Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

Homenetmen Eastern Region USA Men triumph in basketball, region places second at 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games

Ophelia Vardapetian
August 3, 2022 Homenetmen Eastern U.S. Diaspora 0

YEREVAN—Sixteen athletes representing the Homenetmen Eastern Region USA participated in the 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games in Yerevan. Held every four years, the 10-day tournament brings together Homenetmen athletes from over 20 countries to compete in a multi-sport tournament. Over 650 athletes participated in various sports including basketball, soccer, volleyball, futsal, track and field, chess, swimming, tennis, table tennis and golf. The Eastern Region USA participated in the tournament with two men’s basketball teams. 

Before the start of the competition, on the morning of July 21st, participants from all delegations visited Yerablur to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers.

11th Pan-Homenetmen Games participants at Yerablur

The tournament officially kicked off on Thursday, July 21st with EUSA Team B playing against Lebanon, which ended with a score of 49 (EUSA)-55 (Lebanon). This was followed by an EUSA Team A triumph against Syria with a score of 70 (EUSA) – 28 (Syria). 

On July 22, select athletes from the Eastern Region USA competed in a skills competition. The three-point shot competition was dominated by Eastern USA athletes. Sasoun Tcholakian (Detroit) won first place, Noah Dayian (Boston) took second place, and Sevag Aroyan (Chicago) placed third. In the free throw competition, Tcholakian once again came away with the gold, with Dayian and Aroyan taking second place. Lastly, in the shooting contest, Tcholakian, Dayian and Aroyan all tied for third place. 

EUSA athletes participating in the opening ceremony

The formal opening ceremony for the Pan-Homenetmen Games took place on the evening of July 22nd. All athletes and participants proudly marched behind their country’s flag toward Freedom Square. Hundreds of spectators and supporters gathered in excitement to cheer and wave as the parade of athletes marched by. Vicken Avakian, member of the Homenetmen Central Executive, read a blessing offered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. After the blessing, the following individuals offered their remarks to the participants, each congratulating the efforts needed to organize the games and noting the difficulties that were overcome to ensure the games’ success: Manuel Marselian, chairman of the Pan-Homenetmen Games organizing committee; Sandra Vartanian, chairwoman of Homenetmen HASK (Armenia); Hagop Der Khatchadourian, chairman of ARF Bureau; and Vatche Nadjarian, chairman of Homenetmen Central Executive.

Athletes participating in the 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games Opening Ceremony

Following their speeches, a torch lit from the Eternal Flame at Tsitsernakaberd was carried through the streets of Yerevan, handed off between representatives of each delegation, until it reached the Opening Ceremony main stage. The final portion of the torch’s journey was carried by Sarkis Stepanian, a soldier wounded in the 2020 Artsakh War. Following the lighting of the torch, the celebration continued with a concert featuring performances by Arabo Ispiryan, Sevak Amroyan, and others. 

On the morning of July 24th, the tournament continued with EUSA Team A playing a great game, but falling short against Iran with a score of 58-61. Tcholakian (15 points) and Dayian (10 points) led the scoring for EUSA Team A. EUSA Team B played against Western Region USA, losing with a score of 29-58. Aroyan (10 points) and Alec Arakelian (eight points) were the leading scorers for EUSA Team B.

EUSA athletes and Hrashq athletes

On the morning of July 25th, the “Hrashq” tournament continued at #17 Specialized School in Yerevan. Hrashq, a program for Homenetmen special needs youth and adults, was included for the first time in this year’s Pan-Homenetmen Games. All Eastern USA Region athletes attended the Hrashq tournament to support their fellow Homenetmen members. Several of the athletes even took part by pushing wheelchairs for the Hrashq participants as the crowd cheered them on.   

EUSA athletes and Hrashq athletes

On the afternoon of July 25th, EUSA Team A played against Australia, winning the game with a score of 43 to 18. EUSA Team B played against HASK (Armenia), winning with a score of 71 to 29.   

Tuesday, July 26 was designated as an educational day, taking a break from athletic competition to give the delegations an opportunity to visit important sites in Armenia. All participants visited Dzidzernagapert to pay their respects to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Athletes then visited Megerian Carpet to learn about the ancient art of carpet-making, where they also enjoyed a delicious meal. After lunch, the participants visited Sardarabad. After a day of sightseeing, the Eastern Region athletes joined athletes from the Tiflis delegation for dinner at Machar 44.

EUSA A and B Teams in the 11th Pan Homenetmen Games

Athletic competition continued the following day with the quarter-final games and a face-off between the two EUSA teams. Team A triumphed with a score of 72-58, advancing to the next round of the tournament. On July 28th, the semi-final games took place, where EUSA Team A played against Iran. It was a close game, but EUSA Team A was victorious with a score of 65-54, moving on to the finals. 

EUSA A Team wins 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games basketball tournament

On July 29th, the stage was set for the men’s basketball final competition: Eastern Region USA Team A versus Western Region USA. The final games were livestreamed online by Yerkir Media and broadcast on Facebook. Spectators at both the basketball venue and eager online viewers watched as the two USA teams battled for the championship. With a final score of 89-41, the Eastern Region emerged as the men’s basketball champions. Mike Baltayan (Merrimack Valley) and Matt Madoian (Providence) led the scoring for the victors, with 22 points each. Immediately following the men’s basketball championship game, the official Closing Ceremony took place at the Karen Demirjian Sports and Concert Complex, with the participation of athletes from every delegation. During the closing ceremony, the Eastern USA Region was awarded the second place overall trophy for the basketball tournament, which encompassed both the men’s and women’s tournaments. That evening, a group dinner was held at Jano restaurant with the Eastern USA athletes joining athletes from Canada, Artsakh and Tiflis. 

EUSA A Team

On Saturday, July 30, the EUSA athletes visited the No. 154 School in Yerevan, where they arrived with brand new basketballs to donate to the school. They had a chance to meet the students and teach them some basic basketball skills and drills. They spent some quality time bonding with the students and even traded their basketball skills to play and learn volleyball with the students. The students of the No. 154 school are currently training in Armenia’s Youth Volleyball program, preparing themselves to one day take part in the Olympics. 

On the evening of July 30th, a victory banquet was held at Paravon Restaurant. All participants of the 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games joined family and friends for traditional food, music and dancing — a memorable celebration to mark the end of the successful tournament.

The completion of the 11th Pan-Homenetmen Games represented many firsts — the first Pan-Homenetmen event since the start of the pandemic, the first opportunity for Hrashq athletes to participate on the world stage, and the first time the Eastern USA Region brought home the Men’s Basketball Championship. Ten days may not seem long, but these stories will be stamped not only in Homenetmen’s history books, but also in the minds of hundreds of athletes and participants returning to their homes victorious.

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The Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts, known as “Homenetmen,” is a non-profit organization founded over 100 years ago. Believing in the idea that strong bodies lead to strong minds, Homenetmen has provided Armenian youth across the globe with a moral, physical and psychological education outside the school environment, while also demonstrating richness of the Armenian culture and heritage, while at the same time. Today, Homenetmen is a worldwide organization with over 25,000 members on five continents. On the East Coast U.S., Homenetmen is a thriving organization with 12 chapters and over 900 members, governed by the Homenetmen Eastern Regional Executive.


Mourad Papazian starting legal action over Armenia entry ban

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama
Armenia – July 28 2022

French-Armenian community leader and ARF Bureau member Mourad Papazian is taking legal action against the Armenian authorities over the decision to ban him from entering Armenia, he said in a social media post on Thursday.

“I have decided to start legal proceedings to restore my rights, entrusting MP Artsvik Minasyan to represent me in the court and asking lawyer Siranush Sahakyan to take the necessary legal action,” he wrote.

Papazian noted that Minasyan sent a letter to the National Security Service on July 25 asking it to scrap the ban.

“Under the law, the NSS has five days to respond to it, and based on that we will decide our further steps,” he added.

Papazian, a co-chairman of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), was barred from entering Armenia on July 13 after his plane landed at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport. 

One of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s unnamed aides said that Papazian was barred from entering Armenia under the domestic law because he was one of the organizers of the attack on Pashinyan’s motorcade in Paris on June 1, 2021. Papazian denies the accusations.

State Control Service revealed violations worth AMD 8.5 billion in Yerevan Municipality

Ophelia Vardapetian
ARMINFO
Armenia – July 28 2022
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.The State Control Service revealed a number of violations in the activities of the  capital’s mayor’s office in the period from 2018 to 2022.

According to the official statement of the State Service, as a result  of large-scale inspections, violations worth 8.5 billion drams were  revealed, which mainly relate to the calculation of subsidies to  communities, road repairs, street improvement, the provision of  gasoline for official use, the activities of transport companies  operating under the mayor’s office, expenses for overseas business  trips, purchases, etc.

It is reported that the results of the investigation conducted at the  Yerevan Municipality were summarized and were sent to the RA  Prosecutor General’s Office for legal assessment and further  decisions.

In addition, the monitoring on the processes of issuing building  permits and alienating land plots through direct sale in the period  from 2011 to 2018 is carried out in Yerevan Municipality, as a result  of which violations worth about 7.3 billion drams have been  identified so far.

According to the source, 5 materials were sent to the RA Prosecutor  General’s Office on separate cases of the revealed violations, on the  basis of which 3 criminal cases have already been initiated.

Food: In pursuit of culinary inspiration

Ophelia Vardapetian

Chef Megha Kohli tells us that her travel pursuits usually involve packing her bags, starting her car, and whizzing away, covering a lot of ground—with her favourite travel partner, her dad.

Megha Kohli in Armenia.

By Anjani Chadha
Express News Service

Chef Megha Kohli tells us that her travel pursuits usually involve packing her bags, starting her car, and whizzing away, covering a lot of ground—with her favourite travel partner, her dad. The executive chef at Cafe Mez and The Wine Company loves to explore regional flavours and has often incorporated what she has picked up on her escapades into her culinary creations. In this interview, the Central Delhi-resident tells us about her travel experiences, her luggage essentials, among other such things. Excerpts…

On the earliest travel memory…
The first memory of travelling somewhere was with my dad and other family members. My dad is very fond of travelling, especially driving. All of us—my mother, dad, brother, and I—would be in the car and we would first decide to go to a destination, and then end up seeing many other places around the same area. Till today, travelling for me, my brother, and my dad is never really about the destination but always about the journey. We like to be on the go. We stay at one destination—say for a day—and take off for another place the next day.

On the types of experiences she seeks while travelling…
I love travelling by car—it means I am in control of my trip. I can stop if I feel something interesting is happening, to speak to the locals, or to just pluck fruits and vegetables if I cross a field. I like talking to people. I love experiences that help me learn something about the world, other people, their lives, and definitely about food—something I can bring back with me.  

 
On the latest travel memory…
Last year in August, I went to Spiti Valley with my father. My dad had to visit for some work, so I decided to tag along. I would call it the best five days of my life. My dad and I have really similar personalities. We were listening to music in the car… It was beautiful. The drive was tough because of the terrain but with every turn, the view would change, it was such an unexplored territory. I have never seen terrain like that before. We drove from Delhi to Shimla, Shimla to Spiti, then to Chandra Taal Lake, and then back to Manali. We did that in four and a half days.
This is one of the trips where I did not pay much attention to the food. I just switched off and enjoyed the time with my dad. I relished momos, Maggi… basically typical mountain food. It was not a food trip at all.    
On the last food trip…
I am very passionate about regional Indian flavours and I think every place has something to offer. But the last food trip I had was to Armenia. I went there with a friend and fell in love with the food. It was a mix of varied flavours and influences. Every meal was like a revelation—the cheese, the fresh produce, the way they cook their meals. I ended up incorporating a lot of what I had produced in my menu at Lavaash By Saby and now at Cafe Mez.

On her travel essentials…
A good pair of shoes, comfortable track pants, a jacket, my earphones, and a portable charger so that I do not stop taking pictures if my phone battery dies. Also, a notebook and a pen because I am constantly taking notes—if I like a dish, I write down the flavours.

Art: ARARAT supports presentation of restored Aivazovsky painting

Ophelia Vardapetian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – July 19 2022
July 19, 2022 – 16:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On July 17, the official presentation of Ivan Aivazovsky’s restored painting “Christ with His Disciples” (1887) took place at the Geological Museum and Art Gallery of Dilijan, honoring the seascape artist’s 205th anniversary.

Guests had the opportunity to see the painting for the first time since 1994, when it was damaged. Moreover, this year marks the 135th anniversary of the creation of the painting, which made the event even more unique. The painting depicts the artist’s eternal muse — the Sea — which in this work serves as a bright, alluring and incredibly deep exposition for the Biblical story.

ARARAT Brandy enriched the ceremonial part of the event, during which guests got to discover the contemporary facets of Armenian brandymaking. The year is symbolic for the Armenian brandy heritage as well, as it also marks its 135th anniversary.

Over the years, ARARAT has been supporting different events dedicated to the great artist. In 2016, ARARAT supported an exhibition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the painter, while in 2017 it became the official partner of the exhibition “Hovhannes Aivazovsky: Creation” at the National Gallery of Armenia.

Why would those who slaughtered the elderly steal cattle and kidnap shepherds?

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama
Armenia –

SOCIETY 14:00 22/07/2022 ARMENIA

Finally, the public armies are mixed up. After Thursday’s media reports and the denial of the Aragatsotn regional administration that “… the news is absolutely false. Not a single Turk has entered Aragatsan and not a single shepherd has been captured”, the public became united and again divided in a new way, this time not into groups of Nikol’s supporters and detractors.

According to the regional administration, the shepherds accidently crossed into the neutral zone between the Armenia-Azerbaijani border, which is controlled not by Armenian border troops, but by the Russians. The latter closed the gates, the shepherds remained in the neutral zone until the gates were opened to let them back into the homeland.

The public reactions were something like:

1. What have we come to? The Turks have now reached Aragatsotn.

2. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for writing something like this? How could a Turk enter Armenia and capture a shepherd?

It reminds me of a joke: an old man is walking down the street, shuffling in a strange way, and two students are following him and discussing: one says he has rheumatism, the other insists on arthritis. They make a bet and approach the old man:

– Tell me something: I insist that you have rheumatism, but my friend says you have arthritis.

– You’re both wrong: I had a stomachache and didn’t have time to …

The possibility of the Turks’ incursion into Armenia cannot be ruled out, as they have already invaded and advanced deep into Armenian territory amid the whining of the authorities. Cases of kidnapping people and seizing their cattle have also been recorded. Why shouldn’t you believe it?

Look at what they have done to Syunik. The Azerbaijani flag is installed at the Kapan airport, while the same people accompanied by “Russian peacekeepers” enter supermarkets to do shopping.

“But what can you do?” say the residents.

Well, you are right, there is nothing we can do.

So, why should not we believe that it has happened again? How can we be sure of it? By the following logic: “Why would those who slaughtered the elderly steal cattle and kidnap shepherds?”

P.S. The photo above shows Azerbaijanis gunning down Armenian civilians during the recent war. Look for footage of beheadings of Armenian prisoners on the TikTok pages of the Azerbaijanis, should you have forgotten about them. 

By Anahit Voskanyan



Yerevan metro evacuated following bomb threat

Ophelia Vardapetian

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 13:49,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Authorities evacuated all stations of the Yerevan metro on July 20 in response to a bomb threat.

“A bomb threat was received targeting one of the stations and all stations were shut down and the passengers and staff were evacuated,” Yerevan metro spokesperson Tatev Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS.

Khachatryan said that authorities are now working in the station.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations, in a separate statement, said that K9 units and crisis management teams were dispatched to the stations to investigate. 

Photos by Hayk Manukyan




Holy Cross Cathedral to celebrate 100 years of service to LA’s Armenian community

Ophelia Vardapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 09:22

 

One hundred years of service to the Los Angeles Armenian-American community by the Holy Cross Cathedral will be celebrated at a gala banquet on Saturday, September 24, under the auspices of Prelate, His Grace Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Asbarez reports.

To mark this occasion, an evening church service is planned for Saturday, September 10, with the blessing of the incense and crosses at 7:00 p.m. The celebration will continue on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM with the official divine liturgy; the blessing of Madagh; Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Name Day of Holy Cross Cathedral.

This is a unique opportunity for the Los Angeles Armenian community to gather together to celebrate the Cathedral’s 100th anniversary. The church has served as a haven to many of the immigrants and their families who came to this country seeking freedom while maintaining a connection to their heritage.

Founded 100 years ago on 20th street in the heart of the then-Armenian-populated district in what is now Downtown Los Angeles, Holy Cross served as the spiritual anchor for the Armenians who were then slowly congregating in Southern California. Today, the Church, that was relocated in the 1980’s to the City of Montebello and recognized as a Cathedral, is the spiritual home for thousands of Armenian Americans across Southern California.

Asbarez: Azerbaijanis Kidnap Armenian Villager; Investigation Underway

Ophelia Vardapetian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Khachik village in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Province


The Investigative Committee of Armenia said on Thursday that it has launched a probe surrounding the disappearance of a resident of Khachik village in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Province.

According to the villager’s brother the subject left his house on June 3 and did not return.

“As a result of operational measures it became known that on June 3, at about 09 a.m. (local time), a resident of Khachik village, A.Kh., alone went to an area bordering Azerbaijan known as ‘Jaghatsi Dzor’ to pick plants. There three unknown people of Azerbaijani nationality approached him and transported him to Nakhichevan against his will. On June 12 A.Kh. was returned to the area called ‘Jaghatsi Dzor,’ from where he returned to the village of Khachik,” the investigative committee told Armenpress on Thursday, adding that probe into the circumstances of this act continues.

Last week, Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported that Azerbaijani forces opened fire from various directions and using heavy artillery at Armenian military positions located in the western part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Explosion at Armenia bank branch kills 1, injures 5

Ophelia Vardapetian

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 09:54, 6 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. An explosion occurred today early in the morning at a bank branch in the Armenian town of Ashtarak, the ministry of emergency situations said.

According to preliminary reports, 1 person has been killed, 5 others were injured in the incident.

The injured people have been hospitalized.  

Investigation is underway.