Author: Christine Harutyunian

Armenian NGO president: Nothing mentioned about handover of Syunik Province in statement signed by Nikol Pashinyan

Christine Harutyunian
News.am, Armenia

Dec 17 2020
19:07, 17.12.2020

An extremely major event is taking place in Syunik Province right now, and it completely contradicts the capitulation act that Nikol Pashinyan since the capitulation act doesn’t mention anything about Kapan and the remaining territories of Syunik Province. This is what President of Legal Education and Oversight NGO Arpine Hovhannisyan said during the “Armenia Without Nikol” march today.

“Nikol Pashinyan is staying in power so that he can complete his treacherous plan. What he is trying to say is that either he will be Prime Minister or Armenia won’t exist. We have gathered here to tell the traitor that Armenia will exist without him. Pashinyan is leading Armenia closer to a larger precipice every time,” she stated.

According to Arpine Hovhannisyan, since there is nothing mentioned about the handover of the territories of Syunik Province in the trilateral statement, Armenia’s law-enforcement authorities must launch a criminal case against Nikol Pashinyan to find out why the territories of Syunik Province are being handed over.

“What is this treacherous act? Within the scope of this act, I am asking the Prosecutor General of Armenia if he is a citizen of Armenia and a defender of law and order. He has to follow the example of the honorable prosecutors who are resigning because they don’t want to serve the traitor. It is the duty of the Prosecutor General to immediately find out why the traitor is handing over Armenia to the Turks,” she said.



Nagorno-Karabakh conflict flares despite ceasefire

Christine Harutyunian
EU Reporter
Dec 13 2020

By EU Reporter Correspondent

Four soldiers from Azerbaijan have been killed in clashes in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry says.

The reports come only weeks after a six-week war over the territory which ended when Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire.

Armenia meanwhile said six of its own troops were wounded in what it called an Azerbaijani military offensive.

Nagorno-Karabakh has long been a trigger for violence between the two.

The region is recognised as part of Azerbaijan but has been run by ethnic Armenians since 1994 after the two countries fought a war over the territory which left thousands dead.

A Russian-brokered truce failed to bring about lasting peace and the area, claimed by both sides, has been prone to intermittent clashes.

What does the peace deal say?

  • Signed on 9 November, it locked in the territorial gains Azerbaijan made during the war, including the region’s second-largest city Shusha
  • Armenia promised to withdraw troops from three areas
  • 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed to the region
  • Azerbaijan also gained a overland route to Turkey, its ally, by gaining access to a road link to an Azeri conflict on the Iran-Turkey border called Nakhchivan
  • The BBC’s Orla Guerin said that, overall, the deal was regarded as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia.

The latest conflict began at the end of September, killing around 5,000 soldiers on both sides.

At least 143 civilians died and thousands were displaced when their homes were damaged or soldiers entered their communities.

  • Why did Armenia and Azerbaijan go to war?
  • Russian influence under threat in its own backyard

Both countries have accused the other of violating the terms of the November peace deal and the latest hostilities flout the ceasefire.

The agreement was described by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as “incredibly painful both for me and both for our people”.

MFA Armenia issues statement on International Day of Commemoration of Genocide Victims

Christine Harutyunian

 

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 19:55, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia issued a statement on the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, noting that during the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh starting on September 27 the Armenian people was once again exposed to existential threat with new victims of genocidal actions.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign ministry of Armenia, the statement runs as follows,

‘’ Today, on December 9, Armenia, together with all the progressive humanity of the world, commemorates the victims of the Crime of Genocide.

In 2015 Armenia guided the international efforts to designate December 9 as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

Armenia, as a nation which has survived the Genocide, has been an advocate for the fight against this crime on the international arena for many years, and is consistently working towards the prevention of the crime of genocide, raising awareness of the dangers of hate crimes and building legal and institutional capacities to respond to them.

Along with the efforts, the world today encounters serious challenges such as the rise of intolerance and extremism, gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as human life and dignity.

This challenge should not only be a reason for condemning and compassionate calls, but also for putting on the agenda the steps aimed at strengthening the early response mechanisms within the international organizations.

Genocide and other mass atrocities are usually pre-planned, and are carried out by targeting the civilian population, destroying cultural and religious heritage, and spreading extreme hatred. All these actions were carried out against the people of Artsakh during the aggression unleashed since September 27, 2020, which was planned and implemented by Azerbaijan with the full political and military support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign mercenaries and terrorist fighters. Thus, with new victims of genocidal actions, the Armenian people was once again exposed to existential threat.

One of the main reasons that leads to genocide, as well as other crimes against humanity, is impunity. Inapropriate condemnation of past crimes and avoiding of punishment create fertile ground for denial and justification of genocide. These factors pose a serious threat to the efforts aimed at strengthneing democracy and human rights, as those states that turn genocide denial into a state ideology will never ensure the realization of such basic rights like freedom of speech, assembly, protection of minorities and the fight against racism and intolerance.

The prevention of mass atrocities is first and foremost a responsibility and Armenia will continue its efforts to actively contribute to the promotion of this vital issue within the global agenda”

First flights between Russia and Karabakh could start this month – RIA Novosti

Christine Harutyunian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 4 2020
The authorities of Artsakh Republic and Russia are discussing the issue of opening air communication, the first flights from Russia could land at the Stepanakert airport in December, a source in the Nagorno Karabakh administration told RIA Novosti.

“Both sides are making efforts to make this happen,” the agency’s interlocutor said, answering a question about the possibility of resuming the work of the airport by the end of the year.

He added that the airport will also serve passenger flights, which are expected to arrive in Nagorno Karabakh not only from Moscow, but also from Russian regions.

Another source confirmed the credibility of these plans. In his words, “probably by the end of this month we will witness the first Russian planes landing in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Advisor to the President of Artsakh, David Babayan, earlier told RIA Novosti about the possibility of an early opening of the airport in Karabakh. In his words, the opening of air communication will become an important aspect of economic recovery of the region after the recent aggravation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani military conflict.



Poll: Nearly 72% of Russians interested in Nagorno Karabakh conflict

Christine Harutyunian

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 13:26, 7 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Nearly 72% of Russians are interested in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, according to the results of the poll released by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

According to the survey, 72% of Russians follow the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, whereas 26% do not follow the regional developments at all.

Asked which side unleashed the conflict, 5% said Armenia, 12% said Azerbaijan and 5% said Turkey.

Edited and Translated by Aneta Harutyunyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-12-20

Christine Harutyunian

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 17:14, 4 December, 2020

YEREVAN, 4 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 4 December, USD exchange rate up by 1.25 drams to 511.25 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 4.53 drams to 622.14 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.09 drams to 6.88 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 5.77 drams to 689.17 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 233.51 drams to 30118.46 drams. Silver price up by 4.08 drams to 397.28 drams. Platinum price up by 254.27 drams to 16815.12 drams.

Putin praises “courageous” Pashinyan for “difficult but necessary” decision to sign armistice

Christine Harutyunian

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 14:50, 2 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin praised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for what he called “courage” in signing the Karabakh armistice that ended the war.

“Armenia, the Armenian people were living through one of the most difficult times in their history and the Armenian leadership, the Prime Minister had to make a very difficult but necessary decision for the Armenian people,” Putin said in an online meeting with leaders of CSTO-member countries.

“I have to say, this decision was certainly painful, but necessary and required great courage from the prime minister. This is obvious. He took that responsibility on himself,” Putin said.

President Putin said that now it is necessary to support personally the Armenian Prime Minister and his team in order to ensure peaceful life inside the country, and for all agreements to be implemented, and that people affected by the war receive assistance.

The Karabakh armistice – officially known as the November 10 Statement by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation, brought an end to the 44 days of war in Nagorno Karabakh.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

The Nagorno-Karabakh Knot – Episode 4: A prelude to peace?

Christine Harutyunian
Radio Canada International
Nov 27 2020

By
[email protected]
Posted: Friday,
10:30

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has left deep scars and festering wounds in
Armenia and Azerbaijan, affecting every aspect of social, economic and political
life in both South Caucasus countries.

Radio Canada International spoke with Azerbaijani author and journalist Arzu
Geybullayeva about the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
Azerbaijani society and what Azerbaijan’s victory in the latest war means for
the country’s future and the prospects of an eventual peace with Armenia. I
reached her in Istanbul, Turkey.

(Photo courtesy of Arzu
Geybullayeva)

Duration: 34 minutes 58 seconds



https://www.rcinet.ca/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/NK_PODCAST_EP4_FINAL_ED1_9644873_2020-11-26T10-42-47.195.mp3

UK medics to help Armenian colleagues in COVID-19 response

Christine Harutyunian

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 11:52,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Five medics from the United Kingdom have arrived in Armenia to help their Armenian colleagues in controlling the treatment process of patients infected with COVID-19 who are in serious condition, the WHO Country Office in Armenia told Armenpress.

WHO representative in Armenia, Dr. Egor Zaitsev welcomed the UK emergency medical team (EMT) in the WHO Armenia Country Office thanking them for their commitment to provide professional assistance to the country during these dire times of pandemic response.

The medical workers have responded to WHO call, and have been deployed to Armenia with the support of Armenia’s Ministry of Health and British Embassy, and WHO.

“This team has a valuable experience. During the pandemic they have been sent to numerous countries, have also been engaged in the COVID-19 response measures in the United Kingdom. I am sure this professional team can transfer its knowledge and skills to the Armenian medics, assisting the treatment of COVID-19 patients”, Egor Zaitsev said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

German lawmakers propose to impose arms embargo on Turkey

Christine Harutyunian

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 16:28,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The German Left Party and the Green Party have submitted a bill to the Bundestag, proposing to impose an arms embargo on Turkey for its militaristic policy and human rights violations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Nagorno Karabakh, Libya and Syria, Deutsche Welle reports.

The proposal has been sent to the Federal Council on November 20. It’s expected to enter into the agenda of the Council for discussion in coming weeks. The bill proposes to suspend the export of all types of military equipment, weapons to Turkey, as well as to cancel the previously adopted contracts on export.

The parties stated that Ankara seeks to have modern weapons systems, aims at building a big and independence military industry. They noted that Turkey should not be provided with such an opportunity because it can lead to further destabilization of the situation in the region and serious consequences for the European countries.

According to Deutsche Welle, in 2018-2019 33 exports of military equipment were carried out to Turkey. German companies have sold military equipment and materials to Turkey worth nearly 12 million 800 thousand Euros, as a result of which Ankara managed to create a large butch of UAVs.

The party also stated that Greece has already proposed the EU to impose an arms embargo on Turkey, but that proposal was vetoed by Hungary, Germany, Italy, Spain and Malta.

Reporting by Sedrak Sargsyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan