Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 01-11-23

Elizabeth Jabejian

 16:56, 1 November 2023

YEREVAN, 1 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 November, USD exchange rate down by 0.61 drams to 402.39 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 5.36 drams to 424.48 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 4.33 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.16 drams to 488.46 drams.

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

Gold price down by 48.23 drams to 25834.17 drams. Silver price up by 0.19 drams to 300.14 drams.

Armenpress: Russia’s Putin sends classified message to Iranian counterpart

Elizabeth Jabejian

 21:32, 1 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Russian president's special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev handed over Vladimir Putin's message to his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi through the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

During his trip to the Iranian capital city of Tehran, Lavrentiev met and held talks with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Akbar Ahmadian on Wednesday, the IRNA news agency reports.

''The two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, the situation in Gaza, and the ways of cooperation between the two countries under such circumstances.

 Lavrentiev conveyed the message of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Ahmadian to hand over to the Iranian president,'' the agency said.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan attends Silk Road Forum

Elizabeth Jabejian
Georgia Online
Oct 28 2023

The Prime Minister of Armenia, ‘Nikol Pashinyan’ participated in the "Silk Road" international conference in Tbilisi on . He met with the Prime Minister of Georgia ‘Irakli Garibashvili’, Prime Minister of Montenegro, ‘Dritan Abazović’, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, ‘Ali Asadov’ and other high-ranking officials at the conference. 

The Prime Minister of Armenia, ‘Nikol Pashinyan’ participated in the “Silk Road” international conference in Tbilisi on . He met with the Prime Minister of Georgia ‘Irakli Garibashvili’, Prime Minister of Montenegro, ‘Dritan Abazović’, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, ‘Ali Asadov’ and other high-ranking officials at the conference. 

The Representatives of international organizations also took part in the event.

During the conference, Pashinyan presented the “Crossroads of Peace” project of the Armenian government along with its principles. 

The main four points of the project are as follows:

  • Sovereignty over Infrastructures: All transportation and energy networks, including roads, railways, pipelines, and power lines, fall under the jurisdiction of the countries they traverse.
  • Border Control and Security: Each nation conducts its own border and customs controls, ensuring the safety and security of both domestic and international transit.
  • Dual Use of Infrastructures: The designated networks serve domestic and international transportation needs, enhancing connectivity within and between nations.
  • Equal Access and Simplified Procedures: Countries benefit from shared infrastructures based on principles of equality and reciprocity, potentially leading to streamlined border and customs procedures.

About the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum 2023

The Tbilisi Silk Road Forum 2023 was held successfully. The central theme of the forum in 2023 was “connectivity”. It was held for the fourth time in Georgia.

The opening ceremony of the event was held on October 26 at the State Theater of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet with the participation of Prime Ministers of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Montenegro.

The Silk Road Forum was founded in 2015 by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The Road Forum is an event of international importance in which more than 2000 delegates and guests from 60 countries participate this year. It has now become a global brand and has become an essential political-economic platform.


Armenia grants Temporary Protected Status to forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno- Karabakh

Elizabeth Jabejian

 13:15,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has granted a Temporary Protected Status to the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The decision was adopted during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

By law, those granted a Temporary Protected Status are officially recognized as refugees and are entitled to exercise their rights under the law on refugees, including international conventions, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Granting the Temporary Protected Status to the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh, who’ve been forced to leave their homes because of the Azeri ethnic cleansing campaign and are now unable to return, will enable a more effective protection of their rights and lawful interests, Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan said.

AW: The Armenian Press

Elizabeth Jabejian
 Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian Keeping the Faith, Columns 0

The English word “press” has multiple meanings. It is a machine for imposing the impression of type on paper. It is printed matter as a whole, especially newspapers and periodicals. It consists of all the media and agencies that print, gather and transmit material to inform and educate the public.

The first newspaper was probably Tsing Pao, a court journal published in Peking (now Beijing), which is said to have started around 500 A.D. and continued until 1935. It was first produced from carved blocks instead of type. This method of printing was hundreds of years old in China by the time the paper began.

The first printed newspaper in Europe was introduced after Johann Gutenberg’s invention of printing from movable type around 1440. The first newspaper, Notizic Seritte, was published more than a century later in Venice, Italy in 1556.

Azdarar, the first Armenian language newspaper ever published, 1794 (Wikimedia Commons)

The first Armenian periodical, a monthly called Azdarar, was published in Madras, India on October 16, 1794, by an Armenian priest named Father Haroutune Shmavonian. The appearance of Azdarar generated tremendous interest and enthusiasm and opened the floodgates of the Armenian press. Scores of Armenian dailies, journals, periodicals, monthlies and yearbooks were published in Europe, Asia Minor and Armenia beginning in the 19th century.

Today, more than two centuries since the publication of the first periodical, the Armenian press remains a vibrant and viable reality. From Armenia to the far corners of the Diaspora, practically every Armenian community sustains at least one newspaper or weekly—not to mention many other specialized periodicals and reviews, which contribute to the intellectual needs of Armenians throughout the world.

The Armenian press, along with the major Armenian institutions—the Armenian church, the Armenian school and the Armenian organizations—plays a very important role in the lives of the Armenian people.

The Armenian press is called to keep its readers informed and knowledgeable about events throughout the Armenian world. By keeping its readers informed, it enables them to understand themselves better—their strengths and their weaknesses—and respond to their needs through action.

Like most of the responsible press, the Armenian press has multiple functions. It informs its readers about the news; it educates; it provides guidance; it gives its readers the opportunity to think, analyze and digest information; it provides mental stimulation, broad perspective and improved command of language; it helps build vocabulary and general knowledge. Moreover, the role of the Armenian press is to publish news that deals with Armenians, whether they are positive or negative. News should be given objectively, as much as possible.

The Armenian press is called to keep its readers informed and knowledgeable about events throughout the Armenian world. By keeping its readers informed, it enables them to understand themselves better—their strengths and their weaknesses—and respond to their needs through action.

Furthermore, whether independent, party-owned or partisan, the Armenian press has a responsibility to be impartial and objective. Credibility as a source of news or information is a crucial test for any news media, electronic or print. Accurate and factual reporting of news stories is a categorical imperative of responsible journalism.

Armenian journalists, like all their fellow non-Armenian journalists, share a code of reportorial ethics. They must live by this code based on their duties. These are, briefly stated, to cover the news fairly, thoroughly and accurately; to report it as truthfully as possible; to explain what it means; to protect sources whenever necessary; and to respect confidence if it is freely offered and willingly accepted. However, while they should respect the privacy of others, responsible journalists should share any information that may affect the lives of the public. 

As for its relationship with other news media, the representatives of the Armenian press must maintain strong ties with one another by exchanging news items and opinions. As a member of the family of the larger news media, the Armenian press should maintain a healthy relationship with non-Armenian media. This is not only a good gesture of public relations, but it is also a wise policy to make friends and influence people for the benefit of the Armenian Cause.

In the Armenian Diaspora, the preservation of national identity is of paramount importance. The dissemination of authoritative information by the Armenian press can motivate Armenians to manifest openly the will to survive as Armenians and can help the pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

As a final thought, a question arises in my mind. If the role of the Armenian press is such an important one, why is it that Armenians who invest so generously in the Armenian organizations treat the Armenian press as a “poor Lazarus?”

  •  Bio
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Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian is the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical World Council.


"NK was not a red line for the West, but Armenia could be" – Azerbaijani expert

Elizabeth Jabejian
Oct 16 2023

  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Arif Yunusov on the reintegration of Armenians

Azerbaijani conflictologist Arif Yunusov believes that Azerbaijan’s military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19-20 “were not a shock for the West at all, they were just, once again, unpleasantly surprised”. In an interview with Radio Azatutyun (Liberty) he said that the attitude of the Western partners to the Karabakh events was natural. In this case, they were of the opinion that the hostilities were taking place on the territory of Azerbaijan. However, the penetration of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces into the territory of Armenia could be considered a “red line”.

“If on Karabakh we can say that the fighting took place on the territory of Azerbaijan, legally it is the territory of Azerbaijan, then in case it happens, say, around the “Zangezur corridor”, no matter where and what, it will be Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia. Then maybe, I emphasize that I am not very sure, but maybe more effective steps can be taken against Azerbaijan. And actions are a matter of sanctions,” he said.

Arif Yunusov is an expert on the Karabakh conflict and a former political prisoner. The Azerbaijani authorities accused him of spying in favor of Armenians. In 2016, he sought political asylum in the Netherlands and has not resided in Azerbaijan since then.

  • “Iranian Armed Forces will react if Baku seizes corridor in Armenia”. Opinion from Yerevan
  • “NK issue will become a bargaining subject for Baku with Russia and the West”. Opinion
  • “NK issue will become a bargaining subject for Baku with Russia and the West”. Opinion

Yunusov still believes that in case of an attack by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on Armenia, there will not be such a serious reaction as was observed in the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine. And one should not expect that “troops or something more serious” will be sent against Azerbaijan, as in the case of Ukraine against Russia.

“Perhaps, as we see now, the French will start helping Armenia, for example with military equipment or in the field of intelligence. But so far it is more at the level of words,” he clarified.

In the expert’s opinion, at the moment we can count on strengthening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border through significant expansion of the EU observation mission. In addition, he believes, Aliyev is under hidden pressure so that he “does not continue to serve as a tool in the hands of Putin“.

European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan because of the counter-terrorist operation in Karabakh

“Aliyev cannot openly say that I don’t need Karabakh with Armenians. That’s why they start playing games with the plan of reintegration of Armenians when they are not there. It is unclear who to reintegrate.”

Yunusov says the reintegration program presented by Azerbaijan is intended not for Armenians or its internal audience, but for the West. It is needed, he said, so that the Azerbaijani authorities, when criticism is voiced against them, will say:

“They ran away on their own, on the contrary we even asked them to stay, gave them food. But they ran away. And we want them back. We even have a reintegration plan, we even have a special commission that will deal with socio-economic problems of Karabakh Armenians.”

The expert considers this program a propaganda move. With its help Baku is trying to show the West that it is “doing everything for the return of Armenians”.

But in reality, according to Yunusov, the return of Armenians to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh “is unrealistic without firm security guarantees.

After the exodus of almost the entire Armenian population from NK, the question arose as to whom the Russian peacekeepers stationed there would now protect. Yunusov believes Baku and Moscow are looking for reasons to keep them there:

“And Aliyev said the other day that some Armenian guerrillas are still roaming the forests there, so Russian troops will stay there.”

The Azerbaijani expert says no one knows who these Armenians in the forests are, but they are presented as “some scary people” and claim that for their sake the Russian army should stay in the region.

“Establishing peace in the South Caucasus and successful cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia” – what Garibashvili and Aliyev talked about in Tbilisi

According to Yunusov, the West’s position on the South Caucasus is based on confrontation with Russia, and its task is to push Russia out of the region.

“In Europe, there is a notion of realpolitik. That is, sympathy or dislike is one thing, but real interests are another. And real interests dictate that the main thing now is to solve problems related to Russia, because when we talk about our region, we are talking about Aliyev and Putin.”

The conflictologist believes that in addition to Russia and Ukraine, the list of world priorities includes the Middle East, Iran, and at the moment, Palestine.

https://jam-news.net/arif-yunusov-on-the-reintegration-of-karabakh-armenians/

Azerbaijan’s president emphasises Georgia’s role in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks

Elizabeth Jabejian
Oct 10 2023
By bne IntelliNews October 9, 2023
Azerbaijan is backing a new mediation format led by Georgia to achieve a peace settlement with Armenia, following its conquest of its rebel territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
 
President Ilham Aliyev, while visiting Tbilisi with a government delegation, emphasised that Georgia's involvement in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the most appropriate choice.
 
"If [Armenia] agrees, we would immediately start, with the involvement of relevant agencies, bilateral and trilateral meetings here in Georgia", Aliyev said on Sunday, at a briefing together with Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili.
 
President Aliyev declined a meeting with Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, in Granada, Spain, last week where negotiations involving France, Germany, and the European Council were scheduled for October 5. Aliyev apparently took the move because Turkey was refused permission to be involved, while France – which is close to Armenia – was included. Pashinyan instead held the talks alone with the European mediators.
 
Garibashvili, echoed support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and reiterated Georgia's readiness to contribute to the mediation or friendly format of the peace process. Gharibashvili emphasised the importance of South Caucasus countries deciding their own regional issues. It is not the first time leaders have touched upon regional exclusivity.
 
Earlier, Aliyev during his speech on September 20 following the final Azerbaijani military operation in Karabakh, said that he suggested that "the forces, fraudsters and corrupt politicians who are located far from our region, but pursue their own political agenda and use the Armenian people as a tool, exploit them and sell them, as they say, in a pinch, should give up on us."
 
"Those who sit at the top of the world and make baseless accusations against us should stop us and let the South Caucasus breathe easy," he said.
 
While this statement didn't contain any names, it was clearly aimed against France.
 
In a call with President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel, Aliyev said that "including Azerbaijan in the quadrilateral statement without the participation of Azerbaijan in Granada was not the right approach."
 
"Due to the known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada. The head of state emphasised that the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to ignite a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurred in the region, France would be responsible for causing it," he added, hinting at France's new decision to provide arms to Armenia.
 
The leaders also discussed the development of the Middle Corridor, promoting economic connectivity. Azerbaijan's recent military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the displacement of ethnic Armenians, and ongoing negotiations for a peace treaty were also touched upon.
 
Michel invited Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet under European mediation in Brussels. There is also an ongoing mediation track led by Moscow, the traditional dominant power in the South Caucasus.

https://www.intellinews.com/azerbaijan-s-president-emphasises-georgia-s-role-in-armenian-azerbaijani-peace-talks-295934/?source=armenia

Armenpress: France to supply arms to Armenia

Elizabeth Jabejian

 22:08, 3 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. France is ready to deliver weapons to Armenia to help it ensure its security, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has announced.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, Colonna said that defense and security issues were among the issues discussed at their meeting.

“I’d like to publicly say that France has agreed to signing a future contract with Armenia enabling deliveries of military equipment to Armenia, in order for Armenia to be able to ensure its security. I can’t disclose further details now,” French FM Catherine Colonna said.

She said that her visit is meant to show that France will be vigilant towards any threat posed to Armenia’s territorial integrity.

“France will be very vigilant towards the threats facing the territorial integrity of a friendly country, Armenia. We’ve spoken with the Armenian Prime Minister, one year ago the French President met with Prime Minister Pashinyan and President [of Azerbaijan] Aliyev in Prague, and we can say that the result of it is the foundation that served to our future efforts, and one of the conclusions was the mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration. I think this is an important progress that should be maintained and advanced. We stand by your side, together with everyone who shares the sense that this obligation must be respected,” Colonna added.

Pashinyan regrets Granada summit won’t take place, says there was a chance to sign crucial document

Elizabeth Jabejian

 17:24, 4 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed regret that his planned meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Granada, Spain will not take place. Pashinyan said there was a chance to sign a crucial document at that meeting.

“We’ve been confirming our visit to Granada until the very last moment, even today,” Pashinyan said in parliament during question time. “Furthermore, we had a very constructive and optimistic disposition, because we believed that there was a chance to sign a document of crucial significance. We were assessing that likelihood very high up until this morning. It’s the document which the marionette opposition was doing everything to misrepresent as a devastating document. And because they failed, Armenia did not give in to marionette pressures, it expressed a clear, reasonable and constructive position, made its viewpoints clear, and understandably no one could close the airports, and then we saw what happened. It turned out that the planned meeting won’t take place not because of us. For the record, the marionette opposition won’t get its bonuses, because, indeed the issue is solved but it wasn’t solved by their hands,” Pashinyan said.

The Armenian PM expressed regret that the meeting has been cancelled. He expressed hope that the concept document which is on the negotiation table will be signed at a convenient time.

“I am ready to sign that agreement and I very much regret that tomorrow I won’t have the occasion to announce that this highly important decision was made,” Pashinyan said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has cancelled his participation in the planned October 5 Granada summit with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, according to Azerbaijani media reports.

According to the reports, Azerbaijan opted out of the meeting because Germany and France rejected Azerbaijan’s request to include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the meeting.