Author: Zhanna Nahapetian

New proposals from Russia on delimitation and demarcation are again acceptable for Armenia – Pashinyan

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 11:15, 18 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. On November 17 the Ministry of Defense of Russia made proposals regarding a preparatory phase for delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the Cabinet meeting.

“During the questions and answers time in parliament yesterday, I said that since May there’ve been three proposals from Russia on delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and all three were basically acceptable for us and continue being acceptable. After my statements yesterday, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation made proposals regarding a preparatory phase for delimitation and demarcation. And I’d like to reiterate that these proposals are acceptable for us,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister tasked Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to clarify details with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu to try and realize the proposals.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenpress: Military denies ordering high-ranking personnel to disengage

Zhanna Nahapetian

Military denies ordering high-ranking personnel to disengage

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 09:51,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS.  The Armenian Ministry of Defense is denying as fake news the newspaper report claiming that during the November 16 Azerbaijani attack the Armenian military had ordered officers above the rank of Major to disengage from the combat zone.

“A media outlet report claimed that “During the latest military operations in Syunik officers above the rank of Major were not allowed to man positions in active combat zones”. This report has nothing to do with reality. We once again strongly call to refrain from spreading fake news,” the Ministry of Defense said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Expanded-format session of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council kicks off in Yerevan

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 11:15,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The expanded-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council kicked off in Yerevan.

[see video]
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov and the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich are participating in the meeting.

A wide range of issues related to the development of cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union in the fields of agriculture, industry and healthcare are on the agenda.

The introduction of new regulations in markets of various sectors and customs regulations will also be addressed. The EEU 2022 budget will also be discussed.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Photos by Tatev Duryan




Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 17-11-21

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 17:28,

YEREVAN, 17 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.67 drams to 475.99 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.48 drams to 538.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 6.54 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.62 drams to 639.21 drams.

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

Gold price up by 29.35 drams to 28452.14 drams. Silver price up by 1.46 drams to 386.72 drams. Platinum price up by 115.25 drams to 16741.95 drams.

November 8 Townhall with Ambassador Tracy

Zhanna Nahapetian
U.S. Embassy in Armenia
Nov 11 2021
Home | News & Events | 

Dear U.S. Citizen Community,

For those of you who couldn’t join the Ambassador’s town hall yesterday, we are including the key points from the meeting and a link to watch the recording.

Key points:

  • In the embassy, we continue to offer services on a limited basis. The American Citizen Services section continues to assist Americans to renew passports, document their American citizen children born in Armenia, provide notary services, and assist with special citizen services.
  • Our visas section continues to increase services but has not resumed regular visa services. For non-immigrant visas we are prioritizing students, people with humanitarian emergencies, and urgent business travel.  These people may request expedited appointments through our scheduling system if an appointment is not available before their expected travel dates.
  • On November 8, marked the beginning of the new travel requirements for non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants travelling to the United States. These requirements are part of President Biden’s new international air travel policy that is stringent, consistent across the globe, and guided by public health.  Under this travel policy foreign national air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions.
  • The CDC has identified Armenia as a country with limited vaccines. This means that Armenians with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] are excepted from the vaccine requirement and may travel.  Nonvaccinated non-immigrant travelers will be required to attest that they are excepted from the requirement to present Proof of Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19.  Based on the category of the exception, the nonvaccinated traveler may further be required to attest that:
    • The traveler will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3–5 days after arrival in the United States, unless they have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
    • The traveler will self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if the test result to the post-arrival viral test is negative, unless they have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; and
    • The traveler will self-isolate if the result of the post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms.

***The CDC will regularly review this status and it may change at any time.  Foreign nationals should check the CDC website before traveling to ensure they meet all current qualifications.***

  • All travelers, including fully vaccinated air travelers, will continue to be required to show documentation of a pre-departure negative viral test from a sample taken within three days of travel to the United States before boarding. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether U.S. citizens, LPRs, or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to show documentation of a negative viral test from a sample taken within one day of travel to the United States.
  • If you have questions about the new travel requirements or which vaccines are accepted for travel to the U.S., please visit the CDC website.

Link to watch the live recording:  https://youtu.be/lYnNNnbr75s.

Sincerely,

U.S. Embassy Yerevan
(+374-10) 49-45-85 (business hours)
(+374-10) 464-700 (after hours)
1 American Avenue
Yerevan 0082, Republic of Armenia
https://am.usembassy.gov/

For Travel Alerts and information about Armenia: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Armenia.html

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Music: Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #6 – Korea Meets Armenia

Zhanna Nahapetian
TheaterMania
Nov 11 2021

Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A.
Sita Chay is a violinist, composer, and producer who won a 2017 Latin Grammy Award for Best Mariachi Album, as violinist with the world-renowned Flor de Toloache. She is the only Korean artist to have won a Latin Grammy. Sita was also nominated for a 2020 Grammy in the Best Jazz Large Ensemble category, as a member of Miho Hazama’s M Unit. She is the founder and music director of the Korean Shaman Music Ritual, SaaWee, which was hailed by international critics as a “delicate powerhouse”. Her leadership as a director of Cosmopolis Collective -Immigrant Story Telling Band was featured in New York Times and many other media.

Ara Dinkjian is an Armenian born in America whose earliest musical experience was accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a renowned Armenian folk and liturgical singer. Ara learned several Western and Eastern instruments (piano, guitar, dumbeg, clarinet) and in 1980 graduated from the Hartt College of Music, earning the country’s first and only special degree in the instrument for which he has become most well-known, the oud.
This concert is accompanied by percussionist Satoshi Takeishi. Satoshi Takeishi, drummer, percussionist, and arranger is a native of Mito, Japan. While studying music at Berklee College of Music, he developed an interest in the music of South America and went on to live in Colombia for four year. While in Columbia, he worked on the group Macumbia with composer and arranger Francisco Zumaque and performed with the Bogota symphony orchestra. Upon returning to the U.S., Takeishi has continued to take an interest in diverse musical traditions from around the world. 
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Members need to use their Custom Login ID to purchase member tickets. Contact [email protected] if you don’t know your Custom Login ID.
For answers to frequently asked questions regarding tickets, please click Here.
Proof of vaccination (with ID) is required to attend this event in person, as is mask wearing. If you are interested in attending this event in person, please read the full COVID Safety Policy carefully before purchasing tickets.


Armenia ex-deputy defense minister: Pashinyan is lying when he says there is no logic of corridor

Zhanna Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 12 2021
15:23, 12.11.2021

Pashinyan is lying when he says there is no logic of corridor and that the Armenian authorities have allegedly disagreed with the provision of a corridor and the Azerbaijanis have said that, in this case, the Goris-Kapan motorway needs to be under their control. This is what former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Artak Zakaryan told reporters today.

According to him, this means the deal is illegal since the Azerbaijanis can’t set up customs checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan motorway without the consent of the Armenian side, and this means Armenia had given its consent. Zakaryan added that Armenia is losing its brilliant opportunity to restore its significance in the region due to the incumbent authorities.

“The Armenian authorities continue to implement the Turkish-Azerbaijani project at the expense of our country’s territories. By setting the objective to link Nakhchivan to the southern regions of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan and Turkey are trying to replace the Iran-Russia axis with the East-West axis, that is, they are trying to link the Chinese market to the West through communications that will be under their control, and this implies exclusion of Armenia from all types of communications,” the ex-deputy defense minister said, adding that the war in Artsakh could have been avoided.

“The war changed the balance in the region in which the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem is freely advancing its interests at the expense of Armenia’s interests. The great powers have also changed their attitude since there is a clash of the North-South and West-East geopolitical corridors. The North-South corridor has always been a major issue for Armenia, but the Armenian authorities are unable to protect the interests of the Armenian people. The only base are the Russian peacekeepers and the formal existence of the OSCE Minsk Group,” he emphasized.

Russian peacekeepers deliver around 2 tons of humanitarian aid to Artsakh’s Khnushinak village residents

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 10:06, 8 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh have delivered together with philanthropists around 2 tons of humanitarian aid to the needy and large families of Khnushinak village, the Russian defense ministry said.

“A charity campaign was held today in Khnushinak village together with the Merci association, which was attended by all residents. Large families have been provided with economic items, clothing, shoes. 10 large families live in this community”, representative of the Russian peacekeeping contingent Dmitry Tusidi said.

Nearly 1000 residents of the village received an aid on the sidelines of the campaign.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia reports 810 daily COVID-19 cases

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 11:39, 8 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. 810 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 321,243, the ministry of healthcare reports.

6220 COVID-19 tests were conducted on November 7.

1916 patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 282,866.

The death toll has risen to 6700 (30 death cases have been registered in the past one day).

The number of active cases is 30,340.

The number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 but died from other disease has reached 1337.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

ANCA-WR Appoints Verginie Touloumian as Interim Executive Director

Zhanna Nahapetian
 by Contributor

 

 November 5, 2021

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories
 0
Verginie Touloumian has been appointed Interim Executive Director of ANCA-WR

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region announced the appointment of Verginie Touloumian, as the new ANCA-WR Interim Executive Director.

“I am humbled and honored to be appointed to this position and hope to build on the successes of the organization,” remarked Verginie Touloumian. “I intend to continue engaging with members of our community in pursuit of the Armenian Cause and advocate for the security, prosperity, and long-term viability of a free, independent, and united Armenian homeland along with our team, chapters, and community,” she continued. 
 
Prior to her appointment, Touloumian served as the Community Outreach Director at the ANCA-WR. In that position, she expanded the ANCA-WR Internship Program that saw record-breaking intern classes, educated hundreds of campers at AYF Camp about the importance of Hai Tahd, curated content to engage the community with ongoing initiatives, especially during the war, and worked with the Education Committee to release a new website and provided professional development presentations to educators in Los Angeles on the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh. She will now lead the grassroots advocacy efforts, strengthen the organization’s activism through outreach and engagement, and advocate our community’s priorities. Touloumian is picking up the torch from the former Executive Director, Armen Sahakyan, who is moving on to new endeavors in the homeland.
 
“The ANCA Western Region Board is incredibly proud of all of our dedicated and talented staff members, and we are fortunate to have Verginie accept the position of interim Executive Director at this critical time” remarked Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA-WR. “We are confident that Verginie will lead our team with the utmost capability and commitment as we continue the work of advancing the Armenian Cause and promoting the interests of the Armenian American community,” she continued. 
 
Touloumian came to the ANCA-WR, after serving as the Executive Director of the International Office of the Armenian Relief Society and as the Project/Marketing Coordinator and Armenian Studies Teacher at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School. She is an active member of several organizations, where she has held different leadership positions and has participated in several internship programs. 
 
Touloumian received her Bachelor of Arts. in Business Management from Woodbury University and a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Pepperdine University. During her time at Pepperdine, she was selected to participate in a study-abroad program at the University of Oxford and was assigned to provide management consultations to the Los Angeles Mission’s Anne Douglas Center for Women. 
 
The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.