Category: 2020

AGBU Unites Diaspora and Homeland with First Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament and All-Star Closing Ceremonies

The Republic of Armenia has long been distinguished as a nexus for chess supremacy, with its national preoccupation with the game, large share of world champions, including Olympic winners and over 70 grandmasters (GMs), and, recently, the integration of Chess into its core public school curriculum. This June, it took that passion a step further with the launch of the first Pan Armenian Chess Tournament (PACT), hosted by the AGBU-sponsored Armenian Virtual College (AVC) in association with the Chess Academy of Armenia.

The virtual journey took place between June 8 and 26, 2020, despite, and, to a large extent, on account of the global pandemic. As millions of Armenian students and chess players found themselves in lockdown mode and looking for ways to connect with fellow Armenians with likeminded interests, AVC was in an ideal position to step up and organize both the tournament and the all-star virtual closing ceremonies featuring 23 celebrated grandmasters from around the world.

During the ceremonies, GM Tigran L. Petrosian, a two-time Chess Olympic champion made inspirational congratulatory remarks, saying: “It was a brilliant idea to unite all Armenian chess enthusiasts from around the globe. I think the organizers have performed an important service with this virtual tournament. It gave me the opportunity to meet my colleagues and friends, whom I have been missing so much. I wish these young players all the best and hope that they will achieve new goals, titles, and we will have new winners.” GM Lilit Mkrtchian, European Women’s Team Champion extended her congratulations from Germany, remarking that she hoped that even when the pandemic was over there will be another online tournament organized.

GM Smbat Lputian, Founder and President of the Chess Academy of Armenia, also expressed his great satisfaction to all the stakeholders involved. “We were happy to create such a warm and collegial environment, which united Armenians from communities geographically distant from each other. I am thankful to all those who contributed into its realization. Honestly, I am so glad to be with all of you here, I am pleased that we are one family and that we hearten each other today.”

Soon after the announcement of PACT, 520 interested players signed up, representing 36 countries and five regions—from the Americas, Armenia and Artsakh to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia and Oceania. The tournament was structured in two stages: five regional semi-finals; and three rounds of final games leading to the PACT champion titles. Between games, players were given access to renowned Armenian chess champions via the AVC multi-media interactive chess courses.

Dr. Yervant Zorian, the founding president of AVC, a member of the AGBU Central Board, and mastermind behind this multi-regional virtual undertaking, explained the vision: “The idea of creating this innovative tournament was not only to discover new talent from across the Armenian world, but, more important, to create a dynamic online global community of chess loving students. AVC will continue to leverage its virtual platform and experienced community coordinators to offer them skill-building and interpersonal bonding activities.

Among the diverse competitors, Armenia’s players met their match among formidable peers ranging in all ages, with 428 players under the age of 20. Notably, winners were no older than 16. The youngest, a semi-finalist, was age nine.

Among the finalists, Third Prize was taken by 16-year old Tigran Arzumanyan of Goris in Armenia’s Syunik province, Second Prize went to 14-year old Kirk Ghazarian of Coto de Caza, California, USA, and First Prize was awarded to Sargis Sargsyan of Vanadzor in Armenia’s Lori province. An official certificate was conferred upon each winner, signed by GM Smbat Lputian, the president of the Chess Academy of Armenia and Dr. Zorian, as president and founder of AVC. In addition, winners received valuable monetary rewards in the form of virtual gift cards.

The semi-finalists from the Americas included (1st) Kirk Ghazarian, age 14 (USA); (2nd) Suren Ghazaryan, age 15 (Canada); (3rd) Ethan Boldi, age 13 (USA). From Europe: (1st) Daniel Karapetyan-Hakopyan, age 13 (Spain); (2nd) Dimitrios Levon Zakarian, age 12 (UK); and Henrik Serobyan. Middle East and Africa: (1st) Kevork Yeghian, age 16 (Syria), (2nd) Edward Iskanderian, age 14 (Lebanon); (3rd) Arsen Kenyan, age 9 (Syria). Armenia: (1st) Sargis Sargsyan, age 16; (2nd) Tigran Arzumanyan, age 16); (3rd) Menua Hakobyan, age 12. Asia and Oceania: Shahan Abu Sayeed, age 9 (India).

A semi-finalist from Aleppo Kevork Yeghian, an AGBU-AYA scout representing the Middle East/Africa region, echoed the sentiments of many of the young participants, saying, “I am really happy for the chance to participate in the competition and get acquainted with other chess lovers from different places.”

The closing ceremonies were capped with a surprise live “blitz” match between European Women Team Champion Elina Danielyan versus Russian Women’s Rapid Champion Karina Ambartsumova. Other commentators included U.S. Women’s Vice-Champion Tatev Abrahamyan and U.S. Vice-Champion Varuzhan Akobian.

In his congratulatory remarks, AGBU Armenia President Vasken Yacoubian summed up the broader implications of the successful tournament. “Chess helps develop the individual on many dimensions, but it has also become sort of our national trademark. Every nation has its features and virtues, and over the decades, chess has become the trademark of both the Armenian Nation and Armenia. And this has a big meaning. It’s clear that we, as Armenians, have the great possibility of producing champions, who become our national heroes and bring pride to the people. This pride helps unite people, and in unity is strength—which is the AGBU motto. That is why AGBU is so keen on supporting the game in all its forms. Since 2007, we have been involved in the Chess Olympiad in Armenia’s schools, and we will continue to do so along with new initiatives such as the Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament.”

For more information and to view the closing ceremonies, go to https://youtu.be/D6lSINT-6Rs. To explore AVC online chess courses, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j3TbN0Ipu0

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora.  Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit www.agbu.org.

This email was sent to Armenian [email protected]

Armenian General Benevolent Union, 55 East 59th Street, New York, New York 10022, USA

Unsubscribe

2020%20Pan-Armenian%20Chess%20Tournament-AM.jpg
JPEG image

JPEG image

AGBU%20Unites%20Diaspora%20and%20Homeland%20with%20First%20Pan-Armenian%20Chess%20Tournament%20and%20All-Star%20Closing%20Ceremonies.doc
MS-Word document

                                        Thursday, July 2, 2020
Pashinian Congratulates Putin On Referendum Win
Russia -- President Vladimir Putin visits a polling station at the Russian 
Academy of Sciences to vote in a constitutional referendum, July 1, 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on 
Thursday on winning a controversial plebiscite on constitutional changes that, 
among other things, allow him to remain in power until 2036.
“This event is indeed of fundamental importance for the further strengthening of 
Russian statehood,” Pashinian wrote in a congratulatory message to Putin 
released by his office.
“I am confident that the amendments to the constitution approved by the 
overwhelming majority of Russians will create favorable conditions for your 
country’s continued progress and socioeconomic development,” he said.
According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, 77.9 percent of voters 
endorsed the Kremlin-backed package of more than 200 changes to the Russian 
constitution. The most-controversial of them is one that resets Putin’s 
term-limit clock to zero, opening the way for him to run for reelection when his 
current six-year term expires in 2024 and again in 2030.
The Kremlin has said the amendments are necessary for the country’s stability 
and security, while Putin’s critics charge they are a bid for the 67-year-old to 
secure power for life.
The non-binding vote was marred by reports of irregularities at some polling 
stations and intimidation of activists and journalists. The European Union urged 
Russia on Thursday to investigate them.
For its part, the U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
in Europe issued a statement saying it is “troubled by reports of Russian 
government efforts to manipulate the result of the vote.”
Pashinian Allies Oppose Parliament Probe Into COVID-19
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - An ambulance rescuer wearing personal protective equipment moves a 
patient into the Grigor Lusavorich Medical Centre in Yerevan on May 27, 2020, 
amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior lawmakers from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step bloc criticized 
their opposition colleagues on Thursday for pushing for a parliamentary inquiry 
into the Armenian authorities’ response to the continuing coronavirus crisis in 
the country.
The opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) demanded such an inquiry on June 
17 after the pro-government majority in the parliament controversially lifted 
BHK leader Gagik Tsarukian’s immunity from prosecution.
Bright Armenia (LHK), the second opposition party represented in the National 
Assembly, backed the proposed formation of an ad hoc parliamentary commission on 
the coronavirus crisis on the condition that it will be headed by a LHK 
lawmaker. The BHK accepted the condition.
“The government has totally botched the fight against the coronavirus,” charged 
the LHK’s Gevorg Gorgisian. “The fact that Armenia has one of the worst records 
in the world … proves that there have been numerous shortcomings.”
Gorgisian claimed that the government’s socioeconomic relief measures have also 
not served their purpose. “All this must definitely be the subject of an 
inquiry,” he said.
Alen Simonian, a deputy parliament speaker and senior My Step figure, scoffed at 
the initiative, calling it “pathetic” and “untimely.”
“The epidemic is not over and God knows when it will end,” he said. “So it is 
first and foremost too early to make evaluations.”
Simonian also accused the BHK and the LHK of hypocrisy, saying that both parties 
have demanded the lifting of a ban on rallies imposed by the authorities in 
March as part of a coronavirus-related state of emergency.
Narek Zeynalian, the chairman of the parliament committee on public health and 
social affairs, also objected to the opposition initiative. The Armenpress news 
agency quoted Zeynalian as saying that the parliament commission should be set 
up only after the end of the pandemic.
Under Armenian law, ad hoc commissions must be set up if that is demanded by at 
least 33 members of the 132-seat parliament. The BHK and the LHK have submitted 
37 signatures to parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan.
Still, the parliament majority can thwart such an inquiry by refusing to 
formally endorse the commission’s composition. My Step already blocked early 
this year a parliamentary corruption probe into Yerevan’s pro-government Mayor 
Hayk Marutian in this fashion.
According to Gorgisian, the parliament will discuss the issue in September, 
right after the end of its summer recess.
Armenia has one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the world, with a 
total of 26,658 coronavirus cases recorded in the country of about 3 million as 
of Thursday morning. The official death toll from the disease stood at 459.
Armenian Government Eyes COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Russia -- A scientist examines COVID-19 infected cells under a microscope during 
research for a vaccine against the coronavirus at a laboratory of BIOCAD 
biotechnology company in Saint Petersburg, May 20, 2020.
The Armenian government is negotiating with foreign corporations and 
international organizations in hopes of securing supplies of a potential 
coronavirus vaccine to Armenia beforehand, Health Minister Arsen Torosian 
announced on Thursday.
Torosian said he is optimistic that such a vaccine will be developed in the 
coming months.
“We are now holding negotiations in two directions,” he told a weekly cabinet 
meeting in Yerevan. “The first one is [drug] manufacturers. I am personally 
negotiating with them.
“For example, yesterday I spoke with the commercial director of the 
[Massachusetts-based] Moderna company which is linked to our [Armenian-American] 
compatriot Noubar Afeyan. Their MRN 1723 vaccine … is one of the strongest 
vaccine candidates.”
“We are also negotiating with the World Health Organization and UNICEF platforms 
that will be trying to make collective purchases to ensure that there is a 
proportionate distribution of large doses [of the vaccine] among numerous 
countries,” added Torosian.
Armenia -- Health Minister Arsen Torosian speaks at a cabinet meeting, Yerevan, 
July 2, 2020.
More than 100 vaccines are being developed and tested around the world to stop 
the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands and ravaged the 
global economy. None of the major drugmakers and research institutes has 
reported a successful completion of those tests so far.
Torosian predicted that a much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine may well be 
developed and be on the market before the end of this year.
“The biggest risk here is that some countries could buy large quantities of 
manufactured or even not yet manufactured vaccines which will consequently reach 
other countries much later … That is why it is very important to start 
negotiations now, even before having a [developed] end product,” explained the 
minister.
“According to various estimates, a vaccine will be available to countries at the 
end of 2020 or at the beginning of 2021,” he said.
Armenia has one of the highest infection rates in the world, with a total of 
26,658 coronavirus cases recorded in the country of about 3 million as of 
Thursday morning. According to the Armenian health authorities, 593 people 
tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.
The authorities also reported the deaths of 10 more people infected with the 
disease. They said COVID-19 was the main cause of six of those fatalities which 
raised the official death toll to 459.
Court Adjourns Hearing On Tsarukian’s Arrest
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the country's largest opposition 
party, speaks with the media outside a courthouse, Yerevan, June 18, 2020.
Armenia’s Court of Appeals adjourned on Thursday the first hearing on the 
pre-trial arrest of Gagik Tsarukian, the indicted leader of the main opposition 
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), sought by prosecutors.
The district court in Yerevan refused on June 21 to sanction Tsarukian’s arrest 
on vote buying charges rejected by him as politically motivated. Both the 
prosecutors and Tsarukian’s lawyers appealed against that decision. The lawyers 
objected to the court’s conclusion that investigators have grounds to suspect 
that the BHK leader handed out vote bribes during parliamentary elections held 
in 2017.
One of Tsarukian’s lawyers, Emin Khachatrian, said the Court of Appeals 
rescheduled the hearing for July 7 because it has not yet received all petitions 
and other documents which the litigants sent to it by post.
The prosecutors kept pressing for Tsarukian’s arrest even after it emerged on 
Tuesday that he has been infected with the coronavirus. According to 
Khachatrian, Tsarukian stays mostly at home while visiting a Yerevan hospital 
for treatment on a daily basis.
The National Security Service (NSS) says that Tsarukian “created and led an 
organized group” that bought more than 17,000 votes for the BHK during the 2017 
elections. It claims to have collected documents showing that a BHK candidate, 
Vazgen Poghosian, distributed vote bribes to residents of the Gegharkunik 
province. The NSS also says that Poghosian has given incriminating testimony 
against Tsarukian.
Khachatrian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that Tsarukian and Poghosian were 
brought face to face and interrogated by the NSS recently. He said the joint 
interrogation only reinforced the defense lawyers’ belief that the criminal case 
against their client is baseless. But he did not give any details.
Tsarukian, who is one of the country’s wealthiest persons, and his party 
maintain that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian ordered the criminal proceedings in 
response to the BHK leader’s June 5 calls for the government’s resignation. 
Pashinian and law-enforcement authorities deny that the case is politically 
motivated.
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.