Author: Chmshkian Vicken

US calls on Azerbaijan to reopen Lachin corridor

Chmshkian Vicken
IRAN FRONT PAGE
May 1 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, discussing the importance of reopening of the Lachin Corridor for commercial and private vehicles, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced in a statement.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev today to underscore the importance of Azerbaijan-Armenia peace discussions and pledged continued US support,” the statement reads.

“Secretary Blinken shared his belief that peace was possible,” it said.

“He also expressed the United States’ deep concern that Azerbaijan’s establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process, and emphasized the importance of reopening the Lachin Corridor to commercial and private vehicles as soon as possible,” the statement added.

Azerbaijan’s presidential press office said in a statement later that “President Ilham Aliyev noted [that] Azerbaijan supports the peace agenda and that Azerbaijan had been the initiator of starting peace treaty talks and normalization of relations with Armenia.”

“With respect to setting up the ‘Lachin’ checkpoint on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, President Ilham Aliyev said that the checkpoint had been set up in accordance with Azerbaijan’s sovereign rights and all international rules,” the statement from the Azerbaijani president’s press office reads.

“The Azerbaijani President underlined that the aim was to ensure control rather than restrict movement as passage is already allowed through the checkpoint,” the statement added.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna stated last Friday after a meeting with her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan that Azerbaijan’s deployment of a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor violates the agreements that Yerevan and Baku currently have in place.

Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan stated on April 28 that Yerevan had no plans to hold talks with Baku about unblocking the Lachin Corridor, since this issue was settled under the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 27, 2020. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on the full cessation of hostilities. The sides stopped at their positions at that moment, a number of districts went under Baku’s control, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed at the contact line and at the Lachin Corridor.

On December 12, 2022, a group of Azerbaijani activists claiming to be environmentalists blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and the place where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.

Baku stated that blocking the road was not the goal of the protest and civilian vehicles could freely move in both directions. However, Yerevan slammed the activity as a provocation by the Azerbaijani authorities aimed at creating a humanitarian disaster in the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan pointed out that Nagorno-Karabakh was facing food shortages due to the blocking of the corridor. On December 14, Armenia requested that the European Court of Human Rights compel Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin Corridor.

Wizz Air launches a New Route from Bulgaria to Armenia

Chmshkian Vicken
NOVINITE
Bulgaria – May 2 2023

Wizz Air, the fastest growing airline in Europe and the most environmentally sustainable in the world*, this weekend launched its flights from Sofia to the Armenian capital of Yerevan. Flights from Sofia to Yerevan will be operated twice a week – on Wednesdays and Sundays, allowing passengers to enjoy the destination for both leisure and business trips. Tickets are now available on wizzair.com, as well as in the mobile application at prices from only BGN 68.99**

This is the second unique route that the airline is introducing this month for Bulgarian passengers. The addition of this new destination to the Wizz Air network reinforces the carrier’s long-standing commitment to the Bulgarian market, providing passengers with a wide range of exciting destinations at affordable prices.

Yerevan is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and has been known by many other names over the years. This destination is the right choice for anyone looking for a different view of the culture and history of the world. Also called the “Pink City” because of the unique lava stone from which most of the buildings are built, Yerevan is a destination suitable for any time of the year. The Armenian capital combines the distant past and the rhythmic present. Here you will find old churches, historical and cultural monuments, museums and galleries, as well as modern sights and places for recreation and entertainment – clubs, restaurants, taverns, bars, shopping centers, squares decorated with pink ornaments, green gardens and parks.

Tamara Nikiforova, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air, commented: “We are excited to take another step forward in expanding our network from Bulgaria to the East. The capital of Armenia offers a unique blend of culture, history and modern urban spirit for all passengers looking to expand their horizons. The Wizz Air crew looks forward to welcoming all passengers on board to this exciting destination!“

“It has been an exciting two weeks with two new destinations from Sofia Airport. We will continue our fruitful partnership with Wizz Air because there are dozens more opportunities waiting to be exploited. We are already adapting the airport to the needs of the airlines and it is paying off. Let’s continue to change for the sake of our sustainable future,” said Jesus Caballero, CEO of Sofia Airport.

Sisian Boghosian, Head of the Armenia Tourism Committee, said: “We are delighted with our continued partnership with Wizz Air. Connectivity is very important to us and therefore the introduction of new routes by Wizz Air will allow more tourists from different destinations to rediscover Armenia, the Hidden Road, as well as Armenians to visit new and interesting places. Sofia is a charming city and we can’t wait to welcome guests from Bulgaria.“

Route:
Sofia – Yerevan

Days:
Wednesday, Sunday

Russia Says ‘No Alternative’ To Its Karabakh Mediation After US Initiative

Chmshkian Vicken
BARRON’S
May 2 2023


  • FROM AFP NEWS
By AFP – Agence France Presse

May 2, 2023



Russia on Tuesday responded to US-hosted peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan this week saying there was “no alternative” to a deal that Moscow signed with the two warring countries in 2020.

“For the moment, there is no other legal basis that would help a resolution. There is no alternative to these trilateral documents,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Initiatives to lower tensions in the region “are possible above all on the basis of the trilateral documents signed with Russia,” he said.

The United States this week is hosting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, seeking to quell recent tension over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The two sides have gone to war twice, in 1990 and 2020, leaving tens of thousands dead and clashes regularly erupt over the territory, an Armenian-majority region inside Azerbaijan.

Tensions have spiked again in recent days after Azerbaijan announced it had set up a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, the only land link between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking an angry response from Yerevan.

Armenia views the move as a violation of the cease-fire negotiated between the two sides.

Moscow brokered a ceasefire between Yerevan and Baku after the latest bout of fighting in 2020 and posted peacekeepers along the Lachin corridor.

With Russia bogged down in Ukraine and unwilling to strain ties with Azerbaijan’s key ally Turkey, the United States and European Union have sought to steer a thaw in ties.

bur/giv

https://www.barrons.com/news/russia-says-no-alternative-to-its-karabakh-mediation-after-us-initiative-1f092777







Armenia Urges Moscow Peacekeepers to Keep Vital Road Under Control

Chmshkian Vicken
April 27 2023
AFP

Armenia said on Thursday that Russian peacekeepers should have full control of the only land link between its territory and the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The comments, from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, came during fresh tensions between arch-enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna held talks in Baku on easing tensions in the South Caucasus. After visiting Azerbaijan, Colonna traveled to Armenia.

Last weekend Baku set up a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, the only land link between Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Armenian-majority region, in violation of Moscow-brokered agreements.

“Russian peacekeepers must keep the Lachin corridor under control and ensure the operation of the corridor,” Pashinyan said at a government meeting.

“No one except Russia has the right to control the corridor,” he added.

The Armenian leader said that “a wider international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor is becoming more and more necessary every day.”

Azerbaijan stressed however that it had every right to set up a checkpoint “at the beginning of the road in Azerbaijan’s territory.”

It said the move had come in response to safety concerns, accusing Armenia of transporting weapons to Karabakh.

“Azerbaijan remains committed to taking all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin road,” Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Elnur Mammadov, said in a statement sent to AFP on Thursday.

“Peacekeepers have independently confirmed they continue to deliver humanitarian aid in both directions through the road after the checkpoint was established.”

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave of Karabakh that have left tens of thousands dead.

Moscow brokered a ceasefire after the latest bout of fighting in 2020 and posted peacekeepers along the Lachin corridor. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Azerbaijan must guarantee safe passage through the corridor. Armenia has repeatedly accused Moscow peacekeepers of failing to protect ethnic Armenians living in the breakaway region.

On Wednesday, Pashinyan discussed the situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said in a statement which indicated an “aggravation of the situation.”

With Moscow bogged down in Ukraine and unwilling to hurt ties with Azerbaijan’s patron Turkey, the United States and European Union have sought to take the lead in peace talks.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/27/armenia-urges-moscow-peacekeepers-to-keep-vital-road-under-control-a80963

Armenia responds to Azerbaijan’s decision to withdraw from European Championships

Chmshkian Vicken
Panorama
Armenia –

The Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports says Azerbaijan’s decision to withdraw from the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan is a “matter of concern in terms of sports ethics.”

Citing safety concerns, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Olympic Committee withdrew its team from the championships after the country’s flag was set on fire during the opening ceremony on Friday evening.

In a statement on Saturday, the sports ministry stressed Armenia ensured compliance with all security standards from the very beginning.

“No problems concerning the safety of the weightlifters who arrived in Yerevan to participate in the championships did not and could not arise,” the ministry said.

“The incident, which occurred during the opening ceremony and was settled very quickly, has nothing to do with the safety of athletes and their normal performances. All necessary conditions have been fully met.

“The Republic of Armenia stays true to its commitments to the International Weightlifting Federation and reaffirms its readiness to hold the 2023 European Championships at a high level,” reads the statement.

GCC’s Armenian Engineers & Scientists of America Club Sets Ambitious Goals for the Semester

Chmshkian Vicken
Glendale Community College

Ashot Muradyan, Staff Writer

El Vaquero News recently interviewed the Armenian Engineers & Scientists of America (AESA) Club president at Glendale Community College (GCC) about their goals for the semester. The president discussed aligning AESA GCC’s objectives with the national AESA organization, growing membership, guiding members through volunteering and internships, and upcoming events such as guest speaker sessions and the “prototype project.” “Teams will work together to solve a challenge presented… a product which will solve the problem at hand.”

The president, Eli Asadoorian, is in his final semester at GCC, majoring in either aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering, depending on where they transfer. This semester, the club aims to grow its membership and guide members in gaining experience through initiatives that support Armenia, Artsakh, and diasporan communities. To achieve this goal, Asadoorian wants to create a network of students, industry professionals, and professors, benefiting from the exchange of knowledge and supporting Armenia’s continued statehood through technological advancement and STEM based projects.”We believe in the power of unity and the exchange of expertise, and we’re committed to fostering a strong network that will drive positive change for Armenia and its people, both at home and across the globe.”

Beyond creating networks for fellow members, AESA also plans to host several events, including guest speaker sessions featuring industry professionals and academic professors. If there is enough interest, the club will also launch a “prototype project,” where AESA members will form teams based on their personal and professional interests to solve a challenge presented by AESA GCC. By the end of the semester, each team will complete a proposal for a prototype product addressing the given problem. 

The president has been committed to helping Armenia for many years, but only during the second Artsakh War did they realize the importance of being part of making a difference. They believe that AESA contributes to global efforts to support a strong and safe Armenia, and they are dedicated to growing the organization and its impact.

To join AESA GCC, interested students and professors can visit the club’s Instagram page and follow the link in the bio to sign up for the canvas page. To become an official paying member of the national AESA organization, with access to job listings, committee positions, and a member database, students can visit aesa.org/member-register. AESA welcomes members of all backgrounds and academic interests, emphasizing that everyone can play a role in building a community to strengthen Armenia and achieve AESA’s goals.

Additional information about Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America can be found at: https://www.associatedstudentsgcc.com/clublist/armenian-engineers-scientists-of-america-gcc-chapter

Ashot Muradyan can be reached at .

Lawmakers hold moment of silence in honor of fallen troops

Chmshkian Vicken

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 10:34,

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers observed a moment of silence during the plenary session of parliament in honor of the Armenian troops who were killed in action during the April 11 Azerbaijani attack.

Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan praised the troops for their selfless actions. 

“They fought selflessly, they inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy, the adversary has many casualties. Unfortunately the Armenian side has casualties as well, we have four killed soldiers and six wounded. Let’s wish swift recovery to our wounded troops and honor the memory of the fallen troops with a moment of silence,” Rubinyan said at the session.

NAASR to celebrate appointment of Dr. Christina Maranci as Mashtots Chair at Harvard

Chmshkian Vicken
 NAASR Announcements 0

BELMONT, Mass. — The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) will celebrate the appointment of Dr. Christina Maranci as the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard University on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. The evening will feature remarks by distinguished Harvard faculty, including the guest of honor Dr. Maranci. The Master of Ceremonies will be Adi Ignatius, editor-in-chief of Harvard Business Review. The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.

Established in 1955, NAASR initiated the movement to create and perpetuate Armenian Studies in the United States, including initiatives to establish the first two chairs in Armenian Studies at Harvard University and UCLA. It achieved its initial ambitious goal by establishing the first chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard and in 1959 marked the successful conclusion of the Harvard Chair campaign at a gala in Memorial Hall. The Mashtots Chair was the first at Harvard to be endowed by a community organization.

The evening program will include remarks by Dr. Robin Kelsey, Dean of Arts and Humanities and the Shirley Carter Burden Professor of Photography in the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University. Dr. Khaled El-Rouayheb, the James Richard Jewett Professor of Arabic and of Islamic Intellectual History and chairman of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard, will introduce Dr. Maranci, who is the third holder of the Mashtots Chair and the first woman and the first Armenian to do so.

NAASR will also honor Yervant Chekijian, who served as chairman of the Board of NAASR from 2016-2022 and spearheaded the effort to construct a new headquarters building, and Marc A. Mamigonian, NAASR’s Director of Academic Affairs, who recently marked his 25th anniversary with the organization.

Christina Maranci

Dr. Christina Maranci is the Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University, appointed in both the Departments of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and the History of Art and Architecture. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art history at Vassar and master’s degree and Ph.D. at Princeton in the Department of Art and Archaeology. Her work explores the art and culture of Armenia in all aspects, but with special emphasis on the late antique and medieval periods. She is the author of four books and over 100 articles and essays on medieval Armenian art and architecture, including most recently, The Art of Armenia (Oxford, 2018). Her 2015 monograph Vigilant Powers: Three Churches of Early Medieval Armenia (Brepols, 2015) won the Karen Gould Prize for Art History from the Medieval Academy of America and as well as the Sona Aronian Prize for best Armenian Studies monograph from the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). She is co-founder of East of Byzantium, a workshop and lecture series designed to support doctoral students working on the Christian East.

Dr. Maranci has worked on issues of cultural heritage for over a decade, with a focus on the at-risk Armenian churches and monasteries in what is now Eastern Turkey. She is the author of op-eds and essays in The Wall Street Journal, Apollo, The Conversation, and Hyperallergic. She has also been featured on National Public Radio’s Open Source with Christopher Lydon. At present, she is working on a book about the city of Ani during the tenth and eleventh centuries.

Opportunities to sponsor NAASR’s celebration are available online.

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Founded in 1955, NAASR is one of the world’s leading resources for advancing Armenian Studies, supporting scholars, and building a global community to preserve and enrich Armenian culture, history, and identity for future generations.


Nagorno Karabakh authorities extend meeting offer to Azerbaijan

Chmshkian Vicken

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 11:02,

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities have offered the Azerbaijani authorities to hold a meeting to discuss “urgent humanitarian issues.”

The official InfoCenter of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) said on April 11 that  “the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, through the peacekeeping mission of the Russian Federation, sent the Azerbaijani side a proposal to hold a meeting at the headquarters and with the mediation of the Russian peacekeepers to discuss urgent humanitarian issues.”

Armenia Says Preparing To Possibly Open Land Transit Route On Border With Turkey

Chmshkian Vicken
April 6 2023

 Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88)  Published April 06, 2023 | 07:22 PM

The Armenian authorities are preparing for a possible opening of the land border with Turkey for citizens of third countries in accordance with a prior agreement on the issue, Rustam Badasyan, the head of the Armenian State Revenue Committee, said on Thursday

YEREVAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 06th April, 2023) The Armenian authorities are preparing for a possible opening of the land border with Turkey for citizens of third countries in accordance with a prior agreement on the issue, Rustam Badasyan, the head of the Armenian State Revenue Committee, said on Thursday.

In March, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Yerevan and Ankara had reaffirmed their readiness to open the land border for citizens of third countries and people with diplomatic passports by the start of the 2023 tourist season.

“You know about the adopted decision and ongoing talks as regards citizens of third countries and those who possess diplomatic passports. Together with other government departments we are now getting prepared so that the border checkpoint (with Turkey) could start working as soon as possible if such a decision is taken,” Badasyan told journalists.

In July, the two countries agreed to open the land border for the movement of citizens of third countries and decided to initiate the necessary process on the matter, following a meeting of the special representatives of Turkey and Armenia on the process of normalization of relations in Vienna.

Turkey and Armenia currently do not have official diplomatic relations. The border between the two countries has been closed on Ankara’s initiative since 1993. Tensions between the nations arose over a range of issues, including Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and its opposition to the process of international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire.