Author: John Hovhannisian

Book: New books from Valley authors: Burger writes of Armenians, Raymond of Wilson Island

John Hovhannisian
Fresno Bee, CA

BY ASHLEIGH PANOO

Author: Jerry Burger, Fresno native, social psychologist at Santa Clara University

 How long is the shadow of genocide? How does it affect the offspring of the survivors? And how do survivors and their families retain a belief in justice when atrocities go unpunished? These questions are addressed in Jerry Burger’s novel, “The Shadows of 1915.” The story takes place in Central California in 1953, where Armenian immigrants and their families live one generation removed from the 1915 murder of more than 1 million Armenians at the hands of the Turkish government.

An encounter between the sons of a genocide survivor and some Turkish college students forces each of the main characters to make difficult decisions that pit loyalty to family and community against personal and legal standards of right and wrong. It is a story about a displaced group of people and the consequences of real historic events that have rarely been examined in fiction. It is also a story about culture, family, recovery from tragedy, and the nature of justice. (Golden Antelope Press, 218 pages)



Armenia healthcare minister refuses to meet with US-Armenian plastic surgeon

John Hovhannisian
News.am, Armenia
Armenia healthcare minister refuses to meet with US-Armenian plastic surgeon Armenia healthcare minister refuses to meet with US-Armenian plastic surgeon

16:51, 20.06.2019
                  

Armenia’s Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan recently refused to receive well-known Armenian American plastic surgeon and founder of ARMIN Benevolent NGO Arthur Salibian, reports President of ARMIN Benevolent NGO Lusine Avagyan.

Avagyan stated that on June 18, Salibian waited in the minister’s reception hall for nearly 40 minutes, and after the minister asked one of his employees who was waiting for him, the employee announced that the minister was very busy and had no time to receive the plastic surgeon.

Arthur Salibian is a well-known Armenian American plastic surgeon who has performed free surgeries for over 100 women suffering from breast cancer in Armenia for years.

“Today everyone knows that surgeries for people suffering from cancer are performed within the scope of a state order, but the reality is that the fact that breast cancer surgery is followed by a recovery period, that is, recovery of the breast which must be performed by allowing the breast to recover on its own, and Armenian American plastic surgeon Arthur Salibian performs this through his personal funds twice a year in Armenia.

Mr. Salibian simply wanted to meet the healthcare minister and provide him with information about the need for recovery of the breast through skin care, receive government support for implementation of the project, engage other funds and foundations through his non-governmental organization and discuss other issues,” Avagyan said.

AGBU Women Entrepreneurs Program kicks off in Artsakh with support of Fruitful Armenia

John Hovhannisian
Banks.am, Armenia
June 6 2019
 
 
AGBU Women Entrepreneurs Program kicks off in Artsakh with support of Fruitful Armenia
 
06.06.2019 | 16:56 Home / News /

AGBU Armenia and Fruitful Armenia have held a press conference on launching the Women Entrepreneurs Program in Artsakh on June 4, 2019.
 
Converse Bank said that AGBU Women Entrepreneurs (W.E.) in Artsakh is implemented together with Fruitful Armenia Charity Foundation to boost the entrepreneurial skills of women in Stepanakert and the regions and help them succeed in the world of business.
 
The project is part of the AGBU Women Empowerment Program which began in Armenia in 2017 to help promote human rights and equal opportunity for women in Armenia.
 
“The majority of the employees of companies governed by Mr. Eurnekian are women.
We believe that women can make a great contribution to the economic development of Armenia and Artsakh. That is why we, specifically Fruitful Armenia Foundation, are happy to be the main sponsor of the project this year, a project that will give the women entrepreneurs of Artsakh an opportunity to develop their business skills,” said Jorge Del Aguila-Eurnekian, Board Member of Fruitful Armenia Foundation and Converse Bank.
 
Converse Bank is also one of the supporters of Women Entrepreneurs Program. Representatives of the bank will give lectures on the financial management and relations with financial institutions.
 
Moreover, the bank has expressed willingness to provide the attendees of the lectures comprehensive banking services on preferential terms, offer business consultation, as well as help the women entrepreneurs to sell their products.

Military hosts celebrations for kids ahead of Children’s Day

John Hovhannisian

Military hosts celebrations for kids ahead of Children’s Day

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16:13,

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Ahead of Children’s Day, the Armenian military organized a celebration at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Yerevan on May 31st.

Children of soldiers, family members of fallen troops and many others had were invited to the Ministry of Defense for the event.

Minister Davit Tonoyan was personally hosting the children.

The most memorable part of the day was the inauguration of a symbolic monument called “Family”. The monument comprised of three crosses – symbolizing parents and a child – was inaugurated by very special guests: Hamest Nersisyan, the mother of the legendary captain Armenak Urfanyan, who died during fierce battles in the April 2016 Four-Day War when he sacrificed himself to stop an enemy offensive, Hovhannes – the grandson of legendary military commander Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, and the sculptor himself – Varazdat Hambardzumyan.

Armenia celebrates June 1st as The Day of Protection of Children Rights.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Sports: Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan to participate in Dityatin Cup

John Hovhannisian
MediaMax, Armenia
Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan to participate in Dityatin Cup


Gymnasts Artur Davtyan and Gagik Khachatryan will represent Armenia in this annual international tournament.

Artur Davtyan participated in the event in 2018 and won medals. He took the first place in pommel horse, became silver medalist in vault, parallel bars and the rings. He also won the bronze in floor exercise.


Court obliges Ashot Grigoryan to refute defamatory information about EEC Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan

John Hovhannisian

Court obliges Ashot Grigoryan to refute defamatory information about EEC Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan

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21:37,

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. The court of the 1st instance of Yerevan has made a verdict obliging EU-Asia Business Finance Center Holding’s President Ashot Grigoryan to publicly refute the information over former Prime Minister of Armenia, Eurasian Economic Commission Chairperson Tigran Sargsyan which has been assessed as defamatory. ARMENPRESS reports the court has demanded the refutation to be published in a number of media outlets.

The court has also decided to fine Ashot Grigoryan by 1 million AMD as a compensation for defamation.

Ashot Grigoryan has made a number of announcements over Nairit Plant which the court has assessed as defamation.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Armenian PM’s visit to Luxembourg begins

John Hovhannisian

Armenian PM’s visit to Luxembourg begins

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09:51,

LUXEMBOURG, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS. The visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his delegation to Luxembourg has kicked off, Armenpress correspondent reports.

The Armenian delegation includes foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, PM’s chief advisor Arsen Gasparyan and PM’s assistant Hrachya Tashchyan.

During the visit, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia will meet with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel.

First, the two prime ministers will hold private talks, followed by an expanded-format meeting of the two delegations.

President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Fernand Etgen will host an official dinner in honor of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, after which the PM will meet with members of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.

Later on, the Premier will leave for Brussels to attend the official dinner hosted by European Council President Donald Tusk on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership’s 10th Anniversary.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Music: Another single released by Armenian team VO.X

John Hovhannisian
Cross Rhythms
May 9 2019


THE LONDON-based Armenian band VO.X have released a single, "The Awakening", from their upcoming album, 'Beatitudes In Progress'. Said the band's Aram Rian, "It is a very intimate synth-pop song born as a prayer of a Christian who desires to seek God's face, understand his will and ask for his guidance in situations where a divine boost is necessary for a personal breakthrough. The song might encourage Christians in their prayers and everyday life." 

Stratfor Ranks Artsakh as ‘De Facto Independent State’

John Hovhannisian
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Straftor bills itself as the “world’s leading geopolitical platform”

The Austin, Texas-based independent think tank Stratfor has ranked Artsakh among de facto independent countries in its latest study covering recognized states, states with partial recognition or no recognition at all.

“One of the most basic questions for map-lovers is: ‘How many countries are there in the world?’ But anyone who just gives you a number isn’t telling the whole truth. It actually depends a lot on how you define a ‘country,’” Stratfor, which bills itself as the “world’s leading geopolitical platform” said in its report published on Monday.

The study cites the United Nations’ figures, according to which there are a total of 195 sovereign states in the world, of which 193 are the organization’s member states, while the two other countries, Vatican City and Palestine, have the status of observer states.

In addition to Artsakh, Strafor lists Transnistria and Somaliland in its list “de facto independent countries.”

“The three places most often considered de facto independent countries despite having no recognition from U.N. members are Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Transnistria and Somaliland. And since 2014 there have been three more contenders for the list, questionable because they’re located in active war zones and have only limited government structures: The so-called “Islamic State” is almost out of the running now that it’s lost most of its territory in Syria and Iraq, but the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic, which claim independence from Ukraine, don’t seem to be going anywhere,” reads the report.

A1+: Robert Kocharyan’s advice to Armenia political opposition on day when A1+ was taken off air (video)

John Hovhannisian
  • 21:37 | April 2,2019 | Interview
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Before heading to Tashkent in April 2002, Armenia’s then President Robert Kocharyan was responding to the A1+reporter’s questions at the airport.

 

Several hours later, the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR)—which he had appointed—reached a decision to deprive A1+ of airtime.

 

But it was apparent from Kocharyan’s words that this decision was made long ago.

 

“It’s portrayed that the commission is shutting down the A1+ company; the commission has no such powers,” he was saying. “The A1+ company was managing the 37th frequency. It was managing [this frequency] for five years, and the term for that management has expired by law.”

 

In addition, he was advising A1+ to participate in the other contests for channels during the year.

 

“I sincerely wish that A1+ would be on air,” Kocharyan was saying, in particular.

 

Also on that day, Robert Kocharyan advised Armenia’s political opposition to spend money and purchase media outlets. In actual fact, the leader of the country considered it normal that a media outlet should have a “master.”

 

“And who says the former authorities shouldn’t participate in politics and shouldn’t have a place in the media arena?” Kocharyan stated, above all.

 

On April 2, 2002, and immediately after being taken off the air, A1+ informed the president of the country—and on the air—that he already has the opportunity to “fabricate” A1+.

 

Robert Kocharyan, however, was right in one matter: the NCTR could not shut A1+ down.

 

A1+ continues to work seventeen years after the being taken off the air, and it remains faithful to its principles.