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Author: Chatinian Lara

Turkish press: Azerbaijan ready to make permanent peace with Armenia: Aliyev

Chatinian Lara
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
NOV 04, 2021 12:14 PM GMT+3

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev (L) and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (R) speak to media after talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP Photo)

Azerbaijan offered resolve border disputes and reach a permanent peace deal with Armenia but hasn’t received any reply so far, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Thursday.

Speaking at the opening of 8th Global Baku Forum, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Armenia are in the post-conflict era now, and Baku is ready to make a peace deal with Yerevan.

“We are rebuilding the liberated lands. More than 1 million of our compatriots will return to our lands. Now we are in the post-conflict period. We have proposed a peace and demarcation agreements to Armenia. But we have not received a response yet. Azerbaijan demonstrates the constructive approach at maximum level. Everything is depending on Armenia’s stance. We are ready to work on the peace agreement, to turn a new page,” he said.

The Azerbaijani President also criticized the unproductive approach of the international community before last year’s conflict.

The 8th Global Baku Forum brings together high-level representatives, including former heads of state and government, officials of international and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from more than 40 countries to discuss issues of global importance.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade Armenian occupation.

On Nov. 10 last year, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Prior to this victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory had been under illegal occupation for nearly 30 years.

Our Queens were soldiers

Chatinian Lara
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 6 2021

SOCIETY 20:04 06/11/2021 ARMENIA

Tarira, Satenik, Parandzem, Katranide B, Khosrovanush, Vaneni, Zabel – were some of the Armenian Queens, who had brought great changes in the lives of their husbands and also to the Armenian history. These Armenian Queens where not only women and mothers but also built churches and protected the homeland with swords in their hands. The new film “Armenian Queens” is just about those owners of the Armenian kingdoms. 

The documentary is based on the works of prominent historians, scientific facts accompanied with action scenes and narratives of recreated historical figures. The film is produced on the motives of the book “10 Prominent Armenian Queens”  authored by historian, Doctor of Sciences in History, Professor Artak Movsisyan. The producer and director of the film is Artak Avdalyan, while the action scenes have been directed by Davit Avdalyan. 

In an interview with Panorama.am, Artak Avdalyan said he had produced many films with Artak Movsisyan – “From petroglyphs to Alphabet,” “The capital city older than Rome,” “Azerbaijan: The Distorters of History” are among them which have been translated into several languages. 

“The idea of creating the film “Armenian Queens” belongs to Artak Movsisyan, who passed away in 2020. Before that, we had initial discussions, made some interviews with scientists, experts in Armenian studies and historians,” said the director. 

After the death of Movsisyan, the shootings of the film were suspended, since he was the one who took care of funding of the film. “We had no funding, however, the crew decided to continue the shooting within our capacities not to leave Artak’s dream unfullfiled. When we resumed the shooting, some of Artak’s friends from Germany and the US stood by us and supported with some funding,” Avdalyan said. In his words, the author of the dresses used in the film, the crowns and accessories is Ruben Sargsyan who is a researcher in historically-themed clothing. Designer Lusine Dadayan also worked with team, while the costumes were made by Zoya Aslikyan. 

“All actors and actresses were volunteers. We had decided with Artak in our previous films to refrain from inviting professional actors who are seen on screens many times. We didn’t choose beautiful people but those with charisma who were able to embody our Queens,” said Avdalyan. 

The film is being shot in different locations throughout Armenia, Garni Gorge, Arzni Gorge, Haghpat Monastery. Shootings are planned in Sanahin, Akhtala. The Sanahin bridge has been built by Vaneni Queen. In the words of the director the scene with Vaneni has been filmed in that location. 

“The main message of the film “Armenian Queens” is that our Queens were soldiers, who were born to build, educate young kings, shared the problems of the homeland, the state and the nation with their husbands. The film tells what they have done for the motherland, and why we recall them today. Zabel built a hospital and worked there herself helping people. Parandzem brought up King Pap and resisted to the Persian invasion for a year being a de facto head of the kingdom and surrendered only after being captured,” said the the producer of the film, director Artak Avdalyan. 

Sports: Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan wins first bout at World Boxing Championships

Chatinian Lara
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 30 2021

SPORT 12:52 30/10/2021 ARMENIA

Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist boxer Arman Darchinyan (71 kg) has won his opening bout at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships being held in Belgrade, Serbia from October 24 to November 6.

The Armenian boxer defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Nuradin Rustambek in the 1/16 final late on Friday, the Boxing Federation of Armenia reported.

After landing a second low blow during the second round, the referee stepped in and disqualified Rustambek, granting the victory to Darchinyan.

Erdogan Flaunts Genocide Accusations Through Artsakh Visit

Chatinian Lara
Oct 26 2021

By International Christian Concern on October 26, 2021



Turkey Threatens Individuals, Countries, Who Recognize Genocide 



10/26/2021 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on October 26, 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh). Turkey supported Azerbaijan’s invasion of Artsakh in Fall 2020, where the two conducted genocide against Artsakh’s Armenian-Christian majority.  

President Erdoğan’s visit to Artsakh came just days after he threatened to expel 10 Western ambassadors whose countries had called for the release of Osman Kavala, a jailed Turkish philanthropist who dedicated his life to the recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Turkey actively suppresses all information pertaining to the 1915 Genocide, allowing the authorities to build upon those genocidal policies that removed Christianity from the country.  

Victims of the 2020 invasion into Artsakh have often commented that Turkey sought to finish what was started in 1915. A report submitted by the Armenian Bar Association to the United Nations stated, “(Turkey) —Azerbaijan’s ethnic and linguistic “brother nation” and close military ally, which directly assisted Azerbaijan in its Nagorno-Karabakh war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the Turkish term “kılıç artığı,” which means “leftovers of the sword,” in reference to the survivors of the Christian massacres that mainly targeted Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, Turkey.”  

The brutality of the Turkish-Azeri invasion into Artsakh was well-documented by several independent organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. This brutality was supported by Turkish paid Syrian mercenaries, many of whom once belonged to ISIS and had previously committed genocide against the region’s Christians. The invasion was celebrated by a victory parade in Baku, which was attended by President Erdoğan, and the opening of a trophy park which included the helmets of killed Armenians as well as mannequins showing them in degrading circumstances (months later, after much international outcry, both the helmets and mannequins were reportedly removed from the park).   

The invasion of Artsakh is reminiscent of a 2013-2015 statement made by Anadolu Kulture, a non-profit of which Osman Kavala sits as Chairman of the Board. The statement read, “Confronting the past is not a predicament that befell Turkey; it is an issue on the world’s agenda, a universal cause. This is why looking at comparative international case studies from around the world will contribute to transforming the culture of forgetting in Turkey and acknowledging that a remembering culture that would restore a sense of justice is a part of the civilization process. In this respect confronting the past and apology is also about what kind of a society we want to live in and the kind of shared future we want to build.” 

Turkey, who is a NATO ally of the United States, was recommended this year by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom for inclusion on the State Department’s Special Watch List regarding religious freedom. Human rights conditions have worsened in Turkey over the past several years, but an escalation of religious freedom violations have particularly occurred since the 2016 coup attempt. Turkey has exported these violations throughout the region, often in ways that facilitate the elimination of local religious minority groups.  

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “One only needs look at the Kavala case and Turkey’s actions in Artsakh to see that Turkey’s ruling government wishes to suppress all historical recognition of the 1915 genocide so that they can continue this genocide in the modern era. President Erdoğan demonstrated Turkey’s strength by successfully invading Artsakh; now he is flexing Turkey’s strength by making threats of western diplomatic expulsion just days before visiting the territory he helped conquer. His messaging is a clear promotion of genocide and an attempt to bully the world’s protestations into silence.”  

 

Spanish city of Benalmádena approves twin town agreement with Armenia’s Etchmiadzin

Chatinian Lara
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 29 2021



, 16:32

 1 minute read

During a plenary session today the City Council of the Spanish city of Benalmádena approved a twin town agreement with Armenia’s Etchmiadzin, Guide to Benalmádena reports.

Councilor and deputy mayor Javier Marín said the Benalmádena City Council has the desire to establish synergies with other parts of the world, to establish cooperation in culture, education and science.

“There are important bonds of friendship between the residents of both cities that have laid the foundations for cooperation between organizations, and will contribute to the realization of joint projects,” said the councilor.

This twinning will be reflected in the implementation of different collaboration projects each year. The local self-government bodies will exchange best practices and experience.

In addition, they will support and develop mutually beneficial business relationships.

The agreement approved in plenary today envisages the signing of a collaboration agreement between the parties for the realization of commercial, tourist, economic, sports relations, etc., that generate mutual benefits for Echmiatsin and Benalmádena.

Armenian-American Nicholas Kristof announces bid for Governor of Oregon

Chatinian Lara
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 27 2021
, 19:30


Armenian-American Nicholas Kristof (Hachikian) will run for Governor of Oregon. He made the announcement on Twitter.

Armenian-American Nicholas Kristof (Hachikian) will run for Governor of Oregon. He made the announcement on Twitter.

Nicholas Kristof is a former New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

“Nothing will change until we stop moving politicians up the career ladder year after year, even though they refuse to step up to the problems Oregon faces,” Kristof said in his announcement. “It’s time to do something about a system that’s rigged against so many ordinary Oregonians.

Kristof is one of a growing list of candidates for governor to replace Gov. Kate Brown, who is term limited. So far, nine Republicans and six other Democrats have filed to run in next May’s primary election.

If elected, he will be the third American of Armenian heritage to lead a US state, following in the footsteps of Tom Corwin (1794-1865), who was Armenian – Hungarian and served as Ohio Governor 1840 to 1842 and former California Governor George Deukmejian.

Newspaper: Armenian ambassador is spreader of US Influence?

Chatinian Lara
News.am, Armenia
Oct 26 2021
08:08, 27.10.2021

YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: On October 22, RA Ambassador to US Lilit Makunts attended a strange event. It is about the event of the Meridian organization which aims to expand US influence and strengthen its role around the world.

It seems that the RA ambassadors accredited abroad should have been engaged in spreading the role and influence of their [own] country, and should have done everything to create a favorable situation for Armenia in the foreign policy field, as well as contributed the development of bilateral relations. But the ambassador of Armenia participates in spreading the influence of another state in the world.

And, in general, our ambassadors have a minimal role abroad: they have almost no meetings with the officials of the given countries, they do not come up with initiatives, they do not solve problems. The impression is that they do not realize what their main function is and why they came to this position.

‘Recent events will reshape regional geopolitics’ – President Sarkissian says at Armenian Summit of Minds

Chatinian Lara

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 11:30,

DILIJAN, OCTOBER 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian believes that the recent events, including the 2020 War, will reshape the regional geopolitics.

Delivering remarks at the Armenian Summit of Minds in the town of Dilijan on October 23, the President said that the slogan of this year’s Summit is about the new world or as he calls, about the quantum world.

“A lot has changed around us. This Summit covers two topics: the first one is dedicated to geopolitics which is changing every day. The world is changing quite rapidly, there are many uncertainties, this world is not unipolar or multipolar, it is much more complex. And we are trying to understand how to live in this new global quantum world”, the President said in his speech.

The first part of the Summit is also dedicated to the regional policy. “The recent events, last year in Armenia, South Caucasus, Central Asia, starting from Afghanistan up to the war here, will reshape the regional geopolitics, be it in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Eurasia or maybe at the global level as well”, the President said.

The second part of the debates will be about the future, on how the artificial intelligence, new technologies, biotechnologies are going to change and are changing the world. “Whether we notice that the world has changed?”, the President said.

He reminded that last year there was a double tragedy in Armenia as Armenians were killed not only of COVID-19, but also in the war.

The President once again welcomed the Summit participants, expressing hope for cooperation and stating that this Summit is about the future, the future of the region.

Armenia is hosting the leading international Summit of Minds for the third time.

The Armenian Summit of Minds is taking place in the town of Dilijan, at the Training-Research Center of the Central Bank.

The agreement on holding the summit in Armenia was reached back in September 2018 when the President of Armenia was taking part in the annual Summit of Minds as a keynote speaker in the French city of Chamonix.

The slogan of this year’s Summit is “Global Transformations In A New Quantum World”.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Security Council Secretary, Ambassador of Norway highlight OSCE MG Co-Chairmanship’s role in NK conflict settlement

Chatinian Lara

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 16:45,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan received today new Ambassador of Norway to Armenia Helene Sand Andresen (residence in Tbilisi), the Office of the Security Council Secretary said in a news release.

The meeting participants exchanged views on issues relating to the bilateral agenda and expressed readiness to further expand that agenda and fully utilize the cooperation potential.

The Ambassador of Norway said that democratic values, human rights, rule of law, education and energy security are those sectors where the Armenian-Norwegian relations can further develop.

The sides also discussed issues relating to regional security and stability. Mr. Grigoryan highlighted the importance of unblocking aimed at forming a security environment in the region.

Both emphasized the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Azerbaijani press: David Babayan on private visit in Moscow – Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia

Chatinian Lara
16:10 (UTC+04:00)
491

By Trend

David Babayan, who positions himself as “Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh”, is in Moscow on a private visit, Trend reports citing the statement of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia.

As the statement reads, due to the dissemination in some Armenian media of rumors of Babayan visiting Russia ‘on a working visit’ and his meetings with the political communities of Russia, the embassy appealed to the relevant structures of Russia.

“According to the information received from the Russian side, the Embassy said that this trip was private, and is considered unofficial. And at the same time, no political consultations with this person were held,” the statement says.

The embassy noted that the replication of such messages in the Armenian media is provocative and aims to mislead public opinion and cast a shadow on the successfully developing Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation.