Author: Liana Toganian

Cairo: Armenian community donates EGP 1 million to Tahya Misr fund for coronavirus response

Liana Toganian
Ahram Online, Egypt
April 5 2020
Nora Koloyan-Keuhnelian , Sunday 5 Apr 2020
On the day the Armenian community in Egypt, together with the Western world, celebrated Palm Sunday, head of the community, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Egypt Bishop Ashod Mnatsaganian, revealed to Ahram Online his community’s donation of EGP 1 million to the state charitable fund Tahya Misr to support the Egyptian government’s efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

 
“We owe it to this Holy Land. It is the least we can offer as a helping hand to fight this pandemic in a country that showed a warm attitude towards our nation in the past and continues to do so at present, for which we are grateful,” Mnatsaganian told Ahram Online via telephone immediately after the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday. 
 
The mass was broadcast live on the Facebook page of Egypt’s Armenian Diocese from Cairo’s St Gregory the Illuminator’s Church, for community worshippers to follow with prayers.
 
Armenians have been present in Egypt since the 8th century CE. Their number increased during the 12th to 16th centuries, and a community was formed in the 19th century after the genocide perpetuated by Ottoman Turks.
 
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On 15 September 1915, four French warships, including the Guichen, and one British naval vessel, transported 4,231 refugees from Musa Ler or Mount Moses — a site of Armenian resistance — to Port Fouad of Port Said, where they lived peacefully in camps until they were able to return to their homes in November 1919.
 
As Armenia is the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official state religion, in 301 AD, the Armenian nation is very much attached to its church. Armenians are also keen to preserve their language and culture and expose it to broader sections of Egyptian society and to the whole world. The contributions Armenians have made to Egypt are too numerous to mention.
 
This is not the first time the community has made such a gesture. In September 2018, while the Egyptian Ministry of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs was celebrating “Egyptian-Armenian Fraternity” in the presence of Armenia’s then Minister of Diaspora Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, the community made a similar donation, EGP 1 million, to the Amiri Main University Hospital in Alexandria.

Number of houses damaged by Azerbaijani fire in Baghanis village

Liana Toganian
Panorama, Armenia
April 2 2020

On March 30, 2020 at about 18:30 the adversary opened fire from its combats positions  toward Baghanis village of Tavush region.

Armenia’s investigative Committee reports that as a result of the fire, the window glasses and the roofs of seven houses in Baghanis village as well as the front door of the school canteen were damaged. The Inspection of the site revealed numerous bullets of various calibers.

As the source said two criminal cases were initiated in the RA IC Tavush Regional Investigative Department according to articles of the Criminal Code on murder attempt out of motives of national, race or religious hate or fanatism for the purpose of depriving two or more people from life.

Coronavirus cases reach 482 in Armenia

Liana Toganian

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 11:59,

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS. 58 more cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number of infected people to 482, Healthcare minister’s spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan said.

“As of March 29, 58 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia. 25 of them are under quarantine, 31 are direct contacts. The direct contacts of the remaining two cases are being clarified”, she said.

So far, 3 death cases have been reported in the country.

30 patients have recovered.

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





Artem Afian appointed advisor to Ukraine’s PM

Liana Toganian

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 17:40, 20 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Artem Afian, managing partner at Juscutum Attorneys Association, has been appointed advisor to Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on digital economy affairs, AnalitikaUA.net reported.

“I have been appointed advisor to the prime minister having certain knowledge in that field. I am not becoming an official with this job, but I know that I am going to write regulatory acts on separate matters. I have knowledge and know how it is done in other countries and I am ready to apply it in Ukraine”, Artem Afian said.

Artem Afian is serving as managing partner at Juscutum Attorneys Association since 2008. He is engaged in introducing innovations in legal services.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




RFE/RL Armenian Report – 03/15/2020

Liana Toganian 
                                        Sunday, 
Authorities Step Up Control In Armenian Town Hit By Coronavirus
Residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin
Most exits from Echmiadzin will be closed for commuters after authorities have 
designated the central Armenian town as a potential coronavirus hotspot in 
Armenia.
In a live broadcast on Facebook late on Sunday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
said that 18 out of 28 coronavirus cases identified in Armenia so far have been 
linked to a notorious engagement party in Echmiadzin held by a woman who had 
returned from Italy and later tested positive for the infection.
Many of the 300 people who are currently under quarantine in Armenia are those 
who may have had close contacts with Echmiadzin patients.
Pashinian said that starting at 11 pm on March 15 only three out of 27 exits 
from Echmiadzin, a town of some 45,000 residents located about 20 kilometers to 
the west of capital of Yerevan, will continue to operate. Temperature screening 
will be conducted at the exit points, said Pashinian, asking those who have 
fever to quarantine themselves.
Echmiadzin (also called Vagharshapat) is also an important religious center in 
Armenia. The seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Armenian 
Apostolic Church, is located in the town.
During the live broadcast the prime minister also reported about the recovery of 
Armenia’s first coronavirus patient who was hospitalized on March 1. He said the 
29-year-old man who had been evacuated from Iran is going to be discharged from 
hospital soon after testing negative for the second time.
Meanwhile, Pashinian said he himself had to undergo another test for coronavirus 
earlier on Sunday after having contacts with a Meghri resident who had tested 
positive.
The prime minister and his wife Anna Hakobian had already taken tests with 
negative results on Saturday as they spent a night in self-isolation in the town 
of Sevan.
Pashinian said then they had decided to be tested after local media raised 
concerns about Hakobian’s contacts with the wife of Brazilian President Jair 
Bolsonaro during a visit to that Latin American country on March 7. The 
Brazilian leader has since said he tested negative for the virus after it was 
discovered that an aide and another senior government official were infected.
Pashinian said results of his new test would be available soon, and until then 
he would remain in self-isolation in Sevan.
Earlier this week, citing risks to public health posed by the novel coronavirus 
infection, Pashinian suspended his political campaign ahead of next month’s 
constitutional referendum. As for the referendum, he said today: “No political 
goal can be above public health.” The prime minister added that the referendum 
issue, as well as the issue of declaring a state of emergency in some parts of 
the country will be discussed on Monday and in the coming days.
In the referendum scheduled for April 5 Armenians are to be asked to vote on a 
constitutional amendment that would lead to the dismissal of seven of the 
Constitutional Court’s nine members installed before nationwide protests swept 
Pashinian to power in 2018.
The seven, including Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian, would be 
replaced by judges to be confirmed by the National Assembly, in which 
Pashinian’s My Step bloc holds a majority.
Shopping Mall Closures, Self-Quarantines As More Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In 
Armenia
Cars parked outside Dalma Garden Mall, a large shopping center in Yerevan, 
January 9, 2020
Shopping centers, entertainment facilities and other public institutions have 
been announcing suspension of their operations amid a rising number of 
coronavirus cases in Armenia.
As the number of confirmed patients rose to 28 on Sunday, Yerevan Mall and Dalma 
Garden Mall, two of the largest shopping centers in the Armenian capital, said 
they will be closed on March 16-23 to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.
Yerevan Mall said only the Carrefour supermarket housed by the center will 
continue to operate “in order not to restrict people’s ability to buy food and 
other essentials.”
Earlier, to prevent a possible further spread of the virus the Armenian 
government suspended classes in all schools, universities and kindergartens at 
least until March 23 and tightened controls at its borders with Iran and Georgia.
According to reports, government agencies have also been looking into options of 
letting their employees work from home whenever it is possible.
Initially, Armenia’s coronavirus cases were brought from Iran, Italy and France. 
A majority of cases, however, were transmitted locally from a woman who had come 
from Italy and participated in her son’s engagement party in the town of 
Echmiadzin, some 20 kilometers to the west of capital Yerevan.
Among those affected is an employee of Armaeronavigation, a state-owned air 
traffic control company at Zvartnots Airport located not far from Echmiadzin.
On Sunday, the administration of the company in charge of controlling traffic in 
Armenian airspace said 75 of its employees had gone into two-week 
self-quarantines at their workplace on the airport’s premises because of the 
staff member’s diagnosis.
According to Health Minister Arsen Torosian, 300 people are under quarantine in 
Armenia today.
Meanwhile, dozens of Armenian citizens were expected to arrive at Yerevan’s 
Zvartnots airport late on March 15 on a charter flight from Rome arranged by the 
Armenian government. Under a government decision, all of the arriving citizens 
will be immediately placed under a 14-day quarantine.
Earlier on Sunday, Minister Torosian also called on religious organizations to 
suspend mass events. “People’s health is above all,” the minister said in a 
Facebook post.
Armenia’s Former Top Investigator Arrested In Russia, Official Says
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Vahagn Harutiunian, former head of the investigative group on 2008 post-election 
events
A former senior investigator wanted in Armenia as part of a probe into the 2008 
crackdown on the opposition has been arrested in Russia, according to the 
Armenian prosecutor-general’s adviser.
Gor Abrahamian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) on Sunday that the 
information on Vahagn Harutiunian had been reported to the Armenian police by 
their Russian colleagues.
The official added that Armenia will soon initiate a process for Harutiunian’s 
extradition. No other details are reported yet.
Harutiunian resigned as deputy chief of Armenia’s Special Investigation Service 
(SIS) and left for Russia, ostensibly for medical treatment, in July 2018, three 
months after Armenia’s “Velvet Revolution.”
He was first accused of forging factual evidence to cover up the Armenian army’s 
alleged involvement in the post-election violence. Later, the SIS also charged 
him with two counts of abuse of power also stemming from the long-running probe 
of the 2008 unrest.
Harutiunian rejects all accusations leveled against him as baseless and illegal.
Eight protesters and two police servicemen died in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008 as 
security forces broke up opposition demonstrations against alleged fraud in the 
February 2008 presidential election.
The former Armenian authorities accused the opposition of organizing the “mass 
disturbances” in a bid to seize power. They jailed dozens of opposition figures, 
including the country’s current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, on corresponding 
charges.
The SIS radically changed the official version of events shortly after the 2018 
revolution which brought Pashinian to power. It charged former President Robert 
Kocharian and three retired army generals with illegally using the Armenian 
armed forces against the protesters. Kocharian was taken into custody. All four 
men, whose trial began last year, deny the accusations.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Second focus group meeting of Armenian and Georgian leaders and experts held in Dilijan

Liana Toganian

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 16:46, 11 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. In the frameworks of the EU funded “Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies organize a series of focus group meetings on fight against corruption, anti-discrimination and tourism for economic growth.

The second Armenian-Georgian focus group meeting on Anti-discrimination took place on 8-9 February 2020 in Dilijan, Armenia. During the two-day event 20 representatives from Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies carried out discussions on equality, human rights and non-discrimination issues in Armenia and in Georgia. The group of young leaders looked into the existing gaps and challenges, as well as underlined the importance of the education and large public awareness raising activities in order to establish culture of tolerance and diversity and to percept equality as a core element for human rights.

Qualified Armenian and Georgian experts presented the situation, legal regulations and policies to overcome the challenges for effective and full protection from the discrimination for all groups. Debates and discussions included topics like discrimination grounds, domestic legislation and international standards, disability, political belonging or social status, religion or belief, equal rights in education, employment and career.

The results of the focus group discussions will be reflected in policy recommendations with concrete actions prepared by experts of the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies, to support the authorities to combat discrimination and advance equality as a fundamental human right and a basic principle of social justice. The policy recommendation will be presented at the conference to be held in Armenia in June 2020.

“Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development” project is funded by the European Union Delegation to Armenia under the Rapid Response Mechanism of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility. The project is implemented by the Yerevan School of Political Studies in cooperation with the Tbilisi School of Political Studies. Both Schools belong to the Network of the European Association of the Schools of Political Studies.

Media: India called Armenia "Silicon Valley of the CIS" and explained the sale of SWATHI radars

Liana Toganian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo. The Internet portal “Military Review” published a columnist material from India, where Armenia is called the “Silicon Valley of the CIS.”

“The Indian media published material on deepening cooperation between  India and Armenia. The author of the material is observer Aditi  Bhaduri. The author notes that many people in India do not even know  where Armenia is, but in Armenia they are well aware of India and are  ready to follow the path of cooperation In the article: “Caucasian  contacts: why rapprochement with Armenia is very important for  India,” the author very unexpectedly calls Armenia “Silicon Valley of  the CIS,” the Internet portal writes.

“Armenia is considered the Silicon Valley of the CIS, is a member of  the Eurasian Economic Union, and also has a partnership agreement  with the European Union. Being on the threshold of Europe, in the  heart of the Caucasus and having a border with Iran, the geopolitical  position of Armenia is of great importance.  Deepening ties with this  country , India will get everything that it can get, and will lose  nothing.

The author recalls a recent contract worth about $ 40 million for the  supply of SWATHI radars from the Indian Defense Research and  Development Organization (DRDO) for the needs of the Armenian armed  forces and explains the feasibility of the transaction.

This opens up new prospects for cooperation for both countries, and  defense cooperation is always long- term. Such supplies help  countries such as Armenia, as they are cheaper than European  counterparts. They also open up new markets for India and give a big  boost to domestic defense production, “the source said.  Indian media  particularly emphasize that Yerevan supports New Delhi’s position on  Kashmir. At the same time, Aditi Bhaduri said that India did not  expect such support from Turkey. Against such a background, the  author recalls that during the First World War, the Armenians were  subjected to genocide by the Ottoman Empire, which Ankara does not  recognize nowadays.

Asbarez: COVID-19: Armenia Fund, Chevy Chase Surgery Center, ARS Send Medical Supplies to Armenia

Liana Toganian

CCSC Administrator Raffi Sarkissian and surgery technician Vardan Lalayan reviewing boxes of supplies bound for Armenia in response to the COVID-19 containment efforts

LOS ANGELES—Working closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia and the Ministry of Health, Armenia Fund USA, Chevy Chase Surgery Center, and the Armenian Relief Society joined forces and quickly assembled relevant medical supplies and resources to help boost Armenia’s response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus.

Thanks to the valuable input and advice of clinicians and experts assembled by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, and given the entities’ prior partnerships and working relationship Armenia Fund USA and Chevy Chase Surgery Center, were able to quickly acquire these supplies, despite facing supply-chain challenges and availability in the United States. The items were all palletized and loaded onto an aircraft in Los Angeles and immediately sent to Armenia and Artsakh.

Armenia Fund USA’s partner in Yerevan, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, also played a critical role in ensuring the proper arrival, clearance, and dissemination of the supplies. Using its well-experienced, on-the-ground support, the Fund worked closely with government bodies in ensuring the supplies reach their intended destinations and areas of immediate need.

Boxes of critical supplies necessary for screening and isolation being loaded on its way to LAX air cargo for a speedy arrival to Armenia

Principals of the Chevy Chase Surgery Center, Dr. Avedis Tavitian and Drs. Ara and Armineh Tavitian were quick to support the efforts, allocating time, staff, and resources for the quick deployments of supplies to Armenia. The Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation financially participated in the effort through their generous support.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our partners and friends at the Chevy Chase Surgery Center and the ARS, who quickly responded to our call for assistance and promptly put together much needed supplies to help the Republic of Armenia’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Staying true to its mission, Armenia Fund USA continues to bring Armenian communities across the United States together with one mission and that is to help serve Armenia and Artsakh,” stated Armenia Fund USA President, Maria Mehranian.

Raffi Sarkissian, Administrator of the Chevy Chase Surgery Center played an important role in obtaining the supplies from key distributors and suppliers in the United States. “Armenia Fund USA, Chevy Chase Surgery Center, and the ARS acted as a rapid reaction force in helping Armenia and Artsakh with much needed supplies, in light of the uncertainties with this global crisis. Whether in Los Angeles or in any part of the globe, we stand ready to help Armenia and Artsakh. I would like to personally commend the quick, professional response of the Ministry of Health of Armenia,” stated Raffi Sarkissian.

The one ton of supplies included items sourced per U.S. CDC and WHO guidelines. The items will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by providing Armenian healthcare clinicians the necessary screening tools and items whether in Armenia or in borderline areas.

2 Glendale teachers honored with Armenian Genocide Education Awards

Liana Toganian
Los Angeles Times

R.D. White Elementary School teacher Saakanoush Markarian, second from right, won the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award at the annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon, in Burbank on Saturday. Left to right are Alice Petrossian, Hermineh Pakhanians, Markarian and Roxanne Makasdjian.
(Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press)

By Vera Castaneda
           

For the fourth time, the Armenian National Committee of America honored seven educators who have incorporated lessons about the Armenian Genocide into classrooms located in the Western region.

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution last year recognizing and encouraging education of the genocide during World War I, during which the Ottoman government killed more than 1.5 million Armenians. However, the group honored Saturday at the De Luxe Banquet Hall in Burbank had already been raising awareness of the genocide in public schools and universities for years.

Two Glendale teachers, Jennifer Davis and Saakanoush Markarian, were among those recognized for their efforts.

Davis, who has taught at Clark Magnet High School since it opened in 1998, was honored with the Armenian Genocide Education Award.

Her husband, Chris Davis, who also teaches in the same school, nominated her for the award, which goes to those who have gone above and beyond to educate their students about the Armenian Genocide.

Clark Magnet High School teacher Jennifer Davis, second from right, won the Armenian Genocide Education Award at the annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon, in Burbank on Saturday, March 7. From left are Alice Petrossian, Hermineh Pakhanians, Davis and Ellina Abovian.
(Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press)

Although she’s incorporated study of the Armenian Genocide into the classroom throughout her tenure, she facilitated a new project last school year. Davis helped get literary works recommended by the Genocide Education Committee approved for high school classrooms when she was the district’s English Curriculum Study Committee chair. Davis was one of the first to teach Dawn Anahid MacKeen’s “The Hundred-Year Walk,” a book about the author retracing her grandfather’s journey of surviving the Armenian Genocide.

As the 10th-grade English class read, students created artwork, poems and gathered historical research. They curated select pieces into a Google Site and shared it with the author.

“She was really touched by what they had created,” Davis said.

Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon, awards recipients Jennifer Davis, left from Clark Magnet High School, Glendale Unified Supt. Dr. Vivian Ekchian and R.D. White Elementary teacher Saakanoush Markarian. Jennifer Davis won the Armenian Genocide Education Award and Markarian won the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award.
(Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press)

When asked what she hopes students get out of the curriculum, Davis said, “I don’t want students to leave feeling despaired about the future. They are going to be our future. By learning about the tragedies of the past, we can change by showing kindness and compassion to one another regardless of religion.”

Markarian, who teaches in R.D. White Elementary, won the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award. The award, named after an educator who was also the daughter of genocide survivors, is awarded to those of Armenian descent who teach and preserve the Armenian heritage.

Markarian teaches under the Foreign Language Academies of Glendale Armenian program, where students are taught in Armenian across all subjects for half the day — strengthening their bilingual skills.

For the Forget Me Not Project, Markarian’s students gathered facts about the Armenian Genocide and choose one Armenian intellectual to memorialize. They wrote and presented the person’s full name, date of birth, profession, education and how they were killed.

Markarian was born in Armenia and moved to the United States in 1992. Although she studied chemistry in Armenia, she transitioned to majoring in liberal studies at Cal State L.A.

“When my son was born, I decided to become an educator because I love working with students. I love helping them emotionally and academically,” said Markarian who later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership at Cal State Northridge.

She added, “I’m just proud that I work with a district that delivers a program 50% in English, 50% in Armenian every single day, which helps our students to learn about their heritage and culture.”

The other honorees included Richard G. Hovannisian, Maria Armoudian, Michelle Herczog, Susan Quintana and Nancy Nazarian.



Artsakh’s Deputy FM meets with representatives of Armenian Diaspora organizations in Cyprus

Liana Toganian

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 18:45, 9 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Armine Aleksanyan, who is on a working visit in the Republic of Cyprus, met with representatives of the Armenian Diaspora organizations in Cyprus. The meeting was organized at the initiative of state representative of the Armenian community in the Parliament of Cyprus, Member of the Parliament  Vardges Mahtesyan, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Artsakh.

During the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister presented the priorities of the foreign policy of Artsakh, in particular, touched upon the processes of international recognition of Artsakh and expansion of international cooperation, as well as the current stage of the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict.  

At the request of the participants of the meeting, Armine Aleksanyan also briefed on the current realities in Artsakh, stressing the importance of the March 31 national elections in the Republic in terms of continued strengthening of the democratic statehood.  

Armine Aleksanyan also touched upon the Artsakh-Diaspora relations, stressing the role of the Armenian community structures in preserving the Armenian identity in the Diaspora and implementing different programs in the homeland, in particular, in Artsakh, aimed at the development of strategically significant spheres. The sides noted the importance of holding such meetings periodically, aimed at exchanging views on new directions of cooperation and outlining further steps.