Bonuses worth AMD 33,400,000 were allocated to Armenia President’s Staff in February

News.am, Armenia

21:45, 26.04.2020
                  

The last time the employees of the Staff of the President of Armenia received bonuses was in February 2020, as and within the time limit prescribed by law, in the total amount of AMD 33,400,000, which is the equivalent to USD 69,000. This is what the Staff of the President of Armenia said in response to the inquiry of AntiFake.am, adding that no other bonuses have been paid.

In response to the inquiry, the Department of Public Relations of the Staff of the President of Armenia reports that there haven’t been and there are no bonuses or premiums paid on a monthly basis. The Department also reports that President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian hasn’t received bonuses since the day he assumed office and gears his salaries towards the implementation of various programs and projects.

Mischa Wegner (son of Armin T. Wegner) writes in memory of the Armenian Genocide. (in Italian)

Gariwo, Italia
24 aprile 2020

Armin T. Wegner

Pensando a mio padre, cercando di vedere, attraverso i suoi occhi e nella sua memoria

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Così oggi scriverebbe mio padre: …è passato più di un secolo dal genocidio degli armeni. Popoli anche più grandi hanno sofferto grandissimi dolori. Pieno di vergogna il testimone è là…nei deserti dell’Anatolia e della Siria… ha visto qualche cosa che nessuno avrebbe potuto vedere senza rischiare la vita. Ma anche attorno a lui si è creato il silenzio, in qualsiasi direzione si rivolga bussa a porte chiuse: …“abbiamo il nostro dolore, perchè dobbiamo angustiarci del dolore degli altri da lungo tempo dimenticato?

Forse oggi non è più così. Un giorno, un mese, un anno, i giorni della memoria ritornano, ma per la prima volta ci sentiamo anche noi fuori dal tempo, sospesi, chiusi nelle nostre case senza comprendere il perché di quanto avviene, e forse siamo più disposti a pensare e a condividere il dolore degli altri.
Ci sembra di subire una violenza senza speranza per il futuro, come avvenne per gli Armeni in quel 24 Aprile 1915.

Il male del presente, ma soprattutto l’incertezza del futuro creano un legame forte con quel passato anche se avvertiamo l‘impossibilità di una comparazione. Si tratta di stati d’animo.
Per la prima volta viviamo la paura, sappiamo chi è il nemico ma difendersi è difficile, talvolta impossibile e possiamo soltanto cercare di non incontrarlo. Non comprendiamo, non sappiamo perchè la minaccia ci sovrasta, non viene concesso di chiedere il senso di tale accanimento e siamo trascinati in un percorso di cui non conosciamo l’esito.
Per la prima volta in questi giorni le giovani generazioni vivono direttamente nel loro animo la paura di quando, per eventi non previsti, ci si trova a metà tra il passato e il futuro e si scopre che nulla ritornerà come prima.

Nei genocidi chi deteneva il potere decreteva chi aveva il diritto di vivere e chi andava sterminato, con la sua storia e il suo passato. Uomini, donne, bambini,anziani strappati alla vita, persi per sempre, finiti nel dolore.

Oggi all'improvviso un membro della famiglia viene portato via sorretto da sconosciuti, non si sa verso quale destino. L’unica speranza, oggi come allora, è riposta nei Giusti nascosti che combattono per la vita, per fermare il male.

Mai come in questi giorni di confinamento possiamo aprirci al dramma del popolo armeno dimenticato e negato, sentire vicino il racconto del destino tragico di tanti esseri umani. Il nostro dolore e le nostre difficoltà possono far sorgere pensieri di condivisione e di solidarietà, prima di tutto rivolti a chi ci sta vicino, ma poi allargati al presente e al passato del mondo, ad una più vasta umanità.

Avvertiamo che questa volta non è solo commemorazione, celebrazione, ma la consapevolezza che gli armeni, gli ebrei e tanti altri popoli sono stati in un mondo di sofferenza e di male, che il male si ripete nei modi più inverosimili e inattesi e che ancora una volta mancano le risposte.

Armin T.Wegner, mio padre, un Giusto per gli armeni e per gli ebrei, un testimone di verità che ha parlato per “una più vasta invisibile comunità“, con la consapevolezza di non avere potuto completare l’opera avviata: la consegna a noi per un altro tratto di strada.

Analisi di Mischa Wegner, figlio del Giusto Armin T. Wegner

24 aprile 2020

Yerevan to have new music school named after Charles Aznavour

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YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan State College of Culture and the Yerevan State College of Pop and Jazz Art (both functioning under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports) are being merged and re-launched as the Yerevan Charles Aznavour State College of Culture.

The government of Armenia approved the decision today at a Cabinet meeting.

The new college is named after the late Charles Aznavour, the legendary French-Armenian crooner who passed away aged 94 in 2018.

Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenian-American community to provide 1.5 million meals to Americans in need on April 24

Public Radio of Armenia


Asbarez – The Armenian community organizations in charge of organizing the Southern California area Armenian Genocide commemorations, the United Armenian Council of Los Angeles (UACLA), the Unified Young Armenians (UYA) and the Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC) announce their plans for alternative commemorative events given state and local orders prohibiting mass gatherings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In lieu of the traditional requiem service at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello, the march in Little Armenia and the protest demonstration in front of the Los Angeles Turkish Consulate, the committees have been working together to create an all day commemoration which will be aired on local Armenian television channels as well as several hours of live streaming on social media all to take place on April 24, 2020 beginning at 10 a.m.

The all-day commemoration will feature addresses by several prominent government officials, community leaders and the clergy, as well as informative panel discussions concerning Genocide recognition, reparations and restitution for the crime of Genocide. In addition, viewers will have the opportunity to see documentaries regarding the Genocide and hear from our community, well-known personalities and cultural presentations to honor the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Armenian Genocide brought unspeakable horrors upon the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire, including mass starvation. At the time, Americans organized the largest relief effort in United States history, through the Committee for Near East Relief to come to the aid of the Armenians devastated by the impact of the Genocide. Armenians have never forgotten the benevolence and great generosity of the American people. 105 years later, now Americans are facing a food insecurity crisis due to unprecedented levels of unemployment brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

To address this need, the UACLA/UYA/AGC have partnered with Feeding America, America’s largest food bank, to raise funds to provide 1,500,000 meals to America, in honor of our fallen martyrs and this great nation that came to our aid. Through this epic campaign, the entire Armenian community will be able to give thanks to America for its philanthropy at our greatest hour of need, and now, as Armenian-Americans we will do our part to help our communities and neighbors of all backgrounds and affiliations who face food shortages at this extraordinary time.

Armenia Ombudsman: I consider unethical, absolutely unacceptable to mock head of state

News.am, Armenia

17:15, 19.04.2020
                  

I consider it unethical, absolutely unacceptable in human terms to mock the head of state, or such attempts, by using the non-aerial footage of the message of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia . The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, wrote this on his Facebook page, and with respect to the incident regarding PM Nikol Pashinyan’s TV message to the people.

"I am particularly concerned about the way this is being presented to the public, and the response to such footage.

Such an attitude or reaction toward a public figure, an opponent, or even a political opponent or a friend and relative is unacceptable.

We must be guided by high respect for the symbols of our state and people (…),” he added, in particular.

To note, the footage that was left off the air from Pashinyan’s aforesaid message had appeared on the Internet.

Asbarez: RAA’s Future After its Director Samvel Karapetian’s Passing


Samvel Karapetyan

BY JORA MANOUCHERIAN

As you are aware, Samvel Karapetian, the president of Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation (RAA – Armenia) passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in Yerevan, Armenia leaving a huge void and emptiness in the organization.

This was a big loss not only for RAA, but also for the Armenian cultural sector. Samvel’s role in research, documentation, archival and publication of the Armenian historical/architectural structures and monuments located all over historical Armenia is irreplaceable and his contributions towards this effort are invaluable. His series of lectures on many special topics as well as historic and daily matters, delivered personally and online to audiences of enthusiasts will be sorely missed.
In order to secure the continued success of RAA and its valuable work, which started more than 50 years ago by its founder Dr. Armen Haghnazarian, the Board of Trustees of RAA/Armenia decided to restructure the administration of the organization. After several meetings with the members of the staff, the Board of Trustees held a meeting on March 4, 2020, and made the following appointments:

Emma Abrahamian (Samvel’s wife), Managing Director
Raffi Kortoshyan, Co-Director Administrative and Publications
Ashot Hakobyan, Co-Director Architectural Activities
Armen Gevorkyan, Co-Director Computers and Technology

On March 6, the Chairman of the RAA Board of Trustees met with Narine Khachaturyan, Deputy Minister of Culture and presented RAA’s the newly appointed RAA management team to her. He emphasized the fact that RAA activities will continue without any interruption. Khachaturyan assured that the Ministry will continue to fully support the important activities of RAA and requested to inform her of any additional needs the organization might have to conduct its day to day operations, so that they can facilitate.

During the last several years Samvel created a virtual school by transferring his knowledge and skills to his staff members. Today, the RAA staff is fully capable of taking care of all the tasks technically and professionally.

Currently all the projects are being carried forward with great success and enthusiasm. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the board has asked all the staff members to work from home. To support this initiative, Armen Gevorkian in a short time has made a great effort in creating the required infrastructure to enable all staff members to work remotely.

We are confident that the future of RAA is very bright and under the auspices of the Cultural Ministry and the Board of Trustees, the new administration and staff will be able to carry the torch and move forward successfully.

And of course, we will need and thank you for your continued confidence and support.

Jora Manoucherian is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of RAA/Armenia, [ends]

Armenian clergyman: Maniac police chief beat my 70-year-old father and my brother who has undergone surgery

News.am, Armenia
April 8 2020

22:42, 08.04.2020
                  

The three citizens hospitalized after the beating that took place in the city of Sisian yesterday are the family members of Father Nerses. During a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, Father Nerses said he is certain that his father and brother hadn’t incited or created a situation that would lead police officers to use violence against them.

According to the presses, acting police chief of Sisian Gevorg Azizyan had also participated in the incident. The news department of the Police of Armenia told Armenian News-NEWS.am that they are conducting an official investigation into the incident.

“When that maniac police chief suddenly attacked my brother and started using swear words, my father interfered, after which the police chief also used swear words against my father and hit him. My nephew videotaped this, and at that moment, his mobile phone was taken from him and the video was deleted, and my nephew was also beaten,” the clergymen said.

Father Nerses said his brother has undergone a difficult lung surgery. The acting police chief was urged not to hit him, but the police chief behaved like a crazy man and said let him die. “The police chief used swear words against my 70-year-old father and strangled him. This is a tragedy. As a citizen of Armenia and a family member of the victim, I’m going to follow to make sure there is a fair investigation. I’m doing my best to make sure this isn’t politicized. My goal and desire is to see the culprits punished,” Father Nerses said.

We survived the Armenian Genocide, together we will defeat COVID-19

Public Radio of Armenia
April 9 2020

Armenia’s coronavirus cases rise to 881 as of April 8

Panorama, Armenia
April 8 2020
Health 12:12 08/04/2020 Armenia

Armenia has confirmed 28 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases to 881 in the country as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

So far, 114 people have recovered and 9 have died from COVID-19 in Armenia.

The results of 4,571 tests have come back negative.


Armenpress: Russia: Coronavirus cases rise by 1,154 in Russia over past day: TASS h

Coronavirus cases rise by 1,154 in Russia over past day: TASS

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 14:45, 7 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. More than 1,154 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Russia in one day, bringing the total number of infected people to 7,497, reports TASS news agency.

The COVID-19 cases were registered in 81 regions of Russia.

According to the latest data, 494 people have recovered. The death toll has reached 58.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan



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