Category: 2020

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: I have questions myself

Bedik Zaminian
News.am, Armenia

14:09, 16.04.2020
                  

The third President of the Republic of Armenia (RA) Serzh Sargsyan issued a statement before Thursday’s hearings of the National Assembly Inquiry Committee for Examining the Circumstances of the Military Activities of April 2016. Below we present an abridged version of this statement.

President Sargsyan has agreed to take part in these hearings, as he considers it his duty to close the topic of all kinds of speculations related to the four-day April war.

Before the sitting of the committee, the RA third President made a statement, which reads [in particular]:

The issue of the April war must in no way divide our people, weaken our unity, and endanger our defense capabilities.

I am proud of our army. In April 2016, our boys fought with great courage.

They crushed and stopped the advance of the elite [military] divisions of Azerbaijan, and according to the intelligence data of ours and some of our partners abroad, they inflicted lot more losses on the adversary than we had.

The soil is kept with blood. And glory to all those with whose blood the soil of the homeland is soaked.

However, the day will come when Baku will try to do the same again, and when they take that step, it will be impossible to save everyone again.

If we want to have no losses, we must give up our national goal of living freely and with dignity in our own homeland.

After the war, negotiations with the adversary on the diplomatic front shall bring peace and ensure the implementation of that agreement—but not at the expense of the vital interests of our people.

We have no right to be divided on issues of national importance and, first of all, on the issue of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)].

I myself, too, have questions according to all the rules of war—on sowing dark suspicions among the society by some forces about the victory of the Armenian army, various speculations, the purpose of setting up a parliamentary inquiry committee into the April war, and a number of other topics.

And today, at the session of that committee, I am going to look directly into the eyes of the committee members and say what I know and, also, what I think.

Teach For Armenia aims to end the “digital divide”

Antonian Lara
MediaMax, Armenia

The foundation has said in a statement that now more than ever before, the students need access. Without it, TFA has said, the students are experiencing a tremendous disruption in learning, and the current situation has further magnified educational inequities within Armenia’s education system.

 You can help to close the digital divide in Armenia and Artsakh. By donating USD 200, you will equip one student with a device and internet connectivity. Our aim is to equip 1,000 students with technology by June. Even once the virus subsides, the technological disparity facing our students must be addressed. COVID-19 did not create the digital divide, it simply exacerbated the problem,” said TFA founder and CEO Larisa Hovannisian. 

 The foundation’s aim is to provide each and every student with the necessary tools for the next academic year.

 To take part in the fundraising campaign, . 


Armenia’s coronavirus cases climb to 1,159 as of April 16

Tambiyan Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Health 11:32 16/04/2020 Armenia

Armenia has confirmed 48 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases to 1,159 in the country as of 11 a.m. Thursday, April 16, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

61 more patients have recovered from the disease. A total of 358 people have now been discharged from hospital.

The number of COVID-19 deaths has increased to 18 in Armenia.

As many as 9,632 tests have been performed in the country since the disease outbreak.    

Artsakh deprived of international assistance amid the fight against novel Coronavirus pandemic – NKR MFA

Mary Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia

“Artsakh Republic share your view of the UN Secretary-General that the life of every person should be at the centre of the collective efforts of the international community in combatting the novel Coronavirus pandemic,” the Artsakh foreign said ina released statement. According to it  only guided by the principle of “no one is left behind” will humanity be able to withstand this test with dignity. “For the Republic of Artsakh, which has been in conflict with Azerbaijan for three decades, the fight against the novel Coronavirus pandemic is becoming particularly acute given the fact that, due to the conflict, the people of Artsakh are deprived of international assistance,” reads the statement.

“We are convinced that during this critical period, any attempts to take advantage of the situation caused by the pandemic to achieve narrow political goals, pose a threat to the entire international community and deserve the strongest condemnation. And, on the contrary, unity and solidarity of all mankind in the face of a common and merciless enemy will allow to not only win this battle, but also strengthen the spirit of co-operation, that can make this world safer and more prosperous.

In this regard, we hope that specialized international organizations, in particular the World Health Organization, will provide assistance to Artsakh in the fight against coronavirus, which will contribute to the overall efforts to overcome this global challenge,” the statement concluded. 

Diplomatic scandal brewing between Tehran and Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh

Boris Nahapetian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.A diplomatic scandal is brewing between Tehran and Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Thus, according to IRNA, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas  Araghchi held a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani  counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov.

During a telephone conversation, Araghchi noted that Tehran respects  the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the same  time, he assured that the Islamic Republic of Iran is against any  actions that could provoke a conflict between two neighboring  countries – Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Abbas Araghchi also denied information about the transportation of  fuel, raw materials and food “to the occupied territories of  Azerbaijan” by trucks with Iranian license plates. The deputy foreign  minister of Iran also expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani side for  providing humanitarian assistance to fight the coronavirus, noting  that despite the closure of borders during the pandemic, cargo  transportation and transit were carried out between the two  countries.

It should be noted that earlier a video was spread on social networks  showing Iranian fuel trucks that allegedly bring fuel and food to  Artsakh. This caused a wide public outcry in Azerbaijan, up to the  demand to call the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry of  Azerbaijan for clarification. Apparently, this was the reason of  Araghchi- Khalafov conversation.

Engineering Association of Armenia will receive a grant of AMD 90 million from state for development, design and construction of ventilation devices

Emil Lazarian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.The Engineering Association of Armenia will receive a grant of AMD 90 million from the state for the development, design and construction of mechanical  ventilation devices. The decision  was made at a meeting of the RA  Government on April 16.

As Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan, emphasized in his  speech, the Ministry had previously announced a competition for  applications for the design, modeling, partial and complete  production of mechanical ventilation, which received over 300  applications. Based on the results of the tender, the best ideas were  selected, on the basis of which the Engineering Association, together  with partners, will develop, design, and conduct a laboratory study  of the new apparatus. The Minister noted that within 4-5 months it  will be possible to organize the assembly of 40-50 devices per month.  Currently, the world is experiencing a shortage of 800 thousand  mechanical ventilation devices, and this deficit will continue to  increase. For this reason, the organization of its own production can  play a role in overcoming the effects of coronavirus. 

Music: Hayko, Artur Grigoryan, Harout Pamboukjian and others to perform at TOVMASYAN Charity Foundation’s pan-Armenian online concert

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia

As reported earlier, TOVMASYAN Charity Foundation for the first time in the world has organized an unprecedented pan-Armenian interactive online charity concert program with the participation of more than 40 well-known Armenian stars through VR technologies.

A teaser released by the foundation reveals that Artak Tovmasyan, Artur Grigoryan, Harout Pamboukjian, Tata Simonyan, Arman Hovhannisyan, Armenchik, Razmik Amyan, Ara Martirosyan, Saro Tovmasyan, Erik Karapetyan, KarenSevak Band, Arame, Martin Mkrtchyan, Hripsime Hakobyan, Hayko, Sofi Mkheyan, Tatul Avoyan, Hayk Ghevondyan, Sona Shahgeldyan and other popular singers will perform during the concert.

The details on the complete list of the participants, official partners of the concert and ways of purchasing tickets are available in the video. 

The concert will be streaming live both from Yerevan Dvin Music Hall and Los Angeles on May 5, at 8:20pm Yerevan time and at 9:20am Los-Angeles time.

All proceeds from the concert will be used for Covid-19 anti-coronavirus programs in Armenia to purchase the necessary equipment and appropriate medications. 

Artists from Armenia will perform at Dvin Music Hall keeping some social distancing (#SocialDistancing), while those who will join from Los Angeles will perform online from home (#StayHome).

More information is available here https://all.me/tovmasyanfoundation

Read about the unique flashmob here 

Sports: Armenian forward admits delight at reported Milan interest: "They are an important club"

Jagharian Tania
Sempre Milan, Italy
Armenian forward admits delight at reported Milan interest: “They are an important club”

Huracan forward Norberto Briasco has admitted that he is flattered by reported interest from AC Milan and would love to play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Briasco is predominantly a right winger but who also knows how to play as a centre-forward, and is a talented player who many European clubs have focused their attention on.

The 24-year-old was recently linked with a move to Milan by Tuttosport, with the paper claiming that the Rossoneri could well be in the market for two strikers this summer depending on the future of the current group.

Briasco is ready to test himself at a European club and – in an interview with VbetNews on Wednesday, he did not try to cover up interest from the Rossoneri.

He has spoken in the media again on Thursday, this time to the microphones of Tuttomercatoweb.com, and seemed to express openness to a move.

“It would be nice. I’m glad you talk about it, we’ll see. I’d like to play in Europe,” he said.

“Milan are an important club, where great players have played including Ibra that having as a teammate would be beautiful. But in the meantime I am thinking of Huracan. And I keep my feet on the ground.”

Sports: Micki: How Henrikh Mkhitaryan got his nickname

Alex Jidarian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 11 2020


In a video shared on social media, Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan tells how he got the nickname “Micki.”

Mkhitaryan says when he first arrived at Borussia Dortmund, manager Jurgen Klopp approached him and asked whether he had a nickname.

Henrikh said he didn’t. Klopp then asked whether they could call him Micki, because Henrikh is long, Mkhitaryan is long.  

“I said ‘yes, why not,no problem’,” tells Mkhitaryan.

After three years at Borussia Dortmund, Henrikh moved to the English Premier League and played for Manchester United and Arsenal. Mkhitaryan is currently on loan at Italian club Roma.

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan MFA: Switzerland considers “elections” in Nagorno Karabakh null and void

Emil Lazarian

Wed 15 Apr 2020 15:46 GMT | 19:46 Local Time

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland in its Note Verbal stated that it considers these “elections” in Nagorno Karabakh null and void, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Leyla Abdullayeva wrote on Twitter.

“Switzerland reiterated its full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Reacting to the illegal “elections” in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,  Swiss MFA in its Note Verbal stated that it considers these “elections” null and void,” Leyla Abdullayeva has stated on Twitter.