Author: Antonian Lara

MFA Spokesperson comments on statements by UNESCO Secretariat and Azerbaijani foreign ministry

Antonian Lara
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 23 2020

Armenia’s MFA Spokesperson has commented on the question regarding the statement of the UNESCO Secretariat. As the press department at the ministry reports, the UNESCO Secretariat publicly announced that only Azerbaijan has not responded on sending an expert mission of UNESCO to the Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent areas, in fact, clearly highlighting Azerbaijan’s destructive approach. This was followed by the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan accusing UNESCO of being biased; of course, Armenia was not forgotten as well. 

Asked for comment on that, MFA Spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan has noted: “I would not like to comment on relations between UNESCO and Azerbaijan, however, the content of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s statement on the issue was nothing more than a clear demonstration of “whataboutism” propaganda attempt. It indeed is concerning and emphasizes the need to reflect on the roots of the problem and reaffirm the truths. All previous attempts of involving the UNESCO in preservation of cultural heritage within the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been thwarted by Azerbaijan. Let me remind that upon the request of the Armenian side regarding the barbaric destruction of the cross-stones (khachkars) in Old Jugha, UNESCO expressed readiness to visit the region, but it was rejected by Azerbaijan.”  

In Naghdalyan’s words, Armenia and Artsakh have always emphasized the importance of preservation of cultural heritage and have always demonstrated a respective and careful approach towards the cultural values of other peoples and religions. “The restoration of the Gohar Agha Upper Mosque in Shushi, Artsakh, in 2019 is the latest case in point. Unfortunately, we have not witnessed a reciprocal approach from Azerbaijan, which for decades fought against the Armenian cultural presence in Artsakh and Azerbaijan, including through the mass destruction of monuments,” stressed Naghdalyan, adding: “The issue of preservation of cultural heritage has played a key role in the current context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – a fact that has been reflected in recent statements by both the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Co-Chair countries as well as the international community in general. Armenia welcomes and is ready to support the implementation of the UNESCO fact-finding mission in Artsakh and the adjacent areas as soon as possible, which will contribute to the efforts to preserve cultural heritage in the territories which fell under the Azerbaijani control and to prevent possible negative 

Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography joins call for Pashinyan’s resignation

Antonian Lara
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 17 2020

The Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography has joined the call of the Yerevan State University Academic Council and the National Academy of Sciences demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.

“Realizing that our homeland is in a deep crisis today and this situation is fraught with fatal consequences, the administrative and teaching staff of the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography, including doctors of science, professors and honored artists of Armenia (120 citizens in total), join the call of YSU and National Academy of Sciences demanding the resignation of the prime minister,” the institute said in a statement on Thursday.

“We also call for election of new prime minister by the National Assembly and formation of a government composed of exclusively professionals,” the statement read.


Aircraft transporting Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan lands in Yerevan

Antonian Lara

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 23:01,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Aircraft transporting Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan has landed in Yerevan. ARMENPRESS reports President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan and the relatives of the POWs met them at the airport.

Earlier Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan had informed that the process of exchange of POWs had taken place under the mediation of Russian peacekeepers. 44 Armenians have been transported to Armenia.

Sports: Argentine-Armenian Lucas Zelarayan named 2020 MLS Cup’s Most Valuable Player

Antonian Lara
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec13 2020
Argentine-Armenian Lucas Zelarayan named 2020 MLS Cup’s Most Valuable Player

Columbus Crew midfielder Lucas Zelarayan was named the 2020 MLS Cup’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring twice and providing an assist as his side thumped defending champions Seattle Sounders 3-0 on Saturday, Massis Post reports.

The Argentine-Armenian playmaker, who arrived from Tigres in the offseason in a deal worth a reported $7 million, opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he fired a low-volley past Seattle keeper Stefan Frei.

The 28-year-old turned provider for the second goal, finding Derrick Etienne Jr. in space, with the Haitian winger unleashing a curling effort past Frei into the far corner.

Zelarayan netted his second in the 82nd minute after neat wing play from Luis Diaz to become the second player in MLS Cup history to be involved in three goals in a final after the Crew’s Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2008.

Crew coach Caleb Porter described Zelarayan as “unbelievably special”.

“I’ve coached good players before but this guy is unbelievable.

“We shared a great moment after the game. He told me I changed his life. And I told him he changed my life.

“I brought him here to win championships. He seemed to be looking for something new to stimulate him. A lot of time I’ve seen guys are cutthroat, they sell their souls a little and lose their way. But he came here and I think he looks like a new man.” Porter said of Zelarayan.

Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Zelarayán is of Armenian descent. He received an invitation to represent the Armenia national team in June 2018.

https://en.armradio.am/2020/12/14/argentine-armenian-lucas-zelarayan-named-2020-mls-cups-most-valuable-player/

Armenia PM highlights formation of common EAEU gas market

Antonian Lara
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 4 2020
 


The Armenian side prioritizes the full implementation of the project “Strategic Directions for the Development of Eurasian Integration by 2025” , Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the siting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

This document is aimed at bringing the levels of economic development of the member states closer, expanding the spheres of economic cooperation, and improving the institutions of the Eurasian Economic Union’s regulatory sphere, he said.

“The mechanisms for the formation of common markets without barriers and restrictions mentioned in this document are an important factor for the practical establishment of the four freedoms, the cooperation of our national economies and the level of competitiveness,” the Prime Minister stressed.

He noted that the implementation of the document will serve to strengthen the Union’s reputation in the world, and will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of its investment and innovative attractiveness.

“The need to create equal, non-discriminatory conditions of competition in all sectors of the Union’s economies remains a key issue for us. That is why we believe that it is necessary to pursue a coordinated energy policy to develop the common markets for oil, oil products, gas, as well as the common market for electricity,” PM Pashinyan stated.

In this regard, he added that the adoption of an international agreement on the EAEU common gas market will be of great importance. It envisages the implementation of common approaches to pricing and tariff setting in the EAEU common gas market, including common tariffs for services provided by natural gas monopolies.

The Prime Minister highlighted the creation of a single market for construction services. “The adoption of an action plan in this area is an important step in that direction. In the context of the envisaged measures, it is possible to develop an international agreement within the EAEU on mutual recognition of the professional qualifications of the leading technical personnel in the field of construction.”

“Finally, I would like to address the issue of providing tariff benefits for goods and services from developing, less developed countries. I consider it necessary to immediately review the list of countries using the common system of tariff privileges. It must be made in accordance with our own standards,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

He reiterated Armenia’s readiness for active cooperation in favor of further development of Eurasian integration.


Armenian president to pay private visit to Moscow

Antonian Lara
TASS, Russia
Nov 28 2020
Armen Sarkissian plans to meet with members of the Armenian community in Russia to discuss the situation in his country and Nagorno-Karabakh

YEREVAN, November 28. /TASS/. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian will pay a private visit to Moscow on Saturday, where he plans to meet with members of the Armenian community in Russia to discuss the situation in his country and Nagorno-Karabakh, the head of state’s press service said.

“President Armen Sarkissian left for a private visit to Russia’s capital Moscow on November 28. While continuing discussions with representatives of the Armenian diaspora, President Sarkissian will have meetings with members of the Armenian community in the Russian Federation, during which he will raise the issue of events involving Artsakh (the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – TASS) and the situation in Armenia,” the press service said.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. In the armed conflict of 1992-1994 Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region.

Nikol Pashinyan gives interview to Public TV

Antonian Lara

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 19:56, 13 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to Public TV, ARMENPRESS reports Mane Gevorgyan, spokesperson of PM Pashinyan, wrote on her Facebook page.

”Today at 22:00 you can watch the interview of Prime Minister with Petros Ghazaryan”, Gevorgyan wrote.