Author: Lara Chatinian

For Immediate Release: Viva-MTS and FCHA partnership. Construction of a half-built home in Gomk, yet another achievement of the partnership

Lara Chatinian

Fuller Center for Housing Armenia

53 Armen Tigranyan St., Apt. 26, Yerevan,0037,  RA
Tel: +374 10 24 23 48
E-mail:  
Web: www.fcharmenia.org
Contact: Alla Asatryan

   , Yerevan, Armenia  

Construction
of a half-built home in Gomk, yet another achievement of the partnership

 

By the end of the year, the problem of some 15 years will be
solved in the village of Gomk in Vayots Dzor. Construction of a half-built
house will be finished and the homeowners will finally forget the memories of
their life in a damp basement. The eldest of the five children who were raised
in these conditions is now 15; the youngest one is 2.

 

The leaking roof of the house was replaced long time ago;
yet, the construction half-built structure remained unfinished. In several
months, though, the family will move into their sun-lit finished house, where the
necessities will no longer be a luxury.

 

Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia support
the homeowner, Artash Ghazaryan to fulfill the long-cherished dream. The
partners are unable to join the construction works at the moment, but are fully
engaged in the process. They remotely shared words of encouragement with families
with an unexpected video call waiting for the opportunity to work on the construction
site together again.

 

“I am reaching you remotely because I cannot be physically by
your side hand in hand with you and helping your family. But you are in my mind
and my heart. I hope you will stay strong despite our absence, which, I am
sure, is temporary, and will complete the construction works in the set time.
Stay strong and always strive to reach your long-cherished dreams,” Viva-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian said in a video call.

 

The Ghazaryan family has already started the construction
works. Hamlet, the 15-year-old son of the family, whose childhood and
adolescence passed inside the damp walls, more than ever recognizes the
necessity of finishing the construction as soon as possible. He is proud to be
his father’s help. He wants to be a real support for his mother and sisters.
The Ghazaryans work while making plans about furnishing the home and dreaming
of a life free from current worries.

 

“Gomk is a wonderful village. I could have left the village
in search of a better life, but I didn't. No one will be left in the village,
if people start thinking that way. Here, I build my house with my own hands. I would
never imagine hearing words of encouragement with a surprise video call.
Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia support even they are
physically not here. The call inspired me and I feel even more obliged to
finish the construction in the set time,” Artash Ghazaryan said.

 

Viva-MTS
and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia solve the social problem of housing
and strive to change the lives of people at the same time.

 

Viva-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 Viva-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a
considerable customer base. Viva-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 over 800  families. For more information,
please visit www.fcharmenia.org or email us at


 

Artsakh foreign ministry sends notifications to Secretaries General of UN and Council of Europe

Lara Chatinian

Save

Share

 13:13,

STEPANAKERT, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS. In accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh has sent notifications to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić on taking temporary legal measures by Artsakh, provided for by these international treaties, as a result of introducing emergency situation in the country due to the threat of spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19, the Artsakh MFA told Armenpress.

The notifications indicate that an emergency situation for a period of 30 days was introduced throughout the Republic on April 12, 2020 and was extended until June 11. The Republic of Artsakh undertakes to inform the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe of the legal measures it has introduced for the period of emergency, as well as to inform about the date of termination of such measures.

The Republic of Artsakh acceded unilaterally to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1992 and to the European Convention on Human Rights in 2015.

No decision will be made without the elected authorities of Artsakh – Pashinyan

Lara Chatinian
Public Radio of Armenia


Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again stressed the importance of Artsakh’s return to the negotiating table.

“No solution is possible without the participation of the elected authorities of Artsakh,” Pashinyan told a press conference today.

He noted that ensuring the return of Artsakh to the negotiating table is complex because the international community, the Minsk Group has been working in the current format for the past 22 years,” he stated.

Nikol Pashinyan said “we cannot make decisions on behalf of elected authorities of Artsakh.”

“If there is a solution which I will think is at least worth not to be rejected without consulting with the people, we’ll bring it to the attention of the Security Councils and Parliaments of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh,” the Prime minister stated.

He noted that since 2018 he has concluded an “agreement” with people that should leave no room to manipulation.

Since 2018 I have made such a public agreement with the people, that there can be no room for.

“I’m asked whether we can agree to an anti-Armenian solution to the Artsakh issue. You should ask yourself the question. Will you agree to an anti-Armenian solution? Because the man sitting at the negotiating table represents the people of Armenia,” he said.  

The Prime Minster stressed that there is one distinct principle – nothing is decided unless everything is decided.



Legislator Arman Babajanyan lambasts authorities over judiciary vetting process

Lara Chatinian

Save

Share

 11:21,

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Independent lawmaker Arman Babajanyan is unhappy with the process of judicial reforms. He argues that giving the judiciary the chance of “self-cleansing” is wrong, and not implementing a full vetting will lead to a failure of the revitalization of the system.

“It became clear from yesterday that justice will continue being served in Armenia by the judges who have given legal terming to the persecutions and murders of citizens during past decades, who have acquitted those who have looted and plundered the people, the very same judges who up to this day are under the direct or indirect influence of the former authorities and oligarchs,” Babajanyan told lawmakers in parliament, speaking about a May 11 live televised discussion between PM Nikol Pashinyan and Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan regarding the judiciary reforms.

“And you have naively decided to give them a chance of self-cleansing. And turns out the ordinary citizens will continue paying from their taxes to these judges, moreover, it became clear that you have decided to raise their salaries,” he added.

Babajanyan argues that the revolution might suffer a defeat in the judiciary sector.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenian government considers launching cargo aviation

Lara Chatinian

Save

Share

 14:45,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Government is focused on having cargo aviation in the country, PM Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.

“The Armenian government is interested in this export option. To what extent is having cargo aviation economically beneficial and competitive? This question is being studied,” he said.

In addition to land exports, agricultural produce was being exported also on passenger aircraft, but flights have been suspended since March 19th due to the coronavirus.

On April 24, an exporting company leased a freight aircraft for the first time and exported 23 tons of agricultural products.

Then, two other special flights were organized which exported agricultural products to Russia.

One more plane is expected to export agricultural products to Russia in a few days.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan




Consulate general in Los Angeles urges to help Armenia citizens stranded in California

Lara Chatinian
News.am, Armenia
May 6 2020

10:31, 06.05.2020
                  

Due to the cancellation of flights because of the coronavirus, many Armenian citizens have remained in the western states of the United States, especially in Southern California, some of whom need immediate help with medication, finance, accommodation, and other issues. The Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles announced about this on its Facebook page.

The consulate general called on Armenians living in the western states of the US and to private companies to provide assistance to those Armenian nationals who have remained temporarily in the US due to the cancellation of flights.

All those who wish to assist these Armenian citizens are asked to contact the Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles.

Turkish Press: Armenian Church Attacked in İstanbul

Lara Chatinian
BIAet, Turkey (Human Rights related news)
May 9 2020
Armenian Church Attacked in İstanbul
A suspect related to the attack has been detained, said the governor's office.
İstanbul – BIA News Desk , Saturday 20:55

Dznunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Church in Bakırköy, İstanbul, was attacked yesterday (May 8) as one perpetrator reportedly attempted to set the church's gate on fire.

The Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul stated that it notified the police of the attack. While the suspect ran away, no casualties or material damage was caused by the attack, it added, as reported by Agos, a weekly newspaper in Turkish and Armenian.

"İstanbul Deputy Security Director contacted our Patriarchate and expressed his sadness and stated that the perpetrator would be caught as soon as possible," the statement said.

İstanbul Governor's Office announced that a suspect named M.K. was rounded up by the police and an investigation about the incident was going on.

Minorities in Turkey, such as Armenians, Rums and Syriacs, as well as their places of worship, are occasionally targeted in hate attacks.

The church in Cevizlik Neighborhood in İstanbul's European district of Bakırköy was built in 1844. (RT/VK)

Armenian PM: I hope that I bear the name of my war veteran grandfather with honor

Lara Chatinian
News.am, Armenia
May 8 2020

22:56, 08.05.2020

Victory Day is a holiday that unites all civilized humanity. It is important not only for the CIS and post-Soviet countries but also for all states of the world, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Mir TV channel.

He said that his grandfather, Nikol Pashinyan, went to the front when his father was only a year old. Only a few photographs and a few stories about him were preserved. It is known about the fighting path of Nikol Pashinyan Sr. He was a sergeant of the 554th infantry regiment of the 138th division.

According to some documents, the PM's grandfather died in February 1943, according to others, he went missing either near Stalingrad or in the Crimea.

The PM noted they only have several old photos of his grandfather.

"These are very cherished memories for our entire family. I hope that I bear the name of my grandfather, a front-line soldier, with honor," the PM noted.

He added that the heroes of the Great Patriotic War are not forgotten in Armenian society. The main avenues of the capital are named after them and monuments have been erected in almost all cities. The prime minister noted that on May 9 – despite the COVID-19 pandemic – festive events will take place in the country, a parade of fighters will take place, and 208 veterans will receive honorary prizes of over $ 600.

“The highest degree of human consciousness is to die for the motherland, and the heroes of the Second World War proved that they had reached this degree,” the PM noted.

145 new coronavirus cases recorded in Armenia in past 24 hours

Lara Chatinian

Save

Share

 11:10, 8 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. 145 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infected people to 3,029, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

33 more patients have recovered in the past one day. The total number of recovered people has reached 1,218.

At the moment, the active cases are 1,758.

1 more patient (48-year-old woman) has died. The death toll has risen to 43.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Defense Minister pays tribute to fallen troops on 28th anniversary of Liberation of Shushi

Lara Chatinian

Save

Share

 12:42, 8 May, 2020

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Liberation of Shushi and Yerkrapah Day, Armenian Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan visited on May 8 the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of Armenia and Artsakh, defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said on social media.

Chair of the parliamentary committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan, Yerkrapah Volunteer Union Chairman of the Board, MP Sasun Mikayelyan accompanied Tonoyan during the visit.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan