Author: Toneyan Mark

Tigran Abrahamyan: The attacks on army will leave their negative consequences on the new system for the coming time

Toneyan Mark
Panorama, Armenia

The Head of "Henaket" analytical center Tigran Abrahamyan writes on Facebook: "The war and the processes that followed it, putting the blame of the defeat and the whole responsibility on the army, the command staff, servicemen, reservists and volunteers pursues two main goals for the authorities  – to clear the political leadership of all guilt and ensure reproduction through snap parliamentary elections." 

Abrahamyan reminds that the process discrediting the army and the military was launched in 2018 and continues today, transforming in line with realities and demands of the current days. 

"The security system with all its components has not been built in one day, and it is natural that the internal resistance has always been there over this period. However, the war accelerated the processes and the system faces major immune challenges. Whatever army we build in the future, either through reforming of transforming it, professional military will be at the foot-front of it, while the attacks on army will leave negative consequences on the new system for the coming time." 

In Abrahamyan's words, despite the severe reality on the ground and conditions, including lack of border infrastructure, issues with military equipment, the servicemen of the Armed Forces continue performing their service with dignity and high spirit. 

Djorkaeff kicks off FIFA Foundation Campus – Armenia 2021

Toneyan Mark

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 10:22, 4 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. FIFA Foundation Campus – Armenia 2021, a joint project by the Football Federation of Armenia and FIFA Foundation – kicked off at the Football Academy in Yerevan.

The FIFA Foundation chose Armenia as the first country for the program, the Football Federation of Armenia said in a news release.

Retired footballer and the CEO of FIFA Foundation Youri Djorkaeff was personally at the inauguration event where the 100 participating children aged 12-14 were given uniforms and presents.

The project organizes a one-week camp for children from vulnerable families, orphans, children with disabilities, and children from families of national minorities and those displaced from Artsakh.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia: the war in Nagorno Karabakh and assisted reproductive technology

Toneyan Mark
May 5 2021
05/05/2021 -  Armine Avetysian

“I had a son. He was my life, my sunshine, my happiness. We were very young when we got married and became parents. Then, for a few reasons, we did not have a second child. The war took my one and only”. Anna, 46 (the name was changed at the woman's request), struggles with words as she tells about her son, who died 6 months ago.

She swallows her tears, tries to find her breath, and keeps talking: “I feel infinite emptiness, no one can take his place, but we must try to live, though I don't know how”.

Anna's son died in September 2020, during the Artsakh war. Artsakh, better known as Nagorno-Karabakh, is an unrecognised state in the South Caucasus. From September 27 to November 10 last year, military operations took place between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian forces and the army of Azerbaijan, which killed thousands of people on both sides.

For 6 months Anna has been struggling with her life, even thinking about suicide.

“My son was only 18 years old. He dreamt of becoming an architect. He would build cities in his mind, plan buildings, and first thing he was going to build our house. I had a very smart son: I do not say that as a mother, but objectively. Having long conversations with him in my mind after he died, thinking about the future of my country, I realised that my son would not want me to die. Instead of dying, I have to be strong; I have to have new children to make my son's dreams come true with them. True, no one can replace my son, but he would definitely agree if I had another child”.

Anna will soon undergo the necessary medical examinations. She is gradually preparing to become a mother again. She is going to benefit from the new decision of the Armenian government, allowing parents who lost their sons in the war to access the state IVF (in vitro fertilisation) programme.

So far, the programme was only available to women under 42, but most mothers who lost their sons in the war are older than that. Therefore, the age limit was raised to 53.

Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan stresses how a new group of beneficiaries was created considering the desire of parents who lost their sons to have other children in the post-war period, as well as the importance to provide state support in this regard. In the past, the programme was available to residents of the border areas, soldiers, and people with disabilities as well as citizens included in the family benefit system.

“The usual requirements include being childless, being registered in the Civil Acts Registration bodies in accordance with the law, and the woman being under 42. This does not apply to parents of a son who died as a result of participation in hostilities during and after the war. The programme will provide an opportunity for parents to find themselves once again through assisted reproductive technology”, noted Avanesyan during the discussion in a government session.

In 2020, 49 embryos were implanted within the framework of the programme; 44 in the first quarter of 2021. 917 million drams (approximately 1,457,000 Euros) were allocated for the implementation of the programme, 3 times more than last year.

According to Eduard Hambardzumyan, President of the Armenian Society for Reproductive Medicine, doctors began to think about creating this opportunity after the end of the war. “When parents who lost their sons started to apply to us, we realised that we had to take steps. They want to be parents again. And it is a heroic step. These people should be an example for all of us, we should look forward, reproduce, strengthen the state”.

“Few in our neighbourhood know that my husband and I have such a plan. Sometimes I get upset about my age. I think that being a mother at this age is not so right, but on the other hand I am confident. Moreover, I must be an example for others. Now I pray God to give me enough health and let me become a mother and have a normal pregnancy”, says Anna, adding that, if she can, she will have another child.

 

Major-General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan posthumously named National Hero of Armenia

Toneyan Mark
Public Radio of Armenia
May 8 2021  

According to a decree signed by President Armen Sarkissian, Major-General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan (also known as Commandos) was posthumously awarded the Order of Motherland for his exceptional services in the establishment and development of the Armed Forces, the establishment, defense and security of the homeland.

The Order of Motherland is awarded for exceptional services of nationwide importance rendered to the Republic of Armenia in the spheres of the defense of the state and strengthening of law and order, as well as for creation of significant national values.

The recipient of the Order is considered a National Hero of Armenia.

FM Lavrov invites Armenia’s Ara Aivazian to visit Russia

Toneyan Mark

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 13:14, 6 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov invited Armenia’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian to visit Moscow.

“I have invited the Armenian foreign minister to visit Russia to continue our discussions on various issues”, FM Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Ara Aivazian in Yerevan on May 6.

He noted that during their meeting he and Mr. Aivazian discussed a broad range of issues.

“During our talks we have noted that there is a high-level dialogue between us. The inter-parliamentary relations are developing. The delegation of the Federation Council has visited Yerevan for participation to the Armenian Genocide commemoration events. On May 16-18 the visit of Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan to Moscow is planned”, the Russian FM said.

The Russian minister stated that they highly value the partnership between the two countries in integration processes, such as in the EAEU, CIS and CSTO.

“Russia remains Armenia’s biggest partner. We have also highlighted the importance of military and defense cooperation”, Sergei Lavrov said.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Armenia on May 5 on a two-day visit.

He is scheduled to meet with Armenia’s caretaker prime minister Nikol Pashinyan on May 6.

Lavrov will also pay a working visit to Baku on May 9-10.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Over 20 Australian political leaders call for recognition of the Armenian Genocide

Toneyan Mark
Public Radio of Armenia
May 5 2021


An unprecedented number of Federal and State parliamentarians joined the Armenian-Australian community in commemorating the 106th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, amplifying calls for the Australian Government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

Over 20 ministers, shadow ministers and parliamentarians representing all sides of politics conveyed condolence messages to the Armenian-Australian community. Their messages contradicted Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s statement that recognised “dispossession, deportations and death” – as well as Australia’s first international humanitarian relief effort to assist surviving orphans – but failed to correctly characterise as genocide the 1915 murders of over 1.5 million Armenians, and over 1 million Assyrians and Greeks.

Prime Minister Morrison, who called for Federal Australian recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a backbench MP in 2011, failed to correctly characterise the crimes of 1915 in his 2021 statement, despite acknowledging Australia’s first major international humanitarian relief effort to aid the “dispossession, deportations and deaths” suffered during the events.

Despite this, supportive video messages of Australia’s political leaders were streamed online via Facebook and YouTube during the Australian National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on Friday the 23rd of April.

Messages were received from Hon. Paul Fletcher MP – Minister Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and Art, as well as Federal parliamentarians, Adam Bandt MP – Leader of The Australian Greens, Tim Wilson MP, Jason Falinski MP, Trent Zimmerman MP, John Alexander MP, Julian Lesser MP, Josh Burns MP, Fiona Martin MP, Steve Georganas MP, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg, Senator Kristina Keneally and Senator Eric Abetz.

In his message to the Armenian-Australian community, Minister Fletcher conveyed: “It’s vital that here in Australia, in line with the position of so many other countries around the world, we recognize and acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, so that, amongst other things, such atrocity is never again perpetrated.”

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Senator Keneally also called on Australia to recognize the Armenian Genocide, saying: “I look forward to the time the Australian Parliament … join[s] over 30 nations around the world in recognising the Armenian Genocide.”

The leader of the largest Federal cross-bench party, Bandt similarly joined his Parliamentary colleagues in not only calling for Australia to recognize the mass murder of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks as genocides, but also denounced any foreign gag order being imposed by Turkey on Australian leaders.

Bandt said: “The Greens have long held the unequivocal view that the Australian Government must recognize the Armenian Genocide and not languish with Turkey and other countries refusing to recognize this tragedy.”

These messages were echoed by many parliamentary colleagues of Fletcher, Keneally and Bandt.

“We welcome the broad non-partisan support from our allies and friends in the Australian parliament and thank them for raising their voice on this important issue. We look forward to working with them to ensure Australia too accurately characterises the Armenian Genocide,” said ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian.

The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of Australia’s largest state of New South Wales and a grandchild of Armenian Genocide Survivors, led messages of support from fellow state legislators from both major parties, including Speaker Jonathon Odea MP, Minister Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord MLC, Hugh McDermott MP and Janelle Saffin MP.

In her statement, Premier Berejiklian honoured the memory of our ANZACs and paid tribute to the thousands of Australians, who financially supported and aided Armenian, Assyrian and Greek survivors during the 1915 Genocides.

Berejiklian said: “Our own Aussie diggers were some of the first witnesses and Australian charities [were] some of the first around the world to provide assistance to were victims back in 1915.”

On 24th April, Berejiklian also took to social media and raised the issue with her over 200,000 Instagram, Facebook and Twitter followers, noting: “I am forever hopeful Australia will join the many nations around the world who have recognised the Armenian Genocide of 1915.”

In addition to these political messages of support, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has received letters calling for his accurate recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides from Mr. Trent Zimmerman MP and Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP – as co-convenors of the Armenia-Australia Inter-Parliamentary Union, Senator Janet Rice – as the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of The Australian Greens, Hon. Jonathan O’Dea MP and Hon. Walt Secord MLC – as co-convenors of the New South Wales Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, the New South Wales Young Liberals, the New South Wales Ecumenical Council representing 16 churches, Christian Charity Barnabas Fund Australia, Kurdish Lobby Australia, as well as from numerous prominent academics.

The Jewish-Australian community also added their voice to these calls, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionist Federation of Australia, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the editors of Australian Jewish News calling on Australia and Israel to recognise the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides.

Asbarez: DSCC Member Elen Asatryan Introduces Resolution Urging Release of Armenian POWs;

Toneyan Mark

May 1, 2021



California Democratic Party meeting

Calls for Divesting from, Condemning, and Sanctioning Turkey and Azerbaijan.

LOS ANGELES—LACDP Elected Member and DSCC Member Elen Asatryan has introduced a resolution, which will be considered at the California Democratic Convention taking place from April 29 through May 2, condemning Turkey and Azerbaijan for the war crimes they committed over the course of 44 days after their attack on the Republic of Artsakh and Armenia, which began on September 27, 2020.

The resolution also urges Congress and the Biden Administration to sanction Turkey and Azerbaijan and demand that Azerbaijani authorities immediately release all Armenian POWS and captured civilians. Furthermore, it also calls on the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the State Teachers’ Retirement System to take socially responsible steps and divest all public employee retirement funds from investment vehicles issued by Turkey and Azerbaijan until Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915 – 1923, and until the people of Artsakh are afforded the opportunity of self-determination on their indigenous lands.

LACDP Elected Member and DSCC Member Elen Asatryan

“Authoring this resolution is deeply personal because Armenian-Americans are among the diverse constituents I am proud to represent in my capacity as an elected member of Los Angeles County’s Democratic Party and Democratic State Central Committee. It is our duty and our moral responsibility as an organization to take a firm stand against human rights violations, to show solidarity in this moment of pain, to amplify the voices of our minority communities against the voices of oppression, and to uphold the basic values of life, liberty, and pursuit of a dignified existence. This is a humanitarian crisis that demands bold leadership and our immediate attention,” emphasized Asatryan.

The situation is dire, lives are at stake with Armenian POWs and civilian hostages still being held captive and continuous threats from the Dictators Erdogan and Alliev to finish their mission of annihilating the Armenian people. Turkey and Azerbaijan must be held accountable not only for the war crimes they continue to commit to date, but for the inappropriate allocation of our American tax dollars towards these war crimes.”

“If we don’t take a strong stance now, then nothing sets us apart from the international community in 1915 who stood by and watched the Armenian Genocide unfold- and did nothing to stop it.  I am hopeful that my peers and fellow leaders within the Democratic Party will reflect on the critical importance of this time-sensitive resolution and will shepherd its passage at the state convention, and thank all the elected officials, sponsors, and organizations who have helped bring the resolution to this point,” she added.

“Because genocide is not some relic of the past, it’s happening right now in places around the world. Only months ago, Turkey and Azerbaijan made war against the Armenians in Artsakh, and many Armenians fear that another genocide could take place at any time. Speaking this simple truth can help deter other crimes against humanity by demonstrating that those who engage in mass murder will be held accountable,” stated Congressman Adam Schiff who is a sponsor on the resolution.

“As the grandchild of four genocide survivors and as a third generation refugee of the genocide, I see the recent offensive by the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments as the continuation of the legacy of genocide, the uprooting of my indigenous Armenian community from our ancestral lands and the destruction of our cultural heritage. This resolution is timely and essential because it calls for holding the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments accountable for their ongoing human rights violations against my people. Our tax dollars can no longer support the war crimes of these governments,” stated LACDP Elected Member and DSCC Members Suzie Abajian who also stands as a sponsor to the CDP resolution.

The original resolution was submitted with the maximum 35 DSCC sponsors allowed and includes Congressman Adam Schiff and DSCC Members Suzie Abajian, Hans Johnson, Vanuhi Vartanian, Cindy Montoya, Ellen Finkelpearl, John Harabedian, Josue Barnes, Drexel Heard, Koreen Cea, Todd Jones, Jessica Craven, Linda Perez, Malcolm Johnson, Kev Abazajian, Gina Clayton-Tarvin, Sean Abajian, Melissa Taylor, Rebecca Wolfersberger, Luis Lopez, Mia Livas Porter, Marco Flores, Tina Fredericks, Steven Fisher, Karen Suarez, Mary Ann Lutz, Kathleen Patterson, Angelica Duenas, Tim Wendler, Mindy Pfeiffer, Jacinta Lincke, Kenneth Armstrong, Jason Small, and Thom O’Shaughnessy. Letters of support were sent to the committee members from over 125 organizations, leaders, delegates and fellow democrats urging passage of the resolution, including the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, Armenian Assembly of America, Southern California Armenian Democrats, Pan Armenian Council of the Western United States and its 24 regional and national Armenian-American religious, political and civil organizations, the Glendale Teachers Association, East Area Progressive Democrats, Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and others.

The California Democratic Party’s resolutions committee has the authority to amend language of any resolution it receives. It also has authority to combine resolutions, should there be multiple resolutions submitted that are similar in topic, without needing prior approval from those who have authored the resolutions. Though there were two resolutions similar in topic, and the other resolution’s author has been added to the referenced resolution, the committee chose to use the language of Asatryan’s resolution exclusively, worked with Asatryan exclusively on amendments, and agreed to keep the language of her original resolution mainly in place. The other resolution in its entirety was considered both outdated and not in line with CDP guidelines. In addition, it included a list of sponsors, which at least two were verified as unauthorized for use, and one unauthorized sponsor which was also not a DSCC member.

This resolution comes on the heels of President Biden formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide as genocide and another unanimously-passed resolution by the LA County Democratic Party in October 2020 authored by Asatryan, which condemned Azerbaijan and Turkey for committing war crimes during their 2020 attacks on the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia and called on the U.S. to immediately impose sanctions and halt military aid to Azerbaijan and Turkey.

California is home to over one million Armenian Americans, a large majority of whom are directly impacted by the current threats and are descendants of Armenian genocide survivors, who have been tirelessly advocating for global assistance and intervention as they witnessed the unimaginable sufferings of their family members overseas, inflicted by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The California Democratic party is the dominant political party in the state.  Representing over 10.3 million democrats, it is also the largest democratic entity in the United States.

Pashinyan, Cabinet members to get COVID-19 vaccine to promote inoculation among citizens

Toneyan Mark

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 10:59,

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. With only 2690 people having been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Armenia so far, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Cabinet said they will get the shots within a week in an attempt to promote the inoculation process and dismiss speculations.

During the April 29 Cabinet meeting, the caretaker minister of healthcare Anahit Avanesyan – who got her first dose of the vaccine the day before – said that 656 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded over the past 24 hours, and over 2000 patients are now hospitalized. 16 people died over the last 24 hours. The death toll has already passed 4000, she said.

The Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan had joined Avanesyan in the televised vaccination process. Avanesyan says they are both feeling well.

“Getting vaccinated is the only way which will help us end the disastrous process of deaths and suppress the next wave,” Avanesyan said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said they should set an example and that all other Cabinet members ought to get vaccinated in a week. 

“If any vaccine were to pose any danger to our citizens’ health the government would simply not accept that vaccine,” Pashinyan said.

“The campaign which exists in Armenia isn’t surprising at all because unfortunately some anti-vaccination movements have begun in Armenia over the last years and their goal is unclear. We must all get vaccinated. As of this moment only 2690 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, which is an embarrassingly low number.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

CivilNet: Robomart Is The Driverless Minimart Co-Founded by Tigran Shahverdyan

Toneyan Mark
CIVILNET.AM

28 Apr, 2021 08:04

The Robomart looks like a minivan. But it’s a bit more than that. This is the world’s first self-driving store. From fruits, vegetables, to personal and pharmacy products, Robomart brings what the clients need, where they need. They only need to have the app. 

The California based smart car and store-hailing service has three co-founders. One of them is Tigran Shahverdyan from Armenia.  

Artsakh FM introduces post-war humanitarian situation to EU Special Representative

Toneyan Mark

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 15:29,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. On April 15, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan, who is on a working visit in Yerevan, met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, the foreign ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress.

Touching upon the armed aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on September 27, 2020, with the support of Turkey and participation of international terrorists, the Foreign Minister presented the humanitarian situation in Artsakh emerged as a result of the war. Issues related to overcoming the post-war crisis were discussed.

David Babayan stressed that the international community should take active steps aimed at repatriating all Armenian prisoners of war and hostages from Azerbaijan, emphasizing at the same time official Baku’s open disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights.

In the context of a comprehensive and final settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the parties stressed the importance of resuming the negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. The Foreign Minister noted that Artsakh would never be under any subordination of Azerbaijan, adding that the security and self-determination of the people of Artsakh are the key components of the conflict settlement.

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia Sergey Ghazarian and other officials participated in the meeting.