Skip to main content

Author: Bedik Zaminian

The UN’s top court will rule on the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute. 0

Bedik Zaminian
Dec 7 2021


BY GEORGE MACKIE ON DECEMBER 7, 2021

The UN’s top court will rule on the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute.

The UN’s top court will rule on Tuesday on Armenia and Azerbaijan’s tit-for-tat pleas for emergency measures to reduce tensions following last year’s war between the Caucasus arch-foes.

Both former Soviet republics accuse the other of racial discrimination after a six-week struggle in autumn 2020 over Azerbaijan’s separatist province of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In September, the rivals each petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is based in The Hague’s Peace Palace, to take action against the other while a full case is resolved, which could take years.

The ICJ’s top judge, Joan Donoghue, “will deliver her order on the Republic of Armenia’s request for the indication of provisional measures” at 1400 GMT, the court said in a statement.

It will issue a decision on Azerbaijan’s case shortly after that.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was established after World War II to settle disputes between UN member nations. Parties who agree to have their issues adjudicated by the court are bound by its decisions, but the court has no means of enforcing them.

After the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian territory of Azerbaijan, broke away from Baku’s rule.

Last year, more than 6,500 people died in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It came to an end in November when Armenia relinquished regions it had ruled for decades to Turkish-backed Azerbaijan, thanks to a Russian-brokered truce.

Armenia and Azerbaijan both accused the other of violating a UN convention, the International Convention on All Forms of Racial Discrimination, during hearings in October (CERD).

Azerbaijan is accused of indoctrinating generations of people into a “culture of dread, of hatred of anything and everyone Armenian,” according to Armenia.

They asked judges to order the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and the closing of Azerbaijan’s “Military Trophies Park,” where wax dolls of Armenian warriors with “exaggerated Armenophobic traits” are displayed, according to them.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has accused Armenia of planting landmines as part of a “ethnic cleansing” effort.

It claimed that when Azerbaijani citizens tried to return home following the “liberation” of Nagorno-Karabakh last year, they discovered the area had been “carpeted” with landmines by Armenia.

Following Russian-mediated discussions, Azerbaijan claimed on Saturday that it has freed ten Armenian soldiers detained last month during fresh combat.

In exchange, Armenia provided maps of minefields.

The trade came after President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian of Armenia agreed to reduce hostilities for the time being. The Washington Newsday Brief News is a daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C.


Hero of the USSR, test pilot Gurgen Karapetyan passed away

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 7 2021

SOCIETY 14:51 07/12/2021 WORLD

Hero of the USSR, Honored Test Pilot and Flight Safety Advisor to the General Director of the Russian Helicopters holding company, Gurgen Karapetyan, died at the age of 85, TASS news agency reported. 

Gurgen Karapetyan, an Armenian by nationality, was born in 1936 in Sverdlovsk (currently Yekaterinburg). In 1961 he graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute, studied at the helicopter department of the Test Pilot School. From 1962 to 1993, he worked at the flight test complex of the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. Karapetyan tested the Mi-26 and Mi-28 helicopters, also took part in the tests of the Mi-2, Mi-6, Mi-10, Mi-14, Mi-24 helicopters and their modifications, set ten world aviation records for speed and carrying capacity.

In total, Karapetyan has mastered several dozen types of helicopters, gliders and airplanes. He spent more than 5.5 thousand hours in the air, flew all types of Mi helicopters.

In May 1986, Karapetyan took part in the elimination of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal was awarded to Karapetyan in 1991.

Azerbaijani press: UN court rejects Armenia’s lawsuits against Azerbaijan

Bedik Zaminian
7 December 2021 19:56 (UTC+04:00)
1 088

By Vafa İsmayilova

The UN International Court of Justice has rejected Armenia’s main lawsuit on the immediate return of the so-called prisoners of war, Trend reported on December 7.

The court also rejected Armenia’s lawsuit to close the Military Trophy Park in Baku, Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Armenia’s claim on the investigation of war crimes by Azerbaijan was not approved.

The court also ruled that the Armenian state should take urgent measures against groups and individuals making violent calls on ethnic grounds in Armenia.

The failure to satisfy Armenia’s claim on these three issues stems from the timely and substantiated submission of evidence to the court by the Azerbaijani side.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946.

The court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).

The court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized UN organs and agencies of the system.

A Traditional St. Illuminator’s Thanksgiving at the Cathedral

Bedik Zaminian
December 6, 2021 Guest Contributor Community News 0

Der Mesrob, Yn. Ojeen Lakissian and their daughter Taleen

NEW YORK, NY—Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 21, parishioners, guests and a spirit of merriment once again filled Pashalian Hall marking the welcome return of St. Illuminator’s traditional Thanksgiving luncheon, for the first time since 2019. 

As in years past, the luncheon was hosted, prepared and served by the Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s and was attended this year by nearly 80 people.

Anais Tcholakian, chairlady of the Ladies Guild, welcomed the attendees and thanked the community for its support. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian offered the opening prayer.

A highlight of the luncheon was a short program of Armenian songs, beautifully performed by choirmaster Anahit Zakaryan and accompanied on the piano by Vagharshak Ohanyan. Ohanyan closed the artistic program with a stirring performance of Komitas Vartabed’s Groonk, which he dedicated to Der Mesrob on the 16th anniversary of Der Mesrob’s ordination to the holy order of the priesthood.

Tcholakian also joined in congratulating Der Mesrob on his ordination and expressed particular gratitude for his tireless work at St. Illuminator’s beginning from the days of the Cathedral’s renovation and all the years since.

In his remarks, Armen Morian, chairman of the Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Der Mesrob, Yn. Ojeen, their daughter Taleen and his sister Tamar for their dedicated service to St. Illuminator’s and wished Der Mesrob many more fruitful years of ministry, especially as the hoviv (shepherd) of St. Illuminator’s. Morian also expressed particular appreciation to Zakaryan and Ohanyan for making Armenian song echo again within the hallowed halls of St. Illuminator’s as it so often did in years past, a cultural tradition Armen stressed the importance of reinstituting.

The luncheon program also featured a raffle for prizes ranging from a handwoven rug to jewelry to elegant housewares, all donated by friends of the Cathedral.

In his closing remarks, Der Mesrob thanked the Ladies Guild and everyone who volunteers to serve at St. Illuminator’s and wished all a happy, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving.




Birthday wish from Hakob Mikoyan – "Gift me a bag of trash"

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 4 2021

Radio engineer, military officer Hakob Mikoyan marks his birthday on December 11. Like  many, he is looking forward to get birthday presents, yet his expectation differs from others. Anyone who wants to make a gift to Hakob can do so by simply collecting and gifting him a bag of filled with actual trash.  

In a conversation with Panorama.am Hakob confessed: “My friends all over the world, people whom I know and even strangers can support my idea on that day by simply collecting garbage, pack it in a bag and gift me.”  Hakob didn’t specify what type of garbage can be collected. The only precondition is to clean the garbage left by others. In his words, everyone can join his initiative from their courtyard. 

“Join me from your courtyard” is the message Hakob is sending to all compatriots and believes everyone can find a time to #clean their courtyards, at the same time prepare a gift for him. 

This extraordinary idea of birthday present came to Hakob two years ago, and he shared it with his friends. On his birthday then he received 50 bags of garbage, later friends joint him and picked up a truck of garbage from Yerevan Botanical Garden. His expectation for gifts are even more for this year, as he has launched birthday present awareness campaign long before the birthday. 

“I hope that people reading this article will join the initiative as well. I would be especially happy of strangers join. The trash is in huge amounts and everywhere. Everyone can get a gift for me. I call on all who are concerned about environment join this initiative regardless of their political, religious affiliations and nationality,” said Hakob. 

His wish is to turn garbage collection into a trendy exercise. Mikoyan himself collects a bag of garbage every day and also thinks of establishing nationwide garbage collecting initiative that could be implemented by only volunteers. 

“If we want to have a prosperous life, we should change the quality of our life. That is to say introduce army rule and discipline into our routine. This is not simply a process of garbage collection but an _expression_ of love toward the country and homeland. Removing the trash from the ground is a form of tribute and honor to soldier who fell for this land,” Hakob said. 

Hakob calls on all citizens to join the initiative every day before the work or after it, by cleaning garbage from various locations in the city. As for the gift on his birthday, people can join it on December 11 by simply collecting garbage, packing and posting the photo of it on the Facebook page “Littering is a shame.”


Yerevan, Moscow, Baku to continue work on regional communications in coming days

Bedik Zaminian
TASS, Russia
Dec 2 2021
The parties held a meeting on December 1 in Moscow following the signed statement by all three leaders on November 26 in Sochi

YEREVAN, December 2. /TASS/. A trilateral working group with the participation of Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan, Mher Grigoryan, Alexei Overchuk and Shahin Mustafayev, respectively, will continue its efforts on opening regional communications in the coming days, the office of Armenia’s deputy prime minister reported on Thursday.

“The meeting of the trilateral working group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan will be continued in the coming days. It will be possible to speak about the outcome following the meeting,” Grigoryan’s office stated.

The trilateral working group held a meeting on December 1 in Moscow following the signed statement by all three leaders on November 26 in Sochi.

On November 26, 2021, in Sochi, trilateral negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan were held, marking the first anniversary of the November 9, 2020, joint statement on the complete ceasefire and cessation of all military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Sochi event became the first face-to-face tripartite meeting among these leaders since January 2021 and lasted for about three hours. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the talks as productive and constructive and hoped for compliance with the agreements.

On January 11, during a meeting in Moscow, the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan made a decision to create a working group consisting of the deputy prime ministers from the three countries that would focus on establishing transportation and economic links in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sports: Mkhitaryan happy with his new role in Roma

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 2 2021

Henrikh Mkhitaryan spoke to DAZN and shared his thoughts on his new role within Jose Mourinho’s system shortly before the Bologna-Roma match on Wednesday, RomaPress reported.

“I like this new position lot because I’m playing more with the ball at my feet. There is more space than when I play in front or as a winger,” he said.

“It’s normal because I need to help my mates, look for space and I’m having fun,” he noted,

Mkhitaryan has played for Roma since September 2020. In the 2021/22 season, the Armenian footballer has played in 13 Serie A matches, scoring two goals and making four assists.

Isn’t Moscow concerned about Turkey’s attempts for control over natural gas route from Turkmenistan to Europe?

Bedik Zaminian
News.am
Nov 28 2021
Isn’t Moscow concerned about Turkey’s attempts for control over natural gas route from Turkmenistan to Europe?
15:02, 28.11.2021

Our energy and transit-transport cooperation with Turkey and Turkmenistan is open and mutually beneficial. This is what Director of the Third Subdivision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for CIS countries Aleksandr Sternik said in an interview with Interfax, in response to the question whether Moscow doesn’t have concerns about the reports that Turkey is trying to entangle Turkmenistan in the Turkic Union so that it has control over the natural gas route from Turkmenistan to Europe.

“The politicization of the energy issue has been touched upon recently, and it is also incited by the United States and its supporters. There are meaningless talks about Russia’s threats to energy security in the European Union, and various projects for reduction of the Russian power generators in the European market are being presented. We’ll see whether the authors of those ideas be able to prove with, as they say, ‘figures’ the advantage of their alternatives over our products,” Sternik stated.

Armenpress: Canada calls for de-escalation at Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Bedik Zaminian

Canada calls for de-escalation at Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Save

Share

 09:35, 17 November, 2021

OTTAWA, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly expressed concern and called for de-escalation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border following the deadly Azerbaijani attacks in the eastern direction.

“Canada is deeply concerned by the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan border clash, which resulted in the deaths of Armenian troops,” Joly tweeted. “Our thoughts are w/ the victims’ families, loved ones & the community. We call for de-escalation so that a peaceful solution to the conflict may be found.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan



Azerbaijani press: Facebook temporarily bans Russian expert due to complaint of Armenian users

Bedik Zaminian
13:50 (UTC+04:00)
560

By Trend

Armenian Facebook users sent a complaint to the administration of the social network due to the publication of the editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko, Trend reports on Nov. 19.

“Facebook banned me for three days for the question: Why during almost 30 years did Armenians destroy everything and build nothing in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan?” Korotchenko wrote in Telegram.