Author: Raffi Khondkarian

Armenia students advised to self-quarantine ahead of reopening of schools

Raffi Khondkarian

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 13:48, 18 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan has asked school and university students to voluntarily self-quarantine or limit contacts as a precaution ahead of the planned reopening of schools and higher education institutions in mid-September.

“In order to fully implement the educational process during the year, and to avoid new restrictions we are asking you, if possible, to ensure from September 1-14 a limitation of students’ contacts, a voluntary quarantine, so that we maximally break the chain of transmission of the pandemic and not bring the virus to schools, and also to help the healthcare system to further drop the number of [COVID-19] infections,” Harutyunyan said in a statement addressed to parents and students.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia and Russia discuss cooperation in the Middle East

Raffi Khondkarian
MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 20 2020

The Russian MFA has said that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov received Armenian Ambassador in Russia Vardan Toghanyan at the Ambassador’s request.

 

“The parties have discussed relevant matters of Russian-Armenian foreign-policy interaction in the Middle East,” the Ministry said in a statement.

 

Since February 2019, Armenia deploys humanitarian deminers, doctors and specialists providing their security to Aleppo, Syria.

 

The transportation (and related logistics) of the Armenian mission to Syria is carried pit with the support of the Russian side.

 

On 24 October 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the Sochi agreements on Syria concerned the security of Syria’s Armenian population as well.

 

“I am happy to say that the agreements on Syria, reached in Sochi, also concern the issues related to the security of Syrian Armenians as well, which I discussed with President of Russia Vladimir Putin. This highlights the strategic and allied nature of Armenia-Russia relations. We continue following the developments in Syria and providing assistance to civilian population, and we keep our humanitarian mission there,” said Pashinyan.

Serzh Sargsyan: Russia has provided Armenia with great support, and it is unacceptable to accuse it of provoking the war

Raffi Khondkarian
Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 19 2020

ArmInfo.Russia has provided Armenia with tremendous support, and it is unacceptable to accuse it of provoking the war. The third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated this on August 19 during a press conference.

"As you remember, in 2010, Dmitry Medvedev, who at that time was the  President of Russia, paid a visit to Armenia. During this visit, an  additional protocol was signed, according to which the Russian  military base assumed additional obligations. The fact is that before  that the Russian base was responsible only for the external borders  of the CIS. However, according to the agreement signed in 2010, it  has already assumed responsibility for the entire length of the  Armenian border. Moreover, Russia has also assumed the responsibility  to update our weapons. Before the April events of 2018, Armenia  received more than 50 000 tons of military-technical assistance from  Russia. In this case, assistance means that you do not have to pay  for it, "Sargsyan stressed.

The third president noted that it is wrong to say in such a situation  that Russia allegedly knew about the forthcoming April war. It's  unacceptable to make such statements.

"Russia is our strategic ally. Spreading such ideas is ignorance, and  accusing an ally of provoking a war, that is, of betrayal, is  impermissible. It is obvious that such statements will have  consequences, "the third president of Armenia noted. You should  remember that no one except Armenia has an "Iskander", not even  Belarus. And Azerbaijan in 2016 did not go to full-scale military  actions because of "Iskander". Therefore, the very fact that we have  this weapon speaks of a special attitude of Russia towards Armenia,  "Sargsyan noted.

He also noticed that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces began hostilities  using special forces.

Sargsyan also stated that many believe that Moscow could stop the  fighting in Artsakh with one call.



Aliyev names new ambassador to Georgia

Raffi Khondkarian

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 16:47,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has appointed a new ambassador to Georgia.

Faik Guliyev will replace Dursun Hasanov in the position, the Azerbaijani media reported.

The sacking comes after Aliyev lambasted his ambassadors in different countries amid the attacks on Armenia in mid-July. Aliyev had said that some of his envoys are unable to properly defend Azerbaijani interests abroad.

He first dismissed his foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Then, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Serbia was detained in Baku while visiting the capital for a meeting. He was formally sacked on August 17 and is arrested on charges of embezzling state funds.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Social support programs being developed for Lebanese-Armenians willing to settle in homeland

Raffi Khondkarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 15 2020

<img width="1024" height="682" src=”"https://en.armradio.am/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Beirutblast.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://en.armradio.am/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Beirutblast.jpg 1024w, https://en.armradio.am/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Beirutblast-300×200.jpg 300w, https://en.armradio.am/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Beirutblast-768×512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/>

Armenia is developing social support and integration programs for Lebanese Armenians willing to establish in Armenia, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan informs.

The work in that direction has already started, and the Ministry is participating in the discussions, she said in a Facebook post.

“After the explosion in Lebanon, it is natural that our compatriots living in Beirut, especially the citizens of Armenia, should have expected the support of the Republic of Armenia. Now that the government has provided first aid to Lebanon, the first steps have been taken,” she said.

The Minister added that now we must be ready to host our compatriots should they decide to leave Lebanon for any reason, “so that they will get a new opportunity to live freely, happily and prosperously in Armenia.”

“And, most importantly, everything must be done so that after coming to Armenia they do not think about moving to another country, as it was the case with many Syrian-Armenians,” Batoyan added.

Armenia sent more than 36 tons of humanitarian aid to Lebanon after a massive explosion left capital Beirut devastated.

About 100 Armenians, mostly citizens of the Republic of Armenia, have returned home on the three panes that delivered relief aid from Armenia and Artsakh.

Film: Is The Promise Really Based on Armenian Genocide? All You Need To Know Right Here!!

Raffi Khondkarian
Gizmo Posts 24
Aug 9 2020
Is The Promise Really Based on Armenian Genocide? All You Need To Know Right Here!!

“The Promise” consists of an immensely talented cast of, Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, and Christian Bale. The film takes place around the slaughter of the Armenian citizens by the Ottoman Empire. Which coincidently is the day of remembrance in Armenia which is, April 24. The events that unfolded that day are as follows, many Armenians intellectuals were arrested in the supposed Armenian genocide.
In World War I, the Ottoman Empire government planned to eradicate the Armenians. The planned to confiscate Armenian property and goods and deport the citizens. Approximately 2.1 million Armenians living in the Ottoman empire in 1914 and the number dropped to a mere 387,800 by 1922.

According to Peter Balakian,

Armenians had become forces for social and political change within the empire and were asking the state. Can a Christian be the equal of a Muslim in the Ottoman empire? The new nationalism in Turkey, especially after Turkey’s enormous losses in the Balkan wars, [led to the feeling] that Turkey could only be revived and saved if it got rid of its Christian minority populations.

There are similarities with Nazism, in terms of thinking that, in order to revitalize a state in crisis, you need to eradicate a certain ethnic group.

It’s a watershed event in the history of modernity, because it’s the first time that the nation-state uses technology. Its advanced military communications, legislation and the nationalist ideology for the purpose of eradicating a targeted ethnic group in a certain period of time.

Due to all of these occurrences, the Armenians have been trying for decades to make these relevant. They have been trying to persuade Turkish authorities and others as well to recognize their struggle. A lot of people rebuttal that these deaths were not a part of a Genocide but of World War I.


https://gizmoposts24.com/movie/is-the-promise-really-based-on-armenian-genocide-all-you-need-to-know-right-here-133318/

St. Thaddeus Monastery Exhibit Marks UNESCO-Listing Anniversary

Raffi Khondkarian

Prelate of Northern Iran, Archbishop Krikor Chiftdjian at the exhibit in St. Thaddeus Monastery in Northwestern Iran

A painting exhibition is currently underway at the St. Thaddeus Monastery, in the northwestern Iran, marks the 12th anniversary of the religious center’s inclusion on UNESCO World Heritage list.

The exhibition, which displays 77 paintings by children and teenagers, was inaugurated by the Prelate of Northern Iran Archbishop Kirkor Chiftdjian, according to a report in Tehran Times  on Wednesday.

The monastery, also known as Gharakilise, is one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in Iran and it borders Armenia.

The ancient church features elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of the Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.

St. Thaddeus Monastery hosts an annual pilgrimage every summer. Last July, more than 3,000 worshippers come together from Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, Canada and other countries.

Baptism of children and youngsters along with performances of traditional songs and dances are among highlights of the pilgrimage. The event is an important centerpiece for Iranian-Armenians who mostly flock there from nearby cities of Tabriz and Urmia, as well as farther cities of Tehran, Isfahan, and Ghazvin.

The annual pilgrimage is held to commemorate the martyrdom of St. Thaddeus, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus killed while he was preaching the Gospel. Legend has it that a church dedicated to him was first built in 68 AD where the St. Thaddeus Church still stands.

Together with St. Stepanos Monastery and the Chapel of Dzordzor, the St. Thaddeus Monastery was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008 under the name “Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran.” UNESCO says that the churches bear examples of the outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative traditions.

‘Surgeries without anesthesia’: Kandaharian’s shocking details from catastrophic aftermath in Beirut

Raffi Khondkarian

'Surgeries without anesthesia': Kandaharian’s shocking details from catastrophic aftermath in Beirut

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 11:27, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The power of the Beirut blast is being compared to the magnitude of a powerful earthquake, Beirut-based Aztag Daily’s Editor-in-Chief Shahan Kandaharian told ARMENPRESS.

“It was a very powerful blast”, he said. “Even during the years of the civil war a blast like this hadn’t happened.”

Kandaharian says the Armenian community has suffered significant material damages.

“Residential homes and community institutions have been damaged. The office of Aztag has also suffered damages, windows and doors were knocked out, property and equipment are damaged. A nearby radio station, a party headquarters, all are damaged. The situation in the country is very difficult in socio-economic terms, especially in times of the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals are overcrowded, they were even forced to conduct surgeries without anesthesia,” he said, describing the horrifying aftermath of the blast.

3 Lebanese-Armenians are dead, and more than 100 Lebanese-Armenians are injured, according to latest data.

Kandaharian says the Lebanese government is declaring a state of emergency and is mulling to declare Beirut a disaster zone.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured.

The enormous blast was reportedly heard as far away as Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia foreign ministry activates task force to coordinate aid provision to Lebanon

Raffi Khondkarian

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 12:12, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. According to latest confirmed information 6 Lebanese-Armenians have been killed in the Beirut explosion on Tuesday, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said on social media.

“A task force has been initiated at the foreign ministry to coordinate the provision of targeted assistance with Lebanon’s crisis management authorities. The Armenian Embassy in Lebanon maintains constant contact with local authorities to together assess the Lebanese side’s needs and circle of assistance. At the same time, contact is maintained with Armenian community institutions to assess the needs,” Naghdalian said.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

“Artsakh stands with Lebanon” – President Harutyunyan ready to assist with all possible means

Raffi Khondkarian

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 13:15, 5 August, 2020

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has extended condolences and offered support to the people of Lebanon after the deadly explosion that hit Beirut on Tuesday, killing over 100 people and injuring more than 4000.

President Harutyunyan said he also phoned Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias to inquire on the Armenian community’s damages and losses.

“I asked the Catholicos to convey our deepest condolences to the families of our compatriots who died, the brotherly people of Lebanon and wish speedy recovery to all the injured. Expressing support to our Lebanese-Armenian brothers and sisters, at this difficult moment I expressed readiness to assist with all possible means. Artsakh stands with Lebanon,” Harutyunyan said in a statement published on social media.

The blast erupted at a port warehouse in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. More than 100 people are dead and 4000 are injured. Immense destruction occurred in many parts of Beirut.

The enormous blast was reportedly heard as far away as Cyprus, some 150 miles away from the port.

Beirut authorities have traced the blast to a massive stash of explosive ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan