19:19, 17 February 2023
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Prime Minister Pashinyan had a short meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.
The interlocutors exchanged ideas on regional security and stability issues.
MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. The European Union plans to send a 100-strong civilian mission to Armenia next week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
“Next week, the EU will send a 100-strong mission contributing to peace and stability,” she said. “We welcome progress made on democratic reforms and will develop further the potential in our Economic Investment Plan.”
The European Commission president said she was glad to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, adding that the EU is a committed partner of Armenia.
Pashinyan and von der Leyen met on February 17 to discuss various aspects of cooperation between Armenia and the EU.
On January 23, the foreign ministers of the European Union have agreed to establish a civilian European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) to promote settlement in the Caucasus. The two-year mission will be mandated to “conduct routine patrolling and report on the situation, which will strengthen the EU’s understanding of the situation on the ground,” the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) said. Experts in Brussels say that the establishment of the mission has a special significance amid the EU’s confrontation with Russia as it will help strengthen the European Union’s influence in the South Caucasus.
https://tass.com/world/1578239
11:35,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia sent its proposals around a peace treaty to Azerbaijan on February 15, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
He said that the proposals were also sent to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairing countries.
“Yesterday the Republic of Armenia completed the work of yet another stage of the draft treaty on peace and establishment of relations with Azerbaijan, and our proposals are conveyed to the Azerbaijani side. By saying proposals, we must consider the draft of the full document with our proposals. We conveyed the document to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairing countries as well,” PM Pashinyan said.
He added that the Armenian side is working on the draft treaty with the following logic: to get a document which it is ready to sign at any moment. Pashinyan added that understandably the document must be acceptable for Azerbaijan as well.
“And we hope that it will be possible to develop the certain progress observed as a result of already three rounds of negotiations. Our vision is the following, the document must contain the kind of logic of agreements, the kind of a system of checks and balances that would rule out any scenario of disrupting lasting and sustainable peace. The meaning of this is that the signing of the document must not transform – as absurd as this may sound, such scenario could happen – into a war based already on a peace treaty, but on the contrary, it should truly mean lasting peace,” Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan again expressed his and the government’s commitment to quickly sign a peace treaty which will become a guarantee for lasting and sustainable peace. He said he is ready to bear that responsibility.
Isabel Bayrakdarian, Operatic Soprano
The curtains at Pasadena’s Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center will rise at 8:00 p.m. on March 3 to welcome international opera luminary Isabel Bayrakarian to the AGBU Western Region.
The Grammy-winning Lebanese-born, Canada-raised Bayrakdarian will be singing beloved Armenian traditional and folk melodies, lullabies and prayers in an aptly titled concert called “Dream.” She will be accompanied by an ensemble of well known music masters in their own right, including Emanuel Hovannisyan (duduk), Jill Eilber (flute), and Ellie Choate (harp). Their performances will be set against panoramic visual interpretations created by the celebrated Syrian-Armenian painter Kevork Murad.
“This concert is truly unique,” states AGBU Arts Director Hayk Arsenyan. “It’s a rare opportunity for audiences of all ages and musical tastes to experience the intensity yet simplicity of the songs of our Armenian ancestors through a unique historical approach and the arrangements of an instrumental ensemble. It’s a fusion of two very different genres with a new multidisciplinary dimension added by Murad’s powerfully enchanting backdrops projected on the big screen,” Arsenyan added.
The event will be the first time that an A-List opera star graces the stage of the AGBU’s own performing arts center. Fortunately, the state-of-the-art facility was designed and equipped to do justice to performers at the top of their careers like Bayrakdarian.
Lobby/Reception area of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center
After she and her family immigrated to Canada, she began paving her own path to stardom, first winning in 2000 the Operalia International Opera Competition founded by Placido Domingo. This launched her meteoric rise, with appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, San Francisco Opera, Sante Fe Opera and the Canadian Opera Company among numerous other prestigious companies and world-class venues. In addition, Bayrakdarian is the recipient of the 2017 “Movses Khorenatsi” Medal—the Republic of Armenia’s highest cultural award. She was also presented with the 2017 “Komitas” Medal from Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora. In 2015, Bayrakdarian was officially recognized by the California Legislature Assembly for her contributions to the entertainment industry and promoting peace and tolerance. She also received an Honorary Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
“We are truly honored to welcome the incomparable Isabel Bayrakdarian and the esteemed musicians who arranged to take part in this extraordinary musical event,” stated AGBU Western Region Executive Director Gohar Stambolyan. “This is a golden opportunity for our audiences to experience a brilliant performance at a world-class arts and culture venue right here in Pasadena.”
The facility’s stunning Main Stage Theater Auditorium offers many assets and amenities: Comfortable seating for as many as 600, a motorized orchestra pit, a smaller “black box” stage, even a multi-purpose banquet room, box office, spacious dressing rooms and more. For more information about PAC, visit the website.
Tickets for the concert are on sale now at $45 and $55. To purchase, scan this QR code or visit the website. CDs of the performers will be on sale at the concert and Isabel Bayrakdarian will be available for signing.
Heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to Armenia visited several regions affected by the latest Azerbaijani aggression.
The representatives of the diplomatic corps were accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan.
In the city of Jermuk, Eduard Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, presented in detail the situation resulting from aggression instigated by Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory of Armenia.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Azerbaijani forces shelled Armenia’s territory Tuesday and killed at least 49 Armenian soldiers, Armenia’s prime minister said, a large-scale attack that fueled fears of broader hostilities breaking out between the longtime adversaries.
The hostilities erupted minutes after midnight, with Azerbaijani forces unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks in many sections of Armenian territory, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry.
The ministry said fighting continued during the day despite Russia’s attempt to broker a quick cease-fire. It noted that the shelling grew less intense but said Azerbaijani troops still were trying to advance into Armenian territory.
The ministry added that the Azerbaijani shelling damaged civilian infrastructure and also wounded an unspecified number of people.
Azerbaijan charged that its forces returned fire in response to “large-scale provocations” by the Armenian military, claiming that the Armenian troops planted mines and repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani military positions, resulting in unspecified casualties and damage to military infrastructure.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.
Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-week war in 2020 that killed more than 6,600 people and ended with a Russia-brokered peace deal. Moscow, which deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers under the deal, has sought to maintain friendly ties with both ex-Soviet nations.
Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, held a meeting with military officials to discuss the situation. “It was noted that the responsibility for the current tension rests squarely with the political leadership of Armenia,” his office said.
Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, also placed the blame for the violence on Armenia. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for Yerevan to halt its “provocations,” and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar condemned “Armenia’s aggressive attitude and provocative actions.”
Speaking in parliament early Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Azerbaijani shelling killed at least 49 Armenian soldiers. He squarely rejected the Azerbaijani claim that it was responding to Armenian provocations.
The governor of Gegharkunik province, one of the regions that came under Azerbaijani shelling, said there was a 40-minute lull in the fighting, apparently reflecting Moscow’s attempt to negotiate a truce, before it later resumed.
The governor, Karen Sarkisyan, said that four Armenian troops in his region were killed and another 43 were wounded by the shelling.
As the fighting raged overnight, Pashinyan quickly called Russian President Vladimir Putin and later also had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the hostilities.
Speaking in parliament, Pashinyan noted that the Azerbaijani action followed his recent European Union-brokered talks with Aliyev in Brussels that revealed what he described as Azerbaijan’s uncompromising stand.
The Armenian government said it would officially ask Russia for assistance under a friendship treaty between the countries and also appeal to the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated security alliance of ex-Soviet nations that includes Armenia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from comment on Armenia’s request but added during a conference call with reporters that Putin was “taking every effort to help de-escalate tensions.”
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said top officials from the security grouping held a meeting to discuss the fighting. Armenia’s representative at the grouping emphasized during the meeting that Yerevan expects its allies to take “efficient collective steps to ensure security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry urged both parties “to refrain from further escalation and show restraint.”
Moscow has engaged in a delicate balancing act, maintaining strong economic and security ties with Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base, while also developing close cooperation with oil-rich Azerbaijan.
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Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.
https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-armenia-1aa2ec4e28135a8667823476c391e3ea
The U.N. Security Council
The United Nations Security Council will convene a special session on Wednesday to address the current military standoff at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
The situation at the border escalated when shortly after midnight on Tuesday Azerbaijani forces launched a large-scale attack against Armenian targets in Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces and attempted to breach Armenia’s sovereign borders. Officials estimated that 49 Armenian soldiers were killed and three civilians were injured in the attack.
According to Armenia’s Defense Ministry, the situation on the border remained tense despite a ceasefire brokered by Russia that went into effect at 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Azerbaijani forces continued their attempts to advance their positions within Armenia, the defense ministry said.
A source confirmed to the Russian Tass news agency that the U.N. Security Council will discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan border issue.
Reuters reported that President Emmanuel Macron of France had said that France would bring up the issue to the U.N. security body.
“President Macron is ready to support the sides in order for all issues relating to or stemming from the conflict to be resolved exclusively through negotiations,” Macron’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. “He will continue actively supporting this together with all partners and interested parties.”
Macron was briefed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about Azerbaijan’s latest aggression against Armenia.
According to Pashinyan’s press service, Macron viewed the further escalation of tension unacceptable and stressed the need to de-escalate the situation.
The Council of Europe on Tuesday called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to refrain from any steps that might worsen the situation in the region.
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Foreign Minister and the Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, was joined by Tiny Kox, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made a joint statement regarding the escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“The use of military force is totally unacceptable in settling disputes between Council of Europe member states. We therefore call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to pull back from any further steps which might worsen the situation, to respect international agreements and to engage in peace talks without further delay,” said the statement.
“We urge both member states of the Council of Europe to abide by their commitments taken upon accession, notably, to settle the conflict by peaceful means. The Council of Europe is ready to support them in this effort,” they said.
AEBU Southern California Chapter grants these annual scholarships to undergraduate students of Armenian descent who are enrolled at accredited four-year universities across the U.S. This year, the scholarship was also made available to Armenian students studying in Lebanon and Armenia.
The new U.S. scholars received the awards Sunday, Aug. 14, during a benefit brunch held at the AEBU center in Pasadena, where AEBU scholarship donors and friends and family members of the recipients were present. Those in Armenia and Lebanon will receive the awards in separate events in their countries.
The recipients include Maral Gurgenian of Los Angeles, Gregory Mazmanian of Sierra Madre, Karina Messerlian of Fresno, Edgar Sahakian from North Hills, and Macyn Topoozian from Fresno.
In Armenia, Arousiak Seropyan and Misak Kouyoumjian, both from Yerevan, were chosen as the new AEBU scholars for 2022-2023.
Gassia Norshahian from Bourj Hammoud in Lebanon and Karine Tankian from Beirut were selected as scholars.
Before the awarding ceremonies, a large pool of highly qualified candidates in the U.S. and overseas sent applications to the AEBU Scholarship Fund Committee, which reviewed these in a “rewarding but very challenging” selection process, an AEBU statement said.
At the event, Dr. Gagik Melikyan, Professor of Chemistry at the California State University of Northridge, delivered the keynote speech where he shared his insights about the Armenian presence in scientific international communities, and the social/political impact that Armenians can have through scientific work and research.
The program included a brief history of the mission of the AEBU in general and the Scholarship Fund in particular. It also featured a violin performance by Dikran Melikian, a promising young artist who played Minuets 1 and 2 from “Partita No. 3” by Bach.
Dr. Linda Guergerian-Meguerditchain also gave a recital of an Armenian poem, “Dariners” (My Years) by Hamo Sahian.
The Armenian Educational Benevolent Union is a California-based charitable organization. For more information and to donate, visit www.aebu.org.
Businessman Ruben Vardanyan
Businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan on Thursday announced that he is renouncing his Russian citizenship and relocating to Artsakh.
Vardanyan, who has various business interests in Armenia and Russia, is the founder of, among other organizations, the UWC Dilijan College, the IDea Foundation, which was pivotal in revitalizing the Tatev Monastery and building the world’s longest tramway, the Foundation of Armenian Science and Technology, as well as the Aurora Project.
“I made a decision to move to Artsakh. Today, the people of Artsakh are experiencing a severe psychological crisis with no confidence in the future. Residents of Artsakh, who have survived two wars and lost their relatives and loved ones in the struggle for independence, feel abandoned, forgotten and ignored. I believe that after the 2020 war, we, Armenians around the world, have an obligation to stand together with the people of Artsakh. We must not just support them symbolically, but help them through concrete work. Artsakh is the center of the Armenian nation that has always been a place of true strength for us and we cannot let everything that was created by our ancestors over the millennia fall into oblivion,” Vardanyan said in announcing his decision to move to Artsakh and renouncing his Russian citizenship.
Vardanyan said that his decision “was not easy” for him but he is sure that it is the right thing to do and he hopes that his Russian partners and friends will accept this decision “with understanding and respect as a decision of their friend.”
Vardanyan thanked Russia for deployment of peacekeeping troops to Artsakh to protect its population.
“I believe that the mandate of the peacekeepers should be clarified and the terms of their stay should be extended until we can ensure the security of the people of Artsakh by our own forces,” he said.
Vardanyan also addressed Armenia’s neighbors, who often use aggressive rhetoric.
“I want to say: stop pushing our buttons. This is a dangerous and a short sighted approach. The force used will one day boomerang. You must understand that we, Armenians, will not allow ethnic cleansing in Artsakh. We will not allow you to gradually push Armenians out of Artsakh. This is impossible because this is the historical homeland of Armenians, the cradle of Armenian identity,” he stressed.
He thanked the French and U.S. Ambassadors to Azerbaijan for refusing to visit Shushi and Hadrut and clearly stated that the status of this territory has not been determined. Vardanyan said he believes that only the international community, which should include the people of Artsakh, Russia, France and the U.S., can together decide on the future status of Artsakh.
Vardanyan also addressed to the world community. “Today there are conflicts everywhere in the world… However, what is happening in Artsakh concerns everyone, because it is not just an ancient land with an ancient people, it is one of the cradles of human civilization—one of the cradles of Christianity. And the cultural and ethnic cleansing of Artsakh is impossible and unthinkable,” he stressed.
Addressing his fellow Armenians, Vardanyan said that he situation is almost the same as 100 years ago, “when Armenians, gathering forces, not having arms, created a miracle, stopping the enemy (the advancing Turkish army) in Sardarabad.”
“Sardarabad was not just a battle. It is a symbol of our nation’s rebirth and the ability to defend itself in the hardest and most critical moment. Now is the existential Sardarabad moment for all Armenians. The new Sardarabad! It is not a battle, it is invisible and not felt, like radiation, and therefore it seems that nothing happens. In fact, radiation is destroying all life. We must wake up. Each of us must do his or her best to stop the catastrophe that will be fatal for everyone, irrespective of where we live,” Vardanyan said.
He said that he made the decision to move to Artsakh to lead by example.
“Together we should create a concrete plan for Artsakh’s development and make it a reality, implementing it systematically and professionally. Otherwise, we will lose what is the backbone of our nation. We have to do everything to make Artsakh strong, secure, developed and happy and make it one of the centers of the world and the Armenian nation. Furthermore, I am confident that together we will succeed. I am confident that we have all opportunities, all resources, because we, Armenians, can do it,” Vardanyan emphasized.