Arsine Chaltikian – Page 52 – Armenian Directory & News

Sports: Homenetmen men’s team wins Pan-Armenian Games gold

August 21, 2019August 21, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Los Angeles Times

Aug 20 2019

Homenetmen men’s team wins Pan-Armenian Games gold

By Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

Aug. 20, 2019

Zareh Avedian’s teammates knew that when the big moments arrived, the leader of the Glendale men’s basketball team that represented the Homenetmen Ararat chapter in the Pan-Armenian Games would deliver.

And did he ever deliver.

Avedian scored eight of his team’s final 15 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with less than three minutes remaining, to lead Glendale to a 92-84 victory against Beverly Hills on Saturday in the championship game at the Mika Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia.

“Big Z is known for coming up big,” said Avedian’s teammate, Teo Davidian, a 2014 Hoover High graduate who poured in 20 points in the final.

Davidian referred to Avedian’s memorable 49-point performance in the 2003 championship game that gave Glendale the title in the third Pan-Armenian Games.

Avedian didn’t want his last playing experience in Armenia to be remembered as a failure.

“My experience came through,” he said after arriving back home.

Before carrying his team in the final stretches of the championship game, Avedian watched Davidian and Andre Spight, who is from Burbank, dominate for the first three quarters. Spight finished with 40 points and Avedian had 14, 10 in the final frame, which also saw critical points and defensive stops from Narbeh Ebrahamian, a Crescenta Valley High graduate, and Samson Injigulyan, a Hoover High graduate.

“Andre and Teo kept us in it,” said Avedian, who is the only Glendale player remaining from the 2003 team. “If it wasn’t for them, we would’ve been blown out.”

Glendale entered the half down by three points and was playing without Zareh Zargaryan, a Hoover grad who was ejected in the second quarter after receiving a technical and a flagrant foul.

A close contest set up a thrilling final three minutes.

Beverly Hills took an 81-80 lead with 2:50 remaining as the capacity crowd watched in excitement. On the ensuing possession, Davidian drove to basket, collapsing the defense.

“When I did, I remembered I had a layup in the first half and Z told me, ‘I’m wide open on your drives,’” Davidian said.

Avedian was wide open on the right wing and Davidian found him. Avedian’s three-pointer proved to be winner.

Avedian’s defense on the other end of the court led to a traveling violation and Spight hit another three to give Glendale a five-point lead with less than two minutes left.

“It was exciting,” Avedian said. “The win was for Zareh, too. I wanted to win for him, I wanted to win for me and I wanted to win for the entire team.

“To be able to help my team win was overwhelming.”

Asbarez: ANCA-WR Endorses Andrew Romanoff for U.S. Senate

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

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Andrew Romanoff speaking at the April 2019 Armenian Genocide commemoration at the Colorado State Capitol

GLENDALE—In recognition of Andrew Romanoff’s stellar record on Armenian American issues, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, along with ANCA Colorado, has endorsed the former Colorado Speaker for his bid in the 2020 U.S. Senate Primary race.

“Speaker Romanoff has been an unwavering champion of the Armenian Cause and Colorado’s Armenian community for 17 years, which is why we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of his campaign to become the Democratic candidate for what is expected to be the most competitive U.S. Senate race in the nation,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “From launching Colorado’s annual Armenian Genocide resolution to advocating for the Capitol Khachkar, Andrew has been a true hero for the Armenian community. The ANCA-WR calls on Armenian Americans across the nation to support his campaign,” added Hovsepian.

Andrew Romanoff with Colorado Armenian activists at the April 2019 Armenian Genocide commemoration at the Colorado State Capitol

“I am honored by ANCA-WR’s endorsement. As Colorado’s next senator, I look forward to building on my close relationship with the Armenian-American community, advocating for strong U.S.-Armenia relations, addressing the ongoing repercussions of the Armenian Genocide, enhancing the partnership between the U.S. and Armenia in aid and trade, and stopping blockades and aggression against the landlocked republics of Armenia and Artsakh,” stated Andrew Romanoff.

In 2002, Romanoff introduced the resolution designating April 24 as “Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” a pioneering step that paved the way for construction of America’s first state capitol khachkar (cross-stone) to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, as well as the designation of a portion of Arapahoe Road in Arapahoe County as the “Sardarapat Armenian Memorial Highway” commemorating the 1918 Battle of Sardarapat and the subsequent formation of independent Armenia. He continued to advocate for the Armenian community as a private citizen after term limits ended his time in office. In 2013, when Turkish and Azeri lobbies fought to prevent the khachkar memorial in Denver from being built, Romanoff returned to the capitol and led the fight that stopped them.

Andrew Romanoff at the December 2015 Shine a Light on All Genocides event in Denver, which he Emceed at the request of the local Armenian community

In addition to being a champion of the Armenian community, Romanoff boasts an extraordinary record of leadership. As president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, he led the fight for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. Earlier, Romanoff won four terms in the Colorado House of Representatives—including two terms as speaker of the House. He earned recognition from more than 50 state and national organizations as one of the most effective legislative leaders in America.

Romanoff authored laws to expand the supply of affordable housing, protect the environment, and support the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. He crafted an economic recovery plan to put thousands of Coloradans back to work, built a bipartisan coalition to pass it, and secured the largest investment in school construction in Colorado’s history.

Romanoff began his career at the Southern Poverty Law Center, joining the battle against Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups. His work there fueled a lifelong passion for justice—a cause he later championed at a state civil rights agency. The same commitment took Romanoff to Nicaragua in the wake of a brutal civil war. He taught English in rural high schools and continued teaching here in Colorado. In 2012, Romanoff founded the Posner Center for International Development, which is now home to more than 60 Colorado-based organizations, all advancing sustainable solutions to global poverty.

Romanoff has earned endorsements from nearly 300 elected officials for his U.S. Senate bid. In early July, Keating Research released the first poll of the 2020 Democratic Senate Primary, showing Romanoff leading the race.

“Colorado Armenians are very happy to see Andrew run for the U.S. Senate because we have worked with him since 2002 on Armenian American issues and we trust Andrew 100%,” remarked long-time community activist and ANCA Colorado board member Kim Christianian. “This race will surely be one of the most expensive and competitive in the country, and in order to win, Andrew needs each and every one of us to support him with the same vigor he’s supported our Cause,” continued Christianian.

“It may be long before we have another opportunity like this to elect a U.S. Senator who would champion Armenian American issues, which is why joining Andrew’s people-powered grassroots campaign is one of the most important investments that our community can make. I urge my fellow Armenian Americans across Colorado and the nation, regardless of party affiliation, to do their part at AndrewRomanoff.com,” concluded Christianian.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, including its regional office in Denver, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Artsakh President meets volunteers of 7th Summer Pan-Armenian Games

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

News.am, Armenia

Aug 11 2019

Artsakh President meets volunteers of 7th Summer Pan-Armenian Games Artsakh President meets volunteers of 7th Summer Pan-Armenian Games

20:28, 11.08.2019

Paylan to treasure hunters: If only you knew the real treasure is the church itself

August 10, 2019August 10, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Panorama, Armenia

Aug 10 2019

Society 17:34 10/08/2019 Armenia

Istanbul-Armenian MP Garo Paylan, representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), took to Twitter to comment on the attack against the historic Armenian church in Germush District of Urfa, Turkey by treasure hunters.

The MP shared the photos of the damaged church where treasure seekers have dug deep holes for gold and jewels, Ermenihaber reports.

“If only you knew that the real treasure is the church itself … Thousands of churches in the country have been destroyed and continue to be destroyed by thieves and vandals,” Paylan said.

Karabakh changes electoral code, invites more women to politics

July 27, 2019July 27, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Netgazeti, Georgia

July 24 2019

Karabakh changes electoral code, invites more women to politics

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Georgian]

24 July 2019: The parliament of [Azerbaijan's] self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh has adopted a new electoral code, moving fully to the proportional electoral system from 2020. Until now, elections were held under proportional and majoritarian systems. The transition was preceded by lengthy discussions.

Nagorno-Karabakh MPs said that following the transition, Karabakh would become more democratic.

"The fully proportional system has gradually entered our political life. Until 2005, elections were held only under the majoritarian system. Then it moved to a mixed system. Now we are moving to a fully proportional system," opposition MP of the National Revival faction, Hayk Khanumyan, said.

However, this is not the only important change in the new electoral code.

In order to engage women in politics, a new article was incorporated in the code, envisaging at least a 25-per-cent quota for women in proportional lists.

"We proposed to make this number 25 instead of 20 per cent. It was supported by parliament. I think women should enjoy the same rights in bringing up important issues," Vardges Baginyan of the Democracy faction said.

Hayk Khanumyan, however, thinks that 25 per cent is not enough for women to enter politics.

"It is very unfortunate that women are not as active as they should be. However, the liberalisation of politics will facilitate it," the opposition MP said.

As it became known. disabled people were not able to take part in elections in Karabakh, because they could not go to polling stations. The [newly adopted] changes also envisage introducing portable ballot boxes in order to fix this shortcoming.

[Reporting by] Tigranuhi Martirosyan, Yerevan

Tank crews of Russian base in Armenia drill ‘tank carousel’ tactics

July 27, 2019July 27, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Russia's Defense Technologies Newswire

Thursday 2:57 PM GMT

Tank crews of Russian base in Armenia drill 'tank carousel' tactics

MOSCOW July 25

Tank crews of the Russian base in Armenia that is organic to the Southern Military District (YuVO) are using T-72B tanks to destroy enemy targets with standard shot at drills held at the Alagyaz range. The tank troopers are using a special tactical maneuver called "tank carousel", YuVO's press service said.

MOSCOW, July 25. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Tank crews of the Russian base in Armenia that is organic to the Southern Military District (YuVO) are using T-72B tanks to destroy enemy targets with standard shot at drills held at the Alagyaz range. The tank troopers are using a special tactical maneuver called "tank carousel", YuVO's press service said.

"The tank troopers have undergone a month-long training to learn to fire at targets, which simulated heavy hardware of the conditional adversary in constantly changing tactical and target situations, which helps the crews to develop prompt reaction and ability to make unconventional decisions to resolve combat training tasks. The 'tank carousel' maneuver is designed to deliver continuous fire to suppress the adversary. Tanks take turns in advancing to fire positions and firing at the enemy in order to compensate for the time required for reloading, YuVO said.

The servicemen are also using reconnaissance drones and practice quick-firing at distances of up to 2,500 meters.

More than 100 servicemen and about 30 units of military hardware, including unmanned aerial vehicles, (UAV) are engaged in the drills.

For Immediate Release: VivaCell-MTS & Fuller Center for Housing Armenia Partnership. New Home from Foundation

July 26, 2019July 26, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

, Yerevan, Armenia

New Home from Foundation

Active construction works are underway in Mrgastan village
of Armavir region. A home is being built from foundation for Hasoyan family who
has lived in an 18 sqm metal container for many years. With the support of
partner organizations, VivaCell-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, the
construction works, started in May, already have a visible result; the walls
are built, the roofing is done.

Three months ago, the Hasoyans couldn't even hope that
summer season would be busy not only with harvesting, but also with the rewarding
activities of building their dream home. Today, with the help of volunteers
working in construction site, they are full of hope that they will very soon
become homeowners. Sidewalk concreting works are being done with great pace.
The inside renovation works are planned to be finished in fall.

The 18 square meter metal container and the memories of 8
difficult years will be soon left in the past.

“There were 12 of us living in the house of my husband's
parents. We had to move into the metal container. It's very difficult to live
in a very small area with growing children; the only room of the metal
container serves as a bedroom, a living room and a bathroom at the same time. Now
a new life begins for us. All members of my family are so excited. We try to
believe that the walls built will be ours, and that this is a reality,” said
Zarineh.

“Any implemented program requires
reporting. Most often it is about figures. Speaking of having built some 200
houses in the course of years is a way of reporting on implemented projects.
Yet, more important is the report we have deep in our hearts. Seeing smiling
eyes of those getting back to normal life and looking for the future with optimism
is the best way of showing that the program has been a success. Humanity and
responsibility are best results. I am happy and proud of our continuous
partnership,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

''The 200th milestone home being built through VivaCell-MTS
and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia partnership is rising from foundation. In this sense, the Hasoyan
family house is unique. This is the first case in the program. For us, the
number of houses built is a milestone, and for the family the year will be a
milestone year,'' said Fuller Center for Housing Armenia president Ashot
Yeghiazaryan.

This year, VivaCell-MTS has invested
around AMD 109 mln for the housing project, as a result of which 43 families
will be assisted.

VivaCell-MTS (MTS Armenia CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications
operator, having the widest network reach and spreading
a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of
the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on
1st July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a
nationwide network and a considerable customer base.
VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any
development serving the Armenian mobile communications
market. The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000
(International Standard of Social Responsibility) and
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more
information,

visit www.mts.am

* *
*

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS") is the leading
telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed
voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment
services in one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers in
Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Belarus. Since July 2000, MTS'
Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol
MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group
can be found at www.mtsgsm.com

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-governmental, charitable
organization that supports community development in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent
and affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term,
interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families, thereby providing a
financial foundation for sustainable development. Since 2008 the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia has assisted about 800 families. For more information,
please visit or email us at [email protected]

—

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
53 Armen Tigranyan St., Apt. 26, Yerevan,0037, RA

Tel: +374 10 24 23 48

E-mail: fcarmenia@fcharmenia.org
Web:

A1+: Wandering dogs attacking people

June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Armenia under cyberattack from Azerbaijan

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

Armenia under cyberattack from Azerbaijan

13:38,

YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. As Armenia is celebrating Republic Day on May 28, Azerbaijani hackers launched an online attack and leaked Facebook login and password data of more than 2000 Armenians, information security expert Samvel Martirosyan said.

“Many are still not hacked, so you’ll manage to quickly change your password if you are in this list,” he said on Facebook, posting an online list of the affected accounts and urging users to change their personal data if they find their names in it.

He said Armenian users of the mail.ru email service have also been targeted.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Sports: Azerbaijan rejects safety concerns by Arsenal’s Armenian midfielder

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 Arsine Chaltikian

The Jerusalem Post

Azerbaijan rejects safety concerns by Arsenal's Armenian midfielder

By Arye Gut

Arsenal, the British football club, has announced that its veteran midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, an Armenian, will not accompany his team to its May 29th Europa League final match against Chelsea, to be played in Baku, Azerbaijan, due to "security reasons" stemming from the ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

I was surprised to learn this, because I do not recall any prior instance in Azerbaijan when any athlete of a different nationality – including an Armenian – was endangered. No do I know of any international event being cancelled in Azerbaijan due to the nationality of any of its participants.

Tolerance and multiculturalism are hallmarks of Azerbaijan society. More than thirty thousand Armenians live peacefully and undisturbed in Azerbaijan. They do not feel threatened, and Azerbaijan is renowned for its good nature and hospitality.

Moreover, in recent years, numerous well-known Armenian athletes have visited Baku. Many recall the Armenian national team’s solemn march at the first European Games. Armenian athletes marched with their country’s flag raised high, in the very same arena where Mkhitaryan was supposed to play.

Azerbaijani authorities have never mixed sports with politics. However, a scandal was needed for the sake of political interests. The Europa League final is the first time Azerbaijan has hosted a major tournament final, and it will also host games at next year’s European Championships. The Europa League final at the modern Baku stadium is an extraordinary event for the post-Soviet space. Therefore, they decided to manufacture a scandal using Mkhitaryan.

Azerbaijan is a secular democratic state, which supports various different communities and ethnic groups, including an active Jewish community. Unfortunately, this cannot be said of neighboring Armenia, which has become a mono-ethnic state and, according to a recent statement by international institutions and organizations, is ranked first in its aggressive policies.

Over the past 27 years, Armenia has continued to illegally occupy 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, including the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. The Armenian occupation has resulted in brutal massacres and ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijani civilian population. More than 800,000 Azerbaijani civilians were forcibly expelled from their land. Combined with 250,000 Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia, the number of Azerbaijani refugees has reached over 1 million.

Despite the Armenian occupation, and the suffering that is has endured due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan, country with a Muslim majority, embraces all religions and ethnic groups. Through the centuries, people fleeing persecution have found refuge in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has taken important steps regarding international, regional and global cooperation. It has organized a large number of major international events, including the first European Games and the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games.

Those who compare Mkhitaryan’s decision to avoid travel to Azerbaijan to the instances of Israeli athletes not competing in events held in Saudi Arabia are mistaken. Israelis are prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia. Athletes and other official figures of Armenian nationality, on the other hand, have never been banned from traveling to Azerbaijan.

It is also worth mentioning that there is no history of any antisemitism in Azerbaijan. Jews and Azerbaijanis have always lived together in peace and harmony. Azerbaijan is the only place in the world, other than Israel, where Jews can live without anti-Semitism and nationalism.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – or any other foreigner, for that matter – would not be endangering himself by visiting Azerbaijan. By becoming involved in the intrigues of Armenian nationalists, he has deprived himself of visiting the stunningly beautiful city of Baku.

Moreover, both the Azerbaijani ambassador to Britain and the Azerbaijani government have provided all the necessary guarantees related to ensuring his security. As the Azerbaijani statement confirms, over the past ten years, a large number of Armenian athletes have taken part in various international sports competitions organized in Azerbaijan without incident.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry insisted they had offered all the guarantees necessary to ensure Mkhitaryan would have been safe ahead of the game against Chelsea.

Elkhan Mammadov, the general secretary of the Azerbaijan Football Association stated: "Our government authorities provided guarantees to UEFA for Mkhitaryan to come to Baku, so there is no issue of security and safety. We are disappointed to see the statement from Arsenal that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be traveling with his team to Baku to participate at the UEFA Europa League final against Chelsea next Wednesday. We very much regret this unwarranted decision taken, as we understand, collectively by Arsenal, the player and his family.”

“While we recognize the right to make a personal decision not to travel, we would like to reiterate that as the host country Azerbaijan has provided all the necessary guarantees required by UEFA to ensure the personal safety of Mr. Mkhitaryan.

“There is no reason whatsoever to put in question the seriousness of these guarantees provided by Azerbaijan. Over the past decade a large number of Armenian athletes have taken part in various international sports events in Azerbaijan without any issues.”

“Finally, we believe that this regretful decision will not affect in any manner the quality and the attraction of this great match. We look forward to welcoming both teams in Baku shortly.”

One must come to the conclusion, therefore, that the Armenian diaspora, in collusion with the Armenian authorities, continues to blacken the good name and international image of Azerbaijan and intimidates its own people and the world community. The Armenian charges are baseless and like a soap bubble, will burst the moment that the athletes land in Baku.

Their slanderous attacks will not disturb the tolerance of the Azerbaijani people, like the waves of the Caspian Sea that crash in vain against the rocks of the beautiful Absheron peninsula near Baku itself.

https://www.jpost.com/International/Chelseas-Armenian-midfielder-to-skip-Europa-League-final-for-security-reasons-590705