Month: March 2023

Film: WATCH: Armenian production ‘Aurora’s Sunrise’ wins Grand Prize at FIFDH

Jirair Kafian
South Africa – March 20 2023

Armenian animation Aurora's Sunrise has taken home the Grand Prize at the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) in Geneva after 10 days of documentary and fiction film screenings.

The production follows the true story of Aurora Mardiganian, a 14-year-old girl who survived the Armenian genocide and journeyed from Turkey to the US before becoming a Hollywood sensation.

It was the first animated film of its kind to be made in Armenia and was recognised by the Academy Awards earlier this month in the International Feature Film section, becoming just the second animated documentary film to be nominated in that category after Danish production Flee in 2022.

Director Inna Sahakyan, who was unable to travel to Switzerland, was represented instead by an Armenian delegation to the United Nations.

The Oscar nominee also secured the top Jury Award for best documentary at the MiradasDoc Festival in Spain on 4 February.

Colette et Justin , directed by Franco-Congolese filmmaker Alain Kassanda went on to secure the Gilda Viera de Mello Prize at the FIFDH. It tells the story of an elderly couple and their experience of colonisation in the Belgian Congo.

"One of the reasons I made this film was I also wanted to re-approach the narrative. This story is not passed on in my family, but more generally, Afro-descendants do not necessarily know the history of their parent's country of origin," Kassandra told Euronews Culture.

"Who holds this memory? And how do we re-appropriate these archives to tell a story from our own point of view?" he added.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/feel-good/watch-armenian-production-auroras-sunrise-wins-grand-prize-at-fifdh-6cbecb06-d602-4d51-87c0-df0615af3f1b

Russian MFA: The West wishes to “embroil” Armenia and Russia

Emil Lazarian

Armenia – March 20 2023

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Moscow attaches great importance to the upcoming talks today between the Russian and Armenian foreign ministers "against the backdrop of shameless attempts by Western countries to embroil our states and undermine the security architecture that is being built in the region.”

This is stated in the news release issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry ahead of the visit of the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to Moscow today.

 

The document states that “one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities in the South Caucasus is to promote the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in accordance with trilateral agreements at the highest level.”

 

“The most important direction of Russian efforts is the unblocking of transport communications in the region. Together with the Armenian and Azerbaijani partners, within the framework of the trilateral working group co-chaired by the vice-premiers, a package of specific infrastructure projects is being agreed upon, which will allow establishing rail and road communications and will also contribute to the resumption of economic ties.

 

We stand for the continuation of the work of the bilateral commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. The launch of the delimitation process is intended to contribute to the cessation of border incidents. Russia will provide the necessary advisory assistance at the request of the parties.

 

The preparation of a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku is designed to reinforce the basic principles of relations, lay the foundations for mutually beneficial cooperation in the long term. Moscow is ready to contribute in every possible way to this extremely important process in the interests of regional stability,” the news release reads.

Lavrov: Statements by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain the key to stabilization in the region

Diana Dabaghian
March 20 2023

We are talking about the economic, military-political and international legal spheres, Lavrov stressed. The first priority, he said, is the settlement of the situation with the Lachin road. Russia, according to him, is ready to provide all possible assistance in the demilitarization of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, unblocking transport communications.

Recall that the Lachin road, the only one that connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since December 12, 2022.

https://www.weeklyblitz.net/news/lavrov-statements-by-the-leaders-of-russia-armenia-and-azerbaijan-remain-the-key-to-stabilization-in-the-region/


Belarus, Armenia discuss cooperation in mechanical engineering, construction

Liana Toganian
Belarus – March 20 2023

MINSK, 20 March (BelTA) – Belarusian Vice Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik met with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan of Armenia in Yerevan, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian government.

The vice prime ministers discussed topical issues of bilateral relations. In particular, they talked about cooperation in mechanical engineering, construction, and forestry.

The parties noted the high dynamics of trade expressing satisfaction that the trend is bilateral and reaffirmed commitment to working actively, finding reserves and striving for higher results.

Piotr Parkhomchik also met with Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan. The parties agreed to take the necessary coordinated measures to maintain the high dynamics of bilateral relations in trade, economy, and other avenues. Of mutual interest is industrial cooperation projects, the participation of Belarusian specialists in the Armenian forestry development program, the supply of planting material to Armenia and high-quality fruit and vegetables to Belarus.

Piotr Parkhomchik also met with Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan of Armenia to discuss prospects for intensifying trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Armenia, including cooperation in construction, development of interregional relations, exchange of visits, preparation of documents on the development of interregional cooperation. The parties noted the significant potential for further expansion of bilateral cooperation.

https://eng.belta.by/economics/view/belarus-armenia-discuss-cooperation-in-mechanical-engineering-construction-157442-2023/

Trilateral statements by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan remain key to stabilization — Lavrov

Arpi Talalian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
Sergey Lavrov pointed to the "ongoing intensive political dialogue" between the leaders of the two countries, including that within the framework of peacekeeping activities within the EAEU, the CSTO, and the CIS

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Trilateral statements by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan undoubtedly remain the key to stabilizing the situation in the region in various areas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said while opening talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow on Monday.

"We have no doubts that the tripartite statements by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia remain the key to the implementation of all decisions in the interests of stabilization [in the region] in the economic sphere, in the military-political sphere, and in international law," Lavrov pointed out.

He stressed that "one of the priority tasks" was to resolve the dispute over the Lachin road and Karabakh in general. Russia will be ready, as the relevant tripartite statements say, "to render all possible assistance in unblocking transport links, delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and harmonizing the parameters of a future peace treaty".

Lavrov pointed to the "ongoing intensive political dialogue" between the leaders of the two countries, including that within the framework of peacekeeping activities within the EAEU, the CSTO, and the CIS.

"In May this year, a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will be held in Moscow. At the moment, we are Armenia’s leading trading partner and a key investor into its economy," Lavrov said.

He stressed that last year’s results were quite impressive. Bilateral trade almost doubled, reaching almost $5 billion.

"We are still calculating it in dollars, but this is temporary. All this helped your country ensure a record growth in its gross domestic product of more than 3.5%," Lavrov said. "Our companies are also leaders in terms of contributions to Armenia’s budget and in creating jobs. The intergovernmental commission at the level of deputy prime ministers is very active."

Moscow is interested both in strengthening the common educational space with Yerevan and in promoting humanitarian ties and relations between regions, Lavrov said. He also noted that among the important topics of today's talks with his Armenian counterpart would be cooperation within the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and other organizations.

Baku violates all paragraphs of Nov 9, 2020 statement — Armenian MFA

Anna Tamamian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
It is noted that there is not a single point in the tripartite statement of November 9 that Azerbaijan has not violated

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Baku violates almost all provisions of the tripartite statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9, 2020, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Monday.

"Unfortunately, in practice, there is not a single point in the tripartite statement of November 9 that Azerbaijan has not violated – systematic violations of the ceasefire, the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Armenia, the illegal blocking of the Lachin corridor, the keeping of Armenian prisoners of war in custody, and obstructions to the re-opening of regional links," he said.

Mirzoyan stressed that Yerevan was expecting its allies and partners to take active steps to ensure Azerbaijan fulfill its obligations and stop the use of force.

"The Azerbaijani side, with its ongoing provocations, is torpedoing efforts for establishing lasting peace and stability in the region. In this context, I would like to emphasize the need for active steps by Armenia’s allies and partners in order to ensure Azerbaijan fulfill its obligations and stop using force and threats in violation of international law," Mirzoyan said.

West seeks to drive wedge between Russia, Armenia, undermine regional situation — Lavrov

Zhanna Nahapetian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister noted, the West is concerned not over the interests over the countries located in the region, but over its own selfish geopolitical interests

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Moscow sees obvious attempts of the West to drive a wedge between Russia and Armenia and to destabilize the situation in the South Caucasus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan Monday.

"We talked about concerning trends in the situation in South Caucasus. We see obvious attempts by the West to drive a wedge between Russia and Armenia – let’s call things by their names – to undermine the regional security structure," Lavrov said.

Meanwhile, he noted, the West "is concerned not over the interests over the countries located here [in the region – TASS], but over its own selfish geopolitical interests."

"I am certain that such attempts are doomed to fail," the Foreign Minister underscored.

Lavrov satisfied Yerevan not rejecting CSTO mission’s deployment

Zhanna Nahapetian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
Russia's top diplomat recalled that the decision had been the focus of hours-long talks ahead of the CSTO summit in Yerevan

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that he is satisfied to hear that Armenia has not given up on its decision to deploy a mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (SCTO), a post-Soviet Russia-led security bloc.

"I would like to express satisfaction with what Ararat Samvelovich [Mirzoyan] has just said, namely that Armenia did not refuse to sign a decision on deploying a CSTO mission," Lavrov said after talks with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

Lavrov recalled that the decision had been the focus of hours-long talks ahead of the CSTO summit in Yerevan. "The only thing to do now is to see to it that all the heads of state and government sign it. Such a possibility is still in place, the CSTO is ready for that, we know about this readiness. That is why I am glad that Armenia did not reject this possibility, which, of course, is in the interests of security in the region," he added.

Armenia counting on Russia’s role to ensure safety of Karabakh population — top diplomat

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
Earlier, an EU civilian monitoring mission began its work in the border areas at Yerevan’s invitation

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Armenia is counting on Russia’s participation in ensuring the security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a news conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on Monday.

"Without in any way downplaying the role of our Russian partners in the process of establishing a ceasefire in 2020, as well as the role of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, including in preventing a humanitarian disaster after the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the emerging situation demonstrates the need for mechanisms to guarantee the rights and security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and for international participation in them," the top diplomat said.

"It is necessary to employ international mechanisms for the prevention of genocide, as well as to dispatch an international fact-finding mission to the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh. We are hoping for cooperation with the Russian side on this issue," he added.

Earlier, an EU civilian monitoring mission began its work in the border areas at Yerevan’s invitation. At that time, the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out that Yerevan preferred to opt for the EU, without allowing the work being done on the track pursued by the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s mission in the region to come to its logical conclusion. On February 20, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that Moscow saw the EU civilian mission in Armenia as having exclusively geopolitical motives, far removed from the interests of normalization in the South Caucasus, and as an attempt to squeeze Russia out of the region.

Later, Yerevan came out in favor of dispatching an international fact-finding mission to the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia laying groundwork for organizing another 3+3 meeting — Lavrov

Garik Boshkezenian
 TASS 
Russia – March 20 2023
"The West is already making efforts to undermine this structure, which is only in its formative stage," the Russian foreign minister said

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Ministry is carrying out preliminary work for the organization of another meeting in the 3+3 format, which Georgia is welcome to join, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"The Georgian side is looking at joining this format (3+3 meetings – TASS), but the first meeting has already been held. The door is still open for Tbilisi. Now we are working on the organization of the second meeting in the 3+3 format. The West is already making efforts to undermine this structure, which is only in its formative stage," he said after talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Dwelling on what may be driving the Western countries to start "brewing up some sort of games" in the South Caucasus, he said, "It [the West] is again putting forth claims to domination, to asserting its hegemony over here, there and everywhere, far from its own borders, directly infringing upon the legal interests of the three closest neighbors of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, namely Turkey, Iran and Russia.".