Author: Lena Karagyozian

Armenpress: Armenia will never be involved in any anti-Iran conspiracy – Nikol Pashinyan

Lena Karagyozian

Armenia will never be involved in any anti-Iran conspiracy – Nikol Pashinyan

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 20:48, 3 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has never been involved and will never be involved in any conspiracy against Iran, because Armenia extremely values those relations and we will never forget that Iran was the path of life for Armenia in the early 90s, Prime Minister of Amrenia Nikol Pashinyan announced during a meeting with the Armenian community in Lithuania, where he is on an official visit.

The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports that Pashinyan also emphasized that Armenia has warm relations with Iran. ‘’President Raisi assumed the office in August 2021, and I also assumed my officie in August, following the elections, and we have already met twice. This is a fact showing how much we value our relations. It is not something new that there are certain circles that manage to publish materials in the Iranian press from time to time that Armenia is involved in some conspiracies against Iran. I am confident that our Iranian partners know that the Republic of Armenia has never been and will never be involved in any conspiracy against Iran, because we extremely value those relations and we will never forget that Iran was the path of life for Armenia in the early 90s. This is such a firm ground for our relations that rules our any involvement of Armenia in any anti-Iran conspiracy’’, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan admitted that the economic relations between the two countries are hampered by economic sanctions. He also emphasized that Armenia will never be involved in any conspiracy against Iran and that’s so obvious that there is no need to even talk about that. “Just the opposite, we have major projects with Iran. During our discussions with Raisi we suggested that they should be accelerated, particularly, the 3rd high-voltage power transmission line is under construction’’, Pashinyan said, adding that the Armenian side hopes to prolong “gas for electriciy’’ contract. ‘’During the meetings I also suggested that we should return to the issue of the construction of Meghri reservoir and HPP, which I think is very important not only in terms of energy, but also in terms of joint management of water resources’’, PM Pashinyan said.




PM Pashinyan honors memory of those fallen for Lithuania’s independence

Lena Karagyozian

PM Pashinyan honors memory of those fallen for Lithuania's independence

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 18:15, 4 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited Antakalnis Military Cemetery in Vilnius, where he honored the memory of those fallen for Lithuania's independence, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

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Azerbaijani president notes important role of Russia, Turkey in Transcaucasia

Lena Karagyozian
TASS, Russia
Oct 2 2021
The Azerbaijani president reiterated that Russia and Turkey had set up a joint monitoring center in the district of Aghdam in Nagorno-Karabakh

BAKU, October 2. /TASS/. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev thinks that Russia and Turkey play an important role in the development and stability of the South Caucasus in the post-war period.

"Today I think about Turkey and Russia as two neighbors of Azerbaijan, and one of them is a neighbor of Armenia, [that play a] very important role in the stability, security and future development. As you probably know, there was recently a meeting between presidents of two countries. Among other issues they discussed the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We consider the role of both countries as a very positive stabilizing role. I think this is the bulk of the new regional cooperation configuration," the Azerbaijani leader said in an interview with Spain’s EFE news agency. The text of the interview was published on Saturday on the AzerTAC new agency’s website.

The Azerbaijani president reiterated that Russia and Turkey had set up a joint monitoring center in the district of Aghdam in Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, he noted that Russian peacekeepers undertake measures to protect peace in the areas inhabited by Armenians. "So, new realities already are in place. Every country has to take into account these realities," he said.

In the fall of 2020, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated with armed clashes occurring on the disputed territory. On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held, a number of regions would be controlled by Azerbaijan, and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region along the line of engagement and the Lachin corridor.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian resigns

Lena Karagyozian

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 11:54, 1 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Premier of Australia’s New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian has resigned, after the state's corruption watchdog revealed it was investigating her, ABC reports.

The ICAC will hold public hearings later this month to investigate whether there was a conflict between Ms Berejiklian's public duties and private interests when she was in a personal relationship with then-MP Daryl Maguire.

Berejiklian conceded her shock announcement comes amid some of the "darkest days in the state's history" — but it's been praised as the "right decision" by the opposition, and some experts.

"I want to be clear, and all the decisions I have made as Minister or Premier of New South Wales, my first consideration has always been the well-being and welfare of the people of this state. I state categorically I have always acted with the highest level of integrity. History will demonstrate I have executed my duties again with the highest level of integrity for the benefit the people of New South Wales for who I have had the privilege to serve,” Berejiklian said.  “As a leader of the New South Wales government, I have expected the high standards of myself and my colleagues and made it clear on numerous occasions that if any of my ministers were the subject of allegations being investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, then he or she should stand aside during the course of investigation until their name was cleared.The reason for my stance was not to have made any presumptions as to their conduct but rather to maintain the integrity of the public office which that person has held while the investigation was completed. That same standard must always apply to me also as Premier. However, standing aside is not an option for me as a Premier of New South Wales. The people of this state need certainty as to who the leader is of the state during the challenging time for the pandemic. I cannot predict how long it will take you ICAC to complete the investigation, let alone deliver a report in circumstances rather first called to give evidence nearly 12 months ago."

Silent march for Armenian women killed in Almelo [The Netherlands] stabbing

Lena Karagyozian
The Netherlands, Sept 28 2021

A silent march will be held in Almelo on Tuesday evening to commemorate two women stabbed to death on M.Th. Steynstraat a week and a half ago. The two women were aunt and niece, aged 70 and 52 years. "With this silent march, in addition to commemorating their loved ones, the relatives also want to express their powerlessness," lawyer Sebas Diekstra said to RTV Oost on behalf of the victims' family.

The victims were Maral Dermovsesian and Zonund Kardanakyan, both of Armenian descent and both members of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Public Radio of Armenia reported. Dermovseisan headed the AGBU Women's Committee. 

A 28-year-old man from Almelo, a neighbor, is suspected of killing them. He was seen waving a crossbow around and firing it from his balcony in the same building where the women were killed. After multiple attempts to approach him safely, the police eventually shot him in the chest. He was taken to hospital, and was still unconscious. According to RTV Oost, the suspect was admitted to mental health institutions several times with psychological problems.

“AGBU Holland lost two of the most active women members through a heinous stabbing crime," the organization said to the radio station. "If we want to write about the late Maral, we may need pages and not through some words. In summary, she was the flower of our community. We pray to the Lord to rest both in peace and to their family members patience and strength in this terrible moments."

The silent march will start on Paganinistraat, where one of the women lived, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. From there, participants will march to M.Th. Steynstraat, where the other victim lived. Their funerals were held last week.  


Armenpress: Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 24-09-21

Lena Karagyozian

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 24-09-21

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 17:27,

YEREVAN, 24 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 24 September, USD exchange rate down by 1.51 drams to 482.24 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.24 drams to 565.81 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 6.61 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.81 drams to 660.72 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 448.89 drams to 27132.66 drams. Silver price down by 1.03 drams to 352.57 drams. Platinum price down by 125.49 drams to 15240.8 drams.

Armenian-American Museum Garners More State Funding

Lena Karagyozian
Outlook Newspapers
Sept 22 2021

First published in the Sept. 18 print issue of the Glendale News Press.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino announced this week that $1.8 million for the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center was approved by lawmakers in Sacramento, fulfilling his latest budgetary request to the legislature.
The much-ballyhooed project, which broke ground in July on the former Central Park site, has now garnered nearly $10 million in state funding. It has additionally garnered millions more from local government, corporate and individual donations.
Portantino, a La Cañada Flintridge Democrat who represents Glendale, had previously worked to secure state funding for the project.
“I am thrilled to secure additional funds to keep the museum’s positive momentum going for this important cultural center in Glendale,” said Portantino, whose district office is located in Glendale, in a statement. “The landmark museum will impact and inspire generations to come. This is an investment that represents our shared vision with the Armenian American community. I am pleased to be in a position to help make it a reality and very grateful to our senate leadership and the governor for supporting this educational investment that will benefit California for decades.”
The groundbreaking ceremony in July drew more than 1,000 to the park site, where they braved the heat for hours as officials and donors extolled what construction of the museum would mean for them and the Armenian diaspora in California and throughout the world. The institution will boast a permanent exhibit as well as rotating ones, on top of various other programming and research endeavors as it seeks to promote the history of Armenian Americans’ contribution to the nation’s history. Ten Armenian American cultural, philanthropic and religious nonprofit institutions are represented on the museum’s board.
“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Anthony Portantino for his unwavering support of the Armenian American Museum,” said Berdj Karapetian, executive chairman of the Armenian American Museum, in a statement. “It is an exciting time for the project as we celebrated the historic groundbreaking with the entire community and now have commenced construction at the future site of the museum. Senator Portantino’s efforts to secure additional funding, and the state of California’s continued commitment and partnership, will help bring to reality a landmark center that will be the pride of our Jewel City and Golden State.”
Prior to the groundbreaking, Portantino helped secure $8 million in state funds in support of the project. After there was a $1 million grant approved by the legislature in the 2016-17 year, Portantino secured an additional $3 million for the museum in 2017-18. This latest addition brings the total state investment in the museum to $9.8 million.

Report on Azerbaijan’s violation of Artsakh-Armenians’ Religious Rights Submitted to UN

Lena Karagyozian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Arts & Culture, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Kataro Monastery in Artsakh's Dizapayt Mountains

The Armenian Bar Association has submitted its third report to the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, to continue to document the serious and worsening developments in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

The Third Report focuses on the numerous ways in which Azerbaijan has curtailed, and continues to curtail, the rights of Armenian-Christians to exercise their religion freely in their ancestral lands which Azerbaijan seized control of less than one year ago. The pattern of Azerbaijan’s conduct documented in this report includes: 

  1. Eliminating physical security for Armenians in Azerbaijani-occupied territories. 
  2. Blocking access of religious sites to Armenian-Christian pilgrims. 
  3. Intimidating clergy by isolating, harassing, and subjecting them to inhumane conditions. 
  4. Inhibiting access to foreign nationals of Armenian descent seeking to conduct religious pilgrimages. 
  5. Changing the character of Armenian religious sites, without seeking participation or input of the Armenian Apostolic Church. 
  6. Continuing destruction of religious sites that connect Armenians to the lands including churches and cemeteries.  

The destruction of cultural heritage which we documented in the previous letters sits squarely within a broader systematic effort and pattern to: (i) deprive Armenians of the right to exercise their fundamental right to freely exercise their religion, (ii) cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of Armenian people and worshippers, and (iii) erase the record of Armenian history and any evidence of Armenian presence from the region. This amounts to more than the anecdotal destruction of cultural and religious property by individual bad actors – it is part of a broader pattern and strategy orchestrated by Azerbaijan. Each of the human rights violations encompassed by this strategy deserves separate attention and condemnation. 

“We request that the Special Rapporteurs investigate, report, and call broader attention to these issues and similar human rights violations. To the extent possible, we urge the Special Rapporteurs to try to mediate and promote peace-building measures that (i) protect and respect access to religious sites for the performance of religious rites; and (ii) protect and respect the coexistence of multiple religious faiths and cultures,” the Armenian Bar Association said.

This Third Report is also submitted on behalf of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Society for Armenian Studies, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and the Association Internationale des Études Arméniennes, the Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation and Save Armenian Monuments.

Biden to host leaders of Australia, India and Japan on Sep 24

Lena Karagyozian

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 12:04, 14 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will host the first-ever Quad Leaders Summit at the White House on September 24, the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

President Biden is looking forward to welcoming to the White House Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan.

“The Quad Leaders will be focused on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas such as combatting COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific”, the statement says.

The Biden-Harris Administration has made elevating the Quad a priority, as seen through the first-ever Quad Leaders-level engagement in March, which was virtual, and now this Summit, which will be in-person.

‘The Smoke Artist’ honors 9/11 firefighters with oil painting

Lena Karagyozian
FOX Los Angeles
Sept 11 2021
By Araksya Karapetyan

Known as "The Smoke Artist," New Jersey-based artist Mher Khachatryan paints with his emotions.

"The idea is that everything that is alive, it's in a movement," Khachatryan said. "It does not die it's a fire, then it becomes a smoke, the smoke dissipates, it turns into water, so everything is in a beautiful and perfect movement. That's why I believe that we are all connected."

On September 11, 2001, Khachatryan was 17-years-old. Like many, he remembers everything about that terrible day.

"I think being a teenager at the time, there was a lot of anger," he said.

But over the years his perspective changed. Especially now that he is a husband and father. 

"I grew to understand that compassion is a much better answer to things than anger and I think, by changing that, by educating my kids and other kids around that love, I think, is a better answer to anything they want to do."

Khachatryan had always wanted to paint 9/11 but he had always felt like there was something missing. That is, until he visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. That experience immediately inspired him.

"The video recordings, the audio recordings, the kids you know, leaving messages to their parents, husbands and wives they're leaving messages… I couldn't actually stay to see the whole thing it was just very overwhelming," he said. "I didn't have that spark in me until I visited."

It took Khachatryan one year to complete this enormous oil on canvas painting. It is filled with lots of emotion and symbolism. It shows the attack, the aftermath and "the rebirth."

"Think inspiration is when the idea, not you taking over the idea, but the idea is taking over you. And then you have no choice but to go with it," Khachatryan said.

The firefighters are the main heroes in his piece. The exact times the two planes hit the Twin Towers are subtly shown in smoke. And perhaps most importantly and most moving is how each victim is represented by 2,977 candles.

"I actually had to double-check the candles three times, just to make sure is the exact amount by first painting. Each candle the body of the candle, double-checking with the wick of it, and then the third time was adding glow-in-the-dark paint on top of each candle so they charge light and if all the lights go down instantly those candles light up for for a few seconds," he said.

He hopes their stories and legacies will live on and those who see this piece are reminded of the importance of being united.

"Unfortunately sometimes a tragedy like this will bring people together. We’re all connected, we're together, and I think my message would be to try to choose love over fear. My message would be not dwell on the tragedy so much, but the rebirth," Khachatryan said.

You can follow more of Khachatryan's work by clicking here.

https://www.foxla.com/news/the-smoke-artist-honors-9-11-firefighters-with-art