ARMENIA TREE PROJECT 400 W Cummings Park, Suite 3900 Woburn, MA 01801 Tel: (617) 926-TREE Web: www.ArmeniaTree.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lessons from #ForestSummit19 Armenia Tree Project and Agrarian University Initiate New Training Programs to Develop Much-Needed Specialists By Jason Sohigian Speakers on several panels at Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia highlighted a common theme that is at once alarming, and a call for proactive action and resources. This is the lack of specialists in the fields of nursery management and forestry. Many speakers identified the challenge, and it has been confirmed by Armenia Tree Project's experience on the ground, in trying to build the capacity of its nursery and tree planting staff. This issue is of special importance since Armenia announced its ambitious goal to double its forest cover by 2050. This will require significant resources in terms of financing, seedling capacity, and human resources in the form of trained experts who are familiar with techniques such as tree propagation, nursery management, site identification, tree planting, and long-term tree care and management. The issue was brought to the forefront during the Summit's first panel, in a discussion about the key challenges and opportunities to increase Armenia's forest coverage. In addressing some of the gaps, Hovik Sayadyan, technical task leader at UNDP Armenia, pointed out that there are no institutes for forest management in Armenia, in particular for forest inventory, afforestation, or forest management. Vardan Urutyan, rector at Armenia's National Agrarian University, expanded on this issue with a number of challenges around forest education. For example, financial resources are often insufficient for training specialists and there are few graduates from the Agrarian University. Those who do graduate often cannot find employment in this sector. He cited the need to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of the forestry profession. Given the challenges, there is an expectation within Armenia that more trained professionals must be developed in order to succeed in expanding the forest cover and managing the existing forests. Dr. Urutyan discussed a number of target areas for the Agrarian University, including contemporary forest science labs, endowment funds to support forest education, updated training materials, ongoing education for lecturers, and incentives to encourage and reward scientific research. The issue of capacity and shortage of trained professionals was also raised by Karen Manvelyan, director of WWF Armenia, in a panel on impacts and gaps of forestry initiatives supported by international organizations. Mr. Manvelyan pointed out that for organizations that do have specialists on staff, such as Armenia Tree Project, reforestation and afforestation projects have been implemented successfully. However in some other cases in Armenia where relevant specialists were not consulted, the results have been less successful. "We picked up on this common theme at the Forest Summit, and it is something that Armenia Tree Project has also noticed when we have job openings or expand into new program areas," notes Arthur Harutyunyan, ATP's operations manager in Armenia. "There have been cases where young professionals apply for a job, and they don't have any real-world experience in a tree nursery, or may even have difficulty identifying species in a forest. This needs to change, and we are committed to helping to improve the capacity of professionals in our field." A new partnership between ATP and the National Agrarian University has emerged to address this problem. Students at the university will conduct internships and field research at ATP's nurseries and greenhouses. A pilot program will be held this year with the support of UNDP. "Already we have hosted a number of students and professionals at our nurseries and other locations for training," explains Harutyunyan. "This partnership with the Agrarian University will expand the program and help us educate a new cadre of young professionals, as well as people currently working in our field who may need to learn about the latest techniques and methods." ATP's facilities and planting locations offer a number of learning opportunities, including nursery management, greenhouse management, forest management, urban forestry, and fruit tree production. "Our programs are wide ranging, from site selection for a new forest to knowing which types of trees need to be planted at a certain location, or establishing a fruit orchard in a town," adds Harutyunyan. "We are encouraged by this collaboration and hope it plays a constructive role in Armenia's goal to expand its forests." There were many topics identified at the Forest Summit where additional training, study, and capacity building are needed. These include the need to study and understand Armenia's biodiversity and the potential impact of invasive species, creating and implementing sustainable forest management plans, tree nursery management, and wildfire prevention. The 30-year reforestation plan will create many job opportunities; creating a trained workforce to fill those jobs is essential.
Category: 2020
For Immediate Release – Armenian Community of China Releases Video of Support for China in its Fight against the Coronavirus
PRESS RELEASE
***For Immediate Release****
Armenian Community of China Releases Video of Support for China in its Fight against the Coronavirus
Hong Kong –
The Armenian Community of Hong Kong and China released a touching video to show its support for China in its battle against the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP). The video showcases Armenian community members, including numerous children, living in various cities in China sending their encouragements to the Chinese people and authorities, who have taken unprecedented steps to stop the virus. The video, produced in Armenia, also features Armenian students studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute in Yerevan.
Henri Arslanian, President of the Armenian Community of Hong Kong and China said: “We want to show to our Chinese friends that the Armenian nation is always here to support them, not only in good times but in more challenging times as well.”
The video titled “#ArmeniansWithChina- – Armenians Supporting China in its Fight against the Coronavirus” is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ACyTaRato) and will be shared across Chinese and Western social media with the hashtags #ArmeniansWithChina and #WeAreChina
The Armenian community has been helping China in various ways since the start of the NCP outbreak. For example, a group of volunteers, including students at the Confucius Institute in Yerevan, collected and donated over 10,000 face masks and gloves to China that were sent from Yerevan last week.
The Armenian Community of China, also known as ChinaHay, has been growing tremendously in recent years. Its members mainly live in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Anyone interested in learning more about the community can do so by visiting the community’s Facebook page.
—
For any further media enquiries, please contact Ms. Hasmik Yumushaghjyan at [email protected]
—
Չինաստանում հայկական համայնքի ուղերձը Չինաստանին՝ ուղղված կորոնավիրուսի կանխարգելման դեմ պայքարին։
Հոնկոնգ - Փետրվարի 11, 2020
Հոնկոնգի և Չինաստանի հայ համայնքը հուզիչ տեսանյութ է հրապարակել ՝ ուղղված կորոնավիրուսի կանխարգելման դեմ Չինաստանի պայքարին: Տեսանյութում իրենց խրախուսական խոսքն են փոխանցել Չինաստանի տարբեր քաղաքներում ապրող հայեր։ Նրանք իրենց խոսքերով փորձել են քաջալերել չին ժողովրդին և իշխանություններին, ովքեր ձեռնարկել են աննախադեպ քայլեր համաճարակը դադարացնելու համար: Տեսանյութը, որը պատրաստվել է Հայաստանում, նաև ներկայացնում է Երևանի Կոնֆուցիուսի ինստիտուտում չինարեն սովորող հայ ուսանողներին:
Չինաստանի և Հոնկոնգի հայ համայնքի նախագահ Հենրի Արսլանյանի խոսքերով՝ «այս քայլով մենք ցանկանում ենք մեր չինացի ընկերներին հիշեցնել, որ հայ ազգը մշտապես աջակցելու և լինելու է չինացիների կողքին՝ հատկապես այս դժվարին շրջանում»:
«Հայերը Չինաստանի հետ» խորագրով տեսահոլովակը արդեն հասանելի է YouTube-ում (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ACyTaRato) և կցուցադրվի չինական և արևմտյան լրատվամիջոցներով՝ #ArmeniansWithChina և #WeAreChina հեշթեգերով:
Կորոնավիրուսի համաճարակի բռնկման սկզբից ի վեր, հայ համայնքը փորձել է տարբեր նախաձեռնություններով օգտակար լինել է Չինաստանին։ Այդպիսի նախաձեռնություններից էր ավելի քան 10,000 բժշկական դիմակների և ձեռնոցների նվիրաբերումը Չինաստանին, ինչը կազմակերպվել էր մի խումբ կամավորների, այդ թվում նաև Երևանի Կոնֆուցիուսի ինստիտուտի ուսանողների կողմից։
Չինաստանի հայկական համայնքը, որն առավել հայտնի է ChinaHay անունով, հսկայական աճ է ապրել վերջին տարիներին: Համայնքը անդամները հիմնականում բնակվում են Պեկին, Շանհայ, Նանջինգ, Գուանչժո, Շենժեն և Հոնկոնգ քաղաքներում: Համայնքի մասին ավելին իմանալու համար, կարող եք այցելել ChinaHay ֆեյսբուքյան էջ:
—
Լրացուցիչ հարցերի համար կարող եք դիմել Հասմիկ Յումուշաղջյանին հետևյալ էլ–փոստով՝ [email protected]
—
中国亚美尼亚共同体发布支持中国抗击冠状病毒的视频
中国香港– 2020年2月11日
中国内地及香港地区亚美尼亚共同体发布了一段感人的视频，以表达其对中国与新型冠状病毒性肺炎（NCP）作斗争的支持。 该视频在亚美尼亚制作。视频展示了居住在中国各个城市的亚美尼亚社区成员（包括众多儿童）向全中国正采取空前的措施来阻止病毒的人民和政府给予鼓励和支持。 视频还包括在埃里温孔子学院学习汉语的亚美尼亚学生。
中国内地及香港地区亚美尼亚共同体主席亨利·阿尔斯兰尼安（Henri Arslanian）表示：“我们希望向我们的中国朋友表明，无论中国是处于繁荣时期还是正面临挑战，亚美尼亚人民始终和他们在一起。”
标题为“亚美尼亚人与中国”的视频可在YouTube（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ACyTaRato）上观看，并将在中西社交媒体上共享，并带有#ArmeniansWithChina和#WeAreChina的标签
自NCP爆发以来，亚美尼亚社区一直在以各种方式帮助中国。近日，一群志愿者，包括埃里温孔子学院的学生，收集了10,000多个口罩和手套捐赠，从埃里温寄往中国。
近年来，中国亚美尼亚社区（也称为ChinaHay）得到了巨大的发展。 其成员主要居住在北京，上海，南京，广州，深圳和香港等城市。欢迎 有兴趣了解有关社区更多信息的人访问社区的Facebook页面。
MS-Word 2007 document
The California Courier Online, February 13, 2020
1 - The World Dislikes Trump & his Policies,
According to Pew Research Center
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Armenia to hold referendum on Constitutional Court in April
3 - At Sold Out Gala, AEF Celebrates 70 Years of Service and
Accomplishments
4- Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer Appoints Senior
Armenian-American Staff
5- Glendale approves unique building for Armenian-American health center
6- Wilk Announces Scholarship Contests to
Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide
*****************************************
******************************************
1 - The World Dislikes Trump & his Policies,
According to Pew Research Center
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
A study published by the Pew Research Center revealed that many in the
world do not approve Pres. Donald Trump’s foreign policies. This is
not a surprising discovery, but is in total contrast to what the
President has been claiming regarding his exaggerated accomplishments.
Even before his election, candidate Trump repeatedly stated that Pres.
Barack Obama was not respected by the rest of the world and that he,
as President, will restore respect to the United States by foreign
countries.
Given Pres. Trump’s many exaggerations and outright lies, no one
should be surprised by the untruth of what he claimed. The fact is
that his predecessor, Pres. Barack Obama, was highly respected around
the world, and to the contrary, Pres. Trump has become the laughing
stock of most people, in and out of the United States, except by the
autocratic leaders of Turkey, North Korea, Russia, China and Saudi
Arabia.
Let us look at the actual numbers based on the Pew Research Center. In
the 33 countries surveyed, the median of only 18% of the people stated
they viewed Trump’s foreign policy as positive. Not surprisingly,
Trump’s highest foreign policy rating was among Israelis (55%), while
32% disapproved and 13% said, “no difference.”
The following countries, in descending order, expressed their degree
of Pres. Trump’s approval of foreign policy: Poland (34%), Hungary
(31%), Ukraine (29%), Nigeria (29%), India (27%), Kenya (25%), South
Africa (25%), Slovakia (24%), Australia (24%), Lithuania (22%), Czech
Republic (22%), Philippines (21%), Indonesia (19%), Greece (19%),
Bulgaria (18%), Lebanon (18%), UK (18%), Italy (17%), Japan (17%),
South Korea (16%), Canada (16%), Russia (14%), Netherlands (11%),
Sweden (11%), Argentina (10%), Tunisia (9%), Mexico (9%), Turkey (9%),
France (9%), Brazil (8%), Spain (7%), and Germany (6%). In the United
States, Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy was 37%. It is
concerning that some of the lowest ratings were among the NATO allies,
while the ratings in the neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico
were also very low.
When asked about individual policy issues, the median of the people in
the 33 countries surveyed showed the following ratings:
— U.S. increasing tariffs or fees on imported goods from other
countries: 18% approve; 68% disapprove.
— U.S. withdrawal from international climate change agreements: 14%
approve; 66% disapprove.
— Building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico: 24%
approve; 60% disapprove.
— Allowing fewer immigrants into the U.S.: 34% approve; 55% disapprove.
— U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear weapons agreement: 29%
approve; 52% disapprove.
— U.S. negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the
country’s nuclear weapons program: 41% approve; 36% disapprove.
Regarding the respect the current and the two previous U.S. Presidents
— Trump (2017-2019), George W. Bush (2001-2008) and Barack Obama
(2009-2016) — enjoyed around the world, the Pew Research Center
discovered that Obama was ranked much higher than both Bush and Trump
among the people in the 33 countries surveyed. Here are the rankings
of the three Presidents with the lows and highs during the various
years of their presidency:
Canada: Bush (28%-59%); Obama (76%-88%); Trump (22%-28%).
France: Bush (12%-25%); Obama (83%-91%); Trump (9%-20%).
Germany: Bush (14%-51%); Obama (71%-93%); Trump (10%-13%).
Greece: Bush (not available); Obama (27%-41%); Trump (17%-25%).
Italy: Bush (30%-43%); Obama (68%-77%); Trump (25%-32%).
Netherlands: Bush (39%); Obama (92%); Trump (17%-25%).
Spain: Bush (7%-26%); Obama (54%-75%); Trump (7%-21%).
Sweden: Bush (21%); Obama (93%); Trump (10%-18%).
UK: Bush (16%-51%); Obama (72%-86%); Trump (22%-32%).
Bulgaria: Bush (27%); Obama (not available); Trump (26%).
Czech Republic: Bush (36%); Obama (75%-77%); Trump (28%).
Hungary: Bush (not available); Obama (58%); Trump (29%-33%).
Poland: Bush (29-47%); Obama (49%-64%); Trump (23%-51%).
Slovakia: Bush (21%); Obama (not available); Trump (34%).
Russia: Bush (8%-28%); Obama (11%-41%); Trump (20%-53%).
Ukraine: Bush (19%); Obama (11%-41%); Trump (44%).
Australia: Bush (23%-59%); Obama (77%-84%); Trump (29%-35%).
India: Bush (not available); Obama (48%-74%); Trump (40%-56%).
Indonesia: Bush (14%-23%); Obama (53%-71%); Trump (23%-30%).
Japan: Bush (25%-35%); Obama (60%-85%); Trump (24%-36%).
Philippines: Bush (not available); Obama (84%-94%); Trump (69%-78%).
South Korea: Bush (22%-36%); Obama (75%-88%); Trump (17%-46%).
Israel: Bush (57%-83%); Obama (49%-71%); Trump (56%-71%).
Lebanon: Bush (17%-34%); Obama (35%-46%); Trump (15%-23%).
Tunisia: Bush (not available); Obama (24%-28%); Trump (12%-18%).
Turkey: Bush (2%-8%); Obama (12%-45%); Trump (11%).
Kenya: Bush (72%); Obama (78%-95%); Trump (51%-65%).
Nigeria: Bush (not available); Obama (53%-84%); Trump (58%-59%).
South Africa: Bush (32%); Obama (72%-77%); Trump (39%-42%).
Argentina: Bush (5%-7%); Obama (31%-61%); Trump (11%-22%).
Brazil: Bush (not available); Obama (52%-69%); Trump (14%-28%).
Mexico: Bush (16%-28%); Obama (38%-55%); Trump (5%-8%).
Finally, in comparison with other major world leaders, Pres. Trump
ranked at the bottom third of the Pew Research Center survey in 33
countries, losing to French President Emmanuel Macron, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin,
but outscoring Chinese President Xi Jinping by a single point.
The next time Pres. Trump boasts about how he is respected around the
world vs. Pres. Obama, you can smile and tell yourself: one more lie.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- Armenia to hold referendum on Constitutional Court in April
YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Armenia’s parliament decided on Thursday,
February 6 to hold a referendum on April 5 on constitutional changes
that would dismiss seven of the nine members of the Constitutional
Court locked in a bitter dispute with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s
government. The bill was signed by President Armen Sarkissian on
February 9.
The move has been seen by political analysts as Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan’s attempt to remove judges who have opposed him.
They would be replaced by other judges to be confirmed by the current
132-member National Assembly in which Pashinyan’s My Step bloc holds
88 seats.
The decision was unanimously backed by virtually all My Step deputies.
Lawmakers representing the opposition Bright Armenia Party voted
against it while their colleagues from the other parliamentary
opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, did not vote at all.
My Step’s Vahagn Hovakimyan, who presented the draft amendments during
the parliament debate, said that the Constitutional Court is Armenia’s
least trusted state institution.
Addressing the National Assembly shortly before the vote, Pashinyan
also strongly defended the amendments rejected as unconstitutional by
opposition deputies. He again accused Constitutional Court Chairman
Hrayr Tovmasyan and six other judges installed by former Armenian
governments from 1995-2018 of being linked to the “corrupt former
regime.”
“The Constitutional Court represents the corrupt regime of [former
President] Serzh Sargsyan, rather than the people, and it must go,” he
declared.
Pashinyan also claimed that Armenia’s highest court “limits the
people’s power” and poses a “terrible and direct threat to democracy.”
Its legal powers must therefore be superseded by “sovereign rights of
the people,” he said.
Pashinyan went on to warn his political opponents against attempting
to thwart the constitutional changes through legal or other
mechanisms, saying that they would be declared “anti-state” elements
in that case.
The warning prompted an angry response from Bright Armenia Party
leader Edmon Marukyan, who accused Pashinyan of “blackmail.”
“Is it you who decides who are anti-state forces and who are patriots?
Is this the ‘democracy’ you dream about?” Marukyan asked him on the
parliament floor.
Marukyan reaffirmed his party’s view that the draft amendments run
counter to other articles of the Armenian constitution. He also noted
that the current Constitutional Court consists of judges appointed
under different governments. This is an important safeguard for the
court’s independence, he said.
Another senior Bright Armenia Party figure, Taron Sahakyan, insisted
that under Armenian law the amendments cannot be put on a referendum
without being examined and endorsed by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament majority leaders gave no indications that they will submit
the amendments to the court for approval before setting a referendum
date. They cited articles of the constitution which make no reference
to such a validation.
The Constitutional Court judges and Tovmasyan in particular have for
months been under growing government pressure to resign. The
parliament also passed in December a government bill offering them
financial incentives to retire before the end of their mandate. None
of them has accepted the early retirement offer so far.
Later in December, prosecutors brought criminal charges against
Tovmasyan. The Constitutional Court chairman rejected the accusations
as politically motivated and again ruled out his resignation. He has
said that the authorities want to get rid of him in order to gain
control over the court.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3 - At Sold Out Gala, AEF Celebrates 70 Years of Service and
Accomplishments
LOS ANGELES—More than 500 community leaders, supporters, and generous
donors attended the Armenian Educational Foundation’s 70th Anniversary
Gala.
The momentous event was held on January 26.at the iconic Beverly Hills
Hotel. The gala opened at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by
dinner at 6:30 p.m.
The evening kicked off with a performance of the American and Armenian
national anthems sung by Talia Avedissian and Araz Arabian, students
from Mesrobian School and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School,
respectively. Both schools were co-founded by the AEF as pillars of
education for Armenian students in America.
Opening remarks were made by AEF President Peter Baghdassarian, who
welcomed guests and thanked committee members for making the sold-out
event a big success. Baghdassarian then introduced Armine Haroyan,
AEF’s administrator in Yerevan, who herself was an AEF scholarship
recipient. Haroyan shared with the audience the impact of AEF’s
generosity on her life and the lives of hundreds of other scholarship
recipients in Armenia.
AEF Vice President Dr. Aida Rechdouni then introduced Vahik
Petrossian, the recipient of AEF’s Lifetime Service Award for his
decades of service to the organization. This recognition prompted an
anonymous donation of $50,000 in honor of Petrossian.
Following remarks made by Dr. Rechdouni, Committee Chair Al Cabraloff
introduced AEF’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Sam and Sylva
Simonian. The Simonians were honored for their pioneering work in
bringing technical education to Armenia by funding and establishing
TUMO Center for Creative Technologies.
Mr. and Mrs. Simonian were also honored by Catholicos Aram I of the
Great House of Cilicia, as the couple was awarded the prestigious
Mesrob Mashdots Medal, which was presented to them by Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
The AEF Gala Banquet is held to help raise funds for AEF’s charitable
programs, including computer engineering labs in village schools,
university scholarship awards, school renovation projects, and other
education related programs.
For more information about AEF, please call the AEF office at
818.242.4154, or visit AEF’s website, www.aefweb.org
************************************************************************************************************************************************
4- Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer Appoints Senior
Armenian-American Staff
LOS ANGELES—The Steyer presidential campaign has announced its
Armenian-American senior and regional staff in California, continuing
its commitment to building a talented team that is representative of
our state’s diverse communities.
“We are excited to have Rostom Sarkissian and Astine Suleimanyan on
TeamTom,” said Katie Vavao, the campaign’s California state director,
who recruited both staffers. “Their years of experience on local and
national campaigns, their leadership in the communities they have
worked in, and their dedication to Armenian-American community make
them welcome additions to our team.”
Rostom Sarkissian is responsible for coordinating the political and
field efforts across the State. Rostom is a Los Angeles-based public
affairs professional with 20 years of experience in political, issue,
and advocacy campaigns in California and across the United States.
Sarkissian worked on behalf of the Democratic presidential nominee in
2004, 2008, and 2012 in Oregon, Colorado, and Florida.
Sarkissian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard
University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s Degree in
Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College.
“I’m proud to work for a candidate who believes in social, economic,
and environmental justice. Tom’s father was a part of the team that
prosecuted the Nazis at Nuremberg, and his dad taught him ‘when you
see something wrong, you fight it.’ That’s the type of leader we need
in Washington,” said Sarkissian.
Astine Suleimanyan will serve as the campaign’s deputy political
director for the Inland Empire and labor liaison across the state. She
has a decade of professional experience managing the diverse and
complicated elements of electoral, legislative, and constituent
campaigns for mission driven-organizations such as the American Civil
Liberties Union, Service Employees International Union, California
School Employees Association, and SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers.
“It is exciting to be part of this campaign. Tom Steyer has been an
early and vocal advocate for addressing climate change and building a
more just economy,” said Suleimanyan. “His justice-based approach to
addressing race, the economy, and the environment speaks to my core as
an activist, and his actual success as businessman will provide the
best contrast to Trump’s failing administration.”
************************************************************************************************************************************************
5- Glendale approves unique building for Armenian-American health center
By Shane Reiner-Roth
On January 21, the City Council of Glendale, California, unanimously
approved the construction of a daringly-designed office building from
the Los Angeles-based architecture firm P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S and Santa
Monica-based Sharif, Lynch: Architecture. When complete, the Janoian
Building will be the new home of All For Health, Health For All, a
local community health center began in 1999 by Dr. Noobar Janoian, and
will include rentable office space, ground-floor retail, and a small
amenity space in the terrace. As approved, Glendale residents can
expect to see a 5-story, 70-foot-tall complex rise on the site.
The five-story building’s shifting character on the corner of Broadway
and Isabel Street is designed to visually connect the urban promenade
of the stylistically-diverse Glendale Civic Center. “Responding to the
brief of providing a commercial office building in a very formal
context,” the architects explained, “the project aims to construct an
authentic dichotomic image: one that can be confused for a strange
civic building, too mute to be publicly engaged, but yet too
eccentrically unusual to be privately used.”
The building’s irregularly-striated brise-soleil system and exterior
voids along Isabel Street contrast the smooth, unbroken glass facade
to break up the structure’s otherwise imposing presence. A series of
exterior soffits and cantilevers unify the building’s envelope while
adding continuous open balconies accessible via the medical office
spaces. The health center will be set back along Isabel Street to make
room for a small pocket park, for which Armenian artist Zadik Zadikian
was commissioned to create a public mural as a backdrop that reflects
the community’s diverse citizenship. Construction on the Janoian
Building will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by
late next year.
This article appeared in The Architect’s Newspaper on February 5, 2020.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
6- Wilk Announces Scholarship Contests to
Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide
The California Armenian Legislative Caucus is holding two scholarship
contests for the 2020 commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, Senator
Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), who represents the state’s 21st Senate
District, announced on February 3.
California high school students in 9th through 12th grades are invited
to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to
increase greater awareness of the Armenian Genocide. Students may
enter both contests, but submissions must be entered separately.
In addition to the scholarships, the winners will also receive a trip
to Sacramento for a press conference where they will be acknowledged
by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus during the Caucus’
annual Armenian Advocacy Day on April 27, 2020.
Original artwork will be requested from visual arts finalists, for
display in the California State Capitol.
Criteria for each content can be found at wilk.cssrc.us.
Submission deadline for both contests is Monday, April 6, 2020. The
California Armenian Legislative Caucus will contact winners directly
and announce their names to media on Friday, April 16, 2020.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides viewers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week's issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
address, However, authors are
requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or telephone numbers
to verify identity, if any question arises. California Courier
subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify
mailing addresses. Those changes can be made through our e-mail,
, or by phone, (818) 409-0949.
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/10/2020
Monday,
Referendum On Armenian Constitutional Court Scheduled For April 5
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian (C) reads out a ruling
on an appeal lodged by former President Robert Kocharian, Yerevan, September 4,
2019.
President Armen Sarkissian has validated the parliament’s controversial decision
hold a referendum on constitutional changes that would dismiss seven of the nine
members of Armenia’s Constitutional Court locked in a bitter dispute with Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian.
In a weekend decree, Sarkissian scheduled the referendum for April 5 amid
continuing opposition statements challenging the legality of the amendments
drafted by Pashinian’s My Step bloc.
Under the proposed amendments, the court’s chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, and six
other members installed by former Armenian governments would be replaced by
other judges to be confirmed by the current parliament controlled by My Step.
Pashinian again accused them of remaining linked to the “corrupt former regime”
as the National Assembly opted for the referendum on February 6.
Tovmasian has been under particularly strong government pressure to resign in
recent months. He has refused to quit and said the authorities are keen to gain
control over the country’s highest court. Tovmasian is strongly backed by the
former Republican Party of Armenia and other hardline critics of the government.
The ruling bloc’s efforts to install new high court judges through the
constitutional changes have also been strongly criticized by the more moderate
opposition parties represented in the parliament and some legal experts.
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (R) and Constitutional Court Chairman
Hrayr Tovmasian shake hands ahead of a 2018 meeting in Yerevan.
Edmon Marukian, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK),
insisted that the far-reaching changes sought by Pashinian are unconstitutional
and were passed with serious procedural violations. Marukian said Sarkissian
should have therefore sent the draft amendments to the Constitutional Court for
examination instead.
Both the LHK and the other parliamentary opposition party, Prosperous Armenia
(BHK), say that an Armenian law on referendums also makes the court’s approval
of constitutional changes obligatory.
Vladimir Vartanian, a senior pro-government parliamentarian, countered, however,
that the seven court justices cannot make an “objective” decision on the matter
because at stake is their own future.
In a written “clarification” issued immediately after his decree, Sarkissian’s
office argued that the referendum would have been scheduled even if the head of
state had refused to sign the parliament’s decision. It cited an article of the
Armenian constitution in support of this assertion.
“It has to be noted that by setting nor setting a date for the referendum the
president of the republic does not express his attitude and position on the
essence of the constitutional amendments adopted by the National Assembly … or
the procedures used for making that decision,” said the statement.
Naira Zohrabian, a senior BHK figure, dismissed this explanation on Monday,
accusing Sarkissian of seeking to dodge responsibility for the planned ouster of
the Constitutional Court judges. She said that the president, who has largely
ceremonial powers, effectively sided with Pashinian.
“If you sign [the parliament’s decision] it means that you fully accept the
legitimacy of the process,” Zohrabian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
Armenia -- President Armen Sarkissian (R) meets with Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian, Yerevan, February 4, 2020.
The BHK and the LHK may still prevent the holding of the referendum if their
parliament deputies appeal to the Constitutional Court and convince it to
declare the draft amendments unconstitutional.
Under the constitution, such appeals must be signed by at least 27 members of
the 132-seat parliament. The BHK and the LHK control 26 and 17 parliament seats
respectively, putting them in a position to request a court judgment.
The LHK has already indicated its readiness to challenge the proposed
constitutional changes in the court. BHK representatives have made more
ambiguous statements in that regard so far.
“We have not yet discussed [the issue,] so I find it hard to say whether
Prosperous Armenia will join in [the appeal,]” said Zohrabian. The BHK
leadership should formulate its position “in the coming days,” she said.
Zohrabian dismissed suggestions that the party led by businessman Gagik
Tsarukian is wary of antagonizing Pashinian.
The prime minister was quick to hail the presidential decree on the referendum.
In a video address aired on Facebook, he also urged Armenians living abroad to
travel to their home country and vote for the amendments on April 5. Armenian
law bars them from voting outside the country.
To pass, the amendments would have to be backed by the majority of referendum
participants making up at least one-quarter of Armenia’s 2.57 million or so
eligible voters.
Prosecutor Again Dismisses Indictment Against Former Armenian Speaker
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- NA Speaker Ara Babloyan, 30Dec2018
An Armenian prosecutor has again dismissed coup charges brought by another
law-enforcement agency against former parliament speaker Ara Babloyan and one of
his former senior aides.
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) indicted Babloyan and Arsen Babayan in
October as part of a criminal inquiry into Hrayr Tovmasian’s appointment in
March 2018 as chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court. Babayan was arrested
but freed on bail three weeks later.
The SIS claimed that the former Armenian parliament elected Tovmasian court
chairman as a result of an illegal seizure of the judicial authority by a “group
of officials.” It said that Babloyan illegally accepted and announced the
resignation of Tovmasian’s predecessor, Gagik Harutiunian, before receiving a
relevant letter from him. It said that Babayan, who was the deputy chief of the
parliament staff at the time, backdated the letter to enable Tovmasian to head
the Constitutional Court before the entry into force of sweeping amendments to
the Armenian constitution.
The amendments introduced a six-year term in office for the head of Armenia’s
highest court. Tovmasian, 49, became chief court justice under the previous
constitution which allows him to hold the post until the age of 70.
Both suspects strongly deny the accusations. Babloyan maintains that
Harutiunian’s letter of resignation was dated March 1, 2018 and that he received
and signed it on March 2, 2018, not three days later, as is claimed by the SIS.
The SIS announced on December 13 that it has completed the investigation and
asked prosecutors to endorse the accusations of “usurpation of state authority”
and forgery leveled against the former officials.
The prosecutor overseeing the probe refused to do so and ordered the SIS to
conduct an “additional investigation” for properly evaluating Babloyan’s and
Babayan’s actions. The SIS again sent the case to the prosecutor for approval
last month.
It emerged on Monday that the investigators have been rebuffed for a second
time. Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General said they should revise the
indictment and charge the two former officials with abuse of power, rather than
its usurpation. It said the well-known suspects had created an “illusion” of
Tovmasian’s lawful appointment as Constitutional Court chairman.
The SIS did not immediately react to the prosecutors’ decision which will
further delay Babayan’s and Babloyan’s trial.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian used the high-profile case in his recent verbal
attacks on Tovmasian. He said on January 25 that law-enforcement authorities’
allegations that Tovmasian illegally became chief justice shortly before the
2018 “Velvet Revolution” are “effectively proven and irrefutable.”
Tovmasian deplored that claim, saying that Pashinian violated the presumption of
innocence guaranteed by the Armenian constitution.
Iranian Company ‘Interested’ In Armenian Chemical Giant
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia -- Nairit chemical plant, undated.
The Armenian government confirmed on Monday that an Iranian company sanctioned
by the United States is exploring the possibility of taking over and
reactivating Armenia’s largest chemical plant that has stood idle for the last
ten years.
The Yerevan-based Nairit plant employed several thousand people in Soviet times.
It struggled to remain afloat after the breakup of the Soviet Union, repeatedly
changing foreign owners and operators in murky deals overseen by successive
Armenian governments.
Nairit had around 2,300 workers when it stopped manufacturing synthetic rubber,
its main product, in March 2010. It currently employs only 250 people mostly
tasked with guarding its waste disposal and other facilities.
Varag Siserian, a senior aide to Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, said that
senior executives of Iran’s Tabriz Petrochemical Company expressed an interest
reactivating the sprawling plant when they met with government officials in
Yerevan on January 30.
Siserian said the company plans to conduct a feasibility study for that purpose
by the end of next month. “After the study we will be ready to discuss possible
variants and formats of cooperation,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service in a
written statement.
According to Economy Minister Tigran Khachatrian, the government is open to
investment projects that would “contain guarantees of long-term stability” at
Nairit. “I can’t give details,” he said when asked about Tabriz Petrochemical
Company’s interest in the former chemical giant.
Khachatrian also would not be drawn on the amount of capital investments needed
for restarting manufacturing operations there.
Siserian noted that the planned feasibility study could be followed by a
financial audit of Nairit.
Nairit was declared bankrupt by a court in Yerevan in 2016 because of its
failure to pay electricity bills totaling 1.24 billion drams ($2.6 million). It
currently owes a total of $262 million to 300 other firms and individuals.
Tabriz Petrochemical Company was among Iranian entities which the United States
blacklisted in 2018 as part of its renewed economic sanctions against Iran.
“We have no information about the Iranian company being under U.S. sanctions,”
Siserian claimed in this regard.
Arrested Official Denies Taking Bribes
• Marine Khachatrian
Armenia -- Vahagn Vermishian, head of the Urban Development Committee, speaks at
a news conference in Yerevan, July 1, 2019.
Vahagn Vermishian, the arrested head of the Armenian government’s Urban
Development Committee, denies bribery charges leveled against him, his lawyer
said on Monday.
The National Security Service (NSS) arrested Vermishian and two other
individuals on February 5 hours after searching his office. One of those
suspects, John Farkhoyan, is a former senior law-enforcment official. He was
released on bail at the weekend.
In a February 5 statement, the NSS said Vermishian has admitted receiving five
bribes, worth between 1 million drams ($2,100) and 2.5 million drams each, from
private construction firms that were given privileged treatment by various
government bodies in return. It said that the kickbacks were channeled into an
architectural firm which the official had set up and registered in a friend’s
name.
Contradicting the NSS claim, Vermishian’s lawyer, Mushegh Arakelian, said his
client denies taking the alleged bribes. “In essence, the version of events
published in the media has nothing to do with him,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian
service.
Arakelian declined to comment further, saying that he will make a more detailed
statement soon.
The categoric denial did not prevent a court in Yerevan from remanding
Vermishian in pre-trial custody on Monday.
Vermishian, who has headed the government agency since March 2019, is the third
senior member of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government prosecuted on
corruption charges. The two other suspects worked as deputy ministers of
education and health.
Speaking at a February 6 cabinet meeting, Pashinian potrayed Vermishian’s arrest
as further proof of his commitment to eradicating corruption in Armenia.
The high-profile arrest came nearly four months after Sarhat Petrosian, the
prominent head of Armenia’s Cadaster Committee, resigned in protest against
government policies on urban development. Petrosian hit out at Vermishian and
the previous head of the Urban Development Committee, Avetik Eloyan, after
tendering his resignation.
In particular, Petrosian claimed that Eloyan, who now works as an adviser to
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, has used his position to win lucrative
contracts for an architectural firm registered in his brother’s name in May
2019. Avinian and Vermishian dismissed those claims at the time.
Petrosian on Monday criticized the authorities for not prosecuting Eloyan as
well. “So double standards are still part of our reality, and while Vermishian
can be indicted, another official, who found himself in virtually the same
situation, cannot,” he wrote on Facebook.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org
Prosperous Armenia faction quits cooperation with deputy Tigran Urikhanyan due to raised differences in approaches
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 11 2020
Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction stated about quitting cooperation with deputy Tigran Urikhanyan.
Urikhanyan has submitted application to the faction head Gagik Tsarukyan on leaving the faction.
“Tigran Urikhanyan has passed a long political path as member of Prosperous Armenia faction but at this phase the approaches and principles of the deputy are not consistent with the approaches of the Prosperous Armenia faction. For this reason, starting from this moment Prosperous Armenia faction quits cooperation with Tigran Urikhanyan. The latter will continue his activity in the status of freelance deputy,” the party’s statement said.
Prosperous Armenia Party leader: We were for idea of constitutional referendum
News.am, Armenia
Feb 11 2020
12:27, 11.02.2020
Armenian president felicitates Iranian Leader, president on Islamic Revolution anniv.
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Feb 11 2020
TEHRAN, Feb. 11 (MNA) – President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent congratulatory letters to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the 41st anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
“The close political and economic cooperation between Armenia and Iran continues also today thanks to the deep friendly traditions. I am confident that the Armenian-Iranian relations will steadily strengthen and develop. Today, when the world is facing numerous challenges, the preservation and development of stable and mutually beneficial relations between Armenia and Iran are important”, the Armenian President said in his letter addressed to his Iranian counterpart.
In the letter addressed to Ayatollah Khamenei, the Armenian President said, “I believe that the respect towards each other’s religion and culture, accompanied with a political dialogue, contributes to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.”
President Armen Sarkissian praised the Armenia-Iran developing cooperation in numerous areas. He wished the Leader good health and success, and peace and prosperity to the good people of Iran.
MNA/PR
Armenian minister: Bill on preschool education similar to constitutional amendments
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
18:06, 10.02.2020
Jordanian minister: Armenia, Jordan can cooperate in various sectors
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
Armenia and Jordan pursue close political ties, which should also have an impact on economic relations, Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tariq Hammouri told reporters in Yerevan on Monday on the sidelines of Armenia-Jordan Business Forum.
“This time we are on a visit to Armenia led by King Abdullah II of Jordan. Our delegation includes representatives of the private sector, who will hold meetings with the private sector of Armenia to further strengthen ties between them. The meetings should focus on trade and economic exchanges, which we call B2B meetings,” the minister said.
Tariq Hammouri noted that Armenia and Jordan can cooperate in various sectors, especially in the IT sector, since both Armenia is quite advanced in this field, while Jordan has made serious achievements in the IT sector.
“I see great prospects in this area. There are also prospects for cooperation with Armenia in the field of tourism. There is a sanctuary in Jordan where Jesus Christ was baptized, and there are numerous sights,” Hammouri said.
A Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed between Armenia’s Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan during the business forum.
His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan will arrive in Armenia on a two-day official visit on Monday evening.
Jordan’s Minister says clear instruction received from the King to establish strong ties with Armenia business
News.am, Armenia
Feb 10 2020
14:29, 10.02.2020