Category: 2022

Asbarez: Wounded Soldier Whose Home Was Damaged in 2020 War Gets Keys to Renovated House

Paul Hambardsumian
by Contributor

 

 August 1, 2022

 

in Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

The renovated Avetisyan home. (Photo: Tufenkian Foundation)

CHARTAR, Artsakh—2020 Artsakh War veteran Artur Avetisyan of Chartar and his family were given the keys to their rebuilt home on July 28. The intimate ceremony was attended by the Avetisyan family as well as representatives of the town administration and the Tufenkian Foundation’s Stepanakert and Yerevan offices.

Artur was injured while fighting in the 2020 war against Azerbaijan. He was hit by shrapnel in many parts of his body after a mine explosion. He spent four days in an induced coma.

The Avetisyan home was also damaged by Azerbaijani fire. Artur’s wife Manan explained that the damages to the house were so bad that living there was becoming increasingly difficult. “Our kitchen was damaged, so I was forced to cook our meals outside. Our bathroom was also partially damaged. Thanks to the support of the Tufenkian Foundation, all the necessary conditions were created so that we could live comfortably again,” Manan said. Artur and Manan live in the home with their two young sons, a five-year-old and a seven-year-old.

“Today, we are proud to hand over this house to Artur and his young family as a way to honor a man who bravely volunteered to protect his people,” Tufenkian Foundation director Greg Bedian said in his remarks.

The Tufenkian Foundation has actively supported wounded soldiers and their families since the April 2016 War. Focusing on accessible housing, Tufenkian has aided veterans disabled during the first Artsakh War in the early 1990s, the 2016 War, those injured during other attacks along the line of contact over the years, and most recently during the 2020 War.

“We must support the people of Artsakh now more than ever. Artur, protected his town and fought for his people and homeland. He is a hero in every sense of the word,” said Tufenkian Foundation public relations director Rupen Janbazian.

Established in 1999, the Tufenkian Foundation addresses the most pressing social, economic, cultural, and environmental challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh). Since its inception, the Tufenkian Foundation has supported various community initiatives as well as civic activism and public advocacy campaigns to help improve life in Armenia, while providing housing, education, social, health, and livelihood support for the Armenians of Artsakh.

Raffi Hovannisian Barred from Entering Artsakh

John Hovhannisian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 1, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Raffi Hovannisian


Armenia’s first Foreign Minister and the founder of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian was barred from entering Artsakh on Sunday, said an announcement from the party.

Hovannisian, who served in Armenia’s parliament and was a presidential candidate in the disputed 2013 elections, was en-route to Stepanakert to attend his grandson’s baptism on Sunday when he was prevented from entering Artsakh territory by Russian peacekeeping contingent.

According to the Heritage Party statement, the commanding officer of the post showed Hovannisian an order, which include his photograph. The soldiers at the checkpoint gave no reason for the ban, but confirmed that “it could have emanated from the very ‘top’ of official Yerevan,” the Heritage Party statement said, adding that the Artsakh government was “taken aback.”

Reportedly, the Artsakh authorities scrambled for many hours to address the matter but ultimately were unsuccessful to clarify and then resolve the situation. The Heritage Party statement said that Artsakh authorities “claimed a possible linkage to Baku’s dictatorship.”

“The cowardice of this self-entitled command points in one direction alone.  It can only be one person, a failed leader, who must leave the scene together with his xenophobic neighbor for the sake of true regional peace and security,” said Hovannisian, who presumably was pointing his finger at Armenia’s authorities.

The border checkpoint near Aghavno in Artsakh’s Berdzor region

“A small group of us was headed to Stepanakert,” Hovannisian’s assistant Mamikon Sargsyan told Azatutyun.am. “The baptism of Raffi Hovannisian’s grandson—Garin Hovannisian’s son—was going to take place in the Nor Shen village in [Artsakh’s] Martuni region.”

At around 2 p.m. local time, Sargsyan explained, the Russian peacekeeping contingent meticulously examined the documents of Hovannisian’s guests, who are U.S. citizens and had obtained permission to enter Artsakh. After several hours, in the evening, the peacekeepers announced that only Raffi Hovannisian was banned from entering Stepanakert.

Sargsyan explained to Azatutyun.am that the Russian soldier approached Hovannisian and in an apologetic tone, showed him the order on his cellphone. The order read: “Raffi Hovannisian’s entry to Artsakh is banned.”

Hovannisian’s aide explained that for several hours—from 7 to 11 p.m. local time—they were attempting to resolve the issue through Artsakh authorities. Having received no explanation, at around 11 p.m., Hovannisian’s entourage continued on to Artsakh and Raffi Hovannisian went to Goris, from where the Heritage Party announcement was issued. Artsakh president’s spokesperson had no comment when asked for clarification from Azatutyun.am.

Armenia’s National Security Service told Azatutyun.am that “Russian peacekeepers had banned Raffi Hovannisian from entering Artsakh,” adding they should provide explanations. The Russian peacekeeping contingent did not issue a statement, nor did Armenia’s NSS provide a clear explanation.

Father and Daughter Activists from Netherlands Denied Entry into Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 1, 2022

 

in Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Massis and Suneh Abrahamian were barred from entering Armenia


The chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Netherlands and his daughter, a member of the Armenian Youth Federation of Netherlands were banned from entering Armenia on Sunday.

In a social media post, Suneh Abrahamian reported that after waiting at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan for 12 hours, Armenia’s security officials told her that she was banned from entering the country and was considered a persona non-grata. On Monday, it was revealed that her father, Massis Abrahamian, was also shown the same treatment and both were told to return home.

Suneh Abrahamian, wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday that she had gone to Armenia to participate in a camp in Syunik organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Office.

“Yesterday evening upon arriving at the airport in Armenia to participate in the ARF Youth Office voluntary camps in Syunik, I was immediately put in a small room and interrogated. After taking my passport and keeping me for 12 hours without any explanation, I was informed that my entry to my homeland was rejected and I am a persona non grata for the Armenian authorities. Words cannot describe the disappointment and pain I feel for being denied my homeland. Currently I am waiting at the airport to return to the Netherlands,” said Abrahamian in her Facebook post, adding that she is a member of the Garegin Njdeh Armenian Youth Federation chapter of the Netherlands.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, headquarters in Brussels, demanded that Armenia’s authorities to immediately stop this process and “put an end to the anti-national attitude toward Armenian Cause leaders and activists, especially the youth who are have their first experiences in that realm.”

With the Abrahamians ban, the Armenian authorities have thus far refused entry to three Diaspora Armenians.

On July 14, Mourad Papazian, a member of the ARF Bureau and a co-chair the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) was similarly turned back at Zvartonts International Airport.

Weeks later, the Armenian government explained that the reason for Papazian’s ban was his alleged active role in a protest against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan while he was visiting Paris in June 2021. Papazian had traveled to Armenia at least on four occasion since June 2021, the most recent of which was in May when he accompanied Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Armenia for an official visit.

On Thursday Papazian announced that a complaint has already been filed on his behalf to reverse the decision.

Upon Papazian’s dismissal from Armenia, the ARF Bureau, the CCAF as well as the ARF Western U.S. Central Committee issued statements condemning the government’s actions, with the latter emphasizing that the Armenian government does not have the right to refuse entry to any Armenian.

Asbarez: Mirzoyan, Top U.S. Official Discuss Armenian POWs

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 1, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Armenia-Azerbaijan border


Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a telephone conversation with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, with whom he reportedly discussed the need for the speedy release of Armenian prisoners of war being held captive by Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry reported.

The “security environment” of the region, as well as issues related to efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed, per the foreign ministry readout.

This was the second telephone conversations between Mirzoyan and Donfried in the past two weeks. The latter phoned Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov after the two met in Tbilisi on July 16.

The United States has taken a keen interest of late in Armenia. Last month CIA Director William Burns visited Yerevan and held talks with Armenia’s leadership about the normalization processes between Yerevan and Baku and Yerevan and Ankara.

Last week, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy reiterated an earlier sentiment expressed by Donfried that the United States was ready to work with Russia on a Karabakh settlement. Also, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also phoned Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan last week to voice American support for the ongoing peace negotiations between Yerevan and Baku.

All of this is being viewed by Russia as an effort by the West to impede on its zone of influence. For months, Russia has blamed the European Union and U.S. on the evident collapse of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs process to mediate a settlement to the Karabakh conflict.

Last week the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Ivan Nachaev warned that Russia will not stand for “secret games” in the South Caucasus, emphasizing that any resolution of regional issues must be based on agreements headed and brokered by Moscow—referring mainly to the November 9, 2020 agreement brought forth by President Vladimir Putin of Russia and agreed to by Pashinyan and Aliyev, as well as subsequent agreements on the processes of opening the transit routes and the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 08/01/2022

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Monday, August 1, 2022


Fighting Reported In Karabakh

        • Nane Sahakian

ARMENIA -- An ethnic Armenian soldier stands guard flag atop a hill in 
northwestern Karabakh, November 25, 2020


Nagorno-Karabakh’s military on Monday accused Azerbaijani forces of launching 
attacks on its positions in the territory’s north and northwest.

The Karabakh Defense Army said that throughout the day its troops thwarted 
Azerbaijani “attempts to cross the line of contact.”

“The Armenian side suffered no casualties,” it said in a statement issued in the 
evening. “The situation remains tense.”

The statement added that Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Karabakh 
received “detailed information” about the situation on the frontlines.

A Karabakh lawmaker, Artur Harutiunian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service shortly 
afterwards that the fighting has stopped for now. He also said that the 
Azerbaijani army did not capture any Karabakh Armenian positions.

“Everything is under the control of our armed forces,” Davit Babayan, the 
Karabakh foreign minister said, for his part.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry categorically denied any ceasefire 
violations in or around Karabakh.

Earlier in the evening, Arayik Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, held what 
appeared to be an emergency meeting with the Defense Army commander, Kamo 
Vartanian, and other security officials.

In what may have been a related development, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat 
Mirzoyan held a phone call with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen 
Donfried. An Armenian readout of the call made no explicit mention on the 
reported escalation in Karabakh.

Donfried spoke with Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on 
July 17 the day after their direct talks held in Tbilisi. A week later, U.S. 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken phoned the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. 
Blinken tweeted afterwards that he sees a “historic opportunity to achieve peace 
in the region.”

Last Thursday, the Armenian side said that Azerbaijani forces opened fire at two 
villages in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian army positions on Armenia’s border 
with Azerbaijan. Baku denied that.

On Saturday, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov ordered his troops to be 
ready to “prevent provocation attempts by the enemy with decisive measures.” 
Some commentators in Yerevan suggested that Baku is preparing the ground for 
another escalation in the conflict zone.

The situation along the Karabakh “line of contact” had been relatively calm 
since March.



More Diaspora Activists Denied Entry To Armenia

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Dutch Armenian activist Massis Abrahamian and his daughter Suneh speak 
from Yerevan airport.


Two more Armenian Diaspora activists from Europe critical of Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian have been barred from entering Armenia.

Massis Abrahamian, a leader of the pan-Armenian Dashnaktsutyun party’s branch in 
the Netherlands, and his 23-year-old daughter Suneh arrived at Yerevan’s 
Zvartnots airport on Monday and Sunday respectively. Immigration officers there 
told them that they will be deported.

“Words cannot describe the disappointment and pain I feel for being denied my 
homeland,” Suneh Abrahamian, who too is affiliated with Dashnaktsutyun, wrote on 
Facebook before flying back to the Netherlands.

Her father was still at Zvartnots’s transit zone on Monday evening, awaiting a 
return flight to Warsaw. He said he too was not given any reason for being 
declared a persona non grata by the Armenian government.

The government declined to comment on the expulsions, referring all inquiries to 
the National Security Service (NSS). The NSS did not respond to an RFE/RL 
request for comment as of Monday evening.

Mourad Papazian, another Dashnaktsutyun activist and one of the leaders of 
France’s large Armenian community, was similarly denied entry to Armenia two 
weeks ago. The Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) 
condemned the ban.

After an eight-day silence, Pashinian’s office said that Papazian was deported 
because of organizing an angry demonstration against the Armenian prime 
minister’s June 2021 visit to France. It said the protesters threw “various 
objects” at Pashinian’s motorcade when it drove through Paris. The 
French-Armenian leader denied any involvement in that protest.

France - Mourad Papazian, a leader of the French-Armenian community, speaks at 
an Armenian genocide remembrance ceremony, April 24, 2022.
Massis Abrahamian suggested that he was not allowed to visit Armenia because of 
being one of the organizers of protests that marred Pashinian’s May 2022 trip to 
the Netherlands. Some of the Dutch-Armenian protesters chanted offensive slogans 
against the prime minister.

Abrahamian stressed that the protests were sanctioned by Dutch authorities and 
peaceful. “Every Diaspora Armenia will now be concerned about whether they will 
be allowed to enter Armenia on their arrival,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service 
from the Yerevan airport.

Dashnaktsutyun’s organization in Armenia has been at the forefront of regular 
rallies launched this spring by the country’s main opposition groups trying to 
topple Pashinian. Not surprisingly, the party’s Yerevan-based leaders were quick 
to condemn the latest expulsions of their Diaspora activists.

One of them, Artsvik Minasian, accused Pashinian of seeking to silence his vocal 
critics in the worldwide Armenian Diaspora. “Even during Bolshevik rule there 
were no crackdowns on such a scale,” he claimed.

Another Dashnaktsutyun leader, Ishkhan Saghatelian, linked the travel bans with 
what he called a government crackdown on opposition activists and supporters in 
Armenia. More than a dozen of them are currently under arrest, accused of 
assaulting police officers and government supporters. The Armenian authorities 
maintain that the accusations are not politically motivated.

“Nikol is trying to switch to authoritarian rule,” Saghatelian charged in a 
Facebook post. “World history shows that at some point all populists turn into 
dictators because they can no longer cling to power through fraud and deceit.”



Armenian Politician Barred From Entering Karabakh

        • Nane Sahakian

Armenia - Raffi Hovannisian speaks at a news conference in Yerevan, 20 August 
2018.


Raffi Hovannisian, a veteran politician critical of Armenia’s government, was 
reportedly not allowed to enter Nagorno-Karabakh late on Sunday for unknown 
reasons.

Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party said Russian peacekeeping soldiers 
manning a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor stopped him as he travelled to 
Stepanakert to attend his grandson’s baptism.

“Showing him an order from their commander along with an accompanying photo, the 
soldiers at the checkpoint did not give any clear reason or justification for 
the refusal but confirmed that the ban could emanate from “the highest echelon’ 
of official Yerevan,” Zharangutyun said in a statement.

It said Karabakh’s leadership was “very surprised” by the entry ban and tried in 
vain to have it lifted.

The statement quoted Hovannisian as seemingly blaming Armenian Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian for the ban. The U.S.-born politician, who had served as 
Armenia’s first foreign minister, pointed the finger at an unnamed “failed 
leader who must quit along with his xenophobic neighbor for the sake of real 
regional peace and security.”

The authorities in Yerevan and Stepanakert could not be reached for comment on 
Monday morning. The pro-government news website civic.am quoted a spokesperson 
for the National Security Service (NSS) as saying that Armenia’s government has 
nothing to do with the travel ban.

Armenian opposition parliamentarians likewise blamed Pashinian when they were 
barred from entering Karabakh in April on a visit which was as part of their 
campaign against far-reaching Armenian concessions to Azerbaijan.

Pashinian and the Armenian Foreign Ministry put the blame on the Russian 
peacekeepers, however, saying that their actions ran counter to the terms of the 
Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in November 
2020. Moscow rejected the criticism.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Fwd: The California Courier Online, August 4, 2022

Lena Karagyozian

The California
Courier Online, August 4, 2022

 

1-         UN Official
Deletes His Tweet on Armenian

            Genocide,
After Pressure from Turkey

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Baseball
Hall of Fame honors Tim Kurkjian with Career Excellence Award

3-         Paul
Chepikian Set to Appear in Upcoming Steven Spielberg Film

4-         ‘Armenia Without
Nikol’, Resistance Movement Marches On

5-         Armenia
Continues Fight Against COVID-19

************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

UN Official Deletes His Tweet on Armenian Genocide,
After Pressure from Turkey

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

The Turkish government resorted to its customary bullying tactics last week to
force a high-ranking United Nations (UN) official to delete his tweet on the
Armenian Genocide.

On July 27, President of the United Nations General Assembly
Abdulla Shahid issued a tweet with four photos showing him placing a wreath at
the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.
He wrote in his tweet: “Laid a wreath at the Memorial to the Victims of
Armenian Genocide. Special thanks to Museum-Institute Director Harutyun
Marutyan & Hasmik Martirosyan for a tour of the Museum.” Marutyan presented
to the visitor books on the Armenian Genocide and showed him the three
cross-stones dedicated to the memory of Armenians who were killed by Azerbaijan.

 The wreath placed by
the UN General Assembly President had white and blue flowers and was decorated
with a blue ribbon with “United Nations” written on it. In the other photos of
his tweet, he was seen observing a moment of silence at the Eternal Flame of
the Memorial, taking a tour of the Armenian
Genocide Museum,
and signing the Guest Book in which he wrote: “I am very moved by my visit to
this museum. I thank you for warmly receiving me as a part of my visit to Armenia.”

During his three-day visit to Armenia, the President of the
UN General Assembly met with various Armenian officials, including the
President of Armenia Vahagn Khachatryan, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum
Matevosyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Vice Chairman of the Parliament
Ruben Rubinyan, female diplomats of the Foreign Ministry, and spoke at the
graduation ceremony of the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic School.

Shortly after Shahid’s visit and tweet, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry issued an official statement condemning him for visiting the Armenian
Genocide Memorial and alleging that his trip “to Armenia has been exploited
with the purpose of exposing one-sided Armenian claims and it is in that
context that he paid a visit to the so-called genocide memorial.” The Turkish
Foreign Ministry added: “He would have been expected to act in a fair and
impartial manner, to be more careful and responsible in this regard.
Representatives acting on behalf of the UN authorized bodies must carry out
their duties in accordance with the UN legal instruments and relevant norms and
rules of international law, particularly the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide dated 1948. We condemn and reject attempts
to distort historical facts and international law through political
manipulation. Türkiye is of the opinion that the facts regarding the events of
1915 should be dealt with in a full, fair and honest framework.”

Shahid, who is also the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Maldives, immediately deleted the tweet
about his visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial, succumbing to Turkish
pressures.

Whereas the Turkish government had succeeded in imposing its
will on the UN official, not a single Armenian official who met with the
President of the UN General Assembly bothered to question him why he deleted
his tweet, let alone criticize him.

Of course, nothing can excuse the submissive behavior of the
high-ranking UN official who caved in to the directive of a dictatorial regime,
contrary to the UN principles that he was sworn to uphold. Two sources
confirmed some of the actions of the Turkish government: The Passblue.com
website disclosed that Turkey
rescinded its invitation to Shahid to visit Ankara. The Turkish Superhaber.tv further
revealed that Turkey
withdrew Shahid’s invitation to attend the Ambassadors’ Conference to be held
in Ankara on
August 8-12. Turkey
probably used other behind-the-scenes measures to pressure Shahid.

It is highly offensive that Shahid, by agreeing to delete
his tweet, disrespected the Armenian Genocide which had been corroborated by
the UN itself. On August 29, 1985, the UN “Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities” adopted a report on genocide by a
vote of 15 in favor, 1 opposed, and 4 abstentions. The “Revised and Updated
Report on the Question of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide” was prepared by British Special Rapporteur Benjamin Whitaker.
Paragraph 24 of that report stated: “The Nazi aberration has unfortunately not
been the only case of genocide in the twentieth century. Among other examples
which can be cited as qualifying are the German massacre of Hereros in 1904,
[and] the Ottoman massacre of Armenians in 1915-1916 ….” The report also
included an extensive bibliography on the Armenian Genocide. An earlier version
of that report, prepared by UN Special Rapporteur Nicodeme Ruhashyankiko of Rwanda, had
included in its paragraph 30 a reference to the Armenian Genocide which was
subsequently deleted after excessive pressure by the Turkish government. I know
these facts first-hand because I spent from 1978 to 1985 at the UN in Geneva as the
representative of a non-governmental organization on human rights, countering
the repeated Turkish attempts to delete the reference to the Armenian Genocide.

 The Armenian
government may not be aware of these facts. I suggest that the Armenian Foreign
Ministry file a strongly-worded complaint with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to have the deleted tweet reinstated and apologize to the
Armenian nation.

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         Baseball Hall of Fame honors
Tim Kurkjian with Career Excellence Award 

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.—The love affair
that ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian has enjoyed for decades with the sport of baseball—and
everyone associated with it—reached its pinnacle on Saturday when he was
honored as this year’s recipient of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award.

“This has been the most overwhelming, most overpowering
experience of my life,” Kurkjian said during his speech.

In accepting the award, which is presented annually to a sportswriter
“for meritorious contributions to baseball writing,” Kurkjian takes his place
alongside the list of heroes, mentors and friends who have been previously
honored.

Baseball was the “primary language spoken” in the Kurkjian
household and has been a key thread in the fabric of his life, tracing back to
his baseball-loving father and two older brothers who played for Catholic University. A native of Bethesda,
Maryland, Kurkjian played baseball and
basketball at Walter
Johnson High
School — named after the Hall of Famer pitcher.
While there, he wrote for the school paper called “The Pitch.”

Kurkjian was honored during a private ceremony at the Alice
Busch Opera Theater at Glimmerglass Festival outside of Cooperstown.

Kurkjian, 65, has authored three books about baseball and
his experiences in it. His professional career began in 1979, when he joined
the Washington Star. By 1981, he was covering the Texas Rangers for the Dallas
Morning News, followed by a four-year stint covering the Orioles for the Baltimore Sun.

After seven-plus years with Sports Illustrated, Kurkjian
joined ESPN in 1998. Since then, he has worked as a columnist and become a
prominent part of ESPN’s broadcast coverage of baseball. He has been a fixture
at Baseball Tonight, contributed to SportsCenter and worked as a reporter and
analyst during game broadcasts. Kurkjian has twice been honored for his work in
television.

Kurkjian has transcended his long and a varied résumé simply
by becoming one of the most beloved figures in the baseball world and a person
who exudes a bonafide joy of the game. The son of a mathematician, Kurkjian has
long been known for his meticulous work habits.

Kurkjian has become as known for his relentless positivity
and generosity as for his skill in writing and broadcasting, not to mention an
encyclopedic knowledge of baseball, about which no tidbit was trivial in
Kurkjian’s eyes.

Kurkjian’s love affair with baseball is ongoing and it
reached an all-new level on Saturday, when Kurkjian earned a permanent place
among the immortals of the sport.

“Baseball is the greatest game, it is the best game of all
time,” Kurkjian said. “It is the hardest game in the world to play. It is a
beautiful game and the number of people I have met in this game over a number
of years who will be my friends for the rest of my life.”

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Paul Chepikian Set to Appear in
Upcoming Steven Spielberg Film

(Armenianfilmsociety.com)—Paul Chepikian is set
to appear in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film, The Fabelmans.

"It’s official, I am now listed on IMDB as a cast
member on the latest Steven Spielberg movie, The Fabelmans. I play the owner of
the Pinnacle Peak Restaurant. It will be released on November 25th, 2022. Thank
you to my agents, Terry Soil Mandel and Jan Rosenthal, from Abstract Talent.
And as always, to my Angel, Terry Mason," said Chepikian in a Facebook
post on July 29.

The film has completed production and is scheduled for a
limited theatrical release in the United States on November 11,
before expanding wide on November 23.

The Fabelmans is a semi-autobiographical film and is a
portrait of the formative years of Steven Spielberg, before he became a
celebrated director. The film stars Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano,
and Gabriel LaBelle.

Chepikian says he thrives on the creative process. Chepikian
is credited in the film as “Pinnacle Peak Owner.”

Pinnacle Peak Patio Steakhouse was a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona,
where Steven Spielbeg shot his first film, The Last Gunfight, at the age of 11.
The young Steven Spielberg fulfilled his request for the photography merit
badge by filming the nine-minute film. The director and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona
in 1957, where Steven Spielberg grew up. The restaurant closed in 2015.

Paul Chepikian is a Greek-Armenian born in Jidda, Saudi Arabia.
He lived in Cairo, Egypt
and Beirut, Lebanon
before moving to New Jersey
in 1963 when he was 8 years old. He speaking Armenian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish,
and French

He spent twelve years with the Harvey Lembeck Professional
Comedy Workshop honing his comedic and improvisational skills.

In 1992, Deep Dish TV, a show Chepikian co-produced,
co-wrote and acted in was nominated for a Cable Ace Award as Best Comedy
Special on the ShowTime Network. **********************************************************************************************************************************************
4-         ‘Armenia Without Nikol’, Resistance
Movement Marches On

YEREVAN—On  July 29, the rally of “Resistance” movement
marched on, starting once again in Yerevan’s
France Square.

“This struggle is not political, this is not for someone,
this is a struggle for the homeland, and victory is very close. Those who
gossip about this struggle will not be able to look their children in the eyes
tomorrow, our path is straight, victory is near,” said Narek Mantashyan, who
spent 7 months in a detention center, and wished freedom to the other political
prisoners who remain in detention.

During the rally, it was announced that three young people
affiliated with the “Resistance” movement, who were arrested in the case of
allegedly beating the “grandfathers” of Gyumri, were released on bail. Taron
Manukyan and Gor Sargsyan will continue to remain in custody.

“We came out to fight not only for our security, to remain
Armenian, to protect our homeland, but also to live well in our homeland. This
government of the “Apikars” not only surrenders our homeland, but also leads to
Turkification, it does everything to make the Armenian person live worse every
day in his/her homeland, because this government has no national goal, no
national dream. Their dream is only to keep their seats,” saod Tadevos
Avetisyan, member of the National Assembly from the “Armenia” faction, in his speech

“The EU ambassador to Armenia
says that there are supposedly no political prisoners in Armenia. It is
a statement detached from reality and supporting today’s authorities,” stated
Aram Vardevanyan, another member of the National Assembly from the “Armenia”
faction.

According to him, the leaders of the day will not apply
amnesty, because they spread widespread fear in order to cling to their seats.

Hayk Mamijanyan, a member of the National Assembly from the
“I havehonor” (Pativ Unem) faction, said in his speech that “the document being
developed between the EU and Azerbaijan does not say anything about Armenian
prisoners of war, there is not even a word that they are kept in inhumane
conditions in Azerbaijan.”

According to him, even the RA Foreign Ministry does not
mention the status of Artsakh and the right of self-determination of nations in
its official messages.

“There is no state today. All structures have been usurped
by the traitor Nikol and his henchmen,” said Ishkhan Saghateyan, the
representative of the ARF Supreme Body of Armenia.

He also mentioned that the opposition had set before it the
task of removing the current authorities in a short time, but, unfortunately, Armenia still
continues to be led by Nikol Pashinyan.

“But if the struggle is prolonged, it should not be
depressed, but rather we need to record the gaps, solve the problems and move
forward. We should make the struggle our daily routine. We must reorganize,
mobilize our forces and go after victory. We are guided by that principle,”
Saghatelyan said.

He emphasized that if the opposition participates in the
parliament, it will only be with the agenda formed by the people; the removal
of the current Prime Minister of Armenia, to fight against the threats facing Armenia and
Artsakh.

“The majority group in the National Assembly cannot drag us
into its anti-patriotic and anti-national conspiracy by blackmailing us to
deprive us of mandates. The CP backpacks (parliament members from Pashinyan’s
party) will see the back of their own heads, but they will not see us in the
parliament participating in their fake agenda. Unfortunately, the Armenian
people no longer have a platform for united _expression_ other than the street
and this square. Our street struggle at this moment has no alternative,” said
Saghatelyan.

According to Saghatelyan, the government still continues to
carry out political persecutions.

“Many of our comrades in struggle are currently in prison as
political prisoners. But they are much freer than those who gave the order to
detain our boys,” said Saghatelyan.

“Unity, Struggle, Victory” chanted the participants of the
rally.

Then the march of the “Resistance” movement started and the
participants walked through the central streets of Yerevan,
returning to the “France”
square where the rally ended. Touching upon the upcoming activities of the
movement, Saghatelyan stated that there will be regional visits in August.
According to him, the regional councils have already been formed.

A pan-Armenian resistance forum is planned for the middle of
August, to which well-known political figures and intellectuals from Armenia,
Artsakh, Diaspora will be invited. According to Saghatelyan, a rally will be
held in France Square
on September 2 on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Artsakh.
On the same day, rallies and events are also planned in Artsakh.. ***********************************************************************************************************************************************

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against
COVID-19

More than 2.2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered
in Armenia
since commencing the vaccination program a year ago, authorities said on July
25. Armenia
has recorded 424,400 coronavirus cases. Armenia has recorded 8,629 deaths;
for the sixth week, no new deaths were reported. There are 3,110 active cases;
412,661 have recovered.

 

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CivilNet: Former Armenian foreign minister reportedly denied entry to Karabakh

Lara Antonian
CIVILNET.AM

01 Aug, 2022 08:08

  • Heritage party founder and former Armenian foreign minister Raffi Hovhannisyan has reportedly been banned from entering Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • The residents of Turkey’s Kars are in favor of opening the border with Armenia, according to Turkish news site Bianet.
  • Armenia received nearly $266 million in transfers from Russia in May, the highest amount Armenian banks have ever recorded from any country in a month.

CivilNet: Azerbaijani forces attempt major incursion, Karabakh authorities say

Arpi Talalian
CIVILNET.AM

01 Aug, 2022 10:08

By Mark Dovich

Azerbaijani forces attempted a major incursion across the line of contact into Karabakh Monday morning local time, the region’s authorities said.

“On August 1, starting at 9:00, Azerbaijani units in several sections of the northern and northwestern border zone of the Artsakh Republic resorted to provocations by making attempts to cross the line of contact, which were stopped by (Artsakh) Defense Army units,” the Artsakh Defense Army announced.

Karabakh forces suffered no casualties, though the situation along the line of contact remained tense into Monday evening, it said.

In a follow-up, the Artsakh Defense Army refuted “information circulating on the internet about heated battles in one part of Artsakh or another,” urging people to “exclusively follow official information.”

Karabakh Foreign Minister David Babayan echoed those sentiments in his own Facebook post, stressing that “everything is under the control of our armed forces” and calling on people to “rely exclusively on official sources of information.”

In its statement, the Artsakh Defense Army added that “the leadership of the (Artsakh) Republic, together with the command of the (Artsakh) Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, is taking appropriate steps to resolve the situation” along the line of contact.

Earlier in the evening, Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan convened a meeting with his defense and security chiefs to review the “operational and tactical situation” in and around Karabakh, Harutyunyan’s office reported.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has denied the incursions, saying the Artsakh Defense Army’s statements have “a provocative and misleading goal.”

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry called on social media users in the country not to share footage of Azerbaijani troop movements in and around Karabakh.

PRESS RELEASE: Team Artsakh wins the Assarian National Tournament

Varazdat Torgomian
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On July 15th Girls of Armenia Leadership Sports Educational Foundation (GOALS) organized the final round of the Assarian National Tournament for girls aged 12 to 16. 

Leading up to the final games over 80 teams of girls from across Armenia and Artsakh participated in regional competitions. Four teams each representing their regions, Lori (Stepanavan), Syunik (Goris), Shirak (Artik) and Artsakh (Stepanakert), made it to the final games hosted at the Avan Football Academy in Yerevan. Each and every single girl present at the tournament was there to win and to represent their team. After a fierce competition in the final game between Artsakh and Syunik, Artsakh came out victorious winning this year's National Tournament. 

‘I am really happy about this victory. I was sure we would win because we put countless hours into practice and we were determined. As a team, we were invested 100% in the learning process. GOALS came to Artsakh two years ago, and since then we have waited for this day and it finally came”, reflected Valentina Grigoryan, a player from Artsakh. 

Gagik Aghabalyan, an Armenian Football Federation executive committee member, was present at the award ceremony. In his opinion, this initiative is one of the efforts in Armenia through which we develop girls’ football, “We talk about men in football every day, yet we seldom speak about our girls. Gradually, our attitudes and stereotypes must change. Great victories start from paths like this”. 

To increase girls’ participation in sports, GOALS Educational Foundation created 8 football leagues in Armenia and Artsakh. Over 1000 students are engaged in 80 football teams: not only do girls develop football skills in these teams, but also, they develop skills and knowledge in healthy lifestyle and hygiene, leadership, and social-emotional competencies, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and mutual respect. They break stereotypes and show agency against discrimination.

‘Throughout the past couple of years, we have seen how our programs and our girls have developed. There have been many obstacles along the way and the challenges still persist, such as a common stereotype about women’s participation in sports, however with over 1000 girls now leading a healthy lifestyle and learning essential skills along the way we must be doing something right. A team sport isn’t just about being an athlete, it’s also about learning transferable skills that are not only necessary to be successful in sports, but also life. After all, life is basically a team sport”, mentioned  GOALS CEO, Teny Avakian. 

As stereotypical thinking, quality education issues, and the lack of financial opportunities hinder the development of young girls and women in Armenia, GOALS provides girls aged 6 to 16 with infrastructures, sports gear, coaches, training and other resources to develop and learn.

Using sports for social impact GOALS aims to help youth overcome challenges in the field and beyond.  The National Tournament, which has already become a tradition, this year is named after Dr. Gary and Linda Assarian for their generous support of the GOALS Educational Foundation.

Girls of Armenia Leadership Sports (GOALS) is a non-profit, non- governmental  organization operating in Armenia since 2016. It is the only sports organization in Armenia promoting gender equality through sports-  primarily in rural Armenia and Artsakh- and is dedicated to empowering girls and young women across Armenia by promoting health, life and leadership skills through their participation in an all-female soccer league. GOALS’ Theory of Change is rooted in the philosophy that sport can be used as a vehicle for transforming society and expanding the possibilities of its participants. The Theory of Change can be summarized into three core activities: (1) creating safe spaces for young women and children to participate in sport, (2) educating communities and challenging existing stereotypes through sport for social impact curriculum, and (3) fostering strong partnerships with local institutions to lay a sustainable framework for our activities. GOALS provides the infrastructure, coaches, equipment and resources to create girls’ soccer leagues in rural communities across Armenia and Artsakh. Currently over 1000 girls from 80 communities participate in the organization’s activities. 


– 

Teny Avakian

Chief Executive Officer
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
(374) 95705555 
http://www.goalsarmenia.org/
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FY2023 Senate Appropriations Bill Reaffirms Section 907

Parkev Tvankchian


Washington, D.C. - The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations released its Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill today, which reaffirms Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and recommend $2 million in demining assistance to Artsakh, along with humanitarian aid to help displaced Armenians, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Specifically, the Committee Report stated that “up to $2,000,000 for humanitarian demining and unexploded ordnance [UXO] clearance activities in areas affected by fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, subject to prior consultation with the Committees on Appropriations” as well as “humanitarian assistance” for those displaced “by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Last month, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Bill that called for $60 million in assistance to Armenia and $2 million for demining activities in Artsakh. The House Bill also included language on Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.
 
"Having just returned from Armenia and Artsakh, continued U.S. assistance and engagement remains critically important,” stated Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. “The Assembly will continue to work with the House and Senate to ensure the best outcome to help the Armenian people,” Khaloyan added.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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