Author: Emil Karabekian

Only FlyOne Armenia applies for permission to carry out Yerevan-Istanbul charter flights

Emil Karabekian

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 17:41,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia has received only one application so far for a permission to operate Yerevan-Istanbul charter flights, spokesperson of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Sona Harutyunyan told ARMENBPRESS.

“On December 23, one application was received from FlyOne Armenia for 3 charter flights. The application is currently being studied by the Civil Aviation Committee and will make a decision within a reasonable time, which will be published in the near future”, Harutyunyan said, adding that the criteria for the application is set by the Government.

Speaking with Zarkerak.am, Lilit Aghajanyan, Assistant to the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee, said that there are no restrictions for flights, as the airspace of Armenia is open for any flight from any country, and the airspace of Turkey is actually open for Armenia.

Head of the Advisory Board of FLYONE ARMENIA Aram Ananyan had said earlier that the airline applied not only to Armenian but also Turkish authorities for organizing the flights.




Sinopharm most popular Covid-19 vaccine in Armenia

Emil Karabekian

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 18:43,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The greatest consumption against Covid-19 in Armenia has the Chinese “Sinopharm” vaccine, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control of Armenia and Director of the National Immunization Programme Manager Gayane Sahakyan said during the conversation with the journalists, referring to the question of which vaccine is the most popular in Armenia.

The state imports the vaccines at small quantities related to the expiration date. Sahakyan mentioned that the ministry always monitors to understand which is consumed faster. At this point the Chinese ”Sinopharm” vaccine is the fasted to be consumed.

”Sinopharm” has 3 to 4-fold greater consumption than other vaccines” said Sahakyan.




Remains of two female warriors discovered in Armenia

Emil Karabekian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 20 2021
– 14:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The bone remains of two female warriors have been unearthed in Jrapi, Shirak province, Armenia, and the study of the burial ground has revealed a multiple array of traumatic lesions, which shed light on their daily activities, occupation, and warfare practice.

Published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, the peer-reviewed paper was authored by Anahit Y. Khudaverdyan, Azat A. Yengibaryan, Hamazasp H. Khachatryan and Arshak A. Hovhanesyan.

“Both women had compressive cranial lesions with the signs of healing. A bronze arrowhead once embedded in the soft tissues of the intercostal space was discovered as well as a canal in the lower epiphysis of the tibia probably left by the broken point of a bronze arrowhead. The women were likely horse riders and archers,” the paper’s abstract reads.

The remains unearthed in the burial belonged to two females who seemed to live as professional warriors and were buried as individuals of rank.

This tomb is the third burial discovered in Armenia that provides evidence on female warriors.

Russian peacekeepers promise to oversee return of all Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan

Emil Karabekian
Dec 10 2021


    JAMnewsYerevan

“The work on the return of captured Armenian soldiers is ongoing at the moment, it is positive, there is understanding. I believe that this issue should be resolved completely and the Russian peacekeepers will bring this matter to an end”, said Rustam Muradov, deputy commander of the Southern Military District. Previously, he served as the commander of the peacekeeping contingent which has been stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in the fall of 2020.

Rustam Muradov oversaw all of the previous prisoner exhcanges, even after leaving the post of commander of the peacekeeping contingent.

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The Russian general also said that he regards the work on the return of prisoners “as a civil duty of peacekeepers”.

“As a military man, I understand who the prisoners of war are, what they experienced while in captivity. I remember the first flight, when we flew to Baku, and on my return I saw the faces of those servicemen when they had already flown to Yerevan, to the Erebuni airfield. They were crying, they could not believe that they had returned home”, said Rustam Muradov.

Return of the prisoners of war is a painful issue in Armenian society. According to the tripartite declaration of the cessation of hostilities on November 9, 2020, the parties undertake to return all prisoners to each other. All Azerbaijani prisoners were returned by the Armenian side, but dozens of Armenian prisoners still remain in Baku.

After the second Karabakh war, 126 prisoners of war and civilians returned to their homeland from Azerbaijan, they were returned in small groups. Baku does not report exactly how many people remain in Azerbaijani prisons. Those Armenians who remain in captivity are declared “terrorists” in Azerbaijan and are going to be tried.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov also commented on this topic on December 9. He stated that within the framework of the peacekeeping operation on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh the Russian military personnel is now focused on the return of prisoners, the implementation of infrastructure projects and the solution of other humanitarian tasks.

This refers to the demining of terrain and objects, the search for the bodies of the dead and ensuring the safety of the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

“In addition to ensuring the observance of the ceasefire, the efforts of our peacekeepers are focused on restoring peaceful life in the region and humanitarian issues are being successfully resolved”, said Valery Gerasimov.

At a briefing with the military attachés of the diplomatic missions operating in Russia, he said that the Russian Armed Forces continue to carry out peacekeeping tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh:

“More than a year ago, we managed to stop the bloody war and create conditions for the restoration of peace in the region. In order to reduce tensions and comply with the ceasefire regime, Russian peacekeepers organized watch posts and patrols in the area of the peacekeeping operation”.

Those who justify genocide have not changed their aspiration to achieve geopolitical goals through mass atrocities – MFA

Emil Karabekian

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 13:28, 9 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide.

Armenpress presents the full text of the statement:

“On December 9, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the first human rights treaty – the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide clearly stipulates that “genocides have caused enormous harm to humanity at all stages of history”, thus reaffirming that the crimes of genocide appeared before the adoption of the Convention. The Armenian Genocide served as an important precedent for the adoption of the Genocide Convention, which was publicly mentioned by the author of the Convention, Raphael Lemkin.

One of the specific aspects of this Convention is the imposition of a legal obligation on the states parties to the Convention to not only punish but also prevent genocide. This is very crucial in terms of universal protection of national, ethnic and religious groups.

Despite the enormous work that has been carried out, the international community still needs to make further efforts for adequate and timely response, including for condemnation of gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as for holding accountable the states guilty of genocide. 

Today, there are different methods and toolkit for committing the crime of genocide, as modern weapons of mass destruction are being used. However, those who justify genocide have not changed their aspiration to achieve geopolitical goals through mass atrocities.

In 2015, due to Armenia’s efforts, December 9th was included in the list of UN International Days as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime.

A resolution on the prevention of genocide, initiated by Armenia and adopted with consensus by the UN Human Rights Council in 2020, clearly states that “the justification of genocide, bias assessment and denial of past crimes increases the risk of a recurrence of violence.”

Historical memory, education and the dissemination of accurate information concerning previous genocides are essential to prevent a recurrence of mass atrocities.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage should also be condemned as it is a vital element for the preservation of national identity. 

Manifestations of domination over national, ethnic, religious or racial groups or justifications for the use of force against the latter are unacceptable. 

The Republic of Armenia will continue to work diligently to raise awareness of past genocides, the dangers of their impunity and the new challenges”.



Asbarez: ‘Home Is Calling’ COAF Benefit to Raise Funds for Multimillion-Dollar SMART Center in Armavir

Emil Karabekian
by Contributor

 

 December 1, 2021

 

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

“Home is Calling” poster

LOS ANGELES—Children of Armenia Fund announced that its virtual/televised annual fundraiser on December 11 will focus on plans to build a second SMART Center in Armenia. The state-of-the-art education hub will be constructed in the Armavir region where COAF first launched its critical work 18 years ago. This will be the second consecutive year COAF will have its annual fundraiser online and televised. The organization’s signature in-person New York City Holiday Gala is once again being postponed due to the pandemic.

COAF’s “Home Is Calling” benefit will make the construction of a new $7 million-dollar SMART Center in the Armavir region a reality for thousands of people. The hub will be the second of its kind, following COAF’s flagship SMART Center in the Lori region where over 2,000 students are offered 18 multidisciplinary after-school programs. COAF has made significant progress already: the SMART Ecosystem in Lori has brought young people together at the SMART Center to study engineering, athletics, arts, music, languages, and entrepreneurship.

The cornerstone of COAF’s mission over the past 18 years has been to combat lasting inequity by bringing community-based holistic education, healthcare, social services, and economic development programs to children, youth, and families across villages in Armenia. The approach has empowered rural Armenians to revitalize their communities and to realize their own potential to thrive and contribute to the advancement of the world around them. This has been essential to the process of nation-building, providing equal opportunities to those who need them most.

COAF SMART Center in Lori region

COAF’s story began 18 years ago with a large-scale school renovation in the village of Karakert and continued with over 100 public infrastructure improvement projects across 60 rural communities throughout 5 regions in Armenia. This enormous effort included cutting-edge programs in education, healthcare, social services, and economic development. All of COAF’s administrative expenses have been underwritten by its founder/chairman Dr. Garo Armen, allowing for each and every dollar donated to be allocated to programs and projects.

Embracing the spirit of homecoming that the holiday season embodies, the organization is returning home to Armavir and after almost two decades of experience in rural advancement to replicate the success of its SMART initiative in Lori. Armenia’s recent setbacks have demonstrated that there is much to be done in terms of buttressing the country and reassuring its children that the Diaspora remains committed to them. COAF’s steadfast commitment to rural Armenia’s development during these uncertain times is stronger than ever.

This year’s fundraiser will be hosted by recurring emcees Araksya Karapetyan of KTTV FOX 11’s Good Day L.A., world-renowned auctioneer Gabriel Butu, COAF Head of Development Haig Boyadjian, with special guest appearances by actress Andrea Martin, actor Ed Harris, Nobel Prize winner Ardem Patapoutian, and novelists Chris Bohjalian and Peter Balakian. Musical performances this year include the internationally acclaimed opera singer Gurgen Baveyan, the remarkable “Aida Avanesyan & Svetlana Hakobyan” piano duo, and many other talents from Armenia.

Supporters worldwide can register to watch the “Home is Calling” benefit on  December 11 at 5 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. EST by visiting the website, where you can also find more information on sponsorship opportunities. The fundraiser will also be televised live on USArmenia and ARTN.

The Children of Armenia Fund is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that employs community-led approaches aimed at improving the quality of life in rural Armenia, with a particular focus on children and youth. COAF’s target development areas are education, healthcare, social and economic development. COAF launched its programs in 2004, starting in one village and expanding to 64 villages in Armavir, Aragatsotn, Lori, Gegharkunik, Shirak, and Tavush regions, impacting more than 107,000 beneficiaries.

Since 2015, COAF has developed and started implementing the SMART Initiative. COAF SMART is designed to advance a generation across the rural world through education that will benefit individuals, societies, and the environment. As an exemplary model of development, COAF SMART will be replicated in other regions and communities throughout Armenia. The first COAF SMART Center was inaugurated on May 27, 2018, near the village of Debet, Lori Region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts peace talks with Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Karabekian
EurasiaTimes
Nov 27 2021
Today

by Eurasiatimes
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has hosted talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Putin invited Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the southern Russian city of Sochi for talks and also held bilateral meetings with the two leaders.
After the meeting, Putin said: “We have agreed on a number of issues that I consider to be key. The first of them is the creation of mechanisms … by the end of this year for the demarcation and delimitation of the border between the two countries. Hope this happens as soon as possible. There are no obstacles to the creation of these mechanisms.”
Aliyev and Pashinyan both said they were prepared to work on demarcating their border.
They also addressed the issue of rebuilding Soviet-era transport links which are closed by a mutual blockade.
Armenia and Azerbaijan both claim Nagorno-Karabakh. It is inside Azerbaijan but has a largely ethnically Armenian population and was under Yeravan’s control since an armed conflict ended in 1994.
The disputed region broke away from Azerbaijan following a war after the Soviet Union’s collapse and subsequent fighting between the neighbours. Last year’s war resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control over vast parts of the disputed territory.
Azerbaijan crushed the Armenian military in the 44-day war that started in September 2020, claimed more than 6,500 lives and ended with a Russia-negotiated peace agreement that handed control of much of Nagorno-Karabakh to Baku.
Tensions on the border have been growing since May when Armenia condemned an alleged incursion by Azerbaijani forces into its territory. Azerbaijan said its troops were deployed within its territory where the border had not been demarcated.
Almost 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been stationed around Nagorno-Karabakh for at least five years to monitor the agreement.
The peace deal was condemned as a humiliating betrayal by Armenia’s opposition but Pashinyan said it prevented the defeated Armenian military from losing the whole of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Border tensions re-emerged in May and several clashes have been reported since, with some causing major casualties on both sides.
Aliyev said border clashes had only been sporadic rather than making up a systemic crisis. He, however, admitted that tripartite negotiations were needed as part of “controlling the risks, minimising them”.

Analyst: Iran’s accession to EEU will create serious counterbalance to Turkey and strengthen Armenia’s positions

Emil Karabekian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 24 2021
Analyst: Iran’s accession to EEU will create serious counterbalance to Turkey and strengthen Armenia’s positions
21:42, 24.11.2021

Iran’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union will create a serious counterbalance to Turkey. This is what President of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia Gagik Makaryan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“Since Iran is currently under sanctions, Turkey is reselling Iranian goods in its name. Most of the goods sold in Turkey are manufactured in Iran. Turkey doesn’t have the potential that it tries to show. Acceding to the Eurasian Economic Union will allow Iran to sell its products. Also, the United States is easing sanctions against Iran, and this will further strengthen Armenia’s positions. Iran’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union will help increase trade with Iran from $400,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, and there are a lot of talks about this,” he emphasized.

Makaryan noted that this will help increase Armenia’s transit potential since Iranian goods may be sent to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union through Armenian territory.

“In this case, Iran will be interested in establishing production in Armenia in order to facilitate the entry of its goods into the markets of third countries,” he added.

Turkish press: US voices concern over increased tension between Armenia, Azerbaijan

Emil Karabekian
Busra Nur Cakmak   |17.11.2021


ANKARA 

The US voiced concern Tuesday over the increased tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We urge both sides to take immediate concrete steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

“We also call on the sides to engage directly and constructively to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation,” he added.

“As noted in the Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ statement on November 15, the recent increase in tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscores the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” statement said.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Tuesday in a statement that Armenian forces have carried out “large-scale provocations” against the combat posts of the Azerbaijani army in the Kalbajar and Lachin regions of the state border, while two Azerbaijani soldiers were wounded in the attacks.

The Azerbaijani army immediately carried out an emergency operation, the statement said, adding the movement of the Armenian forces was blocked and its forces and means were damaged.

Azerbaijan and Armenia took steps to stabilize the situation on their borders, said a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry later in the day.

It said the clashes in Karakilise have ceased and the situation is currently back to normal and under control.

“As of 5.30 p.m. (1330GMT), with the mediation of Russia, a cease-fire was declared on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border,” the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the tensions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Putin and Pashinyan agreed to stay in contact, the Kremlin said in a statement.

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

During a 44-day conflict that started in late September last year, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

Library of Congress spotlights Armenian memorial books.

Emil Karabekian
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 21 2021
, 11:37

 Less than a minute

The

The literary genre of the hushamatean (memorial book) emerged as an enduring legacy of the Armenian effort to keep the memory of their ancestral towns alive in the minds of subsequent generations. The more than 200 memorial books and specialized periodicals published in the decades after the Armenian genocide offer a window into the history, demography, culture, customs, genealogy, trades and crafts in hundreds of towns and villages in the Ottoman Empire prior to WWI.

Today, memorial books continue to adorn bookshelves and bookmarks of Armenians around the world, and constitute a tremendous resource for those interested in history, genealogy, and family histories.

The literary genre of the hushamatean (memorial book) emerged as an enduring legacy of the Armenian effort to keep the memory of their ancestral towns alive in the minds of subsequent generations. The more than 200 memorial books and specialized periodicals published in the decades after the Armenian genocide offer a window into the history, demography, culture, customs, genealogy, trades and crafts in hundreds of towns and villages in the Ottoman Empire prior to WWI. Today, memorial books continue to adorn bookshelves and bookmarks of Armenians around the world, and constitute a tremendous resource for those interested in history, genealogy, and family histories. To learn more, check out the new blog post, “Reimagining Home: Armenian Memorial Books at the Library of Congress,” at https://go.usa.gov/xe5Gm

Image: Manuscript of unpublished memorial book dedicated to the village of Behesni (Besni), available in the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division.