Author: Ani Kharatian

Renovation, modernization of Armenia’s Meghri border checkpoint to launch soon

Ani Kharatian

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YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia Rustam Badasyan, Head of the European Union’s Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin and Head of the Yerevan Resident Office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) George Akhalkatsi visited the Meghri Customs Checkpoint Division of Southern Customs House Department to get acquainted with the customs service working process.

“Ensuring easy and fast movement for businesses and citizens through the border checkpoints is one of the priorities of the State Revenue Committee, and the modernization of Armenia’s southern border checkpoint is also very important. The program of renovating and modernizing the Meghri border checkpoint will launch soon with the financial support of EU and EBRD. The modernization of the checkpoint will boost the passenger transportation and trade turnover via Armenia’s southern economic border”, Rustam Badasyan said on social media.

Asbarez: Peace, Love and Public Service: Homenetmen Salutes Generations of Volunteers

Ani Kharatian
 by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Latest, Op-Ed, Opinon, Top Stories
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45th Navasartian Games, Festival, and Closing Ceremony flyer

BY KATY SIMONIAN

“The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” Muhammad Ali’s immortal words remind us of the beauty that shines from the heart of every volunteer and the far-reaching impact of public service for a community and the world.

The commitment to serving others has stood at the core of Homenetmen’s mission for generations, echoing the words, “Elevate Yourself and Others with You.” These words are more than a motto, as they capture the spirit of giving inherent in the fabric of the organization, with dedicated members instilling and embracing the values of kindness, hard work and humility in athletes and scouts for over a century.

Homenetmen’s many programs continue to thrive with the work of dedicated volunteers. The organization has grown with over 2,000 Armenian Scouts and more than 7,000 athletes who participate in activities all year.

These activities depend on the time and energy graciously shared by the many volunteers who not only make Homenetmen’s athletic and scouting events possible, but most significantly, build the collective morale of its membership. Their presence is particularly crucial during major athletic tournaments which kick-off in San Diego, followed by sporting events in Fresno and Orange County, culminating in Los Angeles at the annual Navasartian Games and Closing Ceremonies which will take place at Los Angeles City College on Fourth of July Weekend.

Parents, moms and dads alike, often drive for hours, across many miles to support their children’s athletic pursuits in sports from basketball, soccer, table tennis, and tennis, to swimming, gymnastics, karate, volleyball and chess.

Homenetmen 45th Navasartian Victory Ball flyer

One such parent is Aline Tchaghlassian, who beams with pride when reflecting on the many years she spent driving her three sons to games and cheering them on in the stands. When asked what makes Homenetmen so unique, she emphasized the noble nature of a community that elevates and inspires one another.

“The most meaningful way we can encourage our youth is by lifting their emotions. When our children learn to elevate the emotions of their friends and teammates, their skills naturally improve,” said Tchaghlassian. “Nothing is more impactful than kindness. It has been my great privilege to watch my children and so many families develop a deep sense of responsibility as Armenians, to carry on Homenetmen’s tradition of promoting good sportsmanship for all of our athletes,” she added.

It is fitting that Aline and her husband, Ara Tchaghlassian, will serve as the 45th Navasartian Honorary Presidents, taking their place in history among the many distinguished honorees who remain devoted to securing Homenetmen’s bright future. The couple will receive their honor at this year’s Victory Ball, which will take place on Sunday, June 26 at The Beverly Hilton, where generations of members will have an opportunity to salute the athletes, scouts, and volunteers whose hard work stands as an example for us all.

The multi-generational nature of the organization contributes to its warm landscape. It is not uncommon for three generations of members to serve side by side. “Many members have met their spouses while serving Homenetmen and their children, some of our youngest volunteers, carry on this beautiful legacy, participating in activities, tournaments and mentoring initiatives for their fellow athletes,” saaid Shant Haytayan, Vice Chair of the 45th Navasartian Victory Ball Committee. “Homenetmen represents the heart of the Armenian family — love, service and a celebration of our Armenian culture. We are so proud of our members and feel deeply grateful for their contributions to our community,” he added.

It is important to note the ways in which members are inspired by the spirit of volunteering, as many current leaders were once athletes and scouts who benefited from the guidance of those who came before them. These leaders are inspired to give back and to empower future generations to find their voices and make their mark on an organization that celebrates their accomplishments.

One such leader is Anita Derderian, a Regional Executive Board Member who has made history as the first woman to serve as Athletic Director of Homenetmen Western US. “For me, Homenetmen is family. It is incredible to know 90 percent of our volunteers are families, siblings, and children who want to make a difference, as they contribute to the success of our athletes and scouts,” she said. “We have endured many obstacles during the Covid-19 pandemic but one thing is certain — wherever I am in the world, Homenetmen remains a constant source of hope for all of our members.”

With a growing number of athletes and scouts, and a renewed commitment to expanding its efforts for public service, the future of Homenetmen is in the capable hands and hearts of its many loyal members.

For more information about the Navasartian Games, Closing Ceremonies and volunteering opportunities, please visit the Navasartian Games website or call (323) 344-4300.

Katy Simonian is a member of the 45th Navasartian Victory Ball Committee.




Sports: Nations League: Armenia 1-4 Scotland

Ani Kharatian
             
Gavin McCafferty


Stuart Armstrong hit a double as Scotland overcame a difficult start to beat nine-man Armenia 4-1. Scotland fell behind early on in Yerevan and endured some anxious moments after Armstrong’s quickfire equaliser.

But the midfielder netted in first-half stoppage time, moments after Arman Hovhannisyan had committed two yellow-card offences in the space of five seconds, and Scotland made the most of their advantage. John McGinn and Che Adams were on target early in the second half as Scotland sealed six points from their opening three Nations League games before the hosts had another man sent off in stoppage time.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke had been left scratching his head over his side’s 3-0 defeat in Dublin on Saturday and three of his defenders did not make the 2,500-mile journey – skipper Andy Robertson, John Souttar and Scott McKenna. Scott McTominay was restored to the back three beside Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry, who lined up on the left, while wing-backs Nathan Patterson and Greg Taylor came in along with Billy Gilmour and Armstrong.

Ireland had struggled in the Yerevan heat when they went down to Armenia in the Group B1 opener but conditions were fine for Scotland in the Republican Stadium thanks to the 8pm local kick-off time, a breeze and a pre-match downpour. Armenia rarely ventured forward in their 2-0 defeat at Hampden last week but they showed much more attacking ambition in the opening stages and went ahead inside six minutes.

Hanley looked favourite to win the ball out wide but he misjudged his challenge and fell over to leave Tigran Barseghyan to race to the byline and cut it back for Vahan Bichakhchyan to finish at the near post. Gilmour soon had a shot pushed over after a short corner and Scotland were level in the 14th minute when Armstrong quickly followed up to slot home after Adams had failed to get an ambitious shot away.

The goal did not settle Scotland down, though, and Armenia twice nearly scored from balls over the top with the visitors being rescued by an offside flag and then a recovery tackle from the grounded Hendry. Craig Gordon soon saved from Eduard Spertsyan and Scotland continued to look vulnerable at the back when Armenia ran at them.

Clarke’s side began to get to grips with the game around the half-hour mark and Adams twice threatened from long range before Patterson sliced well off target following Taylor’s low cross. The key passage of play started with Hovhannisyan’s late challenge on Patterson. McGinn squared up to the defender and was floored by a headbutt before Montenegrin referee Nikola Dabanovic flashed two yellow cards and a red.

Scotland gave the hosts no time to reorganise as Armstrong latched on to McGinn’s pass in the box and beat a defender before steering the ball home brilliantly despite losing his footing. The Scots hammered home their numerical superiority after the interval. McGinn turned and fired home from six yards in the 50th minute after Patterson had cushioned Taylor’s deep cross into him.

Five minutes later, Armstrong did superbly to send Southampton team-mate Adams away on the counter-attack and the forward curled home. Scotland could have had more. Armstrong twice threatened his hat-trick, and both Adams and Taylor forced saves.

David Turnbull, Lewis Ferguson, Anthony Ralston and Jacob Brown were given run-outs and Allan Campbell was handed a debut as Scotland continued to dominate possession, although the hosts missed some late chances and Gordon pulled off two good second-half stops.

Kamo Hovhannisyan was shown a straight red card following a wild challenge on Ferguson, and Campbell saw a shot deflected wide. Scotland round off their Nations League campaign in late September with a double-header against Ukraine and Ireland.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/che-adams-scotland-steve-clarke-stuart-armstrong-armenia-b2101007.html
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Draft statement on Armenia-Azerbaijan, Armenia-Turkey relations not put on legislature agenda

Ani Kharatian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
10:59, 14.06.2022

At Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, NA deputy speaker Ruben Rubinyan noted that the draft NA statement on Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish relations, which was tabled by the opposition "Armenia" and "With Honor" Factions of the NA, shall be put to a vote.

"As the Steering Committee did not discuss the matter and did not present a conclusion, this matter must be put to a vote in order to be included in the agenda of the session," he said.

Hayk Konjoryan, the leader of the ruling majority “Civil Contract” Faction of the NA, said that his faction will not take part in this voting.

As the opposition factions are not in attendance to this sitting, the following voting result was registered: 0 for, 0 against, 0 abstained.

On June 3, the MPs of the opposition "Armenia" and "With Honor" Factions had convened a special sitting of the NA, on the agenda of which was the draft aforesaid statement submitted by them. But the session did not take place due to the lack of a quorum as the lawmakers of the majority faction did not attend this sitting.

Iran concerned over "Zangezur corridor" not over demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border – expert

Ani Kharatian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.No doubt, Iran is now concerned over the possibility of a "Zangezur corridor" running via Armenia's Syunik rather than over demarcation of the Armenian- Azerbaijani border, expert in Iranian studies Emma Baghijanyan said  in an interview with ArmInfo. 

"Despite Armenian mass media mentioning border delimitation issue as  one of the main topics of the latest telephone conversation between  Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan and Iranian President Ebrahim  Raisi.  In fact, the state leaders discussed the issue of the  corridor. I followed Iranian mass media response to Ilham Aliyev's  statement on an alleged agreement with Pashinyan on opening the  corridor. And I can say this issue is of main interest to Tehran,  whereas border delimitation and demarcation is only derivative," she  said. 

Aliyev's statements arouse concern not only in Armenia, but also in  Iran, given the fact that Armenian officials, who time and again  claim the impossibility of an extraterritorial corridor, prefer  remaining silent about Aliyev's statement. Yerevan's not responding  to Baku's statements is causing uncertainty not only in Armenia,  which, in turn, necessitates top-level telephone talks, the expert  said. 

It is expeditious implementation of the North-South project that  could have prevented Baku's "corridor- related" statements being made  not at all in the context of unblocking regional transport links, but  for the purpose of getting an extraterritorial corridor for  Azerbaijan and Turkey, which would enable them to realize their  long-term geopolitical plans, including plans against Iran. 

"The fact is that our interests coincide only with Iran's. Sadly,  however, I do not see any serious steps on Armenia's part to prevent  the Turkish-Azerbaijani expansionist designs. And the very  intensified mutual visits by Armenian and Iranian officials are  evidence that, in contrast to Yerevan, Tehran is perfectly aware of  its interests. And, happily, their interests coincide with ours," Ms  Baghijanyan said. 

EBRD’s $20 million loan will help finance telecoms growth in Armenia

Ani Kharatian
Public Radio of Armenia
May 31 2022
May 31, 2022, 13:15

 

Armenians will see their fixed and mobile phone services improve as a result of a US$ 20 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to leading Armenian telecoms company Telecom Armenia to finance growth, including network expansion in rural areas, and refinance existing debt.

Telecom Armenia is undertaking a seven-year multi-million network improvement programme to upgrade fixed and mobile networks around the country, including in rural areas. Additional financing is provided by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Ameriabank, amounting to a total financing package of $45 million.

The investment comes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which emphasised the need for faster and more reliable internet connections. The project supports 4G mobile network expansion and the rollout of a state-of-the-art fibre to the home network across the capital Yerevan, secondary cities and rural areas, increasing the digital connectivity and competitiveness of businesses across Armenia and making the network greener and more energy efficient.

“As well as enhancing digitalisation and energy efficiency, the project is consistent with the EBRD’s two strategic priorities for Armenia, strengthening private sector competitiveness and promoting sustainable infrastructure through commercialisation and green economy transition,” said Dirk Werner, the EBRD’s Director for Telecoms, Media and Technology.

Aleksandr Yesayan, Team Telecom Armenia’s Chairman and co-founder said: “We welcome our long-term partnership with the EBRD, especially given the reduced investor appetite amid global developments. This support will enable us to accelerate our capital investment program and expand and upgrade both our fixed and mobile networks and improve service quality to both individual subscribers and business clients, which will spur competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth in Armenia.”

Hayk Yesayan, Team Telecom Armenia’s CEO and co-founder said: “This funding will significantly speed up the region’s best 25 GB/s Next Generation Network construction. Bringing this network to life is our strategic project. As part of the building process, we are going to connect our mobile system to the new fixed broadband infrastructure and greatly increase the quality of mobile and fixed communications throughout all Armenia.”

This is the first major signing since EBRD’s recently appointed Head of Yerevan Resident Office. George Akhalkatsi started the role in early May. He said: “I am excited to sign this important transaction with a major private sector player in Armenia. We believe the project will bring tangible benefits to Team Telecom customers and have a positive effect on wider economy.”

Telecom Armenia is the leading fixed-line operator in Armenia and the country’s second largest mobile operator. It was acquired in October 2020 by telecom entrepreneurs Hayk and Aleksandr Yesayan. The project’s refinancing component will be used to refinance Telecom Armenia’s existing debt, incurred during the company’s leveraged buyout in 2020, and simplify its capital structure. 

Situation in Karabakh conflict zone to be on agenda of talks of Russian FM in Turkey

Ani Kharatian
ARMINFO
Armenia – June 3 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. The situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be on the agenda of the talks of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Turkey. Official  representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova,  announced this on June 3 during a weekly briefing.

She noted that on June 8 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will  pay a working visit to Ankara for talks with Turkish Foreign Minister  Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"It is planned to discuss the state of and prospects for deepening  bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues of trade and economic  cooperation in the context of the application of illegitimate  sanctions against Russia by the West.

There will also be an exchange of views on topical issues of the  regional and international agenda, primarily on the current situation  in Ukraine, as well as in the Syrian, Libyan and Nagorno-Karabakh  settlement, on the situation in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Central  Asia," she said. 

Yuri Khachaturov: We do not want war, but we want to be respected

Ani Kharatian
ARMINFO
Armenia – June 3 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. We don't want war, but we want to be respected. Former Secretary General of the CSTO, former Chief of the General Staff of Armenia, Colonel-General Yuri  Khachaturov stated from the rostrum on France Square in Yerevan.

At the beginning of his speech, the Armenian general spoke about the  background of the resignation of first President of Armenia Levon  Ter-Petrosyan on February 3, 1998, when Prime Minister Robert  Kocharyan, Minister of Defense Vazgen Sargsyan and Minister of  Internal Affairs and National Security Serzh Sargsyan did not support  Ter-Petrosyan's proposed plan for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, which included the demilitarization of the conflict zone  and the return to Azerbaijan of a number of settlements taken during  the hostilities of 1992-1994.

"Then they said that people will come to power, whose coming will  cause bloodshed, that there would be a war. And what really happened?  We lived in peace for 20 years, lived like winners. We were proud of  our army and state. There was no war. They said we want war, but we  didn't want war. Even now they say we want war, but we don't want  war, we want to be respected," he said.

At the same time, Khachaturov expressed bewilderment at the behavior  of officials and parliamentarians from the ruling power when they are  asked a question about the future of Artsakh. "I don't understand  these ministers and the rest officials, they are asked a simple  question. Are you in favor of Artsakh being part of Azerbaijan? They  say we cannot answer. I understand that they can do nothing to  prevent Artsakh from becoming part of Azerbaijan, but at least say  that you do not want NKR to be part of Azerbaijan. Can't you do that,  aren't you Armenian? "Then who are you?" He asked.

Khachaturov also bowed before the parents of the soldiers who died  for the homeland, calling them saints, while urging them not to  condemn those who did not come to the square. According to him, each  of them experiences the pain of loss in their own way.

Referring to the work of law enforcement officers, the general  expressed bewilderment and indignation at the behavior of people in  uniform. He shamed all those law enforcement officers who use  disproportionate brute force against peaceful demonstrators,  especially women.

"When did we get to the point where the police drag women by the  hair, kick them in the stomach? Guys, behave more modestly, remember  that you are all in the field of view of our citizens," he said,  adding that they would not succumb to the provocations of law  enforcement officers and will not beat law enforcement officers in  response. According to him, the authorities are just waiting for  this.  "Don't wait, we won't beat you. Viva Armenia, Viva Artsakh,  Viva the Armenian people," Khachaturov summed up.

It should be noted that a rally of the opposition Resistance Movement  is taking place in France Square.  It should also be noted that the  Armenian parliament today at 16:00 convened an extraordinary meeting  at the request of the "Hayastan" and "I have the honor" opposition  factions. On the agenda is the discussion and adoption of a statement  on Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The meeting  did not take place due to the lack of a quorum. Only 33 opposition  MPs attended the meeting, while 54 MPs  were needed for a quorum.   The ruling Civil Contract faction announced last week that it would  not take part in an extraordinary meeting of the Armenian parliament,  initiated by the "Hayastan" and "I have the honor" opposition blocs  and scheduled for June 3. The Civil Contract stated that they would  not succumb to political blackmail and would not take part in an  extraordinary meeting, but would continue to protect the rights of  Artsakh and its population at all levels and platforms.

Pashinyan, Raisi discuss opening of regional communications

Ani Kharatian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – June 2 2022
June 2, 2022, 10:29

 1 minute read

During a phone conversation on Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan briefed Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi on his recent meeting in Brussels with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the EU Council Charles Michel.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the opening of regional communications, the launching of delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the prospects for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Issues on bilateral agenda were also discussed. Special attention was paid to the issues related to the construction of the third Armenia-Iran power line, the North-South highway, and the energy sector. The interlocutors reaffirmed the invitations to each other to pay an official visit and agreed to pay reciprocal visits to the capitals of the two countries.