16:14,
YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. The foreign ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan will hold a trilateral meeting on July 25 in Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will also hold separate bilateral talks with the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers.
Friday,
Armenian, Azeri FMs To Meet Again In Moscow
Tajikistan - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets his Armenian and
Azerbaiani counterparts in Dushanbe, May 12, 2022.
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan have accepted a Russian proposal
to meet in Moscow soon following a series of negotiations mediated by the United
States.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was the first to announce the upcoming
meeting on Thursday. The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed it later in the
day. Neither side gave a date for the talks.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov
most recently met outside Washington for four consecutive days late last month.
They continued their discussions on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said afterwards that progress made by them is
“not significant.” Pashinian’s July 15 talks with Aliyev held in Brussels also
did not yield tangible results.
As European Union head Charles Michel hosted the latest Armenian-Azerbaijani
summit Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed readiness to organize a
fresh trilateral meeting with Bayramov and Mirzoyan. According to the Russian
Foreign Ministry, they should discuss the peace treaty and try to lay the
groundwork for its eventual signing at a “Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani summit in
Moscow.”
Russia has been very critical of U.S. and EU efforts to broker such a peace
deal, saying that the main aim of the Western powers if to drive it out of the
South Caucasus.
U.S. - Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers in Washington, June 27, 2023.
Bayramov phoned Lavrov on Thursday to discuss what his press office described as
“existing difficulties” in the peace process. According to a Russian readout of
the call, they looked at “ways to intensify joint work on the key tracks of the
Azerbaijani-Armenian normalization.” There was no word on the upcoming talks in
Moscow.
In Yerevan, meanwhile, Pashinian and Mirzoyan met with Igor Khovayev, the
Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. They discussed the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan’s seven-month
blockade of the Lachin corridor.
In a June 15 statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry “strongly” urged Azerbaijan
to lift the blockade, saying that it could have “the most dramatic consequences”
for Karabakh’s population. Baku rejected the call.
The Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
discussed the severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential goods
in Karabakh on Thursday at an emergency meeting in Vienna initiated by Armenia.
Addressing the meeting, Mirzoyan said the Armenian-populated region is “on the
verge of starvation” and called for stronger international pressure on Baku.
On Friday, the Karabakh parliament appealed to Armenia to ask the United Nations
to give the Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh an “international
mandate.” It said the lack of such a mandate prevents them from unblocking the
sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world.
Pashinian suggested in December that Russia itself seek such a mandate or ask
the UN Security Council to send an “additional, multinational peacekeeping force
to Nagorno-Karabakh.” A senior Russian diplomat countered that the idea of a UN
peacekeeping operation is “hardly realistic.”
Suspect Dies In Armenia After Interrogation
• Nane Sahakian
Armenia -- The entrance to the main Investigative Committee building in Yerevan.
A man suspected of drug trafficking reportedly fell to his death after being
interrogated by an Armenian law-enforcement agency on Thursday.
The Investigative Committee said that the 30-year-old Russian citizen was
brought in for questioning at one of its divisions one day after police arrested
him for receiving “parcels containing narcotics.”
It said that the handcuffed suspect was escorted out of an interrogation room
located on the fifth floor and reached a “door leading to the elevator.”
“As soon as the door opened, he unexpectedly quickly approached an open window
next to the elevator and jumped out of it, dying as a result,” the committee
added in a late-night statement. It did not identify the suspect.
The statement stressed that the interrogation was filmed and attended by his
lawyer. As of Friday afternoon, the still unknown lawyer did not publicly
comment on what the investigators described as an “accident.”
Artur Sakunts, a human rights activist, decried the man’s death. He said the
law-enforcement agency is “directly responsible” for it even if the official
version of events is true.
It is not clear whether a criminal case was opened in connection with the deadly
incident.
Human rights groups say that ill-treatment of criminal suspects remains
widespread in Armenia despite sweeping law-enforcement reforms promised by Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government. Law-enforcement officers are still rarely
prosecuted or fired for such offenses.
As recently as on June 22, a man in Yerevan claimed that the Investigative
Committee chief, Argishti Kyaramian, personally tortured and threatened to kill
him following his arrest on June 17. A spokesman for Kyaramian denied the
allegations.
Russia Again Warns Armenia Over International Court Treaty
Russia - Federation Council vice-speaker Yury Vorobyov (second from left) speaks
during a meeting of Armenian and Russian lawmakers in Irkutsk, .
Russia again warned Armenia on Friday against ratifying the founding treaty of
the International Criminal Court (ICC) that issued an arrest warrant for Russian
President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
Yury Vorobyov, a deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, brought
up the issue during a meeting of Armenian and Russian lawmakers held in the
Siberian city of Irkutsk. He referred to the Armenian Constitutional Court’s
decision in March to give the green light for parliamentary ratification of the
treaty, also known as the Rome Statute.
“While we proceed from the assumption that this step by our Armenian partners
does not have an anti-Russian subtext, in practice it is causing significant
damage to Russian-Armenian relations,” Russian news agencies quoted Vorobyov as
saying.
“We call on our allies to once again carefully consider the implications of
joining the Rome Statute and assess potential risks to allied relations with
Russia,” he told deputy speaker Hakob Arshakian and other pro-government members
of the Armenian parliament attending the meeting.
According the Armenian parliament’s press office, Arshakian assured the Russian
side that Yerevan’s plans to submit to the ICC’s jurisdiction are “in no way
directed against Russia” and are aimed instead at “preventing Azerbaijani
attacks on the sovereign territory of Armenia.”
Other Armenian officials made similar statements following the Constitutional
Court ruling which came one week after the ICC issued the arrest warrant for
Putin over war crimes allegedly committed by Russia in Ukraine. Moscow was not
convinced by those assurances. It warned Yerevan later in March that the
ratification of the Rome Statute is “absolutely unacceptable” and would have
“extremely negative” consequences for bilateral ties.
Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian meet in Sochi, June 9, 2023.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government appears to have ignored the warning,
sending the treaty to the National Assembly for ratification late last month.
Arshakian revealed on Friday that “active discussions” on the matter are now
underway between Armenian and Russian diplomats. He expressed confidence that a
“legal solution acceptable to Armenia and Russia” will be found.
Independent legal experts believe that recognition of the ICC’s jurisdiction
would require the Armenian authorities to arrest Putin and extradite him to The
Hague tribunal if he visits the South Caucasus country.
Armenian opposition lawmakers have expressed serious concern over such a
dramatic possibility, saying that it would ruin the country’s relationship with
its key ally. One of them claimed in March that Pashinian engineered the
Constitutional Court ruling to “please the West.” Most of the court’s current
judges have been installed by Pashinian’s political team.
Russian-Armenian relations had already soured in the months leading up to the
March ruling due to what Pashinian’s administration sees as a lack of Russian
support for Armenia in the conflict with Azerbaijan.
Earlier this week, South Africa announced that Putin will not attend a summit of
the BRICS nations in Johannesburg scheduled for August. South Africa is a
signatory to the ICC treaty.
Armenia Warns Of Famine In Blockade-Hit Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh - Residents of Stepanakert line up outside a food store to buy
bread, July 18, 2023.
Armenia urged the international community on Thursday to put stronger pressure
on Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin corridor, saying that Nagorno-Karabakh’s
population is “on the verge of starvation.”
“We are not speaking about a looming crisis anymore; we speak about an ongoing
humanitarian disaster,” Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told an emergency
session of the Vienna-based Permanent Council of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe. “The mediaeval practices should be ceased. This
cannot continue if we are serious about values and principles.
“The international community in general and the OSCE in particular cannot remain
silent simply because the lives of 120 thousand people are at stake,” he said.
Armenia initiated the meeting to draw greater international attention to the
seven-month blockade of Karabakh’s sole land link with the outside world, which
has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential items in
the region.
Nagorno-Karabakh - Empty shelves at a grocery store in Stepanakert, July 18,
2023.
Azerbaijan has also cut off Armenia’s supplies of electricity and natural gas to
Karabakh. The humanitarian crisis deteriorated after Baku blocked on June 15
relief supplies carried out, in limited amounts, by Russian peacekeepers and the
Red Cross.
“Prior to the blockade, around 90 percent of all consumed food was imported from
Armenia, and with every passing day the people of Nagorno-Karabakh don’t receive
400 tons of essential goods,” said Mirzoyan. “Furthermore, by using force and
the threat of force, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct agricultural activities on
approximately 10,000 hectares of land adjacent to the line of contact, which
constitutes a significant portion of [Karabakh’s] total cultivated land.”
“As a result, today the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are on the verge of hunger
and starvation,” he warned.
The United States, the European Union and Russia have repeatedly called for an
end to the blockade. Moscow said late last week that it could have “the most
dramatic consequences” for the local population.
Nagorno-Karabakh - Karabakh Armenians protest against the Azerbaijani blockade
of the Lachin corridor, July 14, 2023.
Baku has rejected such appeals, denying the humanitarian crisis. It has offered
to supply Karabakh with basic necessities from Azerbaijan proper. Karabakh’s
leadership has rejected the offer as a cynical ploy designed to facilitate the
restoration of Azerbaijani control over the Armenian-populated territory.
Mirzoyan said that the blockade could also “seriously harm” ongoing
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations on a bilateral peace treaty. But he stopped
short of threatening to suspend the talks if Baku remains adamant in keeping
Karabakh cut off from the outside world.
Mirzoyan also reaffirmed Yerevan’s readiness to recognize Azerbaijani
sovereignty over Karabakh through the treaty. “The respect for the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan should not and could not be anyhow misinterpreted and
used as a license for ethnic cleansings in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.
Domestic critics of the Armenian government say the recognition openly pledged
by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in May only emboldened Baku to tighten the
noose around Karabakh. They are also highly skeptical about Yerevan’s insistence
on an internationally mediated dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert on “the
rights and security” of Karabakh’s population.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
ANCA Summer Interns at the U.S. Senate after reaching out to 100 Senate offices
WASHINGTON D.C.—Summer 2023 brought a bright set of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian Internship (LSI), Maral Melkonian Fellowship and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program interns to the heart of the nation’s capital for an intensive advocacy campaign to stop an Artsakh genocide and protect Armenia’s sovereignty. For six weeks, twelve interns from across the U.S. and Canada marched on Capitol Hill to ensure pro-Armenian advocacy remains at the forefront of American policy issues.
California Senator Alex Padilla and ANCA Summer Interns discuss the bipartisan legislation he introduced with Florida Senator Marco Rubio condemning Azerbaijan’s Artsakh blockade.
During their first week, the ANCA summer team dove right into congressional education efforts, encouraging members to cosign the letter, led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), calling on Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, to stop all military aid to Azerbaijan’s Aliyev regime and send vital humanitarian assistance to Artsakh. In the span of three days, the team visited 535 offices – 435 House and 100 Senate – defending the rights of the Artsakh people through the halls of Congress. With the support of the ANCA and the LSI team, 54 cosponsors joined the letter.
In the second week, the team headed to Congress for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing, a landmark event spotlighting Azerbaijan’s escalating aggression against the indigenous Armenian Christians of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), calling for sanctions against the Azerbaijani government in the face of a second Armenian Genocide taking place in the region.
With House and Senate consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act looming, the remaining weeks were focused on meeting with congressional offices and conducting drop offs in an effort to encourage members to sponsor and cosponsor amendments that support Artsakh freedom and Armenian security. These experiences offered interns an inside look at the steps required to push forth pro-Armenian legislation, whether details in drafting an amendment or approaches utilized to speak with a congressional staff member.
Throughout their internship, the interns had the opportunity to meet with policy experts from an array of fields. ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian and programs director Alex Galitsky, the first two speakers in this series, shared their wisdom regarding the foundations of Armenian advocacy and the role of the ANCA in bolstering the security of Armenia and Artsakh and preventing aid from reaching dictatorships—Turkey and Azerbaijan—who threaten the Armenian people with genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Having won the Congressional Art Competition, Vermont native Shakeh Hagopian visited the ANCA team and LSI interns to speak about her 3D art painting which centered around Artsakh and Armenian identity; her painting will be hung in Congress for one year.
Republic of Artsakh Representative to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan discusses the challenges and opportunities to advance pro-Artsakh policies in Congress and the administration.
In the pursuit of exploring different career paths, the interns headed to Deloitte and met with Tadeh Issahakian, Sevan Mehrabian and Sipan Ohanessian, who spoke about the dynamic nature of consulting and learning to harness learned skills towards benefiting the Armenian homeland. Three individuals with much political experience, Maryland State Representative Lorig Charkoudian, Dr. Jirayr Ratevossian and Professor Gregory Aftandilian, spoke to the interns about their experiences as Armenians working on the local, state and federal levels, stressing the importance of having Armenians pushing forth the Armenian cause within government. Similarly, Sam Tadevosyan, director of government relations at McDonald’s Corporation, shed light on the opportunities that led him to lobbying. Charlie Mahtesian, POLITICO’s senior editor, shared the importance of being “the Armenian in the room,” especially in the world of journalism.
Artsakh Representative to the United States Robert Avetisyan discussed the dire situation in Artsakh, but shined light on the possibilities to better the current situation. Ambassador John Evans, who was the first government official to correctly name the Armenian Genocide, spoke about his experiences in the foreign service and time as ambassador.
Library of Congress Armenia and Georgia Area Specialist Dr. Khatchig Mouradian shares an early Armenian language Bible – one of thousands of Armenian items in the Library’s collection.
Armenian Legal Center founding executive director Kate Nahapetian reviewed international laws in relation to Armenia and discussed the legal aspects of Artsakh’s international recognition efforts. Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian area specialist Dr. Khatchig Mouradian shared his experience as a Library of Congress employee and showcased Armenian manuscripts dating to the 14th century. ARF Eastern Region Central Committee member George Aghjayan hosted a seminar on Armenian genealogy in Western Armenia, shedding light on his journey in finding his family through connections made in the Armenian homeland. Shant Nahapetian, former Capital Gateway Program (CGP) fellow, shined light on the clarity he gained in finding his future career path through his experiences in Washington D.C.
ANCA chairman emeritus Garo Armenian challenged the next generation of Armenian advocates to explore tangible ways to transform the situation in the Armenian homeland amid ever-changing regional dynamics
ARF Eastern US Central Committee member George Aghjayan led interns into a fascinating foray into Armenian genealogy.
The Leo Sarkisian Internship program — named after the late ANCA Eastern U.S. community leader and Hai Tahd advocate — empowers dedicated Armenians in their efforts to achieve justice for the Armenian Genocide, freedom for Artsakh, and a secure and prosperous Armenian homeland. The LSI was established in 1986 and now has hundreds of alumni spread across the world. For the fifth year, the LSI is running concurrently with the Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Fellowship, named in memory of the devoted youth advocate who dedicated her life to helping the Armenian homeland. Joining them are participants of the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Internship, honoring the memory of the proud youth advocate for a prosperous Armenian homeland.
ANCA summer interns are selected through a competitive application process with acceptance based on academic excellence and demonstrated capacity for community leadership. While in Washington D.C., summer interns stay at the Aramian House, an eight-bedroom former bed and breakfast located in Washington D.C.’s historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, just a short walk from the ANCA headquarters. The Aramian House was established through a generous donation by sisters Sue, the late Margo, and the late Martha Aramian, generous benefactors of ANCA programs and projects in the Armenian homeland and diaspora.
The 2023 ANCA Leo Sarkisian interns are Olivia Abajian, Greg Akopyan, Tsoline Gevorkian, Sofia Kirchen, Emma Lopez, Sophia Papazian, Tara Ourfalian, Nver Saghatelyan, Artur Shekyan and Ruby Topalian. Joining them are ANCA Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Summer Fellow Areni Hamparian and Capital Gateway Program intern Vahagn Boudakian.
Meet the 2023 ANCA Summer Interns:
Olivia Abajian
Olivia Abajian is studying at the University of Maryland as a government and politics major with a concentration in international relations. On campus, she is the rising editor-in-chief of the Terrapin Yearbook, a member of UMD’s Armenian Students Association, and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. Olivia is currently a member of the AYF-YOARF “Hyortik” chapter.
“I took part in the Leo Sarkisian Internship program to gain hands-on experience in our political system and to explore possible careers in our nation’s capital. This internship has given me the experience of a lifetime, as I have been able to work to enact the change I wish to see for Armenia and Artsakh through the United States government system. After these six weeks, I feel much more educated on Armenian-American politics and accomplished to know I spent my summer doing my part to fight for our homeland.”
Greg Akopyan
Greg Akopyan is a rising junior at the American University of Armenia majoring in politics and governance and minoring in environmental studies. Since arriving at AUA, Greg has taken an active role in the community, becoming a peer mentor and student council member.
“The skills and knowledge I have gained from the LSI internship have been vital to help me understand the opportunities for my future in Washington D.C. I hope to pursue a degree in law after graduating and use that to advance Hai Tahd and build a safe, democratic and prosperous Armenia. I want to help the next generation of Armenian-Americans get involved with politics and advocacy to ensure our community has a powerful voice in the U.S.”
Vahagn Boudakian
Vahagn Boudakian is pursuing a major in political science with a minor in psychology at Brooklyn College CUNY. In addition to his studies, he attended the American University of Armenia and actively engaged with organizations focused on assisting Armenian refugees and contributing to the 2020 war effort.
“These experiences provided me with firsthand exposure to the multitude of challenges that Armenia faces in terms of security and development. At the forefront of Armenia’s fight for survival lies the crucial issue of preserving Artsakh. I’m excited about the prospect of leveraging the knowledge I acquire from this internship to make meaningful contributions to my local ANCA chapter. By actively participating, I hope to effectively employ my newfound expertise in furthering the cause of Armenia’s progress.”
Tsoline Gevorkian
Tsoline Gevorkian is a rising junior at the University of Vermont, currently studying psychology and sociology. She grew up an active member of the AYF and has always been a passionate advocate for the Armenian cause. She currently serves as the treasurer of the Middlesex County West AYF chapter.
“After this internship, my newfound knowledge of American politics will broaden my ability to spread this knowledge to others. I now feel more capable and confident in hosting more efficient conversations and educationals regarding our current Armenian issues and am proud that I was able to spend my summer fighting for our brothers and sisters in Artsakh, and for an azad angakh miatsyal Haiastan.”
Areni Hamparian
Areni Hamparian is a rising senior at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in political science and minoring in history. She is a member of the AYF “Nigol Touman” chapter and serves on the Hai Tahd, Haytoug Magazine, Artsakh Task Force and With Our Soldiers Central Councils.
“The ANCA internship has offered me a clearer understanding of the nation’s political system as well as further clarity at the nuances that exist in the complex web of interests housed in this city. I will surely utilize all I have learned with the intention of strengthening my local community and the Armenian nation. By galvanizing the strength of our community worldwide, through organizations like the ANCA, I believe the Armenian nation has the ability to pave a brighter future for generations to come.”
Sofia Kirchen
Sofia Kirchen is a rising second year at the University of California Berkeley studying international relations and Middle Eastern languages and cultures, with a focus on peace and conflict studies.
“I am super passionate about the role that grassroots activism plays in combating democratic backsliding around the world. I have spent my time on Capitol Hill as a Leo Sarkisian intern leveraging both my previous political campaign experience and everything that I have learned during my time in a meaningful way that furthers the Armenian cause here on Capitol Hill, specifically around the development of legislation.”
Emma Lopez
Emma Lopez recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in political science. This past year at Amherst, I was the vice president and secretary/social media manager of our Armenian Students Association. I’m also a member of the ACYOA at my home parish, St. George Armenian Church, and regularly volunteer.
“The LSI program gave me the opportunity to apply the knowledge I’ve learned at university and actually have an impact on different policies, especially those that prioritize pro-Armenia and Artsakh legislation. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the elected officials you visited sign onto a resolution or letter that you came to inform them about. I’m so grateful to have had to opportunity to work with the ANCA these past six weeks, and I look forward to passing on the knowledge and experiences I’ve had to continue to have a positive impact on our community.”
Sophia Papazian
Sophia Papazian is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley studying political economy and minoring in public policy. She has a passion for serving the global community and is heavily involved in the ASUC Student Union, Global Research and Consulting, Cal’s Armenian Student Association, Cal’s Pi Beta Phi chapter and Homenetmen Hrashq.
“After having the opportunity to participate in the Rising Leaders Program in March, I knew that I wanted to come back for the Leo Sarkisian Internship. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to surround myself with students that share a common dedication in advocating for our Armenian community. Meeting various Armenian-American leaders and spending days on Capitol Hill pushing for legislation gave me a first-hand glimpse into how our government really runs. I’m honored and excited to be in the hub of the nation’s capital and strengthen my skills in leadership, civic engagement, and to continue to advocate for those in Artsakh and Armenia.”
Tara Ourfalian
Tara Ourfalian is a rising junior at UCLA studying environmental science with a concentration in environmental systems and society. For the past several years, she has been heavily involved in many Armenian community organizations, including the UCLA ASA and Hidden Road Initiative chapters, Homenetmen, Armenia Fund and the AYF.
“With the skill set and experiences I have gained as an LSI fellow, I hope to pursue a career in law while continuing to advance the ambitions of the Armenian cause and to create an environment for the Armenian youth to carry on this important birthright. Being in Washington D.C. has opened my eyes to the intricate workings of the American political system and unveiled so many new avenues of community involvement. My appreciation for the important work that the ANCA carries out has only continued to grow, because it is spaces like these that will ensure that the voices of our people are heard and addressed in a way that will bring forth necessary change.”
Nver Saghatelyan
Nver Saghatelyan is a student at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in international studies and economics.
“My aim is to leverage this education to challenge the status quo and contribute to peaceful resolutions in contrast to the ongoing tensions and violence. With every shell that was launched in Artsakh, my determination grew. My dreams did not seem too audacious in the face of this reality. This program explains the dynamics of American politics and equips young Armenian leaders with practical, hands-on experience, skills and knowledge, which will help us actively contribute to the development of Armenia and work towards the peaceful resolution of the Artsakh conflict.”
Artur Shekyan
Artur Shekyan is a rising junior at the University of Toronto, studying political science and economics. He is the vice-chair of the AYF Toronto “Simon Zavarian“ chapter.
“For every Armenian around the world, our main priority should be to see an independent and united Armenian homeland, and that is exactly why I am here.The skills I gained from this internship are going to help me grow the Armenian community back in Toronto and also encourage more Armenian-Canadians to speak up on our issues, gather their voices and apply change to our policies regarding Armenia and Artsakh.”
Ruby Topalian
Ruby Topalian is entering her second year at Trinity College Dublin as part of Columbia University’s dual BA program. She is studying Middle Eastern and European languages and cultures with a concentration on Arabic and Italian, and at Columbia, she will study political science.
“As an editor on multiple campus publications, I look forward to bringing these ideas back to college. I’m also happy to say that I have connected with my Armenian roots more over these past six weeks. When I start college again this year, I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned these past six weeks back to my college campus and working to ensure that my peers not only know about our issues, but want to fight for them as well.”
11:14,
YEREVAN, 18 JULY, ARMENPRESS։ The Human Rights Defender of Armenia (Ombudsperson) has published an extraordinary report on human right violations as a result of shelling by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Yeraskh village in Armenia’s Ararat Province.
In a statement, the Office of the Human Rights Defender said that the document presents human rights violations as a result of the shelling in the direction of Yeraskh from Azerbaijani military positions in June 2023, as well as a set of recommendations is presented to solve the problems related to the protection of human rights.
On July 13-14, 2023 Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the vicinity of Yeraskh, specifically targeting the factory under construction with foreign investments. As a result of the shelling, two Indian citizens (workers at the construction site) were injured and hospitalized.
As a result of the actions by Azerbaijani armed forces, the civilian population’s life, mental and physical integrity, property, education, work, entrepreneurship and a number of other fundamental rights were violated.
The report will be sent to organizations and actors with an international mandate, as well as competent state authorities, for the protection of human rights.
13:56,
YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS. This year, at the FemInno conference organized for the second time, women will be united under the theme “Sustainable development. Heading to Metaverse”.
“After the first year, we managed to create a much stronger and broader program than last year. This year’s topic is “Sustainable development. Heading to Metaverse”. The idea of the metaverse in Armenia is new: there is not much discussion around virtual reality. But there are quite serious technological developments around it, and we decided to bring up the topic of the metaverse, not only to help emphasize the participation of women, which is important to us but also explore a new interesting direction” mentioned in a conversation with “Armenpress” Seda Papoyan, the founder of the conference.
This year, speakers from Uruguay, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, the USA, the Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Georgia, and several European countries will be delivering speeches at the conference. According to Papoyan, the geography they cover helps them achieve one of their most important goals: to bring attention to Armenia through people who had no prior connection with Armenia.
“Last year, being the first, we confirmed that there is a need for such a conference in Armenia to appreciate, highlight and encourage the participation of women in the field of innovation, particularly in business, technology, and science.
For the first-year conference, we set a benchmark and wanted to achieve it, and we understood that we had reactions surpassing that benchmark, which helped us to become stronger and continue our work with more confidence, to again encourage the participation of women in the field of science and technology, and also to highlight their role,” noted Papoyan.
This year, such people as the vice president of NVIDIA Rev Lebaredian, the world-known fintech leader Henri Arslanian, and the head of global business development of Viber Petya Kamburova will be joining the conference, who, according to the conference organizers, make Armenia visible on the map of the technological world.
“All the speakers, apart from sharing their professional experience and abilities, also emphasize the mission that we have initiated. We also highlight male speakers, whose list is gradually expanding. By joining, they encourage the role of women in this field,” said Papoyan.
According to Papoyan, all of the speeches are educational. On the main stage, they have at least 20 speeches. This year, 3 stages were distinguished, one of them being the Armenia stage, where the language is Armenian, and they also have workshops.
“We have an exhibition section, an education zone, a zone for tech companies with the opportunity of raising brand awareness and hiring new talents. One of the important zones this year is the zone showcasing female-founded businesses. We aim to show and support their development and promotion. We will also have interesting workshops, from making dolls to working with pottery,” said Papoyan.
This year again, they cooperate with a number of international organizations, and the Sona Mnatsakanyan scholarship for female talents also continues.
“We started the scholarship last year and had exciting results. We were able to help 10 girls advance their ideas and educational plans in the field of science, technology, and green energy. With the same format and content, the competition was also announced this year. The competition will be concluded on the last day of the conference from the stage. We hope Sona’s mother will join us to present the awards to the girls and convey the important mission of continuing Sona’s work. The fundraising for the competition is still open. It is important for people to join and support the scholarship so that the triumph of new talents in Armenia continues,” said Papoyan.
According to the founder, anyone who wants to participate in the conference will have the opportunity. She assured that interest in the conference has increased this year.
“We noticed an apparent improvement compared to last year. It’s easier for men to pronounce our name, it’s easier for them to decide to join our initiative, and many colleagues themselves express their desire to join our mission and be part of the conference, which already speaks about the fact that we were able to create an interesting environment. They also realize that this direction is important,” said the founder of the conference.
The event organizers intend to bring this conference created in Armenia to international platforms.
“On October 26, the first FemInno satellite will be held in San Francisco. As a community-unifying phenomenon, we have decided to take this conference to places where technologies are important, developments around technologies are active, and where there are Armenians. With the help of FemInno, we are going to form a new growing network around the potential of Armenian women, where not only Armenian women will be involved,” Seda Papoyan, the founder of the initiative, said.
She also reminded me of the afterparty concert after the conference. Gor Sujyan and Mikayel Voskanyan & friends will complete the evening for the conference participants and those who want to participate in the concert. Summing up, Papoyan emphasized that they are not trying to create counter discrimination at all; on the contrary, thanks to FemInno, they are creating a new opportunity to celebrate women’s participation in innovation together with men.
Karine Terteryan
Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan on Tuesday called on the international community to take additional efforts to lift the ongoing blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 11th July, 2023) Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan on Tuesday called on the international community to take additional efforts to lift the ongoing blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Since establishment of illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan repeatedly, against ICJ (the International Court of Justice) decisions, forbids even movement of ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross), including medical evacuation. More international efforts and actions needed to lift 7-month blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh to prevent ethnic cleansing,” Badalyan wrote on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s State Border Service said that the traffic through the Lachin checkpoint has been suspended due to an investigation into alleged smuggling by the ICRC.
The ICRC denied Baku’s claims, saying that no unauthorized material had been found in any vehicle belonging to the organization.
“We regret that without our knowledge four hired drivers tried to transport some commercial goods in their own vehicles which were temporarily displaying the ICRC emblem. These individuals were not ICRC staff members and their service contracts were immediately terminated by the ICRC,” the statement read.
On April 23, Azerbaijan’s State Border Service said it had established a border checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only land route linking Armenia and the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Baku cited Armenia’s alleged illegal use of the road and security concerns, noting that the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the Russian-Turkish monitoring center had been informed about this. Yerevan protested Baku’s move, stressing that it violated the 2020 trilateral declaration.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/armenian-foreign-ministry-calls-for-additiona-1721934.html
10:45, 6 July 2023
STEPANAKERT, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh has been depending entirely on its own resources since June 15, when Azerbaijan blocked all humanitarian goods shipments.
These conditions are indescribably grave for a country not having the sufficient level of self-sustainability which used to live through uninterrupted connection with Armenia, State Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Gurgen Nersisyan said from Stepanakert during the July 6 Armenia-Nagorno Karabakh telebridge.
“Limited quantity of food was brought into Artsakh in between 12 December 2022 and 15 June this year and it only met the minimal needs of the population. Naturally our domestic resources began to decrease. For more than twenty days the children, elderly and pregnant women are deprived of the opportunity to use the required amount of fruits and vegetables [for a healthy diet], there are no basic hygiene products, people are unable to transport patients to medical facilities. We are trying to somehow evenly distribute the essential items which we have, while our citizens in the regions are completely cut off from the capital and don’t have the opportunity of going to hospitals. Farmers are facing the most serious problems. People only have a few hours of electricity supply because the electricity and gas supply from Armenia is halted,” Gurgen Nersisyan said, describing the Azerbaijani actions as ‘annihilation’ of people, and not simply a violation of human rights.
“Let no one think that tolerating this situation won’t have negative consequences for the collective world,” he warned.
Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medicine. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuation of patients.
11:02,
YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. In contrast to the existing accumulating risks in the world, the favorable economic developments and the formation of a sustainable economic environment in Armenia contribute to these risks being assessed very low for the country, economist Hayk Bejanyan told ARMENPRESS.
The said that the economic development, financial flows and the inflation environment has led to a very high level of profitability of Armenian bonds. Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan earlier said that foreign investment funds are interested in Armenian government bonds.
In April 2023 the volume of Armenian bonds held by foreign investors reached 146 million dollars, compared to the 20 million dollars of 2021 July-August. The share of non-residents in AMD government bonds buyers grew from 0,9% to 3,5%.
Investors always look into the risk and reward while making transactions, according to Bejanyan. These two factors led investors access the Armenian financial market, especially for long-term maturity bonds, because these types of bonds allow avoiding currency risks and minimizing losses. That’s why bonds in drams have become so attractive for investors.
Nevertheless, this interest is still in small volumes.
“The main precondition for continuous development of financial flows is stability. Right now we have a situation which is beneficial for foreign investors, and these flows will continue as long as the favorable conditions will be in place,” the expert said.
Manvel Margaryan
18:14,
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The state system of Artsakh has completely switched to eco-mode, ARMENPRESS reports, Artsakh’s Minister of State Gurgen Nersisyan announced during a live broadcast on his Facebook page, referring to the closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, as a result of which even the supply of essential food was stopped, as well as the process of transferring patients to Armenia by the ICRC for medical treatment.
“I ask the leadership of the state administration system to apply for fuel and other similar issues only in case of extreme necessity. Stop or minimize the use of service vehicles. Territorial administration and local self-government bodies will ensure the organization of the process of supplying the population with necessary accessories, food, and bread. We will provide the Ministry of Health with the conditions necessary to organize emergency medical care.
We will try to support the implementation of agricultural works as much as possible in order to maintain their continuity. That process will be carried out under the direct coordination and management of the Minister of Agriculture.
Public transport will continue to operate, we will organize inter-regional routes,” Nersisyan said.
Artsakh State Minister called on citizens to use resources economically.
“At the moment, the process of providing fuel to individuals has been stopped,” said Nersisyan.
The Minister of State of Artsakh urged the business entities to be responsible when selling the remaining goods in the stores, and to organize it based on the assessment of their opportunities and the principle of equal distribution.
“I am not presenting all this to panic, especially recently we have been consistently preparing for such situations, our farms are able to mitigate the created problems to a certain extent and ensure self-sufficiency at least a little, but in all cases we must be organized, balanced and vigilant”, concluded the State Minister.
Azerbaijan has blocked Lachin Corridor even for humanitarian transportations
13:26,
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has banned all humanitarian passenger and cargo transportation through Lachin Corridor, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities said on June 15.
Azerbaijan banned humanitarian passage after the June 15 provocation near Hakari Bridge.
“In particular, 25 patients and their family members were being transported by the International Committee of the Red Cross from Artsakh to Armenia, but the further movement of the vehicles was banned in the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint functioning in the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor, forcing them to return to Stepanakert. Besides, a passenger transportation of dozens of persons for urgent humanitarian needs scheduled for today in the Stepanakert-Goris-Stepanakert route that was supposed to take place by the Russian peacekeepers has also been cancelled. The movement of cargo trucks of Russian peacekeepers traveling to Goris for humanitarian cargo transportation has also been suspended,” the Artsakh Information Center said in a statement.
It added that the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint itself in Lachin Corridor poses grave danger and obstacles for ensuring free movement between Artsakh and Armenia.
“Today’s incident once again confirms the existence of these dangers and obstacles, by additionally threatening the highly limited movement of people and goods for essential humanitarian needs of the people of Artsakh, even by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers. The authorities of Artsakh reiterate their position that the mode of the Lachin Corridor envisaged under the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement must be immediately and unconditionally ensured, without any Azerbaijani interference, and the 22 February 2023 ruling by the UN International Court of Justice over this issue must be implemented,” the Artsakh authorities said.