Author: Arsine Chaltikian

There was no country named Azerbaijan when Tigran the Great was negotiating with Pompeius, Pashinyan tells Aliyev

Arsine Chaltikian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 15 2020

In the times of Tigran the Great (95-55 BC) there were only two nations in the region – Armenians and Georgians, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a panel discussion on Nagorno Karabakh held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The remarks came in response to Azerbaijani President Ilhal Aliyev’s claims that Azerbaijanis constituted  70% of Yerevan’s population at the turn of the 19th century.

“When Armenian King Tigran the Great was negotiating with Rоman general Pompeius, there was no country named Azerbaijan,” he stated.  

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict settlement, PM Pashinyan said the negotiations should take place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.

“We are working very intensively and we are ready to put serious efforts to bring real difference and reach a real solution,” Pashinyan said.

HNikol Pashinyan then referred to the minor revolutions he has made in the negotiation process.

“My perception is that it’s impossible to resolve this long-lasting conflict with one or two steps. We need micro-revolutions, transform them into mini-revolutions and then reach real breakthrough in negotiations,” the Armenian Prime Minister stated.

“One of the micro-revolutions was that in September 2018 I announced that any solution should be acceptable to the peoples of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. This was a micro-revolution, because I was the first Armenian leader to say the solution should be acceptable to the Azerbaijani people, as well,” Pashinyan stated.

The second micro-revolution, he said, was his call to social media users to stop threatening and insulting each other, and try to use the new technologies to understand each other better.

The Prime Minister then called out President Aliyev of Azerbaijan for the refusal talk to the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

He reminded that Nagorno Karabakh was recognized a party to the conflict and party to the negotiations by the OSCE. This happened twice on March 24, 1992 and during the OSCE summit in Budapest in 1994.

The Prime Minister also referred to the two ceasefire agreements signed between Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Wrestler Gevorg Gharibyan Wins Gold at European Championships

Arsine Chaltikian

Armenia’s Gevorg Gharibyan (center left) defeated his Turkish rival, winning gold

Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler Gevorg Gharibyan (132 lbs) defeated Turkey’s Kerim Kamal 5 to 5, clinching the gold medal at the 2020 European Championships underway in Rome, Italy.

A four-point takedown in a dramatic final bout helped the Armenian secure the champion’s European Champion title. The Turkish wrestler managed to level on points, but, in the case of a draw, preference is given to the individual who performs a more complex trick.

Armenia’s Karen Aslanyan won a bronze medal in the 147 lbs division.

PM Pashinyan, EEC Board Chairman discuss development of cooperation between member states

Arsine Chaltikian

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 18:06, 7 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Board Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the PM congratulated Mikhail Myasnikovich on the assumption of the new position and wished his effective and productive works. Nikol Pashinyan hoped that under the leadership of Mr.Myasnikovich the works of the Commission will give new impetus to the cooperation and expansion of trade and economic relations between the EAEU member states.

Mikhail Myasnikovich thanked PM Pashinyan for protecting his candidacy for the post of the EEC Board Chairman. He assured that he will justify the trust of the leaders of the EAEU member states.

During the meeting the sides discussed the strategic directions for the development of economic integration of the Union for the period until 2025, as well as the elimination of the obstacles and limitations existing in the EAEU market.

PM Pashinyan highlighted the increase of internal trade turnover and the implementation of the steps aimed at the establishment of a single energy market.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenian lawyers, human rights activists issue statement against constitutional referendum

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 7 2020

16:49, 07.02.2020
                  

After following, with deep concern, the events that unfolded in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the legislature’s decision to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation. This is stated in the statement issued by first Human Rights Defender of Armenia Larisa Alaverdyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan and lawyer Ruben Melikyan.

“We, the undersigned lawyers and human rights activists, after following, with deep concern, the events that took place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on February 6, we state that the decision of the legislature to designate a referendum is an overt violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and constitutional legislation.

Attaching importance to the mechanisms of direct democracy, we also insist that those mechanisms cannot be applied arbitrarily and illegitimately. This will not only undermine the foundations of a legal state, but will also create a weighty precedent for violation of rights. Our concerns are fully in line with the international commitments that the Republic of Armenia has assumed within the scope of the Council of Europe.

Based on the aforementioned, we call on the President of the Republic of Armenia to refrain from participating in this unconstitutional process and from designating the referendum.

Larisa Alaverdyan, first Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia

Avetik Ishkhanyan, President of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia

Ruben Melikyan, lawyer

Lawyers and human rights activists are free to join the statement. The last day for signatures is February 8 (5 p.m.).

We recommend that the political and non-governmental organizations operating in the Republic of Armenia address the President of the Republic of Armenia with a similar call,” the statement reads.

Majority can’t call referendum on high court bill without first reading approval, argues opposition

Arsine Chaltikian

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 16:45, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Lawmaker Taron Simonyan from the opposition Bright Armenia (LHK) party argues that the parliament cannot call for a referendum around the ruling bloc’s bill regarding the high court without passing it through the first reading.

Earlier the ruling bloc, the My Step faction, itself said they will not pass their own bill in order for it to go for a vote in a referendum.

But Simonyan claims the move is impossible. “We must confirm it at first reading, and then it must go to the Constitutional Court. After the Constitutional Court’s positive conclusion you can vote it down at the second reading, and then only you can raise the issue of referendum,” the opposition lawmaker said.

He did however note that the goal is understandable, but he asked whether the measures and methods used aren’t superficial. “In my deepest belief they are superficial. As a result of this you are ignoring many legal clauses, violating them, and in the future this entire process will have to bear these violations,” he said.

The parliament majority, the My Step bloc, will not pass its own bill on replacing the high court judges at first reading in a technical maneuver to propose to call a referendum on the matter, lawmaker Vahagn Hovakimyan from the ruling party said in parliament earlier today.

“The My Step faction will not adopt this bill on first reading and by virtue of the powers vested in parliament under paragraph 3 of Article 202 of the Constitution it will recommend putting up for vote the decision on presenting this bill for referendum. This is the application of direct democracy, this is the conviction and belief of our political force. We have faith in our people, and we have to listen to our people,” he said.

The MP said that during this period of time the parliament and the Cabinet have done their best to resolve the crisis around the Constitutional Court.

He recalled the parliament’s earlier motion that was sent to the Constitutional Court requesting to terminate the powers of chief justice Hrayr Tovmasyan, which however was denied. He also recalled the voluntary early retirement plan for justices, which was approved by the Venice Commission.

The parliamentary majority’s bill on making constitutional amendments seeks to enable replacing the Constitutional Court justices who were appointed under the previous constitution.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Asbarez: UACC to Celebrate Women’s World Day of Prayer

Arsine Chaltikian
February 4,  2020

This year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer service will be held at UACC on Mar. 6

LOS ANGELES—The 50th Anniversary of the Women’s World Day of Prayer for the Southern California Armenian churches will be held at the United Armenian Congregational Church in Los Angeles. The service will be held on Friday, March 6 at 3480 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

The Service will start with prayers at 10:30 a.m. and the main Worship Service will start at 11:00 a.m. Coordinator Mary Agulian has announced that the Armenian message will be given by Dr. Alina Muegerditchian and the English message will be given by Cynthia Ketenjian. All Armenian women of the Apostolic, Brotherhood, Catholic, and Evangelical Churches are cordially invited to attend this Annual World Day of Prayer event.

The origins of World Day of Prayer dates back to the 19th century, when Christian women of the United States and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities in support of women’s involvement in mission at home and in other parts of the world. It is an ecumenical movement of Christian women of various traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. Currently, it is carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions, to promote justice and equality for women through prayer, partnerships, service, and celebration. Every year, women from a different country are responsible for preparing this ecumenical Program. This year’s Program is written and prepared by the women of Zimbabwe. Last year’s World Day of Prayer was held at the St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, CA.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Southern California World Day of Prayer, a light luncheon will be served after the conclusion of the Worship Service.

Karabakh restaurant owner: It’s not befitting a PM, a man

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 4 2020
Karabakh restaurant owner: It's not befitting a PM, a man Karabakh restaurant owner: It's not befitting a PM, a man

13:31, 04.02.2020
                  

Filmmaker and public figure Arshak Zakaryan told on Facebook livestream about the scandal raised by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at his restaurant in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

According to Zakaryan, Pashinyan and his family had come to Artsakh this Sunday to meet with their son in the army and had a family dinner at his restaurant. At the end, Pashinyan demanded a cash register receipt, and but the staff noticed that the cash register printer was not working, and this was reported to the Armenian Prime Minister. Upon learning of this, Pashinyan made a scandal at the restaurant, accused the staff of "eating the soldier's bread,” then telephoned the Artsakh State Minister and demanded to fine the owner of this restaurant, after which Artsakh tax officials came and fined the restaurant.

According to Zakaryan, his restaurant pays taxes with a fixed fee, and not providing a cash register receipt cannot be considered tax evasion. Zakaryan said he is ready to pay a much bigger fine, but he is offended by the prime minister's behavior and accusing them of "eating the soldier's bread."

"Making such an uproar and calling us ‘eater of soldier’s bread’ is just not befitting a senior official, is not befitting the Prime Minister and a men, in general," Arshak Zakaryan stressed, in particular.

Book: Peter Balakian, Aram Arkun to present book about medieval Armenian capital

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 4 2020

Culture 14:15 04/02/2020 Armenia

The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will host a presentation by Dr. Peter Balakian and Aram Arkun entitled “The Ruins of Ani: From Sacred Landscape to Political Soil,” on Thursday, February 27, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., in Batmasian Hall on the third floor of the new NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.The program is co-sponsored by the Tekeyan Cultural Association Boston Chapter and the NAASR/Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues, Massis Post reports. 

From the tenth to the thirteenth centuries, the city of Ani was the jewel of the Armenian kingdom, renowned far and wide for its magnificent buildings. By the fifteenth century, Ani was virtually abandoned, its stunning buildings left to crumble. Yet its ruins have remained a symbol of cultural accomplishment that looms large in the Armenian imagination.

Today, Ani is a popular tourist site in Turkey, but the city has been falsified in its presentation by the Turkish government in order to erase Armenian history in the wake of the Armenian Genocide. Krikor Balakian’s "The Ruins of Ani", first published in Armenian in 1910 as "Nkaragrut‘iwn Anii aweraknerun" and now available in English, is a unique combination of history, art criticism, and travel memoir. This timely publication and program raise important questions about the preservation of major historic monuments in the face of post atrocity campaigns of cultural erasure. Balakian and Arkun served as editor and translator, respectively, of "The Ruins of Ani" (Rutgers Univ. Press).

Dr. Peter Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities in the department of English at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. He is the author of many books, including "The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response", winner of the Raphael Lemkin Prize; "Black Dog of Fate", winner of the PEN/Albrand Award for Memoir; and "Ozone Journal", winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Aram Arkun is the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada and assistant editor at the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. He is the author of numerous academic articles and book chapters and translations, and has served as Director of the Zohrab Center in New York City and as editor of Ararat Quarterly.


Armenpress: Number of cameras installed at Armenia’s military positions increases by 59%

Arsine Chaltikian

Number of cameras installed at Armenia’s military positions increases by 59%

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 10:58, 31 January, 2020

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Number of video-surveillance devices installed in the military positions of the Armenian Armed Forces increased by 59% since May 8, 2018, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“Number of military positions equipped with industrial electricity increased by 70%, number of those equipped with solar energy grew by 38%. Number of military positions equipped with water supply increased by 194%”, the PM said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Asbarez: Yerevan Resident Donates Bone Marrow Cells to Save Brother’s Life

Arsine Chaltikian

Donor Arman Hakobyan

Facilitated by ABMDR, the Cell-Harvesting Procedure is the 34th in the History of the Organization

LOS ANGELES—Arman Hakobyan, a Yerevan resident, donated bone marrow T cells to help save the life of his brother, a cancer patient currently undergoing treatment in Germany.

Arman Hakobyan was identified by the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry as a perfect bone marrow match for his sibling, who suffers from a life-threatening illness. The harvesting of the donor’s bone marrow T cells, facilitated by ABMDR, was performed in the Armenian capital, with the intention of using them for an urgent T cell transplant that could potentially save his brother’s life.

The painless, non-invasive harvesting of cells from the donor was the 34th such procedure in ABMDR’s history. As soon as the harvesting was completed, the donated cells were flown to Germany with the help of a special courier. Present at the harvesting procedure were ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan, Executive Director Dr. Sevak Avagyan, and Medical Director Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan, among other lab-staff members.

ABMDR executive staff with the courier from Germany

“Our 34th harvesting, the first this year, is a wonderful milestone,” said Dr. Frieda Jordan. “This is what ABMDR’s life-saving mission is all about. It’s what we, our organization’s volunteers, supporters, patients, and their families, across the globe, tirelessly work for and look forward to.”

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 31,000 donors in 33 countries across four continents, identified over 9,000 patients, and facilitated 33 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call 323.663.3609 or visit the website.