,” stated Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian.

 

The historic milestone was commemorated with a prayer led by the Board of Trustees Co-Chairs including Archbishop Hovnan Derderian representing the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Bishop Torkom Donoyan representing the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, and Bishop Mikael Mouradian representing the Armenian Catholic Eparchy.

 

Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian expressed appreciation to the many donors, supporters, community members, and government partners who have contributed to the project. He reflected on the moment when the vision for the Armenian American Museum project was first formally discussed during an early meeting of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA’s Landmark Subcommittee on January 13, 2014. He announced that the Concrete Pouring Ceremony will conclude with the burial of a time capsule featuring the official minutes of that meeting to forever be part of the foundation of the cultural and educational center.

 

The time capsule burial was led by Executive Vice Chairman Zaven Kazazian, Architect Aram Alajajian, and Construction Committee Member Hrair Balian who were part of the founding committee with Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian.

 

The Concrete Pouring Ceremony followed a series of construction site visits by Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Anthony J. Portantino, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the Glendale City Council to witness the progress on the project.

 

The Armenian American Museum will be hosting its Legacy Gala on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. The event will pay tribute to the visionary benefactors and supporters who are building a legacy of education, preservation, and cultural enrichment for generations to come.

 

For more information, visit https://www.ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org.

 

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 12:24, 25 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, ARMENPRESS. Ukrainian forces neutralized the Russian troops who had and were heading to Kiev, according to Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar.

 11:42,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. A stable decline in COVID-19 cases is being observed in Armenia in the past several weeks, Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.

“Yesterday 4759 citizens were tested, the new cases are 946, we have 24 deaths. At this moment Omicron variant’s BA.1 and BA.2 sub-strains are being circulated in Armenia. Every week we carry out sample tests, and it seems the Delta variant has been completely pushed out under the influence of the Omicron variant”, the Minister said, adding that in case of being infected with Omicron variant citizens more easily overcome the virus, however, she informed that death cases have also been registered.

The Minister urges to keep the vigilance and quickly organize the vaccinations of especially the elderly people and those with chronic diseases.

“Among citizens over 60, 40% have been vaccinated. This figure has increased over the past 1-2 months, but we make all efforts to raise the vaccination rates. A total of 1 million 80 thousand 15 citizens received their first dose of the vaccine, which comprises 47.9% of the adult population. 905 thousand 624 citizens received the second dose, which comprises 40% of the adult population. We also conduct booster shot vaccinations. 20,196 citizens have received the booster shot”, Anahit Avanesyan said.

She informed that the process of reducing the number of beds for COVID-19 patients in hospitals will start soon.

CIVILNET.AM

 19:29,

YEREVAN, 21 FEBRUARY, ARMENPERESS. The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugantsk Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik asked the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk, ARMENPRESS reports “RIA Novosti” writes.

The leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk asked Vladimir Putin also to consider the opportunity to reach a cooperation agreement, as well as prospects of the field of defense.

 18:17,

YEREVAN, 15 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake gave an interview to the Turkish state news agency “Anadolu”, during which commented on the process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, ARMENPRESS reports, the Turkish “Anadolu” news agency reports.

Flake described the efforts aimed at normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia as “wonderful development”.

 “We welcome those steps, including the meetings (meaning of the special representatives – edited) in Moscow and Vienna. These are, surely, courageous steps. An important step is also the restoration of flights between Istanbul and Yerevan”, said the Ambassador.

Baku’s goal is to commit cultural genocide – Armenia-Greece Friendship Association

 18:36, 8 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-Greece Friendship Association (AGFA) has condemned in a statement the initiative of the Azerbaijani government to establish a working group to eliminate the Armenian presence from Armenian churches, ARMENPRESS reports the Armenian Embassy in Greece presented the statement on its Facebook page.

“The Armenia-Greece Friendship Association condemns the initiative of the Azerbaijani government to set up a working group to destroy the Armenian presence from the Armenian temples in the territories occupied by Azerbaijan under the pretext that those temples belonged to the Caucasian Albanian Church,” reads the statement.

According to them, the reality is that the Albanian Church in the Caucasus was an autonomous church, established for a short time in the 5th century, and in 705 it was subordinated to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Albanian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405. “Therefore, it is almost impossible for the Armenian Church to use Albanian temples. It is obvious that Baku’s goal is to commit another cultural genocide through the action of cultural fascism,” the statement reads.

The Armenia-Greece Friendship Association condemned the act and called on the UNESCO and other international organizations to take a stand and do everything possible to prevent it.

 20:53, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. A bipartisan group of over 50 U.S. Representatives joined Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in pressing the U.S. Departments of State and Defense to block the sale of next-generation U.S. F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey President Erdogan’s increasingly hostile regime, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian National Committee of America.

“We strongly urge you to reject Turkey’s request for new F-16s and modernization kits and take immediate action to hold the Erdogan regime accountable,” states the February 4th Congressional letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. “The United States must not provide any further support to Turkey’s military until President Erdogan takes tangible steps to halt his destabilizing actions and violations of international law at home and abroad. Precedent shows that he will not change his behavior until the United States uses all its diplomatic tools, including targeted economic sanctions.”

Since rumors of Turkey’s request to purchase 40 F-16 fighters and 80 F-16 modernization kits surfaced in October 2021, a number of Congressional initiatives have called for clarification of the White House position on the sale and announced efforts to block the effort. In November, over 40 U.S. House members cosigned a letter led by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Bilirakis and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), concerned that such a sale would be in violation of CAATSA laws. “We share your goal of a Turkey that is rooted to the West, but we will not achieve that goal if the Erdogan government escapes accountability for violating U.S. law and the standards of the NATO alliance,” argued the Representatives. The House members requested “a formal notification of any Turkish Letter of Request (LOR), the specifics of such an LOR, the Administration’s position on such an LOR, and responses to our specific objections.”

A separate letter led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and cosigned by 10 House colleagues last October also urged President Biden and Secretary Blinken to refuse Turkey’s request. “As long as President Erdogan advances his expansionist project in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey will continue to threaten our national security and the security of our closest allies in the region – Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. We urge you to act in our national interest and for the sake of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean by refusing to reinforce Turkey’s aging arsenal of fighter jets, and we look forward to receiving your response,” stated the Malliotakis letter.