Month: May 2021

California Assembly Speaker Kevin Mullin joins Armenian Legislative Caucus

Rose Khoyetsian
Public Radio of Armenia
      
– Public Radio of Armenia

Massis Post —The California Armenian Legislative Caucus added new member: Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin to the Caucus which already includes: Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, Senate Majority Leader Bob Herzberg, Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk, Senator Bob Archuleta, Senator Andreas Borgeas, Senator Brian Dahle, Senator María Elena Durazo,Senator Anthony Portantino, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Assemblymember Tom Lackey, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Assemblymember Luz Rivas, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, and Assemblymember Suzette Valladares.

“The Armenian genocide that killed 1.5 million Armenians over 100 years ago resulted in immeasurable pain and suffering. As a new member of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus, I am one more voice for the global Armenian community as they continue to heal from this brutal atrocity. We must make every effort to make sure that history does not repeat itself and stand up against violence and hatred of any kind,” Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin said.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus serves as a forum for members from the California Senate and Assembly to identify key issues affecting Armenian Americans and develop and empower the Armenian American community throughout California. The Caucus encourages advocacy and participation in cultural, educational, governmental, and community efforts in California. Through advocacy, the Caucus strives to ensure that California Armenian American’s voices are heard and given a platform.

Ombudsman sends Aliyev’s anti-Armenian speeches to international bodies

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
       
– Public Radio of Armenia

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has sent hate speech by Azerbaijani President to UN, CoE and a number of other international bodies.

In an official letter the Ombudsman has sent Aliyev’s speeches, which are evidences of Armenophpbia and a policy of hatred, to the Human Rights Defender sent an official letter to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Council of Europe Committee on Racism and Intolerance, the UN and the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioners and a number of other bodies.

In his speeches, the President of Azerbaijan speaks in the language of force and threat, uses words that demean the dignity of the entire Armenian people, the entire population of Armenia and Artsakh, are intimidating, cause tension in Armenian society and emphasizes the advantages of the Azerbaijani people.

This process initiated by the RA Human Rights Defender will be continuous. The speeches and messages of the President of Azerbaijan are subject to special monitoring.

The aim of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia is to show the genocidal policy of the Azerbaijani authorities, which is the cause of gross human rights violations, a serious threat of new atrocities, endangering peace and security.

Tehran, Yerevan discuss ways to deepen tourism ties

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
      

Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage, Tehran Times reports.

The officials exchanged views on how to boost travel when the coronavirus is controlled with help of vaccines.

“We are ready to increase the tourism ties between the two countries. It seems, within the next few months, the tourism sector would resume as [COVID-19] vaccination is underway worldwide,” Mounesan said.

 The Iranian minister attached great importance to tourism as a tool, which can foster peace and friendship between various nations.    

“We pay special attention to tourism with our neighbors because we believe tourism, in addition to economic matters, helps to promote friendship between the nations. Such relationship with Armenia has been improved after the [implementation of] a visa waiver [program].”

The envoy, for his part, said many Armenians are not being introduced to Iran’s attractions. “The people of Armenia do not know much about Iran’s tourist attractions, if [enough] information is provided and tourism officials and tour operators of the two countries work in this regard, they would be interested in traveling to Iran.”

Joint work on the restoration of historical sites and monuments was another issue discussed in the Tehran meeting.

 “The arena of Iranian cultural heritage is important to us because it dates back to thousands of years ago,” Toumanian said.

“We have good experience in the field of intangible cultural heritage and there are many similarities between the two countries in this regard. Armenian specialists can also help to restore the engravings of Iranian churches,” the ambassador explained.

Talking about the coexistence of religions in Iran, Mounesan said: “In different cities of Iran, including Yazd, there are places of worship for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, which makes a nation proud. We have even managed to register several churches on the World Heritage list.”

Spanish lawmakers demand the release of Armenian POWs

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
   
   

A group of Members of Spanish Congress of Deputies and Senators demand from Azerbaijan to release the Armenian prisoners of war.

Today, they were photographed together in front of the central entrance of the Congress with posters reading ‘Freedom to Armenian prisoners of war.’

Six months after the end of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh, over 200 Armenian POWs still remain in Azerbaijani captivity. 

Last week twenty-seven members of the Spanish Congress, 13 members of the Senate, and 60 members of parliament of various autonomous communities, city councils asked the government to intervene to ensure the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war.

Azerbaijani FM’s statement on Armenian POWs a violation of international humanitarian law – Ombudsman

Sonya Jalatian
Public Radio of Armenia
     
– Public Radio of Armenia

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister’s statement on Armenian prisoners of war is a violation of international humanitarian law, Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan says, stressing the need to take decisive measures for the release and return of all captives.

On , the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan stated: “The incidents related to the illegal entry of Armenian servicemen into the territory of Azerbaijan at the end of November last year, the death and wounding of Azerbaijani servicemen in December are a war crime committed against Azerbaijan. As a result of the operations carried out by the Azerbaijani special services, some of the Armenian servicemen who carried out provocative and subversive operations were killed and some were arrested. Investigations into the incidents are under way.”

Considering that the issue concerns the rights of Armenian captives (and prisoners of war), the Human Rights Defender of Armenia states that the above-mentioned statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan grossly violate the international humanitarian law, including human rights law.

“The reality is that there is an ongoing, open armed conflict. From the point of view of international [humanitarian] law, this means that regardless of whether or not they were taken captive (prisoners of war) after the November 9, 2020 tripartite declaration, they are prisoners of war, captives by legal status; they should be released immediately, without preconditions,” Arman Tatoyan says.

According to him, “Azerbaijan is artificially delaying the issue by openly abusing legal processes, presenting them as terrorists and using detention as punishment, in violation of international rules.”

“Meanwhile, this is a universal requirement for an international action subject to automatic application. The opposite grossly violates international human rights requirements and the international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Convention. The release and return of prisoners should be considered solely in the context of human rights and humanitarian processes,” the Ombudsman emphasizes.

The Human Rights Defender’s monitoring, as well as the results of the investigation of the complaints received continuously confirm that the Azerbaijani authorities, in gross violation of international requirements, artificially delay the release of the Armenian captives, and deliberately do not disclose the actual number of prisoners.

With this policy, they are violating the rights of prisoners, causing mental sufferings to the families of the captives and the missing persons, and causing tension in the Armenian society.

“The absolute urgency with respect to the issue of the release and return of captives must be considered in the context of the policy of hate speech and Armenophobia by Azerbaijani authorities,” the Ombudsman says.

Therefore, he notes, taking into account the humanitarian mandates of international bodies and their role in human rights (the priority of the right to life) protection, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia draws their attention to the mentioned statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan violating the international humanitarian law, including human rights law, and thus raising the urgent need to take decisive measures for the release and return of all captives.

Pashinyan Says Turkey Is Armenia’s Enemy, ‘But That Enmity Must Be Managed’

Vardan Badalian
Eurasia Review'

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PanARMENIAN 0 Comments

By PanARMENIAN

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament on Monday, May 10 that “Turkey is our enemy but that enmity must be managed.”

The National Assembly has convened to elect a new Prime Minister. If lawmakers fail to elect a head of government on Monday, the parliament will be dissolve by virtue of law to pave the way for snap elections.

“That’s a historical fact. Turkey is both our enemy and our neighbor,” Pashinyan said from the parliament floor. “That enmity must be managed, because if it boils on, there is going to be an explosion one day.”

Pashinyan also said that some circles are trying to present the ruling power as pro-Turkish, which he said is not true, citing, in particular, the adoption of resolutions condemning the Armenian Genocide in recent years and its recognition by the U.S. President.

Pashinyan came under fire after signing a statement with the Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh almost 45 days after the start of the military hostilities. Under the deal, the Armenian side was forced to return all the seven regions surrounding Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.

Sports: FIFA Foundation Campus Programme pilot launches in Armenia

Garo Vardanian
FIFA.com
(FIFA.com)

  • New initiative gives youth from under-privileged backgrounds opportunities to play football
  • Its mission is to mobilise football as a tool for social change
  • 100 children took part at the FIFA Foundation Campus grounds at the FFA Technical Centre

The FIFA Foundation Campus Programme, a brand new global initiative that gives girls and boys from under-privileged backgrounds the opportunity to play football and develop their personal and social learning in a safe environment during school breaks, was launched in Yerevan, Armenia last week.

Mobilising football as a tool for social change and to improve the lives of young people, whilst contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), is central to the work of the FIFA Foundation. The week-long FIFA Foundation Campus event saw that put into practice with learning for kids both on and off the pitch.

The seven-day event brought together girls and boys from orphanages, displaced families, national minorities and some with mental disabilities, to the dedicated FIFA Foundation Campus grounds for the week, based at the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Technical Centre.

FIFA Technical Experts, FFA Grassroots Coaches and Young Leaders from local communities coached them on the pitch in high-quality football sessions. Off the pitch, they took part in specially-designed games and activities, led by experts from UNICEF, UNFPA, UNHCR and Armenian NGO My Forest Armenia, focused on mental health and resilience, gender equality and healthy nutrition, football as a tool for integration and climate change.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Armenian Ministry of Health, basic health checks and follow-ups were provided throughout the programme while all necessary measures, including regular Covid-19 testing, were undertaken to ensure that the event was conducted in a safe environment.

Special football sessions, led by FIFA Foundation CEO Youri Djorkaeff, saw each child receive close attention and encouragement. These sessions were joined by top players from the Armenia men’s and women’s national teams, David Yurchenko, Alexander Karapetyan and Kristine Mangasaryan who inspired the 100 children taking part by sharing football tips, tricks and personal stories, as well as how to use these skills off the pitch.

Transport hub in South Caucasus to improve relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Antranik Varosian
Aysor, Armenia

Issues on creation transport hub in the South Caucasus will promote the improvement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan after recent war in Karabakh, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said at the meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev on Monday.

“We are genuinely interested in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We consider that the joint work on focusing on economic aspects of going out from this protracted conflict on time creates optimal frames for it,” Lavrov said.

He said people must feel that the situation is really improving in the Karabakh conflict zone.

“Three vice prime ministers – of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia – in the sidelines of the task group set by the leaders of the three countries meet regularly, consider the political aspects connected with the arrangements of the leaders on unblocking all the economic and transport communications in the South Caucasus. It is potentially very serious transport hub which will be of significance not only for this region,” Russian FM said.

The military police unit of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh is patrolling the Lachin corridor

Ani Kharatian
Panorama, Armenia

Military personnel of the Russian peacekeeping continent continue to perform tasks to monitor compliance with the ceasefire and ensure the safety of motor transport, transportation of food and various goods along the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, Russian Defense Ministry reported. 

Since November 12 last year, the military police unit of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh has been patrolling the Lachin corridor on a daily basis. The purpose of this patrol is to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, gather information, check areas of terrain that are not visible from observation posts, and demonstrate the presence of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

"The Lachin corridor is a road that connects the city of Stepanakert with Armenia. The Russian peacekeeping contingent, in accordance with the agreements, exercises control over it. Control is carried out not only of the road, but also of the approaches to it up to 5 kilometers wide, " said Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Kuzmin, an officer of the military police unit. "The corridor is patrolled daily. In all weather conditions. The most difficult period was December – January, when there were serious fogs on the Lachin corridor, as well as icing of the road," he added.

Every day, the length of the patrol routes of the military police of the Russian peacekeeping contingent is about 50 kilometers, the source said. 

In addition to the tasks of patrolling the Lachin corridor, the military police unit of the Russian peacekeeping contingent is regularly involved in ensuring security during humanitarian actions, escorting pilgrims to the monasteries of Amaras and Dadivank, located in the immediate vicinity of the line of demarcation of the parties, as well as escorting convoys with humanitarian supplies delivering everything necessary for the restoration of the infrastructure of the Kelbajar district and other events.

Armenia’s "Kafka’s Dream" included in the competitive program of Animatricks International Animation Festival

Edgar Tavakalian
Panorama, Armenia
Culture 11:44 11/05/2021Armenia

Animated film "Kafka's Dream," produced by the company ArStep-studio, with the financial support of the National Cinema Centre of Armenia, is included in the competitive program of Animatricks International Animation Festival, the National Cinema Center of Armenia reported. According to the source, the Festival will take place on May 20 to 23, in Helsinki. 

The film was produced by Art Step Studio in 2020. Its screenwriter and director is David Babayan, producer – Armine Harutyunyan, designer – Gagik Babayan, sound engineer – Tigran Kuzikyan and music by Andranik Berberyan.   

To remind, earlier this year the film was included in the Experimental Competition category of the Latvian T-Short Animated Film Online Festival.