Author: Karagyozian Lena

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) applauds and extends its gratitude to California Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon and  Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon who included in the 2016-2017 State Budget the funding for the Armenian American Museum request submitted by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and Senator Carol Liu.

“The ANCA-WR welcomes the funding allocated for the Armenian American Museum as the museum will truly be a multi-faceted, state of the art campus that will not only educate residents and visitors alike about the Armenian history, heritage and experience, but also serve as a place of enrichment for the youth.  We are truly grateful to Assemblymember Nazarian for taking the lead on obtaining funding by
submitting the initial request and of course Senator Liu who echoed Nazarian’s request on the Senate side – making it possible for the Assembly and Senate leadership to stand in strong support and receive
final approval by the Governor,” stated ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.    “It is our hope that this positive action by the State will pave the way for funding from the private sector, foundations, and
other government entities,” remarked Hovsepian.

The ANCA-WR Chairwoman added that the organization was pleased to have lent its support toward securing the $1 million funding from the State.  She also expressed a willingness to work with the Armenian American Museum to secure additional State funding in the coming years.

The mission of the Armenian American Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. The vision for
the Armenian American Museum is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out
against prejudice.

Photo:  Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS    

Relations between Russia and Armenia within integration processes are developing dynamically, with bilateral trade demonstrating upwards tendencies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, TASS reports.

“It can be noted that our relations are developing more dynamically within integration processes than they did previously. And it is pleasing. There is a possibility and necessity to discuss how we will act further on. Armenia is currently chairing the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). A summit meeting is to be held this autumn,” Putin said.

Sargsyan confirmed that such a meeting can be held in October.

“So, we will speak about it as well,” Putin said and thanked the Armenian leader for coming to Russia.

The Russian president noted that trade between the two countries is growing, with good performances reported in cooperation in the agricultural sector. “Despite all the difficulties in the global and domestic economy, we see a growth in bilateral trade. Armenian exports of agricultural products have increased many-fold. And this fact is pleasing. I hope general trade and trade in sensible commodities will also demonstrate this tendency will,” Putin said.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s sister has dropped a heavy hint that the Dortmund star will sign for Arsenal this summer – by following the Gunners on LinkedIn, according to .

The Armenia international looks set to leave the Bundesliga giants this summer and both the Gunners and Manchester United are interested.

The 27-year-old is out of contract next summer and Dortmund chief Michael Zorc admitted the club will be forced into making a decision over the midfielder’s future this week.

Jose Mourinho is known to be a huge admirer of the former Shakhtar Donetsk star but Arsenal are thought to be leading the chase with the midfielder preferring a move to London.

With Mkhitaryan remaining tight-lipped over his future, the midfielder’s sister may just have let the cat out of the bag by recently following Arsenal on social networking site LinkedIn.

Monika Mkhitaryan works for UEFA and doesn’t follow a single football club on LinkedIn – other than Arsenal.

Russia will play a key role in solving the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday, Sputnik News reports.

“Russia will, of course, play a key role in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will use our contacts to support the Russian government, as well as the American and the French ones — co-chairs of the Minsk group — in solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Merkel said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Armenian Foreign Ministre Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday.

The President hailed the strong and stable relations between Armenia and Iran and attached importance to their further reinforcement and deepening. He added that the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program has opened broad perspectives for the development of bilateral trade and economic ties and stressed the need for practical steps towards that end.

The Iranian President and the Armenian Foreign Minister referred to the process of implementation of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries and the joint economic projects.

The parties agreed that the lifting of the visa regime between the two countries would serve an additional impetus for the intensification of ties between the business circles and boost tourism.

Ministry Nalbandian briefed Hassan Rouhani on the steps targeted at the elimination of consequences of the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, the efforts towards implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna.

President Rouhani stressed Iran’s willingness to contribute to stability and peace in the region, and reiterated his country’s support for the exceptionally peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the principles of international law.

Minister Nalbandian hailed Iran’s balanced position on the Karabakh issue.

Iran’s President asked to convey his warm greetings to the President of Armenia and revealed his plans to visit Armenia in the near future.

Dozens of people gathered outside the German parliament in Berlin on Thursday to celebrate the decision by German lawmakers to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution recognizing the 1915-1916 genocide by the Ottoman Empirewas passed by a landslide vote with only one lawmaker opposing.

 

 

 

 

Armenia and Iran plan to sign an agreement on abolishing visas. The Government approved the conclusion of a corresponding agreement during its session today.

The agreement is aimed at further development of relations between the two countries, strengthening of mutually beneficial economic, trade and other relations and regulation of the regime of visits of both countries’ citizens.

According to the document, Armenian and Iranian citizens will not need entry visas for a stay of up to 90 days in a period of 180 days. The corresponding authorities in both countries will reserve the right to extend the period of stay.

The signing of the agreement will promote the development of tourism, in both countries and will create favorable conditions for the reciprocal visits of the citizens.

Former Miss Turkey and model Merve Büyüksaraç has been sentenced to prison for “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his prime ministry via a post on Instagram. A complaint was filed against Büyüksaraç, who was chosen Miss Turkey in 2006, for “openly insulting a public official for his duty,” the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“The boundaries of criticism shouldn’t be interpreted harshly due to the complainant being a state authority. We think that the statements my client shared should be evaluated politically. That’s why we demand the acquittal of my client,” said Ali Deniz Ceylan, Büyüksaraç’s lawyer, on May 31.

The prison sentence of one year, two months and 17 days was postponed. Up to four years and five months in prison was sought for Büyüksaraç.

The lawyers of the parties were the only participants in the hearing, in which Erdoğan’s lawyer claimed that Büyüksaraç’s statements could not be evaluated within the framework of criticism.

“An attack took place against the personal rights of my client. We want the defendant to be punished,” said Erdoğan’s lawyer, Hatice Özay.

Büyüksaraç had said that she was regretful in her defense in the first hearing of the case and asked for her acquittal.

“The poem I’ve shared was shared 960,000 times on social media. I shared the poem via giving quotes from it. The comments near the pictures and the poems, which are in the bill of indictment, don’t belong to me,” Büyüksaraç said.

“I’m regretful that the post I shared was perceived as an insult,” she also said.

The agreement on ceasefire was observed all along the line of contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan last night.

The NKR Ministry of Defense reports that only several shots from firearms were registered.

 

 

 

“I want to see Armenians on both banks of Araks River,” says American singer Daniel Decker, who has been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia since 2015.

The singer is paying his 15th visit to Armenia. “I’m here to support the Armenian people at this hard moment following the April events,” the singer told reporters in Yerevan.

“Being an Armenian is a philosophy, a state of mind, not only blood,” said the singer, who has released a CD titled “Armenian By Choice.”

Daniel Decker and composer Ara Gevorgyan have launched a new project called “Araks.”

“I want to see Armenians on both banks of River Araks. Perhaps, this was the main reason for writing the song,” he said.

According to him, “Araks is not half-Armenians, it has always been a symbolic river for Armenia and the Armenian people.” The song is slated for release in October.

Armenia-related songs are included in Decker’s repertoire, but are not meant for the Armenian audience only. The Turkish pressures and persecutions are powerless against his resolve to tell the truth.

“I’m not interested in any pressures. What I’m interested in is the truth, and the truth is that there has been an Armenian genocide and Artsakh is an Armenian land,” Decker said.

To conclude with, he performed a song and dedicated it to Armenian soldiers.