Author: Hovsep Chakrian

Armenia launches serial production of OG-7V hand grenade launcher round

Hovsep Chakrian
Public Radio of Armenia
March 6 2021  

Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan has presented the Armenian-made OG-7V round for hand grenade launcher.

It is intended to hit the enemy’s infantry and equipment, the Minister said.

It has passed state tests and is now in the serial production stage.

“Along with innovative developments, it is also very important to organize the local production of already existing armaments, both economically and strategically,” Minister Arshakyan said.

These and other developments of Armenia’s military-industrial complex will be displayed within the framework of the ArmHiTec International Exhibition of Arms and Defense Technologies to be held at the Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex on March 25-27.

Azerbaijani press: Assessment of cultural heritage of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh must be objective – French MP tells lagazetteaz.fr

Hovsep Chakrian
POLITICS2 March 2021 11:22 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 2

Trend:

To provide the world with precise information about the state of the cultural heritage in Azerbaijan's Karabakh after the Armenian occupation, it is necessary to organize an international UNESCO mission, MP of the French National Assembly, Frederique Dumas, said, Trend reports.

Dumas made the remark in an interview with the French lagazetteaz.fr online newspaper.

“I think this is the most powerful tool to showcase the realities,” the MP noted.

“The organization of the UNESCO mission is very important, because this mission will more objectively show what happened. The main purpose of our visit to Karabakh with a group of French MPs was to show the situation in the territories of Azerbaijan after the occupation,“ said Dumas.

“Azerbaijan is a shining example of multiculturalism, protection of religions and cultures. Synagogues, Armenian churches and mosques in Baku are located nearby,” she stressed.

“Azerbaijan is a multicultural, multi-confessional state that protects the rights of minorities. I believe that Azerbaijan should always be promoted as a secular, multicultural country that protects culture and religion," the French MP said.

Commenting on the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, Dumas noted that this authority should play the role assigned to it, that is, maintain neutrality, impartiality and ensure justice.

“The Minsk Group must show the way to peace and create opportunities for the peaceful coexistence of peoples,” the French MP emphasized.

Touching upon the resolution adopted in the French National Assembly during the Second Karabakh War on the necessity of recognizing the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", Dumas noted that very few MPs took part in the voting.

“However, the resolution was adopted. Some circles in France, trusting the Armenian community, which claims "we Armenians are closer to you, we are also Christians", voted for the resolution to protect them. The French government made a big mistake by not responding in time. After this resolution, mistrust towards France has already aroused in Azerbaijan. Therefore, I believe that the adoption of this resolution is a political mistake,” Dumas added.

‘Women of 1915’ Will Begin Streaming on Amazon March 8, International Women’s Day

Hovsep Chakrian

March 5, 2021



“Women on 1915″ will begin streaming on Amazon on March 8

COCONUT CREEK, Fla.––Armenoid Productions announced that its 2016 multi-award-winning “Women of 1915” feature-length documentary film is slated to stream on Amazon Video in observance of International Women’s Day on March 8. This documentary reveals that it was women who were left behind to experience the worst kind of torture and the most heroic form of resilience during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The film delineates the stories of these women, along with the lasting impact they had on the lives they saved and touched. 

“We decided to stream the premiere of ‘Women of 1915‘ on Amazon Video to coincide with International Women’s Day, because of the film’s universal appeal. One of the women profiled in our film is Victoria Artinian who, having survived the Armenian Genocide and the Great Fire of Smyrna in 1922, migrated to United States.  From the ‘ashes’ of death and destruction in her homeland, she succeeded in overcoming these impossible traumatic events to live the American Dream.  Amazingly, she also helped raise her daughter’s adopted son who, beginning in his 20s set a path to literally change the world for Victoria Artinian was Steve Job’s adoptive grandmother,” said four-time Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Bared Maronian. 

Victoria Artinian, Steve Job’s adoptive grandmother is featured in “Women on 1915″

Additionally, “Women of 1915” combines facts and emotions to honor the brave American and European women including American volunteer Mary Louise Graffam, Japanese diplomat Diana Apkar, and Danish missionary Maria Jacobsen, who dedicated their lives to rescue the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, while risking their own. 

“Women of 1915” was made possible by a principal partnership between Armenoid Productions, Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA and Ararat Eskijian Museum. The Armenian Relief Society of Canada, Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, AGBU and AGBU –Hye Geen also made considerable contributions to this project.

Screened in over 40 cities around the world, this documentary was officially selected by the Switzerland International Film Festival and has received Best Documentary Awards at the International Independent Film Awards, Aphrodite Film Awards, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, and the Pomegranate Film Festival. The ARPA Film Festival’s most prestigious Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award honored Bared Maronian, the director of “Women of 1915.”  

The creative team behind “Women of 1915” includes, Gloria Sanders as narrator, Bardig Kouyoumdjian as the director of photography, C-rouge as the composer, and Hooshere as the performer. Original soundtrack is available at Spotify and Apple Music.

http://asbarez.com/200892/women-of-1915-amazon-streaming-starts-on-international-womens-day-march-8/?fbclid=IwAR2Jgi-WIyGdZwtLCdKb1aPfowTv5Dv4-EWZR84rYFdKJZnkmXmvvPYhBIU

Bared Maronian’s most recent production Bloodless: The Path to Democracy , a collaboration between Armenoid Productions and Cultural Impact Foundation, is currently gaining rave reviews at international film festivals. It documents Armenia’s 2018 peaceful revolution. Maronian’s earlier 2013 documentary, , 

More than 2,500 people ask Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh to help find missing persons

Hovsep Chakrian
Panorama, Armenia
March 5 2021

A reception center for citizens continues to operate in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh, where a "hotline" has been launched to collect information about the participants of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh who have gone missing.

Their search is carried out by the Russian peacekeeping contingent in cooperation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. All requests are recorded, entered in the database and sent to the joint search groups, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

In total, more than 2,500 people have turned to the reception center for help, including 600 by calling the "hotline".

Armenian opposition leader probed for inciting violence

Hovsep Chakrian
France 24
March 3 2021

Yerevan (AFP)

Armenian investigators said Wednesday that opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan had been charged with making calls to overthrow the constitutional order after he urged the army to rebel against the current leader.

The small South Caucasus nation has been in the grip of a political crisis, with the opposition calling on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over his handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan.

Manukyan, a 75-year-old veteran politician who has been put forward by the opposition to replace Pashinyan, has been ordered to report to investigators on Thursday morning.

"Charges have been filed against Vazgen Manukyan," Armenia's Investigative Committee said in a statement released to AFP, adding he was accused of inciting violence and making calls overthrow the constitutional order.

Investigators said a criminal case had been opened after Manukyan had last month urged supporters to join protests and called on the army to rebel.

Last week Pashinyan defied calls to resign and accused the military of an attempted coup.

A coalition of opposition forces decried Manukyan's "political persecution" and said it would not influence "his principles, political struggle and resolve to prevent a catastrophe threatening our country."

In 1990-1991, Manukyan was post-Soviet Armenia's first prime minister and also served as defence minister in 1992-1993.

Pashinyan has faced fierce criticism since he signed a peace deal brokered by Russia that ended the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region that broke from Azerbaijan's control during a war in the early 1990s.

Fresh fighting erupted over the region in late September with Azerbaijani forces backed by ally Turkey making steady gains.

After six weeks of clashes and bombardments that claimed some 6,000 lives, a ceasefire agreement was signed that handed over significant territory to Azerbaijan and allowed for the deployment of Russian peacekeepers.

The agreement was seen as a national humiliation for many in Armenia.

© 2021 AFP

President Sarkissian meets Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan

Hovsep Chakrian
Public Radio of Armenia
March 3 2021

President Armen Sarkissian met with Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan.

The interlocutors referred to the tense situation connected with the recent events. It was noted that regardless of the decisions made in this regard, the security and stability of the country are a priority.

President Sarkissian noted that the Armed Forces must always be under the care of all of us, he will continue to focus on the army and its problems.

On Tuesday President Armen Sarkissian decided not to sign the draft decree on dismissing Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gaspayan and forwarded it to the Constitutional Court.

Asbarez: ANCA-WR Launches Innovative ‘District Ambassador’ Program

Hovsep Chakrian

March 2,  2021



ANCA-WR launched its “District Ambassador Program”

The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region launched its innovative District Ambassador Program, with the goal of ensuring Armenian-American interests and policy priorities are properly represented in every Congressional district throughout the western United States.

“In an effort to further expand our reach and harness the full grassroots advocacy potential, we’re excited to launch the District Ambassador Program,” remarked ANCA-WR Executive Director Armen Sahakyan. “I encourage Armenian-Americans and friends of Armenia who are interested in getting more involved with our advocacy agenda to apply for the program.”

Registration is now open for those interested to apply to become a District Ambassador on the ANCA-WR website. After completing the form, applicants will be contacted by an ANCA-WR representative to continue the registration process.

Due to the incredible grassroots activist network that already exists in California – in the form of over a dozen ANCA chapters throughout the state – the first phase of the District Ambassador registration will not be open to California residents. The initial focus will be on the states outside of California to strengthen our community’s advocacy efforts across the country.

Consult the map below to see if you reside in a qualifying state marked with green.

Armenian president discusses political crisis with independent lawmakers

Hovsep Chakrian
TASS, Russia
Feb 27 2021
The sides exchanged views on the crisis on the country

YEREVAN, February 27. /TASS/. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting with a group of independent members of parliament to focus on the domestic political situation and on potential solutions, the presidential press service said on Saturday.

"The sides exchanged views on the crisis on the country, on the ways to resolve it and to ease tensions. The parliamentarians briefed the president about their approaches to and views on the current situation," the statement says.

Earlier, the Armenian president held meetings with heads of the parliamentary factions and with members of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement, which supporters had blocked traffic on streets outside the parliament in Yerevan, demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.

On February 25, mass rallies of Pashinyan’s supporters and critics began in Armenia after the General Staff of the Armed Forces had called for the resignation of prime minister and his cabinet. The statement was signed by Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan, his deputies and other top brass. Pashinyan slammed the move as a military coup attempt and announced his decision to dismiss the chief of the General Staff. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, who, under the Constitution, is in charge of appointing and dismissing the chiefs of the General Staff at the prime minister’s initiative, has not signed that order yet.

Catholicos Aram I: Armenia ‘on the edge of the abyss’

Hovsep Chakrian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 27 2021

Armenia is “on the edge of the abyss”, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia said on Saturday.

“The chaos inside the country is gradually deepening. Mind out! Chaos may lead to unpredictable consequences. The salvation of the homeland requires compromises from all, as well as mutual understanding and trust. It is necessary to act with this sense, since tomorrow may be too late,” he wrote on Facebook.

Tensions rose in the country after the Armenian military’s top brass demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his cabinet in a statement on Thursday, accusing them of misrule. Shortly afterwards, the premier signed an order to dismiss Chief of the General Staff Onik Gasparyan, but the decision is subject to approval by the country’s president. 

President Sarkissian to meet with heads and representatives of parliamentary factions

Hovsep Chakrian

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 13:24,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian will hold meetings today with the heads and representatives of the parliamentary factions, his Office told Armenpress.

The meetings aim at finding ways for mitigating the current tension and peacefully solving the situation in the country.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan