Category: 2019

CANBERRA, Australia—The visiting Republic of Artsakh delegation continued its activities in Australia’s Federal Parliament, led by the country’s Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan, meeting key Senators to discuss Artsakh’s rights to self-determination, democracy-building and security, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

Minister Mayilyan was flanked by Member of Artsakh’s National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan, Foreign Ministry official Artak Nersisyan, Artsakh’s representative in Australia Kaylar Michaelian and ANC-AU members, in meetings with Senators Eric Abetz, Richard Di Natale, and Rex Patrick.

Senator Abetz—who is Chair of the Australian Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade & Defence—was introduced to the key issues concerning Armenians in their junior republic, including the conditions that were preventing peace from being achieved in their region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Senator Di Natale is the leader of the Australian Greens, who are the third-largest party in Australia’s parliament with nine Senators and one Member of Parliament, and he was very interested in how the international community could promote a peaceful resolution to the war, to which the visiting Minister provided concrete examples.

Senator Patrick, who is from cross-bench power party Centre Alliance, has taken a keen interest in Artsakh and asked questions on Australia’s position during Senate questioning of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade last year. His meeting with the visiting delegation was an opportunity to further increase understanding of the situation on the ground.

“Artsakh advocacy well and truly took center stage in Australia’s Federal Parliament this week,” said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian. “The Republic of Artsakh delegation met with over 15 members of Australia’s parliament over two days in the nation’s capital, and we were very proud of their representation of the key issues that concern Stepanakert.”

“Artsakh is using democracy as a tool against aggression and to pave its path towards the peace and prosperity that the people deserve. This was on show by the conduct and content of this delegation,” Kayserian added.

On their first day in Canberra, a welcome reception was held in honor of the Artsakh delegation, and attended by over a dozen Australian politicians.

Before travelling to Canberra, the delegation received a warm welcome from the Sydney Armenian community.

LOS ANGELES—The CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center’s Southern California Eyecare and Vision Research Institute, under the direction of world renowned eye care specialist Dr. Rohit Varma,  aims to provide specialized and comprehensive eye care to vulnerable populations in Southern California.

Using state-of-the-art therapies and techniques, the program strives to both study and assist under-diagnosed and under-treated individuals with visual impairment in diverse communities. Through the institute, Dr. Varma, has launched the Vision Van, which makes vision care to the targeted communities more accessible.

CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is a neighborhood partner with Asbarez, which caught up with Dr. Varma, who discussed the Vision Van and other projects in an email interview.

Asbarez: What inspired CHA SCEI’s use of mobile eye care?

Dr. Rohit Varma: The Vison Van provides a unique public service to the communities of LA and surrounding Counties by providing access to vision screening and care and by helping increase awareness of the importance of eye health and the causes of preventable vision loss.

The Vison Van brings the expertise of SCEI ophthalmologists/specialists to people who are unable to obtain vision care due to financial hardships, transportation or lack of insurance for screening.

By providing greater access to eye care, the SCEI Vision Van will reduce the burden of eye disease and vision loss across LA and surrounding Counties.

Asbarez: How will patients in need of eye care come into contact with SCEI?

R.V: SCEI will bring the Vision Van to Health Fairs and community-based events. With the help of the media, mailing flyers and website announcements we hope to spread the news and invite surrounding residents to attend these events and receive a screening examination. If communities want to have the vision van come to their centers, they should contact Mina Torres via email. [email protected].

Asbarez: How many doctors and staff members will one van typically hold? How many individuals will be involved in SCEI’s day-to-day operations?

R.V.: Typically the VAN will have 1 – 3 ophthalmologists, 2 – 3 ophthalmic technicians and 1 – 3 support staff members.

Asbarez: To what communities will SCEI travel to and how from where the hospital is located?

R.V.: The SCEI Vision Van can travel across all Los Angeles county and surrounding Southern California communities.

Asbarez: How many patients do you plan to see daily?

R.V.: The SCEI Vision Van is currently only participating at community events. The Vision Van can provide screening to over 100/day individuals at any given community event.

Asbarez: Is there an end goal for SCEI? As this project grows, are there plans for more than one van for SCEI?

R.V.: Yes, we hope to add additional Vans as we grow.

Asbarez: What were the most difficult obstacles to overcome throughout this project?

R.V.: Gaining the trust of communities so that people can come and get exams and learn about their vison health.

Asbarez: Will there be volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in the program?

R.V.: There is always opportunity for individuals to volunteer especially in large Health Fairs. Most of the staff members who help with registration and coordination in health fairs volunteer their time.

YEREVAN–The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region 2019 political officials’ delegation trip to Armenia wrapped up its first two days filled with a number of high-level meetings with government officials as well as visits to key institutions and sites.

The delegation is comprised of California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Chief of Staff to Supervisor Barger Anna Mouradian; Arizona State Senators Paul Boyer and Otoniel “Tony” Navarrete; Colorado State Senator Dominick Moreno; and Colorado State Representative Daneya Esgar. The ANCA-WR Board chairwoman Nora Hovsepian is accompanied by fellow Board members Sako Berberian and Lina Davidian, as well as ANCA-WR’s Community Development Coordinator Simon Maghakyan.

“Our delegation – representing leaders from three western U.S. states and the second ANCA-WR delegation to visit Armenia in the first year since the Velvet Revolution – is here in Yerevan to explore ways to institutionalize and expand existing relationships between Armenia and California, Arizona and Colorado,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “By organizing this visit, we wanted to create the opportunity to showcase first-hand Armenia’s commitment to democracy, free market economy, and Western values at-large, and to deepen ties related to trade, education, and support for democracy-building measures,” continued Hovsepian.

The first day of the visit featured meetings and in-depth discussions with Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan, Foreign Affairs Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Majority Leader of the ruling ‘My Step’ faction in the National Assembly Lilit Makunts and a group of legislative leaders. The delegation also visited the American University of Armenia, which was especially meaningful due to its direct affiliation with the University of California, on whose Board Lt.Gov. Kounalakis serves, thereby giving her the opportunity to learn more about how educational bridges can be expanded. The packed schedule on day one concluded with a tour of the renowned ‘Ararat’ brandy distillery.

The second day kicked off with an emotional visit to the Dzidzernagaperd Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute to pay respect to over 3 million Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek innocent victims of the Genocide. Accompanied by the museum’s director, Dr. Harutyun Marutyan, the delegation members toured the facility learning about the history and the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, and planted commemorative blue spruce trees in the name of each of the three U.S. states. The itinerary also included a visit to the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, as well as inspirational visits to Holy Etchmiadzin and the Khor Virap monastic complex at the foot of majestic Mt. Ararat.

The evening culminated with a tour of the historic Megerian Carpet Factory and a cultural program and authentic Armenian dinner, music and traditional folk dance.

In the meetings, Armenian officials stressed the importance placed to further deepening the strategic relations between the United States and Armenia, including state-level partnerships, especially in the wake of the 2018 Velvet Revolution and democratic transformations taking place in the country.

Special emphasis was placed on the role of the Armenian American community in cultivating and advancing the bond between the U.S. and Armenia.