Category: 2022

Ser Artsakh gift boxes continue their journey

Samvel Nahapetian
July 5, 2022 Guest Contributor Non-Profit 0

An Artsakh mother with her newborn and Ser Artsakh delivery

“To honor and support the heroic, inspiring and strong people of Artsakh who choose to raise future generations in their homeland” – this is the motto and mission of the “Ser Artsakh” charity program initiated by the Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation, to bring love to all those Artsakh families living in such difficult conditions.

The items included in the gift boxes that are provided to the mothers of Artsakh in the framework of the “Ser Artsakh” Program are made in Armenia or Artsakh and include onesies, pajama sets, sleeping sacks, towels and blankets, health care essentials (diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, thermometer and pacifier), as well as maternity hygiene necessities for the new mother, a custom-made soft baby book and a wooden wheeled toy. In Artsakh, they are carefully packaged and delivered to maternity hospitals in time for the next baby to be born.

There are three maternity hospitals in Artsakh: Martakert, Martuni and Stepanakert. Since the launch of the program, 161 children, including 10 in Martakert and six in Martuni, have received their gift boxes. Among the newborns were two sets of twins, a pair of beautiful sisters and a pair of brothers with their grandfather’s strength in their veins.

Victoria is one of the most common names. Parents hope that the choice of the child’s name will be decisive in the fate of both the child and Artsakh.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte

“The news about the donation of 18 boxes in one day made me very happy. When mothers told me how helpful these items are for them to raise these babies, that was the moment when I realized how important it is for the diaspora to keep donating to maintain the continuity of this project,” said Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, president of the Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation. “Despite my childhood as a refugee from Baku, I was taught by my parents to always work toward more out of life. With this project, I choose to do the same in Artsakh. Armenian children and their future are my constant focus and I will never stop expecting and working toward a better future for them.”

An individualized approach is taken with each mother. The Foundation works with Artsakh’s Ministry of Health and is notified when these mothers and their newborns will be discharged from the hospital. It is important to the Foundation that no baby leaves the hospital without receiving a gift box.

“Mothers always accept the gift with gratitude. Many are even waiting for our gift boxes. There was a case when a pregnant woman contacted us and informed us that her child will be born in a few months. She asked us not to forget about her baby and to visit her with a box as well,” Armine Vardanyan, representative of the Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation in Artsakh, recalls with a smile.

Ser Artsakh gift boxes

ARS of Eastern USA awards 48 students with scholarships

Tambiyan Samvel
July 5, 2022 Armenian Relief Society Eastern U.S. Nonprofit News 0

WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA is proud to announce that 48 graduate and undergraduate students have been selected to receive scholarships totaling $64,750. The applicants prevailed in a highly competitive application process that looked at each student’s academic achievements, involvement in the Armenian community and financial need.

“We are proud to learn about the academic accomplishments and each student’s contribution to their community and our homeland,” remarked Caroline Chamavonian, chairperson of the ARS of Eastern USA. “By investing in their education, the ARS is making a tremendous investment in our community and we hope that they become successful in their professional fields and continue giving back to the cause,” she continued.

Undergraduate scholarships were awarded to: Talar Aroyan, Shant Asadurian, Nyrah Balabanian, Lena Bardakjian, Sona Bardakjian, Pete Klanian Blonkvist, Talia Boyajian, Corinna Corriveau, Karni Dechoian, David Donoian, Aram Elmayan, Haig Emirzian, Juliette Ezgilioglu, Datev Gevorkian, Tsoline Gevorkian, Tatev Gomtsyan, Sevan Gulleyan, Hayk Mardanyan, Kalina Mesrobian, Jessica Nahigian, Nataleen Orangian, Raffi Sarrafian, Ania Torigian and Nishan Torigian.

Graduate scholarships were awarded to: Sevan Asadurian, Alex Avaneszadeh, Victoria Armineh Babikian, Ani Baghdassarian, Nora Bairamian, Vahan Boyajian, Lusine Chobanyan, Adam Guemidjian, Patelle Jivalagian, Alexandra Kasparian, Garine Koushagjian, Anna Martirosyan, Christina Mehranbod, Sarkis Mikaelian, Alec Ohanian, Robert Petrosyan, Abigail Porto, Aleena Surenian, Mher Tarakjian, Knar Topouzian, Sarine Vosgueritchian and Alina Yousefian.

The ARS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund was established through the generous donations of many benefactors who provided the financial resources necessary for the ARS to assist Armenian undergraduate students. Similarly, the ARS George and Beatrice Lazarian Graduate Scholarship Fund was established by the Lazarian couple to award scholarships to those pursuing their graduate education.

Mher Tarakjian was selected to receive the first Karnig Alajajian Family Scholarship, which was established in 2021 by Karnig Alajajian of New York, who donated $250,000 to the organization to support students of Armenian descent from the Middle East pursuing their higher education in the United States. Tarakjian was born in Aleppo, Syria. From an early age, he looked at surrounding buildings with great interest, which eventually led him to major in architecture. Over the years, he saw how the frenzy of economic activities, geopolitical power struggles and alienation of nature or land expedited the climate change crisis. This research topic is what brought him to the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His post-graduate professional work will be to prepare communities for climate change. Building from his community engagement and creative work through the Armenian Creatives, he will be able to support, via collaborative formats, infrastructure developments in dry regions, prepare for water scarcities, track energy portfolios and devise sustainable methods in urbanization while safeguarding endangered ecosystems.

Arman Dzhragatspanyan received the Hagop and Pearl Mooradian Scholarship, which supports students of Armenian descent from the United States pursuing their education in Armenia. Dzhragatspanyan graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Services, where he also minored in political science. During his time at school, he was a student worker at the USC Institute of Armenian Studies and a research associate intern at the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR). He also conducted a research study under USC and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) professors and clinical psychologists to find factors that increase resilience and buffer trauma among Armenians living in Armenia and Artsakh. Earlier this month, Dzhragatspanyan was admitted into the American University of Armenia (AUA), where he will pursue his master’s degree in political science and international affairs in the fall.

Congratulations to all the scholars.

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The ARS Eastern USA has 32 chapters located throughout the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, and Southeastern regions of the United States. Please contact the ARS Eastern U.S. Regional Office () if you would like more information about a chapter near you.


https://armenianweekly.com/2022/07/05/ars-of-eastern-usa-awards-48-students-with-scholarships/?fbclid=IwAR38r1RWzO7gz4PP1vh9hxlx2EV3NsF2lW21ndRE_I4gg9jT7Gx1pRFXoFU

AW: ANSEF: Supporting Armenia’s World Class Researchers

Emil Karabekian
July 5, 2022 Florence Avakian Non-Profit 0

“Of all the endeavors in Armenia, ANSEF is the top shining star,” stated Dr. Tavit Najarian. The Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF) started 22 years ago with support from the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).

This project was initiated by Drs. Najarian, Gregory Adamian, Mihran Agbabian, Aram Chobanian, Garabed Eknoyan, Vartan Gregorian, Anahid Kazanjian-Longobardo, Edgar Housepian, Yervant Terzian, Yervant Zorian and others.

Yervant Terzian with Victor Hambartsumyan and Edward Khachikyan at the Byurakan Observatory

“ANSEF has played an important role in maintaining Armenia’s tradition of excellence in the sciences by encouraging researchers to continue their groundbreaking work in Armenia,” Dr. Terzian stated. “Since its beginning in 2000, ANSEF has yielded impressive results. These world class scientists and scholars need our support. A strong research environment attracts the global attention that leads to investments, economic growth and independence.”

“Of course, Professor Terzian, the world renowned astrophysicist, was the driving force behind it,” said Garnik Nanagoulian, FAR’s executive director. “The visionary initiative of these luminaries is still advancing today, 22 years after it was founded, providing tremendous support to Armenia’s fundamental science,” he added. Since then, the project has accomplished incredible advances in helping to stop the “brain drain” of top scientific researchers and instructors from Armenia and bringing international recognition to Armenia, its extraordinary science and research programs and its talented individuals. Today, “ANSEF is a top supporter of the tradition of excellence in the sciences in Armenia,” Nanagoulian emphasized.

Dr. Artur Ishkanyan, a prominent physicist and the academician-secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, related that ANSEF is “one of the unique cultural structures created by the Diaspora. It first introduced a new rhythm and way of thinking into our scientific reality that was in line with the highest standards of international scientific practice such as the Blind Peer Review, the standards for online submission and application. The level of highly qualified scientists-reviewers was assured.” All these, Dr. Ishkanyan continued, “were essential for the scientific community of Armenia. Moreover, ANSEF’s special attention given to young scientists contributed to the influx of young people into science, and alleviated the gap created by the lack of middle-aged scientists in science.”

ANSEF 2022 grant winners, Academy of Sciences, Yerevan

One of these ANSEF grant beneficiaries shared the extraordinary benefits that resulted. Dr. Victor Vardanyan wanted to understand the intrinsic causes of child epilepsy. This had interested him since he had taken his PhD studies in molecular neuroscience at the University of Hamburg, Germany in the early 2000s. Now a 2022 ANSEF grant recipient, he and his research team are hard at work to find an answer. “Our research focuses on the terrible neuro-developmental disorders that cause devastating illnesses which affect the cognitive and motor functions of patients, especially children who suffer from epilepsy, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, as well as behavioral and language problems,” said Dr. Vardanyan. Through the team’s genetic research, he believes progress can be achieved.

Dr. Chobanian, an ANSEF founder, was President Emeritus of Boston University from 2003-2005 and is a world-renowned cardiologist and formerly Dean of Boston University’s School of Medicine. He was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in hypertension by the American Heart Association and served as director of the Hypertension Specialized Center of Research funded by the National Institute of Health from 1975 to 1995. He went to Armenia in 1991 and 1992 to see the clinical condition of the hospitals. “There were a lot of medical casualties from the first Karabakh war. We needed to help the scientists, but there were no graduate students, and there was no money, so the critical issue became the raising of funds. Also other groups needed money due to the 1988 catastrophic earthquake and the devastation in Artsakh.”

The ANSEF pioneers created the program in 2000 with five research grants. “We wanted the grant proposals peer reviewed, an important step,” said Dr. Chobanian. “Committee members reviewed the grant proposals, judging on the basis of quality. This system was accepted by prominent scientists. We gradually became known, and the grants increased. We were just giving seed money for these first grant recipients to get on their feet, and to also get money from other sources. During the early years of ANSEF, the grants increased, reaching 100 to 150.” Medical and scientific research “has not been a priority of independent Armenia,” declared Dr. Chobanian who was elected as a foreign member of the European Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia. “ANSEF has to be broadened by planting and germinating seeds. We need a long-term concept in science and education in Armenia. And we need more funding,” he declared.

Dr. Vatche Sahakyan, who received his PhD in theoretical physics, including cosmology and the fundamental laws of nature from the University of Chicago, was born in Beirut, Lebanon and now lives in Los Angeles. He’s been a professor at Harvey Mudd College for 19 years. In the last 22 years, ANSEF has received 200 to 300 research proposals annually, he related. “We have reviewed them, and this has produced an amazing set of progressive data in Armenia. This data included trends where there was a dramatic decline of R&D funding for Armenian scholars right after the collapse of the USSR leading to a brain drain. Accomplished people left Armenia. This was scary for me,” said Sahakyan. “ANSEF addressed this catastrophe. It controlled the bleeding and salvaged the excellent legacy of science, education and the arts that were part of the Soviet era. This is even more so in Armenia which was on the outskirts of the USSR and slightly more free, and functioned as a hub for scholars.”

He paid tribute to Dr. Terzian who was a tireless vocal advocate for salvaging education and research in Armenia. Dr. Sahakyan indicated that Dr. Terzian’s analysis showed that Armenia was producing the second largest number of specialists in science within the Soviet Union. “ANSEF came and addressed this issue, salvaging the situation of the scholars to pursue their work. It was a transformation,” he declared with pride. “The level of research increased. It was unique in that it brought in a mindset based on objectivity and merit, especially in the last 10 to 15 years.” Dr. Sahakyan said he would divide ANSEF’s impact in Armenia into two parts. First, “government officials became involved. I was told that ANSEF emphasized that the mindset was more important than the money. Proposals were evaluated objectively. A scientific committee was established inspired by the ANSEF operation. It’s one thing to send money, but in a country emerging from the USSR, it must function in other ways to connect with the world. ANSEF introduced a professional way of functioning.” Secondly, even with the ANSEF’s “not so big funding, it is associated with prestige.” He said the ANSEF funding is approximately $150,000 per year. The day-to-day ANSEF operations are done by the FAR staff in New York and Yerevan. Eduard Karapetyan, the FAR deputy director who runs the ANSEF program in Armenia, has called ANSEF “a unique foundation created by the best minds in the American-Armenian diaspora. It is possibly modest but has had a very powerful impact on the development of science in Armenia. Most importantly, it supports and ensures the continuation of fundamental scientific research, earning much trust among Armenian scientists by applying an impartial evaluation system of scientific works in accordance with international standards.” Dr. Sahakyan, who is one of six professionals on the executive board of ANSEF as well as its co-chair, revealed that the ANSEF funding is “less scarce “ than 10 years ago when the state of the educational system in Armenia and its area of development was “mostly neglected.” Also, a lot of research is not networked, and Armenia is somewhat isolated. Adjustments must be made,” he declared. “Education must be a priority.”

ANSEF executive board member Dr. Anna Ohanyan, born in Armenia and now a professor of international relations at Stonehill College in MA, organized an international conference in Armenia as a Fulbright Scholar in 2021. She reviews ANSEF proposals in the humanities and social sciences, which, she said, were not given as much attention as the natural sciences in the USSR. The proposals, mostly from Armenia in the social sciences, were mainly in ancient manuscripts, linguistics, culture, history, the Armenian Genocide and the Karabagh conflict. “ANSEF is a dynamic organization,” she continued, “but it must promote mid level researchers in social sciences and coordinate it with the Ministry of Education,” said Dr. Ohanyan who was raised in a family of educators. “ANSEF is now an institutionalized mechanism of diaspora- Armenia relations, and is a model to be replicated.”

Dr. Najarian who chaired the ANSEF executive committee for the first 10 years, related that ANSEF has been “the only bright spot in stopping the brain drain of outstanding specialists in Armenia, but also bringing Armenian and international experts from the US, Europe and Russia to submit such high-caliber proposals. Much of this research has been published in prestigious international journals, bringing worldwide recognition to our scientists.” Dr. Najarian again paid tribute to Dr. Terzian who had the “highest recognition among scientists in NASA, and to the world famous astronomer Victor Hampartsumyan who has been the only awardee of the legendary Isaac Newton Cloak by the British Empire.” “ANSEF for the past 20 years has been at the breadth and depth of scientific research in Armenia. And this has been done in 22 years with only three and a half million dollars,” he stated. “We have been able to generate about $150,000 a year. This only funds 30 projects. There are more than 60 proposals that are worthy.” The future of Armenia “depends on stopping the brain drain from Armenia, getting more international recognition, and many of the researchers getting into the universities and becoming teachers of the young generation. Funding is crucial,” he declared.




RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/05/2022

Greg Madatian 
                                        Tuesday, July 5, 2022


EU Vows Continued Support For Armenia-Azerbaijan Dialogue


Belgium - European Council President Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President 
Ilham Aliyev meet in Brussels, May 22, 2022.


The European Union will continue to mediate peace talks between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan, European Council President Charles Michel said after speaking with 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by phone on Monday.

They discussed “all issues on the Brussels agenda for the Azerbaijan-Armenia 
dialogue,” Michel said, alluding to Aliyev’s face-to-face talks with Armenian 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian which he hosted in December, April and May.

“We will continue support in addressing humanitarian, connectivity and border 
issues as well as a future peace agreement,” the head of the EU’s main 
decision-making body added on Twitter.

Michel reported major progress on all these fronts after his last trilateral 
meeting with Aliyev and Pashinian. He said they agreed to meet in Brussels again 
in July or August.

The top EU official did not comment on the next Armenian-Azerbaijani summit 
after his call with Aliyev. The Azerbaijani president’s office also did not 
mention it in its readout of the conversation.

In recent weeks, Baku and Yerevan have accused each other of not honoring their 
understandings brokered by the EU and Russia. Aliyev has implicitly threatened 
to resort to military action, saying that Yerevan is reluctant to demarcate the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border and open a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan to 
its Nakhichevan exclave.

Pashinian charged last week that Azerbaijan is torpedoing peace talks to prepare 
the ground for another war with Armenia. He said Baku cancelled at the last 
minute a fresh meeting of senior Armenian and Azerbaijani officials which was 
due to take place in Brussels on June 27.

Russia has denounced the EU’s mediation efforts, saying that they are part of 
the West’s attempts to hijack Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks and use the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the standoff over Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned the 27-nation bloc in May against playing 
“geopolitical games” in the conflict zone. A senior EU diplomat insisted 
afterwards that Brussels is “not engaged in any kind of competition” with Moscow.



Armenian Prosecutors Seek Internet Content Regulation

        • Robert Zargarian

Armenia - Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian speaks at an official ceremony in 
Yerevan, July 1, 2022.


Armenia’s outgoing Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian has called on the government 
to consider regulating content posted online, saying that Armenian-language 
Internet platforms are increasingly used for hate speech, drug trade and other 
illegal purposes.

Davtian’s office revealed his written appeal to the government in a statement 
released on Monday. It complained that the country has no legislation or 
government agency to tackle what it described as a growing spread of illicit 
online content.

“In the absence of such control, information platforms continue the unfettered 
spread of such content, distorting and abusing the democratic principle of 
freedom of speech,” read the statement. “By contrast, in a number of countries, 
including Germany, Russia and Georgia, the security of information distributed 
through online resources is regulated by legal acts.”

The Office of the Prosecutor-General gave the example of Russia’s state 
communications regulator Roskomnadzor which can restrict or block access to 
websites refusing to remove unwanted content. It also argued that a German 
government agency is empowered to slap massive fines on Internet platforms 
disseminating illegal material such as racing or other hate speech.

Some Armenian civil rights activists expressed concern over Davtian’s 
initiative, saying that it could lead to unjustified curbs on free speech and 
Armenians’ access to the Internet, which has been practically unrestricted to 
date.

Shushan Doydoyan, who leads the Yerevan-based Center for Freedom of Information, 
said Davtian’s reference to Roskomnadzor is particularly worrying because the 
Russian agency is notorious for media censorship.

“In my view, such initiatives are not the prosecutors’ business,” Doydoyan told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

According to the prosecutors’ statement, Davtian stressed that the proposed 
regulation of online content would not restrict Armenians’ “constitutional right 
to freely express opinions.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government has not yet publicly reacted to the 
appeal from the chief prosecutor who will complete his six-year term in office 
on September 15.

In a joint declaration issued after their talks held outside Moscow in April, 
Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to step up 
Russian-Armenian “cooperation on international information security.”

“The parties expressed concern about the growing trend of using modern 
information and communication technologies to commit illegal and harmful 
actions, interfere in the internal affairs of states and undermine their 
sovereignty,” said the declaration.



Armenia Must Remain Parliamentary Republic, Says Pashinian

        • Karlen Aslanian

Armenia - The building of the prime minister's office in Yerevan, March 6, 2021.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday reaffirmed plans to enact 
constitutional changes but again spoke out against restoring a presidential 
system of government in Armenia.

“While considering it obvious that the Constitution needs to be constantly 
developed and improved, I must emphasize my belief that Armenia should maintain 
the parliamentary system of government because the events of 2021 proved that 
this system provides more effective mechanisms for crisis management and the 
people’s … decisive participation in the political debate,” Pashinian said in a 
written address to the nation.

The statement was issued on the occasion of Constitution Day, a public holiday 
that marks the anniversary of the adoption of Armenia’s first post-Soviet 
constitution in a disputed referendum held on July 5, 1995.

The constitution gave the president of the republic sweeping powers that were 
slightly curtailed in 2005. It was radically amended in 2015 as then President 
Serzh Sarkisian controversially engineered the country’s transition to a 
parliamentary system of government.

Armenia - Armenians vote in a referendum on switching to parliamentary system of 
government, December 6, 2015.

Pashinian called for fresh constitutional changes last year, saying that his 
administration will consider restoring the presidential system. But he stated 
afterwards that Armenia should remain a parliamentary republic.

This raised more questions about the purpose of a constitutional reform 
“council” set up later in 2021. It consists of state officials, pro-government 
politicians and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The council 
in turn formed a commission comprising five legal scholars tasked with drafting 
constitutional amendments.

The commission coordinator, Davit Hakobian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that 
he and most of his colleagues are also against changing the country’s government 
system.

Hakobian said the ad hoc body is working instead on creating a more effective 
system of constitutional checks and balances. He suggested that it could propose 
giving more powers to the current, largely ceremonial president and even the 
parliamentary opposition.

The two opposition alliances represented in the Armenian parliament were offered 
to appoint two other members of the council. But they refused, saying that the 
purpose of the planned amendments is to help Pashinian cling to power.

Serzh Sarkisian faced similar accusations when he pushed through the sweeping 
constitutional changes in 2015. Sarkisian’s attempt to remain in power as prime 
minister after completing his second and final presidential term in 2018 sparked 
mass protests that brought Pashinian to power.


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, July 7, 2022

Bedik Zaminian
Note: There will not be a copy next week due to the newspaper’s semi-annual vacation. The next issue will be dated the week of July 18, 2022.
The California Courier Online, July 7, 2022

1-         Armenian Officials Discourage Diasporans

            From Sending Aid to Armenia

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         AAF Delivers $16.5M of Medicines, Medical Supplies

            to Armenia, Artsakh in Last Six Months

3-         At Least 53 People Still Missing after Arstakh War

4-         Western Diocese Holds 46th Annual Debutante Ball

5-         Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19

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

1-         Armenian Officials Discourage Diasporans

            From Sending Aid to Armenia

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Just when you think you have come across every oddity in Armenia,
someone will surprise you with a brand new one. Let we warn you that
this problem has nothing to do with internal politics. It has to do
with incompetent, careless, and sometimes, corrupt officials whose
unacceptable conduct has been going on for over 30 years in Armenia.

I received last week an email from Kevork Yazedjian, a scholar and
activist in Armenia. He described his frustration and anger at an
objectionable incident that he had just experienced. He addressed his
email to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Head of the State Income
Committee, and the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia.
Kevork sent copies of his email to hundreds of Armenians in and out of
Armenia to alert them and seek their intervention.

The problem started on June 27 when Kevork along with his sister and
her husband went to the State Income Committee’s office to pick up
Armenian books sent from the United States by Vahakn Kupelian who had
shipped 78 copies of his mother’s, Siran Seza’s (1903-1973), two
novels. Kupelian had asked Kevork to donate the books to libraries
throughout Armenia and Artsakh. When the government official, Mr.
Sahakyan, saw multiple copies of the two books, he became suspicious
that Kevork was going to sell them. Sahakyan wrote a memo to the
Customs Officers at the Yerevan airport, asking them to evaluate the
price of these books and charge Kevork the corresponding import duty.

Once at the Customs Office, Kevork was shocked when five officials,
after consulting with each other, told him that copies of the two
novels will be sent to the National Security Service (NSS) to inspect
their contents! Kevork wondered whether censorship of books was part
of NSS duties. He was concerned that by the time NSS employees
finished reading the two novels, he could be asked to pay a large
amount for storage fees. Disgusted by this violation of free speech in
a “democratic country,” Kevork told the Customs officials that they
can have the books.

After he sent several letters of protest to various officials, Kevork
received on June 30 an unexpected phone call from Sahakyan, who asked
him to come over so he can give him the books. When he arrived at the
office the next day, Sahakyan was not there, but his boss received
Kevork with utmost courtesy, saying that he had gotten many complaints
about this case which had embarrassed him in front of the whole world.
The Chief Customs Officer also claimed that his office had sent
several pages of the novels to the National Security Service, asking
them to review them urgently. The NSS had supposedly replied that
there are no national security issues in the two novels. The first
book, “Shattered Lives,” was published in 2015 and the second one,
“Book of Genesis,” in 2019.

Given this frustrating experience and his serious interest in Armenian
literature, Kevork has come up with a new proposal, asking the
government to facilitate the transfer of Armenian books and
periodicals to Armenia through diplomatic pouch by Armenia’s Embassies
and Consulates overseas.

There is a second more shocking example of Armenian officials’ gross
negligence which had serious medical and diplomatic repercussions.

After the Artsakh War of 2020, on Dec. 12, 2020 and January 9, 2021,
the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Greece collected urgently needed
humanitarian aid which was flown to Armenia by two Greek military
planes. A small part of the cargo was released shortly after its
arrival and distributed by the ARS. More than a year later, however,
it was discovered that the bulk of the aid was still at the Customs’
warehouse at the Yerevan Airport. After several letters of complaints
which had remained unanswered, Armenia’s recently-appointed Ambassador
to Greece, Tigran Mkrtchyan, responded on June 28, 2022, with
troubling news: While the ARS humanitarian aid was finally cleared
from Customs, “due to the expiration of the items [medicines], part of
the cargo had to be destroyed.”

Amb. Mkrtchyan was answering the Greek Armenian community’s letters
sent to Prime Minister Pashinyan and other officials on Dec. 14, 2020
and February 7, 2022.

The urgently dispatched medicines were supposed to save the lives of
Armenian soldiers wounded during the 2020 war. Who will be held
responsible for the loss of the lives of the soldiers who were
deprived of these medicines? Furthermore, has the Armenian government
sent a letter of apology to the Greek government for the lengthy delay
in releasing and destroying a part of the urgently flown medicines to
Armenia? Greece may not be as responsive next time there is a medical
emergency in Armenia. Besides Armenia’s utter negligence in clearing
the cargo, the ARS did not even get a reply to its two letters until
18 months later!

This is a prime example of gross negligence. Regrettably, no Armenian
official was held responsible for this scandalous behavior and no one
was fired!

No good deed goes unpunished in Armenia!

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         AAF Delivers $16.5M of Medicines, Medical Supplies

            to Armenia, Artsakh in Last Six Months

The Armenia Artsakh Fund (AAF) delivered $16.5 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia and Artsakh during January to June 2022. Of this
amount, the AAF collected $16 million of medicines and other supplies
donated by Americares ($12.9 million) and Direct Relief ($3.5
million).

Other organizations which contributed valuable goods during this
period were the Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Corp. ($78,700), the
Armenian Missionary Association of America ($50,700), Dr. Albert
Phillips ($15,700), and Dr. Hrair Garabedian of Medical Outreach for
Armenia ($10,000).

The medicines and medical supplies donated during this period were
sent to the AGBU Claudia Nazarian Medical Center for Syrian Armenian
Refugees in Yerevan, Arabkir United Children’s Foundation, Kanaker
Zeytoun Medical Center, Muratsan Children’s Endocrinology Center,
National Hematology Center, St. Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center, and
the health ministries of Armenia and Artsakh.

 During the first six months of 2022, AAF delivered much needed
medicines and medical supplies for oncology, hematology,
cardiovascular and gastrointestinal patients.

In the past 33 years, including the shipments under its predecessor,
the United Armenian Fund, the AAF has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh
$962 million in relief supplies on board 158 airlifts and 2,530 sea
containers. “The AAF is regularly offered free of charge millions of
dollars of life-saving medicines and medical supplies. We simply pay
for the shipping expenses. We welcome generous donations to be able to
continue delivering this valuable assistance to all medical centers in
Armenia and Artsakh,” said AAF President Harut Sassounian.

 For information, call AAF: (818) 241-8900; [email protected].
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         At Least 53 People Still Missing after Arstakh War

(PanArmenian)—At least 53 people, including 33 servicemen and 20
civilians, are still missing one a half years after the end of the
44-day war in Artsakh, according to the country’s Commission on
Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, dedicated to the Day
of Remembrance of Missing Freedom Fighters

The Commission met on Wednesday, June 29 and said that 1711 remains
and bodies were recovered from November 13, 2020 to the first half of
2022.

The chairman of the commission, Minister of Internal Affairs of
Artsakh Karen Sargsyan noted that negotiations are underway with the
Russian and Azerbaijani sides to resume the search for the bodies and
remains of soldiers killed in action. The members of the commission
stressed that Azerbaijan maintains a non-constructive approach to
ensuring the return of Armenian captives from Azerbaijan.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4-         Western Diocese Holds 46th Annual Debutante Ball

LOS ANGELES—The night of June 12 was a celebration with approximately
350 guests attending the 46th Annual Debutante Ball hosted at the
Beverly Wilshire Hotel by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church. The festivities began with a reception at 5
p.m., affording the families and friends the opportunity for a reunion
before the presentation.

The Presentation began at 6 p.m. with Diocesan Ladies Chair Cindy
Norian welcoming the guests. “It is so wonderful to be finally able to
present our 46th Debutante Ball. We are especially thankful to the
families who have waited through delay after delay due to the Covid
pandemic,” said Norian. “The Debutante Ball has become a memorial and
wonderful tradition. Year after year it brings together our youth from
all our churches to celebrate the sacred institution of family, our
shared Armenian heritage, and the Christian values that we hold in
reverence.”

Mistress of Ceremonies Lory Tatoulian—noted comedian, actress and
writer, and the daughter of Archpriest Der Datev and Yeretzgeen Araxy
Tatoulian—presented the sixteen debutantes to His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese. Tatoulian then
invited the fathers to dance with their daughters and then to dance
with their escorts.

After the presentation, guests enjoyed dinner followed by an evening
of socializing and dancing. Everyone received a keepsake booklet which
contained pictures and biographies of the debutantes, escorts and the
cross bearers, and also contained congratulatory messages from
families and friends.

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

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 Monday, July 4. For the third week, no
new deaths were reported. Armenia has recorded 423,243 coronavirus
cases. Armenia has recorded 8,629 deaths; 412,661 have recovered.

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

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

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RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/04/2022

Nyrie Kalashian 
                                        Monday, July 4, 2022


Moscow Deplores ‘Anti-Russian’ Rationale For Canadian Embassy In Armenia


RUSSIA -- A woman looks at her phone as she walks across a bridge with the 
Russian Foreign Ministry building in the background, Moscow, October 12, 2021.


Russia denounced on Monday a key official reason for Canada’s decision to open 
an embassy in Armenia.

The Canadian government announced the decision last week, saying that it wants 
to deepen Armenian-Canadian relations in view of the ongoing “profound 
geopolitical shift” in the world resulting, in large measure, from the Russian 
invasion of Ukraine. A government statement said the diplomatic presence in 
Armenia as well as four Eastern European states will help Ottawa “counter 
Russia’s destabilizing activities.”

Reacting to the development, the Russian Embassy in Yerevan said: “One is 
surprised by such an overtly arrogant and dismissive attitude towards a state 
with which they seem to be going to strengthen bilateral ties. One cannot but 
wonder how such a line will affect the well-being and security of the Armenian 
people.”

In a statement, the embassy said it is indicative of the West’s “arrogant 
attitude towards other countries and peoples that underlies many tragic events 
taking place in the modern world.”

Like other Western powers, NATO member Canada has strongly condemned the Russian 
invasion and provided Ukraine with military and economic assistance. By 
contrast, Armenia has refrained from criticizing the “special military 
operation” launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24.

The South Caucasus state has long maintained close military, political and 
economic ties with Russia. Its heavy dependence on Moscow for defense and 
security deepened further after the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian government welcomed the planned opening of the Canadian embassy in 
Yerevan, with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan calling it “another milestone in 
progressively developing Armenian-Canadian relations.”



Armenian Judicial Watchdog Fails To Elect New Head

        • Naira Nalbandian

Armenia - The Supreme Judicial Council holds a hearing in Yerevan, July 26, 2021.


A supposedly independent body overseeing Armenia’s courts failed to elect a new 
chairman on Monday nearly two weeks after ousting its previous head who had 
fallen foul of the government.

The key position became vacant on June 23 when the Supreme Judicial Council 
(SJC) formally dismissed Ruben Vartazarian as its chairman and member because of 
a recent newspaper interview in which he attacked another SJC member, Gagik 
Jahangirian.

Jahangirian became the acting head of the judicial watchdog in April 2021 after 
Vartazarian was charged with obstruction of justice and suspended as SJC 
chairman amid rising tensions with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. He was widely 
expected to succeed Vartazarian on a permanent basis.

However, Vartazarian publicized on June 20 secretly recorded audio of his 
February 2021 conversation with Jahangirian in which the latter appeared to warn 
him to resign or face criminal charges. The 14-minute recording caused uproar in 
Armenia. Jahangirian announced his resignation from the SJC on Friday.

The seven remaining members of the body -- which nominates judges, monitors 
their integrity and can also dismiss them -- met on Monday to elect a new 
chairman. Three of them ran for the vacant post. None received enough votes in 
two secret ballots.

One of the candidates, Grigor Bekmezian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that 
another ballot will likely be held in the coming days or weeks.

In line with Armenian law, the SJC was due to be run by its oldest member, 
Stepan Mikaelian, in the interim. However, Mikaelian ceded the temporary role to 
another judge, Sergei Chichoyan.

It was not clear whether the decision was connected with the fact that Mikaelian 
also participated in Jahangirian’s secretly recorded dinner meeting with 
Vartazarian.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s Investigative Committee announced on Monday that it has 
opened a criminal case in connection with the recording. A spokesman for the 
law-enforcement agency said it is conducting a criminal investigation into abuse 
of power and obstruction of justice. He did not clarify whether the 
investigators consider Jahangirian a suspect in the case.



Another Opposition Member Resigns From Parliament

        • Astghik Bedevian

Armenia - Parliament deputy Artur Ghazinian, September 22, 2021


Another opposition lawmaker announced his resignation on Monday amid growing 
questions about continued opposition presence in Armenia’s parliament.

“I can no longer imagine my further work in this National Assembly under any 
agenda,” Artur Ghazinian of the main opposition Hayastan alliance wrote on 
Facebook.

Ghazinian attributed his decision to “political and tactical considerations” but 
did not clarify whether he has disagreements with the alliance headed by former 
President Robert Kocharian. He said he will continue to take part in 
antigovernment protests staged by Hayastan and the other parliamentary 
opposition force, Pativ Unem.

Ghazinian could not be reached for further comment.

His resignation came three days after the parliament controlled by the ruling 
Civil Contract party voted on to dismiss one of its deputy speakers and the 
chairman of its economic committee affiliated with Hayastan. The parliamentary 
majority blamed the decision on a continuing opposition boycott of parliament 
sessions.

Hayastan and Pativ Unem condemned the decision. All but one of the other 
opposition parliamentarians holding leadership positions in the National 
Assembly resigned in protest.

Ghazinian is the second oppositionist to resign his parliament seat in the last 
two weeks.

Artur Vanetsian, who co-headed Pativ Unem with former President Serzh Sarkisian, 
said on June 21 that the National Assembly has “ceased to be an effective 
platform” for challenging the Armenian government. Unlike Ghazinian, Vanetsian 
made clear that he is parting ways with the other opposition forces that have 
been jointly trying to topple Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian with street 
protests.

The resignations may increase pressure on the 33 other opposition members of the 
107-seat parliament. A growing number of opposition supporters in the country 
think that they too should resign from a legislature that routinely refuses to 
even debate opposition initiatives.

Hayastan and Pativ Unem leaders have not ruled out the possibility of such a 
mass exit. But they say they still think that they can use their parliamentary 
mandates in their push for regime change.

“If you manage to use your mandate for your political goals and activities, that 
mandate is certainly necessary,” Gegham Manukian, a Hayastan deputy, told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Asked about the opposition’s inability to push through bills, Manukian said: “By 
that logic there must be no [parliamentary] opposition in any part of the world 
because the incumbent authorities reject most opposition initiatives.”



Armenian Opposition Again Slams EU

        • Robert Zargarian

Armenia - Opposition supporters demonstrate outside the EU Delegation building 
in Yerevan, July 4, 2022.


Opposition leaders accused the European Union of turning a blind eye to what 
they see as Armenian government efforts to control the judiciary and stifle 
dissent as they again rallied supporters outside the EU Delegation in Yerevan on 
Monday.

They singled out the EU’s failure to publicly react to a scandal that led to the 
resignation late last week of Gagik Jahangirian, a controversial former 
prosecutor who had headed Armenia’s judicial watchdog since April 2021.

Jahangirian stepped down following the release of secretly recorded audio in 
which he appeared to blackmail Ruben Vartazarian, the previous chairman of the 
Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) who fell out with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Critics of Pashinian’s administration have portrayed the recording as further 
proof that Jahangirian was installed as acting head of the SJC to increase 
government influence on courts. They say his leadership of the powerful state 
body made mockery of judicial reforms declared by the Armenian government and 
backed by the EU.

Some of the protesters who marched to the EU Delegation building held a big 
photograph of the delegation head, Andrea Wiktorin, sitting next to Jahangirian 
at a an international conference on those reforms held in Yerevan last month.

Armenia - Opposition leader Aram Vartevanian addresses protesters outside the EU 
Delegaton in Yerevan, July 4, 2022.

“For almost one and a half years, that man [Jahangirian] carried out all 
judicial reforms and was behind all arrests [of opposition members and 
supporters,]” said Aram Vartevanian, one of the opposition figures leading the 
crowd. “Doesn’t the EU ambassador have anything to say? Doesn’t the EU 
ambassador want to say whether this was the kind of reform that she imagined? If 
not, she shares responsibility for all of Gagik Jahangirian’s deeds.”

“They are turning a blind eye to all illegal practices, political persecutions 
and attacks on courts,” charged Gegham Manukian, another lawmaker representing 
the main opposition Hayastan alliance.

The EU mission did not immediately react to what was the second opposition 
demonstration held outside its offices in a month.

The opposition staged the previous protest on June 7 to deplore the EU’s failure 
to condemn Armenian security forces for using what it regards as excessive force 
against protesters demanding Pashinian’s resignation.

Armenia - Opposition supporters demonstrate outside the EU Delegation in 
Yerevan, June 7, 2022.

Wiktorin said in May that riot police should not be allowed to “operate with 
impunity.” She also stressed: “There can be different perceptions of what 
peaceful gatherings are, and if there are provocations I would personally ask 
myself where does it end.”

The U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, also expressed concern over the use 
of force against protesters in Yerevan. Still, Tracy angered the opposition when 
she effectively welcomed on May 18 the outcome of last year’s parliamentary 
elections won by Pashinian’s party.

Vartevanian was asked by journalists on June 7 why the opposition does not voice 
similar criticism of Russia, which has not publicly commented on the Armenian 
authorities’ response to the protests. He argued that unlike the Western powers, 
Moscow does not portray Armenia as a democracy or claim to promote democratic 
reforms in the country.

Both Tracy and Wiktorin addressed on May 20 a “forum for democracy” in Yerevan 
attended by Pashinian and other senior government officials. Opposition 
representatives were not allowed to participate in the event.



India, Armenia Mull Defense Cooperation

        • Sargis Harutyunyan

Armenia - Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan meets with Sanjay Verma, an Indian 
Ministry of External Affairs secretary, Yerevan, July 4, 2022.


India and Armenia are exploring “long-term” military cooperation as part of 
their efforts to deepen bilateral relations, a senior Indian official said 
during a visit to Yerevan on Monday.

Sanjay Verma, a secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, arrived in 
Armenia to co-chair with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan a session of an 
Indian-Armenian intergovernmental commission tasked with facilitating closer 
ties between the two countries sharing common geopolitical interests.

“On the defense side, we have begun looking at concrete cooperation,” Verma said 
at the start of the meeting. “We are looking at a long-term relationship in that 
area.”

In his opening remarks, Mirzoyan likewise listed “defense and military-technical 
cooperation” among the areas that are “very promising for our countries.”

“The ongoing discussions in these directions will turn into practical agreements 
and into new opportunities for our governments and businesspeople,” he said.

It was not clear whether the commission discussed any defense-related issues and 
reached understandings on them.

Mirzoyan and Verma met separately before the session. According to the Armenian 
Foreign Ministry, Mirzoyan again praised the Indian government’s position on the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and “reaffirmed Armenia’s support for India” in its 
long-running dispute with Pakistan.

Pakistan staunchly supports Azerbaijan, refusing to not only establish 
diplomatic relations with Armenia but also formally recognize it. Islamabad 
underscored that support during the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Karabakh. 
But it denied claims that Pakistani soldiers participated in the six-week war on 
the Azerbaijani side.

By contrast, India has backed international efforts to settle the Karabakh 
conflict spearheaded by the United States, Russia and France. It has also 
effectively sided with Armenia in an Armenian-Azerbaijani border dispute that 
broke out in May 2021. In a statement issued at the time, the Indian foreign 
ministry called on Baku to “pull back forces immediately and cease any further 
provocation.”

Armenia - India's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks at 
a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, Yerevan, 
October 13, 2021.

Mirzoyan held talks Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in April 
this year on the sidelines of an international conference held in India. It was 
their third face-to-face meeting in eight months.

Jaishankar visited Armenia last October. He and Mirzoyan approved a “roadmap for 
future cooperation and mutual visits at different levels.” The top Indian 
diplomat singled out closer economic ties between the two nations.

According to Armenian government data, Indian-Armenian trade soared by over 40 
percent but still stood at a modest $181 million last year.

“These figures do not reflect the full potential of our bilateral trade and 
economic cooperation, and we expect a drastic increase in trade turnover volumes 
in the coming years,” Mirzoyan said on Monday.

Verma said, for his part, that New Delhi is encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to 
“look at investing in Armenia because the possibilities and potentials are 
immense.”


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.

Turkish press: Iran says ‘misunderstandings’ with Azerbaijan cleared

Yeghisabet Vorskanian
Syed Zafar Mehdi   |04.07.2022


TEHRAN, Iran

Iran and Azerbaijan said Monday they are on course to accelerate their bilateral relations after overcoming their “misunderstandings.”  

The announcement was made by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a joint presser with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Tehran. 

The top Iranian diplomat said the presidents of Iran and Azerbaijan have met twice in the past ten months, more recently on the sidelines of the Caspian Sea littoral states summit in Turkmenistan, describing the talks between them as "constructive" and "forward-looking." 

In Monday's meeting, Amir-Abdollahian said the issue of territorial integrity of countries, including Azerbaijan, was emphasized. 

He said Tehran reiterates its support for the "peaceful settlement" of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Karabakh region based on the "principles of international law.” 

Karabakh was liberated from the Armenian occupation after almost three decades last year, but Armenia has continued to make territorial claims on the region. 

Amir-Abdollahian reaffirmed Iran's readiness to help resolve the dispute between the two neighboring states through dialogue "based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of the two parties." 

The Iranian minister also backed regional formats, saying he agreed during a recent visit to Ankara that a tripartite meeting between Iran, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan at the level of foreign ministers will be held in Tehran, besides an expert-level meeting in the 3+3 format. 

The dates of the two summits, as well as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's planned visit to Tehran, are expected to be decided during Bayramov's stay in Tehran. 

The two sides, Amir-Abdollahian said, also discussed bilateral economic ties, describing energy and transit as "two key areas of cooperation" between Tehran and Baku, and announcing that Iran's oil minister will be visiting Baku this week. 

The issue of pollution of rivers in Iran's northeastern provinces bordering Azerbaijan also figured in their discussions, with both sides pledging to resolve the issue at the level of experts. 

Bayramov, in his remarks, said relations between the two sides are based on "cultural commonalities,” stressing that meetings between Aliyev and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have paved the way for the expansion of Tehran-Baku ties. 

He said the two sides discussed expanded economic cooperation, stressing the importance of the North-South corridor as well as the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor. 

The top Azerbaijani diplomat said his country seeks normalization of ties with Armenia and has taken steps in that direction by submitting a five-point peace plan as well as proposals of transit between the two countries. 

Bayramov said the reconstruction of liberated lands in Karabakh was Baku's "top priority,” announcing that Iranian companies will be undertaking reconstruction work of a hospital and a school in the region. 

He further said that his government supports Iran's position on regional formats, including the 3+3 format.

Turkish press: Türkiye offered Armenia to host 1st round of normalization talks: Foreign minister

Arsine Chaltikian
Iclal Turan   |04.07.2022


ISTANBUL 

Türkiye had offered Armenia to host the first round of normalization talks between the two countries in the Armenian capital Yerevan, the Turkish foreign minister said on Monday.

“We made an offer to Armenia, saying that we can have the first meeting in Yerevan, but Armenia is not ready for this yet due to domestic pressure,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference of foreign and interior ministers of Türkiye and Austria in the capital Ankara.

Cavusoglu said that the Armenian diaspora was divided over the Turkish-Armenian normalization process, adding that there were some protests by extremist groups on Armenian streets.

“We thank Austria (for hosting the normalization talks), but why shouldn't the next meetings be held in Türkiye or Armenia?” he questioned.

The Turkish foreign minister also reiterated that his country is in consultation with Azerbaijan at every stage regarding the normalization process.

“After all, we want to continue the process gradually,” Cavusoglu said.

“On the other hand, we support the normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he added.

Turkish and Armenian envoys for the normalization of ties held their fourth meeting in Vienna on Friday in which they agreed to open the land border between the two countries for citizens of third countries “at the earliest day possible,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The first round of normalization talks was held in Moscow on Jan. 14, where both parties agreed to continue negotiations without any preconditions, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The Turkish and Armenian envoys met for the second time in Vienna on Feb. 24, and the third meeting was held on May 3 in the same city.

Also, a historic bilateral meeting took place between the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Armenia on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on March 12.

As part of the efforts, Türkiye and Armenia have also resumed commercial flights as of Feb. 2 after a two-year hiatus.