Author: Adrine Hakobian

Artsakh president convenes enlarged consultation

Adrine Hakobian

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 14:59,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. On February 17, the President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan convened an enlarged working consultation dedicated to the issues of specifying the status of the citizens involved in hostilities and various support works in the rear during the war unleashed against Artsakh in 2020, the presidency said in a press release.

The responsible persons of the sphere delivered reports on the topic, which was succeeded by concerned discussions.

The Head of the State noted that precise legal regulations are needed for the comprehensive solution of the issue, based on the results of studies and analyses.

Harutyunyan stressed that the service of each person should be properly evaluated and registered in a specific status, while excluding any abuse and arbitrary approach.

Chairman of the National Assembly of the Artsakh Republic Arthur Tovmasyan also partook in the meeting.

Asbarez: Opposition Sounds Alarm on Dangers of the Ankara-Baku ‘Shushi Declaration’

Adrine Hakobian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

Armenia’s National Assembly

Armenia’s Parliament is scheduled to discuss and ratify a bill proposed by the opposition Armenia Alliance, which through the legislation, seeks to sound the alarm about the dangers of the so-called “Shushi Agreement,” signed by the presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan last June when the two leaders traveled to occupied Shushi.

The parliaments of Turkey and Azerbaijan ratified the “Shushi Declaration,” paving the way for the implementation of its provisions, which include security and military elements.

According to the National Assembly website, the legislature will address the motion on February 23 to make a declaration on the matter.

Below is the text of the proposed statement.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia expresses its deep concern over the the ratification of the Declaration signed by the presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan on June 15, 2021 by the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

With this declaration a Turkish-Azerbaijani military-political alliance was formed within the framework of the “One Nation, Two States” concept.

Although the document states that it is not created against a third party, it is entirly directed against the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the Armenian people. It cements the strategic goals of the two states, which carried out the 44-day aggression against the Artsakh Republic. It also works against the self-determination of the people of Artsakh, the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, territorial integrity and the rights of the Armenian people around the world who survived the genocide.

The wording about the Zangezur Corridor in the declaration indicates that Turkey and Azerbaijan are reaching public agreements on implementing joint expansionist policies.

The agreement by the two states to fight against the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide by distorting its veracity, by proposing to relegate it as subject for historical research must be condemned.

The Shushi Declaration is based not on the United Nations Charter or the principles of security adopted by the OSCE, but rather on “tribal security” approach. It contradicts the basic norms of international law.

According to the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, all international agreements which contradict the imperative norms of general international law, are null and void and can have no international legitimacy.

The National Assembly declares that the Shushi Declaration, by its provocative and un-constructive nature, is unacceptable for the Republic of Armenia. It is a serious challenge to regional and global security, does not contribute to the peaceful development of our region, contradicts the ‘without preconditions’ principle of Armenian-Turkish normalization process and raises serious doubts about the true actions and intentions of official Ankara.

Kurdish community of Armenia demonstrates outside UN office warning of Turkey’s ‘genocidal policy’

Adrine Hakobian

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 14:44,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Representatives of the Kurdish community of Armenia held a demonstration outside the United Nations office in Yerevan, calling on the UN to convene a special session and demand Turkey to release political prisoner Abdullah Ocalan, the co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who is widely considered by Kurds around the world as their leader.

After being forced to leave Syria, Ocalan was abducted in Nairobi in 1999 by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT)  and taken to Turkey,  where after a trial he was sentenced to death under Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the formation of armed organizations. The sentence was commuted to aggravated life imprisonment when Turkey abolished the death penalty. 

Kurds demonstrate around the world calling for Ocalan’s release on February 15, the day of his arrest.

Member of Parliament Knyaz Hasanov (Civil Contract) representing the Kurdish community of Armenia was leading the demonstration. He said that the 72-year-old Ocalan is being tortured for 23 years in the İmralı prison, but the international community has simply assumed the role of an observer.

“The Turkish government shows that their goal is the destruction of both the Kurdish leader and the Kurdish people,” MP Hasanov said. “Up to this day the 25 million Kurds living in Turkey aren’t recognized as a nation in Turkey by the constitution, even their language isn’t recognized. Our children are deprived of education and are subjected to pressure there. For 12 years already, Turkey-backed Islamic groups are subjecting the 4-5 million Kurds of Syria to genocide. The Turkish authorities have already captured 3-4 cities in Rojava and have forced the people out of their settlement. This shows that the Turkish authorities are doing everything to eliminate the Kurdish people,” MP Hasanov said.

The MP called on the international community to take special measures against Turkey’s genocidal policy.

“The superpowers should first of all take these steps, but unfortunately today every superpower has its own interests and pursuant to these interests they are ignoring both the Kurds, Armenians, and the rights of all oppressed peoples,” he said.

The Kurdish community then conveyed a letter to the UN Armenia Office containing their demands to the international community.

Architect firm behind disastrous Marble Arch Mound unveils another huge plant project – a ‘Valley of Eden’ in Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
U.K. – Feb 10 2022
  • The ‘self-sustaining valley’ will be developed over an 18,000-hectare area in Armenia’s Gagarin Valley
  • It’s hoped that the valley, equipped with cycle paths, a stadium and a centre for the arts, will attract tourists 
  • It comes as Dutch firm MVRDV defends its design of the Marble Arch Mound, which was recently torn down 

By AILBHE MACMAHON FOR MAILONLINE

The architect firm behind the much-criticised Marble Arch Mound has another garden project up its sleeve – a self-sustaining ‘Valley of Eden’, complete with 10,000 garden plots, a giant mirrored sphere and a sunken stadium.

Last month, contractors started tearing down the £6million mound, designed by MVRDV, after the artificial hill, open to the public for just six months, was widely panned.

The Dutch firm’s latest endeavour will be constructed over an 18,000-hectare (44,478-acre) plot in Armenia’s Gagarin Valley, an area close to Lake Sevan that’s named after Yuri Gagarin, the first human to orbit the earth.

MVRDV, the architect firm behind the much-criticised Marble Arch mound has another garden project up its sleeve – a ‘Valley of Eden’ complete with 10,000 garden plots, a giant mirrored sphere (shown in a rendering centre-right) and a sunken stadium

MVRDV’s ‘self-sustaining valley’, shown here in a rendering, will be constructed over an 18,000-hectare (44,478-acre) area in Armenia’s Gagarin Valley, close to Lake Sevan

The Gagarin Valley project, which was commissioned by the DAR Foundation for Regional Development and Competitiveness, aims to turn the valley into a ‘future-proof landscape’ that can be used for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism.

As well as attracting tourists, it’s hoped that the revamped valley – which currently has 11,000 residents spread across several villages – will become a ‘more attractive place to live’ for young Armenians. 

Ten thousand species of plants and flowers will be planted across the ‘patchwork of 10,000 gardens’ – one rendering shows a field of lavender.

According to the architects, the valley’s silver orb will function as a control room and was designed to look like a ‘mini-planet’. It will be surrounded by a park – ‘a scientific arboretum’ – that contains all of the plant species, reflected in the sphere. And inside they will be ‘shown and monitored’.  

The Gagarin Valley project aims to turn the area into a ‘future-proof landscape’ that can be used for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism

The sunken stadium will have a 4,500-seat capacity, but it won’t be the only entertainment venue on offer for residents and visitors – there will be a market hall, a commercial centre, a centre for the arts and an educational agricultural centre.

Setting out to become a ‘destination’ for horse riders, walkers and cyclists, the region will be scattered with new bike trails and walking routes. 

The architects plan on turning the Soviet buildings that are currently in place into new constructions, in a bid to avoid building waste. Entirely new buildings, inspired by the design of traditional Armenian farmhouses, will also be constructed, crowned by green, vegetated roofs.

The project, which is still in its planning stages, will also enlarge the route of the Hrazdan River and create a new canal system to help to irrigate the region’s plants and farmland.

Sharing the story behind the plans, MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas says: ‘Yuri Gagarin saw the planet’s vulnerability, a house in need of extra care, as many other astronauts have since stressed. I share that concern: stimulating biodiversity, improving water management and the ecosystem is of great importance for the future of the Gagarin Valley and the world.

‘The valley can be seen as a series of test fields for the 10,000 species that will soon flourish there, an enrichment that will give the area the appearance of a garden of Eden.’

It comes as MVRDV defends the design of the Marble Arch Mound, blaming Westminster council’s ‘loveless execution’ of the project for its failure.

The hill was branded the ‘capital’s worst tourist attraction’ and a ‘waste of money’, but the architects said that they had no clue why so much ended up being spent on the project – it was built for triple the initial £2million budget. 

MVRDV said: ‘In our thirty years of practice, MVRDV has never before experienced such nonchalance and laxity with our design work.’

MVRDV currently has no information on the cost and completion date of Gagarin Valley. For more information visit mvrdv.com.  

————————

More photos at the link below:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-10497539/Architects-disastrous-Marble-Arch-Mound-unveils-plant-project-Valley-Eden.html






Turkish press: Azerbaijan to repatriate 8 detained soldiers to Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
Ruslan Rehimov   |07.02.2022


BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan announced on Monday that eight Armenian soldiers will be repatriated to their country.

According to Azerbaijan’s State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, the soldiers were detained on Nov. 16, 2021.

In return, Armenia should provide information about the Azerbaijani civilians and soldiers killed in the First Karabakh War and presumably buried in mass graves, it was stated.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the EU Council Charles Michel brought the situation of the Azerbaijani citizens lost in the First Karabakh War to the agenda in the quad video conference on Feb. 4. Pashinyan had promised to cooperate on this issue.

USC Tacori Center Holds Third Student MasterClass in Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
by Contributor

 

 February 7, 2022

 

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

The USC Tacori Center held a MasterClass for students in Maiakovski, a village in Armenia, from Jan. 18 to 20

Seventeen Master’s level students from five universities in Armenia gathered at the University of Southern California Tacori Center in Maiakovski village for a MasterClass on the “Social Science Principles and Research Methodologies.” The program took place from January 18 to 20, and was the third on the same themes, organized by the University of Southern California Institute of Armenia Studies.

Located 25 minutes outside of Armenia’s capital Yerevan, the USC Tacori Center is a year-round convening space where artists, policymakers, scholars, authors, practitioners, scientists from Armenia, Artsakh and from around the world gather to work, to learn from each other, and to turn ideas into actions.

This MasterClass was the third led by Dr. Vicken Cheterian, who teaches International Relations at Webster University Geneva, and Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and Dr. Naira Sahakyan, who teaches at Armenia’s Yerevan State University, the American University of Armenia, and is a senior researcher at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. 

Scenes from USC Tacori Center’s third student MasterClass in Armenia

Six other presenters from Armenia and abroad led lectures and discussions to provide students with a basic tool-kit of theories and literature to understand how best to structure their own research projects.  “As important as this scholarship would have been at any time, it is crucial and necessary today, in a post-war environment, so that the political, social and historical studies that are being developed represent solid, irrefutable research,” said Syuzanna Petrosyan, Associate Director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies.

In addition to Cheterian and Sahakyan, presenters included Anahit Kartashyan and Benyamin Poghosyan from the Russian-Armenian University, Vahram Ter-Matevosyan from the American University of Armenia, analyst Tigran Grigoryan, Anna Gevorgyan from Yerevan State University, and Arman Grigoryan from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh University. 

Students had the opportunity to share the challenges they are experiencing with their ongoing or upcoming research projects, after which they received feedback both from their peers and the presenters. 

Scenes from USC Tacori Center’s third student MasterClass in Armenia

There will be additional student workshops at the USC Tacori Center that will focus on research methodology and approaches. Armenia-based students interested in participating, should email [email protected] to be added to the USC Tacori Center students list.  Other workshops in the months to come will include a convening of sculptors, a colloquium on the intersection of heritage and technology, especially in the post-war context, and several workshops on writing – for animation, for theater and for publication. Scholars and regional experts will convene on current urgent issues impacting the region. 

The Tacorian Family of Los Angeles gifted use of the secluded residence to the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. This unique regional hub, like other research and conference centers around the world, will become an important venue for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchange.  Scholars and students from around Armenia, the Caucasus, Europe and the US will be coming together to explore the arts, social sciences and humanities, as well as business and engineering,  in ways that are significant and relevant for today’s young scholars.

Established in 2005, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies supports multidisciplinary scholarship to re-define, explore and study the complex issues that make up the contemporary Armenian experience—from post-genocide to the developing Republic of Armenia to the evolving diaspora. The institute encourages research, publications and public service, and promotes links among the global academic and Armenian communities.

For inquiries, write to [email protected] or call 213.821.3943

Armenia responds to Azerbaijan’s reaction to border proposals

Adrine Hakobian
Feb 4 2022
February 4, 2022 – 11:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan has responded to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s remarks about recent proposals sent by Yerevan to Baku.

Bayramov said, in particular, that the Armenian side putting forward and added that Armenia has no legal, political or moral right to impose any conditions on the issue of delimitation of the borders. Bayramov also claimed that Armenia has undermined the activities of the trilateral working group.

Hunanyan reminded that the November 26, 2021 statement signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan clearly shows that the three leaders have agreed to undertake steps towards increasing the level of security and stability on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and to lead the process to the formation of a bilateral commission on delimitation and demarcation.

“It derives from the statement signed by the leaders of the three countries that the activities of the commission on delimitation and demarcation should be preceded by the agreements on steps towards increasing the level of security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the implementation of those agreements. It is also logical amid the fact that it is difficult to imagine the implementation of delimitation in the borders where ceasefire violations are observed every day,” Hunanyan noted.

“The Republic of Armenia, being really interested in the full implementation of the agreements, has formulated its notions for their implementation. The Azerbaijani side did not give any substantive response and rejected them, without offering any options for implementing the agreements reached by the leaders of the three countries.

According to the diplomat, describing Armenia’s proposals as “conditions”, “preconditions” and then making moral, political and legal assessments on them has no logical link to said process.

Hunanyan also weighed in on the the trilateral working group on unblocking regional communications.

“Ironically, on the same morning, Prime Minister [Nikol] Pashinyan announced at the Cabinet meeting that Armenia is in the stage of undertaking practical steps towards restoring the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway, and that the Armenian Co-Chair of the working group, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan had a substantive discussion on this topic with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, and Director General of “Russian Railways” Oleg Belozyorov on February 2 in Yerevan,” he said.

“Assessing the situation, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that the first results of the work of the Trilateral Working Group seem very close. In this context, the statements of the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan are at least paradoxical, and we hope that they do not mean Azerbaijan’s renunciation of the agreements on the reopening of the railway reached in Brussels. I would like to note that the Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the agreements, which the Prime Minister publicly stated several times.

“It should be noted that Armenia has also made proposals to the Azerbaijani side on the opening of the roads. We have not received any response from the Azerbaijani side to these proposals yet. Armenia is ready to start implementing these proposals as soon as possible.”

Armen Ashotyan: There is ‘fertile ground’ for change of power in Armenia

Adrine Hakobian
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 3 2022

Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia Armen Ashotyan on Thursday shared the findings of a public opinion survey among Armenian residents conducted by the International Republican Institute.

Data was collected throughout Armenia between November 22 and December 5, 2021 through phone interviews.

“The most striking findings included:

• 46% of the respondents think that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Only 34% think the opposite.

• People are most satisfied with the work of the ombudsman’s office. The prime minister’s office comes 7th on the list.

• The lowest rated were the backpack-controlled National Assembly, the usurped Constitutional Court and the infamous Supreme Judicial Council led by [Gagik] Jhangiryan.

• The majority of people do not believe that the unblocking of communications with Azerbaijan and Turkey will contribute to the economic development of Armenia.

• In the current situation, 29% are in favor of delimitation and demarcation with Azerbaijan, while 57% are against, twice as much.

• 85% of the respondents are in favor of the recognition of Artsakh’s independence or its unification with Armenia as an acceptable solution to the conflict. Only 11% favor the establishment of its status within Russia,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The key conclusions are the following:

• People are dissatisfied with the policies run by the ruling regime.

• Nikol’s and his team’s efforts to feed people lies through the conspiratorial policy agreed with Azerbaijan and Turkey are not successful, at least for now.

• There is fertile ground for a change of power.

• The rest is the problem of the opposition,” Ashotyan noted.

Turkish press: Erdoğan promises Armenian foundations’ chair new amendment for elections

Adrine Hakobian
  • January 26 2022 14:16:00

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged a legal arrangement that will allow religious foundations belonging to minorities in Turkey to elect their boards of directors once the preparations are complete in his meeting with Armenian Foundations Union President Bedros Şirinoğlu, daily Milliyet reported on Jan. 26.

Erdogan stated that the preparations will be completed soon and that election can be held in minority foundations.

“Our honorable president told us that the studies on the subject were being carried out rapidly, that hopefully it will be completed soon and that election will be held in minority foundations,” Şirinoğlu told the daily.

The Union’s charter had been in existence since 1864 and was now useless, Şirinoğlu said, noting that Erdoğan wanted it to be adapted according to the current condition.

The heads of the foundations wanted to prepare a charter for their benefit, so the elections were prolonged, he stated.

“Mr. President gave instructions to the Culture Ministry and the General Directorate of Foundations and started the work,” Şirinoğlu said, adding they would be able to examine after the work completes.

Red Cross helped Armenian captives in Azerbaijan contact their families

Adrine Hakobian
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 29 2022

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Armenian captives being held in Azerbaijan, ICRC Armenia Office Communications Program Manager Zara Amatuni told Sputnik Armenia on Friday.

“Employees of the organization visited all those persons whose captivity has been confirmed by the Azerbaijani authorities. Among them are those who were captured at the end of 2020 and in November 2021,” Amatuni said.

The ICRC employees familiarized themselves with the detention conditions, delivered letters and video messages to the captives from their relatives and took their messages to their families. In addition, with the help of the Red Cross, the prisoners were able to talk to their families by telephone.

According to the official data, 199 servicemen and 21 civilians are still missing after the Artsakh war in autumn 2020.