Tuesday,
Azerbaijan Accused Of Destroying Karabakh Cemeteries
• Marine Khachatrian
Nagorno-Karabakh - Satellite images of a cemetery in the Karabakh village of
Mets Tagher taken before and after the 2020 war.
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday accused Azerbaijan of systematically
destroying Karabakh Armenian cemeteries in the disputed territory’s south
captured by it during last year’s war.
Davit Babayan, the Karabakh foreign minister, claimed that their tombstones are
being smashed and used in the ongoing construction of a new highway passing
through the Azerbaijani-controlled Hadrut district.
“According to some reports, cemeteries in Hadrut villages are destroyed en masse
and their tombstones used for road construction. This is barbarism,” he told
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Babayan said Baku is seeking to erase all traces of centuries-old Armenian
presence in Hadrut whose ethnic Armenian residents fled their homes during the
fighting.
Gegham Stepanian, Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman, said fresh satellite images
show that the graveyard of the Hadrut village of Mets Tagher has been “wiped
out” by Azerbaijani authorities.
“We can also see similar barbarism in the cemeteries of several other local
communities whose tombstones are used as construction materials in the
roadwork,” he said.
Azerbaijani forces also control part of the village of Taghavard in Karabakh’s
southeastern Martuni district, including the local cemetery. The village chief,
Oleg Harutiunian, said that it is also being destroyed.
The Azerbaijani government has not yet commented on the allegations.
Baku was accused last week of vandalizing Karabakh’s largest Armenian church
located in the town of Shushi (Shusha) also occupied by the Azerbaijani army
during the war.
Photographs taken from nearby hills showed the Holy Savior Cathedral stripped of
its conical dome and cross attached to it. Armenia said this was done for
“depriving the Shushi Cathedral of its Armenian identity.”
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry denied that, saying that Azerbaijani
authorities are simply renovating the church damaged during the war.
Preparations Start For Armenian Elections
• Artak Khulian
Armenia - The Central Election Commission meets in Yerevan, .
Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) began on Tuesday preparations for
early parliamentary elections one day after they were officially scheduled for
June 20.
President Armen Sarkissian set the date in a decree signed just hours after the
Armenian parliament voted to dissolve itself in line with an agreement reached
by its opposition minority and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Pashinian and his political team agreed to hold the snap elections in a bid to
end a serious political crisis triggered by Armenia’s defeat in last year’s war
in Nagorno-Karabakh. The outgoing parliament controlled by them will formally
continue to perform its duties until the formation of a new National Assembly.
The CEC approved a timetable of measures needed to prepare for and hold the
polls. In particular, it was decided that campaigning for them will officially
start on June 7 and last for only 12 days.
Pashinian’s Civil Contract party and some opposition parties have already put up
campaign billboards in Yerevan, sparking allegations of foul play. The CEC
chairman, Tigran Mukuchian, insisted that this does not constitute a violation
of the Armenian Electoral Code or other laws.
Mukuchian also told reporters that as was the case during the last two
parliamentary elections held in 2018 and 2017 video cameras will be installed in
most of the 2,000 or so polling stations across Armenia. They will film voting
and ballot counting for the purpose of reducing the risk of vote irregularities.
Pashinian reiterated on Monday that his administration will do its best to
ensure that the upcoming vote is free and fair.
The deadline for the submission of documents by political parties or blocs
seeking to enter the parliamentary race was set for May 26. The CEC is due to
complete the formation of electoral districts by that day.
Civil Contract and the two opposition parties represented in the current
legislature have made clear that they will participate in the elections on their
own.
Other opposition forces and leaders have set up at least two electoral
alliances. One of them is led by former President Robert Kocharian while another
comprises former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia.
Armenia’s Food Inflation Keeps Rising
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - A supermarket in Yerevan, April 29, 2021.
Food prices in Armenia rose further last month despite the authorities’ efforts
to curb inflation.
According to the Armenian Statistical Committee, they were up by an average of
8.3 percent compared with the same period of 2020. The government agency had
recorded year-on-year food price increases of 7.4 percent in March and 7.8
percent in February this year.
The committee’s latest inflation report shows particularly drastic increases in
the prices of mostly imported staple foodstuffs such as cooking oil and sugar.
They were up by more than 40 percent from April 2020. The prices of bread,
vegetables and fruits rose by over 8 percent year on year, according to the
report.
The continuing increase in the cost of food products pushed up annual inflation
to 6.2 percent in April, well above a 4 percent target set by Armenia’s
government and the Central Bank (CBA) for 2021. The CBA governor, Martin
Galstian, admitted last week that the authorities will likely fail to meet the
inflation target.
Galstian spoke to journalists after the Central Bank raised its main interest
rate for the third time in about five months, citing continuing inflationary
pressures on the Armenian economy.
The government data shows that the average monthly wage in the country grew by
only 2.1 percent in the first quarter of this year.
“This means that real incomes [of the population] are falling,” said Tadevos
Avetisian, an economist affiliated with the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). “This is a factor of impoverishment.”
Avetisian said the higher-than-projected inflation could also slow Armenia’s
recovery from a recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic by suppressing
consumer demand.
The higher food prices reflect a global trend. According to the UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organization, world food prices increased for an 11th consecutive
month in April, reaching their highest level since May 2014.
Armenian Health Minister Sees Long Vaccination Process
• Narine Ghalechian
Armenia - People line up at an open-air coronavirus vaccination site in Yerevan,
May 7, 2021.
Health authorities could take one year to vaccinate the majority of Armenians
against the coronavirus, according to Health Minister Anahit Avanesian.
Avanesian said that only about 12,000 people making up 0.4 percent of Armenia’s
population received a first vaccine dose as of Monday.
“This figure is definitely not satisfactory and we are trying to increase the
pace [of vaccinations,]” she said, answering questions from Facebook users at
the RFE/RL studio in Yerevan.
Asked when the country could achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 at this
rate, she said: “We will probably need one year to reach the threshold where we
can bid farewell to COVID-19.”
“Of course, that depends on a number of factors. We cannot say how many people
will be applying [for vaccine shots] in the next one or two months. We are doing
everything to make vaccination accessible,” added the minister.
The vaccination campaign was launched on April 13 weeks after Armenia received a
total of 67,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines. The AstraZeneca
jab was made available to all adults willing to take it while Sputnik V is
administered only to frontline workers and chronically ill persons under the age
of 55.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian complained about the slow pace of vaccinations on
April 29, telling his ministers to get vaccine shots and thus set an example to
skeptical citizens. The health authorities set up mobile vaccination facilities
at shopping malls and on major streets in Yerevan in the following days.
Armenia - Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesian is vaccinated against
COVID-19 in Yerevan, April 28, 2021
Avanesian said that although the daily number of inoculated people has grown
since then more time is needed to raise public awareness of the vaccination
campaign and its importance.
Armenia also received on May 1 100,000 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine donated by
China. In Avanesian’s words, the health authorities started on Monday
distributing them to policlinics across the country in preparation for their use.
The minister also revealed that the Armenian government is now negotiating with
the U.S. company Novavax on the purchase of its coronavirus vaccine. She did not
specify the possible volume and timeframes of its delivery.
Armenia faced earlier this year a third wave of coronavirus infections blamed by
health experts on the authorities’ failure to enforce their sanitary safety
rules. Despite the continuing lack of such enforcement, the daily number of new
cases has fallen for the last two weeks.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported 243 single-day coronavirus cases on
Tuesday morning, sharply down from over 1,000 cases repeatedly registered in the
first half of April.
The ministry has recorded just over 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths since the
start of the pandemic.
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.
Month: May 2021
Georgian PM to pay official visit to Yerevan on May 12
19:46, 10 May, 2021
YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili will pay an official visit to Armenia on May 12, ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the Government.
Irakli Garibashvili was appointed Prime Minister of Georgia on February 22, 2021.
Armenian parliament to be dissolved, early elections scheduled on June 20
20:00, 10 May, 2021
YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia did not elect Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister for the 2nd time according to the political consensus to call early elections. The Constitution of Armenia envisages that the parliament gets dissoved if it fails to elect a Prime Minister twice.
Early parliamentary elections are scheduled on June 20.
Mayor of Italy’s Ferrara city ready to initiate Artsakh recognition process
Mayor of Italy's Ferrara city ready to initiate Artsakh recognition process
20:16, 10 May, 2021
YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Ferrara city of Italy Alan Fabbri is ready to initiate Artsakh recognition process, establish sister-city relations with one of Armenia's cities and visit Armenia, Fabbri told ARMENPRESS in a video-interview.
Speaking about a performance on the Armenian Genocide at the city's theatre, and the reaction of Turkish embassy to it, the Italian Mayor said, ''We organized an event on April 24, where we commemorated the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Writer Antonia Arslan, as well as other intellectuals, participated in that performance. The next day we received a letter from the Turkish Ambassador to Italy. We sent it back because it's inadmissible for us. It was an attempt to intervene in the activities of the city, which is a city of free ideologies'', Alan Fabbri said, noting that it was disrespectful and totally unacceptable for them. ''Attempts to censor the opinions of others is unacceptable in our country'', he said.
To the question if he has any plans to establish sister-city relations with any Armenian city, Alan Fabbri said, ''Yes, sure. I assumed the position of Ferrar's Mayor in 2019 and of course, it would be a great pleasure for me to be able to establish such relations with one of the cities of Armenia’'. He expressed hope to visit Armenia some day.
To the question if Ferrara has any plans to recognize the independence of Artsakh, given that numerous Italian cities have already done so, and also the fact that 106 years after the genocide Turkey supported Azerbaijan against Artsakh, showing that remaining unpunished gives birth to new crimes, the Mayor of the Italian city said, ''Yes, definitely yes, without any fears or problems. I think it's not easy today to be European and Italian politician and openly support the Armenian side. But we will do that without any problems, we have always been and will be supportive to Armenia, because the Armenian people, also as a Christian nation, has a great value for us, and we will always stand with Armenia''.
Armenia adopts universal inclusive education in preschools
09:40,
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Education authorities say 2021 will see “significant work” in the direction of introducing universal inclusive education system in Armenian preschools. The transition will be phased, according to the deputy education minister Zhanna Andreasyan.
The training of preschool employees, development of modules and relevant toolbox, as well as awareness campaigns will take place this year, and starting from 2022 the universal inclusive principle will be launched in the provinces of Syunik, Lori, Tavush and in Yerevan. The other remaining provinces will shift to the new system in 2023.
“The important part here is for the preschools to be attached to the regional pedagogical-psychological support centers so that it’s clear which centers are working with the preschools. Therefore, we are also going to change the funding procedure of these centers taking into account that they are going to render services to the preschools. The new procedure is in the final stage of circulation and is submitted to the prime minister’s office,” Zhanna Andreasyan, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport told ARMENPRESS.
Since the law envisages funding increase for including children with special needs to preschools, the education authorities have also developed and introduced a new funding procedure, which is already submitted to the prime minister’s office as well.
“These changes will enable to improve the conditions on one hand from professional perspective and on the other in terms of infrastructure. I attach much importance to awareness campaigns. We must ensure broad public awareness so that citizens get informed and benefit from these opportunities. Training of preschool employees is also important, annually at least 1/5th of the employees must undergo training and this is going to be a mandatory component in the inclusive system,” Andreasyan said.
Andreasyan reiterated that the government’s policy in this sector is to raise and enhance the quality of preschools. She mentioned the recent Cabinet decision which authorized the construction of 10 modular kindergartens with modern infrastructures in full compliance with needs of children. Andreasyan says the 21 preschools which were opened across Armenia in 2020 are all equipped to meet the needs of children with special needs.
“We must have the kind of conditions that parents of children with special needs have the opportunity to take their child to any kindergarten they want. The same goes for schools.”
Speaking about stereotypes regarding inclusiveness among the society, Andreasyan says some change is observed in the recent years, albeit insufficient.
Reporting by Anna Gziryan
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Over 610 Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli police in East Jerusalem
10:05,
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. The number of Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli law enforcers in East Jerusalem exceeded 610, TASS reports citing Palestinian daily Al-Quds.
“At least 612 Palestinians sustained injuries in the course of the day in the area of Temple Mount and the Old City of Jerusalem”, the daily cited its source as saying.
Al-Quds reported earlier that the violence erupted on Monday after Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem and used rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against people inside the building. Hundreds of Palestinians were reported to be injured in the following clashes with the Israeli police force in East Jerusalem.
Shortly before midnight, Israeli media sources reported that Palestinian militants fired about 150 rockets into the territory of Israel and dozens of them were intercepted by air defense systems. Israel launched in return missile attacks against Palestinian militants on the territory of Gaza.
Artsakh reports 4 new cases of COVID-19 in one day
12:16,
STEPANAKERT, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. 4 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in the Republic of Artsakh in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,709.
42 coronavirus tests have been carried out on may 10, the ministry of healthcare of Artsakh said.
Currently, 21 infected patients receive treatment in hospitals.
On April 19 the vaccinations against COVID-19 have launched in Artsakh.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Putin submits bill to State Duma on denouncing Open Skies Treaty
12:20,
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill to the State Duma on denouncing the Treaty on Open Skies, according to the lower house’s database, reports TASS.
“To denounce the Treaty on Open Skies signed in the city of Helsinki on March 24,1992”, the document said. An explanatory note says that the Treaty “contributed to significantly building trust in the military field”.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on January 15 that Moscow had launched internal state procedures for exiting the Treaty on Open Skies. The Russian diplomatic agency explained the move by the absence of progress in removing obstacles for the Treaty’s continuation in new conditions after the US quit it in November 2020. The US Department of State stated in April that Washington had not decided yet on rejoining the Open Skies Treaty.
On May 5, the Russian government passed a resolution approving termination of the Treaty and referred this proposal to the president. On May 9, Putin appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov as his official envoy to the Federal Assembly, or Russia’s national bicameral parliament, on issues of the denunciation of the Open Skies Treaty.
Wisconsin Historian Discusses The Importance Of President Biden Recognizing The Armenian Genocide
WUVN.com, Wisconsin
Arshag Souvajian, (center) John Savagian's grandfather, was forced to flee his home and eventually settled in the United States to escape the Armenian genocide.
Starting on April 24, 1915 it’s estimated that up to one and a half million Armenians were killed or deported by the Ottoman Empire in what is now Turkey. Last month on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, President Biden became the first U.S. President to officially recognize this as genocide. U.S. presidents have avoided using that language for decades because of worries about upsetting the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey, who still does not officially recognize the genocide.
106 years later, this statement by Biden is expected to greatly impact international relations with Turkey, Russia, Iran and other countries. But this step also matters a great deal to Armenians and Armenian Americans — like the community here in the Milwaukee area, the second oldest Armenian community in the country.
John Savagian is a history professor at Alverno College and an Armenian American whose family was forced family to flee during the genocide. He says in the beginning, refugees were mostly going to Russia or other parts of Europe with around 3,000 Armenians a year going to the United States.
“The first large group settled in the Massachusetts area outside of Boston in Watertown,” he says. “The second oldest group of immigrants came to Milwaukee, the region from Milwaukee down into the Racine, Kenosha area.”
A third group later settled in Pasadena, Calif. which is now the largest Armenian American community in the U.S. according to Savagian.
The first groups of immigrants that came to Wisconsin were mostly men in the 1880s and 1890s fleeing persecution from the Turkish government. Most men came looking to find jobs in the state's steel mills, glue factories, and meatpacking plants but they did not have families with them, notes Savagian.
"Following the 1915 genocide the Armenian community [here] really started to blossom because we started to see whole families of women coming in, particularly after the men who fought in the war brought back war brides who were orphaned women from the genocide themselves — including my grandmother and others in my family," he says.
Savagian says like all immigrant groups, Armenians brought their own culture with them but the effects of living through a cultural genocide has remained with them for generations.
“Every immigrant group has its origin stories. They have their own mythology and lore and their collective memory. The problem for Armenians of course, there’s always this thing hanging over them and that’s the genocide and especially when it’s a genocide that would not be recognized,” he says.
Savagian says his grandparents did not shy away from discussing what happened in their home country, and getting this support from the U.S. government is an important part for Armenian Americans to feel that their own government supports them.
Arshag and Goulee Souvajian, Savagian's grandparents, are pictured with their first born son, Gulbank after leaving their home to escape the genocide.
“This is an important step for Armenians but also other people who have been suffering through genocide to get recognition,” says Savagian.
While this major first step has been taken, he notes the end goal is to get Turkey to officially recognize the atrocities that were committed and allow Armenians to move forward in their healing process.
“This is just the beginning of that, we’re not even close to the finish line,” says Savagian.
Russian, Armenian defense ministers discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
TASS, Russia
Previously, Shoigu and Arutyunyan talked by telephone on April 7 and 24
MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with his
Armenian counterpart Vagarshak Arutyunyan, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"The two men discussed the situation in areas where the Russian peace-keeping contingent is on a mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, and also other issues of mutual interest," the news release runs.
Previously, Shoigu and Arutyunyan talked by telephone on April 7 and 24. The agenda was the same.
Tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh surged on September 27, 2020. The following hostilities were brought to an end after a trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9. Under the arrangement the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces stopped at the positions they were holding at the moment. A number of districts was transferred to Baku's control and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line and the Lachin corridor.