Author: Boris Nahapetian

Jan 5 2024

Washington (AFP) – The United States on Thursday added Azerbaijan to a watchlist on religious freedom, following fears for Christian heritage after the country seized back an ethnic Armenian enclave.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, releasing an annual index of designations, maintained all 12 countries that had been on the previous year's blacklist, including China, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

In the sole change, Blinken added Azerbaijan to a watchlist, meaning it will join the blacklist, which carries potential sanctions, without improvements.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan, a frequent US partner, sent troops on September 19 into Nagorno-Karabakh and quickly achieved the surrender of Armenian separatist fores who had controlled the region for three decades.

In a recent recommendation to the State Department, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom pointed to concerns for the preservation of Christian religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, where virtually the entire population of 100,000 ethnic Armenians has fled to Armenia.

The commission also voiced alarm over regulations on all religious practice in the Shiite Muslim-majority but largely secular country under strongman President Ilham Aliyev, including a requirement that all religious groups be registered and their literature approved by an official body.

The commission, which is appointed by lawmakers but does not set US policy, was ignored by Blinken on another recommendation — blacklisting India.

The commission alleged incitement and a climate of impunity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government on rising attacks against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.

India has scoffed at the accusations and few had expected any action by the US government, which for years has sought warmer relations with New Delhi, seeing the fellow democracy as a bulwark against China.

Blinken in a statement noted that "significant violations of religious freedom also occur in countries that are not designated."

"Governments must end abuses such as attacks on members of religious minority communities and their places of worship," he said.

The "countries of particular concern" on the blacklist are China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Besides Azerbaijan, countries on the watchlist are Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros and Vietnam.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240104-us-puts-azerbaijan-on-religious-freedom-watchlist

Dec 29 2023

JERUSALEM – Here in Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter, an ancient Christian community is fighting to protect its historic land. They're resisting an attempt to put a hotel on property they've owned for centuries, and they believe the issue raises broader concerns for the Christian presence in the city. 

The Armenian Quarter, with its ancient heritage, is facing a land dispute that has implications beyond these ancient walls. A land deal with a Jewish businessman leased a large portion of the Armenian quarter of the old city, and the investor plans a luxury hotel that would demolish homes where Armenians have lived for centuries.

Armenian Resident Garo Nalbandian told CBN News, "My family comes in 1920s after the Turkish massacres. My father come along with the sister without their families."

"I was living, 1948, inside the convent. Afterwards, when we start to work, we make the money… But when we get married… I took from the Patriarchate, this house. (Since) 1969, when I married, until now, I am living there," he said.

Another Armenian resident, Hagop Djernazian, told us, "Two years ago, an illegal deal was signed to lease this land for a hotel. We were shocked to learn that the deal included not only the community parking lot but also houses, the patriarch's garden, and the seminary school."

The Armenian community in Jerusalem is deeply rooted in the city's history, and now finds itself at the forefront of a struggle for preserving its identity and heritage.

Djernazian explained, "Since the fourth century, the Armenians, continue to live here in the Old City on the highest point in the Old City, which is Mt. Zion. And, we have our own quarter. It is important to mention that the Armenian presence in Jerusalem is an uninterrupted presence."

While the deal is tied up in court battles, the developer is attempting to begin demolition.  Armenians took a stand to keep that from happening, facing violence from representatives of the corporation. Now, they're camping out here to avert any further demolition.

"We stopped the bulldozers, we stood in front of them, and we are staying here, we are guarding all day…" Djernazian said. "They will take the land in order to prevent from armed settlers and security guards from the company to attack or take over the land."

Armenians have been the caretakers of this piece of Jerusalem in the old city since the fourth century, and it might not seem like such a big deal that somebody wants to lease this property and build a hotel on it. But if you come from a people group that has faced genocide and ethnic cleansing as recently as just a couple of months ago in Armenia, when Azerbaijan pushed out 120,000 Armenians off their ancestral lands and made them refugees in their own country, you can start to understand why this is a much bigger deal.

Nalbandian said if Armenians are ousted from their quarter in Jerusalem, he says it will result in "the end of the Christians in Jerusalem."

"Not going to leave…whatever is happening, I going to stay. If they shut my house, I going to put (up a) tent. I'm not looking for the money. I love this place. This is kind of Armenian home and this land. It doesn't belong to the Armenian Jerusalem. Its belong to all Armenians around the world," Nalbandian said.

The land dispute in the Armenian Quarter might be lost in the news coming out of Gaza, but for these people, it's a life-or-death issue. And it's not just Armenians who are concerned; the wider Christian community in Jerusalem also sees this as a pivotal moment for religious and cultural preservation. 

https://www2.cbn.com/news/israel/historic-armenian-quarter-jerusalem-facing-demolition-luxury-hotel-dispute

Belarus – Dec 26 2023

ST PETERSBURG, 26 December (BelTA) – Armenia will preside over the structures of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in 2024. This decision was made at the EAEU summit in St Petersburg on 25 December, BelTA has learned.

In accordance with the EAEU Treaty, the chairmanship is carried out on a rotational basis in the order of the Russian alphabet. Accordingly, Armenia will take over Russia as the EAEU president.

It was also decided where and when the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will take place. Speaking at the summit, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “We are grateful to Vladimir Vladimirovich that Moscow will host the next meeting of our organization, this will be an anniversary summit [timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the EAEU Treaty]. Nikol Vovayevich [Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan] and I put forward such an initiative. The president of Russia upheld it. All members of the EAEU agreed. In May next year we will hold the next summit of the heads of state of our union in Russia.”

The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine

Nov 24 2023

Armenia is not considering leaving the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safarian said on Nov. 23, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

The statement comes shortly after Yerevan's decision not to attend today's summit of the Russia-led military coalition in Minsk, attracting criticism from Belarusian and Russian leaders.

The CSTO is an international military alliance consisting of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia.

The summit, chaired by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and attended by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, will reportedly focus on "issues of international and regional security" and Kazakhstan's upcoming presidency.

Despite the snub, Armenia also does not currently plan to discuss the withdrawal of Russian military bases on Armenian territory that host thousands of Russian troops, Safarian said.

"At the moment, there are no such topics on our agenda," the Armenian official told journalists.

Tensions between Yerevan and Moscow have been mounting as Russia failed to halt Azerbaijan's offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh despite deploying peacekeepers in the region since the last war in 2020.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan implied that Russia failed to live up to its commitments as an ally, adding that he sees no further use in the continued presence of Russian military bases in the country.

The rift between the two formal allies has been further manifested in Armenia's refusal to participate in CSTO maneuvers in Kyrgyzstan or the coalition's ministerial meetings.

As worries grow that Baku may expand its aggression even to Armenian soil, the South Caucasian country has been looking further west for new allies, securing military aid from France.

EBRD – European Bank

Nov 24 2023

Based in Yerevan, Armenia, QaylTech is the first Armenian company to specialise in the production of innovative devices that employ virtual reality headsets to aid in the rehabilitation process of people with disabilities. The aim is to improve their quality of life and, where possible, restore mobility.

With support from the EBRD’s Women in Business programme and Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), QaylTech sought to develop a comprehensive business development plan and roadmap for growth, unlocking new markets and enabling it to build on its innovations.

Founders in motion

Officially founded in 2020, QaylTech is run by business – and real-life – partners and pioneers, CEO Lilit Guroghlyan and her husband, Dr. Davit Arsenyan. The couple are leaders of innovation in the next frontier of healthcare, specialising in the creation and production of rehabilitation devices, equipment and assistive technologies for children and adults with temporary or life-long disabilities.

In Armenian, ‘Qayl’ translates to ‘walk’ or ‘move’, and the name QaylTech blends this with the company’s novel use of emerging technology to help its patients.

Driven by humanitarian and social concerns, “The aim of the company is to help solve global problems with technological solutions,” says Lilit.

EBRD support

When QaylTech was still at the start-up stage, its founders realised it needed new investment to grow, which was impossible without a financial evaluation and plan.

“After learning that the EBRD would support us and provide co-financing, we decided to apply,” Lilit explains. “It was then possible to present an assessment of the company to investors and obtain seed financing. Thanks to this opportunity, we have added new members to the team, developed new products, and acquired new partners in foreign markets.”

Since the EBRD project, the company has recorded growth of around 300 per cent and QaylTech was valued at about $8.5 million last year: “We have seen a leap in growth, resulting from new licenses and entering international markets. Now we are moving on to the next stage – investment,” she says.

Virtual innovations

Rehabilitation can be a long and onerous journey, often leading to frustration and disengagement.

QaylTech’s latest innovation, the MetaGait device, seeks to address this through its unique mobility rehabilitation process. It comprises a special mechanism which activates the leg and arm muscles – as well as other parts of the body – and is complemented by an immersive virtual reality (VR) headset, which allows patients to explore other worlds in the metaverse and even ski in the mountains while they undergo therapy.

This simulated environment provides some practical escapism for the patient while they use the MetaGait device and establish new neural connections in the brain, activating their muscle memory accordingly. The device provides the flexibility to allow therapies to be tailored to individual needs.

With this complementary technology, QaylTech is demonstrating that VR is no longer confined to the realms of gaming and entertainment and that these cutting-edge technologies can also make remarkable breakthroughs in healthcare, particularly in the field of rehabilitation.

Creating a new reality

Virtual reality has the potential to change the face of rehabilitation for individuals with mobility issues and disabilities around the world.

By enhancing engagement, personalising therapy, promoting neuroplasticity, and improving accessibility, these technologies are revolutionising the approach to the rehabilitation process. As they continue to evolve and become more widely available, we can expect even more breakthroughs in the field, offering newfound hope and independence to those on their journey to recovery.

Looking to the future, QaylTech’s goal is to build on its success: expanding further into international markets and continuing to offer large-scale, high-quality and innovative approaches to rehabilitative medical equipment.

“Every idea is led by a team who appreciate the importance of the work being done despite the challenges. At QaylTech we have fostered a dream team, with a unity that allow us to develop and make our ideas a reality,” says Lilit. “We are all motivated by being in a position to give a boost to production in Armenia: creating new employment opportunities, solving health problems, and contributing to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities,” she concludes.

A very noble goal from a CEO who is clearly committed to nurturing a more inclusive society for her patients and more broadly in Armenia and beyond.

Nov 16 2023

As tensions spill over in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it would not be attending a meeting with Armenia that was set for next Monday in Washington, D.C., condemning the U.S. for taking a “one-sided approach” to the conflict between the European countries. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been looking to ramp up peace talks between his country and Azerbaijan as the nations contend for the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The 1,700-square-mile mountainous slice of land has been inhabited by Armenians for thousands of years, but it is surrounded by Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim nation that says the region is its territory. 

Azerbaijan was angered by testimony from U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien, who spoke to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The country said O’Brien’s remarks were “one-sided and biased” after the assistant secretary of state discussed Azerbaijan’s take over of Nagorno-Karabakh in September, which forced more than 100,000 Armenians to flee their homes in what has escalated to ethnic cleansing of the Christian population from the oldest Christian nation in the world. 

During the hearing, O’Brien told the committee that the U.S. government has “urged Azerbaijan to ensure all ethnic Armenians who have departed Nagorno-Karabakh are guaranteed a safe, dignified, and sustainable return, should they so choose, with their rights and security guaranteed.” 

“We have also called for Azerbaijan to respect and protect the cultural heritage of the many groups who have lived in the region throughout the millennia,” O’Brien said, adding, “Our message to Armenia and the displaced has been unambiguous: The United States will support Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic institutions.”

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry claimed that O’Brien’s testimony left out important context in the conflict. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of refusing to respond to peace negotiations “for more than two months” and claimed Armenia was “illegally stationing” more than 10,000 troops in Nagorno-Karabakh before Azerbaijan’s takeover. The country also said U.S. officials are unwelcome in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. 

The Muslim country’s bombardment of Nagorno-Karabakh in September was preceded by a military blockade that began last December, which cut off access to food, electricity, and water from the outside. Yana Avanesyan, a doctoral researcher who is originally from Nagorno-Karabakh, told The Daily Wire last month that the religious difference between the two countries plays a major role in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

“When we say Armenians, we are speaking about us being Christians,” Avanesyan told The Daily Wire. “We know they hate us so much that they will just destroy everything.” 

The U.S. has taken a clear stance in the conflict, condemning Azerbaijan for its recent actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

“Azerbaijan’s use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh has eroded trust and raised doubts regarding Baku’s commitment to a comprehensive peace with Armenia,” O’Brien said. “Given this new reality, the Department has made it clear to Azerbaijan that there cannot be ‘business as usual’ in our bilateral relationship. The United States has condemned Azerbaijani actions in Nagorno-Karabakh, canceled high-level bilateral meetings and engagements with Azerbaijan, and suspended plans for future events.”