May 2021 – Page 41 – Armenian Directory & News

Azerbaijan Uses Armenian Gravestones To Build Roads

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Emil Lazarian

05/22/2021 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – Azerbaijan is utilizing gravestones from Armenian cemeteries as building material, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Artsakh, David Babayan. Azerbaijan continues to deface and destroy Armenian Christian heritage sites, including cemeteries and churches, as they seek to eradicate evidence of their culture and identity.

Cemeteries in Hadrut have been destroyed, as seen by satellite images. Reports now indicate that those gravestones are being used as building material in areas of Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh) and particularly for the building of new roads.

Babayan commented saying, “This is another manifestation of cultural genocide; barbarism with a political purpose. They are not only completely destroying the Armenian trace, but they are also using it for economic purposes. By building such infrastructures, the Azerbaijanis make it much more difficult to restore it in the future. This is a gross violation of international and moral norms.”

Armenian Council of America Hosts ‘Advocacy in Washington, DC’ via Zoom

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Edgar Tavakalian

The National Herald

The Armenian Council of America’s Washington, DC representative Taniel Koushakjian participates in the Zoom discussion on May 22. Photo: Armenian Council of America

5/22/2021

TNH Staff

WASHINGTON, DC – On Saturday, May 22, 10:30 AM Pacific Time/1:30 PM Eastern Time, the Armenian Council of America’s Washington, DC representative Taniel Koushakjian participates in a Zoom discussion regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide – by Congress and the White House, and key issues that are of concern to Armenian-Americans.

The event is titled Advocacy in Washington, DC Post-April 24, 2021.

Injuries on both sides reported after clashes at Armenian-Azerbaijani border

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Tambiyan Samvel

JAM News

JAMnews, Yerevan

A fight between Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen broke out in the border region of Syunik on May 20, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia reports.

The conflict was caused by several videos that have been circulating on social media for several. Initially, a video of Azerbaijani military men attacking and beating Armenian soldiers was released, and, on the next day, another video showing the Armenian Armed Forces expelling Azerbaijani servicemen from their territory appeared on social media.

As a result of the fight, eleven Armenian soldiers were injured and hospitalized.

The Armenian Defense Ministry reported that servicemen from both sides were injured in a recent fight.

The ministry urged the public to stop disseminating videos on social media, as they “may hamper the peaceful resolution of the problem, and contribute towards the unnecessary escalation of the ongoing tensions”.

The situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border of the two countries has worsened since May 12 and remains tense. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have advanced their positions several kilometers deep into the territory of Armenia, in the Syunik region towards the Sev Lich reservoir (Black Lake), as well as into the territories of the Gegharkunik region.

Armenia insists that the servicemen of Azerbaijan have to immediately withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia, while Azerbaijan refuses to comply and insists that the territories in question, in fact, belong to Azerbaijan.

When commenting on the recent events, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that “the introduction of a false agenda on the so-called disputed territories may become a dangerous precedent for justifying the use of force in other regions as well”.

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“On May 20, at around 10 am, a group of Azerbaijani servicemen crossed the border near the village of Khoznavar in the Goris region. They walked about 1.5 km and settled down, after which they began to shout threats at the approaching Armenian servicemen. The Armenian military managed to turn them back to their original positions”, the statement of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia says.

However, the Azerbaijani military made a second attempt to cross the border on the same day at 21:10, however, upon crossing it, they were met by the Armenian servicemen, and the dispute between the two sides turned into a fight. As a result, 11 Armenian soldiers were injured and hospitalized.

“The Armenian servicemen managed to expel the Azerbaijani soldiers to their original positions again”, the Prosecutor General’s Office reports.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense also issued a statement in connection with the incident between the Armenian and Azerbaijani military, which says that the conflict was resolved with the efforts of the higher command:

“In general, the situation is stable. Units of the Armed Forces of Armenia fully control the situation and keep Azerbaijani servicemen isolated. “

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also commented on the aggravated situation in Syunik, which the two sides have not been able to resolve for more than a week.

“Setting conditions through the use of force or the threat of force is a flagrant violation of international law. Armenia will not succumb to such pressure”, said MFA press secretary Anna Naghdalyan.

Anna Naghdalyan added that the demarcation and further delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan should become part of the process of a comprehensive peaceful settlement of the conflict. Within its framework, “the issues of de-occupation of the territories of Artsakh and determination of its final legal status under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group should be resolved”:

“In this situation, the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia to their initial positions as of May 11 can create the necessary conditions for resolving issues within the framework of political and diplomatic tools”.

Anna Naghdalyan also touched upon the question of how the international community reacts to the aggravation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border:

“Our international partners, acting from the standpoint of international law and sincerely interested in stability and security in the South Caucasus, have unequivocally stated that Azerbaijan must immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia”.

Tehran: Virtual show to spotlight Armenian monastic ensembles of Iran

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Ophelia Vardapetian

Tehran Times

– 22:1

TEHRAN – The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO will be hosting a virtual photo exhibit of the three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran.

A selection of 70 pictures captured by Iranian photographer Ebrahim Khadembayat will go on show during the exhibit, which officially starts on May 25, according to organizers.

To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim.

St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh and green lands of northwest Iran and are important pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others from across the globe.

Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.

The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts of Maku. The name narratively originates from a famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. What is present now is a remnant of the large monastery that once existed there, as the entire chapel has been shifted to a new location 600 meters away due to submergence resulting from a dam that was built on the river.

St. Thaddeus Monastery plays hosts an annual religious ritual every summer. Last July, it hosted over 3,000 Christian worshippers coming together from Iran, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, Canada, and some other countries.

Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians are the most significant religious minorities in Iran with Christians constituting the bulk.

AFM

Caucasian Knot | European Parliament calls on Baku to release Armenian POWs

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Manouk Vasilian

Caucasian Knot, EU

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) without any conditions. Azerbaijan should provide advocates, doctors and human rights defenders with access to Armenian POWs and cooperate with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in investigating reports about inhuman treatment of them, the European Parliament has stated.

Naira Zograbyan, an Armenian MP from the "Prosperous Armenia" faction, wrote on the Facebook that the European Parliament expressed its regret about the violence demonstrated during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020.

The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called on Azerbaijani authorities to provide complete lists of all those detained in connection with the conflict. They also called on all parties to clarify the fate of the missing people and to treat the bodies of those who perished with due dignity.

Also, the MEPs called on both parties not to destroy each other's cultural values.

Besides, they condemned the opening of a trophy park in Baku, as it "promotes hostile sentiments and undermines the trust between the nations."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 06:27 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Armenia complains about Turkey to the ECtHR, Azerbaijan hands three POWs over to Armenia, ECtHR to consider mutual claims of Armenia and Azerbaijan on human rights violations during the war.

Author: Armine Martirosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Caucasian Knot | Armenia: National Democratic Pole demands not to sign agreement with Azerbaijan

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Emil Lazarian

Caucasian Knot, EU

In their appeal to the USA, Great Britain and France, activists of the National Democratic Pole asked for help in protecting Armenian borders. The signing of an agreement on the border demarcation and delimitation with Azerbaijan should not be admitted, they stated at a protest action in Yerevan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 20, Nikol Pashinyan announced his intention to sign an agreement with Azerbaijan, but failed to disclose the content of the document. Activists have opposed his intention; nine of them were detained.

On Friday (May 21), activists stated that any demarcation based on the USSR's administrative maps is unacceptable. "The Armenian-Azerbaijani border can be defined solely on the basis of the League of Nations' document dated February 14, 1920, which was signed by representatives of France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan," the authors have emphasized.

The border demarcation and delimitation should be undertaken under the supervision of the UN Security Council and the international community after the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, said Vage Gasparyan, an activist of the National Democratic Pole. He has recalled that Azerbaijan's actions were condemned by the world powers, except for Russia.

They are trying to put the Armenian society before the choice – an alliance with Russia or the Turkey's influence, said Ara Papyan, an activist of the National Democratic Pole. "But Armenia has allies in the West," he has stressed.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 22, 2020 at 02:27 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Yerevan activists oppose agreement with Baku, Yerevan female protester hospitalized after detention, Nine people detained in Yerevan at protest action against agreement with Azerbaijan.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Caucasian Knot | Political analysts argue about mediator’s role in Armenian-Azerbaijani border demarcation

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Emil Lazarian

Caucasian Knot, EU

During the border demarcation, Armenia and Azerbaijan will pursue their own goals; and the participation of a third party can lead to a "two versus one" format, some political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe. However, their opponents think that in the course of demarcation, Russia's mediation is a must, since the ceasefire regime testifies to the efficiency of such mediation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 14, Armenia asked its allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for military help, accusing the Azerbaijani militaries of invading the country. Azerbaijan is clarifying the border; there is no conflict, President Ilham Aliev stated, in his turn. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it would provide assistance in resolving the tensions, if both parties asked for it.

The results of Russia's mediation in border demarcation depend on Azerbaijan's goals, said Vladimir Evseev, the head of the division for Eurasian integration and development of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) at the Institute of CIS Countries. "If Azerbaijan wants to continue annexing Armenia's territory, mediation is not needed. But if it is going to continue pressure on Armenia, for example, in order to achieve the withdrawal of its troops from Karabakh, it can hope to achieve this with the help of Russia," Mr Evseev has explained.

Russia's mediation in resolving the situation is unlikely to bring fruits, said Zardusht Alizade, an Azerbaijani political analyst. "This issue concerns only two countries, and any mediator will think not about their but about its own interests," the expert has stated.

In his turn, Mekhman Aliev, Director of the "Turan" News Agency, believes that "Russia is now a real Armenia-Azerbaijan mediator and a moderator on issues of a peaceful settlement."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 22, 2020 at 10:22 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Armenia: National Democratic Pole demands not to sign agreement with Azerbaijan, Armenian MoD reports about conflict with Azerbaijani soldiers on border, Armenian analysts name preconditions for border demarcation with Azerbaijan.

Author: Semyon Charny; Source: CK correspondent

Armenia expert warns about big risks of new aggression in future

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Emil Lazarian

AYSOR, Armenia

The situation created on the Armenian state border in the last ten days is the result of absence of timely necessary measures and defenseless borders of Armenia, head of Henaket think-tank Tigran Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook.

“Irrespective of the circumstance that this has causal link with the 2020 war, its outcome, we should record that the recent crisis would not be or would not get such feature if proper work and service would have been carried out on the border line,” he wrote, adding that it appears that the political leadership of the country has not tasked the armed forces to ensure country’s defense which means that there are rather big risks of new aggression in future as well.

Armenian translations of four autobiographic books by Charles Aznavour now available at the National Library

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Samvel Nahapetian

Public Radio of Armenia

– Public Radio of Armenia

Translations of four autobiographic books by Charles Aznavour have been added to the collection of the National Library of Armenia.

Under a project launched in 2019, Newmag Publishing House intends to publish nine autobiographic books until 2024 – the 100th birth anniversary of the legendary singer. The 10th book will be an extensive collection of Aznavour’s songs.

Within the framework of the initiative, Newmag has so far translated and published four autobiographical books, which are already available in the reading rooms of the National Library.

The first book titled Retiens la vie was translated from French by Artak Herikyan and Jacqueline Minasyan. Foreword by Rosie Armen.

In the book D’une porte l’autre the great chansonnier talks about the most sensational issues of his time. Translated from French by Hamlet Gasparyan.

In the book À voix basse Charles Aznavour speaks honestly about his family’s past and the difficulties of starting his career. Translated from French by Samvel Gasparyan.

Charles Aznavour wrote the book Tant que battra mon coeur, when he was 89. He tells about events and people he has never mentioned in any book. The book was translated from French by Hamlet Gasparyan.

Blogger Lapshin opens account in Armenian bank to get EUR 30,000 compensation from Azerbaijan

May 22, 2021May 22, 2021 Zhanna Nahapetian

Public Radio of Armenia

Blogger Lapshin opens account in Armenian bank to get EUR 30,000 compensation from Azerbaijan – Public Radio of Armenia

Blogger Alexander Lapshin has opened an account at the Armenian Artsakhbank to get the EUR 30,000 compensation from Azerbaijan.

The European Court of Human Rights on Thurday ruled that Lapshin’s right to life had been violated during his detention in Baku and obliged Azerbaijan to pay 30,000 euros in compensation.

The case concerned an incident during the applicant’s imprisonment in Azerbaijan in 2017 for “having crossed the State border outside the checkpoints” during journeys to Nagorno-Karabakh, and the ensuing inquiry by the prosecutor’s office into the incident. The authorities asserted that the incident had been a suicide attempt, while the applicant alleged it had been attempted murder.

The applicant was resuscitated and hospitalized in an intensive-care unit. The following day the applicant was pardoned by the President of Azerbaijan and, upon his discharge from hospital three days later, was expelled to Israel.

The Court found that the inquiry into the prison incident had been ineffective and in breach of the respondent State’s procedural obligations under Article 2 of the Convention. It found that the respondent State had failed to satisfy the burden of proof resting on it to provide a satisfactory and convincing explanation as regards the incident which had put the applicant’s life in danger. There had therefore been a violation of Article 2 under its substantive limb.

The Court held that Azerbaijan was to pay the applicant 30,000 euros (EUR) in respect of nonpecuniary damage.