Category: 2018

The U.S. Embassy and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Build a Home

Ekmekjian Janet



May 19, 2018, Yerevan, Armenia

The U.S. Embassy
and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Build a Home


Volunteers from the U.S.
Embassy Helping Hands organization and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia team
again united their forces to build a home for a family in need. This year the
teams worked in Zovaber village of Gegharkunik region helping the Gabrielyan family.

 

Having
volunteerism as an ideological basis and being ready to help those in need, the
US Embassy has always combined forces with the Fuller Center for Housing
Armenia becoming the helping hand with the help of which the families have
completed their home construction sooner.

 

The Galstyans have been waiting for this day very long. For many years
the family had temporarily lived in other people’s houses moving from one place
to another, and then moved to live in a temporary shelter (domik).  Each day, the family put stone on the stone
but could only build the walls of the house and cover the ceiling.

 

“Though our entire family works diligently, we hardly earn a living.
The completion of the house construction has become an unachievable dream. My
sons are already adult but they even don’t think of getting married as we don’t
have enough place for living. This is a magic that happened to us. First, FCHA’s
support, and now these people help bringing us closer to the long-awaited happy
day. Soon my family will live in a decent home. God’s blessing to you all,’’
said the family father.

 

The Gabrielyan family
is one of the 10 families of 10 villages in Armenia being assisted through the
generous $100,000 grant awarded to Fuller Center for Housing Armenia by the
Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation.

 

It is already 10 years, the
Fuller Center for Housing Armenia gives  hope, joy
and happiness of having a home to those in need–people who live in domiks,
basements, half-built buildings deprived of basic housing conditions.

 

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, a ten-year-old organization,
has been cooperating with the U.S. Embassy for nine years. The same mission of
helping Armenian families to build homes brings them together. Since the
inception of the organization, over 630 families have been supported.

 

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable organization that
supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by
assisting in building and renovating simple, decent and affordable homes, as
well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and
action. FCHA provides long-term, interest-free loans to low-income families.
The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more
families, thereby providing a financial foundation for sustainable community
development. Up to now the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted over 630
families.

For more information, please
visit www.fcharmenia.org
or email us at

 

 

Nicosia: House Speaker in Armenia on official visit

Tatoyan Vazgen
Cyprus News Agency
May 18, 2018 Friday
House Speaker in Armenia on official visit
 
 
House Speaker Dimitris Syllouris departs on Sunday evening for Armenia on a three-day official visit at the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan. The Cyprus Delegation includes MPs Nicos Tornaritis, Yiorgos Τ. Georgiou, Christos Orpanides and Yiorgos Perdikis and Vartkes Mahdessian, the Representative of the Armenian community in the Cyprus House of Representatives.
 
Syllouris and his delegation will hold meetings with the President of the National Assembly, the Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian. They will also be received by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Garekin II.
 
Cyprus House Speaker will deliver a speech at the National Assembly and will lay a wreath at the Monument for the Armenian Genocide.
 
The President of the National Assembly will host an official dinner for Syllouris while the Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov will host a lunch for the members of the delegation. Syllouris and the Cyprus MPs will also visit places of historic and cultural importance.
 
The delegation returns home on Thursday.

Not Saakashvili. What popular protest leader Nikol Pashinyan will do as Armenia’s prime minister and how Moscow will treat him

Khondkarian Raffi
Novaya Gazeta, Russia
May 10 2018
Not Saakashvili. What popular protest leader Nikol Pashinyan will do as Armenia’s prime minister and how Moscow will treat him
Report by Vyacheslav Polovinko
[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Russian]

Nikol Pashinyan, leader of the protests which have been taking place in Armenia in recent weeks, became the country’s prime minister on his second attempt on 8 May when 59 deputies voted for him. Exchanging his casual jacket for a formal suit, Pashinyan has wasted no time and has now offered President Armen Sarkisyan to dismiss the National Security Service head and the police chief. These moves, however, are clearly tactical and even reflective: a revolution’s leaders often start by removing the previous regime’s appointees. As for other moves – first and foremost, those concerning foreign policy – the new prime minister has been extremely careful so far. It should be noted that Pashinyan’s first international visit will be to Sochi where he will meet Vladimir Putin (the Yelk party which nominated the revolutionary is opposed to Armenia’s membership of the Eurasian Union, while he himself supports it in principle and is therefore planning to attend the union’s summit). The new prime minister’s has been quite cautious in his statements about Nagorno-Karabkah, although Pashinyan did find time to travel there in a helicopter on 9 May to Baku’s dissatisfaction.

Pashinyan’s positions as prime minister are not completely clear yet, although it is now possible to discuss the outline of his agenda, Moscow Carnegie Centre analyst Vadim Dubnov told Novaya Gazeta. The situation is actually simplest as far as Nagorno-Karabakh is concerned: Pashinyan will most likely not change anything at all there. “I do not think that we should project the events in Yerevan onto the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Pashinyan will operate there within the same narrow margins that Sargsyan operated in. When we are discussing Nagorno-Karabakh, it is important to understand that this problem can only be resolved through compromises. Pashinyan cannot make those now (because he does not want to lose popular support), so the most he can do is to continue discussing the technical aspects of this problem. It is the only thing that is currently possible,” Dubnov said.

The situation is more complex in terms of Moscow’s attitude to Pashinyan. For the first time in many years, Russian officials demonstratively refrained from interfering in the events in another country, while some of them, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, for example, stopped short of endorsing the fraternal people’s independent choice.

Rosneft press secretary Mikhail Leontyev was the only person who spoke sharply against it, declaring during the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station’s broadcast that Armenia “can go to hell”. This was followed by something previously unseen: presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov started publicly making excuses for the journalist’s words.

“Those comments have nothing to do and cannot have anything to do with Moscow’s official policy towards Armenia. Neither do they have or could have anything in common with the warm feelings of friendship and fraternity which Russians have always had for the Armenian people.”

Moscow’s nonintervention is actually a strategy carefully designed at the “very top”, Vadim Dubnov believes. “Moscow reacted very correctly. It felt like a command had been given: ‘Let them do whatever they want because they cannot get away from us anyway.’ There is an understanding that Pashinyan cannot currently afford to sharply confront Moscow,” Dubnov said. The new prime minister’s problem stems not only from the fact that more than half of Armenia’s businesses are linked with Russia, but also the fact that many businessmen act according to Moscow’s interests. “Pashinyan will therefore need to discuss his position on any issue with Russia,” Dubnov added.

He cited the example of the Association Agreement with the EU, which former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan signed, as an example of how this works in practice. Dubnov described the agreement as a “castrated” one, noting that Moscow had decided that the format was admissible. He believes that the policy of relations between the two countries will continue to be based on similar modes of “consultation”.

Formulating his own agenda will be Pashinyan’s key problem. What does he actually want to achieve through his revolution now that it has succeeded? The new Armenian prime minister is yet to formulate an understanding of future goals of domestic and foreign policies, although experts already feel that Pashinyan will not become either Saakashvili or Yushchenko for Armenia and Russia. “On the other hand, I do not quite understand how one can reform Armenia [in its current state] without being like them,” Dubnov says.

Bringing Armenian Genocide recognition issue to Knesset agenda is a political step against Turkey – Armenian National Committee

Emil Lazarian
Armenpress News Agency (English)
May 18, 2018 Friday
Bringing Armenian Genocide recognition issue to Knesset agenda is a political step against Turkey – Armenian National Committee
 
 
YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. Bringing the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the agenda of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) is a political step against Turkey, Noyemi Nalbandian – member of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem, told ARMENPRESS, stating that the Armenian community is not excited in this regard.
 
“The relations between Israel and Turkey have escalated recently in connection with the ongoing events in Gaza. As Turkey opposes Israel’s actions and strictly criticizes them, Israel, as a political step, put into circulation the bill on recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This doesn’t make us happy, the issue of the Armenian Genocide has become a playing card, we want for the Genocide to be recognized since Turkey has committed a crime against humanity, we oppose that this issue is brought to agenda for this or that political interest”, Noyemi Nalbandian said, reminding that three months ago one of the Knesset lawmakers brought this issue to the parliament’s agenda, but it didn’t pass.
 
She couldn’t say for sure when the Armenian Genocide recognition issue will be put up to voting at the parliament, adding that it can be on any day depending on the development of the political situation.
 
“At the moment it’s even difficult to say what kind of result can be expected from the voting since various signals are coming from the MPs and the government. The Israeli president said that in connection with the political issue the relations with Turkey have deteriorated, but they continue working in economic and other sectors. Therefore, at this stage we cannot say whether the issue will be adopted or not. In any case the government has a great influence, if it wants, it can contribute to the issue to be passed”, Noyemi Nalbandian said.
 
Several dozens of people have been killed in clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops in Gaza. The clashes launched on the opening day of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. The Embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by US President Donald Trump’s decision.
 
The Turkish authorities called on the international community to strictly criticize the Israeli actions in Palestine. Earlier the Turkish foreign ministry urged the Israeli Ambassador to leave the country, after which the Ambassador left Ankara.
 
In the background of tense relations between Turkey and Israel, the issue of adopting an Armenian Genocide recognition bill has again appeared in the Knesset agenda. MPs Itzik Shmuly and Amir Ohan said that they will submit a bill recognizing the massacre of nearly 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. The lawmakers stated that time has come for Israel to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by Turks.
 
Interview by Anna Gziryan

Head of Commission on Foreign Relations of Armenian Parliament urged Israel not to speculate on issue of Armenian Genocide in its complex geopolitical game with Turkey

Christine Harutyunian
Arminfo, Armenia
May 18 2018
Head of Commission on Foreign Relations of Armenian Parliament urged Israel not to speculate on issue of Armenian Genocide in its complex geopolitical game with Turkey

Yerevan May 18

Tatevik Shahunyan. The head of the commission on foreign affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia Armen Ashotyan considers it impermissible for Israel to speculate on the issue of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey against the backdrop of the deterioration of relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara.

On his page in Facebook Ashotyan, in particular, wrote: “I consider it impermissible to gamble with the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel in a complex geopolitical game with Turkey.”

To note, yesterday one after another calls for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey were heard in Israel. Thus, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Netanyahu, on his Facebook page, wrote that Turkey is responsible for atrocities against Cyprus, Greeks, Kurds and Armenians. “I would like to remind the Turks that they are people from Central Asia who illegally occupied Asia Minor and Constantinople, who were Christian before their invasion.” So shut up! ” Yair Netanyahu wrote.

On the same day, the bill on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, presented by the member of the Knesset Itzik Shmuli, was approved by his 50 colleagues. The bill was supported by both coalition representatives and opposition parties, namely Likud, Zionist Camp, Meretz, Jewish House and Shas. The bill calls for officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide and fixing a specific day for commemoration of the victims. In addition, the deputies propose that Israel officially recognize the Assyrian genocide. The initiative was joined by Speaker of the Knesset Julius, saying that he would do everything possible to promote the document.

The day before, Israeli Minister of Science Ofir Akunis stated that it is necessary to isolate Turkey in the international arena, as well as “to show the anti-Semitic face of Erdogan”. According to Akunis, the Turkish president is a neo-Nazi, who hates Israel. He stressed that Israel must recognize the Armenian Genocide. It should be noted that Akunis is already the third Israeli minister who speaks about the recognition of the Armenian Genocide amid the tense relations between Israel and Turkey. At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Tsipi Khotoveli noted that Tel Aviv is not going to freeze relations with Ankara. “Turkey is an important country in the region, even if its leader made rude statements about the leadership of Israel and its actions. I think we answered him the same way, “she said, adding that relations with Turkey are not built on friendship, but on very important interests in the region. – nu-

MFA: Armenia is a party involved in Karabakh conflict, but its main parties are Artsakh and Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
Arminfo, Armenia
May 18 2018
MFA: Armenia is a party involved in Karabakh conflict, but its main parties are Artsakh and Azerbaijan

Yerevan May 18

Tatevik Shahunyan. Armenia is a party involved in the Karabakh conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated this in his conversation with journalists, referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia is a party to the Karabakh conflict, which was criticized by former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan and Vice Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov.

According to him, Armenia, along with Artsakh and Azerbaijan, joined the agreement on the suspension of military actions at the Karabakh conflict zone from 1994, putting its signature under it. “From this point of view, Armenia is a party to the conflict, besides, the Azerbaijani authorities constantly announced their claims directly to the territory of Armenia, so that Armenia is involved in the conflict, but its main parties are Artsakh and Azerbaijan,” explained Kocharyan , adding that Armenia can not unambiguously negotiate instead of Artsakh.

To note, during a press conference in Stepanakert, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia is a side of the Karabakh conflict. This was the reaction of former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan and Vice Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, stressing that such statements distort the essence of the conflict, transform it into a territorial dispute, which Baku strives for. They stressed that Armenia is the guarantor of the security of Artsakh, whose people are fighting for the right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that Yerevan is a party to the conflict, and this is recorded in international documents.

Artsakh Martakert and Lebanon Bourj Hammoud signed cooperation memorandum

Hambardsumian Paul
Arminfo, Armenia
May 18 2018
Artsakh Martakert and Lebanon Bourj Hammoud signed cooperation memorandum

Yerevan May 18

Tatevik Shahunyan. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the city of Martakert of the Artsakh Republic and the city of Bourj Hammoud of Lebanese Republic. The signing ceremony took place in the mayor’s office of the city of Bourj Hammoud.

The memorandum was signed by Mayor of the city of Martakert Misha Gyurjyan and Mayor of Bourj Hammoud Martiq Poghosyan. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Economy and Industrial Infrastructures of the Republic of Artsakh Levon Grigoryan, the Permanent Representative of Artsakh Republic in the Middle East Karapet Kebabjyan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Lebanese Republic Samvel Mkrtchyan and members of the city council of Bourj Hammoud.

In the text of the memorandum, in particular, it was noted that having the intention to establish cooperation between the two cities in the social, economic, tourist and cultural spheres, and also realizing that cooperation between cities will contribute to the strengthening of stability and peace in the region, the parties agree to establish and maintain official relations, initiate joint projects and conclude agreements with a view to implementing programs developed in various fields of activity. – nu-


Moscow Responds to Baku’s Outrage Over Meeting With Nagorno-Karabakh Representatives

Emil Lazarian
Sputnik, Russia
Moscow Responds to Baku’s Outrage Over Meeting With Nagorno-Karabakh Representatives



MOSCOW, May 19 (Sputnik) – Russian stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has never implied the refusal to participate in international events only because of a possibility to meet “face to face” with breakaway region’s representatives, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service said on Saturday, responding to Azerbaijan’s criticism.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official met with Karabakh representatives on Friday in Sokhumi, the capital of partially-recognized Abkhazia. The move was condemned by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry​​​.

“Russia’s sustained stance on Nagorno-Karabakh issue is well-known to [Azerbaijan]. This stance has never implied refusal to participate in particular international events only because it is possible to accidentally meet ‘face to face’ with Karabakh representatives,” the press service stated.

The ministry also noted that the meeting had taken place during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Abkhaz Foreign Ministry. Abkhaz international partners, including Karabakh representatives, were invited to the event, the ministry added.

The conflict in Armenian-dominated Nagorno-Karabakh started in 1988 with the autonomous region announcing its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, the Armenia-backed region proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan and the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, also known as the Republic of Artsakh. This move triggered a military conflict, which led to Baku losing control over the region.

The warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities in 1994. The violence escalated again in 2016, leading to multiple casualties on both sides. The sides soon reached a ceasefire but clashes continued.

The situation in the region is monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group chaired by Russia, the United States and France, within the framework of which negotiations on peace settlement has been conducted since 1992.

Armenian premier’s supporters suggest referendum on early parliamentary polls

Chakhmakhchian Vatche 
ITAR-TASS, Russia
 Saturday 10:51 PM GMT
Armenian premier’s supporters suggest referendum on early parliamentary polls
YEREVAN May 20
HIGHLIGHT: The issue of holding early parliamentary elections in
Armenia can be settled through a nationwide referendum if political
parties fail to agree on the issue, an Armenian lawmaker told the
Tert.am portal on Saturday.
YEREVAN, May 20. /TASS/. The issue of holding early parliamentary
elections in Armenia can be settled through a nationwide referendum if
political parties fail to agree on the issue, an Armenian lawmaker
told the Tert.am portal on Saturday.
"A referendum is the most stable way [to solve the problem], and we
can hold a popular vote on the issue to let people express their
will," said Ovik Agazaryan, a lawmaker with the Yelk parliamentary
faction, supporting incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
"If we fail to reach political accord with our partners, if there is
no other legitimate way, the Constitution leaves the possibility to
make this decision through a referendum," Agazaryan added.
He said that this scenario will be unfavorable for Armenia’s former
ruling Republican Party, which has moved into opposition despite
retaining a parliamentary majority of 58 seats in the 105-seat
parliament.
Pashinyan, the leader of the Armenian opposition, was elected
Armenia’s prime minister on May 8, following a series of protests in
the country. After the vote, Armenia’s ruling Republican Party said it
was going into opposition and rejected all posts in the new
government.
Pashinyan said on May 15 that snap parliamentary polls may be held in
the country this year.

President Armen Sarkissian congratulates Louise Simon Manukyan

Jirair Kafian
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
Saturday
President Armen Sarkissian congratulates Louise Simon Manukyan
 
 
YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory message to Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, philanthropist Mrs. Louise Simon Manukyanon the occasion of the 85th birthday anniversary. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, the letter runs as follows,
 
“Dear Louise,
 
I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.
 
You are known and appreciated in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora as a dignified benefactor and a patriot.
 
Committed to family traditions, you are always supportive to the Motherland, the Armenian Church and people, like your patriotic parents – Armenian National Hero Alex Manoogian and Mrs. Mari Manoogian. Your personal services multiplied as a result of your devoted activities in AGBU.
 
And today, as an Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, you stand with the Motherland and all of us, for which, honorable Mrs. Louise, please accept my sincere words of gratitude and appreciation.
 
Once again congratulating you on the birthday I wish you good health and all the best”.
 
ENGLISH: Editor/Translator –Tigran Sirekanyan