Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Photos show bullet-riddled tractor after latest Azeri shooting targeting farmers in Nagorno- Karabakh

Chakrian Hovsep

 13:20,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A farmer in Nagorno-Karabakh came under Azerbaijani gunfire on August 15 while working in the grain fields, the Nagorno-Karabakh police said in a statement.

The farmer was working with his combine harvester in grain fields Tuesday evening in the village of Avdur when Azerbaijani troops opened small arms fire from adjacent outposts.

The farmer, who escaped unharmed, is a resident of Myurishen village.

The combine harvester was hit multiple times. Police released photos of the bullet-riddled vehicle.

The farmers had to suspend agricultural work due to the shootings.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said they’ve notified the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.




EDB predicts that inflation in Armenia will stay near zero throughout Q3

Chakrian Hovsep
Aug 9 2023
By bne IntelliNews August 8, 2023
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has projected that Armenia will experience near-zero inflation throughout the third quarter of 2023. Multiple factors, including the strengthening of the national currency, the dram, a reduction in external price pressures, and the implementation of stringent monetary measures, support this forecast.
 
In response to this context, the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia recently decided to decrease the refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points for the second consecutive time, bringing it to 10.25%, as detailed in the EDB’s weekly review.
 
The review highlights that July witnessed a y/y decrease of 0.1% in prices within Armenia, following a 0.5% decline the previous month. M/m deflation was 1%.
 
A 3.9% y/y contraction  in the food segment during July largely influenced this decline, following a 5.1% contraction observed the month before. This dip was attributed to the reduced cost of imported products. Additionally, prices for imported fuel experienced a 7.2% y/y decline, while the price growth rate for other non-food goods and services slowed down.
 
The Armenian government has set a growth projection of 7% for 2023, accompanied by an anticipated inflation rate of 4%, with an acceptable range of ±1.5%.
 
Recent data from the National Statistical Committee reveals that Armenia’s economic activity expanded by 11.4% during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
 
The Central Bank anticipates a 6.9% growth rate for the economy this year while projecting that the 12-month inflation rate will hover slightly below the 4% target.

https://www.intellinews.com/edb-predicts-that-inflation-in-armenia-will-stay-near-zero-throughout-q3-287031

Armenia denies Azerbaijan’s accusations on Yeraskh steelworks, demands cessation of unlawful use of force

Chakrian Hovsep

 12:21, 8 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Environment has received a letter from the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the construction of a steelworks in Yeraskh and has responded to it, Ministry of Environment spokesperson Ani Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS.

In the response, Armenia denied Azerbaijan’s accusations which claimed that the plant is being built in violation of environmental norms, and in turn demanded Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Azerbaijan is falsely accusing Armenia of violating the provisions of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context.

“We’ve responded to the accusation and we’ve stated the standards with which the plant will function. The factory is being built without violations. Armenia demands Azerbaijan to cease its unlawful use of force on the sovereign territory of Armenia, the shootings targeting the construction site, because this has resulted in injuries among the employees, and material losses. This conduct is a gross violation of the provisions of the Convention which they themselves are citing, while Armenia remains committed to all its international obligations,” Hakobyan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the content of the letter, as well as the response, is within the framework of the Convention.

The construction of the $70,000,000 steel mill in Yeraskh is being carried out by the U.S.-affiliated GTB Steel. The construction site has been targeted by Azerbaijani troops on several occasions. Two workers were shot and wounded in one particular cross-border shooting by the Azeri military.

Armenian foreign ministry calls for ‘clear steps’ to implement all int’l decisions regarding Nagorno-Karabakh

Chakrian Hovsep

 12:50, 7 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian foreign ministry has called for clear steps to implement all international decisions and calls regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.

“On June, PACE adopted [resolution] on the blockade of Lachin Corridor based on Paul Gavan’s report. Paul Gavan on August 4: “What we are witnessing now is deliberate attempt to ethnically cleanse Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh”. Now clear steps needed to implement all international calls and decisions,” Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan tweeted.

On August 4, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) member Paul Gavan (Ireland) warned that Azerbaijan seeks to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh with the blockade.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

Armenpress: Hasty peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan could lead to new conflicts, warns Russia

Chakrian Hovsep

 09:55, 4 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. An attempt to hastily conclude a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the expense of careful preparations and planning will only lead to more conflicts in the future, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth CIS Department Denis Gonchar told TASS in an interview.

“A hastily concocted, raw peace treaty will not be able to bring about a lasting peace in the region. On the contrary, it will create potential grounds for new conflicts and future tragedies. It is not speed that should be viewed as a priority, but, instead, a careful preparation of balanced and mutually acceptable solutions,” the diplomat said.

Gonchar noted that a number of Western countries claim that Baku and Yerevan may sign a peace treaty almost as early as in coming weeks or months.

In the Russian diplomat’s opinion, the timeframe for the signing should be determined by the sides themselves.

“A responsible mediator’s task is not to expedite the negotiating process for the sake of timeserving considerations, but to facilitate solid and long-lasting agreements,” Gonchar added.

Secretary of Security Council holds meeting with outgoing EU ambassador

Chakrian Hovsep

 14:52, 31 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has held a meeting with the outgoing Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin.

Grigoryan thanked Ambassador Wiktorin for her efforts towards further developing and enhancing the Armenia-EU partnership during her tenure, Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

Ambassador Wiktorin underscored and expressed confidence that active bilateral cooperation will continue to strengthen and develop.

The regional security situation and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh were also discussed.

Vassilis Maragos, the Head of Unit for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo in the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, was named Witkorin’s successor in April.

United States again calls for “difficult compromises” between Armenia and Azerbaijan for peace agreement

Chakrian Hovsep

 10:29, 2 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. The United States State Department has once again urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach “difficult compromises” to be able to reach a peace agreement.

“As we have said consistently, we do believe that a peace agreement is within reach,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a press briefing on August 1. “It’s why we continue to engage both at the seniormost levels of this department and at subcabinet levels with leaders in Armenia and Azerbaijan to urge them to reach the difficult compromises that are necessary to reach a full peace agreement,” he added.

Miller declined to provide details on an upcoming regional trip by State Department Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono scheduled this week.

CSTO Wants to Revisit Troop Deployment to Armenia Border

Chakrian Hovsep
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 2, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

CSTO Secretary-General Imangali Tasmagambetov (center) visits Jermuk on Mar. 16


The Collective Security Treaty Organization said it is ready to revisit discussions on the possible deployment of a monitoring mission along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and is awaiting a response from Yerevan, a Russian foreign ministry official said.

“The CSTO member states have never abandoned their efforts for stabilizing the situation in the region and have numerously affirmed readiness to find concrete solutions that would allow our Armenian friends to utilize the organization’s broad possibilities with maximum benefit,” Mikayel Aghasandyan, the Head of the First Department of the CIS Countries at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

“We are still waiting for a positive response from Yerevan and stand ready to resume substantive work around the proposal to deploy a CSTO monitoring mission in Armenia’s border regions, as well as other joint actions to help our ally,” he added.

Moscow believes that “making the relevant decisions would have a positive impact on the general regional situation, the official said.

“I repeat, we are ready for such constructive work,” he added.

The Russian foreign ministry official also said that the CSTO, like any other international organization, is not a “magic wand” for solving every problem.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the most complicated [conflicts], it has deep historical roots. Consistent normalization of the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations based on negotiations, mutual respect between the parties, readiness to compromise, make responsible decisions and implement them is the only path towards sustainable resolution. In this context, I must mention the key mediation role of Russia and personally President Vladimir Putin in this process,” Aghasandyan said.

CSUN Special Collections to Delve Into History of the Armenian Diaspora

Chakrian Hovsep
Aug 2 2023
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE | WEDNESDAY, AUG 2, 2023

Authentic Armenian books, medals, personal letters, photos, autobiography manuscripts and translated documents can be found in a special collection at the California State University, Northridge’s University Library.

An array of memorabilia and historical artifacts belonging to the late Armenian immigrant, advocate and educator Sara Chitjian is now accessible to the public.

Prior to her passing in 2021, Chitjian reached out to the university, offering a slew of artifacts collected by her family that documented her parents’ lives in Armenia and their family life in America as part of the Armenian diaspora.

Chitjian’s father, Hampartzoum “Harry” Chitjian, was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. He dedicated his life to raising awareness about the genocide, the legacy of its survivors and preserving Chitjian family history. In 2001, Chitjian and her father formed the Harry and Ovsanna Chitjian Family Foundation, which was responsible for preserving many of the materials given to the university.

“The Chitjian Collection must be viewed as a unique part and parcel of the mosaic that is the U.S. in general, and California in particular,” said Vahram Shemmassian, the director of CSUN’s Armenian Studies Program in the Department of Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures. “As such, it enhances our understanding of the differences and commonality of the multicultural, multiethnic society that we live in, thereby making us more tolerant, more appreciative, and more embracing of each other.  We welcome all to share the richness of Armenian history and culture at the micro level, which, in fact, has also a macro scope.”

Ellen Jarosz, head of the library’s Special Collections & Archives, explained that the fragile objects, or items with a higher research value, were selected for preservation and made available to researchers. These items include correspondence between Chitjian family members, photographs, maps, books, articles and teaching materials used by Chitjian and her father.

“The Chitjian Collection gives our students, our university and the people who visit an opportunity to have a first-hand interaction with materials that most people don’t get the chance to see because they are so unique and rare,” said Jaroz. “People can draw unique and original conclusions, and really take advantage of these things to inform their own view, instead of having somebody tell them what they mean and what’s most important.”

In 2020, Chitjian began the endowment process that resulted in the gift to the library. She also funded the creation of a museum-style room in CSUN’s Sierra Hall dedicated to exhibiting memorabilia that document both her and her father’s legacy.

“The Chitjian Collection is an in-depth and intimate portrait of endurance, renewal, and legacy as told through a family archive created by their daughter, “Sara” Chitjian,” said Claire V. Gordon, the archivist responsible for sorting and cataloging the university’s newest collection. “The collection grants us an intimate peek into the early lives of the Chitjian family,”

With the cataloging process now completed, the collection is open and available for public viewing. CSUN’s Special Collections & Archives, hours can be found on the

Special Collections & Archives is located on the second floor of the University Library, which is the heart of the campus located at 181111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, for more info check out the library’s website.

To learn more about the collection click the link. https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c82z1d78/entire_text/

https://scvnews.com/csun-special-collections-to-delve-into-history-of-the-armenian-diaspora/

Azerbaijan arrests Nagorno-Karabakh resident for ‘war crimes’

Chakrian Hovsep
 

ByAni Avetisyan
Vagif Khachatrian being arrested at the Lachin checkpoint. Image via ITV.

Azerbaijani border guards have arrested a 68-year-old resident of Nagorno-Karabakh as he was being evacuated to Armenia by the Red Cross for heart surgery, accusing him of genocide.

Vagif Khachatrian, a resident of the village of Patara, was among 16 patients being evacuated by the Red Cross to Armenian hospitals for urgent treatment when he was arrested at the Lachin checkpoint on Saturday. 

The authorities in Stepanakert accused Baku of ‘kidnapping’ Khachatrian and taking him in an ‘unknown direction’. Yerevan and Stepanakert accused Baku of ‘gross violation of international law’. 

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor’s Office released a statement on Saturday accusing Khachatrian of genocide and ethnic cleasnsing, claiming that he took part in a massacre of Azerbaijani civilians in the village of Meshali during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Vagif Khachatrian at the Lachin checkpoint. Image via ITV.

They said Khachatrian would be placed in a medical facility in Baku and that the Red Cross would be provided access to him.

Following the arrest, the Red Cross announced they had halted the transfer of critically ill patients from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, as well as the return of recovered patients.

On Sunday, the organisation said they had visited Khachatrian and that he was in contact with his family.

The Red Cross is the only organisation currently able to access Nagorno-Karabakh, solely for the transfer of ill patients to Armenian hospitals. 

In the past month, the organisation has been banned from entry at least twice, with Azerbaijan also attempting to impose medical examinations by Azerbaijani doctors at the Lachin checkpoint.

According to the statement from the Azerbaijani Prosecutor’s Office, Khachatryan took part in a massacre of Azerbaijani civilians in the village of Meshali on 22 December 1991. 

‘Using various weapons, including firearms and infantry fighting vehicles, they raided the village and killed 25 people of Azerbaijani nationality, injured 14 people, and contrary to national and international law norms expelled 358 Azerbaijanis from their domicile’, the statement said.

It added that Khachaturyan then ‘continued his criminal actions together with his accomplices’, causing property damage of ₼5.5 million ($3.2 million).

A 1992 report by the Russian human rights group, Memorial, cited ‘severe violence against the civilian population’ in Meshali by ethnic Armenian forces in 1991. Meshali is located in a part of Nagorno-Karabakh that remains under the control of the authorities in Stepanakert.

The Azerbaijani Prosecutors’ statement said that an international arrest warrant was issued against Khachaturyan in November 2013.

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender dismissed the Azerbaijani claims, stating that no ‘international prosecution’ was registered in any international databases against Khachatryan. 

Artak Beglaryan, an adviser to Nagorno-Karabakhs’ State minister denied that Khachatryan took part in war crimes, saying he was a driver who ‘defended his homeland’ during the First Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Khachatrian’s daughter, Tsovinar Khachatrian, who was accompanying him to Yerevan, also denied that her father was a war criminal, telling RFE/RL that ‘he was neither a commander nor a deputy commander. He was a driver’. 

Khachatryan was arrested as he was crossing the Azerbaijani checkpoint at the start of the Lachin Corridor, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world.

In a statement on Saturday Armenia’s Foreign Ministry linked Khachatryan’s detention to the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, calling it a ‘war crime’.

‘We consider the criminal act committed by Azerbaijan today and the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor unacceptable and reprehensible’, they said in a statement.

‘We expect united and clear-cut steps by the international community, including using existing tools aimed at restoring unimpeded movement through the Lachin Corridor, ensuring the activities of international humanitarian organisations in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh’, the statement said. 

According to the November 2020 ceasefire agreement that brought an end to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, the Lachin Corridor was meant to be controlled by the Russian peacekeeping mission.

However, since Azerbaijani government-backed ‘eco-activists’ first blocked the route in December 2022, supplies and traffic in and out of the region have been limited. Since Azerbaijani border guards set up a checkpoint on the corridor in April, they have several times halted the remaining humanitarian aid supplies going into the region as well as red cross access.

The Azerbaijani government has repeatedly insisted that the region is not under blockade and that civilian traffic through the checkpoint was possible, despite little evidence of civilian traffic being allowed to pass.

[Read on OC Media: Nagorno-Karabakh aid convoy held at Lachin Corridor]

Many in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have warned that the use of the Lachin Corridor by the population of Nagorno-Karabakh would be impossible while the Azerbaijani checkpoint remained in place, with some calling it an attempt to force the Armenian population out. Some have cited the fact that a large proportion of the male population of the region has taken part in hostilities against Azerbaijan since the 1990s, meaning they could be subject to arrest.

In their statement on Saturday, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor’s Office said that ‘operative and investigative measures are being conducted to bring the other accused persons to justice.’