Author: Ara Felekian

Armenian ombudsman warns against manipulating POW issue during election campaign

Ara Felekian
Panorama, Armenia
June 9 2021

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan on Wednesday warned the political forces running in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections against manipulating the issue of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Azerbaijan during the election campaign.

“During the election campaign, it is unacceptable to manipulate the issue of the return of the captives illegally held in Azerbaijan, or to discuss the possibility of exchanging the captives for other individuals, and the willingness of these individuals to be exchanged,” the ombudsman said in a statement.

“It is obvious that [such an exchange] cannot happen, and the manipulations only increase the tension in the country, and make the return of the captives more difficult: in this way, the “price” of the return of the POWs simply increases for the Azerbaijani authorities. And, of course, it is openly disrespectful treatment toward the captives, their families and their emotions.

“Therefore, I urge everyone to completely stop manipulating the issue of the return of the POWs. 

“It is necessary not to complicate the process with manipulations, but to make real efforts toward the return of our compatriots who are illegally held captive in Azerbaijan,” the statement said.

Georgia-Armenia Rail Transport Reopens

Ara Felekian
Railly News
June 8 2021

Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natiya Turnava, announced that Georgia and Armenia have reopened the railway transportation, which was interrupted due to the coronavirus epidemic, and that the first train will depart from Yerevan to go to Batumi on June 15.

According to the news in Sputniknews; “Georgia Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Natiya Turnava, who made a statement to the press after the government’s session, said that Georgia and Armenia reopened the railway transportation that was interrupted by the new type of coronavirus (Kovid-19) epidemic, and that the first train from Yerevan to Batumi was scheduled for 15 June. He also said he would get up.

Turnava said, “I want to say that the railway communication between Armenia and Georgia has started again. On June 15, the first train will depart from Yerevan via Tbilisi to Batumi. This means that tourists from our allied neighboring state can come to Georgia, our Black Sea resorts, our capital, other tourist destinations,” he said.

Passenger trains between the two countries have not been operating since March 2020. In a statement made by the Georgian Railways administration to the Russian press, it was stated that the resumption date of the Yerevan-Tbilisi-Yerevan train, which was suspended due to the epidemic, is not yet certain.

As of June 1, Georgia opened its road borders with its nearest neighbors, which have remained closed since March last year. Persons from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey who have completed the full course of vaccination will be able to enter Georgia by presenting a negative PCR test at the border.

Persons who cannot present the document confirming their vaccination upon entry into Georgia will be able to cross the border by presenting the negative PCR test certificate made at the latest 72 hours in advance and undertake the obligation to retest within 3 days.

As of February 1, the ban on scheduled flights in Georgia has been lifted.

Armenian President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Ara Felekian

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 13:31, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian will depart for Kazakhstan on a working visit on June 3, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

During the visit the Armenian President is scheduled to meet with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, First President Nursultan Nazarbayev, as well as with the leadership of the Parliament.

The Armenian-Kazakh bilateral cooperation in different areas and inter-state ties, as well as the cooperation within the frames of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be discussed during the meetings.

The post-war problems and challenges in Armenia and the region will also be touched upon.  

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Is the Turkish Identity Threatened by Genealogy Discovery?

Ara Felekian
June 3 2021


06/03/2021 Turkey (International Christian Concern) –  The Turkish DNA project, created to help Turks learn more about their genealogy, called for a boycott of Ancestry.com. In a now-deleted tweet, the group claimed that Ancestry.com “demonized” Turks.

The original tweet included screenshots from the website that outlined how Pontian Greeks were forced to assimilate, including learning Turkish and adopting Islam to gain better opportunities. Greeks and Armenians, in particular, were forced to assimilate, denying their Christian heritage and often facing ethnic cleansing under the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey’s persistent refusal to recognize the historical persecution of minorities in its borders often causes more suffering for those same groups. Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut said in a tweet responding to the Turkish DNA project, “Why are Turkish nationalists so terrified of the truth? Because if they face it, the lies they’ve come up with will be shattered to the ground. Through these lies, hatred has grown which made them commit so many crimes against Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, and others.”

And yet, companies like Ancestry.com have led many Turks to discover their own heritage and that they are in fact Islamized Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks. These Turks then often explore Christianity again as they delve into their cultural and religious backgrounds.


 

Artur Vanetsyan visits Amaras Monastery in Artsakh

Ara Felekian
Panorama, Armenia
June 5 2021

The head of “Homeland” party, the candidate for the PM’s post from “The Salute of Honour and Respect” pre-election bloc  Artur Vanetsyan has visited Amaras Monastery complex in Artsakh. 

“Amaras Monastery complex is being reconstructed with efforts of Luys Foundation, led by Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan,” Armen Ashotyan, Deputy Chairman of RPA wrote on Facebook, sharing photos from the scene. 

To note, Amaras is one of the Christian monasteries of the early Middle Ages – a famous religious and cultural center of medieval Armenia, located on the territory of the Martuni region.

Armenian, Belgian PMs highlight return of POWs and NK conflict settlement in the sidelines of OSCE MG

Ara Felekian

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 18:33, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo in Brussels.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the interlocutors expressed satisfaction over the continious development of political and economic relations between the two countries and highlighted high level contacts.

Nikol Pashinyan and Alexander De Croo highlighted the interest of their governments in expanding trade and economic relations, investments, implementation of various joint programs, as well as pushing forward the democratic reform agenda in Armenia.

The sides discussed the reform agenda in Armenia, particularly highlighting the reforms in the sphere of Police. Alexander De Cro highlighted the implementation of democratic reforms and emphasized EU’s commitment to continue supporting Armenia in its reform agenda.

Highlighting the development of economic relations with Armenia, Alexander De Cro noted that the Belgian trade mission plans a visit to Armenia which will examine the opportunities for the development of trade and investment relations between the two countries.

During the meeting the sides referred to the provocative measures carried out by Azerbaijan on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and emphasized that Azerbaijan should withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia and solve the situation through peaceful negotiations. The Belgian Prime Minister said that the developments are concerning and are in the center of their attention.

The sides also highlighted the return of the Armenian hostages kept in Azerbaijan and the restoration of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement negotiations in the sidelines of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format.

Central Electoral Commission registers candidates of 22 parties and 4 blocs for upcoming snap polls

Ara Felekian

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 10:07, 1 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. The electoral lists of parties and party blocs registered for the upcoming snap parliamentary elections of Armenia have been published at the website of the Central Electoral Commission.

A total of 26 political forces – 22 parties and 4 blocs, have been registered.

Snap parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on June 20, 2021.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Canada’s Foreign Ministry expresses concerns over capturing of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani forces

Ara Felekian

Canada’s Foreign Ministry expresses concerns over capturing of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani forces

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 12:28, 29 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Canada expressed concern over the capturing of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani forces and the tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. ARMENPRESS reports, the Foreign minstry of Canada said in its Twitter page,

”Canada is concerned by the capture of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces and the ongoing tensions along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. We call for all issues to be resolved peaceful negotiations through the OSCE Minsk Group’’.

The Homeland will be what we build together, Armenian President says on Republic Day

Ara Felekian
Public Radio of Armenia

Independent statehood is the realization of our identity and national interests, for the sake of which our people and the army had stood up more than one hundred years ago, President Armen Sarkissian said in a message on Republic Day.

“It is needed at all times, as it was during the First Republic of Armenia, also for the current Republic of Armenia and that of tomorrow,” he said.

The message reads:

Today is the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia.

The First Republic was a significant event in the life of our people: the independent statehood was restored after a long struggle for sovereignty. Once again, it showed that when we are united, we can win.

The First Republic of Armenia was founded under such conditions when our identity and physical existence were endangered, a danger prevented in the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan, and Gharakilisa, due to our unity and self-sacrifice.

Today, we stand on the threshold of the Sardarapat of morality and dignity, a battle the victorious result of which can only guarantee a strong statehood and prospects of development.

Today, we need sober judgment and sound thinking, and we need to learn a history lesson to realize anew that

Homeland as a reality can only live in independent statehood,

independent statehood is achieved and defended with difficulty,

and even today, many peoples still dream about it.

Independent statehood is the realization of our identity and national interests, for the sake of which our people and the army had stood up more than one hundred years ago. It is needed at all times, as it was during the First Republic of Armenia, also for the current Republic of Armenia and that of tomorrow.

The independent statehood is the inviolability and unbargainability of our borders, our ability to make and implement decisions, our capability of ensuring security and dictating peace.

We must not only be able to win but also understand in depth how to deal with that victory.

We must be able to fill the victory with lasting content and turn it into success.

We must be able to understand profoundly, to perceive what happened yesterday, what is happening today, and to react and act adequately.

We must be able to predict and manage what may happen tomorrow.

We must be able to soberly analyze the causes of our failures from the First Republic to the present, and work at correcting our own mistakes, develop a clear vision and development programs.

I believe that we can attain such achievements that seemed impossible yesterday, we can bring reality into line with our desires, and we can make a dream come true that at first glance seems unattainable.

What our Homeland, Armenia and Artsakh will be like depends on us, every one of us. And the Homeland will be what we make it together.

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

Long live Artsakh!

Long live our people! 

Turkish press: Azerbaijani soldier injured by Armenian firing in Nakhchivan

Ara Felekian
Ruslan Rehimov   |28.05.2021

BAKU, Azerbaijan 

An Azerbaijani soldier was wounded when the Armenian military opened fire on Azerbaijani positions in Nakhchivan, the country’s Defense Ministry on Friday.

The soldier suffered a bullet wound to the shoulder and was admitted to a hospital, where his life is out of danger, the ministry said in a statement.

Blaming Yerevan for the tensions along the border in the Nakhchivan region, the ministry called on Armenia to act responsibly and avoid provocations and other steps that could worsen the situation.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Conflict between the two flared up last year and six weeks of fighting ended with a Russian-brokered truce on Nov. 10.

During that time, Azerbaijan liberated several strategic cities and nearly 300 of its settlements and villages that had been under Armenian occupation for some three decades.

The Nov. 10 cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose forces withdrew from the region in line with the agreement.

A joint Turkish-Russian center was established to monitor the cease-fire, with Russian peacekeeping troops also deployed in the region.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan