ArmenPress, Armenia EU plans to implement support project for Syrian-Armenians in Armenia YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. The European Union plans to implement a project worth 3 million Euros for Syrian-Armenians who have resettled in Armenia. The project will solve housing problems of many Syrian-Armenians, as well as will enable them to develop their businesses, Hoa-Binh Adjemian – Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia, told ARMENPRESS. “The EU has concentrated 3 million Euros under the Madad Fund for the integration of Syrian refugees in Armenia. Our first target is the capacity development of Syrian-Armenians, and the next is to help the Syrian-Armenian refugees to find an easier way to live. And we will subsidize them to settle here as we see that many Syrian refugees face housing problems”, Hoa-Binh Adjemian said. 1 million Euros from the total cost of the project will be provided for solving housing issues of Syrian-Armenians, and 1 million Euros – for their business development. Support will also be provided for promoting the small enterprises established by Syrian-Armenians. And the remaining 1 million Euros will be provided for the training and capacity development of Syrian-Armenians. The official added that Syrian-Armenians in Armenia will be founded and recruited by the capacities of the Red Cross. The organization in Armenia is cooperating with different structures, including the organizations of Syrian-Armenians. The signing of the project is scheduled to take place in late June or mid-July. Its implementation will start in September. Already in October assistance will be provided to Syrian-Armenians. Tens of thousands of people, including Armenians, have been killed in clashes in Syria since March 2011. Due to such situation Syrian-Armenians continue leaving the country, many arrived in Armenia. Armenia hosted 22.000 Syrian-Armenians since the launch of the Syrian war. Interview by Anna Grigoryan Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Category: 2018
Ambassador Matthias Kiesler wishes some provisions of Armenia’s Constitution to be included in German Constitution
ArmenPress, Armenia Ambassador Matthias Kiesler wishes some provisions of Armenia's Constitution to be included in German Constitution YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. German Ambassador to Armenia Matthias Kiesler is convinced that the new Armenian government will give key impetus to improve the administrative justice system, reports Armenpress. During the discussion titled ‘Formation and development of administrative justice in the Republic of Armenia’, the Ambassador said the German government together with the GIZ for many years are assisting Armenia aimed at making the administrative and justice structures more effective. He added that Germany assisted the administrative court with respective literature and left a trace in the 2015 constitutional amendments. “I would like that some provisions of Armenia’s 2015 Constitution will be included in the German Constitution”, Matthias Kiesler said. The German Ambassador said better and successful justice has a great effect in the life of each citizen. “I want to state that the trust towards the justice of courts plays a significant role for the formation of legal state and the positive development of any state in general”, he noted. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenian delegation to PABSEC slams Turkey’s "inadmissible" blockade of Armenia at Tirana sitting
ArmenPress, Armenia Armenian delegation to PABSEC slams Turkey's "inadmissible" blockade of Armenia at Tirana sitting YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov has presented details from the PABSEC (Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation), which took place in Tirana, Albania. Sharmazanov, who is a member of the Armenian delegation to PABSEC, told reporters today in the parliament that a number of important events took place during the sitting. “First, the Republic of Armenia assumed chairmanship of this important organization. Second, all members of the delegation delivered remarks, and a number of meetings took place. Most importantly, all members of our delegation mentioned in their remarks that we oppose the PABSEC to become a more politicized and subject to putting forward preconditions or blackmail of any state organization. We are in favor for the fundamentals of the organization’s charter to be preserved. This organization is a parliamentary assembly, which has a clear economic orientation, and we are in favor of economic cooperation with all member countries, “ he said. The Armenian delegation has also raised about Turkey’s blockade of Armenia, noting that it is inadmissible. “Individual meetings with the delegations of Russia, Moldova and Greece took place. During the meeting with the Russian delegation we attached importance to deepening Armenia-Russia cooperation in all parliamentary platforms. We had a constructive discussion with our Greek brothers,” he said. Sharmazanov said that the upcoming sitting of the assembly will take place in November in Yerevan. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Missouri woman finds biological father after 35 years
Associated Press State & Local Tuesday 9:24 PM GMT Missouri woman finds biological father after 35 years By CARMEN GEORGE, The Kansas City Star LEE SUMMIT, Mo. LEE SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) - For 35 years, Tiffany Dow of Lee's Summit thought her dad was her mom's high school boyfriend, a blond, blue-eyed man who left before she was born. Dow always thought it was odd that her mom, also blond and blue-eyed, would give birth to a dark-haired, dark-eyed baby who looked different from everyone in the family - but she left it at that. That is, until this Christmas, when her boyfriend bought her a DNA test as a present. She expected the results to show a diverse ancestry. It instead revealed she's half Armenian. "I'm not a mutt at all!" Dow recalled thinking. "I called my mom. I didn't think she was lying, but I was in shock." Her mom asked if she could come over to her house later to talk. "I said, 'No, we're not doing this. You're telling me now.'" So she told Dow who she suspected was her biological father, a man named Doug Davidian from Fresno, California, The Kansas City Star reported. She said he had a beard, a light blue van, and was on a road trip across the U.S. when they met in Kansas City in 1971. Dow searched for Davidian online and found his LinkedIn profile within minutes, which showed he worked as the sales and marketing administrator at Total Care Medical Group. It was already evening so she waited until the morning to call his Fresno office. Davidian answered the phone. The start of that exchange, as Dow recalls it: "Hi Doug, do you have a minute?" "Well, sure." "Well, good, my name is Tiffany. Have you ever been to Missouri?" Davidian said he had, on a road trip in the 1970s. Dow proceeded to tell him the story about her DNA test and how his name "came up." Davidian then called Dow's mother to help jog his memory, and the two decided Davidian was likely Dow's father. Davidian and Dow became sure of it as they talked more later that night. Their resemblance in personality and appearance was striking and they felt an instant connection. They are thrilled to have found each other. Before Davidian was contacted by Dow, he was reading a Bible passage about such a "crazy (expletive) miracle" that he started to laugh. It also inspired him to pray: "I prayed if there's something or someone who needs friendship or attention, I don't just walk by it, I show up. I do my part. . One hour exactly after I prayed that prayer, Tiffany was on the other line." It was a different prayer than normal. "A lot of times when I pray, it's about me and my need," Davidian said. "This prayer was not about me and my need, it was about being aware of other people, and I think that's something that God wants." Another amazing twist: They learned each starts the day reading from the same Bible study daily devotional. They met for the first time in March, when Davidian flew to Missouri to visit Dow at her home in Lee's Summit for her 46th birthday. They've gotten more out of their relationship than each other. Davidian, 65, also got grandchildren, Dow's children: Olivia, 24, Sam, 21, Jack, 20, and Ben, 17. And Dow got grandparents. She met Horace and Dolores Davidian for the first time this month. Dow flew into Fresno on June 15 to celebrate Father's Day with her dad. "We both talk a lot," Dow said of how they're alike. "We both don't let many people get words in, so we interrupt each other the whole time, but it's OK because we both don't find that disrespectful, and we talk with our hands." Both are business savvy. Dow sells real estate, and Davidian is a past president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce who once ran a large office furniture company. They also share a reputation for winning arm-wrestling matches, Dow added with a laugh. Dow was disappointed her mom didn't tell her about Davidian earlier, but she's found solace in the belief that "God's timing is perfect." Dow's mother gave birth to her when she was 17 years old. When Dow was 11, she learned the man she thought was her father - her mother's husband - was actually her stepfather. She later learned the high school boyfriend she thought was her real dad died in a car accident. "It's like a miracle," Dow said of finding Davidian. "I kept saying that inside, 'I have a dad. It's a miracle.' It really was a miracle." Their families have been accepting of their relationship, including Dow's stepfather and Davidian's two adopted sons. Davidian said finding Dow has brought more meaning to his life and helped "connect the dots." Dow said finding her dad gave her "a peace." "It was like all the pieces finally fit and I didn't even know they were missing," she said. "I'm still who I am, just finding out you have a father, it shouldn't make a difference, but it really, really did. I think for the first time in my life I felt 100 percent whole."
Azerbaijan: We won’t accept status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh
Associated Press International Tuesday 5:26 PM GMT Azerbaijan: We won't accept status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh BAKU, Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) - Azerbaijan's president has boasted of the country's military might and vowed to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh. Speaking at Tuesday's military parade in Baku that featured an array of new weapons, President Ilham Aliyev noted that "international law doesn't work" and "force is a decisive factor." Aliyev pledged adherence to peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but added that international peace efforts have failed and "we won't accept the status quo." Nagorno-Karabakh is a region of Azerbaijan that has been under the control of forces that claim to be local ethnic Armenians since a separatist war ended in 1994. Azerbaijan claims the forces include regular Armenian military. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reacted to Aliyev's speech by tweeting that "war mongering and saber rattling are irrelevant, deplorable if not preposterous."
ANCA’s Hamparian Meets With Artsakh Leaders
ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian (left) meets with Artsakh President Bako Sahakian on Monday in Stepanakert
STEPANAKERT—The Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America on Monday met with Artsakh President Bako Sahakian and Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian and discussed important issue regarding the republic’s foreign and domestic priorities and relations with the Diaspora.
President Sahakian thanked the ANCA for its continued leadership in advancing issues related to Artsakh’s security and international recognition with American government structures.
Hamparian discussed a broad range of U.S. aid and Artsakh security issues including the recent ANCA inquiry to key Congressional panels about reports of Bell helicopter sales to Azerbaijan; last week’s Senate Appropriations Committee vote to support aid to regional rehabilitation centers, such as the Caroline Cox Center in Stepanakert; continue assistance for Artsakh demining efforts; and effort to implement the Royce-Engel peace proposals, including the placement of gun-fire locators along the line of contact with Azerbaijan.
Each of these is part of the “ANCA 360” approach to pro-Artsakh advocacy, generating U.S. support – in policy, practice, and principle— for the Artsakh Republic’s independence and security, supporting the OSCE Minsk Group platform, challenging Azerbaijani aggression by promoting accountability for attacks along the line of contact, and fostering broader, pro-peace dialogue between the U.S. and Artsakh.
Unseen Armenia: Surb Sargis Monastery in Ushi
Ushi Surb Sargis monastery: Surb Sargis church (left), Surb Astvatsatsin church (right). (Source: Hovsep Daghdigian)
BY HOVSEP DAGHDIGIAN
We were driving north from Yerevan, towards Aparan. Passing the village of Ushi, my friend Vova asked, “Have you been to Ushi?”
“Of course, I’ve passed here many times,” I replied.
“So you’ve seen Surb Sargis monastery?”
“Surb Sargis? No!”
I had not; I was not even aware of its existence. Following a very brief conversation, we reversed direction and entered Ushi. I’ve been back two additional times … so far.
Ushi, roughly 17 miles northwest of Yerevan, is on the west side of the Kasakh river valley. The road to Ushi is good — travel time from Yerevan is about 40 minutes. Cab fare is affordable, but it’s best to first negotiate an approximate fare with the taxi driver. The Surb Sargis Monastery complex, dating from the 5th–18th centuries is on the west edge of the village. On a small rise next to the monastery are the remnants of a late Bronze Age to early Iron Age settlement, dated to the 2nd to 1st millennium B.C. The monastery is spectacular. A car can get to within 50 yards of the monastery, then it’s a short walk up a few stone stairs.
Officer Surb Sargis
Sargis was a military officer, appointed by Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great (1) — the first Roman emperor to accept Christianity — to be the general in charge of Cappadocia near the border of Western Armenia. Sargis was a Christian and, probably, though not for certain, Armenian.
Forty-two years after Constantine’s death, his nephew, Julian the Apostate, became emperor and began persecuting Christians. Sargis resigned his military commission and sought refuge in Armenia with his son Martiros where he was offered protection by Armenian king Arshak II (2).
But as Julian’s army advanced eastward, the Persian king, Shapur II, hearing of Sargis’ military skill, offered Sargis a command position in his army. Later, realizing that Sargis and many of his soldiers were Christian, King Shapur tried to force them to abandon their faith and convert to Zoroastrianism. Defying Shapur’s orders, Sargis’ son Martiros, as well as many of his Christian soldiers, were killed. Sargis chose martyrdom rather than renouncing his faith; he was beheaded in the 4th century. His body was buried in Namyan, Mazandaran province, Persia (3) by some of his soldiers. His remains were brought back to Armenia by Mesrob Mashtots and buried in the village of Ushi.
Legends
Surb Sargis is the patron of young people and young lovers. Legends and traditions abound:
In one legend, a father tries to forcibly marry his daughter but the daughter fights to resist. At the limit of her ability to oppose her father, she calls for help from Surb Sargis. When he arrives, she runs to him, jumps on the back of his horse and is rescued. Fleeing from the father, Surb Sargis conjures up a storm to thwart his pursuers. Quite often Surb Sargis is assisted in his noble deeds by storms and the wind.
In the village of Dasht, in Armavir province, there is a hill called Ardar Davit (David the just). Hovhannes, a villager, told me that, according to local folklore, the sword of Sasuntsi Davit is buried under the hill. From the top of the hill, circular depressions in a field were visible. These, according to local folklore, were created by the hoofs of Surb Sargis’ horse. There was always water in them until a Muslim drank water from them. In other places as well are marks attributed to hoofprints of Surb Sargis’ horse.
Surb Sargis holiday falls between Jan. 18 and Feb. 23, during which a special Surb Sargis halvah is served (recipes are on the web). On the evening before St. Sargis Day, young men and women eat salty pastries and refrain from drinking water. Whoever, in their dreams, brings them water to quench their thirst is prophesied to be their future mate.
Surb Sargis Monastery
A church was built over Surb Sargis’ grave in the 5th century, and is the oldest of 220 churches dedicated to Surb Sargis in Armenia. Other structures continued to be built until the 18th century. From the 12–13th centuries. the Zarkarian brothers, officers and confidants of Queen Tamar of Georgia, succeeded in driving out Muslim invaders from large parts of Armenia and Georgia.
Surb Sargis church, 5th century (left), Surb Astvatsatsin church, 11th century (right). (Source: Hovsep Daghdigian)
Prince Vachutan was appointed hereditary prince of this region and, with his wife Mama-Khatun, built or renovated many churches and cultural edifices. They built Surb Astvatsatsin church (Holy Mother of God) at the monastery in the early 13th century. Next to the church is its narthex (gavit).
Later, in 1654, the complex was surrounded by fortified walls. The monastery includes housing for monks, storage areas, a wine press and other structures to support the monastic community and guests. Ownership of a number of villages provided financial support for the monastery. Earthquakes in 1769 and again in 1827 reduced the complex to ruins. Surb Sargis was an important cultural and spiritual site, playing an important role in Armenian history.
Culture
The first Armenian language book printed on a printing press was the 124-page “Urbatagirk” or “Friday Prayer Book” published in Venice by Hakob Meghapart in 1512.
Printing an Armenian Bible, however, would require many more pages and would be far more costly. In the early 1600s, wealthy Armenian merchants from Nor Julfa in Persia offered to fund the printing of an Armenian Bible. In 1630, both Catholicos Movses III Tatevatsi and the clergy of Nor Julfa in Persia sent letters to the Pope asking for permission to do so in Rome, but the Pope refused this and subsequent requests.
Hovhannes Ankiuratsi, a translator for the Venetian ambassador in Smyrna, suggested that it would be easier to print the Bible in Holland. Avedis Ghlijents, a wealthy Armenian merchant in Amsterdam, paid the expenses that had accumulated so far, and invited his brother, Vartabed Voskan Yerevantsi, a prior (official) of Surb Sargis in Armenia, to take charge of the printing.
Voskan Yerevantsi arrived in Amsterdam 1664 and, with the help of some others, completed the job in 1668. Voskan Yerevantsi was also responsible for renovations to Surb Sargis monastery. Thus, Surb Sargis played an important role in the publication of the first Bible in the Armenian language — five thousand copies were published (4).
Excavations
In the 1830s, visitors to Surb Sargis could view only ruins of the monastery poking through the surface of the soil that had accumulated over the site. Most intact was the small church containing the relic of Surb Sargis. Thanks to the patronage of Archbishop Shahen Ajemian, Dean of Yerevan State University’s Department of Theology, a project led by archaeologist Dr. Frina Babayan to excavate and study the site began in 1999 under the auspices of Armenia’s Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Hall, Surb Sargis monastery (Source: Hovsep Daghdigian)
Repairs to Surb Sargis church and other structures were made and finds documented. Some villagers in Ushi told me that some government officials stipulated that Archbishop Ajemian should fund this project through them or their departments rather than directly. The archbishop refused, apparently lacking confidence that all the funds would be used for their intended purpose. Thus, after three years, the project prematurely came to a halt.
This was reminiscent of a project I was involved in to help renovate and preserve the Shengavit Archaeological Site in Yerevan, a settlement dating to about 4,000 B.C. with a small museum sorely in need of refurbishing. When we refused to hand over funds collected from the diaspora under the auspices of the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA), work on this project had to be halted (5).
Villagers in Ushi hoped that renovation and preservation of the site would have provided tourism revenue for the village. Plans were in place to widen the road to the monastery thus allowing access by small minibusses. Perhaps amenities could be made available for visitors as well.
Intricately carved stones, which were previously excavated, now lie on the ground exposed to the elements. A tall wall near Surb Astvatsatsin is standing, braced up by wooden supports, which undoubtedly will decay and result in the collapse of the wall. This is an immensely impressive and easily accessible site; it allows visitors to visualize life in a medieval Armenian monastery and to look in amazement at wonderful stone carvings. The scenery towards Mt. Ararat is great, even when summer haze obscures the view a bit.
It is hoped that means can be found to resume the excavation, renovation, preservation, and study of Ushi’s Surb Sargis Monastery.
Dr. Frina Babayan has published a very informative tri-lingual (Armenian, Russian, English) booklet about the site which is available at Abril Books in Glendale (6).
Notes:
(1): Ruled Western Roman/Byzantine Empire from 306–337 A.D.
(2): Ruled from 350–368 A.D. Some sources indicate King Tigran VII but his reign does not correspond to this time period. See reference 3 below.
(3): “A Brief Report on the Activities of Research on Armenian Architecture Organization for the Year 2003,” . Other sources indicate Surb Sargis was buried at Daghman, Persia or in Assyria.
(4): For more details, see: “The Heritage of Armenian Literature, Volume III, From the Eighteenth Century to Modern Times;” Hachikyan, Basmajian, Franchuk, Ouzounian; Wayane State University Press, 2005.
(5): See this link, or search for “Shengavit Dagdigian.”
(6): “Ushii Surb Sargis Vank” (title is in Armenian), Frina Babayan, published by the Armenian Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Yerevan, 2005, ISBN 5-8080-0608-2.
Two Armenians Re-Elected to Turkey’s Parliament
The HDP’s Garo Paylan (right) and the AKP’s Markar Yesayan retained their seats in Turkey’s parliament after Sunday’s elections
At the conclusion of Sunday’s Turkish national elections, during which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan guaranteed his continued rule, two Turkish Armenians were re-elected to the parliament.
Garo Parylan, representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and Markar Esayan, who was running under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were both re-elected to parliament.
During this election Paylan, who was representing the third district of Istanbul, ran in the Kurdish majority region of Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd) where he received the overwhelming majority of the votes, clocking in at 65 percent, according to the Milliyet newspaper.
Paylan is a founding member of the HDP and an active member of Turkey’s Armenian community. As a long-time human rights activist, Paylan has been outspoken on issues of minority community rights, including the right of the Armenian community to hold unimpeded elections for a Patriarch in Istanbul, and more recently introduced legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which was rejected by the ruling AKP party.
Born in 1969, Esayan started his career in journalism in 1997 at the Agos newspaper, where he also served as a columnist beginning in 2001. He later collaborated with the daily Taraf newspaper as an editorial coordinator and served as its the editor-in-chief. Since 2013, Esayan has been writing for Yeni Şafak daily.
168: Senior Armenian lawmaker raises concerns in a letter addressed to U.S. congressmen over American helicopters showing up in Azerbaijan
Categories
Artsakh
Region
Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Arpine Hovhannisyan addressed a letter to US Congresswoman Jackie Speier and member of the House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard over the U.S.-made helicopters “Bell 412” showing up in a military parade in Azerbaijan. Hovhannisyan wrote in her letter that it gives room for many questions and concerns.
“It would be useful to know all the statutory restrictions. The Executive Branch or other political bodies or third sides are banned to sell or transfer U.S.-made military equipment or technologies to Azerbaijan.
I will be very glad if you share my concerns and outwatch this issue, as well as, if possible, provide me details over the issue”, Arpine Hovhannisyan wrote.
Political scientist Suren Sargsyan was the first to voice about the issue on Twitter.
168: Ex-Mayor of Ejmiastin Karen Grigoryan accused in embezzling donations to Artsakh army
Category
Society
The Special Investigative Service has launched criminal proceedings over former Mayor of Ejmiatsin Karen Grigoryan, the son of MP Manvel Grigoryan, the former general who is accused of misappropriations, theft and illegal possession of firearms, pending trial.
The Special Investigative Service said it has charged Karen Grigoryan on June 23 with grand theft.
In the days of the April War of 2016, Members of the Armenian Community of Russia NGO, had acquired three UAZ SUVs, thermal vision devices and military uniforms and transferred it to Armenia as aid. Representatives of the organization arrived in Armenia, where accompanied with Karen Grigoryan, they departed for Artsakh to donate the abovementioned items to Artsakh’s defense ministry. The items have been handed over to Karen Grigoryan, and MP Manvel Grigoryan, who was the chairman of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union.
But instead of transferring the vehicles, worth over 22,000$, to the Artsakh military, Manvel Grigoryan and his son Karen Grigoryan embezzled them, transported back to Ejmiatsin, stored in a facility owned by them and used it at their disposal.
Karen Grigoryan hasn’t been remanded and is free on a bail bond.
Investigation continues.