Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Armenia Reaffirms Commitment to Chemical Weapons Convention in Meeting with OPCW Director General

Emil Lazarian
Feb 9 2024
Momen Zellmi

The Hague, a city steeped in history and diplomacy, played host to an important meeting on February 8. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan sat down with Fernando Arias, the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to discuss the partnership between Armenia and the OPCW.

Minister Mirzoyan took the opportunity to underscore Armenia's unwavering commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention. He highlighted the significant legislative reforms that have been implemented in Armenia since it became a signatory to the convention. These reforms, he emphasized, are not just on paper but are being actively enforced, reflecting the country's seriousness in upholding the principles of the convention.

Fernando Arias, for his part, briefed Minister Mirzoyan on the challenges faced by the OPCW in the current global scenario. Recent developments, he noted, have made the execution of the organization's mandate under the convention increasingly complex. However, he also expressed confidence in the resilience of the OPCW and its member states, emphasizing their collective determination to overcome these hurdles.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on the ongoing efforts by the OPCW and its member states towards disarmament and non-proliferation. In a world where the threat of chemical weapons looms large, these efforts take on a renewed urgency. Both Minister Mirzoyan and Director General Arias acknowledged the importance of sustained cooperation and collaboration in achieving these goals.

As the sun set over The Hague, it cast a warm glow on the meeting that had just concluded. The discussions held within those walls served as a reminder of the enduring commitment to a world free from the scourge of chemical weapons. It was a meeting marked by frank dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared vision for a safer, more secure future.

In the grand scheme of international diplomacy, this meeting might seem like a small step. But in the realm of disarmament and non-proliferation, every step counts. And as Armenia continues to walk this path alongside the OPCW, it carries with it the hope for a brighter tomorrow.

ARMENIA: Appeal court upholds conscientious objector’s jail term

Emil Lazarian
Feb 8 2024
8 February 2024
Felix Corley, Forum 18

On 7 February, Yerevan's Criminal Court of Appeal rejected 20-year-old Baptist conscientious objector Davit Nazaretyan's appeal against a two-year jail term imposed in October 2023 for refusing military service. The judges ignored European Court of Human Rights judgments, including against Armenia. Nazaretyan's applications for alternative civilian service were repeatedly denied. He is considering a further appeal and will not be required to go to jail until any further appeal is heard. The last known jailed conscientious objector was freed in 2021.

On 7 February, a panel of three judges at Yerevan's Criminal Court of Appeal rejected Davit Nazaretyan's appeal against his two-year jail term imposed in October 2023 for refusing military service on grounds of conscience. He is considering a further appeal to the Cassation Court in Yerevan. The 20-year-old Baptist will not be required to go to jail until any further appeal is heard.

Davit Nazaretyan
Davit Nazaretyan

Nazaretyan is the only conscientious objector known to be currently facing jail under Criminal Code Article 461, Part 1 ("Avoidance of mandatory military or alternative service or conscription").

Despite Baptist conscientious objector Nazaretyan's repeated requests from June 2022 onwards for alternative civilian service, officials of the Conscription Service and of the Alternative Service Commission refused his application. On 25 October 2023, Yerevan's Kentron District Court handed him a two-year jail term for "Avoidance of mandatory military or alternative service or conscription" (see below).

"The Criminal Court of Appeal left last October's decision unchanged," Nazaretyan's pastor Mikhail Shubin told Forum 18 from Yerevan after the 7 February 2024 hearing. "He has one month to appeal. When he gets the decision in writing he will decide whether to appeal further" (see below)

Human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation in Yerevan attended the appeal hearing. "This is very, very sad," she told Forum 18 from Yerevan after the decision was announced. She said Nazaretyan was "very sincere" in setting out his position in court. "Davit set out very clearly that he does not consider himself guilty of any crime, that he has been in the church since childhood and that he is ready to perform alternative service" (see below).

"I am a Christian and I read the Bible," Nazaretyan told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 7 November 2023. "Jesus Christ teaches us not to kill and he followed this also. We have to love one another, even our enemies, and not kill people." He added that Jesus Christ also instructed his followers not to swear oaths. "If I was given alternative civilian service now, I would do it" (see below).

"The judges seemed to be prejudiced against the religious community," Sarsgsyan said of the appeal hearing. "The court didn't take into consideration any of Davit's arguments about his right to alternative service, the decisions in similar cases of the European Court of Human Rights or anything else" (see below).

Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation noted that the prosecution did not attend the 7 February 2024 hearing. "The Court in its questioning of Davit stressed the expert opinion of the Theology Faculty of Yerevan State University, treating its opinion with some respect." The Theology Faculty, led by an Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop, claimed that: "The creed of the Baptist Church and the analysis of the presented case materials allow us to state that Nazaretyan's freedom of thought, conscience and religion would not be restricted by military service" (see below).

Nazaretyan's Baptist pastor strongly disputes this claim by another religious community about his and his Church's beliefs (see below).

Bishop Anushavan and a lecturer at the Theology Faculty repeatedly did not respond to Forum 18's requests in November 2023 and on 8 February 2024 for comment. So Forum 18 was unable to find out why they offer views on beliefs they do not understand, and why they also offer views on a legally binding human rights obligation – the freedom of thought, conscience and belief – which they also do not understand (see below).

Forum 18 asked the three Appeal Court judges – Marine Melkonyan, Armen Bektashyan and Anna Matevosyan – on the afternoon of 8 February why they had not taken their decision in Nazaretyan's case in the light of the jurisprudence (including in Armenian cases) of the European Court of Human Rights on the right to conscientious objection to military service, as part of the right to freedom of religion or belief. Forum 18 has not yet received any reply (see below).

Vahe Sarkisyan, head of Yerevan Garrison Military Prosecutor's Office, defended the decision to bring the criminal case against Nazaretyan. "We have to respond if documents are sent to us," he told Forum 18. "But it was the court which took the decision [to sentence him], not the Prosecutor's Office." He refused to answer any other questions by phone (see below).

Vardan Astsatryan of the government's Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs, who sits on the Alternative Service Commission, rejected suggestions that the Alternative Service Commission discriminated against conscientious objectors who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. "We gave alternative service to a Molokan about five years ago," he claimed to Forum 18 (see below).

Forum 18 asked the office of the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan on 7 February about Nazaretyan's case and what it is doing (if anything) to support him and others who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience. An official said an appropriate colleague would respond with a comment. Forum 18 has received no reply (see below).

The last known convicted conscientious objector, Maksim Telegin, a Molokan from Yerevan who had been refused alternative civilian service, was freed early from his one-year jail term in 2021 after three months. Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18 that their young men do not have problems opting for alternative civilian service (see below).

Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation noted that Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs is the only Commission member with expertise in the area of freedom of religion or belief. "So the Commission seems to follow his recommendation in each case. My experience suggests that government officials – except those who deal with human rights professionally – are not well educated in human rights issues, and often lead by their own perceptions and biases when dealing with matters related to minority rights," Sargsyan noted (see below).

All men in Armenia are subject to conscription between the ages of 18 and 27. Deferments are available in strictly limited circumstances. Military service lasts for 24 months. Those subject to conscription can apply for service without weapons within the armed forces, which lasts 30 months, or for alternative civilian service, which lasts 36 months.

For many years, Armenia jailed those unable to perform military service on grounds of conscience, despite a commitment to the Council of Europe to introduce a civilian alternative to military service by January 2004. In May 2013, amendments to the 2003 Alternative Service Law and to the 2003 Law on Implementing the Criminal Code were passed, and a fully civilian alternative service was created. By November 2013, the authorities had freed all the then-jailed jailed conscientious objectors. All were Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18 on 6 February 2024 that their young men do not have problems opting for alternative civilian service. Since 2013 hundreds of their young men have undertaken alternative civilian service.

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee has stated in its General Comment 22 that conscientious objection to military service comes under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 18 ("Freedom of thought, conscience and religion"). General Comment 22 notes that if a religion or belief is official or followed by a majority of the population this "shall not result in any impairment of the enjoyment of any of the rights under the Covenant .. nor in any discrimination against adherents to other religions or non-believers."

In relation to conscientious objection to military service, General Comment 22 also states among other things: "there shall be no differentiation among conscientious objectors on the basis of the nature of their particular beliefs; likewise, there shall be no discrimination against conscientious objectors because they have failed to perform military service."

This has been reinforced by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recognising "the right of everyone to have conscientious objection to military service as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion". The OHCHR has also noted in its Conscientious Objection to Military Service guide that ICCPR Article 18 is "a non-derogable right .. even during times of a public emergency threatening the life of the nation".

In 2022 the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated (WGAD-HRC50) that "the right to conscientious objection to military service is part of the absolutely protected right to hold a belief under article 18 (1) of the Covenant, which cannot be restricted by States". The Working Group also stated: "States should refrain from imprisoning individuals solely on the basis of their conscientious objection to military service, and should release those that have been so imprisoned."

Various judgments (including against Armenia) of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg have also defined states' obligations to respect and implement the right to conscientious objection to military service, as part of the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Isabella Sargsyan, 5 October 2023
OSCE/Piotr Dziubak [CC BY-ND 2.0 Deed]

Human rights defender Isabella Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation questions whether the Alternative Service Commission is competent to evaluate who should or should not be given alternative civilian service. "It is meant to be a public body, but in reality it is a fully government body, staffed mainly with deputy ministers not always knowledgeable or sensitive to human rights and minority issues," she told Forum 18 in November 2023.

Sargsyan noted that Vardan Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs is the only Commission member with expertise in the area of freedom of religion or belief.

"So the Commission seems to follow his recommendation in each case. My experience suggests that government officials – except those who deal with human rights professionally – are not well educated in human rights issues, and often lead by their own perceptions and biases when dealing with matters related to minority rights," Sargsyan noted.

Davit Nazaretyan appeal hearing, Criminal Court of Appeal, Yerevan, 7 February 2024
Isabella Sargsyan

Davit Nazaretyan submitted his appeal against his two-year jail term imposed in October 2023 for refusing military service on grounds of conscience to Yerevan's Criminal Court of Appeal. On 7 February 2024, a panel of three judges – Marine Melkonyan, Armen Bektashyan and Anna Matevosyan – rejected Nazaretyan's appeal.

Nazaretyan will have one month from receiving the appeal court decision in writing to lodge a further appeal to the Cassation Court in Yerevan. He is considering a further appeal, and will not be required to go to jail until any further appeal is heard.

"The court left last November's decision unchanged," Nazaretyan's pastor Mikhail Shubin told Forum 18 from Yerevan after the hearing. "He has one month to appeal. When he gets the decision in writing he will decide whether to appeal further." The pastor added that about a dozen church members attended the appeal hearing in Nazaretyan's support.

Human rights defender Sargsyan of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation in Yerevan also attended the appeal hearing. "This is very, very sad," she told Forum 18 from Yerevan after the decision was announced. "Davit set out very clearly that he does not consider himself guilty of any crime, that he has been in the church since childhood and that he is ready to perform alternative service. He was very sincere."

Sargsyan said the whole hearing was over in about 40 minutes, including 10 minutes while the judges withdrew to consider their decision. "It was all very rapid. The Judges didn't get into the essence of the case. The judges seemed to be prejudiced against the religious community," she added. "The court didn't take into consideration any of Davit's arguments about his right to alternative service, the decisions in similar cases of the European Court of Human Rights or anything else."

Sargsyan noted that the prosecution did not attend the 7 February 2024 hearing. "The Court in its questioning of Davit stressed the expert opinion of the Theology Faculty of Yerevan State University, treating its opinion with some respect." The Theology Faculty, led by an Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop, claimed that: "The creed of the Baptist Church and the analysis of the presented case materials allow us to state that Nazaretyan's freedom of thought, conscience and religion would not be restricted by military service" (see below).

Nazaretyan's Baptist pastor strongly disputes this claim by another religious community about his and his Church's beliefs (see below).

Forum 18 asked the three Appeal Court judges – Melkonyan, Bektashyan and Matevosyan – on the afternoon of 8 February in writing why they had not taken their decision in Nazaretyan's case in the light of the jurisprudence (including in Armenian cases) of the European Court of Human Rights on the right to conscientious objection to military service, as part of the right to freedom of religion or belief. Forum 18 had received no reply by the end of the working day in Yerevan of 8 February.

Vahe Sarkisyan, head of Yerevan Garrison Military Prosecutor's Office, would not discuss with Forum 18 why no prosecutor had been sent to the appeal hearing.

Forum 18 asked the office of the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan on 7 February about Nazaretyan's case and what it is doing (if anything) to support him and others who cannot perform military service on grounds of conscience. An official said an appropriate colleague would respond with a comment. Forum 18 had received no reply by the end of the working day in Yerevan of 8 February.

Davit Tigrani Nazaretyan (born 23 July 2003) is the only conscientious objector known to be currently facing jail under Criminal Code Article 461, Part 1 ("Avoidance of mandatory military or alternative service or conscription").

The last known convicted conscientious objector, Maksim Mikhaili Telegin (born 15 November 1998), a Molokan from Yerevan who had been refused alternative civilian service in 2016, was jailed for one year by Judge Tatevik Grigoryan at Yerevan City Court on 23 March 2021, according to court records. He was freed early from his jail term after about three months.

Molokans are followers of a Christian church which emerged in the Russian Empire in the late 18th century, and which is often compared to Protestant churches. Molokans conscientiously object to military service in any country they live in.

Telegin had applied for alternative civilian service on 23 August 2016, explaining that he is a Molokan and that his faith does not allow him to take up weapons. The Alternative Service Commission rejected his application, claiming that he "did not justify that his duty to undergo compulsory military service is in serious and weighty conflict with his conscience or deep and true religious belief or other beliefs", according to the 2021 court verdict. The Commission claimed he sought alternative civilian service "for reasons of personal interest or convenience".

Vardan Astsatryan, head of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs, was one of the five Commission members who unanimously rejected Telegin's application for alternative civilian service.

On 14 June 2018, the Administrative Court rejected Telegin's challenge to the Alternative Service Commission rejection.

Military prosecutors had already launched a criminal case against Telegin under Article 327, Part 1 of the then Criminal Code. (A new Criminal Code came into force on 1 July 2022.) On 12 July 2019, Yerevan Garrison Military Prosecutor's Office finally sent the case to court. In 2020 the judge in the case was removed and Judge Grigoryan took over the case.

Telegin set out in court his objection to serving in the military. "Defendant Maksim Telegin testified during the trial that his religion forbids taking up arms and swearing an oath, so he cannot go to military service," the 2021 verdict – seen by Forum 18 – notes. "He himself is guided by the Gospel, where it says that it is forbidden to carry weapons or to take an oath. He stated that since he is a faithful Christian, he cannot violate the message in the Gospel."

Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs would not discuss Telegin's case. But he insisted that decisions to accept or reject applications for alternative civilian service are taken by the Alternative Service Commission which listens to the cases presented to it.

Astsatryan rejected suggestions that the Commission discriminated against conscientious objectors who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. "We gave alternative service to a Molokan about five years ago," he told Forum 18 on 8 February 2024. He was unable to give the young man's name or say exactly when he was given alternative civilian service.

Vahe Sarkisyan, head of Yerevan Garrison Military Prosecutor's Office, refused to discuss with Forum 18 on 8 February 2024 why his office had brought the criminal case against Telegin.

Davit Nazaretyan (centre) with parents, Gagik Mirzoyan (left), Mikhail Shubin (right), Kentron District Court, Yerevan, 25 October 2023
Davit Nazaretyan

Davit Nazaretyan lives in the capital Yerevan and is a member of a Council of Churches Baptist congregation in Arinj, a town next to Yerevan. The congregation – which chooses not to seek state registration – is led by Pastor Mikhail Shubin.

Despite his repeated requests for alternative civilian service, officials of the Conscription Service and of the Alternative Service Commission refused Nazaretyan's application. On 25 October, Judge Gagik Pogosyan of Yerevan's Kentron District Court handed the 20-year-old a two-year jail term for "Avoidance of mandatory military or alternative service or conscription".

"Davit asked for alternative civilian service," Baptist Pastor Shubin – who attended the trial and the appeal hearing with other Baptists - told Forum 18. "If the law allows this, why didn't they give it to him? If an individual's conscientious views do not allow him to carry weapons or swear the oath, why didn't they give him alternative service?"

Judge Pogosyan's assistant refused to put Forum 18 through to the Judge to find out why he jailed an individual who could not serve in the military on grounds of conscience and who is ready to perform alternative civilian service. "Everything is written in the verdict," the assistant – who did not give his name – told Forum 18.

"I am a Christian and I read the Bible," Nazaretyan told Forum 18. "Jesus Christ teaches us not to kill and he followed this also. We have to love one another, even our enemies, and not kill people." He added that Jesus Christ also instructed his followers not to swear oaths. "If I was given alternative civilian service now, I would do it."

Forum 18 was unable to ask Serop Armenakyan of Yerevan's No. 2 Regional Division of the Conscription Service why he had refused to accept Nazaretyan's application for alternative civilian service in July 2022. The duty officer told Forum 18 that Armenakyan was out of the office. He insisted that "all here work according to the law". He added that decisions on whether to grant alternative civilian service are taken not by the local office of the Conscription Service but by the Alternative Service Commission.

In early 2023, while the criminal investigation was already underway, officials summoned Nazaretyan to the Alternative Service Commission. This is a state body made up of deputy ministers from a range of ministries, as well as Vardan Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs. On 23 January, it accepted all the Jehovah's Witnesses' applications for alternative civilian service, but rejected Nazaretyan's.

Arkady Cherchinyan, head of the Territorial Management and Infrastructure Ministry's Administrative Control Department, who officials said was in charge of alternative service issues at the Ministry, told Forum 18 that he had not participated in the 23 January meetings with applicants for alternative civilian service and refused to discuss anything.

Asked why the Commission rejected Nazaretyan's application, Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs said he does not remember the name. "If he has these views he should have presented them," he told Forum 18 in November 2023.

On 8 February 2024, Astsatryan claimed to Forum 18 that the Commission rejected Nazaretyan's application as it had not been convinced by his case. "Why couldn't he present his views convincingly?"

Forum 18 told Astsatryan that in November 2023, Nazaretyan had clearly and logically explained his conscientious reasons why he could not serve in the military and his readiness to perform alternative civilian service. Yet Astsatryan claimed again that Nazaretyan had not been able to explain this to the Commission

Investigator Arsen Topchyan handed documents on Nazaretyan's case to the Theology Faculty of Yerevan State University and asked it to review his religious views. The Theology Faculty is led by Bishop Anushavan Jamkochyan of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

On 17 April 2023 the Faculty claimed that the case materials on Nazaretyan's religious affiliation were allegedly "contradictory". Despite admitting that Nazaretyan regularly attends a Baptist Church with his family, the Theological Faculty claimed: "We conclude from all this that Nazaretyan's religious worldview is either not clearly formed, or he himself does not clearly know what religious affiliation he has. We also do not rule out that his statements are opportunistic."

The Theology Faculty also claimed: "The creed of the Baptist Church and the analysis of the presented case materials allow us to state that Nazaretyan's freedom of thought, conscience and religion would not be restricted by military service."

However, Pastor Shubin says that he and his Church think that decisions on whether or not church members should serve in the military are "a personal decision for each church member based on their conscience", he told Forum 18 in November 2023. "We support Davit in his decision."

Bishop Anushavan and a lecturer at the Theology Faculty repeatedly did not respond to Forum 18's requests in November 2023 and on 8 February 2024 for comment. So Forum 18 was unable to find out why they offer views on beliefs they do not understand, and why they also offer views on a legally binding human rights obligation – the freedom of thought, conscience and belief – which they also do not understand.

Investigator Topchyan confirmed to Forum 18 that he had been the investigator in Nazaretyan's case. But he refused to explain why he handed case materials to and asked for an assessment of Nazaretyan's religious beliefs from the Theology Faculty, which is led by a member of another religious community. It also remains unclear why he sought views on the implementation of Armenia's legally binding human rights obligations from a group which does not understand Armenia's obligations.

As Investigator Topchyan refused to discuss the case in October 2023 and on 8 November 2024 did not answer his phone, Forum 18 was also not able to ask him why he thought Armenia's international human rights obligation to respect the rights of conscientious objectors to military service should not apply in Nazaretyan's case.

Anna Barsegyan of Yerevan Garrison Military Prosecutor's Office, who led the case, including in court, did not in November 2023 answer Forum 18's questions about why she brought the criminal case against Nazaretyan when he cannot serve in the armed forces because of his conscientious beliefs. (END)

https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2891

Jerusalem: Jewish settler movement makes bid for large slice of Armenian quarter

Emil Lazarian
Feb 8 2024
Jerusalem: Jewish settler movement makes bid for large slice of Armenian quarter

The Armenian quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City is facing its biggest crisis in a long time. A Jewish businessman with connections to the radical settler movement is poised to develop a quarter of the neighbourhood’s territory, with plans to build a luxury hotel. If this goes ahead, it will significantly change part of Jerusalem’s Old City and hasten the demographic shift towards the city’s Jewish population which has been happening for some years.

The Armenian quarter actually makes up one-sixth of the Old City (the other quarters being the Muslim, the Christian, and the Jewish) and the Armenian presence in Jerusalem dates back to the 4th century. Together with the neighbouring Christian quarter, it is a stronghold for the city’s small Christian minority. The threat of a takeover of parts of the quarter by Jewish settlers is widely seen as altering the demographic status quo to favour Israel’s interests.

In 2021, the Armenian patriarch of Jerusalem, Nourhan Manougian, agreed a 98-year lease over part of the Armenian quarter with the developers. The agreement covers a significant area that today includes a parking lot, buildings belonging to the office of the Armenian church leader – known as the patriarchate – and the homes of five Armenian families.

News of the deal prompted strong protests among the neighbourhood’s Armenians last year. Such was the depth of feeling that in October, the patriarch and the other church leaders felt compelled to cancel the agreement. This led to violent confrontations between settlers and local Armenians.

Contested: Jerusalem’s Armenian quarter. Ermeniniane kwartiri i Jarsa, CC BY-ND

After a few quiet weeks, fighting broke out again at the end of December when more than 30 men armed with stones and clubs reportedly attacked the Armenians who had been guarding the area for several weeks.

The dispute has now gone to court. The question is whether the lease agreement is valid or whether the unilateral termination makes the agreement void. The patriarchate has engaged lawyers – local and from Armenia and the US – who will present its case that the agreement was not entered into properly because of irregularities in the contract.

This is not a single incident. Since the 1967 six-day War, when the whole of Jerusalem came under Israeli control, there has been a concerted effort to change the demography in the traditionally Arab East Jerusalem.

In many places the authorities are evicting the Arab families who have lived there for decades with the explanation that they lack documents that they own the house. Then a Jewish family moves in.

This change of the demography of East Jerusalem happens through evictions, demolitions and buildings restrictions. This is also happening in Jerusalem’s iconic and touristic Old City.

Almost 20 years ago, there was a minor scandal when it emerged that the Greek Orthodox patriarchate, a large property owner, had entered into a long lease agreement with a Jewish settler organisation regarding two historic hotels.

Now we have a similar incident concerning the Armenian patriarchate. Selling or renting out property to Jewish settlers for a long time is viewed extremely negatively by the Palestinians, who have long fought against illegal Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas.

East Jerusalem is of vital importance to the Palestinians. In proposed plans for a two-state solution, it is the intended capital of a future Palestinian state. Decisively changing the demography there is therefore a priority goal for some in Israel – including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who doesn’t want a two-state solution.

https://theconversation.com/jerusalem-jewish-settler-movement-makes-bid-for-large-slice-of-armenian-quarter-222915

Armenian exports to EEU countries grow but drop to EU

Emil Lazarian

 13:20, 8 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia exported goods worth over $8,4 billion in 2023, a 55,3% growth compared to 2022.

Exports to fellow Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries grew, while exports to EU countries dropped, according to the Statistical Committee.

Armenian exports to EEU countries grew 40,8% and comprised over $3,6 billion, and exports to EU countries dropped 8,2%, comprising $709,5 million.

Most of the exports went to Russia ($3,4 billion, an increase of 38,8%).

Exports to other EEU countries also grew; exports to Kyrgyzstan stood at $27,3 million (4,8 times growth), exports to Kazakhstan stood at $71,3 million (3,8 times growth), and exports to Belarus stood at $91,9 million (19,5% growth).

Despite the overall drop, exports to individual EU countries grew significantly. The Netherlands is Armenia’s 4th top export destination (after Russia, UAE and China), with exports comprising $234,1 million (9% growth).

Armenian exports to Slovakia stood at $42,9 million (75,8% growth). Exports to Lithuania doubled and stood at $22,6 million. Exports to Spain, Cyprus, Hungary, Czechia, Sweden and Portugal also grew. However, exports to France dropped 3,2% and stood at $9,5 million. Armenian exports to Germany dropped 17,4% and comprised $87,5 million. Exports to Italy and Poland also dropped in 2023.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 08-02-24

Emil Lazarian

 17:19, 8 February 2024

YEREVAN, 8 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 8 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.21 drams to 404.47 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.54 drams to 435.65 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.43 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 510.44 drams.

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

Gold price up by 154.16 drams to 26548.99 drams. Silver price down by 0.04 drams to 289.86 drams.

The Rome Statute holds real potential to prevent further escalation in the region: Armenian FM

Emil Lazarian

 20:07, 8 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The welcoming ceremony dedicated to the membership of Armenia as the 124th signatory of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was held Thursday at the ICC.

At the outset of the event, the ceremony for raising the flag of the Republic of Armenia was held at the International Criminal Court. Following this, speeches were delivered by the President of the International Criminal Court, Piotr Hofmański, and the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, Päivi Kaukoranta.

Also within the framework of the ceremony, ICC President Piotr Hofmanski handed a copy of the special edition of the Rome Statute to the Foreign Minister  Mirzoyan.

The ceremony was attended also by the Prosecutor General of the ICC, a number of representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in The Hague, from about 60 diplomatic representations, the President of the Association of Journalists, as well as some other guests.

According to the source, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan delivered a speech, which reads as follows:

"Honourable President of the Court,

Madame President of the Assembly,

Excellencies,

Prosecutor,

Registrar,

Judges and Deputy Prosecutors,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 1998, the international community made a historic decision to put an end to the most serious international crimes by adopting the Rome Statute. In 2023, Armenia ratified the Rome Statute with a sincere belief in its high power to eliminate the most serious crimes and end the impunity. On the 1st of February, the Rome Statute entered into force for Armenia. A fundamentally important occasion that brings us here today. I am grateful to each of you for sharing this special day with us.

The Nuremberg Tribunal stated at its time “crimes against international law are committed by men, not abstract entities, and only by punishing individuals who commit such crimes can the provisions of international law be enforced”. As we embark on this journey, let us embrace the responsibility that comes with ensuring that no one is above the law. Today, the International Criminal Court stands as a bastion against the horrors of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. In this regard, Armenia’s consistent cooperative approach to the ICC is based on the following major objectives: 1) preventing the most serious crimes which are of concern to the international community as a whole, 2) strengthening the rule of law in the international community, 3) achieving more universality of the ICC.  

Armenia believes that it is extremely important to establish an international judicial system which ensures punishment for persons who have committed genocide and other serious crimes. For decades, Armenia has been an initiator and pioneer in the processes of prevention and condemnation of the crime of genocide, both within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations and forums long before acceding to the International Criminal Court.

ICC’s role in crime prevention and ensuring fair and impartial justice process for peaceful resolution of conflicts is significant. Unfortunately, in our region, we were confronted not only by complete unwillingness to resolve the issue by peaceful means but also with a clear intent to proliferate war, hatred and terror. Continued aggressions against the Republic of Armenia and occupation of our sovereign territories, heinous atrocity crimes perpetrated against Armenians, ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh, as a result of which over 100.000 Armenians had to escape their homes to find shelter in Armenia, had devastating humanitarian consequences and continue to pose imminent risks for our region. In this context, we are convinced that the Rome Statute among other mechanisms has real potential to prevent any further escalation and atrocities, becoming a milestone towards stability and sustainable peace in our region.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

We highlight the Court’s important role for delivering justice to victims of unimaginable atrocities, giving them a voice by enabling them to participate in its proceedings, providing assistance and awarding reparations. There is no doubt that the Rome Statute and the ICC, in the quest for accountability, have contributed greatly to the effective functioning of the international criminal justice system.

Today, let us celebrate not only Armenia's commitment but also the shared vision of a world where justice prevails, and the dignity of every individual is protected. As a new State Party to the Rome Statute Armenia will be an active member of the Court and will significantly contribute to the works of the Assembly of the States Parties. Together, we move forward in solidarity, bound by the ideals of the Rome Statute, as we strive for a future defined by fairness and the rule of law.

Thank you!"




AW: Vartan and Vartanank

Emil Lazarian
February 8, 2024 Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian Keeping the Faith, Columns 0

The Battle of Avarayr, Sharaknots, 1482, Artist: Karapet Berkretsi (Wikimedia Commons)

May 26, 451 A.D., is one of the most glorious dates in the history of the Armenian people. It is the date of the Battle of Avarayr, which took place in the Plain of Shavarshan (modern Maku, in the northwestern corner of Iran) along the banks of Dghmud (a tributary of the River Arax), when 1,036 Armenian soldiers, together with their commander Vartan Mamigonian, died in defense of their faith and freedom. The battle involved 66,000 Armenian soldiers against the 300,000-member Persian army and was a military disaster for the Armenian nation. Armenians lost militarily, and their hero, Vartan the Brave, was killed.

The battle was lost, but not the war! Over the next 33 years, brave and bold Armenian souls took refuge in the hills, as they struggled to organize an effective defense of their homeland and secure the right to religious freedom and cultural and political autonomy. 

Eventually, Vahan Mamigonian, the son of Vartan’s brother Hmayak, successfully led and won a guerrilla war against the Persians. Thereupon, the Persians signed a treaty with the Armenians in 484 – the famous Treaty of Nvarsak – whereby the Persian King Vagharsh granted Armenians religious freedom and cultural autonomy.

The fifth-century heroic struggle of the Armenian nation came to be called the Vartanantz War, in honor of the main hero, Vartan Mamigonian. During the Middle Ages, Armenia’s church fathers moved the observance of the Vartanantz War from May 26 to the Thursday preceding Lent. Vartan’s comrades – those who shared his profound faith in God and demonstrated loyalty to his cherished causes – came to be called Vartanank.

The crisis that developed and culminated in the armed confrontation known as the Vartanantz War began in the late 440s, when King Yazdegerd II of Persia (438-457), a fanatical Zoroastrian monarch, ordered all the subjects of his empire to adhere to his faith. The majority of the Armenian people were directly affected by Yazdegerd’s royal edict, since a large section of Armenia was under Persian control after the unfortunate partition of Armenia by the Byzantine and Persian empires in 387 A.D.

I believe we can honor these heroes if we live by the principles, values and causes for which they died. We can honor them if we hear their message, take it to heart and apply it to our lives.

The official reply of the Armenian people to Yazdegerd’s edict was formulated in a general assembly held in Artashat in 449 – an assembly attended by the political and religious leadership of the country. 

Not only did the elite of the Armenian nation refuse to renounce their Christian faith, but also proclaimed their loyalty to Christ to the death. They concluded their reply: “From this belief (Christianity) no one can move us; neither fire, nor sword, nor water, nor any other horrid tortures…”

Thereafter, the Persian Empire embarked on an armed invasion of Armenia, and the  Armenian army, under the leadership of General Vartan Mamigonian, engaged in a war of self-defense – the War of Vartanantz.

Although the Armenians suffered a military defeat on the battlefield of Avarayr, their relentlessness eventually scored them a victory. Thus, the Vartanantz War became a pivotal point in Armenian history and a source of inspiration for the succeeding generations.

For centuries, Armenians have set aside the Feast of Vartanantz Day to honor their heroic ancestors and pay tribute to their memory. But how can we really do that today? We could, of course, speak of our noble ancestors in glowing terms, praising them and celebrating their accomplishments in song and speech. But frankly, I believe Vartanank would care very little for our testimonies and accolades. However, I believe we can honor these heroes if we live by the principles, values and causes for which they died. We can honor them if we hear their message, take it to heart and apply it to our lives. We can honor them if our faith, like theirs, can stand the test – if we can serve the cause of the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

Certainly we can cherish Vartan and Vartanank, but the faith of our fathers cannot serve us and save us. The vital faith that accomplishes and sustains always has to be a contemporary faith. If the sacrifice and contribution of Vartan and Vartanank are to have any significance for us, their Christian faith has to be reborn in our generation, and we have to come to grips with it in terms of our problems and challenges. 

Finally, Vartan and Vartanank were the heroes who tolled the bell for freedom. They paid a high price for freedom. That freedom can be kept only with great vigilance. It can be lost overnight by a generation that exploits its privileges and renounces its responsibilities. Freedom is a spiritual quality that lives in the hearts and wills of those who are determined to keep it.

Honoring Vartan and Vartanank demands of us, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “Standing firm in our faith, being courageous and strong.” Keep ringing the bell of freedom and living by those ideals and causes for which our noble ancestors died.

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


AW: Armenian Heritage Cruise celebrates 25 years

Emil Lazarian
February 7, 2024 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

The AHC committee ready to welcome everyone during registration

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the eagerly awaited Armenian Heritage Cruise (AHC) set sail on January 14 from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on the Celebrity Reflection. 

A diverse group of Armenians hailing from various parts of the world embarked on the seven-day adventure. The journey took them to the stunning destinations of the Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexico and finally, the enchanting island of Bimini, Bahamas.

Once the sun set and the stars came out, AHC chairman Steve Mesrobian extended a warm welcome to the guests, expressing pleasure in seeing Armenians come together for the milestone trip. Committee members Margo Kaftajian and Maria Tavitian outlined the activities planned for the duration of the journey.

The entertainment kicked off with performances by Kevork Artinian and Hooshere, who sang the Armenian national anthem, followed by Harout Bedrossian, Antic and DJ Hye Class, creating an impressive lineup. Guests danced throughout the night, enjoying the festivities.

This year, AHC was honored to have on board the Prelate of Canada Archbishop Papken Charian, who conducted the morning services.

While at sea, guests either attended numerous cultural presentations or lounged poolside, soaking in the gorgeous tropical weather. They engaged in a variety of Armenian activities, took advantage of the ship’s amenities, or simply indulged in relaxation.

Emmy award nominee Ani Hovannisian served as one of the cultural speakers, presenting her film “The Hidden Map,” after which she engaged with guests in a question and answer session. Director of the ARF Archives George Aghjayan offered his cultural presentation on family roots and advancements in Armenian genealogy, which led to another vibrant discussion. Finally, longtime member Angele Manoogian provided a comprehensive review of the humanitarian work the Armenian Relief Society accomplished throughout the year.

AHC committee member Kaftajian provided guidance with dance floor techniques for guests requiring some help with the right steps. Meanwhile, tavloo and bellots tournaments took place while the ship was sailing.

Mid-week, the committee unveiled the Armenian Heritage Cruise events for next year. Mesrobian outlined the itinerary and dates for the 2025 cruise, followed by details about the 2025 resort trip to Cancun.

“We’re excited to introduce this extraordinary double event roster for AHC 2025,” remarked AHC committee member Mary Andonian. “Our goal has always been to cultivate a feeling of togetherness and pride among the Armenian community, and these two occasions will offer an ideal opportunity for us to unite, engage and forge enduring bonds.”

The week concluded with a delightful outdoor entertainment session featuring all the performers under the starlit sky, followed by a heartfelt farewell party.




RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/08/2024

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Thursday, February 8, 2024

Pashinian Defends His Party Accused Of Shady Campaign Funding

        • Shoghik Galstian

Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks at a congress of his Civil 
Contract party, Yerevan, October 29, 2022.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has said that his Civil Contract party operates 
transparently in response to a report accusing it of receiving campaign 
donations of “dubious origin” ahead of last September’s municipal elections in 
Yerevan.

The party claimed to have raised 506.5 million drams ($1.25 million) for its 
election campaign from about a thousand donors during a single event organized 
in August.

In an extensive article published last week, the investigative publication 
Infocom.am revealed that the bulk of that sum was generated by donations ranging 
from 1 million to 2.5 million drams, the maximum amount of such contributions 
allowed by Armenian law. It said that their nominal donors included presumably 
non-rich people linked to senior government officials and businesspeople as well 
as ordinary residents of Yerevan who could hardly afford such payments.

When contacted by Infocom reporters, many of those residents claimed to be 
unaware of the hefty sums wired to Pashinian’s party on their behalf through a 
commercial bank owned by Khachatur Sukiasian, a wealthy businessman and 
pro-government lawmaker.

“Their living conditions make us think that they could hardly afford donating 
2.5 million drams ($6,200) to the party,” Lucy Manvelian, the main author of the 
article, told RFE/RL’s Armenian.

There are similar doubts even in the case of other, more affluent donors. They 
include five former officials from the Armenian Ministry of Emergencies. The 2.5 
million drams donated by each of them is a sum comparable to their annual 
salaries.

Armen Pambukhchian, a senior Civil Contract figure, headed the ministry until 
last July. He then managed the ruling party’s Yerevan election campaign.

Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian greets supporters during an election 
campaign rally in Yerevan, September 15, 2023.

Other such donors work for companies belonging to businessmen thought to be on 
good terms with Armenia’s current leadership. Among them are eight senior 
executives of Yeremian Projects, a company that owns dozens of restaurants as 
well as several dairy farms. They too gave Civil Contract 2.5 million drams 
each. The company told Infocom that it has nothing to do with those donations.

“Our sources told us that the company’s money, not the personal money of those 
individuals, was donated,” said Manvelian.

Pashinian was asked about the alleged campaign finance irregularities during his 
government’s question-and-answer session in the parliament on Wednesday. He 
declined to explain the donations deemed suspicious by the investigative 
journalists while denying any lack of financial transparency within his party.

“Did the investigative reporters obtain that from intelligence services?” the 
premier said. “It’s a report based on information taken from the official 
websites of Armenian state bodies. Can transparency be any different from that?”

In fact, none of the websites cited by Pashinian contains any information about 
campaign donations to his party. Civil Contract for months refused to release 
the list of its donors requested by journalists and civic groups. The ruling 
party agreed to do so only after the Yerevan-based Center for the Freedom of 
Information took it to court in December.




Russia Insists On Mediating Armenia-Azerbaijan Talks


RUSSIA -- Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.


Russia has again urged Armenia to agree to resume Russian-mediated negotiations 
with Azerbaijan and stop pinning its hopes on the West.

In televised remarks publicized on Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail 
Galuzin insisted that there is “no alternative” to Russian mediation of 
Armenian-Azerbaijan peace talks.

“It is under the auspices of Russia, at the initiative of President Vladimir 
Putin that the foundations of the settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan were 
laid,” Galuzin told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

“We hope that they will realize in Yerevan that the implementation of the 
trilateral [Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani] agreements, rather than efforts to 
involve extra-regional powers, notably the U.S. and the European Union, is the 
most reliable path to the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization,” he said.

In recent months, Moscow has repeatedly offered to host high-level 
Armenian-Azerbaijani talks in an effort to regain the initiative in the 
negotiation process. The Russian Foreign Ministry rebuked the Armenian 
leadership in December for ignoring these offers. It warned that Yerevan’s 
current preference of Western mediation may spell more trouble for the Armenian 
people.

The ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said in late January Foreign Minister 
Ararat Mirzoyan has again been invited to visit Moscow to discuss a potential 
peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mirzoyan has announced no plans for 
such a visit or a trilateral meeting with his Russian and Azerbaijani 
counterparts.

Yerevan hoped, at least until now, that an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty 
will be brokered by the U.S. and/or the EU.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev twice cancelled meetings with Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian which the EU planned to host in October. Azerbaijan’s Foreign 
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov similarly withdrew from a November meeting with 
Mirzoyan in Washington. Baku accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian bias.

Galuzin reiterated Russian claims that the West’s main regional goal is to 
“squeeze Russia out of the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, break up the 
existing balance of forces in the South Caucasus and thus create another source 
of instability near Russia’s borders.” He also said Moscow is “always ready to 
provide a platform for Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations on the peace treaty.”

Russian-Armenian relations have steadily deteriorated since the 2020 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh, with Yerevan accusing Moscow of not honoring security 
commitments to its longtime regional ally. Azerbaijan’s recapture of Karabakh 
last September only added to those tensions.




Armenian Minister Blasts ‘Disruptive’ Arrests

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian attends a conference in Yerevan, 
February 1, 2024.


Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian complained on Thursday about last week’s arrests 
of several of his subordinates, saying that corruption charges brought against 
them are baseless and disrupt the work of his ministry and other government 
agencies.

Speaking during a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan, he accused law-enforcement 
authorities of “punishing people who did not steal” any public funds.

One of Kerobian’s deputies, Ani Ispirian, and several other officials from the 
Ministry of Economy were detained in two criminal investigations jointly 
conducted by Armenia’s Investigative Committee and National Security Service 
(NSS). Most of them, including Ispirian, were moved to house arrest or freed 
pending investigation in the following days.

In of those criminal cases, a ministry official is accused of abusing his or her 
position to help other individuals receive 238 million drams ($590,000) in state 
agribusiness funding in violation of rules set by the ministry. The official was 
not charged with bribery or embezzlement, a fact emphasized by Kerobian.

The minister said that law-enforcement authorities have “paralyzed the work of 
the entire state system.”

“Our agricultural divisions are now wondering how they should continue working 
in order to be sure that their honest work will not be punished in the end,” he 
told Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. “That is why I believe that we need to make 
a cultural change and decide whether we allow people to make mistakes sometimes. 
I am sure, though, that in this case it will turn out that no mistakes were 
really made.”

Pashinian responded ambiguously to the unprecedented complaint: “Was money 
stolen from the budget or not? … If so, then it’s a different matter. If not, 
it’s the kind of mistake which you mentioned.”

Armenia - A fruit orchard in Aragatsotn province, 3Sep2014.

The government grant investigated by the authorities was allocated from a state 
fund tasked with helping private entrepreneurs set up intensive fruit orchards 
in Armenia. The government has provided about 100 billion drams ($248 million) 
in such financial aid since 2018. It decided on Thursday to extend the scheme by 
two more years despite the criminal case.

The other case stems from a procurement tender that was organized by the 
Ministry of Economy and invalidated by a court last summer. Ministry officials 
are accused of illegally disqualifying an information technology company, 
Harmonia, to make sure that the tender is won by another, larger firm, Synergy 
International Systems, which set a much higher price for its services.

The investigators also arrested last week Synergy’s founder Ashot Hovanesian and 
two current and former employees, drawing condemnation from the Armenian Union 
of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE). The tech association said that 
“unfounded” detentions of “business representatives and other prominent persons” 
are turning Armenia into a “risky country” for local and foreign tech 
entrepreneurs.

On Tuesday, 64 lawmakers representing Pashinian’s Civil Contract party 
petitioned prosecutors to release the three suspects from custody. One of the 
suspects, Ani Gevorgian, is the sister-in-law of Alen Simonian, the Armenian 
parliament speaker and a senior ruling party figure. She remained in custody as 
of Thursday afternoon.

Some commentators claim that Pashinian personally sanctioned the young woman’s 
arrest in a bid to boost his falling approval ratings by showing Armenians that 
he is serious about combatting corruption. Pashinian allies have dismissed such 
claims.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenian Protection Act Introduced in the House

Emil Lazarian

Washington, D.C. - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomed today's introduction of bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), along with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), for the Armenian Protection Act, which repeals the waiver authority to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. 


Section 907 states that U.S. funds "may not be provided to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President determines and so reports to the Congress, that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh." In the aftermath of September 11, a conditional waiver was added to exempt Azerbaijan from Section 907 if certain criteria were met and certified by the Administration.

 

The introduction of this Act comes as the Senate adopted by voice vote S.3000, also known as the Armenian Protection Act, led by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). Senator Peters, who traveled to Armenia in September of 2023, emphasized his support for the Armenian people during the Assembly's Fall 2023 Advocacy Summit, where he stated that he would encourage more of his colleagues in the Senate "to support the Armenian people" and for "repercussions" to take place against Azerbaijan's Aliyev regime.


"We applaud Rep. Lawler, along with his colleagues Reps. Pallone, Bilirakis, and Amo for this bipartisan measure," said Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. "Azerbaijan should be sanctioned, not rewarded, for its genocidal policies against the Armenian people," Khaloyan added.


Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.



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