Category: 2023

 10:44,

YEREVAN, Armenia – Since its inception, education has always been one of the core values of the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. For over a decade, the Foundation has supported Armenian and non-Armenian recipients with educational scholarships to attain a quality education at both institutions of higher learning in Armenia as well as in the United States.   

As part of its scholarship program, the Foundation created an endowment fund at Villanova University, named after the late Hirair Hovnanian, a Villanova alumnus (’56 COE), and the founder of The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. The creation of the Hovnanian Scholarship fund was Mr. Hovnanian’s way of paying it forward for others to have the same opportunity he was given to get a top-notch education that helped propel his success as a master builder and entrepreneur.   

At just over $3 million total, the endowment allows undergraduate students of Armenian descent, who gain acceptance to Villanova University on a full-time basis, to apply for a scholarship. Returning undergraduates are considered for scholarship renewal based on academic performance and financial need. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievements, leadership skills, college testing scores, as well as financial need. Recipients of a Hovnanian Scholarship can use the awarded funds to cover eligible expenses such as tuition, room and board. For the school year 2022-2023, a total of 22 scholarships amounting to $128,558 were awarded, of which 16 were for students of Armenian descent.

The Armenian Students Organization at Villanova is thriving, now 25 students strong. Isabella Balian, 20, from Winchester, MA, is a Hovnanian scholarship recipient.  The class of 2025 student notes, “My grandfather escaped the Armenian Genocide as a child and migrated to Lebanon where he started his family. From Lebanon, my dad and his family immigrated to America at age six. I have always held strong to the values of faith and perseverance of my ancestors, and at Villanova I hope to continue spreading the Armenian culture and hope that their generation so boldly established”. Isabella stays true to her words by taking on a leadership role within the Armenian Students Association on campus, which is doing incredible work educating Villanovans on issues important to Armenians and the Republic of Armenia.   

Soon to be in the graduating class of 2024 is Michael Stamboulian, 21, from Robbinsville, NJ, is thankful for the assistance the scholarship afforded to him. “I am 100% Armenian, and my family and I take immense pride of our ethnicity. I love sharing my identity and Armenian history with others. The Hovnanian family scholarship program at Villanova University is a testament to the loving nature and sense of community that exists with Armenians. Two of the things that make Villanova most attractive to me are the high-quality academics and the strong community. Like Armenians, Villanovans possess a powerful sense of community. I am proud to be an Armenian Villanovan!”

In addition to the annual scholarships provided to Villanova students, the Foundation donated $10 million to Villanova University in the spring of 2022 to support several significant academic initiatives, including the continued modernization of Falvey Library. In recognition of this gift, a building on campus in Villanova’s newest residences, known as The Commons, is now named “Hovnanian Hall.”

Since the Foundation’s establishment in 1986, H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has earmarked over $75 million to hundreds of initiatives and projects for charitable, educational, scientific, cultural, and other related purposes with a primary focus on assisting Armenian communities worldwide as well as organizations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in the state of New Jersey

 11:27,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that there is the required optimism in Armenia for speaking, planning and building the future in Armenia.

“You can’t realize any future plan without the sufficient reserve of optimism,” PM Pashinyan told lawmakers in parliament during debates of the 2022 report of the government action plan.

“And the key question is the following, in these turbulent times, is there the necessary reserve of optimism in Armenia for not only speaking or planning the future but also building and realizing it? My answer is unequivocal, despite all difficulties and hardships, there is the required optimism in Armenia for speaking about the future, planning and building the future, I am convinced in this,” Pashinyan said.

He noted that the news, public debates and the international situation don’t give such confidence. At the same time, he noted that at this moment 55,000 apartments – 6% of the entire housing stock (12,2% in multi-apartment buildings) in the history of Armenia – are under development in Armenia.

“And today, not only the traditionally wealthy people are buying apartments, but also the middle class, who have received the chance to work, create and see the results of their work due to the government’s economic policy,” Pashinyan said.

In times of border instability, security vulnerability, when the world order is collapsing, tens of thousands of citizens are buying new apartments in Armenia, and thousands of investors are building apartments. “I believe that this can only mean one thing – the people believe in the government’s peace agenda, people believe that there will be peace and that they will have the chance to live happily and create in their own homeland, otherwise there’d be no sense in buying new homes, moreover building them. People believe in the ruling majority’s There Is a Future motto,” Pashinyan said.

 11:16,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. On 17 April, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Sergey Ghazaryan received at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh to Armenia President of “Anna Astvatsaturian” Foundation, founder of the charity project “Love Artsakh”, and Chair of Westbrook (USA) City Council Anna Astvatsaturian-Turcotte.
 
Humanitarian issues related to the blockade of Artsakh were discussed during the meeting, the Artsakh foreign ministry said in a readout. 
 
The Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for Anna Astvatsaturian-Turcotte’s continuous efforts aimed at raising awareness of the Karabakh issue and the charitable projects implemented in Artsakh.

 11:53,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan will visit Lithuania on April 18-20 on an official trip.

During the visit the Armenian President will meet his Lithuanian counterpart and other high-ranking officials, Khachaturyan’s Office said in a press release.

He will also participate in the opening of an Armenian-Lithuanian Business Forum.

 11:50,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has held a meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson.

The Armenian Prime Minister “attached importance to the consistent development of close cooperation with the United States and the continuous advancement of the Armenian-American Strategic Dialogue agenda,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

PM Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the United States government’s support to the implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia and added that the implementation of this agenda is a strategy and priority for the Armenian government.

At the same time, PM Pashinyan attached importance to the United States’ efforts for establishing stability and peace in the region.

In turn, Olson said that the United States will continue effective cooperation in the direction of the effective implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia and stated that the United States government attaches high importance to the continuous development of relations with Armenia, including in the economy.

Pashinyan and Olson also discussed issues relating to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the development of an international mechanism for dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and unblocking of regional transport infrastructures.

 12:02,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that peace is possible if Armenia itself will clearly acknowledge that it recognizes the 29,800 square kilometers area, more specifically the territory of the former Armenian SSR, as constituting the Republic of Armenia.  

“Peace is possible if we, in all our international relations, clearly record not just for today but also for the future, that we recognize the Republic of Armenia as 29,800 square kilometers territory, more specifically the territory of the Armenian SSR, where we gained independence in 1991. And not only don’t we have any territorial claims towards any other country, but we will never have any,” Pashinyan said in parliament during debates of the 2022 report of the government action plan.

PM Pashinyan added that if this idea isn’t recorded and transformed into a social psychology of the society, no one will allow Armenia to develop, because no one will deal with the idea that Armenia is developing and getting stronger.

“Furthermore, in such case, not only will not allowing our development be the task of the agenda for others, but also not allowing the existence of our state, at least. And in this situation no one will help us,” Pashinyan warned.

Pashinyan said that the strategic goal of the development agenda must be the harmonious and peaceful life with the regional environment, with security and prosperity of the country as the goal. This is possible if others also adopt the same strategy. Pashinyan said that Armenia can be the first to do so. PM Pashinyan stressed that doing so doesn’t mean forgetting the history of Armenia, but rather changing the perspective of perception of history.

 12:08,

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he sees a big chance to establish normal relations with Turkey.

Pashinyan said the opportunity for doing so increased after Armenia humanely responded to the earthquake in Turkey.

“There is a big opportunity to establish normal relations between our countries,” Pashinyan said when speaking about the relations with Turkey in parliament during debates of the 2022 report of the government action plan.

“And this opportunity increased when we decided to respond, with the logic based on humane, good-neighborly values to the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey in the beginning of this year. And the government and public of Turkey perceived and accepted our actions as such.”

Pashinyan said they wouldn’t have made the decision to send a SAR team and humanitarian aid if not for the changed perspective of perceiving history and related issues. And Turkey wouldn’t have opened the Margara Bridge for the rescue squad and aid if it were not to believe in Armenia’s sincerity.

“And the dozens of Armenian flags flying in front of the Turkish foreign ministry during Foreign Minister Mirzoyan’s Ankara visit weren’t simply a protocol attribute, but rather a surprising [realization] that hope can [be found in despair]. The flags of Armenia and Turkey were hoisted on the ruins of our relations and the devastating earthquake. And I hope that the Armenian-Turkish border will soon really be opened and will create the foundation for the development of good-neighborly, normal relations,” PM Pashinyan said.

 Pashinyan attached importance that soon the agreement on opening the border for third country citizens and diplomatic passport holders will take effect. He warned that the opening could not take place if the new perceptions and impressions gained through humanitarian and neighborly values were to get frozen, fade or lose impact on political and diplomatic decisions.

 12:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS. The two Azerbaijani servicemen who were arrested in Armenia after illegally crossing the border have been remanded, prosecutors announced Monday.

The two servicemen, Azeri nationals Aghsin G. Babirov and Hussein A. Akhundov, are charged with conspiracy to illegally cross the state border of Armenia and conspiracy to smuggle firearms and ammunition.

The Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan approved the National Security Service investigators’ motion on jailing the two Azeri nationals pending trial.

 12:57,

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS. The Pashinyan Administration released the Government Program’s 2022 report, mentioning details on the negotiations with Azerbaijan.  

Talks with Azerbaijan proceeded in the following main directions:

• Peace treaty and establishment of relations
• Settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
• Unblocking of regional transport and economic connections
• Delimitation and security
• Humanitarian issues

Separating the peace treaty signing from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process remains acceptable for Armenia with the logic that international mechanisms for discussions between Stepanakert and Baku are developed. The formation of guaranteed mechanisms for addressing the security and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh – again with international visibility and involvement – is significant for Armenia.

In context of the Armenia-Azerbaijan treaty, the development of security guarantees of Armenia’s 29,800 square kilometers of territory is crucial for the Armenian government, and the formation of a practical mechanism for settling possible misinterpretations and disputes regarding the text of the treaty.

The report notes that pursuant to the 6 October 2022 Prague and 31 October Sochi meetings, Armenia and Azerbaijan confirmed commitment to recognize each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty based on the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma Ata Declaration. Under the Sochi statement, the two countries clearly agreed to refrain from the use of force or the threat of force, and to discuss and resolve all contentious issues exclusively by respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The report adds that Armenia is interested in the unblocking of regional economic and transport connections and stands ready to implement it as soon as possible under Armenian legislation within the framework of the Armenian Crossroads project. The new opportunities for the movement of cargo, goods and citizens will significantly increase the attractiveness of the Armenian Crossroads for international and regional passenger and cargo transportation, and significantly emphasize Armenia’s untapped logistic role in the region, which will in turn ensure additional security and stability guarantees.

Agreements around a number of humanitarian issues with Azerbaijan remain outstanding. Despite the terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, Azerbaijan continues to keep 33 captured Armenian nationals in custody. Armenia pursues the issue of returning its nationals in all international instances, including the ECHR and the ICJ.

31 captives were repatriated in 2022.

The issue of missing persons remains significant in the relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. 975 people from the Armenian side are missing (777 from the First Nagorno Karabakh War, 196 from the Second Nagorno Karabakh War and 2 from the September Azeri aggression.

In 2022 Armenia conveyed to Azerbaijan three maps of the possible locations of the remains of 35 Azerbaijanis presumed missing.

Armenia filed 4 complaints against Azerbaijan in the ECHR in 2022 regarding the mass human rights violations during the 2020 war and the following two months, torture, ill-treatment, murder, violations of right to property and other rights, illegal trials against POWs, human rights violations as a result of Azeri occupation of sovereign territory of Armenia, the events in Parukh and Karaglukh and Lachin Corridor.

In 2022, Armenia also filed a complaint against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice under the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In all interstate applications Armenia has raised the demands on compensations for material and non material damages.

The Armenian Prime Minister and the Azerbaijani president held 5 EU-mediated meetings, 1 Russia-mediated meeting, and another US-mediated meeting in 2022.