PRESS RELEASE: Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Avenida de: Berna 45-A, 1067-001 Lisboa, Portugal Contact: Vera Cunha Telephone: (351) 21 782 3658 Web: gulbenkian.pt: Allocation of 125,000 euros to Armenian schools in Lebanon Galust Kyulpenkean By the establishment The Armenian Department of the Galust Kulpenkean Foundation has been awarded 125,000 Euros to 16 Armenian schools in Lebanon. This move will take place in early 2021 650 tablets and 50 computers for schools donation. Since its foundation, the Armenian Department of Külpenkean has always been special has paid attention to the Armenian schools of the Middle East. Last: Over the years, the Department has developed a comprehensive strategy for Lebanon: giving a special place to schools operating within the Armenian community. Today, Lebanon is facing one of the heaviest economic crises in its history. In response, the Department has been temporarily frozen starting in 2020 its school benefits program. Comprehensive educational programs of three schools instead of supporting development, the Department will now support all schools to to meet urgent needs. This assistance is provided in part by the Department in Lebanon initiatives: scholarships, special education programs, requalification of teachers, publications and youth culture program support. For more information, visit the Department's website -- 125,000 Euros allocated to the Armenian schools in Lebanon by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has: allocated 125,000 Euros to the 16 Armenian schools in Lebanon. This follows the donation of 650 tablets and 50 laptops to the schools at the beginning of 2021. Since its establishment, the Armenian Communities Department has paid special attention to the Armenian schools in the Middle East. In recent years, the Foundation has developed a comprehensive strategy for Lebanon, with a particular focus on the Armenian community schools. Currently, Lebanon is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history. In response, the Foundation has temporarily suspended The School Grant Program it launched in 2020. Instead of supporting three schools to develop comprehensive educational projects, it is supporting all schools to meet immediate needs. The current support provided to Lebanon is in addition to the Foundation’s other initiatives in the country: scholarships, special education, teacher training, publications and funding for cultural initiatives by youth. For further information visit the Armenian Communities Department’s webpage at:
Author: Ani Kharatian
Haberturk: There will be new Armenian-Turkish roadmap, corridor will be key issue
News.am, Armenia
Dec 16 2021
15:28, 16.12.2021
Columnist for Haberturk Cetiner Cetin has provided details about the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
The Turkish journalist claims that by January 15, 2022, Armenia will have set up a task force and another group that will be in contact with Pashinyan [Prime Minister of Armenia].
“There will be a three-step roadmap between Armenia and Turkey. First, chartered flights will be launched. The key issue during the negotiations will be the opening of the Turkey-Nakhchivan-Azerbaijan corridor. Ankara wants to see the opening of the corridor by May-June. The economic relations will be established in the third stage, which will be launched in July,” wrote the columnist.
Berdzor corridor and the proposed route through Meghri are topics from different dimensions, lawmaker says
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 15 2021
The Berzor (Lachin) corridor and the proposed route through southern Meghri town of Armenia are topics of different dimensions, and any comparisons, parallels between them are an explicit demagogy,” opposition MP Mkhitar Zakaryan stated on Wednesday in parliament. The lawmaker thus commented the statement by Ilham Aliyev that the status and the legal regime of the Berdzor corridor, connecting Armenia with Artsakh, should be the same as the proposed corridor linking Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan through the territory of Armenia.
Zakaryan said that the victorious state tries to get the maximum in its relations with the defeated one, and in the current situation Armenia should consider its way out with minimal losses. The MP stressed that all routes should operate with consideration of the economic benefit, and the process should start when the state has recovered from the defeat.
“I believe, it is not the best time to make decisions of such a global, geopolitical scale,” stressed Zakaryan, speaking of the delimitation and demarcation process as well as the process of establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey.
Armenia’s ex-FM expects no breakthrough from Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 14 2021
Armenia’s former Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan is not expecting any breakthrough from the meeting of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to be held in Brussels on December 15.
“I do not think there will be any breakthrough,” he told reporters at the Yerevan State University on Tuesday.
The former minister welcomed any efforts to hold a dialogue, adding, however, the agreements reached during the talks have not been complied with.
“We have repeatedly witnessed an escalation of the situation,” Ayvazyan said.
The diplomat hopes that the meeting can help make some progress in humanitarian issues.
Arayik Harutyunyan, Ambassador Anne Louyot discuss range of issues of Armenian-French friendly relations
19:14,
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, ARMENPTRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.
The interlocutors discussed a number of issues on the agenda of the Armenian-French friendly relations, stressed the need to develop and expand cooperation in various spheres.
In particular, the parties discussed issues related to the strengthening of trade and economic ties, cooperation in the field of public administration, and further steps in those directions.
Arayik Harutyunyan and Ambassador Anne Louyot expressed confidence that as a result of the effective efforts of the two Governments, the relations between Armenia and France will get a new impetus in the near future.
Turkish press: Qatari, Armenian leaders discuss improving cooperation
Ahmed Youssef |09.12.2021
DOHA
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Thursday discussed ways to improve cooperation between their countries.
The two leaders met in Doha during Sarkissian’s official visit to Qatar, according to a statement by the emir’s office.
They discussed cooperation between the two countries and development in various fields, in addition to a number of issues of common interests, the statement said.
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, the Armenian president said he arrived in Qatar on a “working visit” to meet the Qatari emir and discuss with him “the agenda of strengthening ties and developing relations” between the two countries “in the context of regional developments.”
*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara
Nagorno Karabakh: thirty years ago the people said Yes to independence but still waiting for freedom
Dec 10 2021
Let’s try to go back in time and understand what really happened in that patch of land in those years. As the territory of Artsakh (historically Armenian) is known it was forcibly incorporated in Azerbaijan in 1921 with the direct interference of Stalin. Later, in 1923 it was incorporated into the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic as a oblast autonomous. It should be emphasized that, in 1923, 94.4 percent of the population of Artsakh was Armenian and that, as a result of Azerbaijan’s discriminatory, aggressive and violent policy, dropped dramatically.
The turning point was in 1988, when the local parliament of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast passed a resolution calling on Moscow, Yerevan and Baku to withdraw the region from Soviet Azerbaijan and to annex it to Soviet Armenia. Both Moscow and Baku considered it unacceptable.
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In response to the desire for self-determination of the population of Nagorno Karabakh, the Azerbaijani authorities organized the massacres of the Armenians turning them into military actions. As a solution to the conflict Azerbaijan chose war and not peace. In 1991 Artsakh declared its independence in full compliance with international law. It should be noted that the referendum took place in accordance with existing legal regulations. Two dozen international observers were present on the day of the referendum and later presented their report.
The Armenian population dreamed of being able to realize their rights and being able to choose to be independent. Their will was instead responded with attacks and aggressions. On the day of the referendum, Stepanakert and other Armenian settlements were under constant bombardment, but the determination of the population was so great that nothing could stop the voters. According to data provided by the authorities, ten people were killed and eleven civilians were injured. In fact, the report of two dozen international observers following the referendum stated that the referendum was held “under conditions of armed aggression” by Azerbaijan against Artsakh.
Note that the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno Karabakh refused to participate in the referendum, even if the electoral commission had created the necessary conditions for the conduct of the referendum throughout the territory of the republic, including their settlements. In those years the Azeris living in Artsakh made up about twenty percent of the population and did not participate in the referendum on the orders of Baku.
Read Also
Back in 1991, in the midst of the horror and hatred promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities, the people of Nagorno Karabakh did not hesitate to say yes to independence. For thirty long and uncertain years, the people of this unrecognized republic waited their turn to be able to be free and independent. Thirty years after this referendum, the international community continues to remain impassive and mute. Indifference that is perceived as an insult to humanity, felt particularly strongly exactly one year ago, when Azerbaijan unleashed the war by attacking the entire territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The Azerbaijani authorities spared nothing: scenes of violence, war crimes, use of prohibited weapons, acts of vandalism. The peace treaty signed on November 9 ended the 44-day war won by Azerbaijan in the first place thanks to the military support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign terrorists.
The war is over but not in the memories of the Armenian population. It had a dramatic impact on the physical, social and emotional well-being of the inhabitants but has not taken away the hope of a brighter future, when their undeniable right to self-determination will finally be recognized. When the dust of indifference is blown away, hope always remains and it is possible to understand its true essence only when one decides to act.
* Professor of Italian at the Brusov University of Yerevan and at the American University in Armenia, he collaborates for some Armenian and Italian newspapers
https://d1softballnews.com/nagorno-karabakh-thirty-years-ago-the-people-said-yes-to-independence-but-still-waiting-for-freedom/
Cleveland Ballet gives new hope to Armenian family of dancers
WKYC.com
Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 1 2021
“Every single day counts.”
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Ballet is back on stage. That’s good news for dancers and audience members alike. And it’s a life changing decision for an Armenian family who now is sharing their talent with Cleveland.
The ballet “Don Quixote,” performed in 2 acts, marked the Cleveland Ballet’s long-awaited return to Playhouse Square. On stage was husband and wife Narek Martirosyan and Albina Ghazaryan and their nephew Emmanual Martirosyan. The family of Armenian professional dancers were with the New Jersey Ballet when the pandemic hit, shutting down live performances.
“Our ballet career actually doesn’t like when you stop. Every single day counts,” remarked Albina Ghazaryan.
“I was thinking about stop dancing and doing something else,” said Narek Martirosyan.
“I thought I wasn’t going to dance anymore because everything was shut down. I became a full-time teacher basically,” added Emmanual Martirosyan.
The three were teaching dance over Zoom, hoping to get back on stage. They felt time was running out for their dancing careers. That’s when Narek saw a social media post about auditions in Cleveland.
“And then I saw the post. Looking for dancers and I saw this opportunity,” said Narek.
A Zoom meeting with the Cleveland Ballet produced an instant connection.
“The feeling that I knew them for a very long time helped me make the decision to come here,” said Narek.
In August, the trio came to Cleveland for a formal audition, which coincided with Albina’s birthday.
“The way our company meet us and sang for me the birthday song, it was the best thing every. And the cake, they had a cake for me with my name on it. It was very touching honestly,” said Ghazaryan as she smiled.
The auditions were a success, so the family moved to Northeast Ohio where they made their debut over the summer. They also danced in Vermillion, home of the company’s summer residency.
Those first performances helping to ease some of the stress and emotional turmoil of the last year and a half.
“I enjoy dancing with my wife because I know anything I do wrong, she can fix it on the stage. I’m dancing and I feel I have her support,” said Narek.
“I defiantly know from wherever I run and jump he is going to catch me,” added Ghazaryan.
The family are on stage again for “The Nutcracker.” They’re thankful this holiday season for a new home and a new, extended family.
“Since the first day I walked in here, everybody was just super friendly, super welcoming, I felt I know these people for a long time,” said Emmanual.
“The Nutcracker” at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace runs from Friday, December 3rd to Sunday, December 5th.
Defense ministry neither denies nor confirms report on withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Ishkhanasar section
11:49,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The defense ministry of Armenia commented on the report according to which the Azerbaijani troops pulled back from Armenia’s sovereign territory in the Ishkhanasar section.
In response to the inquiry of ARMENPRESS, the defense ministry neither confirmed nor denied the report, urging to spread information about the border situation, the movement of the Armed Forces, their positions or other actions based on the official statements of the ministry, not on the remarks of the community leaders.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenian Prime Minister, Russian President, Azerbaijani President adopt joint statement
21:05, 26 November, 2021
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev adopted a joint statement based on the trilateral meeting. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, the statement particularly runs as follows,
“We, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia N.V.Pashinyan, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I.H. Aliyev, President of the Russian Federation V.V.Putin, met on November 26 in Sochi and discussed the implementation process of the declaration of November 9, 2020 on the complete ceasefire and termination of all types of military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and the implementation process of the January 11, 2021 statement on unblocking all economic and transport infrastructures of the region.
We reaffirmed commitment to the further and consistent implementation and unconditional observance of all the provisions of the November 9, 2020 declaration and January 11, 2021 statement for the benefit of the stability, security and economic development of the South Caucasus. We agreed to intensify joint efforts aimed at the immediate solution of the remaining issues arising from November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021 statements.
We mentioned the significant contribution of the Russian peacekeeping mission in stabilizing the situation and ensuring security in the region.
We agreed to take steps to increase the level of stability and security on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, to push the process of establishment of a bilateral commission with the advisory participation of the Russian Federation based on the application of the sides, on delimitation, and afterwards demarcation, of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
We highly appreciated the activity of the trilateral working group on unblocking all economic and transport communications of the region, established in accordance with the January 11, 2021 statement under the joint chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation. We stressed the need to launch specific programs as soon as possible, aimed at identifying the economic potential of the region.
The Russian Federation will continue to provide the necessary assistance for normalizing relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, building an atmosphere of trust between the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, and establishing good-neighborly relations in the region.”