Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Armenian PM’s spouse, Senior Director of NUS Medicine International Council discuss cooperation ways

Tambiyan Samvel

Armenian PM’s spouse, Senior Director of NUS Medicine International Council discuss cooperation ways

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 10:02, 3 March, 2020

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Spouse of the Armenian prime minister, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the My Step and City of Smile charitable foundations, Anna Hakobyan, met on March 2 with Senior Director of the Medicine International Council of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Raja Kamal and Head of the Center of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of Armenia Gevorg Tamamyan, Mrs. Hakobyan’s Office told Armenpress.

At the meeting Mr. Raja Kamal released details from the upcoming conference of the NUS Medicine International Council to take place in Armenia in June, stating that famous doctors and public figures will deliver remarks at the event. He said the cooperation with the Armenian doctors started after the visit of the Armenian PM’s wife to the NUS Medicine International Center on July 9, 2019. Raja Kamal said the upcoming conference is the first result of that meeting, but the cooperation with the Armenian side in the field of oncology and hematology will continue. Mr. Kamal was interested in the activity of the City of Smile charitable foundation, adding that the Council can cooperate with the Foundation in scientific research, training and technical upgrading spheres.

 

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenia’s Sole HIV/AIDS Clinic Staff Quits In Protest

Tambiyan Samvel
March 2, 2020

Staff of Armenia’s HIV/AIDS clinic staff members stage walk out

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—The work of Armenia’s sole medical center specializing in the treatment of HIV and AIDS was disrupted on Friday as 80 percent of its employees resigned in protest against the government’s decision to merge it with another clinic.

The Armenian Ministry of Health, which initiated the decision earlier this year, says that the Republican Center for the Prevention of AIDS must be incorporated into a Yerevan hospital which treats other infectious diseases, including the flu and similar viruses.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan insisted earlier in February that Armenia no longer needs a specialized HIV/AIDS clinic and that it now makes more sense to have all infectious diseases treated by a single medical institution. “The fight against AIDS must be integrated into the overall healthcare system,” he said.

The affected HIV/AIDS medics strongly disagree, saying the dissolution of their center, which has detected up to 450 cases of HIV annually in Armenia, would break up what they describe as a well-functioning system of preventing, tracking and treating the immunodeficiency disease.

“In three, four or five years from now we will have … an uncontrolled epidemic,” Arshak Papoyan, who heads one of the center’s divisions, claimed on Friday.

The government’s decision also sparked protests by many of the HIV-positive Armenians who receive free antiretroviral drugs and counseling at the center. Earlier this week, about 150 of them signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urging him to reverse it.

The HIV/AIDS patients are particularly worried about Torosyan’s intention to “decentralize” services provided by the Republican Center. That includes transferring the distribution of antiretroviral drugs from the center to regular policlinics across the country. According to Torosyan, this will de-stigmatize HIV and AIDS and get people suffering from it out of social “isolation.”

HIV carriers counter that any breach of the confidentiality guaranteed by the center would only worsen discrimination encountered by them and the stigma associated with their disease. “None of us will go to a policlinic or the Nork hospital [in Yerevan,]” one of them told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

On Wednesday, Torosyan fired the center’s longtime director, Samvel Grigoryan, for his refusal to help implement the controversial merger. Just hours later, Grigoryan’s deputy, Aram Hakobyan, was briefly detained by police for allegedly refusing to hand the clinic’s official seal to Artur Berberyan, its acting director appointed by the minister.

It emerged on Friday at least 86 of the 108 people working at the center have tendered their resignations in response to the government’s failure to meet their demand.

“The conditions that have been created by various Ministry of Health officials make our continued work impossible,” Hakobyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

“It’s not about an individual, it’s about preserving a system,” said another senior HIV/AIDS medic, Janetta Petrosyan.

Berberyan deplored the mass resignations of the center’s staff. He warned that their “inactivity” could be deemed a criminal offense.

Airlines reduce number of flights to Armenia

Tambiyan Samvel
JAM News
March 5 2020
JAMnews, Yerevan
Artur Xachatryan
March 5, 2020

This measure is to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and on top of that, there are now few people wishing to leave the country

Some airlines have reduced the number of flights to Armenia in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Airlines have informed and continue to inform passengers about the reduction in the number of flights and compensation for losses through email or SMS. You must periodically check your email,” states the Armenian Civil Aviation Committee report.

The discount Irish airline Ryanair has already informed its passengers on March 2 that it will reduce the number of flights because of the coronavirus. In this case, we are talking about flights to Italy, where there are numerous reports of infected people. So far, the restriction will be in effect from March 17 to April 8.

Armenian Facebook users have also been posting about the fact that Ryanair planes have been flying half empty:

“We’ve already boarded the second plane and it’s half empty. #CoronavirusInItaly”

French-Armenians report close ties between Paris mayoral candidate and Azerbaijani authorities

Tambiyan Samvel
News.am, Armenia
March 5 2020

22:29, 05.03.2020
                  

Rachida Dati, who is running in the mayoral elections in Paris, has close ties with the Azerbaijani government. This is what President of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France Mourad Papazian, Editor-in-Chief of Nouvelles d’Arménie magazine Ara Toranian and member of the City Council of Ile-de-France Patrick Karam reported in an article published on Marianne online.

The article states that Dati is known for her close ties with the authoritarian authorities of Azerbaijan and has served as a member of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan, which has been considered the key tool for “caviar diplomacy” in France.

Rachida’s close ties with Aliyev’s regime were brilliantly expressed during the grand feast that she organized in honor of First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in 2011. The mayoral candidate of Paris has made statements against the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially after the war that Azerbaijan unleashed in 2016.

The authors of the article voiced hope that Rachida Dati will put an end to her special relations with the Azerbaijani authorities.

Artsakh defense ministry urges to refrain from steps on involving Army into political processes

Tambiyan Samvel

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 13:30, 5 March, 2020

STEPANAKER, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. The defense ministry of the Republic of Artsakh urges public-political organizations to refrain from actions not envisaged by law on involving the Army into the political developments, the ministry said in a statement.

“Recently, conditioned by the pre-election processes launched in Artsakh, several public and political circles are attempting to involve the Army into these processes which is impermissible.

The commanding staff of the Artsakh Armed Forces, deeply concerned over these manifestations, once again reminds that the Army has only one key mission, that is to ensure the security of the borders of the homeland and the peaceful living of its people and create favorable conditions for the strengthening of our statehood.

We assure you that the Armed Forces, being as an absolute value symbolizing the unity of our people, have never had and do not have any political color or orientation. It has always been and will remain in the forefront of implementing our national dreams and goals and will only be guided by the sacred mission to protect the Homeland from the external enemy.

By highly appreciating the role and meaning of the ongoing domestic political events of pan-national significance in our Republic, including the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, the defense ministry of Artsakh calls on all public-political organizations operating in the country to refrain from actions not envisaged by law on involving the Army into the political processes”, the statement said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Criminal case against David Sanasaryan terminated

Tambiyan Samvel
Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 26 2020

ArmInfo.The criminal case against the former head of the State Control Service of Armenia David Sanasaryan has been terminated. This was announced by Sanasaryan on  his Facebook page.

In particular, he thanked all those who believed in him. After which  he noted that he did not want to return to the "false and low libel  of all the well-known scoundrels," but once again assured that he had  not hit a child.

To note, Sanasaryan was accused of hitting a child by car. The mother  of the victim stated that the former head of the Control Service ran  into her child, and without taking any steps left the scene of the  crime. A criminal case was initiated on article 242 of the Criminal  Code of the Republic of Armenia. Sanasaryan himself claimed that he  had been slandered. 

Eurovision: Athena Manukyan is going to Rotterdam for Armenia

Tambiyan Samvel
ESC Daily
Feb 15 2020
Brandon McCann (Northern Ireland)

Athena Manukyan has won Depi Evratesil, the Armenian national final to select their entrant for Eurovision 2020. Athena won the final with the pop-RnB song ‘Chains on You’

Twelve songs competed in Yerevan, the Armenian capital for the honour of representing Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.

Athena Manoukian is a Greek singer/songwriter of Armenian descent. She previously attempted to represent Greece at Junior Eurovision Song Contest back in 2008 but placed seventh in the national selection that year. Athena has written a Platinum-selling song for ESC 2005 winner, Helena Paparizou entitled “Palia Mou Agapi”. Athena has previously been on X Factor UK back in 2018.

The two big favourites prior to the show were Athena Manukyan and Tokionine who closed the first and second half of the entries respectively.

Results of Depi Evratesil 2020:

  1. Athena Manukyan – Chains On You (168 points)
  2. Erna Tamazyan – Life Faces (120 points)
  3. Vladimir Arzumanyan – What’s Going On Mama? (118 points)
  4. Miriam Baghdsaryan – Run Away (108 points)
  5. Gabriel Jegg –It’s Your Turn (99 points)
  6. Tokionine – Save Me (96 points)
  7. Sergey and Nikolay Harutyunov – Ha, Take a Step (96 points)
  8. Eva Rida – No Love (84 points)
  9. Karina EVN – Why? (84 points)
  10. Agop – Butterflies (75 points)
  11. Arthur Aleq – Heaven (65 points)
  12. Hayk Music – What It Is To Be In Love (57 points)

Armenia’s representative for JESC 2019, Karina Ignatyan performed during the interval. Her entry “Colors Of Your Dream” placed ninth in the contest. Iveta Mukuchyan also performed a medley of her hits including LoveWave which she sang for Armenia in Eurovision 2016 placing seventh.



Anna Astvatsaturian discussed the importance of remembering the tragic events which displaced thousands of Armenians in Baku 30 years ago

Tambiyan Samvel
Aravot, Armenia
Feb 14 2020

                                                       
February 14,2020 11:10 49

30th Anniversary of Baku Pogroms Commemorated in Nation’s Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To mark the 30th anniversary of the violent pogroms against Armenians in Baku, the Congressional Armenian Caucus held a commemorative event on Feb. 12 in the Capitol with the participation of Armenian advocacy groups, community leaders and supporters.

Keynote speaker Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an author, human rights activist and survivor of the Baku pogroms discussed the importance of remembering the tragic events which displaced thousands of Armenians in Baku 30 years ago, igniting a movement of xenophobia against Armenians which still exists today in Azerbaijan.

She drew a parallel between the atrocities committed against Armenians during the Genocide and compared it to the pogroms of Baku and Sumgayit as a way of history repeating itself and the victims being voiceless in a time of great injustice and terror.

Founding Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), along with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), all of whom have visited Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), spoke about the importance of commemorating and speaking out against the horrific acts of the Baku pogroms and reminding the world that Azerbaijan continues to carry out their campaign of hate, discrimination and intolerance. Advocating for more funding through USAID, they reiterated the importance of the de-mining efforts of the Halo Trust in Artsakh and pledged to continue to fight for more funding, as well as hold Azerbaijan responsible for human rights and rampant cease fire violations in the absence of OSCE monitors at the border.

“We are grateful to the Congressional Armenian Caucus and all supporters on the Hill for giving a proper importance to the issue of persecutions and massacres of Armenians in Sumgayit, Baku, Kirovabad and many other cities and villages across Azerbaijan,” said Congressional Armenian Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

“I stand with people of Artsakh and their rejection of the repeated attempts by the Azerbaijani government to bring them back under oppressive rule. They fought for their freedom, their right for self-determinization, and the opportunity to be greater than second-class citizens. I’m glad to be here today as we recognize the 30th Anniversary of the Baku pogroms and stand in solidarity with the people of the Republic of Artsakh,” added Congressman Bilirakis.

Additional members of Congress who expressed their support for the Armenian community condemning the Baku pogroms were Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Jim Acosta (D-CA) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).

“By 1991, facing no international condemnation or sanctions, Azerbaijan’s authorities have escalated attacks on Armenians to the level of a full-scale military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh,” said Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Those atrocities and attacks have become another unfortunate evidence that lack of a timely condemnation of any demonstration of aggression and fascism can lead to even greater human tragedy and unpredictable developments. We are grateful to the US legislature, our compatriots in the Armenian American organizations like the Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Council of America, and all organizations and structures who share our vision of a safe, strong and democratic Republic of Artsakh in a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus,” added Avetisyan.

Armenian Council of America 

Recognition of Armenian Genocide by Syrian parliament sign of friendship – MFA Armenia

Tambiyan Samvel

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 21:06,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the People’s Council of Syria is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides, reads the statement issues by the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

“We highly appreciate the adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The genocide unleashed by the government of the Young Turks a major part of which was carried out in the territory of Syria that was under the Ottoman rule at that time, is a part of the shared memories of the Armenian and Syrian peoples.

The Syrian people, witnessing the calamity facing the Armenian people, were one of the 1st to extend a helping hand to the genocide survivors. Thousands of survivors re-found their new motherland in Syria, establishing one of the most flourishing Armenian communities and had their contribution to the development of Syria.

This resolution is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship and reciprocal sympathy between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides”, reads the statement, expressing solidarity with the Syrian people, who currently face challenges.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan