Month: February 2020

ANCA Urges Congress to Fully Fund Artsakh De-Mining

Emma Jilavian
February 7, 2020

Ask your legislatures to support targeted Artsakh and Armenia foreign aid policies by filling out the petition at ANCA.org/AID

Ask your Senators and Representative to Support Targeted Armenia and Artsakh Foreign Aid Priorities

With U.S. assistance for Artsakh de-mining under attack like never before, the Armenian National Committee of America requires the community’s help to ensure that the Fiscal Year 2021 foreign aid bill saves this life-saving program.

Take action now to ask your U.S. legislators to support the following three provisions:

  • A “hard earmark” appropriating no less than $10,000,000 for Artsakh, to fully fund the HALO Trust’s life-saving de-mining work and meet other desperate humanitarian needs.
  • A “hard earmark” appropriating no less than $90,000,000 for Armenia, to reinforce Armenia’s progress and strengthen Armenia’s political, economic, and military partnerships with the United States.
  • A prohibition on funds to Azerbaijan until it stops attacking Armenia and Artsakh.

Sharing your foreign aid priorities will only take a few minutes but will make a lasting impact for Armenia and Artsakh.

To send a free ANCA WebMail to your Senators and Representative, simply type in your name, address, email, and phone number, and click “Load Messages.” Then, please review and revise the sample letters and click “Send Messages.” Contact your Senators and Representative now!

Eurovision: Poll: Who should win Depi Evratesil 2020 and represent Armenia at Eurovision?

Nahapetian Zhanna
WiwiBloggs
Feb 9 2020
  • Posted on February 9, 2020
  • by Antranig Shokayan

National final season is well and truly heating up. One country which has reverted back to a national final in 2020 is Armenia. Depi Evratesil 2020 is the third edition of the show which was first introduced in 2017. Twelve acts are competing to represent their country in Rotterdam but in the end, only one will get the ticket. We want to know who you think it should be.

Depi Evratesil 2020 will take place on Saturday 15 February. In 2017, the contest was held as a search for an artist only. That contest unearthed Artsvik who soared in Kyiv. Then, the 2018 edition took place, searching for both a singer and song for Eurovision. Sevak Khanagyan proved victorious with “Qami” but failed to make it out of a tough semi-final in Lisbon. In 2019, Armenia opted to put Depi Evratesil on hold and internally selected Srbuk for Tel Aviv. The “Walking Out” singer unfortunately also walked out of the semi-final.

This year, the twelve hopefuls looking to represent Armenia at Eurovision include La Voix runner-up Miriam Baghdassarian — that’s the French-Canadian Voice franchise. She is joined by former Greek Junior Eurovision hopeful Athena Manoukian and Armenian Junior Eurovision winner Vladimir Arzumanyan. Also competing is TOKIONINE, who co-wrote last year’s Armenian entry “Walking Out”.

There are some big names in the lineup but only one can fly the Armenian flag in Rotterdam. You can listen to the playlist of entries below and then cast your votes for your favourites. As usual, you can vote for as many of the songs as you like but you can only vote once, so choose wisely.

Armenia ex-official says president rejected call of professionals, attaching importance of public opinion

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 9 2020

20:59, 09.02.2020
                  

Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has attached an importance to the public opinion, while rejecting the call of the professional public, human rights activist, former deputy chief of staff of Armenian parliament Arsen Babayan wrote on his Facebook.

According to him, more than 130 lawyers and human rights defenders merely required not to sign this decision and not to call a referendum.

“The president had many options, the worst of which was the signing of these anti-state changes,” he said adding that Armen Sarkissian had the opportunity not to become a participant of this “anti-state process”, but he “chose the worst option.”

As reported earlier, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on a referendum on constitutional amendments.

Thus, the referendum is scheduled for April 5, 2020.

Constitutional referendum in Armenia scheduled for April 5

Dabaghian Diana
Aysor, Armenia
Feb 9 2020

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian signed a decree scheduling the constitutional referendum in Armenia for April 5.

The President’s function set by the Constitution is limited with just appointing the day of the referendum.

The draft on putting bill on constitutional amendments to referendum was backed by the National Assembly on February 6 and presented to the president on February 7.

2 killed, 2 injured in Armenia’s Lori province

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 9 2020

19:42, 09.02.2020
                  

Two people were killed, another two injured as shots were fired Sunday in Armenia’s Lori province on Sunday, shamshyan.com reported.

Police and investigators found out that the citizens were hospitalized from the Bazum quarter, where a completely burned-out car has been found with a weapon.

Police and investigators suspect that the burned car may have something to do with what happened.

A criminal case was opened. The police and the investigation department identify the dead and wounded.

People at the scene told that the incident was a vendetta and was related to another murder that happened in Spitak many years ago.

Police officers and investigators are also studying the case. Taking into account the degree of danger of the crime, the prosecutor of the Lori province also arrived.

Despite war and displacement, in Azerbaijan the people of Nagorno Karabakh keep democracy alive

Arbi Tashjian
EU Today
Feb 9 2020

Qobu Park, in the north-east of the Lokbatan settlement of Garadagh district of Baku, Ajerbaijan, is home to some 6,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), forced from their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the south-west of the country, following the invasion and occupation of their homeland by Armenian forces following a period of instability and conflict in the region. The residents of Qobu Park are amongst no less than one million Azerbaijanis so-displaced by the conflict, and living in 110 such communities throughout the country.

On February 9th, along with their fellow citizens they went to the polls to elect their Parliamentary representatives as the country voted in a snap General Election. Although their homelands are currently occupied by a hostile military power, they continue to receive the same level of parliamentary representation and support as is the right of every citizen.

As part of an international team of journalists, EU Today was granted unrestricted access to Qobu Park to observe the elections, and to speak with the displaced people of Nagorno Karabakh.

Despite the passage of time, and the stalemate in their homelands, these voters are very clear in their minds as to the purpose of the exercise; they are voting for their MPs, and they are, they are certain, going home. Maybe not this year, maybe not the next, but they are going home.

What do I want from my MP? I want him or her to come here and talk to me and listen to my problems. I don’t want money, I want to be heard, and I want to go home. My real hope is to return to Karabakh. I have been waiting 25 years.

One interlocutor, a former teacher, explained to EU Today how the people of Zangilan, a small town which during the fighting found itself surrounded by Armenian forces on three sides, and with the Aras river to their south. The civilian population were able to escape to safety in neighbouring Iran only after President Aliyev ordered a dam on the River, at 1072 km one of the largest rivers in the Caucasus, to be closed.

Having thus caused the flow of water to stop temporarily, Aliyev, the father of the current President of Azerbaijan, made the escape of his people possible in the most dramatic of fashions.

The night of October 29-30th (1993), when the Armenian soldiers came, was very cold. Armenia was backed by Russia, and we were very weak. I was a teacher, I didn’t even have a gun. If Aliyev hadn’t saved us by stopping the water we would have been like the people of Khojaly (where some 600 Azerbaijani civilians were massacred by Armenian forces on 26th February 1992).

In recent years the occupying government has been conducting a programme whereby Zangilan is being re-populated by Armenian refugees from Syria.

The people of Qobu Park, after many years of living with relatives, or in cramped emergency accommodation, now enjoy purpose built modern homes, and are generously provided for by the government. Modern well equipped schools and sports facilities are provided, and their youth enjoy the benefit of free university education. Their communities, whilst displaced, are at least together and safe.

Confidence in the government, and particularly in their President, is high amongst this community, and is seemingly universal. Their democratic institutions and processes, despite the ravages of war, have survived and continue to function.

However, as proud, patient and dignified as they are, whilst they fulfil their civic duties and elect their next government, one thought clearly preoccupies their minds above all others: they want to return to their homes.

We just want to go back to our homeland. We are not comfortable here. President Aliyev has promised he will get us home.

Read also: Generational change expected as Azerbaijan heads to the polls

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Gary Cartwright

Gary Cartwright is publishing editor of EU Today.

An experienced journalist and published author, he specialises in environment, energy, and defence.

He also has more than 10 years experience of working as a staff member in the EU institutions, working with political groups and MEPs in various policy areas.

Gary’s latest book WANTED MAN: THE STORY OF MUKHTAR ABLYAZOV: A Manual for Criminals on How to Avoid Punishment in the EU is currently available from Amazon


Armenpress: Armenian humanitarian mission sappers clear 126,000 sq. meters in Syria in first year of operations

Chakrian Hovsep

Armenian humanitarian mission sappers clear 126,000 sq. meters in Syria in first year of operations

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 11:34, 8 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. During the first year (2019 February 8 – 2020 February 8) of operations in Syria, the de-miners of the Armenian humanitarian mission have cleared a total of 126,000 square meters of territory.

The Center for Humanitarian Demining & Expertise, the organization that has deployed the sappers and medics to Syria, said in a news release that 91,000 square meters of the total territory has been inspected and commissioned back to the Aleppo provincial authorities.

During the 1st year, Armenian sappers have discovered and disposed of: 1 anti-vehicle mine, 10 TM62 anti-tank mines, 3 MON50 anti-personnel mines, 11 PMN2 anti-personnel mines, 8 OZM72 anti-personnel mines, 3 82mm mortar shells, 2 shells, 1 RPG 1 grenade, 1 D30 shell, 2 100mm shells, 1 cluster bomb, 1 fired missile propeller, 3 F1 grenades, 1 AO 2,5 PTM, 17 M42 sub-munitions, 7 IEDs.

The medical personnel have treated 10,114 patients and conducted 1354 lab tests during the one first of operations.

The Armenian humanitarian mission has also organized many mine hazard awareness campaigns and medical aid trainings. As part of the “We Are With You” and “A Handful of Smiles” campaigns, gifts have been collected and donated to Syrian children. The second part of the campaign is still in process. The medical personnel of the mission are regularly providing necessary medicine to the Aleppo Hospital.

In addition to the mission in Syria, the agency has also carried out mine-clearance work in Armenia during 2019 with a total of 25,000 square meters being cleared in Kapan Municipality.

In 2019, combat action territories in the Kornidzor settlement of Tegh Municipality have been cleared. Halo Trust has conducted mine-clearance work in nearly 40,000 square meters in accordance to the center’s plan.

The agency said it is using the gear and equipment provided by the US State Department.

During 2019, the Center for Humanitarian De-Mining and Expertise has also conducted mine hazard awareness trainings for more than 11,000 school students from Yerevan and provinces.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijan breaches Artsakh ceasefire 190 times in one week

Yeghisabet Arthur

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 13:56, 8 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime nearly 190 times in one week, the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh said in a statement.

Artsakh’s military said the Azerbaijani forces fired more than 1200 shots at their troops between February 2-8.

The Defense Ministry said the Artsakh troops “mostly refrained” from countermeasures and continued “confidently carrying out their combat mission”.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Yerevan ramps up funding for chess schools

Parkev Tvankchian

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 14:22, 8 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan has increased funding for the city’s chess schools for 2020, Yerevan Chess Federation Chairman Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, who is also a parliamentary majority lawmaker and head of the Parliamentary Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Sport and Youth Affairs said in a statement on social media.

In 2020, coaches at the chess schools will get 60% higher salaries, while the wages of administrative staffers have been raised 25%.

A total of 285,000,000 drams is allocated by the City of Yerevan to the chess schools for 2020.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




First Lady Nune Sarkissian undergoes surgery

George Mamian

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 15:43, 8 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian’s spouse, First Lady Nune Sarkissian has undergone a surgery at the Astghik Medical Center in Yerevan.

President Armen Sarkissian is currently at the hospital.

After the surgery, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Nune Sarkissian in the clinic.

Other details weren’t immediately available.

 

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan