Month: December 2020

Azerbaijan is Delaying UNESCO Mission Visit to Artsakh

Jhanna Virabian

December 21,  2020



The Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi was vandalized by occupying Azerbaijanis

Azerbaijani is delaying its approval for a UNESCO mission to Artsakh to assess damage to cultural and religious sites. According to the United Nations-affiliated organization. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far, reported the organization on Sunday.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, reiterated countries’ obligation to protect cultural heritage in terms of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties.

The Organization proposed to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw a preliminary inventory of significant cultural properties as a first step towards the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage.

The proposal received the full support of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and the agreement in principle of the representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting at UNESCO on December 10 and 11, the members of the intergovernmental Committee of The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol (1999), welcomed this initiative and confirmed the need for a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Committee requested each of the parties to render the mission possible.

Since November 20, UNESCO has made proposals and led in-depth consultations with a view to organizing the mission which, in the terms of the Convention, requires the agreement of both parties.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Cultural, said: “Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far.

Every passing week makes the assessment of the situation concerning cultural property more difficult, not least due to the weather which is expected to become harsher in the coming weeks. The window of opportunity that was opened by the cease fire must not be closed again. The safeguarding of heritage is an important condition for the establishment of lasting peace. We are therefore expecting Baku to respond without delay so that the constructive discussions held over recent weeks can be turned into action.” Reads the statement issued by the UNESCO.

To Our Readers

Jhanna Virabian

December 21,  2020



Asbarez is 112 years old.

We have reached the end of a year, which, by all accounts, was tragic to say the least.

In addition to the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, the events of 2020 also mandated that we band together as a nation and ensure that our brothers and sisters—be they in Lebanon or on the frontlines of Armenia and Artsakh—received the immediate assistance they required after experiencing unfathomable tragedies and loss.

Despite the myriad challenges this year, Asbarez was on the frontlines of covering the important news that impacted the Armenian community and Armenians around the world. In fact, those challenges propelled us to work even harder to provide critical public health information about the coronavirus emergency, the horrific explosion in Lebanon, the hate crimes gripping our community, and, of course, up-to-the-minute coverage of the Artsakh War, the outcome of which has impacted all of us as a nation.

Our National priorities always take precedence and require that we unite and collectively address the needs of our Nation. Our homeland is on the road to a tenuous recovery and we are certain that each and every one of you will rise to that challenge.

For 112 years Asbarez has counted on the generosity and support of our community organizations and institutions, our advertisers and you, our readers. In return, our dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to make the news accessible to you. In January 2021, we look forward to unveiling our new website and introducing our mobile applications to make it easier for you to stay informed and become engaged. These additions will complement and enhance our already-existing print publication, our electronic newsletters and our presence on social media platforms.

As the year comes to a close and we look toward new horizons, we would like to ask that you extend your generosity to Asbarez and ensure that not only we can continue our work on a daily—in not hourly—basis but also are able to advance our capabilities to fulfill our mission.

In lieu of our annual Year-End Issue, Asbarez will publish a special edition on January 6 that will focus exclusively on Artsakh, and give impetus to our collective efforts to advance our national aspirations. Your generous contributions will be published in a list in that edition, cementing your dedication to advancing our publication—Asbarez.

Thank you and please donate.

Armenia Submits Arman Nshanian’s ‘Songs Of Solomon’ for Oscar Race

Karapet Navasardian

December 21,  2020



“Songs of Solomon” was submitted as Armenia’s entry for the Oscars

Armenia has selected Arman Nshanian’s historical drama “Songs of Solomon” as its official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category, Deadline reported.

Written by Audrey Gevorkian, Nshanian’s first feature highlights the life and impact of Komitas. The film will also follow a childhood friendship torn apart by the Hamidian massacres infiltrated by the Ottoman Empire. Songs of Solomon centers on a brave Turkish woman as she risks her own life and family to save her best friend targeted for her religious beliefs. “Songs of Solomon” spans from 1881 to 1915 and takes inspiration from Sirvart Kavoukjian’s “The Past Unsung.”

Songs of Solomon features Samvel Tadevossian, Arevik Gevorgyan, Tatev Hovakimyan, Sos Janibekyan, Arman Nshanian, Artashes Aleksanyan and Jean-Pier Nshanian. Slava Seyranyan, Iren Ayvazyan and Mery Hovsepyan also appear in the film.

The feature, which was screened earlier this in Hollywood and premiered on November 26 in Armenia, is produced by Nick Vallelonga of Vallelonga Productions and Asko Akopyan of Oscar Gold Productions. Nshanian produces under his People of Ar Production Company in association with AnEva Productions in Armenia. Karo Kavoukjian serves as executive producer.

Nshanian’s film is set to make its U.S. debut in 2021.

Asbarez: Congress Calls for National Intelligence Report on Artsakh Attacks; Scrutinizes Impact of U.S. Military Aid on Caucasus Balance of Power

Garnik Zakarian

December 21,  2020



Zero-Out Military Aid to Azerbaijan: Congress has called on the Director of National Intelligence to prepare a report on Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), which may serve as the basis to zero-out military aid to Azerbaijan, a key ANCA priority.

ANCA Welcomes Report as Potential Basis for Zeroing out U.S. Military Aid to Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON—Congress is calling on the U.S. Administration to provide a detailed report on aggression in and around Artsakh, demanding a detailed analysis of the impact of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia and its ramifications on the balance of power in the Caucasus region, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

“We welcome this new statutory requirement that the Director of National Intelligence formally report to Congress on Artsakh – drawing upon the full resources of the U.S. intelligence community to identify the initiator of force against Artsakh and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “We are confident that this report – and the facts it will confirm about Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression – will serve as a sound basis upon which the incoming Biden Administration can formally end the Trump Administration’s reckless $120 million military aid program to Azerbaijan’s oil-rich, corrupt, and violent Aliyev family.”

The Congressional request for the Artsakh report is included in the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021) foreign aid bill (H.R.133), adopted by the House in parallel to the COVID-19 stimulus package earlier today.  The Senate is set to vote on the measure later in the evening. It is similar to language spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the FY2021 Intelligence Authorization Act, whose leadership was critical to its inclusion in the foreign aid bill.  The measure also maintained support for Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which restricts U.S. aid to Azerbaijan for its ongoing aggression and blockade of Armenia and Artsakh.  Since 2002, successive U.S. presidents have waived that provision, citing national security interests.

House Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) spearheaded efforts to include language calling for a report on Artsakh included in the FY2021 Foreign Aid Bill.

The FY2021 foreign aid bill also includes two key restrictions on U.S. military aid to Turkey, blocking funds for the transfer of F-35 aircraft or related weapons systems and stopping aid to the Turkish Presidential Protection Directorate (TPPD), in response to the 2017 Erdogan-ordered attack against peaceful U.S. protesters in Washington, DC.

The full text of legislative language calling for an investigation on the aggression in and around Artsakh is provided below.

SEC. 615. ASSESSMENT REGARDING TENSIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN.

(a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED —Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a written assessment regarding tensions between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, including with respect to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Such assessment shall include each of the following:

(1) An identification of the strategic interests of the United States and its partners in the Armenia-Azerbaijan region.

(2) A description of all significant uses of force in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan during calendar year 2020, including a description of each significant use of force and an assessment of who initiated the use of such force.

(3) An assessment of the effect of United States military assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia on the regional balance of power and the likelihood of further use of military force.

(4) An assessment of the likelihood of any further uses of force or potentially destabilizing activities in the region in the near- to medium-term.

(b) FORM OF ASSESSMENT.—The assessment required under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

‘Armenian Army is a heroic army’ – PM

Mike Maghakian

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 12:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Army is a heroic army, there cannot be two opinions on that, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a visit to Syunik province.

“Our Army is a heroic army, there cannot be two opinions on that. Our people are heroic people”, he said. “We need to build our self-confidence, optimism, Armenia and Artsakh in a new way”, he told the locals.

He emphasized the need for determination for building life in a new way.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Protests in Syunik: Authorities came to power through blocking roads, they maintain power with same method

Maral Takmazian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 21 2020

Numerous Syunik residents are protesting on Monday against PM Nikol Pashinyan's visit to the province. "When we learnt about the plans of the traitor to visit the province, we joined Syunik residents with our raid response group. Our aim is not about allowing or not Pashinyan's entry to the province, but to show that Nikol will never can freely walk in Armenia. The traitors have no place in our country," Vahagn Ter-Nakalyan, member of Adekvat initiative told reporters. 

Ter-Nakalyan reminded that the current leadership came to power through blocking the roads and now they try to maintain their power, using the same method. 

"This comes to prove that hey have no power in this country. There can be no cooperation with Nikol. Even shaking his hand would be a betrayal."

"Nikol, you are a traitor," "Nikol, you are Turk," the protesters, who have blocked the road, are chanting.

One of the participants told reporters that he would prefer to lose his job and salary rather than the lands. The participants also called on not to yield to possible provocations, given massive police busses have arrived in Syunik. 

The participants of the rally also called for releasing Goris Mayor Arushanyan who was arrested after appealing to the locals to prevent the entry of the prime minister, 'who gave away the Armenian lands and disrupted the inviolability of Syunik.' 



Aurora doubles Artsakh aid program

Emil Lazarian

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 13:00,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative doubled its humanitarian aid program for Artsakh, adding numerous local and international projects to the list in phase two, the IDeA Foundation told Armenpress.

“After the war, the people of Artsakh faced a grave humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold amidst a global pandemic, and Aurora stepped up to bring them immediate relief. Aurora’s humanitarian aid program for Artsakh has since doubled, with a total budget of $400,000 (over 208,000.000֏) allocated to support 46 projects listed below.  Among them are the initiatives run by the HALO Trust and the Near East Foundation (NEF) – with contributions to both matched – reflecting further development of Aurora’s global cooperation with international partner organizations possessing relevant expertise”, the statement says.

In addition, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative also continues to run the global #AraratChallenge4Artsakh crowdfunding campaign, which encourages people worldwide to express their Gratitude in Action by offering a second chance to people in need, and invites world humanitarian leaders to Artsakh where their expertise helps maximize the impact of the Initiative’s aid program in the region.

Urgent Humanitarian Aid to Families and Children

  1. Assisting in resettlement of displaced persons from Shushi in Stepanakert and other Artsakh localities (in cooperation with the Shushi “Narekatsi” Art Union and the “Hrant Matevosyan” Foundation) – $12,500 (6,400,000֏)
  2. Providing urgent humanitarian assistance to the population of 7 villages in Martakert Province (Nor Maraga, Nor Aygestan, Nor Seysulan, Nor Karmravan, Nor Haykajur, Nor Jraberd, Hovtashen) – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  3. Providing 1,000 bedding sets to the temporarily displaced people from Artsakh relocated to Armenia – $12,700 (6,500,000֏)
  4. Making 450 warm jackets for the people of Artsakh at the Stepanakert Clothing Factory – $12,000 (6,100,000֏)
  5. Humanitarian aid program assistance for 600 Artsakh residents affected by the war (in cooperation with the Bari Mama Foundation) – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  6. Providing 210 heaters to the temporarily displaced Artsakh families – $2,500 (1,300,000֏)
  7. Supporting the development of an online platform that engages Diaspora’s resources to mitigate the humanitarian crisis and boost local economy (in cooperation with AMIA) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)
  8. Assisting in the creation of job opportunities for war widows in textile industry (in cooperation with Bari Mama) – $7,000 (3,640,000֏)
  9. Assisting in providing urgent humanitarian support to displaced people in Artsakh (in cooperation with Street Workout Armenia) – $10,000 (5,200,000֏)
  10. Educational and psychological support program for the displaced people from Artsakh in Vayots Dzor (in cooperation with the Vayots Dzor Regional Youth Center) – $2,800 (1,456,000֏)
  11. Supporting professional trainings and job opportunities creation for displaced women from Artsakh (in cooperation with Hay Mayrer Charity Organization) – $2,885 (1,500,000֏)
  12. Creating safe spaces for young women and children to participate in sport and educational programs in Artsakh (in cooperation with GOALS Armenia) – $4,800 (2,505,705֏)
  13. Supporting emergency cluster munitions and other explosives clearance operations in civilian areas to allow the safe return of displaced people to Artsakh (in cooperation with HALO Trust; the organization will also match Aurora’s funding) – $25,000 (13,000,000֏)
  14. Supporting the Made in Artsakh program to create job opportunities in Artsakh (in cooperation with Support Market) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)
  15. Supporting the underprivileged people affected by war via a grant to the Artsakh Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Housing – $10,000 (5,200,000֏)
  16. Providing 425 bedding sets to the temporarily displaced people from Artsakh relocated to Armenia – $5,500 (2,860,000֏)
  17. Supporting providing shelter and food to 83 Artsakh families affected by the war (in cooperation with Mission Armenia Charitable Foundation) – $4,700 (2,444,000֏)
  18. Creating new job opportunities for the displaced people from Artsakh relocated to the Syunik Region of Armenia (in cooperation with NEF; the foundation will also match Aurora’s funding) – $15,000 (7,800,000֏)

Healthcare Services

  1. Assisting in the repairs of X-ray equipment of the Republican Hospital of Stepanakert – $10,500 (5,400,000֏)
  2. Assisting the Traveling Doctors of Armenia Foundation in organizing at-home medical services for the wounded (with limited mobility) in the hard-to-reach regions of Artsakh and Armenia – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  3. Contributing to the acquisition of ambulances for Artsakh (in cooperation with Support Our Heroes Foundation) – $20,000 (10,200,000֏)
  4. Purchasing vital medication for senior citizens residing in Artsakh (in cooperation with Miasin Foundation) – $2,000 (1,000,000֏)
  5. Purchasing 55 folding beds for the forcibly displaced people from Artsakh (in cooperation with the VIVA Foundation) – $3,000 (1,500,000֏)
  6. Supporting the production of post-coma recovery equipment, designed and manufactured in Armenia during the war (in cooperation with QaylTech) – $7,000 (3,640,000֏)
  7. Providing orthopedical items to injured soldiers (in cooperation with VIVA Foundation) – $7,000 (3,640,000֏)
  8. Providing support to wounded soldiers with mobility issues from Artsakh and Armenia (in cooperation with Arites Tour Тeam) – $2,000 (1,040,000֏)
  9. Supporting a training program for locals in Artsakh dedicated to using acupuncture for pain relief and mental health care in war and post-war context (in cooperation with EliseCare NGO) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)
  10. Supporting building a mobile clinic to provide the health care services necessary for the rehabilitation of the wounded soldiers and civilians in Artsakh (in cooperation with EliseCare NGO) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)
  11. Supporting the rehabilitation of the children and adults affected by the war via a grant to the Rehabilitation Center named after Caroline Cox in Stepanakert – $10,000 (5,200,000֏)
  12. Providing 500 heaters for temporarily displaced Artsakh families – $5,300 (2,756,000֏)

Restoration / Equipment

  1. Assisting in restoring secondary school №1 in Martakert (in cooperation with Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Artsakh) – $20,000 (10,200,000֏)
  2. Assisting the Martuni City Administration in restoring school №2 named after Mesrop Mashtots hit by aerial bombardment – $20,000 (10,200,000֏)
  3. Assistance in founding a bakery in Stepanakert for the purpose of free distribution of bread for 6 months and for providing new jobs (in cooperation with Tikoonq Initiative Group) – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  4. Contributing to the fitting out of temporary shelters in Stepanakert for the displaced people from Artsakh – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  5. Assisting the Stepanakert City Administration in restoring local civil infrastructure – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  6. Supporting housing and renovation in Artsakh for the people affected by the war (in cooperation with We Are Armenians Charity Foundation) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)
  7. Assisting in the restoration of a hospital in Martakert (in cooperation with the Support Our Heroes Foundation) – $15,000 (7,800,000֏)
  8. Providing an electric generator(120kw) to Martuni City Administration to secure drinking water delivery – $20,000 (10,400,000֏)
  9. Providing 2 electric generators to a school and a kindergarten in Askeran and 4 more units to Martuni villages (in cooperation with the Artsakh Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) – $5,200 (2,700,000֏)

Food

  1. Contributing to providing meals for 166 people currently housed in Sevan, Dilijan, Yerevan for 15 days (in cooperation with Victory-2020 Foundation) – $10,000 (5,100,000֏)
  2. Contributing to providing meals for 65 children and adults from Artsakh currently housed in Holy Mother of Armenia Catholic Center (Gyumri) for 30 days – $9,750 (5,000,000֏)
  3. Supporting food delivery to 300 people in the border village of Nor Shin (in cooperation with Dilijan Nor Shin Initiative Group) – $5,000 (2,600,000֏)

Essentials

  1. Purchasing essentials for 200 Artsakh families temporarily relocated to Armenia (in cooperation with House of Hope Foundation) – $3,000 (1,500,000֏)
  2. Providing 50 kits with essentials to the children forced to relocate from Artsakh to Armenia (in cooperation with Global Shapers) – $2,050 (1,500,000֏)
  3. Providing 20 tires for Artsakh ambulance cars – $1,631 (830.000֏).
  4. Supporting providing essentials’ kits to 85 newborn children from Artsakh (in cooperation with Prolife) – $10,000 (5,200,000֏)

 

***

About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, is transforming this experience into a global movement based on the universal concept of Gratitude in Action. By addressing real, on-the-ground challenges, the Initiative provides a second chance to those who need it the most. We believe that even in the darkest times, a brighter future is in the hands of those who are committed to giving others help and hope, and Aurora welcomes all who embrace this philosophy. This eight-year commitment (2015 to 2023, in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1923) aims to promote global projects and support people who tackle the needs of the most helpless and destitute and do so at great risk. This is achieved through the Initiative’s various programs: Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, Aurora Dialogues, Aurora Grants, Aurora Community, Aurora Index, 100 LIVES Initiative and #AraratChallenge. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by thousands of supporters and partners. Our Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience is a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience. The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is represented by three organizations – the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Foundation, Inc. (New York, USA), the 100 Lives Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland) and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Charitable Foundation (Yerevan, Armenia).




French and international singers initiate an online charity concert to support the children of Artsakh

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 21 2020

More than 50 French and international singers and artists unite their efforts and organise an online show to help and support the children of Artsakh and Armenia. The online event, initiated by Amnésie Internationale, will be streamed live on December 26, at midnight Yerevan time.   

The organizers inform that after the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, over 30.000 children in Armenia and Artsakh are now facing extremely difficult living conditions. Hundreds of them have lost a father, a mother, or both. Thousands have no more home to go to. Most of these kids cannot even attend school anymore, as they are denied its basic right to education.

"Children of Artsakh and Armenia deserve a bright, new future. And together, we can all help them build it! Now is the time to make a difference," the organisers added. 

The fundraiser will be streamed live on Facebook, and will then be available till January 10th, 2021, for enjoyment as well as the ongoing donations, on YouTube and 6play, the replay channel of M6, third most watched television network in the French-speaking world. 

The funds raised by the online benefit concert will help the children and their tens of thousands of displaced parents find a new home. All of the funds raised during the concert will be donated to Children of Armenia Fund, Fonds Arménien de France and Jeunesse Arménienne de France.  


Pashinyan pays tribute to memory of fallen soldiers in Sisian pantheon

Bedik Zaminian

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 12:22,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers fallen at the recent Artsakh war in the Sisian city pantheon during the visit to Syunik province.

The PM laid flowers at the tombs of the victims, extended his condolences to their families.

Pashinyan arrived in Syunik province today. He has already toured the town of Sisian, had a talk with the locals.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

1039 bodies retrieved from battle zones so far, says Artsakh

Emil Lazarian

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 12:39,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh authorities have retrieved 1039 bodies from the battle zones since the end of the war, the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh told ARMENPRESS.

“Since 13 November 2020, the rescue detachments of the State Service of Emergency Situations are carrying out search and rescue operations in areas where military operations have taken place. As a result of these works, 1039 remains including remains of civilians have been discovered as of December 20,” the State Service of Emergency Situations said in a statement.

The search for the bodies continues in the mountainous-forest terrains of the Shushi region, as well as in Martuni, Hadrut and Fizuli.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan