Author: Arsine Chaltikian

Armenian ombudsman calls for international attention to Aliyev’s genocidal and fascist statements

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan has called the international community’s attention to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest genocidal and fascist statements.

“In his interview to the Azerbaijani general television (Azərbaycan Televiziyası), the Azerbaijani president spoke about the entire population of Armenia with open threats of use of force and war on .

“Referring to the territory of the sovereign Republic of Armenia, he spoke about the creation of the so-called “Zangezur corridor” and the expulsion of the population of Armenia, regardless of the will of Armenia. The president of Azerbaijan also noted. “All forces are mobilized to implement the program. Thus, 101 years later, the Azerbaijani people are returning to the occupied Zangezur.”

“Before that, for example, in his speeches of April 12 and 13, 2021, the president of Azerbaijan openly stated that ordinary people living in Armenia and Artsakh, the whole Armenian people have psychological disorders, they are full of poison, are incomprehensible, are savages, are arrogant, have no morals, etc. Instead, he demonstrates, in his opinion, the advantages of the people of Azerbaijan, considering them superior in class, morality and psychology, as compared to the Armenian people.

It is obvious that the April 20 interview of the President of Azerbaijan is a proof of genocidal policy, it contains intimidation of the entire population of Armenia, which is absolutely prohibited under international law. All this is done by openly distorting historical facts, presenting Zangezur as an Azerbaijani historical territory,” Tatoyan wrote on Facebook.

The human rights defender states that the Azerbaijani president makes statements that are evidence of fascist policy, especially after the 2020 Artsakh war.

“It is obvious that in this way the president of Azerbaijan insults, spews ethnic hatred and Armenophobia at the highest state level, and carries out public propaganda of animosity against Armenians.

“Professional studies of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia confirm that exactly this Azerbaijani state policy was the basis of atrocities, beheadings alive, torture, and other war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces against civilians and servicemen of the Armenian side during and after the war.

“These days the ombudsman is carrying out fact-finding activities in the communities of Armenia’s Syunik Province. The results of the activities confirm Azerbaijani military’s shootings in the vicinity of peaceful communities, openly intimidating civilians and children, even making inappropriate hand gestures.

“The human rights defender of Armenia firmly calls for the attention of international organizations, especially those with human rights mandates, to these genocidal and fascist statements.

“International organizations must take into account that it was their silence that contributed to more of the Azerbaijani atrocities during the war, and the incredible gross violations of human rights. This is the reason why the president of Azerbaijan makes such absolutely aggressive statements that undermine the foundations of international law.

“It is necessary to prevent the Azerbaijani genocidal and fascist policy, the state propaganda of hatred towards Armenians (Armenophobia) and the animosity with decisive steps, to ensure real results, and to prevent new violations of rights and new war crimes in the future,” the ombudsman said. 

No Iskander missiles fired during war in Karabakh: Baku receives response from Russia

Arsine Chaltikian
Aysor, Armenia

Azerbaijan has received a letter from Russia’s Ministry of Defense saying that Iskander missiles were not fired during the war in Nagorno Karabakh.

This was stated by Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev in an interview to AzTV. He though added that Baku is not satisfied with the response.

“I have read the letter. It says that the Russian side has not confirmed the firing of the ballistic missiles. In essence, it is not the full answer to our letter as the key question of our inquiry was how Armenia got Iskander-M deadly missiles,” Aliyev stated.

President of Armenia meets with Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia

Arsine Chaltikian

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 15:09,

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and his spouse Nouneh Sarkissian have been hosted by Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II on April 16, the Armenian President’s Office told Armenpress.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia welcomed the Armenian President’s official visit to Georgia, stating that the Armenian and Georgian peoples have centuries-old history of friendship and the Armenian Apostolic and the Georgian Orthodox Churches played a key role in preserving and continuing the old traditions. He said the two churches are playing an important role for the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

The Armenian President thanked for the meeting and conveyed the greetings and wishes of His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Mr. Sarkissian said his official visit aims at discussing the development and cooperation prospects of the current relations between the two peoples. “The purpose of the visit was to discuss today’s problems, and most importantly, to talk about the future, the strengthening and expansion of our brotherly relations so that our children and grandchildren will enjoy the fruits of our friendship and will continue the friendship of our peoples”.

President Sarkissian talked about the current challenges, noting that both the world and the region are facing difficult times. “Armenia passed through the hell of war, we lost thousands of young lives. My prayers are with the families and parents of the lost sons. And we should do everything for having a more stable and peaceful region in the future”.

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II expressed hope that the Armenian people will find strength to overcome all the difficulties. “When it’s difficult for Armenia, the Armenian people, it’s also difficult for us”, he said. He delivered his blessings to the President of Armenia and the Armenian people, as well as warm wishes to the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Aliyev propagating hatred and enmity towards Armenians – Ombudsman

Arsine Chaltikian
Public Radio of Armenia
   

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev is carrying out a state policy of a propaganda of hatred and enmity, racism and fascism towards the population of Armenia and Artsakh and the Armenian people., Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said in a statement.

He cited some of Aliyev’s remarks, which emphasize that ordinary people living in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as all Armenian people have psychological disorders, are full of poison, are incomprehensible, savage, arrogant, have no morality, etc.

Excerpts from the April 13th speech:

“(…) They (meaning Armenians) need good doctors. I have said many times that they were poisoned. This poison mainly comes from their Diaspora, which enjoys life in very quiet, beautiful places in the south of France, in California, in the Krasnodar region, and in other capitals. They want the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia to be their hostage, their tool, so that they can engage in sharp, chauvinistic ideas. Armenian society (…) lives under the Iron Curtain and under the influence of these poisonous ideas. We are ready to support them in this matter.”

“(…) it has to do with their psychology again. They think the whole world owes them. That psychology has put them in the current humiliating state, but they still think they need help. (…) They do not realize that the problem is in them. The biggest danger in Armenia is their psychology. This needs to change. Maybe it will be a turning point for them to understand what a difficult lesson we have taught them.”

“It simply came to our notice then. They were brought up as if they were the greatest nation in the world, they deserve full support, everyone owes them, no one knows why. They used fake stories to gain personal and corporate benefits. Now everyone understands that their army does not exist, they have 10,000 deserters, 10,000, ‘Invincible Army.’ Their whole perception has changed. You are absolutely right, it is a mutilation, a psychological mutilation.”

The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia draws the attention of international organizations, especially those with a mandate to protect human rights, to the policy pursued by the President of Azerbaijan.

According to him, It is obvious that he is carrying out a state policy of a propaganda of hatred and enmity, racism and fascism towards the population of Armenia and Artsakh and the Armenian people.

“It is these speeches and policies that are the cause of the barbarities and atrocities, and the driving force of the tortures by Azerbaijanis. They are a threat to peace and solidarity in the region, undermining the internationally established foundations of the human rights system,” Tatoyan said.

“Contrary to the above-mentioned speeches, the authorities of the Republic of Armenia have never pursued a state policy of hatred or enmity towards the people of Azerbaijan and ordinary people living in Azerbaijan,” he noted.

On April 13, the President of Azerbaijan delivered a speech entitled “A New Look at the South Caucasus. Development and Cooperation after the Conflict.” The event was held at ADA University (University of the Diplomatic Academy of Azerbaijan, Baku).

Sarkissian refuses to sign into law ‘explicitly problematic’ bill envisaging higher fines for defamation

Arsine Chaltikian

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 11:07,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian refused to sign into law the bill on increasing the fines for public defamation and insults which passed parliament earlier in March.

Citing the applicability of the law against the media, the presidency said that Sarkissian consulted with executives of several news media organizations, who expressed concern that legislative initiatives are debated and passed by parliament without taking into account their specialized opinions and recommendations. The presidency also viewed the concerns expressed by international human rights organizations.

“The President attaches great importance to the freedom of speech and opinion and is concerned that, on one hand the envisaged changes do not solve any systemic problem, and on the other hand the proposed regulations could significantly harm the freedom of speech and _expression_, significantly limit the freedom of reporters and news outlets’ opportunity for objectively criticizing and [freely] covering events and occurrences, including the activities of government officials, politicians and public figures,” the presidency said.

Citing the constitutionally-protected right of any person to express their opinion, the presidency added that “defamation and insult, are undoubtedly inadmissible, unacceptable and condemnable.” “At the same time, the research of legal sources allow to conclude that any restriction on the freedom of _expression_ in a democratic society (including the amount of compensation envisaged by law) must be substantiated and proportional, the compensation must be in line with the country’s social-economic situation, while the application of the compensation must not negatively impact freedom of speech and debates of public affairs by creating disproportionately heavy material burden for the respondent, which could even have a defining impact on the latter’s activity. The law is explicitly problematic in terms of its constitutionality.”

The president forwarded the bill to the Constitutional Court asking it to determine its compliance with the constitution.

The bill is authored by Vice Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan from the ruling My Step bloc. It originally envisaged even higher fines but was later in between the first and second readings in parliament. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijani leader does not rule out signing peace deal with Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
TASS, Russia
These are Azerbaijan’s plans but there are no such signals from the Armenian side, Ilham Aliyev said

BAKU, April 13. /TASS/. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Tuesday that Azerbaijan could sign a peace deal with Armenia.

“We believe that the page of the conflict must be closed. I have spoken on several occasions about the possibility of signing a peace deal with Armenia,” the Azerbaijani leader said at the conference, “A New View on the South Caucasus: Post-Conflict Development and Cooperation,” running in Baku.

“I have numerously spoken about the possibility of signing a peace agreement. These are our plans but there are no such signals from the Armenian side,” Aliyev said. “As the president, I look into the future. We will do everything [for normalizing relations], if there are positive signals from Armenia,” he said.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020 with intense battles in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. 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.

Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they had held, some districts passed over to Baku’s control and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line and the Lachin corridor in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Artsakh grateful to Cyprus for setting up a park dedicated to fallen soldiers

Arsine Chaltikian
Public Radio of Armenia

Speaker of the Artsakh national Assembly Arthur Tovmasyan has expressed gratitude to leader of the political party Solidarity Movement, former Member of the European Parliament Eleni Theocharous, Mayor of Strovolos Andrea Papakharalampous and the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus for setting up a park dedicated to fallen soldiers in Cyprus.

He hailed Mrs. Theocharius’ personal efforts and consistent activity to protect the rights of the Armenian people, to make Artsakh known to the world, to present and defend the just demands of our people in European instances.

“The Artsakh Parliament is grateful to Cyprus and the local Armenian community for supporting the Artsakh Armenians and the Armenian people in general,” the Speaker said.

“Eleni Theocharius stood by the people of Artsakh during the First Artsakh War, providing professional and direct support to those wounded in the liberation war,” the Speaker said.

He also expressed gratitude to Strovolos Mayor Andrea Papakharalampous for support Mrs. Theocharius’ initiative and for contributing to the Armenian-Cypriot relations.

“The people of Artsakh highly appreciate the contribution of the Armenian Diaspora, particularly the Armenians of Cyprus, to the preservation of the Armenian identity, and we are grateful for the services rendered to the Armenians of Artsakh,” Arthur Tovmasyan said.

He voiced confidence that the framework of Artsakh-Cyprus cooperation would expand and strengthen for the benefit of the wellbeing of the two peoples.

Armenpress: Park dedicated to memory of fallen heroes of Artsakh opened in Cyprus

Arsine Chaltikian

Park dedicated to memory of fallen heroes of Artsakh opened in Cyprus

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 15:51,

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS. A small park dedicated to the memory of heroes fallen at the recent Artsakh war has opened in Cyprus, Greek City Times reports.

The initiative belongs to the members of the Cypriot party Movement of Solidarity led by party leader Eleni Theocharous.

The ceremony was also attended by members of the Armenian community of Cyprus.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Georgian PM tests positive for coronavirus

Arsine Chaltikian

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 13:03, 6 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has tested positive for coronavirus, the PM’s office told TASS.

“Yes, I confirm it, the Prime Minister (Garibashvili) has been infected with coronavirus”, the government’s press service staffer said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Museum of Neon Art honors Armenian Genocide victims in neon display – Public Radio of Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 9 2021

For Armenian History Month, the Museum of Neon Art exhibits a light and poetry based display to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Throughout the month of April, the Museum of Neon Art will display a new window-based public display in honor of Armenian History Month, Asbarez reports.

The exhibit presents an excerpt of a poem in Armenian and English under neon lights representing the Armenian flag; it faces the paseo in front of the museum and will be best viewed when the sun sets. The exhibition was created by MONA and Leaf Cutter Studio.

The display features the tricolors of the Armenian flag – red, a symbol of sacrifice and will to survive; blue for the blue skies of the ancestral homeland under which Armenians dream to live peacefully; and orange, for the fields of the Armenian Highlands and the hardworking nature of the Armenian people. Accompanying the neon flag is a verse from Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak’s book of poems, Anlreli Zangakatun, in Armenian and English.

“Anlreli Zangakatun literally translates as the Bell tower that is incapable of being silenced. Bells and bell towers are a call to action or a warning of danger ahead, but they fall silent when the call to action is over, or the danger has passed. In this case, the bell tower represents the inability to stay silent because the call to action – the call for justice – has not yet been concluded,” said MONA Curator of Engagement and Education, Ani Mnatsakanyan.

Visitors will have the opportunity to pause for a moment of silence in honor of the 1.5 million Armenians massacred during the Armenian Genocide and the millions of others who were orphaned and displaced globally as a result of the state-sanctioned massacres. This April 24th will mark the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. To this day, the government of Turkey denies their role in the genocide.

The chosen verse from the poem Chime of Revelation is a reminder of the silence of the American government in regards to the genocide, and each President’s empty promise to officially recognize the 1915 massacres as Genocide. The poem and display honor the Armenian-American community’s persistent dedication to genocide awareness in order to heal the open wounds of their ancestors, and seek justice. A genocide forgotten is a genocide repeated, and acknowledgement of the past helps other marginalized communities escape a similar fate.

“The 44-day war in 2020 that was waged against the indigenous Armenians in Artsakh by Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, retraumatized Armenians globally, because it brought up unresolved emotions about the continuous denial and cultural erasure of the Armenian people by Turkey and Azerbaijan. This year’s Genocide commemoration will be especially difficult to cope with as a result of that, but the support for the community through artistic means is meant to highlight the resilient spirit of the Armenian people and provide some light during these dark times through the arts,” said Mnatsakanyan.

“May this shine like a beacon to those souls lost from the Armenian Genocide and be a symbol of strength for those that look upon it today,” stated Dave Otis Johnson of Leaf Cutter Studio.

“Art is a way to process trauma, remember loss, and imagine a new world. Unfortunately this past year so many of us have faced great fear, loss, and pain. Paruyr Sevak uses light as a metaphor to speak about loss, xenophobia, and brokenness, themes that are unfortunately universal. Sevak’s words are also very specific, connected to the Armenian struggle for recognition and remembrance of their ancestors and the state violence they faced. MONA is proud to stand in solidarity and remembrance with our Armenian community and neighbors. Through the metaphor of light, and the use of bright beckoning neon lights we hope to provide a place to think critically, heal, and remember,” said Executive Director Corrie Siegel.