Month: February 2021

Tigran Abrahamyan: Public trust in Defense Ministry continues to decline due to ‘active efforts’ of its leadership

Nyrie Kalashian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2021

The public trust in Armenia’s Defense Ministry continues to decline due to “active efforts” of its leadership, according to Henaket Analytical Center head Tigran Abrahamyan.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the analyst accused the ministry of spreading “disinformation” and failing to disclose border incidents to the public.

"The Khndzoresk village municipality reported on its Facebook page about an incident between the village shepherd and the Azeri troops (the Azeris seized his sheep and later returned them). It said the border guards and the command of the 1st Army Corps responded to the incident, resolving the issue through negotiations,” Abrahamyan wrote.

“Incidentally, the Armenian Defense Ministry said in a statement that “the operational situation remained stable along the entire length of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on February 11 and 12. No border incidents were registered.”

“I don’t understand why the Defense Ministry continues to spread disinformation. What is the point of it? This is the second or third case when the ministry spreads information that does not correspond to reality.

“The previous one concerned an incident involving two Azerbaijani servicemen who were arrested in Tegh community of Syunik. Two days after the incident, they were handed over to Azerbaijan, however no official statements were made on any of them. Moreover, in its daily statement the Defense Ministry said no incidents had been recorded.

“Why do you issue statements on the border situation every single day, if in many cases they do not correspond to reality?” the analyst said, stating the public trust in the Defense Ministry continues to decline due to “active efforts” of its leadership. 

Armenian expert: Baku dictator himself factually announced launch of ‘signboard war’

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 13 2021

Armenian expert on Iran Vardan Voskanyan slammed the installment of provocative Azerbaijani signboards in Armenia’s Syunik Province in an effort to pressure the Armenians.

"The dictatorial regime of Baku, taking advantage of the incompetence of the regime that still believes its in power in Armenia, is trying to exert psychological pressure on our people by installing provocative signboards in Syunik Province of Armenia with the use of various tricks,” he wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

“The launch of the so-called "signboard war" was factually announced some time ago by the dictator of Baku himself, trampling on the sign reading "Haykazyan" in one of the temporarily occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic as a manifestation of his disrespectful and obscene behavior, which has already become recurrent.

"These Azeri "signs" are, in fact, useless, because after the Armenian reconquest they will definitely end up in landfills, as the Azerbaijani proverb says, ‘tülkü hiyləgərdir, amma dərisi satılır’ (No matter how cunning the fox is, its fur is sold),” Voskanyan said. 

Newspaper: My Step meeting in Aghveran did not go smoothly; some MPs will leave faction

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2021
07:10, 13.02.2021

The meeting of the majority My Step party in Aghveran last week was not smooth, Hraparak newspaper reported.

"In particular, Nikol Pashinyan’s decision not to go to early elections caused dissatisfaction: some expressed themselves publicly, saying that early elections were simply necessary and did not even hide that they were threatened with physical violence and an end to this situation was needed. But this opinion was based on the fact that you need to do it quickly, to win quickly in order to live in peace," the newspaper said.

"We were told that during the discussion of the issue and even after it, there was a verbal skirmish between some of the deputies in favor of and against the early elections. As for further developments, the consequence of this decision may be that several deputies will declare their resignation from the My Step faction. They even indicate a specific number: three deputies," the newspaper added.

Kapan mayor: The Armenian-Azerbaijani memorandum is a real document – I learned about it back in January

Sonya Jalatian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2021
13:58, 13.02.2021

The Armenian-Azerbaijani memorandum is a real document, Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsyan told Yerkir Media TV company.

"The six-point Armenian-Azerbaijani memorandum is a real document. I learned about it back in January," he noted calling it 'a document of great importance.' 

"It cannot be fake, because the rest of the points are already being implemented. That is, the sections of the Goris-David Bek and Kapan-Chakaten roads are regulated in accordance with the agreement. After the document signed on November 9, this document was signed, which clearly states that on December 18 we must move away from positions advantageous for us until November 9. There is nothing in this memorandum regarding borders," Parsyan said.

He said that on different sections of the road, the Azerbaijanis placed signs that were later used in their favor, and they were placed in the most advantageous positions.

"On January 22, Azerbaijanis placed a signpost on the Kapan-Chakaten section. Of course, these are provocative actions. Since our citizens could not pass by with indifference, they spoiled the pointer. And it so happened that the Azerbaijanis, in order to protect their property, relocated, that is, they settled on the other side of the road, not a higher section, and this section of the road completely passed under their supervision. All this is very disturbing. We spoke with the Human Rights Defender about the frequent shooting that worried our residents.

At the same time, one cannot say that snipers can hit everyone right at home. This is more metaphorically speaking. But now our main highway, airport and many settlements are under the control of Azerbaijanis. If they want to create problems for the villagers, they will," he added.

Armenian PM on quake in Yerevan: 1 house damaged in Erebuni community, 1 citizen slightly injured

Boris Nahapetian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2021

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has spoken about a strong quake that hit Yerevan on Saturday.

He noted that one house was damaged in the Erebuni community, and one citizen was slightly injured.

Pashinyan noted that there is no destruction.

"One house in the Erebuni community of Yerevan was damaged, one citizen was slightly injured. Tiles fell off in several places," he said noting that no victims have been reported yet.

The epicenter of the earthquake, according to preliminary data, was near the village of Parakar, Armavir region.

46 aftershocks recorded in Armenian capital after earthquake

Lara Chatinian
News.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2021
17:45, 13.02.2021

A total of 46 aftershocks have been recorded in the Armenian capital Yerevan after an earthquake hit the country on Saturday, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia reported.

Two buildings have been damaged in Yerevan and Hrazdan town.

The strong earthquake hit Armenia – particularly Yerevan – on Saturday.  

According to Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, no heavy losses have been reported, while only one house has been damaged and one person has been slightly injured in Yerevan.

I’ll Drink to That: Wine Before and After Genocide

Maral Takmazian
Vinography
Feb 2021

Episode 481 of I’ll Drink to That! features Zorik Gharibian of the Zorah winery in Armenia. The episode is based on a recording that occurred before the 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but foreshadowing of that conflict is present in several moments.

Each year scientists discover new evidence of ancient winemaking and redraw the boundaries of what we know about our human history with wine. And each year vintners reclaim areas that have gone unplanted for years. Both chapters of the story of wine are expanding: prelude and present. This interview with Zorik Gharibian addresses both and serves as a meditation on what wine has meant to humans at different times. Zorik speaks of the Areni-1 cave, a site for winemaking dating back over six thousand years. In that era, wine was a part of sacrifices to spiritual authority. Of propitiation. He also discusses an isolated mountain vineyard, hidden from invaders, and grapes grown there as a concealed store of potential nourishment in times of distress. Wine as preservation. And he talks of reclaiming his cultural roots by reclaiming vineyard areas in rural Armenia. Wine as connection. While a cycle of strife and conflict only repeats through millennia, our concept of what sustains us repeatedly changes.

Listen to this episode:

at
 

Asbarez: Protesters Gather at Freedom Square at Vazgen Manukyan’s Urging

Emil Lazarian

February 13,  2021



Protesters gather at Freedom Square on Feb. 12

Vazgen Manukyan, the candidate for prime minister of the National Salvation Movement, called a mass protest on Friday, saying that recent developments, especially the threat to border communities in Syunik prompted the protest gathering.

Speaking to journalists at the protest, Manukyan stressed that Friday’s event was not organized by the National Salvation Movement, which has announced a massive rally for February 20. He explained that the gathering was his own initiative as there were pressing issued to discuss with the public.

“There is an urgent situation. It became clear what is going on in Syunik… It became evident that a new agreement of capitulations has been signed behind our backs. In addition to this, a decision has also been made to not allow journalists to freely report on these issues, which raises a more concern that there is another agreement. This path to the destruction of our homeland is continuing,” Manukyan told reporters Friday.

He said that everything must be done to create a popular movement, adding that it has been difficult to bring them the streets. Manukyan said that the way to bring down the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is to work on his lever, one of which is his My Step bloc and the other the high-ranking officials in the police force.

“If that structure crumbles, he will crumble,” said Manukyan.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia Chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan, who is also the lead coordinator of the National Salvation Movement said there was an imperative for the immediate gathering to address issues with the public.

“When Nikol Pashinyan says there is no public demand for a change in government, he is actually insulting the public,” said Saghatelyan, who said the ruling party will feel it on its own skin the need for that change.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/13/2021

Rose Khoyetsian 
                                        Saturday, 

Yerevan Jolted By Earthquake
Փե February տրվար 13, 2021

Armenia -- People wait anxiously in a courtyard in Yerevan after an earthquake, 
.

A major earthquake struck Yerevan and surrounding areas on Saturday, causing 
many of their residents to rush out of their homes.

The earthquake measured at magnitude 4.7 at its epicenter 8 kilometers southeast 
of Armenia’s capital, reported the national seismic protection agency. It said 
tremors were also felt in five of the country’s ten provinces.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Health, the quake did not kill or injure 
anyone. The ministry reported only minor injuries sustained by three people “as 
a consequence of panic caused by the earthquake.”

The Ministry of Emergency Situations urged local residents to stay outdoors 
shortly after Yerevan was jolted by the quake at around 3:30 p.m. local time. It 
said it has registered 46 aftershocks.

In another statement issued at 7 p.m., the ministry told people to return to 
their homes. “The analysis of available data shows that the likelihood of a 
powerful earthquake is low,” it said.

The quake appeared to have caused no serious material damage in or outside 
Yerevan. The Ministry of Emergency Situation reported tentatively that it 
damaged only one house and three buildings in the city of one million.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck another Armenian region on February 5. It too 
did not result in casualties. The authorities warned on February 6 that more 
“earthquakes of low or medium magnitude” could occur in the days ahead.

Armenia is located in a seismically active zone and earthquakes are a regular 
occurrence there. The most powerful quake in the country’s modern history killed 
in 1988 more than 25,000 people and left hundreds of thousands of others 
homeless.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Asbarez: Foreign Ministry Responds to ANC International’s Concerns

Jirair Kafian

February 11,  2021



Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan

Armenia has not reevaluated its assessment of Turkey’s destructive role in the region, said Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan on Thursday, in response to a statement issued by the Armenian National Committee-International that criticized Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Aivazyan, who on Wednesday said “Turkey no longer has any reason to keep its border with Armenia closed.”

“We highly appreciate the cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the offices and committees of the Armenian National Committee, which have always been aimed at advancing our national Armenian agenda,” Naghdalyan said.

She claimed that the concerns contained in the ANC International statement were taken out of context, and in no way reflect Armenia’s assessment and approaches to Turkey’s involvement in the region.

“Armenia has not reevaluated its assessment of Turkey’s destructive involvement in the region, and those concerns were clearly stated in the question-and-answer session, in particular, regarding the conduct of the joint Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises near the Armenian border. At the same time, the Armenian Foreign Minister referred to Turkey’s illegal blockade of Armenia, insisting that at the present time there is not even an excuse referring to the fact that Turkey has closed its border with Armenia for decades,” she added.

The spokesperson emphasized that all previous governments of Armenia, as well as leading organizations in the Diaspora, have always considered the blockade illegal, and have acted from the position of ending it.

“The position of the Republic of Armenia on this issue has not changed, neither has the determination to pursue the priorities of the foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia. We are convinced that Turkey’s direct involvement in the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh, the war crimes committed against the people of Artsakh and other mass crimes make the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide more urgent in order to prevent the reoccurrence of such crimes in the future,” Naghdalyan stated.

She stressed that Armenia will continue its close cooperation with respected Diaspora Armenian organizations.

She further emphasized that the Foreign Minister has noted on various occasions that “we will consider Turkey’s actions, not statements,” and added that to date, these actions have not been constructive.

“In this regard, we would like to quote the position of the Foreign Minister, expressed during the same question-and-answer session, that ‘a favorable atmosphere should be created around Armenia, our diplomacy and our people, naturally, without breaking the red lines, protecting our state-national interests.’”