Author: Garnik Zakarian

Armenia ex-Ambassador to Vatican: Nikol Pashinyan is not a populist

Garnik Zakarian
News.am, Armenia

23:14, 12.05.2020

Is Nikol Pashinyan a populist or not? This comes as a surprise, but no, he isn’t a populist. This is what ex-Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan declared in his video posted on his Facebook page.

“There are two groups formed in Armenia. There is a group of people who didn’t live the good life in the past, but now live a great life at the expense of the people, and there is a group of people who lived neither well nor bad in the past, but now live very bad and are living and will live worse every week. Today we will talk about the first group,” he said.

According to Minasyan, the first group is headed by Nikol Pashinyan, his family and few close people who are benefiting from power and living at the expense of the people. “These people aren’t populists, just like Nikol Pashinyan isn’t a populist because he has violated the unwritten laws of populism. For example, ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili was considered a populist. Right from the first day of his term of office, he said he would reject all the advantages that the former authorities had and would cut off all ties and not be like them. As for Nikol Pashinyan, he not only started using the whole package, but also added to that package right from the first day of taking over.

He didn’t even wait for his political opponent Serzh Sargsyan to leave the state mansions and entered the so-called mansions and started going live on Facebook to show that he was going to live there. Nikol Pashinyan spent $2,000,000 and repaired a mansion that, I assure you (I have been in that mansion for reasons known to everyone), didn’t need to be renovated. One of his three big dreams was to live better than the famous and wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukyan because only the latter could allow himself to have the quality of life that Nikol Pashinyan has,” Mikayel Minasyan said, adding the following:

“Nikol Pashinyan purchased cars worth more than $600-700,000 for him and his family and personal security vehicles. I assure you there have not been so many personal security vehicles in the past 30 years in Armenia as there are for Nikol Pashinyan and his family. This has absolutely nothing to do with populism. A populist wouldn’t take his wife to travel to different sites around the world at the expense of the people and by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to visit La Scala in Milan or the St. Lazarus Island in Venice. Nikol Pashinyan spent a tremendous amount of money for nothing, managed to have a quarrel with the President of the Senate of Italy and declared that Mikayel Minasyan is hiding in the basement of the Vatican. The bonuses worth billions have nothing to do with populism. Nikol Pashinyan isn’t a populist. He is a state oligarch because he is living like an oligarch with the money of the State and the people,” he said.

Asbarez: Armenians Among NASA Team to Develop Ventilators for COVID-19 Crisis Use

Garnik Zakarian

A team of engineers, among them 10 Armenians, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California developed a ventilator, the use of which was approved last week by the Food and Drug Administration.

One of the JPL engineers, Arbi Karapetian, spoke to Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian on Thursday and described the process and the work that it took the JPL team to develop the ventilator under social distancing guidelines.

A new high-pressure ventilator developed by NASA engineers and tailored to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) patients on April 30 was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use under the FDA’s March 24 ventilator Emergency Use Authorization.

Called VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally), the device was developed by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California to free up the nation’s limited supply of traditional ventilators so they may be used on patients with the most severe COVID-19 symptoms.

“This FDA authorization is a key milestone in a process that exemplifies the best of what government can do in a time of crisis,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “This ventilator is one of countless examples of how taxpayer investments in space exploration – the skills, expertise and knowledge collected over decades of pushing boundaries and achieving firsts for humanity – translate into advancements that improve life on Earth.”

A front-facing portrait of VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally), a ventilator designed and built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. (Phoro by NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA, is offering a free license for VITAL and is reaching out to the commercial medical industry to find manufacturers for the device.

“Now that we have a design, we’re working to pass the baton to the medical community, and ultimately patients, as quickly as possible,” said Fred Farina, chief innovation and corporate partnerships officer at Caltech. “To that end, we are offering the designs for licensing on a royalty-free basis during the time of the pandemic.”

The Emergency Use Authorization allows for use of the device specifically for COVID-19 patients, with the aim of addressing the acute demand for ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic. Like all ventilators, VITAL requires patients to be sedated and have an oxygen tube inserted into their airway to breathe.

“Fighting the virus and treating patients during this unprecedented global pandemic requires innovative approaches and action. It also takes an all-hands-on-deck approach, as demonstrated by the NASA engineers who used their expertise in spacecraft to design a ventilator tailored for very ill coronavirus patients. This example shows what we can do when everyone works together to fight COVID-19,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn. “We believe today’s action will increase availability of these life-saving medical devices. The FDA will continue to add products to this emergency use authorization, as appropriate, during this pandemic to facilitate an increase in ventilator inventory.”

Prior to the FDA’s review, the VITAL prototype passed a critical test April 21 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. VITAL poses several benefits in the national response to COVID-19. It can be built faster and maintained more easily than a traditional ventilator, and is composed of far fewer parts, many of which are currently available to potential manufacturers through existing supply chains. Its flexible design means it also can be modified for use in field hospitals being set up in convention centers, hotels and other high-capacity facilities across the country and around the globe. Intended to last three or four months, the new device wouldn’t replace current hospital ventilators, which can last years and are built to address a broader range of medical issues.

“It’s been exhilarating coming up with VITAL’s design,” said Michelle Easter, a mechatronics engineer at JPL who worked on developing the device. “Now that we have FDA approval, we’re looking forward to seeing companies license this technology and share it with the rest of the world.”

Armenians are truly victorious in WWII and the liberation struggle – President

Garnik Zakarian
Public Radio of Armenia
May 8 2020

President Armen Sarkissian visited the Yerablur Pantheon today on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi.

President Sarkissian laid flowers at the graves of National Hero of the Republic of Armenia, Hero of Artsakh, Armenia’s First Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, National Heroes of the Republic of Armenia Monte Melkonyan, Jivan Abrahamyan, as well as General Andranik and the memorial wall dedicated to Armenians who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of the Motherland.

The President of the Republic honored the memory of the immortals who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland with a moment of silence.

Speaking to reporters, President Sarkissian sent his congratulations on the occasion of the day to everyone in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.

“Today I have come to visit the heroes of our liberation struggle. The symbolism is very deep. How did it happen that 28 years ago on the same day our people won a great victory, one of the most important victories of the liberation struggle, liberating Shushi. The liberation of Shushi, if we compare it with the Second World War, was the same as the battles of Stalingrad or Kursk. They just broke the logic of the war and opened the way to victory,” he stated.

Speaking about the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the President recalled that 300 thousand Armenians sacrificed their lives for that victory.

“Unfortunately, those 300,000 people do not have a grave in Armenia today, but their memory is with us. Of the 600,000 Armenians who fought in the battle, half sacrificed their lives. Our people gave more than a hundred heroes of the Soviet Union, five marshals … and it was not proportionate. A small nation had five marshals, more than sixty generals,” Armen Sarkissian said.

“It is natural that it was impossible to defeat that nation which had been one of the forerunners of the anti-fascist struggle,” he said.

“The name of one of the 300,000 Armenians who lost their lives 75 years ago will not be forgotten. Throughout the liberation struggle, especially today, the organizers of the liberation of Shushi, the fallen heroes, and those who are alive, regardless of where they are, what position they are in, what they are doing, they are all heroes. Such fatherhood does not grow old, it is endless. We are a truly victorious people in World War II and the liberation struggle,” the President stated.

“Such heroism does not grow old, it is eternal. We are a truly victorious people in the Second World War and in the liberation struggle,” he stated.

Armenpress: Former NSS Director invited to Special Investigation Service

Garnik Zakarian

Former NSS Director invited to Special Investigation Service

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 18:38, 7 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS. Former Director of the National Security Service of Armenia (from 2018-2019) Artur Vanetsyan has been invited to the Special Investigation Service in connection with the announcements of former Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan, who is currently wanted by the law enforcement bodies of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Vanetsyan’s lawyer Lusine Sahakyan wrote on her Facebook page.

''Legal procedure is underway and we refrain from extra comments'', she wrote.

On May 2 Mikayel Minasyan issued a footage, where he said hat former NSS Director Artur Vanetsyan had initiated a meeting with him in Rome on the instruction of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, suggesting him to pay some symbolic money to any foundation, after which no criminal case would be pressed against him, but he would have to stay abroad. In the footage Minasyan said that he had denied the proposal.

Reporting by Karen Khachatryan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenpress: Canada has balanced position on NK conflict – Foreign Minister

Garnik Zakarian

Canada has balanced position on NK conflict – Foreign Minister

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 19:28, 7 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS. In a letter addressed to the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) on May 4th, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne clarified Canada’s position on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reported the ANCC.

Contrary to the diplomatically irresponsible and one-sided tweet published by the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, following the General Election held in the Republic of Artsakh on March 31st, Minister Champagne clearly stated that Canada fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group Process, the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the principle of self-determination – amongst others – as outlined in the Helsinki Final Act.

“While I regret any concern that this tweet may have caused the Armenian National Committee of Canada and the Canadian-Armenian community, I would like to reassure you that there has not been any change to our long-standing position on Nagorno-Karabakh” said the minister in his letter.

“We are satisfied to see that the Minister has restored the balance vis-à-vis Canada’s position on this issue of paramount importance to Armenian-Canadians, effectively overriding the lopsided and foreign-influenced tweet published by the embassy in Ankara” said Hrag Tarakdjian and Shahen Mirakian, co-presidents of the ANCC.

“The position of Canada remains based on our strong and consistent support for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group’s work toward a negotiated solution, and our position does not prejudge the outcome of this process. Canada agrees with the Minsk Group that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that any resolution must take into account the Helsinki Final Act. We want peaceful societies, and we will support the solution, when achieved.” Concluded the minister in his letter addressed to the ANCC.

“There is still a lot more that needs to be done on this issue and the ANCC will continue to stand at the forefront and work with our government to ensure that the fundamental human rights of the people of Artsakh are protected and upheld” concluded Tarakdjian and Mirakian.

On April 3rd, the ANCC forwarded a letter to Minister Champagne, raising serious concerns regarding the tweet, asking for its retraction and for the Minister to recall the ambassador for his irresponsibility and inability to uphold Canada’s balanced foreign policy.

The Embassy of Cannada in Turkey, also accreditted in Azerbaijan, made a twitter post saying that Canada supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and doesn’t recognize the so-called “elections” held in Nagorno-Karabakh on 31/3. Such “elections” undermine efforts, including by the OSCE Mins kGroup, to achieve a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict.




Armenpress: Coronavirus spread rate nearly the same in recent days – Minister Torosyan

Garnik Zakarian

Coronavirus spread rate nearly the same in recent days – Minister Torosyan

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 18:31,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Coronavirus spread rate has been nearly the same in the recent days, 3-5%, but it was possible to smooth the growth curve to some extent, ARMENPRESS reports Health Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan wrote on his Facebook page.

‘’In the recent days the growth rate of the disease is nearly the same, between 3-5%. We have succeeded in smoothing the growth curve to some extent. We managed to gain some extra time and reorder to have a more organized system of the fight against the disease’’, the Minister wrote.

He emphasized that the efforts must be continuous and they have to be united, everyone should have his share of responsibility. The Minister reminded that it’s necessary to preserve social distancing and wash hands more frequently, wear face masks when possible.

‘’Parallel with the easing of the restrictions, we have to demonstrate greater sense of responsibility for preventing the spread of the virus. The easing of the restrictions does not mean that the risk of being infected or infecting someone else have disappeared’’, Torosyan emphasized.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Armenia is 1867 by 11:00, April 28. Death toll is 30. 866 patients have recovered, there are 971 active cases.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Armenia Decries Crimes Against ‘Civilization’ on Genocide Anniversary

Garnik Zakarian
Voice of America
By Agence France-Presse
06:38 PM    

Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin II, second left, and other clerics attend a service at the monument to victims of killings by Ottoman Turks, to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the massacre in Yerevan, Armenia, .

YEREVAN, ARMENIA – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday decried crimes against "civilization" and demanded an apology from Turkey as his country marked the 105th anniversary of the WWI-era Armenian genocide.

The genocide is a "crime not only against our ethnic identity, but also against human civilization," Pashinyan said in a message after laying flowers at a genocide memorial in the capital, Yerevan.

Commemorative events were scaled back this year because of the coronavirus restrictions imposed throughout the country, and the Yerevan memorial was closed to the public.

In a short video address at the memorial, Pashinyan said that after more than a century, "the consequences of the genocide have not been eliminated."

"Turkey has not yet apologized for what it did," he said, adding that Yerevan "demands" that Ankara officially recognize the massacres as genocide.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart during World War I in what amounted to genocide, a claim supported by some 30 countries.

Turkey rejects label

Turkey fiercely rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.

Yerevan has long demanded Ankara provide financial compensation and restore property rights to the descendants of those killed in the 1915-18 massacres, which Armenians call Meds Yeghern or the Great Crime.

Pashinyan said Armenians "are still facing the challenges posed to our people at the outset of the 20th century."

He said that instead of visiting the memorial, Armenians worldwide could send their names to a mobile number to have them displayed on the pillars of the memorial until dawn.

Commemorations started in Armenia on Thursday evening, when street lights were switched off and church bells chimed across the country.

Yerevan residents also switched off lights in their homes and many lit candles or waved mobile telephone flashlights at windowsills.

Last month, Armenia — which has reported 1,596 coronavirus cases and 27 deaths — declared a state of emergency and imposed a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the infection.

Armenia’s active cases of coronavirus decline by 75 in one day

Garnik Zakarian

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 10:50,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. 47 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia, 121 more patients have recovered, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“Yesterday 1003 people passed testing. The new confirmed cases are 47. 1 patient has died. 121 more patients have recovered.

Thus, we had a decline in active cases by 75. If in the previous day the number of active cases was 780, today this number is 705”, the PM added.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide to be held behind the closed doors

Garnik Zakarian
Panorama, Armenia
Society 19:35 17/04/2020Armenia

Special Divine Liturgies will be celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and all churches of the Armenian Apostolic Church on April 24, the annual commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide.

The Liturgies will be held behind the closed doors, the Information Department at the Mother See said in a statement. Following the Liturgy a special Repose of Souls service will offered in memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide.

On the same day, at 12.00, the bells of all Churches will ring in memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide, said the source.

Armenia online trade sees major boost amid lockdown

Garnik Zakarian

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 12:50, 8 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Electronic trade turnover has nearly tripled in Armenia since the country imposed lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Minister of High Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan said at a news conference.

“The entire electronic turnover has nearly tripled. This speaks about the fact that businesses who are using online platforms and technologies in isolation are able to organize their activities. Various assessments in different platforms show that online money turnover has multiplied,” he said.

Arshakyan says these developments are positive and it can boost non-cash, online trade.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan