Author: Liana Toganian

Members of US Congress congratulate the people of Artsakh on democratic election

Liana Toganian
Public Radio of Armenia

Leaders of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) have sent a letter to Artsakh’s President-elect Arayik Harutyunyan, congratulating the people of Artsakh on recent presidential and parliamentary elections and calling for formal U.S. recognition of Artsakh.

The full text of the Congressional Armenian Caucus letter to President-Elect Arayik Harutyunyan is provided below:

Dear President-Elect Harutyunyan,

As members of the United States Congress and the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we write to offer our congratulations on Artsakh’s historic election on March 31 and the subsequent presidential run-off election that took place earlier this week.

We are heartened to see the people of Artsakh and the country’s leaders remain dedicated to peaceful democracy during these difficult times. Artsakh has remained committed to a system of democratic governance that reflects the will of its citizens, all despite continued violence and threats from its hostile neighbor. And, while we understand there were some complications created by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the relative ease in which voters could cast ballots in these elections without interference clearly represents the strength of the democratic process in the Republic.

As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus, we remain committed to promoting and bolstering the democratic independence of Artsakh. We will continue to support the rightful exercise of self-determination which contributes to regional stability and development. Please know that we will also continue to explore ways to strengthen the ties between the United States and Artsakh that includes the formal recognition of its independence.

Once again, please accept our congratulations on an election that was calm, peaceful, and free of corruption or voter intimidation. We look forward to continuing our productive and robust dialogue with your administration moving forward.

Pashinyan congratulates people of independent and democratic Artsakh on completing elections

Liana Toganian

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 14:05,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the people of Artsakh on completing elections, stating that Armenia continues close cooperation with Artsakh for reaching common goals.

“I congratulate the people of independent and democratic Artsakh on completing elections. They mandated authorities to further strengthen the security of Artsakh and represent it in the peace process. We continue our close cooperation with Artsakh to reach our common goals”, Pashinyan wrote on Twitter.

The voting in the second round of the presidential election was held in Artsakh on April 14. According to the preliminary results, Arayik Harutyunyan was elected President of Artsakh with 88% of votes. The other candidate, current foreign minister Masis Mayilyan received 12% of votes.

Reported by Norayr Shoghikyan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Iran coronavirus cases reach 76,389

Liana Toganian

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 15:12,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. Iran confirmed 1,512 more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected to 76,389, the Armenian Embassy in Iran said.

According to the latest reports, the number of people who died from COVID-19 in Iran has increased by 94. The death toll has reached 4,777. 

3,643 patients are in serious condition.

The total number of recovered patients has reached 49,933.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Sports: Armenian forward admits delight at reported Milan interest: "They are an important club"

Liana Toganian
Sempre Milan, Italy
Armenian forward admits delight at reported Milan interest: "They are an important club"

Huracan forward Norberto Briasco has admitted that he is flattered by reported interest from AC Milan and would love to play with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Briasco is predominantly a right winger but who also knows how to play as a centre-forward, and is a talented player who many European clubs have focused their attention on.

The 24-year-old was recently linked with a move to Milan by Tuttosport, with the paper claiming that the Rossoneri could well be in the market for two strikers this summer depending on the future of the current group.

Briasco is ready to test himself at a European club and – in an interview with VbetNews on Wednesday, he did not try to cover up interest from the Rossoneri.

He has spoken in the media again on Thursday, this time to the microphones of Tuttomercatoweb.com, and seemed to express openness to a move.

“It would be nice. I’m glad you talk about it, we’ll see. I’d like to play in Europe,” he said.

“Milan are an important club, where great players have played including Ibra that having as a teammate would be beautiful. But in the meantime I am thinking of Huracan. And I keep my feet on the ground.”

What is written on the boxes of assistance sent from China to Armenia?

Liana Toganian
News.am, Armenia
April 8 2020

23:55, 08.04.2020
                  

“May Our Friendship Higher than Mountain Ararat and Longer than Yangtze River” — this is the phrase on the boxes of assistance that China is sending to Armenia.

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Commandant Tigran Avinyan had written the following on his Facebook page:

“In a couple of hours, a batch of medical supplies and equipment, obtained at the expense of state funds of Armenia and donated by Chinese state bodies and Chinese and Armenian benefactors, will arrive in Yerevan via a special flight from China to Armenia organized by the Commandant’s Office.”

One of the photos posted on Avinyan’s Facebook page shows the boxes on which one can read the wish for friendship in English.

Avinyan also said what is in the boxes and added another comment:

“120 ventilators,

2 oxygen supply stations,

60,000 tests,

60,000 face masks,

280,000 protective masks,

20,000 protective gloves,

100,000 protective outfits, as well as medicinal substances.

Two citizens of Armenia, who have been residing at the Embassy of Armenia in China for days, will also be arriving in Armenia via the special flight and will be under quarantine for 14 days.

We express gratitude to the Government of China for helping carry out the flight and to the government agencies engaged in the process.

We give special thanks to the pilots of the plane and the Embassy of Armenia in China.”


Foreign Ministry: Armenian students returning from U.S. to be put in 14-day quarantine

Liana Toganian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan issued comments on the situation with the Armenian FLEX students studying in different high schools of the United States.

Below is the full text of the spokesperson’s comments published by the ministry’s press service:

"As already was stated, the Embassy of Armenia in the U.S. has been in constant contact with the Armenian students who were studying in high schools of different U.S. states within the framework of the FLEX program, and with the program representative in Armenia.

On April 9, due to the agreement reached between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Georgia, and in cooperation with the American Councils, the transfer of the Armenian and Georgian FLEX students to Armenia and Georgia, respectively, was organized.

The Embassy of Armenia in the United States and the American Councils coordinated the safe transportation of the students from 19 U.S. states to the city of Chicago, followed by the Doha-Tbilisi flight and the transfer to Armenia by bus.

The Embassy of Armenia in the U.S. and the Armenian Honorary Consulate in Chicago provided Armenian students with necessary medical safety equipment. The greeting and escort of the Armenian students to the departure lounge at Doha Airport has also been coordinated.

As a result of this collaboration, 34 FLEX students and another student studying in the U.S. within the ACES program are returning to Armenia. Upon their return to Armenia, they will be placed under a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

This is yet another good example of the cooperation between Armenia and Georgia in terms of organizing the return of citizens amid the situation with COVID19 pandemic. We thank the American Councils for organizing the transfer of Armenian students quickly and smoothly, as well as our Georgian partners for their support and effective collaboration."

Armenpress: April 7 – World Health Day

Liana Toganian

April 7 – World Health Day

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 14:02, 7 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. The World Health Organization has declared April 7 as the World Health Day symbolizing the establishment of the structure in 1948. Today 194 countries of the world are a member of the WHO, Armenia’s healthcare ministry said in a statement.

“Celebrating this day aims at showing to the people how important health is and determine what can be done to improve the health condition of people worldwide. Therefore, every year the World Health Day is dedicated to any healthcare issue with different slogans, focusing the public attention to the global health trends and a separate problem.

The WHO has declared 2020 an International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, highlighting their important role in keeping the population healthy.

This is a chance to once more appreciate doctors and nurses who are fighting for preserving our population’s health every day, sometimes at the expense of their health.

On behalf of all of us we express our gratitude to our medics who are fulfilling their professional duty these days. Stay firm and be healthy!” the ministry’s statement said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenpress: Magnus Carlsen launches online chess super-tournament

Liana Toganian

Magnus Carlsen launches online chess super-tournament

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 11:31, 3 April, 2020

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen is launching an online chess super-tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Magnus Carlsen Invitational sees the World Chess Champion challenge seven of his biggest rivals to a 2-week, $250,000 battle. Every move will be streamed live on chess24.

“Chess is unique in the sports world as the moves are the same whether played on a wooden board or a computer screen”, Carlsen commented to chess24.

“This is a historic moment for chess, and given that it’s possible to continue top professional play in an online environment, we have not only the opportunity but the responsibility to players and fans around the world who need a distraction when no other live, competitive sport is being played”, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijani press: Pakistan NCHR: So-called “elections” in occupied Azerbaijani lands – against all int

Liana Toganian

Mon 30 Mar 2020 09:52 GMT | 13:52 Local Time

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Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) of Pakistan Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan has condemned the so-called “parliamentary elections and presidential elections” to be held in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by Armenia.

According to DND News Agency, the chairman stated that holding of election by Armenia in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh is against all international norms because the region is illegally occupied by Armenia.

“I strongly condemn the holding of so-called “parliamentary elections” and “presidential elections” of the illegal regime, established by Armenia in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh territory of Azerbaijan by the occupying forces of Armenia, which are to be held on , and join my government and the UN in support of Azerbaijan. I also once again condemn the genocide committed by Armenia in the town of Khojaly against Azerbaijani civilians. Armenia will be accountable for its aggression and Genocide, said Ali Nawaz Chowhan.