Month: May 2021

Armenian acting PM accuses Azerbaijan of seeking to influence election results in Armenia

Tania Jagharian
TASS, Russia
Nikol Pashinyan thinks that Baku doesn’t want his party win the parliamentary polls
Armenian acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

© Alexander Astafyev/Russian Government Press Office/TASS

YEREVAN, May 30. /TASS/. Azerbaijan is seeking to provoke tensions on the border in a bid to influence the outcome of the early parliamentary elections in Armenia, Armenian acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Sunday.

"Azerbaijan’s latest provocations [on the border] are obviously meant to influence electoral processes in Armenia," he said.

"Taking these provocative steps, Azerbaijan wants to see a certain election outcome," he said, adding that Baku doesn’t want his party win the parliamentary polls.

Amid the political crisis that broke out in Armenia in November 2020, the government and parliamentary parties agreed to organize early parliamentary elections on June 20.

Armenia’s defense ministry said on May 12 that Azerbaijani armed forces had tried to carry out "certain works" in a border area in Syunik Province in a bid to "adjust the border. Pashinyan described the situation as an infringement of Armenia’s territory. He said Azerbaijani troops had crossed Armenia’s state border and moved 3.5 kilometers deep into its territory. The sides have had several rounds of talks to settle the situation.

Baku backs offer of solution to Azerbaijan-Armenia border row

Emil Karabekian
Mehr news Agency, Iran

TEHRAN, May 30 (MNA) – Republic of Azerbaijan supported the Russian Federation’s proposal for a solution to Azerbaijan’s border dispute with Armenia.

Azeri Prime Minister Ali Asadov said that "it had been impossible to delimit and demarcate the border with Armenia since the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan was occupied by the Armenian armed forces."

Azerbaijan stays ready to find a solution to the border delimitation with Armenia in a constructive manner, so Baku backs Russia’s proposal to set up a trilateral commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Minsk, TASS news agency reported.

"It had been impossible to delimit and demarcate the border with Armenia since the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan was occupied by the Armenian armed forces," he reiterated.

Now, after the end of fighting, Azerbaijan has begun installing its border infrastructure and is absolutely ready, and is going to resolve the border demarcation issue with Armenia in a constructive manner," Azeri prime minister continued.

According to Asadov, "In this regard, Baku has supported Russia’s proposal to establish a trilateral commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.".

MA/TASS

St. Mark Armenian Apostolic Church’s Deacon joins the priesthood

Parkev Tvankchian
WWLP

by: Sy Becker

Posted: / 06:28 PM EDT / Updated: / 06:39 PM EDT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – It’s been a historic day for St. Mark Armenian Apostolic Church in Springfield, as their Deacon was ordained into the Priesthood.

The pews at St. Mark Armenian Apostolic church in Springfield were filled with proud parishioners, as their Deacon Timothy Aznavourian was elevated to the priesthood and will now be known as Father Nicholas. He was ordained by Bishop Daniel Findikyan, which parishioners say has a deep significance.

Parishioner Karen Tesini told 22News, “This is a monumental event for us. This is the first time that we’ve had an ordination here in Springfield St. Mark’s, and we are honored. This is the first time an American born Priest is being ordained by an American born Archbishop.”

The newly ordained Priest at St. Mark has served as Deacon at the Armenian Apostolic Church since February.

Russia’s proposal on resolution of situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border acceptable for Armenia – Acting Vice PM

Emma Nadirian
Aysor, Armenia

Russia's proposal on resolution of the situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is acceptable for Armenia, Acting Vice Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated.

"On May 19 the Armenian side presented its position to the Russian colleagues in a written form. Nevertheless, the issue on clarification of the border posts on Armenian-Azerbaijani border may be discussed only after Azerbaijani military sub-divisions leave the territory of the Republic of Armenia," Grigoryan told Armenpress.

He stressed that in this context the Armenian side emphasized the importance of the return of captured Armenian servicemen.

"Armenia also confirms its proposal on mirror-way withdrawal of the forces, their return to places of permanent dislocation and then clarification of border posts," he noted.

Earlier Azeri PM Ali Asadov stated that Baku supports Moscow proposal on creation of trilateral commission on demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

Armenia bloc candidate says they seek to restore Ministry of Culture to implement their commitments and programs

Kajoyan Gevork
Panorama, Armenia

“Choosing the Armenia bloc, you choose a living, constructive, cultural and creative Armenia,” Armenia bloc’s MP candidate Lilit Galstyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) Supreme Council, said on Saturday, presenting the key points of cultural policy outlined in the pre-election program of the alliance entitled “365 days: The future starts today.”

She stressed that for their team culture will also become a key state policy priority along with education and science.

“Three years ago, when the ministries of culture, sports and education were merged under the pretext of optimization, it was clear that the role of culture in national identity and statehood was not appreciated, but it was by no means a coincidence,” she said.

Galstyan attached importance to culture as one of the key tools to overcome the deep “crisis of values” in the Armenian society and form a citizen of Armenia, saying along with the language and faith, “culture is the main pillar of our identity.”

Lilit Galstyan noted that a breakthrough program for cultural development titled "Armenia-2026" will be adopted, taking into account the cultural capital.

The candidate said that they plan to restore the Ministry of Culture to implement the commitments undertaken and programs in the sphere of culture. 

CivilNet: Armenia’s Pontic Greek Community Commemorates Genocide

Emil Lazarian
CIVILNET.AM

28 May, 2021 08:05

On May 19 the community of Pontic Greeks of Armenia commemorates the Pontic Greek genocide and on May 21, the community invited Armen Khachikyan, an historian, to talk about the Pontic Greek genocide at the “Educational and cultural center on national minorities of the Prime Ministers’s staff” in Yerevan.

Pontic Greeks are historically from the Pontus area, a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In the 18th century around 300 Greeks moved to Armenia’s Marneuli and Alaverdi areas to work in the copper mines. A large majority of those workers settled close to Alaverdi and founded the village of Madan. However, with the collapse of Soviet Union, many moved to Greece and it is estimated that now, less than 1000 Pontic Greek live in Armenia. 

CivilNet: “A unified sense of defiance should be central to our nation,” says Vahan Zanoyan

Alex Jidarian
CIVILNET.AM

07:05

Vahan Zanoyan, in a conversation with Lara Tcholakian, speaks about his memories of the Armenian Genocide, and the challenges his forefathers faced when they were deported from Musa Dagh and Sebastia. He reflects on the impact his family traumas have had on him, and the actions he has taken to keep the memory alive and to transform this trauma into a productive process for the development of Armenia.

About Vahan Zanoyan

Vahan Zanoyan is a global energy expert, writer, retired executive and anti-trafficking advocate. He has served as a global energy consultant to numerous international companies, banks, private and public organizations throughout the US, Europe, the Middle East, Far East and Latin America. He has published two volumes of poetry in Armenian, and four novels in English they include: A Place Far Away (2013) and The Doves of Ohanavank (2014), both of which were inspired by a chance meeting with a very young victim of sex trafficking

Program overview

Armenian leaders share inherited cultural and historical narratives, memories, life learnings and experiences. Down-to-earth, authentic and mindful conversations preserve the stories and legacies of families, and reflect on the lessons learnt from inherited collective trauma and introspective leadership.

#MindfulLeaders

#InheritedLegacies

CivilNet: Illegal Deforestation Rises in Armenia

Shushan Frangulian
CIVILNET.AM

07:05

Illegal deforestation continues to increase in Armenia every year. The issue of illegal logging in the forests of Jiliza, an area located in the northern Lori Province, was one of the most severe in the country in 2021. The HayAntar governmental organization is responsible for the maintenance and protection of forest lands. It is an affiliate of the Ministry of Agriculture. Romanos Petrosyan, Armenia’s Minister of Environment, explains to CivilNet the reason why there is an increase in severe cases of deforestation.

Sports: Official: The Armenian Haroyan, Cádiz’s first signing

Anna Tamamian
BET365 – Sports Finding
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By

Gabby Barker

–

28th May 2021

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Armenian central defender Varazdat Haroyan has become this Thursday the first signing of the Cadiz for the 2021-2022 season from Astana from Kazakhstan, has reported the Cádiz club, with which the defender has committed until 2023.

The 28-year-old Armenian footballer has been international 58 times with his country's senior team, which is currently managed by the Sevillian Joaquin Caparrós, former coach of Sevilla, Villarreal, Deportivo, Athletic, Mallorca, Levante, Granada and Osasuna, among other clubs.

Haroyan, who is the captain of the Armenia senior team, began his sports career at Patani, later passing through Pyunik Yerevan, with which he won six titles in his country.

After an ephemeral passage through the Iranian Sazi tractor, He signed for Padideh, before making the leap in 2017 to Russian football with Ural Yekaterinburg, to later serve in Tambov and Astana.