AGBU Press Office 55 East 59th Street New York, NY 10022-1112 Website: PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, 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 . To explore AVC online chess courses, visit 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 .
Category: 2020
Opposition Parties Present ‘Crime Report’ to Prosecutor General
Representatives of the ARF, Prosperous Party of Armenia and the Homeland Party en route to the prosecutor general’s office on June 30
Representatives of opposition forces Prosperous Armenian Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Homeland Party presented a “crime report” to Armenia’s Prosecutor General on Tuesday demanding a criminal investigation into the country’s legislature and other high-ranking officials in relation to constitutional amendments passed last week by parliament that alter the composition of Armenia’s Constitutional Court.
The parties’ representatives presented a nine-page document to the prosecutor general that, according to them, details a series of criminal breaches that they say amounts of high crimes.
After submitting the report, the three party representatives read a joint announcement and spoke to the press to expand on the concerns they had with the constitutional impasse in the country.
Last week the chairmen of the three parties met and decided to form a working group that would present a roadmap get Armenia out of the constitutional crisis. Their first act was the submission of the “crime report.”
Homeland Party member Arsen Babayan told reporters Tuesday outside of the prosecutor’s office that the document details the criminal efforts by the current regime during the past two years as they relate to the country’s judicial branch.
Babayan accused the authorities of breaking various laws to install Vahe Grigoryan on to the high court. He also pointed to Grigoryan’s effort to proclaim himself the chairman of the Constitutional Court, as well as last week’s amendment of the constitution to force three judges into early retirement and to alter the tenure of the current high court president, Hrayr Tovmasyan, against whom and his relatives the government has initiated criminal cases.
“We would like to rely on the Prosecutor General’s objectivity. The presented evidence has been more than substantiated and irrefutable. We anticipate that the judiciary will move forward exclusive through law,” said Prosperous Armenia Party representative Naira Zohrabyan, who is a member of the parliament and whose party, along with the second opposition force in the legislature, the Bright Armenia Party, boycotted the parliament hearing and vote on the constitutional amendment.
The Prosperous Armenia Party leader, businessman Gagig Tsarukyan was charged with embezzlement and election fraud earlier this month and parliament voted to lift his immunity to stand trial and be arrested. The prosecutor general’s office opted not to remand Tsarukyan to pre-trial custody but the investigation into the charges is moving forward.
ARF Supreme Council of Armenia member Lilit Galstyan speaks to reporters on June 30
“We are appealing to the prosecutor general expecting that the only guiding principle for the office will be the law, the rule of law and justice,” added Zohrabyan.
“During the past year and a half, various political forces have provided their assessments to that realities, events and what I would call the usurping of the judiciary in the Republic of Armenia,” said Lilit Galstyan a member of the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia.
“While there have been political assessment [of the situation] the one we are presenting also have legal merit… After the political assessment we are confident that the prosecutor general’s office and judicial bodies, objectively and within their parameters, will provide a just conclusion,” added Galstyan saying that the current regime, by circumventing the constitutional order, is guilty of breaching the constitutional order in Armenia.
RFE/RL Armenian Report – 06/30/2020
Tuesday,
Armenian, Azeri FMs Trade Accusations In Fresh Talks
Switzerland -- Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanian of Armenia and Elmar
Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan and international mediators meet in Geneva, January
30, 2020.
Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of hampering a resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh during a fresh video of conference of their foreign ministers
and international mediators held on Tuesday.
Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanian and Elmar Mammadyarov spoke with each
other and the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group
for the second time in two months.
Mnatsakanian was quoted by his press office as condemning Azerbaijani leaders’
latest “bellicose and unconstructive” statements. He said that they “damage”
international efforts to end the conflict.
Mnatsakanian apparently referred to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s June 25
remarks made at a meeting with Azerbaijani army officers. Aliyev described
Armenia’s post-Soviet history as “shameful,” saying that his country’s arch-foe
was for decades ruled by “criminals and thieves.” He also said that the 2018
popular protests that brought Nikol Pashinian to power were not a democratic
revolution.
An Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman hit back at Aliyev, saying that he
leads one of the world’s most corrupt and repressive regimes which feels
threatened by “democratic changes taking place in Armenia.”
Mammadyarov was reported to say during the video conference that the recent
“aggressive rhetoric” deplored by the mediators is the result of Armenia’s
provocative actions” taken in the “occupied territories of Azerbaijan.” Those
include illegal “infrastructure changes” carried out there, he said in an
apparent reference to the planned reconstruction of another road connecting
Karabakh to Armenia.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Mnatsakanian stressed the importance
of ensuring Karabakh residents’ “free and safe movements.” This is an important
element of Karabakh’s “comprehensive security,” he said.
In a joint statement on the talks, the Minsk Group co-chairs said they “noted
with concern that recent provocative statements, inflammatory rhetoric, and
possible steps intended to change the situation on the ground in tangible ways
could undermine the settlement process.”
“The Co‑Chairs stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict,”
read the statement. “They urged the sides to take additional steps to strengthen
the ceasefire and to prepare the populations for peace.”
“The Co‑Chairs and Foreign Ministers agreed to hold another joint video
conference in July and to meet in person as soon as possible,” concluded the
mediators.
Prime Minister Pashinian criticized Aliyev in unusually strong terms as he
chaired a meeting of Armenia’s and Karabakh’s top security officials on June 19.
He said that Aliyev is sticking to “maximalist” demands instead of reciprocating
his repeated calls for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal that would satisfy all
parties to the conflict.
Parliament Passes More Amendments On Constitutional Court
• Naira Nalbandian
Armenia -- A session of the National Assembly, Yerevan, June 24, 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step bloc pushed through the parliament on
Tuesday more legal amendments meant to complete the controversial dismissal of
three of the nine members of Armenia’s Constitutional Court.
The parliament already approved on June 22 constitutional changes calling for
their replacement by other judges to be appointed by its pro-government majority.
The changes require the gradual resignation of seven members of the high court
installed before April 2018. Three of them are to resign with immediate effect.
Also, Hrayr Tovmasian must quit as court chairman but remain a judge.
Tovmasian and the three judges refused to step down, however. In a joint
statement issued last week, they argued that the authorities have not made
similar changes to a separate Armenian law on the Constitutional Court.
The National Assembly did just that on Tuesday. Another amendment passed by it
made the ousted justices eligible for a state pension.
The parliament controlled by My Step also altered a legal procedure for the
appointed of the new Constitutional Court members. They will be nominated by the
Armenian government, President Armen Sarkissian and an assembly of the country’s
judges. The high court will pick its new chairperson shortly after the three
vacancies are filled by the parliament.
The latest amendments were passed after a short debate that was boycotted by the
two opposition parties represented in the parliament. One of them, the
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), says that the constitutional changes contradict
other articles of the Armenian constitution and were enacted with serious
procedural violations.
The BHK as well as two other, extraparliamentary opposition parties -- the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and Hayrenik (Fatherland) --
demanded on Tuesday a criminal investigation into what they called a “usurpation
of power.” In a 9-page “crime report” submitted to the Office of the
Prosecutor-General, they claimed that Pashinian’s political team has illegally
seized control of the Constitutional Court.
Tovmasian and the three ousted judges -- Alvina Gyulumian, Felix Tokhian and
Hrant Nazarian -- also challenge the legality of the constitutional changes.
Gyulumian has pledged to ask the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to
reinstate her.
Armenia -- Supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian block the entrance to
the Constitutional Court buildin in Yerevan, May 20, 2019.
Pashinian and his political allies maintain that the constitution was amended in
a lawful manner. A senior My Step lawmaker said last week that the amendments
will eventually result in a Constitutional Court “enjoying the public’s trust.”
Tovmasian and most other court justices have been under strong government
pressure to step down over the past year. Pashinian has accused them of
maintaining close ties to the country’s former government and impeding his
judicial reforms.
Tovmasian and opposition figures have dismissed Pashinian’s claims and in turn
accused the prime minister of seeking to make the Constitutional Court loyal to
the current government.
In a written opinion made public on June 22, the Venice Commission of the
Council of Europe largely backed the constitutional amendments drafted by the
Armenian authorities. But it criticized the authorities’ refusal to introduce a
transitional period that would “allow for a gradual change in the composition of
the court in order to avoid any abrupt and immediate change endangering the
independence of this institution.”
The Strasbourg-based body also said that the authorities should not rush to have
Tovmasian replaced by another Constitutional Court chairman.
In a letter to Tovmasian publicized by the Constitutional Court on Friday,
Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio reiterated that the amendments are
“not in line” with the commission’s recommendations.
Tsarukian Also Infected With Coronavirus
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian arrives for a court
hearing in Yerevan, June 21, 2020.
Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the main opposition Prosperous Armenia Party
(BHK), said on Tuesday that he has been infected with the coronavirus.
Tsarukian posted on his Facebook page a short video of him saying jokingly
earlier this year that “the coronavirus doesn’t hit good people.”
“So the coronavirus does not bypass good people either,” he wrote. “Quick
recovery to all carriers of the virus!”
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Iveta Tonoyan, Tsarukian’s spokeswoman,
confirmed that he has caught the disease.
It was not immediately clear whether the 63-year-old businessman and former
arm-wrestler, who also heads Armenia’s National Olympic Committee, is receiving
treatment at home or in hospital.
Several other members of the Armenian parliament affiliated with the BHK tested
positive for the virus late last week. At least seven deputies representing
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s My Step bloc also reportedly got infected and
had to self-isolate in recent days.
The Armenian health authorities have registered 25,542 coronavirus cases in the
country of about 3 million so far. They said on Tuesday that 14 more people
infected with COVID-19 have died in the past 24 hours.
According to the Ministry of Health, the virus was the main cause of 10 of those
deaths. The official death toll from the epidemic thus rose to 443.
Despite the reported infection of at least a dozen lawmakers, Armenia’s 132-seat
parliament convened in the morning for an emergency session initiated by My Step.
The BHK’s 25-strong parliamentary group has boycotted parliament sessions for
the last two weeks in protest against its pro-government majority’s June 16
decision to lift Tsarukian’s immunity from prosecution. The BHK leader is facing
accusations of vote buying which he rejects as politically motivated.
On June 21, a Yerevan court refused to allow law-enforcement authorities to
arrest Tsarukian pending investigation. Prosecutors appealed against the ruling.
France Offers Emergency Loan To Armenia
France -- French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the annual dinner of
the Co-ordination Council of Armenian organisations of France (CCAF), in Paris,
February 5, 2019
France has expressed readiness to lend Armenia up to 80 million euros ($90
million) in emergency funding designed help the South Caucasus state tackle the
coronavirus crisis and its severe economic fallout.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered the low-interest loan in a letter to
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian publicized on Tuesday.
Macron voiced “solidarity” with the Armenian authorities’ efforts to contain the
spread of the coronavirus and said that a third team of French medics will fly
to Yerevan later this week to help their Armenian colleagues struggling to cope
with the deadly pandemic.
He went on to inform Pashinian that the French Development Agency (AFD) stands
ready to allocate a loan worth between 50 million and 80 million euros that
would partly cover Armenia’s “needs for additional budgetary funding” and
strengthen the country’s crisis management capacity.
The French government agency would provide this assistance in collaboration with
the World Bank and other multilateral lending institutions, added Macron.
The Armenian government announced in late April plans to borrow more than $500
million to cushion the impact of an unfolding recession resulting from the
pandemic. The government subsequently amended its 2020 budget to take account of
150 billion drams ($310 million) in coronavirus-related relief measures financed
by it and a shortfall in tax revenues which is projected to total 170 billion
drams this year.
In May, the International Monetary Fund disbursed a $280 million emergency loan
to the authorities in Yerevan. The authorities announced afterwards that they
will receive a separate $30 million IMF loan later this year.
The Armenian economy expanded robustly from 2017 through the first quarter of
this year. It is now on course to contract by at least 2 percent in 2020.
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.
Hundreds of Student Chess players and Renown Champions join Closing Ceremony
First Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament Triumphally Concludes with Online Ceremony
15:42,
On June 26, the AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) together with Chess Academy of Armenia held the Online Closing Ceremony of the first Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament (PACT).Held on June 8-26, 2020 through the AVC interactive online learning platform the virtual tournament attracted over 520 participants from 36 counties all over the World.
The online ceremony was opened with welcomingmessagesfromthe AGBU AVC Founding President, Dr. YervantZorian, describing the goals and objective of this tournament,and the President of the Chess Academy of Armenia, GrandmasterSmbatLputian, referring to the impact of chess on strategic thinking.
After the introductory part, the three Champions of the Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament2020 were announced:
- The 1st prize went to 16 years old Sargis Sargsyan from Vanadzor, Lori region of Armenia,
- The 2nd prize went to 14 years old Kirk Ghazarian from the California, USA.
- The 3rd prize went to 16 years old Tigran Arzumanyan from Goris, Syunik region of Armenia.
All the winners were awarded with dedicated certificates and special gift cards from AGBU AVC.
“The idea of creating this innovative tournament was not only to attain the winners. But rather, it was most importantly to create a dynamiconline community of chess loving students with world-wide participation”, emphasized Dr. YervantZorian congratulating the winners.
Representing the tournament sponsorAGBU, Vasken Yacoubian, the President of AGBU Armenia delivered a heartfelt encouraging message.
Partitioned to five geographic regions – Armenia and Artsakh, Asia and Oceania, Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa – the tournament was structured in two stages, five regional semi-finals and three rounds of the final games. The first stage was played by the participants from each region united to come up with three finalists. At the second stage, three challenging rounds of the final tournament brought together the finalists to contest the PACT Winner title. Between the tournaments, the participants were able to visit the AVC page dedicated to PACT to take part in online chess activities with renown Armenian champions and learn new chess skills from multimedia interactive AVC Chess courses.
The Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament’s regional semi-finals’ winners are:
The finalists from Armenia& Artsakh:
1st place – Sargis Sargsyan, Vanadzor, Lori, age 16
2nd place – Tigran Arzumanyan, Goris, Syunik, age 16
3rd place – Menua Hakobyan, Yerevan, age 12
The finalists from Middle East & Africa:
1st place – Kevork Yeghian, Aleppo, Syria, age 16
2nd place – Edward Iskandarian, Beirut, Lebanon, age 14
3rd place – ArsenKenian , Aleppo, Syria, age 9
The finalists from Europe:
1st place – Daniel Karapetyan Hakobyan, Barcelona, Spain, age 13
2nd place – DimitriosLevonZakarian, Oxford, UK, age 12
3rd place – Henrik Serobyan
The finalists from America:
1st place – Kirk Ghazarian, California, USA, age 14
2nd place – Suren Ghazarian, Saskatchewan, Canada, age 15
3rd place – Ethan Boldi, California, USA, age 13
The finalist from Asia & Oceania: Shahan Abu Sayeed, New Dehli, India, age 9
“I was happy to have an opportunity to take part in the online First Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament organized by the AGBU Armenian Virtual College. Thanks to this contest, I made friends with players from different parts of the world”, Kevork Yeghian, the first place finalist of the Middle East and Africa said.
The closing event was attended by over twenty renown Armenian chess champions and chess lovers from around the world.The winners received heartfelt congratulations and best wishes from the two-time Chess Olympic Champion, Grandmaster Tigran L. Petrosyan, and the European Women Team Champion, Woman Grandmaster LilitMkrtchian. Two PACT finalists Ethan Boldi form San Carlos, CA, USA and Kevork Yeghian from Aleppo, Syria expressed their gratitude to the organizers and shared their wonderful impressions from the contest.
At the end of the awards ceremony, the participants were invited to take part in a short quiz and win additional prizes. In addition, the Chess Academy of Armenia had prepared a special surprise for all participants, a live blitz chess match between two Armenian women chess champions, European Women team Champion Elina Danielyan, and Russian Women Rapid Champion Karina Ambartsumova. The hot match was emotionally commented by U.S. Women Vice-ChampionTatev Abrahamyan and U.S. Vice-Champion VaruzhanAkobian.
Armenia’s Masha Mnjoyan had a wonderful performance at The Voice Australia battle round
16:26,
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian singer Masha Mnjoyan, who is currently taking part in The Voice Australia, had a wonderful performance at the battle round together with singer Ella Monnery.
They performed Aretha Franklin’s famous song – Respect.
Video Player
The performance was followed by major applauds by jury.
Masha Mnjoyan is the winner of The Voice Armenia which was held in 2013.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Sergey Grigoryan appointed Artsakh President’s representative at large
17:37,
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree on June 29 according to which Sergey Grigoryan has been appointed Artsakh President’s representative at large, the Presidential Office told Armenpress
Asbarez: ‘Official Baku Not Ready to Discuss Peace,’ Says Artsakh President
Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan at a military unit in southeastern Artsakh
Official Baku is not ready to discuss peace with Artsakh authorities, said Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan on Sunday when he visited military units in southeastern Artsakh, accompanied by Artsakh Defense Minister Jalal Harutyunyan (no relation) and other officials.
After becoming acquainted with the military unit, President Harutyunyan highlighted the government’s effort to equip frontline soldiers with new military hardware and gave new instructions to the army’s command staff.
Harutyunyan said that the ongoing threatening statements made by the Azerbaijani authorities attenst to the fact that official Baku is not ready to discuss a peace agenda with Artsakh authorities. Thus, he said, it is an imperative to spare no effort to stem the enemy’s possible military advances and give a corresponding counter blow.
Asbarez: ‘We Have Not Engaged in Populism,’ Says ARF Armenia Leader
[see video]
In an extensive Facebook Live interview with Azatutyun.am on Monday, the chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia Ishkhan Saghatelyan answered a wide range of questions from Facebook members and anchor Narine Ghalechyan about the current constitutional impasse, the party’s posturing on domestic issues as well as the situation in Artsakh.
Late last week, the ARF announced that Saghatelyan has met with the chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan and the chairman of the newly-established Homeland party, former head of Armenia’s National Security Service Arthur Vanetsyan to form a working group that will create a roadmap for the country to emerge from the constitutional impasse created by parliament last week, when the ruling My Step party lawmakers passed amendments to the constitution forcing the ouster of two Constitutional Court judges and the termination of the term of its chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan.
Saghatelyan said in the interview that the only way out of the current impasse is through snap parliamentary elections. This response was followed by Ghalechyan pointing out that the party did not pass the threshold needed during the 2018 elections and whether the ARF leader anticipated a different outcome.
“The issue isn’t whether we will succeed or not. There is the imperative for a new caliber of leadership, which can only be formulated by the people through new elections,” said Saghatelyan. “During the past two years, the expectations of the people have changed.” He promised that during the next parliamentary elections, the ARF will have a decisive presence.
He explained that the party’s aim is for the demands that were laid out by the people during the 2018 popular movement come to fruition and explained that the party’s participation in the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the early days after the movement was to ensure that the those expectations were addressed.
Saghatelyan candidly said that his party’s methods of communicating with the people must change, adding that there have areas for improvement. He added, however, that party might not have received enough votes because “we have not engaged in populism.”
It was pointed out that during the past two years there have been many judicial proceedings against former government officials who were charged with corruption and embezzlement, yet the ARF deems these steps as judicial misconduct.
Saghatelyan explained that the ARF has voiced concerns when the application of the law has been selective. “If the government is using them [the laws] as levers to pressure the opposition, we have a problem with that.” He said that the government has had two years to work on this matter and demanded that it present an accounting of what it has collected from the those suspected of looting the national coffers.
The ARF leader rejected the notion that it is pursuing an agenda that is based on the previous regime and the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, calling such assertions “unacceptable.” He explained that even when the ARF was part of the ruling coalition, which he characterized as itself being a difficult process, the party never wavered from advancing its approaches to critical issues dealing with the improvement of the people’s quality of life.
On the Artsakh issue, Saghatelyan was clear and pointed out that during the more than 30 years of the movement, the ARF has never wavered from its commitment to the liberation movement, recalling its role in the liberation movement, the war, as well as its readiness during the 2016 April War, during which he said some 400 ARF volunteers showed up at the Artsakh border within hours of the Azerbaijani attack. He said any suggestion otherwise about the party is “a red line that must not be crossed.”
To a question about whether the ARF, given its current opposition status in Armenia, will discontinue its activism abroad on issues pertaining to Armenia and Artsakh, Saghatelyan was decisive in his response, saying that the ARF organization in the Diaspora has never stopped its advocacy and activism to advance issue regarding Artsakh or Armenia. He pointed out that during the Levon Ter-Petrosian presidency, when the ARF was forcibly shut down in Armenia, the party’s relevant bodies in the Diaspora continued to advance the issues of strengthening Armenia and the right to self-determination of Artsakh.
Asbarez: Unique and Personalized Graduation Experience at Chamlian Armenian School
Chamlian Armenian School celebrates each Kindergarten, 6th, and 8th grade graduate amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
In times of unprecedented obstacles, the need for creative and out of the box solutions becomes a necessity. At Chamlian Armenian School, a multitude of unique solutions were put into action in order to ensure each and every graduate felt appreciated, was celebrated, and had the opportunity to be honored for their accomplishments. Utilizing both virtual as well as physical platforms, Chamlian Armenian School succeeded in enforcing physical distancing guidelines and observing all CDC guidelines while still providing a graduation that all involved can be proud of.
The Kindergarten and 6th grade students were given a very unique and individualized experience through which families drove onto campus to find a beautifully decorated banner and balloons. A cheering crowd of teachers applauded as families exited their vehicles, made their way down to an arch of balloons and a table with gifts as well as diplomas; pictures were taken and words of congratulations and pride were shared. Each graduate was given a personalized short speech by Principal, Dr. Talin Kargodorian.
8th graders, celebrating their final graduation at Chamlian Armenian School, were celebrated in three ceremonies with three groups. A stage was set up outdoors with banners and balloons and chairs for families were placed over six feet apart from one another. Speeches were given by 8th grade teachers as well as principal Dr. Talin Kargodorian in what was the most creative improvisation of a more traditional graduation model. Our 8th graders experienced a more personal, yet communal graduation together as they stepped onto the platform of high school. Being the group going on to become members of the Chamlian Alumni Family, our 8th grade graduates also enjoyed a number of other virtual and in person celebrations such as a “Get To Know Our Graduates” two week social media campaign highlighting each individual graduate, A paw print mural in which students left their Tiger hand-print on the school wall, a tribute video created to sum up their last 8th grade year, a drive through parade, and a huge surprise delivery of a complimentary yearbook, planting kit, a graduation banner, a graduation t-shirt, a Chamlian face mask, and a framed picture of each graduate delivered to each individual 8th grade home by members of the faculty and administration.
These modified avenues of promoting the students were not simply in lieu of a traditional graduation but rather served as a more personal and intimate way; a new and innovative method of highlighting the milestone achieved throughout ones journey in education as they move on to greater accomplishments. Even under the circumstances of a global pandemic, the Chamlian teams’ collaborative effort in both creating a beautifully decorated and well organized graduation platform as well as capturing this unique experience serves as a testament to the schools flexibility and high standards when it comes to their students. ARKA Photography was also hired to capture these special events and create a DVD of the experience for parents to cherish.
When asked for commentary, Dr. Kargodorian said, “As we collectively navigate and successfully overcome this challenge, I constantly keep all of our students in my thoughts. They are the powerful force that inspires us to expand our innovation and allow our creativity to thrust forward. I’m so proud of all the hard work and dedication our amazing teachers and Chamlian families continue to display; it’s become a compelling and direct contributing factor to such an outstanding Distance Learning Program as well as such a unique graduation experience for each of the graduating grade levels. Our faculty and staff doesn’t recognize the word “impossible”! it’s only impossible until it’s done; that’s when we identify greater goals and continue to expand our vision. The continued expansion of our 21st century thinking was highlighted all the more throughout the three graduations we celebrated on our campus while maintaining CDC guidelines. Furthermore, the sheer resilience and dedication our students have displayed under the circumstances is definitely something to celebrate. They have overcome this challenge and come out stronger, wiser, and more powerful than ever. I am incredibly proud of all of them and I am beyond thankful to my amazing Chamlian team.”
Ex-justice minister slams constitutional reforms as a ‘totally political process’
Tert.am, Armenia
18:08 • 29.06.20
Law
The constitutional changes that took place in Armenia are solely and entirely a political process, which will potentially serve as a tool at the hands of international players, according to a former minister of justice.
In an interview with Tert.am, Arpine Hovhannisyan, now the president of the Legal Education and Oversight NGO, refrained from any comments on the legal consequences of the reforms, considering the whole process unjustified.
The former minister noted that even “illegal constitutional processes” would require corresponding changes in the law “On the Constitutional Court” to allow for the procedure of terminating judges’ authority based on individual legal acts.
“Unless it has been carried out, those judges’ authority will not be terminated,” she said.
Asked to comment on the possible impact of the reforms on Armenia’s international reputation, the former minister said she believes that the country will pay a heavy price in the mid to long run.
“It is a tool at the hands of different international organizations and different ‘players’. They will be used against the Republic of Armenia, because the institutions which are in principle responsible for ensuring rule of law and democracy in the European domain, have already given their response, issuing a negative evaluation which will have a landmark role in both the individual domain, i.e. – when considering the process at the European Court of Human Rights, and during observations by monitoring bodies,” she noted.
Hovhannisyan said she regrets that Armenia’s international image largely suffered as a result of the controversial processes. “We have replenished the ranks of such countries against which the ECHR has passed similar rulings with respect to anti-constitutional processes. I am sure the judges will seek protection of their individual interests,” she added.