Author: Ani Kharatian

Azerbaijani atrocities against Artsakh in April 2016 not condemned properly by the international community

Ani Kharatian
Panorama, Armenia
April 2 2021

Atrocities committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh in April, 2016, have not been condemned properly by the international community, The Artsakh Republic Ombudsman’s Office said in a released statement. 

“Azerbaijan used impunity for what it did 4 years later in the fall of 2020 in a large-scale aggression against the Republic of Artsakh and its people together with the Turkish and international terrorist groups, accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes against the humanity,” according to the document. 

It is noted that throughout the 44-day war, Azerbaijan indiscriminately and deliberately targeted the civilian population and infrastructure of the Republic of Artsakh, tortured and inhumanely treated the prisoners of war and the bodies of the killed servicemen. It is with impunity that Azerbaijan still refuses to repatriate the Armenian prisoners of war, civilian captives and continues to vandalize the Armenian cultural monuments in the areas beyond Artsakh’s control. Azerbaijan’s behavior is the result of the years-long systematic policy of Armenophobia pursued at a state level.

Artsakh Ombudsman is convinced that the regular and gross violations of the international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan both in the April war of 2016 and during the 44-day war, are a matter of serious concern for the entire international community and should receive an adequate response from the international structures and authoritative human rights organizations,” said the statement. 

Artsakh reports 10 daily coronavirus cases

Ani Kharatian

Save

Share

 11:33,

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS. 10 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Republic of Artsakh in the past one day, the ministry of healthcare said.

81 COVID-19 tests were conducted on March 24.

Currently, 24 infected patients receive treatment at hospitals, while the others – at home.

The ministry once again urged citizens to follow all the safety rules to prevent the further spread of the disease.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian doctor joins leadership of Turkey ruling party

Ani Kharatian
News.am, Armenia
13:18, 25.03.2021

During the congress of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Istanbul Armenian doctor Sevan Sivacioglu became a member of the party’s executive committee.

According to Milliyet, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected as chairman of the AKP, and the aforesaid Armenian physician was included in the members of the executive committee.

Sivacioglu worked as a surgeon at the Armenian hospital in Istanbul.

Armenia records 1,164 new coronavirus cases in a day, 17 deaths reported

Ani Kharatian
Aysor, Armenia

As of March 24 in the morning, 186,184 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Armenia.

The number of infected in one day has grown by 1,164, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday.

According to the information, 169,485 (+313) people have recovered, other 12,436 (+834) are getting treatment.

The total death toll reached 3,398 (+14), other 865 (+3) patients died from other diseases.

Seventeen people died in a day.

OOPS! Armenia Acquired Russia’s Su-30 Fighter Jets Without Missiles Prior To War With Azerbaijan

Ani Kharatian
Eurasian Times

BySputnik-International

PM Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Armenia had purchased Russian Su-30SM fighters without missiles back in May 2020, months before the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Former Chief of Armenia’s army General Staff Movses Hakobyan said in November that the fighters were without missiles intended for them, as Russia prohibits the sale of missiles for the Su-30SM to other countries. The Armenian authorities remained silent about this matter until recently.

“Yes, we bought the fighter, it was delivered in May [2020] and yes, we did not have time to buy the missiles before the war [in Karabakh]. Would you buy planes so that we could buy missiles? Why did the 26-year-old state [Armenia] not have fighters?” Pashinyan said at a Saturday meeting with residents of the country’s Aragatsotn region.

At the end of September 2020, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which became a continuation of the long-term conflict and led to casualties among the civilian population. The sides made several attempts to sign a truce, but only the tripartite agreement reached overnight to November 10, 2020, turned out to be successful.

With the mediation of Moscow, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to completely ceasefire and exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead. Yerevan also transferred the Kalbajar, Lachin and Agdam districts to Baku. Russian peacekeepers were stationed in the region.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic.

During an armed confrontation in 1992-1994, Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and its adjacent areas. Since 1992, talks were ongoing on peaceful settlement of the conflict with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group, led by Russia, the United States and France.


Defense minister says everything will be done for sharply increasing attractiveness of officer service

Ani Kharatian

Save

Share

 17:52,

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan met today with the staff of the engineering troops department of the Armed Forces, the ministry told Armenpress.

Head of the department, Major-General Ishkhan Matevosyan reported the minister on the ongoing matters of the department, the planned actions and upcoming programs.

The defense minister said he will be consistent with the quick solution of all the existing issues. He once again stated that everything will be done to drastically increase the attractiveness of the officer service.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia President’s Staff issues clarification regarding meetings with Onik Gasparyan

Ani Kharatian
News.am, Armenia
March 9 2021
Armenia President’s Staff issues clarification regarding meetings with Onik Gasparyan
17:47, 09.03.2021

The Staff of the President of Armenia has issued the following clarification:

“Once again, some media outlets have spread misinformation according to which President Armen Sarkissian has allegedly sent a mediator to Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Onik Gasparyan to convince him to resign. Once again, the Staff of the President of Armenia states that this information is clearly false and does not correspond to reality at all.

President Sarkissian and Onik Gasparyan meet whenever it is necessary and hold talks, and official news is provided in this regard. Thus, there is no need for any mediator, much less a fake mediator.”

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is trying to achieve what they want to deprive Human Rights Defender of Armenia

Ani Kharatian
News.am, Armenia
12:45, 13.03.2021

Azerbaijan submitted an application with the same position as the Ombudsman of Armenia on financial independence, in order to also receive the ‘A’ status for the institution of the Human Rights Defender. The Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan stated this at a press conference on Saturday.

He reminded that the Armenian authorities intend to deprive the Ombudsman of financial independence.

“We have“ A ”status, which gives us the opportunity to elect and be elected to leadership positions in various international organizations,” he noted. “In addition, you can perform at such venues that countries with the “B” status, for example, Azerbaijan, cannot. This suggests that they are dependent on the government and their report is less reliable.”

The Armenian authorities intend to deprive the Human Rights Defender of the constitutional guarantee of financial independence. Such independence is stipulated by the constitutional law.

Senator Bob Menendez calls on Biden to recognize Armenian Genocide and work for release of POWs

Ani Kharatian

Save

Share

 11:51, 6 March, 2021

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – pressed the Biden Administration to join Congress in properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide and also to work for the release of Armenian hostages illegally held by the Azerbaijani government, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“Whether it’s recognizing the Armenian Genocide or demanding the release of Armenian POWs, Senator Menendez is a principled, powerful, and persistent advocate – effectively advancing both our U.S. interests and our American values,” said ANCA Eastern Region Chair and New Jersey resident Ani Tchaghlasian. “Armenians across New Jersey and around the nation thank Senator Menendez for his leadership on issues of special concern to our community and coalition partners.”

The Garden State’s senior Senator made the remarks during the confirmation process for Wendy Sherman, who has been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary of State, the agency’s number two position.

With regard to U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Menendez states, “I hope the President will keep his commitment to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The United States Senate, by unanimous consent, passed it. Last year I was proud to sponsor that. The House of Representatives has passed it. It’s time for the President of the United States to do what the rest of the Congress of the United States – as representatives of the American people – which is to recognize the Genocide. Let’s call history for what it is.” Sen. Menendez has already started reaching out to Senate colleagues to join him in sending a joint letter to President Biden urging him to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide in the annual April 24th commemorative statement.

Sen. Menendez went on to call for greater U.S. engagement in the OSCE Minsk Group mediation of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) crisis, including active leadership in securing the release of over 200 Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives illegally held by Azerbaijan some 4 months after the disastrous November 9th ceasefire agreement.

“We will look to help the people of Armenia and help to facilitate the release of POWs that the Azerbaijanis have,” stated Sen. Menendez. “It is in violation of international law what they’re doing. We need to speak out, which the previous administration did not, and we need to work to try to get that region to look forward to what the Minsk process was. There is some suggestion that this is all over. No. it’s not. And we need the POWS released and we have to help Armenia, as it gets all of these refugees back into their country.”





Sports: Marcos Pizzelli appointed Armenia’s football ambassador in South America

Ani Kharatian
Public Radio of Armenia
March 5 2021

Former Armenia international Marcos Pizzelli will represent the Football Federation of Armenia in South America.

Speaking about his appointment, Marcos Pizzelli expressed gratitude for the confidence placed on him.

“First of all, I am happy to be involved in Armenian Football again. I will do my best to repay everything that Armenia gave to me. My function will be to represent FFA during various events. Apart from that, my idea is to try to be as close as possible to Armenian diaspora here, in South America. Probably, I will try to find players of Armenian origin, who will be able to join the National Team in the nearest future,” the retired midfielder said.

“I am confident, that Football Federation of Armenia will give me field for develop and study. From my side, I will do everything to help Armenian football,” he added.

FFA president Armen Melikbekyan said: “It was a month ago when we announced the appointment of Yura Movsisyan as the FFA ambassador in North America. Now we decided that Marcos Pizzelli – another notable player – will be busy with similar functions in South America.”

“For us, it is very important to be sure, that former Armenian national team players are involved in Armenian football after the retirement,” Melikbekyan said.

“South America is a very important region, because Armenian diaspora is big there and football is very popular. I am sure that Marcos Pizzelli will be the person to to help us find new players and to make them play for Armenia,” he added.