Month: May 2021

Artsakh’s State Minister-Minister of Finance to step down

Emma Jilavian

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YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh’s Minister of State-Finance Minister Grigory Martirosyan will resign from June 1, he said on social media.

“I have made my resignation decision back in 2020, but the war and the problems requiring urgent solution in the post-war crisis situation made me to delay my decision. During the entire tenure I have tried to do the utmost to resist the challenges in the field trusted me and solve the urgent problems for the benefit of the future of our country”, he said.

Grigory Martirosyan thanked President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, third President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan for the high trust and joint work, as well as all his colleagues in Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora.

He added that he will continue serving Artsakh and its people regardless of future activities.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Pope pays tribute to late Armenian Catholic Patriarch Ghabroyan

Diana Dabaghian
Vatican News
Pope Francis offers his condolences to Armenian Catholics mourning the loss of Armenian Catholic Patriarch Gregoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan, who died on Tuesday at the age of 86 in Beirut, Lebanon.

By Vatican News staff writer

In his condolence message sent on Saturday, Pope Francis praised the pastoral witness and outreach of Patriarch Ghabroyan, who headed the Armenian Patriarchate of Cilicia based in Beirut, Lebanon.

The message in French came through Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, his personal representative at the Patriarch’s funeral held in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator-St. Elias in Beirut, where he read the Pope’s message.

The Pope praised the pastoral sensitivity of Patriarch Ghabroyan with his tireless outreach and care for serving the most destitute Armenian communities suffering from the war and poverty, especially in Syria and Lebanon.

The Pope also recalled their meetings together, especially in the summer of 2015 when he was elected Patriarch and asked the Pope for a special blessing in order to lead the Patariarchal Church despite his advanced age.

Pope Francis also recalled other meetings with Patriarch Ghabroyan in Rome, during his Apostolic Journey to Armenia in 2016, as well as in 2018 with the inuguration of the statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican gardens.

The Pope recalled fondly all these occasions, which offered opportunities to express his closeness with the "beloved Armenian people who have suffered so much in the course of their history but who have always remained faithful to the profession of faith in Christ the Savior."

He commended the Patriarch's soul to the mercy of God and for the intercessory prayer of Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and of Saint Gregory of Narek, together with all the Armenian martyrs and saints.

Archbishop Boutros Marayati of the Catholic Armenians of Aleppo presided over the funeral ceremony on Saturday. He took over following the death of the Patriarch in the role of Administrator of the Patriarchal Church of Cilicia of the Armenians.

Auxiliary Bishop Kevork Assadourian of Beirut of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate delivered the homily at the funeral, where he spoke of the Patriarch’s long ministry in the service of the Church and the Armenian people, emphasizing in particular his dedication to the poor.

"First of all, the late patriarch was a lover of the poor, as evidenced by the assistance and closeness he wished to offer, away from the spotlight, in favor of poor families especially over these last two years when Lebanon is experiencing unsustainable economic and social conditions," said Bishop Assadourian. "In recent days, even the illness that afflicted him, could not stop the pursuit of his work. Even on his hospital bed he continued to manage, organize and convene meetings trying to meet the needs of his Church and his people."

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches also sent a special message of condolence recalling the witness and dedication of the Patriarch Ghabroyan. The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, read Cardinal Sandri's message of condolence.

Also participating in the funeral ceremony were the bishops and clergy of the Armenian Catholic Church, as well as representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches of Lebanon, including Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenians Aram I, and Patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church His Beatitude Yousef Younan.

A representative of the President of the Lebanese Republic was onhand, as well as representatives of the political, diplomatic and civil society.

The burial ceremony will take place in the Patriarchal seat of the Convent of Our Mother of Bzommar, where the Patriarch will be buried in the cemetery reserved for Armenian Patriarchs.

 

Pope Francis honors the late Armenian Catholic patriarch on the day of his funeral

Emil Lazarian
CNA – Catholic News Agency
Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan, Armenian Patriarch of Cilicia. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the USA and Canada.

By Courtney Mares

Rome Newsroom, / 08:00 am

Pope Francis paid tribute to the late Armenian Catholic Patriarch Gregory Peter XX Ghabroyan in a letter read aloud at his funeral on Saturday.

Patriarch Ghabroyan, who led the Armenian Patriarchate of Cilicia in Lebanon, died on May 25 in Beirut at the age of 86.

“I remember well that when he was elected, in the summer of 2015, before accepting he wanted to ask me for a special blessing, to be able to lead the Patriarchal Church despite his advanced age,” Pope Francis wrote in the letter that was read at the funeral in Beirut on May 29.

The pope wrote that Patriarch Ghabroyan had “faced the loss of his physical strength with dignity” in the “last period of his earthly pilgrimage.”

“During these years, as a caring pastor, His Beatitude presided over the Patriarchal Church of Cilicia of the Armenians, establishing contacts with various civil and ecclesiastical institutions, so that a number of initiatives of solidarity with the most tried populations, especially in Syria and Lebanon, could be supported,” he said.

Pope Francis recalled “many special moments” in which he was able to be close to the patriarch.

“And, with him, to the beloved Armenian people, who have suffered so much throughout history but have always remained faithful to their profession of faith in Christ the Savior,” he wrote.

The pope remembered in particular his apostolic trip to Armenia in 2016 and the 2018 inauguration of a statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican Gardens.

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The patriarch’s funeral was held in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator-St. Elias in Beirut on May 29.

Cardinal Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio in Syria, read aloud the pope’s letter at the funeral.

Archbishop Boutros Marayati of the Catholic Armenians of Aleppo presided over the funeral and Auxiliary Bishop Kevork Assadourian of Beirut of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate delivered the homily.

"First of all, the late patriarch was a lover of the poor, as evidenced by the assistance and closeness he wished to offer, away from the spotlight, in favor of poor families especially over these last two years when Lebanon is experiencing unsustainable economic and social conditions," Bishop Assadourian said, according to Vatican News.

“Even on his hospital bed he continued to manage, organize and convene meetings trying to meet the needs of his Church and his people,” he said.

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Ghabroyan was born in Aleppo, Syria on November 14, 1934. He was ordained a priest of the Institute of Patriarchal Clergy of Bzommar in 1959, at the age of 24. In 1977 he was ordained a bishop and appointed the Armenian Apostolic Eparch of France.

He stepped down as the Armenian Eparch of France in 2013, but came out of retirement at the age of 80 after his election as patriarch on July 24, 2015.

Ghabroyan led the Armenian Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope. The Church uses the Armenian rite, and is estimated to have 1 million followers.

In Armenia, 93 percent of the population belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church – an Oriental Orthodox Church from which the Armenian Catholic Church was formed in the 18th century.

“We commend the soul of this our brother to the Mercy of God, to whose throne, we are sure, he is accompanied by the intercessory prayers of the Mother of God Mary Most Holy, of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and of Saint Gregory of Narek, together with all the Armenian martyrs and saints,” Pope Francis said.

Russia’s top brass assures ceasefire observed in Nagorno-Karabakh

Lara Chatinian
TASS – Russia
Russian army engineer groups continue clearing the terrain and facilities in the region of mines

MOSCOW, May 28. /TASS/. Russian peacekeepers have not registered any ceasefire breaches or provocations against Russian military personnel in Nagorno-Karabakh, Spokesman for Russia’s Peacekeeping Contingent in the Region Colonel Dmitry Perepelkin said, on Friday.

"In the recent period, no ceasefire violations have been registered, and no provocations against Russian servicemen have been observed," the spokesman said.

Russian army engineer groups continue clearing the terrain and facilities in the region of mines, he said.

"As of today, 1,844 buildings and over 657 km of roads have been surveyed, and 2,121 hectares of territory have been cleared, and 25,613 dangerous explosive devices have been found and eliminated," he specified.

Armenia in favor of Russian peacekeepers being sent to border with Azerbaijan – PM –

Emil Lazarian
TASS – Russia
Russia remains Armenia’s main partner on security issues, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

YEREVAN, May 29. /TASS/. The Armenian government is in favor of Russian peacekeepers and observers from other countries within the OSCE Minsk Group (France and the US) being sent to a disputed area on the border with Azerbaijan, if Yerevan and Baku both decide to withdraw their troops at the same time, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a meeting with activists of the Civil Contract Party on Saturday.

"We agree to withdraw our troops from the area of Sotk-Khoznavar when the Minsk Group co-chairs get the signal from Baku that they are ready for similar steps. After that, Russian border guards may be sent to this area, if our Russian partners agree to this idea. Both Russian peacekeepers and observers from other states of the Minsk Group can be sent there, after which we will begin the border demarcation and delimitation process," he stated.

Russia remains Armenia’s main partner on security issues, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) remains its main security system, Nikol Pashinyan said. "I would like to stress that Russia remains our main partner in the sphere of security. We have agreements with Russia on a joint group of forces and a joint air defense system. The CSTO is our country’s main security system, and it should remain as such," he said.

The plan of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on de-escalation of the border situation with Azerbaijan is acceptable to Armenia, Yerevan is ready to withdraw its forces and expects Baku to do the same, Pashinyan said. "The Minsk Group is offering the sides to withdraw their forces and then to begin the border demarcation and delimitation process with the aid of the Minsk Group. We are talking about the Sotk-Khoznavar zone. We are ready to withdraw our forces at any moment and begin the demarcation process, we expect the same to be done by the Azerbaijani government, which is currently in talks with the Minsk Group," he stated.

The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has remained tense since May 12. That day, the Armenian Defense Ministry announced that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces attempted to carry out "certain operations" in order to "adjust the border" in the Syunik Region. The Azerbaijani Forces reportedly stopped their operations after the Armenian Defense Ministry took response measures. Armenia views this incident as an attempt against its sovereignty. According to Pashinyan, the Azerbaijani forces traveled 3.5 km into Armenian territory. Later, Yerevan announced it had contacted the Collective Security Treaty Organization over the border incident. Armenia did not rule out that it may address the UN Security Council over this situation if CSTO mechanisms fail to resolve this issue.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Wednesday that Russia is ready to aid the peaceful regulation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border dispute and to facilitate the launch of the border delimitation process. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday during a meeting with his Armenian colleague Vagarshak Arutyunyan that Russia and Armenia are successfully implementing the agreement on the creation of a joint group of forces.

On Thursday, Azerbaijan announced that it had detained six Armenian servicemen near the border during an alleged sabotage attempt. Armenia confirmed that they had been detained, noting however that they were conducting engineering works. Pashinyan condemned the incident as kidnapping of Armenian troops. Yerevan addressed the ECHR over this incident.

Baku backs Russia’s proposal for solution to Azerbaijan’s border dispute with Armenia – PM

Emil Lazarian
TASS – Russia
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"

BAKU, May 29. /TASS/. 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, AZERTAC news agency reported on Saturday.

"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. 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," the news agency said citing the prime minister.

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.".

Armenian PM proposes mutual withdrawal of forces from Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Alex Jidarian
JAM News

    JAMnews, Yerevan

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on May 27 made an official proposal to Azerbaijan to de-escalate the situation on the border.

He proposes to mutually withdraw troops from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and deploy international observers. The prime minister speaks of observers in the person of Russia or other countries of the OSCE Minsk Group (USA and France).

If the situation is not resolved, it can lead to a large-scale clash, the Armenian prime minister said.

However, Pashinyan’s proposal drew sharp criticism from both the country’s political forces and political scientists.

At the same time, Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan resigned. Some experts interpreted his decision as a categorical disagreement with Pashinyan’s proposal.

On May 27, on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, in Gegharkunik, six Armenian soldiers were captured while performing engineering work. And about. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan interpreted this as a kidnapping, since the military were on their territory. Since May 12, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have advanced several kilometers deep into the sovereign territory of Armenia and are not retreating, despite the demands of the Armenian side. Azerbaijan insists on border demarcation and delimitation.

  • Azerbaijan captures 6 Armenian soldiers at the border
  • Ex-President Kocharian shares his opinion on resolving Armenia’s problems
  • Iranian FM visits Armenia, discusses Armenian-Azerbaijani border tensions, expansion of Iran’s economic presence in the country

Pashinyan considers his proposal to be the shortest way to de-escalate the situation:

“I appeal to the international community and my proposal was also sent to the leadership of Azerbaijan. We agree that very quickly the armed units of the two sides “mirror” move away from the border and return to their places of permanent deployment, and international observers from the Russian Federation or other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are deployed along the border. “

If the problem of Azerbaijan is connected precisely with the clarification of the borders, then the country’s leadership, according to Pashinyan, has no reason not to agree to this plan.

He explains the presence of international observers by the need to guarantee compliance with the agreements.

The “I Have the Honor” political bloc sharply criticized the proposal to deploy international observers on the Sotk-Khoznavar section of the border. The bloc’s statement says that this could turn Armenia into a field for regional and geopolitical clashes.

Moreover, Pashinyan’s proposal is regarded as a reflection of the “defeatist policy” of the current leadership of Armenia, which has exhausted the possibilities of resolving the situation:

“For the sake of maintaining power, the government of the capitulators is ready to make any concessions, succumb to the blackmail and pressure of Azerbaijan.”

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun party demanded the immediate removal of Nikol Pashinyan from power and the appointment of a new interim head of government.

The statement of the opposition party says that the authorities of the country are responsible for the events taking place on the border of Armenia. In their inaction, according to Dashnaktsutyun, lies the reason that “the enemy is becoming even more impudent.”

The party considers unacceptable the fact that six Armenian servicemen were taken prisoner, and on the eve “a serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was killed by an enemy bullet”.

Ara Ayvazyan served as foreign minister for only seven months. He was appointed to this position in November 2020 when his predecessor Zohrab Mnatsakanyan resigned. Both left office amid disagreements with the country’s political leadership.

There are no official comments on the reasons for Ayvazyan’s departure yet. But many believe that the resignation is due to a fundamental disagreement with the position of the acting president. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the crisis on the border with Azerbaijan.

“Pashinyan makes scapegoats out of ministers: he does not give them freedom of action, but in case of failure he puts all the blame on them,” political analyst Armen Baghdasaryan told Kommersant newspaper.

Rumors about Ayvazyan’s resignation began to appear since February 2021.

Orientalist Sergey Melkonyan expressed his point of view on Pashinyan’s proposal:

“one. This statement, like all previous ones, was made without consulting the president or foreign minister. Adopted individually. During consultations, experienced diplomats would explain the absurdity of such a proposal.

  1. The OSCE Minsk Group has nothing to do with the delimitation and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. It has no mandate to consider such issues. The only thing that the OSCE Minsk Group should do (as it should be from the position of Yerevan) is to consolidate the status of the Republic of Artsakh.
  2. Before making such statements, it is necessary to obtain an appropriate proposal or consent from the “guests” who are invited (if it is not in the OSCE format, but on the basis of bilateral and then multilateral agreements). Judging by the fact that in recent days there have been no direct contacts with Paris and Washington, it can be concluded that neither France nor the United States gave direct consent. Such decisions require lengthy discussions and consultations, which did not exist.
  3. One can expect bewilderment on the part of Russia, since it is difficult to imagine that Moscow would agree to the joint deployment of its forces with NATO representatives in its zone of influence, where it has a military presence.
  4. To make such a decision, there must be consent from Baku. I am not sure that the leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey will agree to a French or American presence. Unless, of course, Pashinyan plans to place them only on the territory of Armenia, which is even more stupid. “

Ilham Aliyev’s speech in Karabakh: "We will live on this land forever"

Anna Tamamian
JAM News
    JAMnews, Baku

Ilham Aliyev’s speech in Karabakh, Aghdam region

“Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen its borders. Some pro-Armenian countries make various statements and the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the basis of false data. These are all meaningless words. The main thing is that we are here and will live on this land forever”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on May 28, during his visit to the Aghdam region which passed under the control of Azerbaijan as a result of the second Karabakh war.

During his visit, the President laid the foundation for the first residential building in the city of Agdam, which was completely destroyed during the occupation after the first Karabakh war in the early 1990s. President then aaddressed the local resident.

Below are the main theses of the President Aliyev’s speech.

  • Abkhazia will no longer negotiate with Georgia until peace treaty is signed

● At the beginning there were some hopes, but at the last stage there were none. The Armenian leadership has openly declared that the return of the territories is impossible. The negotiation process has actually been completed.

● The war became inevitable after the military provocations by Armenia in July-August-September 2020.

● Throughout the 44-day war, the Azerbaijani army did not retreat. There was not a single day when we retreated. In the last days of the war, the Armenian side fell into panic and began to realize its defeat.

● During the war, Azerbaijan acted with dignity and observed all the rules of conducting military operations. That is why the losses among the civilian population of the Armenian side are minimal. We have never fought against civilians.

● There is practically no city of Agdam. Only the ruins of the Juma Mosque remained and Armenia only left it because they needed a reference point to adjust the artillery fire, as well as an observation point. The minarets of the mosque served as the latter.

● From now on, Azerbaijan will develop as a victorious country. Armenia is a losing state. The myth about the Armenian people created by Armenian lobbying organizations has been debunked.

● This war was not only against the fascist Armenian state, it was a war against fascism. Azerbaijan’s victory proves that the fate of all fascists will be similar to the fate of the Armenians.

● Unfortunately, even today, Armenia does not stop its provocative actions. If there is even a small threat to the state security of Azerbaijan, the enemy will be destroyed immediately and on the spot.

● The provocation carried out by the Armenian army in recent days on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, naturally, could not remain unanswered and we did respond to it.

● For 30 years, the Armenians have not been able to build a state. This means that these people can only live by taking advantage of the possibilities of the larger states.

● The current government of Armenia accuses the previous one of not being able to defend their borders and the previous government blames the current one. In fact, both are to blame. They did not think that they would find themselves in such a miserable situation and that they themselves were the cause of all their misfortunes.

● Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen its borders. Nobody can put pressure on us. Some pro-Armenian countries, circles make various statements – let them. The European Parliament has once again adopted a resolution on the basis of false data. The Azerbaijani people should not pay attention to this. These are all meaningless words. The main thing is that today we are here, we are standing here and will live on this land forever.

What Lies Beneath: President Biden’s Deceptive Acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide

Alex Jidarian

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by Guest Contributor

President Biden’s April 24 statement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide (1915–1923+) carried out by Turkey was welcome but flawed.

Indeed, “Turkey” appears nowhere in the document.

Moreover, the State Department swiftly undermined Biden’s virtuous-sounding words.

American acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide isn’t even new.

The U.S. House has passed several resolutions on the Genocide, and a nearly unanimous Congress did so in 2019.

Presidents going back to Woodrow Wilson have described the Armenian ordeals with language such as: an effort to exterminate all Armenians; terrible massacres; mass killings; death marches; and an ancient [Armenian] homeland was erased.

If these don’t describe genocide, the word is meaningless.

In 1951, the State Department cited the Armenian “massacres [as a] crime of genocide” in a filing at the International Court of Justice.

In 1981, President Reagan included “the genocide of Armenians” in a Holocaust proclamation.

Genocide acknowledgments should not — like car insurance — lapse if not renewed annually.

Will the Holocaust become a non-genocide next year if the White House happens to overlook it?

Still, Biden’s statement is noteworthy. It could even reinvigorate several Armenian American lawsuits against Turkey.

But his statement has problems.

Biden tries to take the heat off today’s Republic of Turkey by blaming only “Ottoman-era … authorities” for the Genocide.

After the Allies defeated Ottoman Turkey in WWI (1918), Ottoman General Mustafa Kemal’s (Ataturk) forces continued to massacre Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.

Kemal also ordered that Armenia be “politically and physically eliminated.”  When he established the Turkish Republic in 1923, Kemal appointed Ottoman genocidists and continued to persecute Christians.

Thus, as President Erdogan himself has confirmed, his country is a “continuation” of Ottoman Turkey. Knowing this, the Turkish Republic has always tried to evade accountability for the Genocide.

Disgracefully, though, Biden tries to assist Turkey in that regard by writing, “We do this not to cast blame” [on Turkey].”

The president has no right to hand Turkey a “Get Out of Jail Free card.”

Just two days later, American Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy tried to help Turkey duck accountability.

“The Armenian Genocide took place in 1915, the [UN] Genocide Convention did not come into force until 1951 … from the legal perspective the Convention is not being applied retroactively.”

Tracy’s reasoning — disputed by experts — suggests that Jews should have received no restitution or reparations because the Holocaust (1933–1945) also occurred before 1951.

Turkey’s genocidal threats against Armenians continue to this day, something the president’s declaration ignores.

In 1993, Turkey was going to invade Armenia were the coup against Russian President Boris Yeltsin to succeed.

President Erdogan has branded Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks “Leftovers of the Sword.”  It’s an obvious, existential threat against Christian populations who survived Turkey’s 20th century genocides.

In 2020, Turkey, its Turkic ally Azerbaijan, and jihadist mercenaries successfully attacked Armenian-populated Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabagh and Armenia.

Erdogan gleefully likened these attacks to Ottoman Turkey’s genocidal invasion (1918) of Armenia. “Today, may the souls of [General] Nuri Pasha, [Minister of War] Enver Pasha, and the brave soldiers of the Caucasus Islam Army, be happy.”

An analogy would be Germany’s denying the Holocaust, threatening Israel, arming its foes, calling Jews “leftovers of the concentration camps,” and glorifying Nazi Germany.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev simultaneously claimed huge chunks of Armenia, including its capital Yerevan.

Turkey and Azerbaijan’s military assaults and threats are all reminiscent of the Genocide.

Biden’s vow that America must “ensure that what happened [the Armenian Genocide] is never repeated,” therefore, rings hollow.

Moreover, Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act conditionally prohibits U.S. aid to Azerbaijan if the latter supports terrorism or engages in aggression against Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabagh/Armenia.

However, the White House just waived Section 907 despite Azerbaijan’s flagrant use of ISIS and other terrorists against Armenians.

Let’s not be deceived by the Biden’s April 24 statement and the State Department’s unprincipled actions.

David Boyajian writes about Caucasus issues. His work can be found at Armeniapedia.

Sports: Weightlifting double for Armenia and another medal for Russia at Junior Worlds

Emil Lazarian
Inside the Games

  • By Brian Oliver
  • Saturday,

Armenia won both medal events on the eighth day of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Russia won another silver, taking its tally for the week to an impressive seven medals in total, one more than Turkey with two days to go.

The performance of the day came from Garik Karapetyan, who will not be 17 until next month.

He gained revenge over men who had beaten him in world and continental youth championships as he took the men’s 96 kilograms with 162-193-355.

Karapetyan trailed the 18-year-old Russian Artur Babayan in the snatch but Babayan – who had denied Karapetyan in the 2019 European Youth Championships – failed with his final attempt and was beaten by one kilogram.

The bronze medallist Ilia Moskalenko of Ukraine made 155-194-349, which highlighted just how good the performance of the week was.

It came from Rizki Juniansyah of Indonesia, who made exactly the same numbers, 155-194-349, way down in the 73kg category when he broke world records on the way to victory three days ago.

The action was far less spectacular today but Armenia will not see it that way as they enjoyed a golden double.

They took the women’s 81kg through Liana Gyurjyan, who made 98-125-223 to finish one kilogram ahead of Ucan Dilara of Turkey.

Ecuador’s Kelin Jimenez was third on 218kg.

The highlight of day nine is expected to be the performance in the men’s 102kg of the outstanding 17-year-old Kazakhstan lifter Rakhat Bekbolat, who holds world records at youth and junior level.