Author: Dabaghian Diana

CivilNet: Armenia’s Pontic Greek Community Commemorates Genocide

Dabaghian Diana
CIVILNET.AM

28 May, 2021 08:05

On May 19 the community of Pontic Greeks of Armenia commemorates the Pontic Greek genocide and on May 21, the community invited Armen Khachikyan, an historian, to talk about the Pontic Greek genocide at the “Educational and cultural center on national minorities of the Prime Ministers’s staff” in Yerevan.

Pontic Greeks are historically from the Pontus area, a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In the 18th century around 300 Greeks moved to Armenia’s Marneuli and Alaverdi areas to work in the copper mines. A large majority of those workers settled close to Alaverdi and founded the village of Madan. However, with the collapse of Soviet Union, many moved to Greece and it is estimated that now, less than 1000 Pontic Greek live in Armenia. 

Pashinyan calls for unity and soberness during visit to Kut border village

Dabaghian Diana

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 14:53,

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Kut border village in the Gegharkunik Province and talked to the local residents about the current situation. Pashinyan prioritized unity of the people in this situation.

“Every time Azerbaijan sees it has a chance to divide us it becomes more active and encouraged. We must clearly show that no matter what internal disagreement there may be, our first reaction to their actions will be unity. We haven’t paid enough attention to this issue during this time. The families of all our victims, the families of our captive compatriots, residents of all border villages, residents from downtown Yerevan to the village of Kut, we are all one family and one home and we must move forward with this logic, there shouldn’t be any trembling in this regard,” Pashinyan said.

“Clearly the situation is very nervous, very emotional, but we shouldn’t lose soberness, because if we lose soberness and balance it will prevent us from assessing the situation correctly and making correct decisions,” Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Baku-Yerevan peace treaty possible, requires Armenia’s political will – president

Dabaghian Diana
TASS, Russia
May 20 2021
This will make real free trade of the two countries with Georgia, Ilham Aliyev said

“A peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible. I will say more, the conclusion of this treaty is possible in a relatively short period of time. What is lacking now is the political will of the Armenian side,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev stressed that “the peace treaty implies recognizing territorial integrity of both countries,” and, in his words, the Azerbaijani authorities “are ready to do this, publicly recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia,” but at the same time, the Armenian authorities must recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan “in its international borders”.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region.

Armenian parliament majority MP: Based on my information, Russia has made an proposal to Armenia

Dabaghian Diana
News.am, Armenia
May 20 2021
16:04, 20.05.2021

Based on my information, the Russian side has made a proposal to Armenia to set up a joint trilateral commission to discuss issues related to delimitation and demarcation. This is what leader of the ruling My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Lilit Makunts told reporters after she was asked if she was aware of the document on which acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a statement today.

“Again, based on my information, the Armenian side has responded by saying that there can be an opportunity to set up a task force or consider the creation of a task force only if the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan vacate the territory of Armenia, “she said.

Asked if it is safe to assume that the content of the document only concerns the formation of a commission that will deal with the adjustment of borders, Makunts said there is no word about the transfer of territories, based on her information.

Asked why the document isn’t being made public, if it is in Armenia’s interests, Makunts said if there are negotiations, only the relevant body is authorized to talk about them.

Touching upon the question whether the National Assembly will discuss the matter, Makunts said time will show. Makunts was also asked about the outcomes of Armenia’s petition to the Collective Security Treaty Organization and said the foreign minister will provide details soon. As for her assessment of Russia’s response to the situation, Makunts said Armenia can in no way accept the fact that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan infiltrated into the territory of the Republic of Armenia and doesn’t view this within the logic of demarcation.

Azeri servicemen advanced for 1,5km into Armenia’s territory, threatened Armenian soldiers to open fire

Dabaghian Diana
Aysor, Armenia

On May 20 at approximately 10 am a group of Azeri armed servicemen without permission crossed the state border of Armenia in Khoznavar settlement of Tegh community of Syunik province, Armenia’s Military Prosecutor’s Office reports.

They advanced for 1,5 km into Armenia’s territory and voiced threats of usage of force, stating that the territory belongs to Azerbaijan and threatened to open fire in case Armenian servicemen go forward. After it the Armenian servicemen managed to send them to starting positions.

“On the same day at about 9.10 pm a group of Azerbaijani servicemen again without relevant permission crossed the state border in the same sector and started fight with a group of Armenian servicemen – implementing their service duties – who went toward them. As a result of brawl 11 representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces received different body injuries. This time as well the Armenian Armed Forces servicemen managed to send them [Azeri servicemen] to starting positions,” the Armenian Military Prosecutor’s Office reported.

Criminal case has been filed into the case.

Expert: There are grounds to assume that at least 2 secret laboratories are operating in Armenia

Dabaghian Diana
News.am, Armenia
21:39, 19.05.2021

There are grounds to assume that at least two secret laboratories are operating in the provinces of Armenia, but there is no word about these laboratories. This is what leader of the Unified Health Coalition, international expert on organizing of veterinary health Grigor Grigoryan said during today’s Russian-Armenian conference devoted to biological threats in the Eurasian territory.

Grigoryan added that, as of 2020, a network of 11 laboratories is operating in the territory of Armenia within the scope of a plan to reduce threats, including 10 laboratories in Armenia’s provinces and 1 in the country’s capital.

“There are also 20 satellite laboratories, that is, veterinary laboratories, food safety laboratories and other medical laboratories that are unofficial satellite laboratories,” the expert mentioned.

‘Armenia still facing aggression from Azerbaijan’ – SGP Chairman on border situation in Syunik

Dabaghian Diana

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 13:27,

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Reformed Political Party (SGP) of the Netherlands, MP Kees van der Staaij has commented on Azerbaijan’s actions on the Armenian border.

In a Twitter post he called on the international community to stop the Azerbaijani violence.

“Armenia is still facing an aggression from Azerbaijan. It’s highly concerning. The international community must make more efforts to stop this violence”, Kees van der Staaij said.

On May 12 in the morning the Azerbaijani armed forces crossed Armenia’s state border in the territory of Sev Lake in Syunik province and advanced up to 3,5 kilometers, trying to surround the Lake. The Azerbaijani forces also advanced in some sections of the border in Gegharkunik province.

So far, neither the Armenian nor the Azerbaijani side have used any weapon. The number of Azerbaijani soldiers in the territory of Armenia is about 250.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russian, Armenian defense ministers discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Dabaghian Diana
TASS, Russia
Previously, Shoigu and Arutyunyan talked by telephone on April 7 and 24

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with his

Armenian counterpart Vagarshak Arutyunyan, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

“The two men discussed the situation in areas where the Russian peace-keeping contingent is on a mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, and also other issues of mutual interest,” the news release runs.

Previously, Shoigu and Arutyunyan talked by telephone on April 7 and 24. The agenda was the same.

Tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh surged on September 27, 2020. The following hostilities were brought to an end after a trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9. Under the arrangement the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces stopped at the positions they were holding at the moment. A number of districts was transferred to Baku’s control and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line and the Lachin corridor.

Turkish defense ministry uses word ”genocide” responding to Latvia’s decision than deletes it

Dabaghian Diana

Turkish defense ministry uses word ”genocide” responding to Latvia’s decision than deletes it

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 21:29, 7 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Turkish defense ministry used the word ”genocide” on its Twitter page, responding to the adoption of the declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Latvian parliament, but a few minutes later deleted the note, ARMENPRESS reports the Greek City Times informs, publishing the screen shot of the Turkish defense ministry’s Twitter note.

”We reject and do not recognize the Latvian Parliament’s decision on the genocide”, read the Twitter page of the Turkish defense ministry.

Latvia officially recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide on May 6. 58 out of 100 members of the Saeima voted in favor of the resolution.




Press Release: ANCA-WR Announces 2021 Karabian Fellow

Dabaghian Diana
ANCA-WR Announces 2021 Karabian Fellow
May 7, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Armen Sahakyan
tel. (818) 500-1918

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) is pleased to announce that California native Araksya Nordikyan has been selected as the 2021 Walter & Laurel Karabian Fellow. As an exception due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Karabian Fellow will spend 6 months at the ANCA-WR office working on policy initiatives and spend the remaining term of the 9-month program at a government office.

“We are excited to welcome the 2021 Karabian Fellow to the ANCA-WR. Araksya brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and energy to the organization and we look forward to working with her in advancing the policy priorities of our community” remarked the ANCA-WR Executive Director Armen Sahakyan. “I am certain her tenure at the ANCA-WR office and later placement at a government agency will continue to foster her professional growth, while allowing for the opportunity to work on issues she is passionate about.”

“While there are countless reasons why individuals are dedicated to public service, perhaps nothing is more worthwhile than being a part of something that is greater than yourself,” said Nordikyan. “I am thankful for the opportunity to work alongside ANCA-WR staff and look forward to contributing to the issues impacting the Armenian-American community.”

Araksya Nordikyan is a first-generation immigrant who is motivated by her national and family history, her love for learning and her desire to become an asset to her community. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2020, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Law and her Master of Public Administration.

While in college, her ambition and commitment to civil liberties led her to join the Student Senate for California Community Colleges where she served as a voice for students by engaging in policy advocacy. Wanting to learn more about government, Araksya pursued an internship with Councilmember Paul Koretz and was then accepted to the Schaeffer Fellowship in Sacramento where she worked for Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. Prior to applying for the Karabian Fellowship, Araksya was the Director of Youth Services for PESA and the liaison for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s JOIN Program, both of which host diversion programs for system-impacted youth to avoid criminal convictions. With her diverse background, academic discipline, and political engagement, Araksya hopes to continue her work on social issues where she feels she can have the most impact in shaping a more inclusive world.

The Walter and Laurel Karabian Fellowship is a nine-month experience that offers young Armenian-Americans the opportunity to enhance their leadership and professional skills. The purpose of this fellowship is to produce professionals in the public policy and political arena.

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The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.