Author: Kanayan Tamar

Blinken accuses Russia of ‘weaponizing food’ with move to halt Ukraine grain deal

Kanayan Tamar

 10:27,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday accused Russia of “weaponizing food” after Moscow halted its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has kept food supplies flowing out of Ukraine despite the war.

The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

“So the result of Russia’s action today – weaponizing food, using it as a tool, as a weapon in its war against Ukraine – will be to make food harder to come by in places that desperately need it, and have prices rise.  We’re already seeing the market react to this as prices are going up,” Blinken said at a press conference.

He said that the deal had a “tremendously positive benefit”.

The U.S. Secretary of State added that Washington and Kiev ‘will look at whether there are any other options’.

“….the Ukrainians and we, others will look at whether there are any other options, but the challenge is this:  If Russia is ending this initiative and sending a message that grain cannot and other food products cannot leave Ukraine unimpeded, even if there are other options, I think it will likely have a profound chilling effect on the ability to pursue them as other countries, companies, shippers, et cetera will be very concerned about what happens to their ships and to their personnel if Russia is opposing the – any export of food products from Ukraine.  The whole point of this was to have a voluntary agreement that involved all of the relevant parties that was endorsed by the United Nations to make sure that there was safety, security, predictability in moving food out of Ukraine and to places that were desperately in need of it. So in the absence of that, I think, yes, we’ll look at – to see what else can be done to find other ways to get Ukrainian food products on the world market, including, again, as we’ve, as Ukraine has already been doing, moving things out through rail and by road.  But in terms of the volumes necessary, it’s really hard to replace what’s now being lost as a result of Russia weaponizing food,” he said.

Moscow announced on Monday it wouldn’t extend the Ukraine grain deal over alleged non-compliance by other parties. In a statement reported by RT, the Russian Foreign Ministry added that Russia will no longer provide security guarantees for civilian vessels traversing the formerly exempted corridor in the Black Sea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that this latest decision “means the recall of maritime navigation security guarantees, the discontinuation of the maritime humanitarian corridor [and] the reinstatement of the ‘temporarily dangerous area’ regime in the north-western Black Sea.” Russian diplomats went on to accuse Ukraine of using the humanitarian corridor to carry out attacks on Russian targets.  

As for the Ukrainian grain shipments that were facilitated by the deal, the ministry claimed that the vast majority of those ended up in Europe, with several countries there allegedly lining their pockets.  

The statement pointed out that the whole mechanism, which was launched last summer, had ostensibly been designed to help avert famine in poorer nations.

AW: AYF Camp Haiastan establishes new tradition with Armenia Tree Project

Kanayan Tamar
 Armenia Tree Project Nonprofit News, Diaspora, Youth 0

Camp Haiastan Wishing Tree

Franklin, Mass.—Since 1951, AYF Camp Haiastan has welcomed campers to the shores of Uncas Pond for an enjoyable experience. Campers experience all the fun activities of summer camp while learning about their Armenian heritage, making friends from all over the Armenian diaspora and creating lifelong memories. This summer, Armenia Tree Project helped campers create a new memory by creating a wishing tree tradition.

Campers in the Teen Session, ages 15 and 16, learn about organizations working in Armenia and the diaspora. Armenia Tree Project’s (ATP) team was invited to join the campers and discuss ATP’s work. ATP was founded in 1994 but is part of a strong tradition in Armenia’s long history of valuing trees and nature. Armenians have always cherished their connection with trees. Pre-Christian and early Christian Armenian art prominently features the tree of life and pomegranate trees. Ancient kings of Armenia, notably Anushavan Sosanver, were dedicated to a cult of plane trees and believed that sounds made by the rustling of the leaves were messages from the divine.

Throughout Armenia to this day, a visitor may find trees or shrubs near churches which are covered in strips of cloth. These are wishing trees, an ancient practice which has continued throughout the Christian era. Each cloth tied to a branch represents a wish or prayer. For example, a piece of clothing belonging to a sick family member may be tied to a branch along with a wish for restored health.

After explaining the work of ATP and the wishing tree tradition, the ATP team gave each camper a ribbon and asked them to write their wish or prayer on it. The wish could be for themselves, their family, Camp Haiastan or Armenia. Some campers shared their wishes with the group, while others preferred to keep them private. A few wishes shared were “for the safety of the soldiers in Armenia;” “that I might visit Armenia someday;” and “for my family to be healthy and happy.”

The campers tied their wish ribbons to the branches of the designated tree, each taking a moment to silently share their wish with the tree. They were reminded that each time they visit Camp and pass by the tree, they should reflect on their wish, allowing the tree to serve as a reminder of hope and the importance of following your dreams.

“This was an especially meaningful activity for the Teen Session campers. For many of them, this is their final summer as campers and they are thinking a lot about what the future holds while reflecting on the great memories they’ve created at Camp Haiastan,” Camp director Nairi Koroghlian said. “We look forward to continuing this tradition with ATP every year.”

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Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is a non-profit program based in Woburn and Yerevan conducting vitally important environmental projects in Armenia’s cities and villages and seeks support in advancing its reforestation mission. Since 1994, ATP has planted and restored more than 6,000,000 trees, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs.


Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 17-07-23

Kanayan Tamar

 17:37,

YEREVAN, 17 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 386.14 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.57 drams to 433.67 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.27 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.18 drams to 504.92 drams.

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

Gold price down by 45.82 drams to 24254.58 drams. Silver price up by 6.43 drams to 307.51 drams.

Armenpress: EU’s Michel emphasizes the need to unblock the Lachin Corridor. details from the trilateral meeting in Brussels

Kanayan Tamar

 20:33,

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, considers it necessary to unblock the Lachin corridor and notes that the created situation is not in the interests of any party, the correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Brussels that Michel made such a statement in a conversation with journalists after the tripartite meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.

“Clear steps were discussed to help the situation return to its normal course again. I emphasized the need to open the Lachin Corridor, noted Azerbaijan’s readiness to deliver humanitarian aid through Aghdam. The European Union continues to be involved in order to start negotiations between the representatives of the former autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku, which is important for discussing the rights and security issues of the local Armenian population,” said the President of the European Council.

The President of the European Council drew attention to the fact that the people of Nagorno Karabakh are facing a humanitarian crisis and emphasized that the current situation around the Lachin Corridor is unstable.

According to him, at the meeting, the parties reaffirmed that they recognize each other’s territorial integrity.

The President of the European Council added that the delimitation of the borders, which has become the subject of discussion, should be carried out according to the Almaty Declaration. Michel emphasized that the issues of prisoners and soldiers who crossed over to the other side by mistake were discussed at the tripartite meeting.

Michel reminded that another five-party (Armenia, Azerbaijan, EU, France, Germany) meeting with the participation of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned in the fall in Granada.

Nagorno-Karabakh Separatists Urge Russia to Open Corridor to Armenia

Kanayan Tamar

Voice of America
AFP –
YEREVAN, ARMENIA — 

A separatist official in Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan on Thursday called on Russia to ensure free movement on the only road linking the breakaway region to Armenia, warning of dire humanitarian consequences.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier announced fresh EU-mediated peace talks, as Western engagement grows in a region where Russia, distracted by its war in Ukraine, appears to be losing influence.

Karabakh has been at the center of a decades-long territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have fought two wars over the mountainous territory, mainly populated by Armenians.

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan said it was shutting the only road linking the region to Armenia, accusing the Armenian branch of the Red Cross of smuggling.

State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan called on Russia, which helped broker the latest cease-fire between the two countries, to step in.

“We ask to ensure unimpeded movement, transportation of people and cargo along the corridor connecting Artsakh with Armenia,” Nersisyan said, using the Armenian name for the region.

Russia sponsored the latest cease-fire that ended six weeks of fighting in autumn 2020 and saw Armenia cede swaths of territories it had controlled for decades.

Under the deal, the five-kilometer Lachin Corridor was to be manned by Russian peacekeepers to ensure free passage between Armenia and Karabakh.

‘Terrible’ situation

Since Azerbaijan shut the corridor there have been concerns about a humanitarian crisis in the restive enclave, which is experiencing food shortages and where locals lack access to health services, according to separatist authorities.

“The situation is terrible. In a few days we will have irreversible consequences,” Nersisyan said.

This week, AFP spoke to locals in the rebel region’s main city, Stepanakert, who reported food shortages and critical problems with access to medical services.

Nersisyan called on residents to gather at in the Stepanakert Renaissance Square on Friday at 9 a.m. (0500 GMT) to “begin a peaceful struggle for our existence.”

Armenia, which has relied on Russia for military and economic support since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, has accused Moscow of failing to fulfill its peacekeeping role in Karabakh.

With Russia bogged down in Ukraine and unwilling to strain ties with Azerbaijan’s key ally Turkey, the United States and European Union have sought to repair ties between the Caucasus rivals.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Pashinyan announced a next round of peace talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday in Brussels under the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel.

An EU official said the trilateral meeting, the sixth in nearly two years, would cover humanitarian issues, border delimitation, the peace treaty, rights and security of Karabakh Armenians, and connectivity.

“We consider the leaders-level engagement essential to promote peaceful settlement and to prevent escalation,” the official said in Brussels, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Pashinyan also said the “illegal blockade” contradicts a ruling of the International Court of Justice.

The U.N.’s top judicial body ordered Azerbaijan in February to ensure free movement along the Lachin Corridor, Karabakh’s sole land link with Armenia.

https://www.voanews.com/a/nagorno-karabakh-separatists-urge-russia-to-open-corridor-to-armenia-/7179999.html

ALSO READ

https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/karabakh-separatists-urge-russia-to-open-corridor-to-armenia/article

Ararat Mirzoyan, Josep Borrell discuss Armenia-EU cooperation

Kanayan Tamar

 15:39, 8 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with the Vice President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell within the framework of the Dubrovnik Conference, ARMENPRESS reports, Mirzoyan wrote on Twitter.

“Within the framework of the Dubrovnik conference, we exchanged ideas with Josep Borrell on Armenia-EU partnership,” Mirzoyan wrote.

5 Egyptian-Armenian mountaineers reach summit of Mount Ararat

Kanayan Tamar

 12:45, 3 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS. Five Egyptian-Armenian mountaineers have climbed Mount Ararat and raised the flags of Armenia and Egypt on the summit.

The Armenian National Committee of Egypt said the group was composed of Saro Yerznkatsean, Ari Yerznkatsean, Varushan Kazanjian, Simon Deboyan and Shahan Terzipashian.

“The young people have successfully reached the summit of Mount Ararat and raised the flags of Armenia and Egypt at 5165 meters altitude,” the Armenian National Committee of Egypt said in a statement.




FC Krasnodar’s Spertsyan voted Player of the Season

Kanayan Tamar

 10:08, 26 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia midfielder Eduard Spertsyan, who plays for Krasnodar FC, has been recognized as Player of the Season of the Russian football club.

The title is awarded as a result of voting by fans.

This is the second consecutive time that Spertsyan is getting the title.

The Armenian midfielder has made 28 appearances, scored 10 goals and recorded 12 assists in the Russian championship.

President Khachaturyan visits US Ambassador’s residence to congratulate on upcoming Independence Day

Kanayan Tamar

 16:42,

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited on June 29 the residence of U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien to extend congratulations ahead of the U.S. Independence Day.

President Khachaturyan congratulated Ambassador Kvien, the Embassy Staff and the people of the United States on the national holiday and wished them success, Khachaturyan’s Office said in a press release.

The President emphasized the importance of US support in the implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia and the development of Armenia following independence.

During the discussion, ideas were exchanged on the current agenda of Armenian-American relations and the consistent development of multi-level cooperation.

Friends of ANCA-WR Hold Successful Reception in Support of Schiff’s Senate Campaign

Kanayan Tamar
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Congressman Adam Schiff addressing attendees at a reception held by the Friends of the ANCA-WR in support of his senate campaign


GLENDALE—The Friends of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region hosted a reception on Wednesday, June 28 in support of Congressman Adam Schiff’s US Senate campaign. Throughout his career in Congress, Rep. Schiff has been a tireless advocate for the Armenian-American community, consistently standing up for justice and human rights for the people of Armenia and Artsakh. In February, the ANCA Western Region endorsed Schiff for United States Senate.

The reception was held at the Glen Arden Club in Glendale to support Congressman Schiff’s campaign efforts and to give members of the community the opportunity to meet the Congressman and discuss issues of concern. The event was attended by nearly one hundred supporters, donors, community leaders including Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate of the Western Prelacy and members of the Prelacy Board of Trustees, representatives of leading Armenian-American community organizations including the Armenian Cultural Foundation Board and Chapters, the Armenian Educational Foundation, the Armenian American Museum, SEIU Armenian Caucus, and ANCA Western Region Board, staff, committees and interns. Schiff represents California’s 30th congressional district, which is centered in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles and includes Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, West Hollywood, and other Los Angeles neighborhoods, many of which are cities that house large populations of Armenian-American constituents.

Congressman Schiff with ANCA Western Region Staff and Board

“We’re very proud and happy to have, amongst us, Congressman Adam Schiff. For over two decades now, Congressman Schiff has been a true champion of the Armenian Cause in Congress. He has been our voice, the voice of our community in the Federal government. He has persistently and consistently advocated for our Cause,” said ANCA Western Region Board Chair, Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “During these difficult times when the Armenian Nation is in deep crisis, when Artsakh and Armenia are facing existential threats from our enemies, Adam Schiff has once again taken the lead, advocating within the State Department, the Executive Branch, offering and leading many resolutions in Congress in order to bring our issues to the forefront. It is largely due to this advocacy that the Federal government has taken a very proactive role in leading negotiations, and it is up to us as Armenian-Americans to call on our government to use this role to advocate for true American ideals of democracy, human rights and self-determination – the same ideals that the Armenian People also deserve and espouse.”

Supporters gather at the Friends of the ANCA Western Region reception supporting Schiff for Senate

Congressman Schiff has served for many years in leading the bipartisan Congressional Armenian Caucus, and currently serves as one of its co-chairs, advocating with successive U.S. Administrations for the Armenian Cause. He stood shoulder to shoulder with over 166,000 Armenian-Americans at the Centennial Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Los Angeles in 2015, where he vowed to continue his mission in pursuing justice for the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. His persistent efforts in this regard finally came to fruition in 2019 when the U.S. Congress officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA Western Region maintains an excellent relationship with the Congressman, having recognized him multiple times for championing Armenian-American issues, including his Advocate for Justice Award at the 2022 ANCA Western Region Awards Gala. 

Congressman Adam Schiff and ANCA Western Region Board Chair Nora Hovsepian Esq.

Consistently representing the largest concentration of Armenian-Americans in the United States since 2001, he has been a leading voice in Congress for every aspect of the Armenian Cause, including advocating for increased aid to Armenia and Artsakh and holding Azerbaijan accountable for its anti-Armenian aggression. In addition, he has been a strong supporter of the U.S.- Armenia Strategic Partnership and has worked to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries. After Congressman Schiff laid the groundwork for congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide, President Biden’s full recognition followed in 2021 – the first-ever formal recognition by any President of the United States.

Most recently, on the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Congressman Adam Schiff introduced a bold resolution recognizing the independence of Artsakh and right of its people to self-determination, while simultaneously condemning Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression against the Armenian people.

“Thank you to the ANCA Western Region for your extraordinary leadership. You serve as a tremendous advocate, and the community is fortunate to have an organization that is so capable, so articulate, so passionate and devoted in that position. I want to thank the (Armenian-American) community for your support, and for welcoming me as part of your family. I will continue to use my platform in the United States Senate to represent you and to advocate for the Armenian People because I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to prevent genocide, to prevent ethnic cleansing and to protect human rights and the right to self-determination which is so important especially for the Armenians of Artsakh,” said Representative Schiff.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA Western Region advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.