20:20,
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Following the session of the Civil Cointract Party held a while ago, PM Pashinyan informed that there will be an announcement within half an hour. “Dear reporters, we will make an announcement within half an hour”, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan as saying.
The situation over coronavirus was also discussed at the session.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN. – The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) reports that all youth football tournaments under the auspices of the FFA have been suspended until March 10 to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
There will be additional information on the dates of the resumption of these tournaments.
The matches of the Armenian Premier League and the First Division, however, will be held on the scheduled days.
Pashinyan appoints new spokesperson
11:09, 2 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan appointed Mane Gevorgyan to serve as his new spokesperson.
The PM’s respective decision is posted on .
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3
By Huseyn Safarov – Trend:
If Armenia completely closes borders with its neighbors, then it will collapse, well-known Russian expert and TV presenter Yevgeny Mikhailov told Trend, commenting on the Armenian authorities' decision not to close the land borders with Iran and Georgia.
In this case, it is obvious that Yerevan chooses the lesser of two evils, Mikhailov said.
“Armenia made such a decision because closing the border with Iran means blocking access to the economic space for its citizens,” he added.
Regarding the threat of coronavirus, there is no pandemic or any epidemic yet, said the expert.
"Specialists are now working at checkpoints in many countries to identify signs of the disease among visitors. So, the specialists with necessary equipment also work at the Baku airport and Russian harbors. The infection cases have been revealed in many countries."
Mikhailov noted that if Armenia does not control the epidemiological situation, this will pose a regional threat in terms of the coronavirus spread.
"Now the question is only responsibility, in particular of Yerevan. We do not know how seriously Yerevan is ready to fight coronavirus, and this is a matter of concern. But in a situation of economic blockade, Armenia cannot afford to completely close the borders," the expert stressed
As for Russia, it is unlikely at the moment to expect that the country stops communication with Yerevan, he added.
"However, Moscow can take such drastic measures, if the coronavirus spreads throughout Armenia. Then Russia will be forced to stop the traffic between two countries," concluded Mikhailov.
Armenia has not closed the land border with Iran. Earlier, Armenian Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that he also did not consider it necessary to close the border with Georgia.
Follow the author on Twitter: @C8NTINENT
10:27, 3 March, 2020
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is upgrading and extending its border shutdown with Iran for another two weeks as the Islamic Republic is facing the COVID-19 outbreak, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan announced.
He said the decision of the government’s task force will be formalized and published today and come into force March 4.
The initial, partial two-week shutdown of the border was announced by Armenia on February 24. Now, the closure will be extended for another two weeks (until March 24). The initial closure featured some exceptions, namely for cargo traffic, but the upgraded countermeasure also restricts the freight transport.
As of March 3, Armenia has one novel coronavirus patient – a 29-year-old Armenian national who traveled from Iran. The patient is hospitalized and is feeling well, authorities said. His direct contacts are quarantined.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
ArmInfo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a statement on the occasion of the anniversary of the anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait. So, the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, in particular, states: "Today we honor the memory of the victims of the anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait. At the end of February 1988, the Armenian population of Sumgait was subjected to mass killings and atrocities committed with indescribable cruelty.
The Sumgayit crime laid the foundation for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict when Azerbaijan responded to the peaceful appeal of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination by mass violence and pogroms of Armenians. This actually formed the essence of the Karabakh problem: ensuring the security of the people of Artsakh through the exercise of the right to self-determination outside of Azerbaijan. The Sumgayit crime was the first mass crime committed on the basis of identity on the European continent after the Second World War, followed by new crimes planned and carried out on a large scale by Azerbaijan in Baku, Kirovabad and the territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic-Shaumyan region occupied by Azerbaijan, separate sections of Martakert and Martuni.
An assessment by the Azerbaijani authorities of the Sumgayit massacre clearly illustrates the lack of readiness to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Over the past three decades, the tactics of the Azerbaijani authorities have changed from the heroization of criminals to the prosecution of victims for organizing pogroms. The unwillingness of the Azerbaijani side to assume any responsibility for the massive and most serious human rights violations on its territory and the presence of genocidal intentions regarding the Armenians remained unchanged.
Today, we honor the memory of the victims of the Sumgayit pogroms, confirming our determination to prevent the recurrence of such massacres against the Armenian people. "
Recall that ethnic unrest in the city of Sumgayit in the Azerbaijan SSR occurred on February 27-29, 1988. They were accompanied by massive violence against the Armenian population, robberies, killings, arson and destruction of property. According to the British journalist Tom de Waal, these events were "the first outbreak of mass violence in modern Soviet history." The Sumgait pogrom was a landmark event and a turning point in the aggravation of the ethnic conflict in Transcaucasia, which caused the first flows of Armenian refugees from Sumgait to Stepanakert and Armenia. According to the official data of the USSR Prosecutor General's Office, 26 citizens of Armenian ethnicity were killed and more than a hundred people were injured in the riots, while unofficial estimates say that the number of Armenians killed is hundreds During the clean-up operation, 276 military personnel received injuries of varying severity .. On February 29, 1988 at a meeting of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee in Moscow, it was officially recognized that the massacres and killings in Sumgait were carried out on a national basis, however, as indicated in the materials of the human rights activist Memorial Center, the lack of a timely investigation into the circumstances of the pogroms, the establishment and punishment of those responsible led to a further escalation of the Karabakh conflict.
Shushi’s House of Culture was filled to capacity for a celebration of ARF’s 130th anniversary
Shushi, Armenia’s historic capital perched high on the hills of Artsakh, played host to a celebration on Tuesday evening marking the 130th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
A capacity crowd that included Artsakh government officials, the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Parkev Martirosyan, ARF Bureau members and leaders, gathered at the Shushi Cultural House to celebrate the founding the ARF.
ARF Bureau Chairman Hagop Der Khachadourian, Archbishop Martirosyan and ARF Artsakh Central Committee chairman and the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election Davit Ishkhanyan spoke during the event. Each speaker touched upon the ARF’s role in advancing the Armenian Cause and serving the people, as well as the party’s decisive actions in the establishment of Armenia’s Independence and the Artsakh Liberation Movement.
A cultural program included performances by the “We are Our Mountains” song and dance ensemble and other local performers. A video chronicling the ARF’s 130-year history was also screened at the celebration.
The celebration coincided with the convention of an international ARF Hai-Tahd conference, which kicked off in Yerevan in Monday and continued in Stepanakert on Tuesday, with the organization’s central Hai-Tahd committee being awarded the Artsakh Medal of Gratitude by President Bako Sahakian.
Elen Asatryan
LOS ANGELES—Having witnessed first-hand the tenacity and passion Elen Asatryan possesses for civic engagement and the Democratic Party, Los Angeles Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and David Ryu, Burbank Councilmembers Bob Frutos and Jess Talamantes, Burbank City Clerk Zizette Mullins, and former Glendale City Mayor and current City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian, announced their respective endorsements for Elen’s momentous grassroots campaign to secure a seat on the Democratic County Central Committee.
The city officials have worked closely alongside Elen during her two-decade-long political activism and advocacy career.
“I have known Elen for over 20 years, since she was just 16-years-old. Not only is Elen a champion for the Democratic Party, but she has also led one of the largest advocacy organizations in our community. Elen is an honest and resilient activist who fights for Democratic values, proper representation, and civil and human rights. She has also led many successful campaigns and community initiatives, and she will be a valued addition to the County Central Committee,” stated Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian.
“I’m grateful for the overwhelming support received by organizations and community leaders with whom I have a shared vision for governing that includes an emphasis on encouraging public participation in the civic process, government transparency, and ensuring that underrepresented communities have a seat at the table,” said Asatryan. “Volunteering, and then eventually working, on both Councilmember Krekorian and former Glendale Mayor Manoukian’s campaigns sparked my passion for politics and public service early on. These endorsements are both humbling and a reminder of the values I hope to bring to LACDP,” she added.
As a first-generation immigrant, Elen, with her family, moved from Armenia to Glendale at the age of 10, where she then attended Columbus Elementary School, Toll Middle School, and Hoover High School. Elen was a 15-year-old when she volunteered on her first political campaign, and she never stopped championing for causes or candidates from that point forward. Elen went on to graduate from the University of California Los Angeles, where she studied Political Science with concentrations in American Politics and International Relations then serving as Executive Director of advocacy organizations overseeing 19 western U.S. states. In 2017, she founded The Stark Group—a consulting firm specializing in public affairs, nonprofits, and political campaigns.
Dedicated to empowering youth, Elen founded and led internship and mentorship programs for high school and college students, the first Armenian-American Sacramento based Walter and Laurel Karabian public policy fellowship program for recent college graduates. She also spearheaded the Path to College Program to help non-English speaking parents navigate the school system and provide a pipeline of support for students to graduate high school and complete the college admissions process successfully.
“I am excited for Elen Asatryan’s candidacy for the County Central Committee, and I am proud to endorse her. Throughout her career, Elen has invested her time and energy into empowering the community, with great results. When she is elected to the Central Committee, I am confident that Elen will continue to be a champion for social justice,” commented David Ryu, Los Angeles Councilmember District 4.
“While working for the City of Glendale and in my current role as the elected Burbank City Clerk, I have had the pleasure of working with Elen on many community projects. I found her to be very committed, dedicated, highly energetic, and always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. I am honored to support and endorse Elen for the Democratic County Central Committee,” commented Burbank City Clerk Zizette Mullins.
In her mission to ensure that all voters, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and economic background have equal access to the democratic process, Elen developed and implemented voter registration and ‘Get Out the Vote’ initiatives resulting in over 50,000 newly registered voters in two years’ time in L.A. county alone and record-breaking voter turnout in some of the most heated local, state, and federal elections. Elen continues her service to voter inclusivity by serving on both the Los Angeles Voter Outreach Committee and Los Angeles City Votes Voter Outreach and Education Committee.
“Elen was fifteen 15-years-old when her dad used to drop her off at our campaign office. She worked for hours and hours almost every day and when her dad came, he would have to sit and wait outside for her to be ready to leave. She would not leave voluntarily, she had to be forced to leave so her dad could go home,” remarked former Glendale City Mayor and current City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian at a recent campaign event.
“Elen has been involved in political campaigns and the fight for minority rights, human rights, and recognition from the first day that I remember her and I believe that she will continue that. When you look at candidates and talk about elections, don’t vote for a person who makes a promise, vote for the individual based on their character. Elen is the most hardworking and dedicated individual to the Democratic ideals, and she has my confidence and support,” continued former Glendale City Mayor and current City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian.
These endorsements follow endorsements from Senator Anthony Portantino, former CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the East Area Progressive Democrats, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and its local chapters Glendale, Burbank, Crescenta Valley, and Hollywood, the Southern California Armenian Democrats, the Armenian Rights Council of America, Los Angeles City College Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman, Vice President Steve Veres, and Trustee Mike Fong, Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Jennifer Freemon and members Shant Sahakian and Nayiri Nahabedian, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Scott Schmerelson, Glendale Community College Board Trustee Ann Ransford and Former GCC Board of Trustees President Anita Gabrielian, Burbank Board of Education President Armond Aghakhanian and member Steve Ferguson, Burbank Teachers Association President Diana Abasta, and others. The full list of endorsements is available online. www.electelen.com/endorsements
The election for the Democratic County Central Committee will take place between February 22 and March 3 at 1,000 vote centers across L.A. County. Registered Democrats residing in State Assembly District 43, and those who have declined to state a political party but have requested a Democratic ballot, will see Asatryan’s name on their ballot.
For voters who have selected the option to vote by mail, ballots started arriving in mailboxes as of February 4. Elen Asatryan’s name may be found on page 3, 4 or 5 of the ballot.
For those not yet registered to vote, same-day voter registration is available in person at any vote center between February 22 and March 3. To register to vote, update voter information and political party preference, request a vote by mail ballot or find your nearest vote center. lavote.net
The DCCC is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Los Angeles County. It is also the largest local Democratic Party entity in the United States, representing nearly 2.7 million Democrats in the 88 cities and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County – a population larger than 42 individual states.
The 43rd State Assembly District encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, and parts of Los Angeles including Hollywood Hills, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Franklin Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Atwater Village (90027, 90029, 90068 and most of 90039).
To learn more about, get involved in, and contribute to Asatryan’s campaign, visit www.electelen.com. For up to the minute updates, follow the campaign’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ElectElen.
“Today, hate speech has legal grounds; calls for violence are considered to be hate speech,” media expert Samvel Martirosyan said during a meeting at the Tesaket press club regarding hate speech, why and how it spreads, how it impacts internal political processes, and how it impacts society.
“The Internet is the perfect place for hate speech to spread because most people have the opportunity to share their thoughts publicly. This has never been so accessible before. On the other hand, people have had the ability to form groups and find like-minded people quickly, which takes a lot more time in the real world. All of this is what caused many countries to establish laws because it is obvious that hate speech will spread from the online world to the offline one sooner or late, which we have already seen,” he emphasized, adding that the majority of people who spread hate speech tend to have psychological issues.
According to the expert, the European Union is carrying out negotiations with social networks, especially Facebook, so that there can be more control. Samvel Martirosyan said that hate speech on Facebook in Armenia is not controlled very well because it is beneficial for some people. The more comments there are under a particular post, the more visible it becomes.
Nona Ghazaryan