Monday, December 4, 2023
Armenian Parliament Majority Opposes Karabakh Ballot Initiative
• Anush Mkrtchian
• Shoghik Galstian
Armenia - A meeting of the parliament committee on legal affairs, Yerevan,
December 4, 2023.
Pro-government lawmakers rejected on Monday an opposition-backed ballot
initiative to legally ban Armenia’s leadership from recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh
as part of Azerbaijan.
The initiative dubbed Hayakve (Armenian vote) was launched by a group of
Armenian political activists and public figures this summer following Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s controversial pledge to recognize Azerbaijani
sovereignty over Karabakh through an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
The campaigners have specifically demanded two new articles of the Criminal Code
which would make the Armenian government’s recognition of Karabakh’s
incorporation into Azerbaijan and its refusal to seek greater international
recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide crimes punishable by between 10 and 15
years in prison. They argue that this would be in line with a 1990 declaration
of independence adopted by Armenia’s first post-Communist parliament.
Armenian law requires the parliament to discuss any initiative backed by at
least 50,000 citizens. Hayakve has collected 58,000 signatures in support of its
demands.
The parliament committee on legal affairs gave a negative assessment of the
initiative at the end of a heated discussion that lasted for seven hours and
involved bitter recriminations between its pro-government and opposition
members. The decision means that the National Assembly controlled by Pashinian’s
Civil Contract party is unlikely to even include the issue on the agenda of its
plenary session on Tuesday.
Armenia - Citizens sign a petition on Nagorno-Karabakh in Yerevan, June 29, 2023.
Artsvik Minasian, a parliament deputy from the main opposition Hayastan
alliance, accused Civil Contract of “deceiving” Armenians who voted for it in
the June 2021 general elections. Minasian argued that in its election manifesto
the ruling party pledged to assert the Karabakh Armenians’ right to
self-determination.
The Armenian government stopped making references to that right on the
international stage one year before Pashinian declared that it recognizes
Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan. It cited instead the need to protect the
“rights and security” of the Karabakh Armenians through the Armenian-Azerbaijani
peace treaty and other international mechanisms.
Pashinian’s administration appears to have stopped seeking such security
guarantees as well after the recent Azerbaijani military offensive that restored
Baku’s full control over Karabakh and forced its practically entire population
to flee to Armenia.
Alen Simonian, the Armenian parliament speaker and a key Pashinian ally, said
last week that the peace treaty should not contain any special provisions on
Karabakh and the return of its ethnic Armenian residents.
Eduard Aghajanian, another senior Civil Contract lawmaker, backed Simonian’s
stance on Monday, saying that the security of the Karabakh Armenians will be
best ensured in Armenia.
“Right now it’s better to concentrate on eliminating the consequences of the
Artsakh people’s post-traumatic stress and doing the best to establish peace,”
Aghajanian told reporters.
Armenian Soldier Killed On Azeri Border
• Susan Badalian
Armenia - Armenian soldiers take up positions on the border with Azerbaijan,
August 2, 2022.
An Armenian soldier serving on the border with Azerbaijan was shot dead on
Monday in what official Yerevan described as an Azerbaijani ceasefire violation
aimed at torpedoing peace talks.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry said the soldier, Gerasim Arakelian, was fatally
wounded by sniper fire at an Armenian army post near the village of Bardzruni
bordering Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied the “provocative information,” saying
that its troops did not breach the ceasefire.
The head of the Bardzruni administration, Arsen Aleksanian, told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service that local residents heard the sounds of cross-border gunfire.
Serious truce violations at that section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have
been rare until now.
“We strongly condemn these actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at provoking a
new escalation, dragging out the peace process and bringing it to a dead end,”
the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the deadly incident.
The statement also said that Baku is “continuously rejecting offers from various
international actors to continue negotiations” with Yerevan.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan deplored Baku’s “refusal to come to meetings
organized by various international actors, including the U.S. and the EU” when
he addressed last week an annual conference of the top diplomats of OSCE member
states. His Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov said Yerevan itself is
dragging out talks on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev twice cancelled EU-mediated talks with
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian planned for October. Bayramov similarly
withdrew from a November 20 meeting with Mirzoyan that was due to take place in
Washington. Baku accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian bias and proposed
direct negotiations with Yerevan.
Armenian Official Sheds Light On ‘Weapons Not Supplied By Russia’
• Shoghik Galstian
RUSSIA – The Pantsyr S-1 air defense missile system is seen atop the Russian
Defense Ministry headquarters in Moscow on April 17, 2023
Russia has failed to provide Armenia with any of the weapons or other military
equipment covered by bilateral defense contracts worth $400 million signed after
the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, a senior Armenian official said on Monday.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his political allies have repeatedly made
such claims over the past year amid Armenia’s worsening relations with Russia.
But they gave no details of those contracts. The Russian government has still
not reacted to those claims.
Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Hrachya Sargsyan is the first official to
reveal the amount of money which Yerevan claims to have paid Russia’s
state-owned arms manufacturers. But he declined to specify the types of weaponry
that are listed in those contracts.
Sargsian said the contracts remain valid and the Armenian side still hopes the
Russians will fulfill their obligations. “I think that the issue will be solved
through our partnership,” he told reporters.
Pashinian said on November 24 that the two sides are discussing the matter and
he hopes they will reach an agreement. Russia itself “needs weapons” now, he
said, clearly alluding to its continuing war with Ukraine.
In Pashinian’s words, one of the options under consideration is for Russia to
write off part of Armenia’s debt to it in exchange for not delivering the
weapons in question.
Russia has long been Armenia’s principal supplier of weapons and ammunition. But
with no end in sight to the war in Ukraine and tensions between Moscow and
Yerevan continuing to grow, the Armenian government is increasingly looking for
other arms suppliers.
Since September 2022 it has reportedly signed a number of defense contracts with
India worth at least $400 million. In October this year, it also signed two arms
deals with France.
Pashinian and members of his political team say that this is part of their
broader efforts to “diversify” Armenia’s defense and security policy. They
regularly accuse Moscow of not honoring its security commitments to its South
Caucasus ally.
More French Arms Supplies To Armenia Revealed
UAE - A French ACMAT Bastion armoured personnel carrier at a defense exhibition
in Abu Dhabi, February 25, 2015:
France will deliver a total of 50 armored personnel carriers (APCs) to Armenia
as part of growing military ties between the two nations, according to French
lawmakers.
The first batch of over two dozen Bastion vehicles apparently bound for Armenia
was spotted in the Georgian port of Poti and reported by Azerbaijani media about
a month ago. The Armenian Defense Ministry declined to explicitly confirm the
delivery.
The APCs manufactured by the French company Arquus were not part of defense
contracts signed by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Armenian
counterpart Suren Papikian during the latter’s visit to Paris in late October.
One of those deal calls for Armenia’s purchase of three air-defense radar
systems from the French defense group Thales. Lecornu and Papikian also signed a
“letter of intent” on the future delivery of Mistral short-range surface-to-air
missiles.
In a joint report on a French budgetary bill, two members of France’s Senate
revealed that “24 Bastion-type armored vehicles … are being delivered to Armenia
and they should be joined by 26 other vehicles of the same type currently in
production.”
The senators, Hugues Saury and Helene Conway-Mouret, said French arms supplies
to Armenia should not be confined to “defensive” equipment.
“This distinction between defensive and offensive weapons is not very practical
in reality, as has been demonstrated by the war in Ukraine. Let us not repeat
the same mistakes by belatedly delivering equipment that could be necessary
right from the beginning,” says their report submitted to the French upper house
of parliament late last month.
France - French Defense Minsiter Sebastien Lecornu and his Armenian counterpart
Suren Papikian sign a memorandum of understanding in Paris, October 23, 2023.
Saury and Conway-Mouret indicated in this regard that Yerevan wants to acquire
French artillery systems as well. Paris should therefore consider providing
155-milimeter CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to the Armenian military, they
said.
Azerbaijan condemned the French-Armenian arms deals earlier in November, saying
that they will “bolster Armenia’s military potential and its ability to carry
out destructive operations in the region.”
Armenian officials countered that Yerevan’s arms acquisitions are a response to
an Azerbaijani military build-up which has continued even after the 2020 war in
Nagorno-Karabakh. They argued that Azerbaijan’s military budget is three times
bigger than Armenia’s. Israeli media reported around the same time that Baku has
purchased more Israeli Barak air-defense systems in a deal worth as much as $1.2
billion.
In the past several months, Azerbaijani cargo planes have reportedly carried out
dozens of more flights to and from Israel’s only airfield through which
explosives can be flown into and out of the country. According to the Haaretz
daily, the frequency of such flights spiked in the run-up to Azerbaijan’s
September 19-20 military offensive in Karabakh.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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
Fwd: The California Courier Online, December 7, 2023
The California
Courier Online, December 7, 2023
1- Azerbaijan Plans Takeover of Armenia
To Create ‘Western Azerbaijan’
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Attorney
Hrair Kaladjian Sworn in as Riverside County Judge
3- Armenian
Soldier Killed On Azeri Border
4- Bruce
Janigian Concludes Armenian Trilogy with ‘Uncle Yeghia’s Basement’
************************************************************************************************************************************************
1- Azerbaijan Plans Takeover of Armenia
To Create ‘Western Azerbaijan’
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
While Armenians are dealing with the dispossession of
Artsakh and trying to cope with its tragic consequences, Azerbaijan is escalating its demands by
launching a campaign claiming that the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia
is supposedly ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ No
sensible person in the world would take such an outrageous lie seriously,
simply because Azerbaijan
was founded a little over a century ago, while Armenia has been in existence for
thousands of years. Even Coca Cola is older than Azerbaijan!
After establishing the ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ with
the blessing of Pres. Aliyev, Azerbaijan
has embarked on a worldwide campaign to disseminate its ridiculous scheme
around the world and at the United Nations. Those Armenians who are concerned
about Azerbaijan’s
expansionist plans over the Syunik province
of Armenia or the so-called Zangezur
Corridor should be more alarmed about Azerbaijan’s
enormous appetite to take over all of the Republic of Armenia,
after occupying Artsakh.
Here are four actions Azerbaijan has taken at the UN in
recent months:
1) Azerbaijan’s
Ambassador to the UN Yashar Aliyev circulated to all members of the General
Assembly and Security Council a letter by the ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ on
January 17, 2023, stating that “All Azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of
nowadays Armenia
and their descendants have the right to return to their homeland.”
2) A second letter was submitted by Azerbaijan to
the UN on February 22, 2023, accusing Armenians of carrying out acts of
“violence, genocide, massacres and other crimes against humanity and gross
violations of human rights. This process was particularly violent and cruel in
1905–1906, 1918–1921, 1948–1953 and 1987–1991.” The letter added that “in
nowadays Armenia,
Azerbaijani historical and cultural heritage, including mosques and graveyards,
were massively destroyed, toponyms were changed and systematic racial
discrimination was carried out against Azerbaijanis.”
Moreover, Azerbaijan
demanded that the UN take the following steps for the settlement of
Azerbaijanis in Armenia:
“− Obtaining a legally binding international agreement with
appropriate verification and guarantee mechanisms ensuring the voluntary return
of Azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of nowadays Armenia to their
homeland in safety and dignity;
− Securing the return process with appropriate security,
humanitarian and socio-economic assistance programs;
− Establishing international monitoring, accountability,
security, intervention and other necessary activities to prevent the recurrence
of expulsion, discrimination and harm to the returned population;
− Ensuring sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration of
returnees through the implementation of reconstruction and reconciliation
measures under international supervision.”
Azerbaijan’s
UN Ambassador demanded that Azeris who return to Armenia
“have unimpeded communication with the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
This is a very alarming suggestion which means that the Republic
of Azerbaijan wants to have a road
under its control within the territory
of Armenia. The letter
added that Azeris returning to Armenia
should not be dispersed throughout the country, but kept together as a group
and their safety and rights ensured. Even more alarming is the demand that
Azeris be able to “use the Azerbaijani language in the legislative, executive
and judicial branches of the [Armenian] Government.” Azerbaijan
added the following ridiculous demand: “Azerbaijanis shall be entitled to form
local security forces and take an appropriate role in courts” of Armenia. This
actually means that Armenia
will be an appendix to Azerbaijan
rather than a sovereign republic.
Furthermore, to ensure the safety of Azeris returning to Armenia, Azerbaijan “considers it necessary
to deploy an international security mission with an appropriate mandate and comprising
the forces of countries trusted by Western Azerbaijanis in the areas to which
they will be returning.” In other words, Azerbaijan
wants to station foreign troops on Armenia’s territory, which is
completely unacceptable. Azerbaijan
also stated that “The Government of Armenia shall ensure the return of property
and community lands belonging to Azerbaijanis and pay compensation for property
damage and losses caused by preventing the use of property.” Those who make
such insane demands are living in a make-believe world.
3) The ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ delivered a letter to
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in April 2023, requesting him “to send a
special UN mission to Armenia for launching the process of safe and dignified
return of Azerbaijanis expelled from this country.”
4) The ‘Western Azerbaijan Committee’ submitted a report in
October 2023 to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
According to the Azeri media, the UN Committee “demanded that Armenia address
the issues raised by the Western Azerbaijan Committee.” If there is any truth
in this claim, I hope that Armenia’s
UN Representative responded to Azerbaijan’s
allegations and exposed the Azeri lies.
This is the vindictive enemy that Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan naively believes he can sign a ‘Peace Treaty’ with. This unnecessary
‘Peace Treaty’ will actually undermine Armenia’s interests. Azerbaijan is already demanding that the rights
of “Azeris expelled from Armenia”
be included in such a treaty, thus providing the ground for future aggression
and occupation by Azerbaijan.
The Azeri letter to the UN in fact includes such an alarming provision: “the
[Azeri] Community will aspire to include the creation of conditions for the
return of Western Azerbaijanis to their homeland as an obligation of Armenia in the peace treaty to be concluded
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
The only way to end this nonsense is for Armenia to stop the slippery slope of making
endless concessions to Azerbaijan
and reject all of its unacceptable demands.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- President of Iraq visits Armenia
In 2022, attorney Hrair Kaladjian was sworn as a judge in Riverside County where he volunteers his time for
the Courts while actively maintaining his private law practice.
Originally from Ethiopia,
Kaladjian has called California
his home for over 40 years. He has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a
Juris Doctorate from Southwestern
Law School.
As a grandchild of genocide survivors, Kaladjian is active
in his local community reminding the world that the crime of the Armenian
Genocide remains unresolved. After the 2020 war on Armenians, Kaladjian filed a
lawsuit against the State Department for illegally waiving section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act, which made its way to the United States Supreme Court.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3- Armenian Soldier Killed On
Azeri Border
An Armenian soldier serving on the border with Azerbaijan was shot dead on Monday, December 4
in what Yerevan
described as an Azerbaijani ceasefire violation aimed at torpedoing peace
talks.
Armenia’s
Defense Ministry said the soldier, Gerasim Arakelian, was fatally wounded by
sniper fire at an Armenian army post near the village
of Bardzruni bordering Azerbaijan’s
Nakhichevan exclave.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied the “provocative
information,” saying that its troops did not breach the ceasefire. The head of
the Bardzruni administration, Arsen Aleksanian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service
that local residents heard the sounds of cross-border gunfire. Serious truce
violations at that section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have been rare
until now.
“We strongly condemn these actions of the Azerbaijani side
aimed at provoking a new escalation, dragging out the peace process and
bringing it to a dead end,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement
on the deadly incident. The statement also said that Baku
is “continuously rejecting offers from various international actors to continue
negotiations” with Yerevan.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan deplored Baku’s
“refusal to come to meetings organized by various international actors,
including the U.S.
and the EU” when he addressed last week an annual conference of the top
diplomats of OSCE member states. His Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov
said Yerevan
itself is dragging out talks on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev twice cancelled
EU-mediated talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian planned for
October. Bayramov similarly withdrew from a November 20 meeting with Mirzoyan
that was due to take place in Washington.
Baku accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian
bias and proposed direct negotiations with Yerevan.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- Bruce
Janigian Concludes Armenian Trilogy with ‘Uncle Yeghia’s Basement’
Writing as Avery Mann, former government official and think
tank director Bruce Janigian concludes his trilogy of Armenian themed
novels—The Mark Jamison Adventures—with just released Uncle Yeghia’s Basement.
Charlie Epson pulls his oars against the tides every morning
in a silent contest with his past. He is among a very special cohort monitored
within the Angel Landing Yacht Club; those whose career misadventures in public
service exposed them to matters never to be shared. Yes, this group needs to
drink a lot. But like their glasses filled to the brim, they are permitted good
conversation without spilling. When an old colleague winds up in the bay with a
broken neck and former Soviet assassins arrive looking for laundered Ukrainian
funds to help their war effort, Bjorn Ingman and Mark Jamison are once again
called into action in this thrilling new mystery, the third volume following on
Angel Landing and Persona Non Grata: End of the Great Game by the same renowned
author.
In his first novel, Angel Landing, former government agent
and think-tank director Mark Jamison needs a quiet coastal refuge for his
breathing problems, and maybe some space to sort out his life and what remains
of his marriage. What he finds in the mysterious little village of Angel Landing
quickly escalates into a series of adventures to save the planet, or at least
its male inhabitants, and soon forces him to confront his past and the assumptions
that brought him here.
Janigian’s last novel, Persona Non Grata: End of the Great
Game included a historic and globe-spanning romp through Armenia’s past
as the last best hope of saving humanity. How the rich past of this small
nation could save the future of the world involves lost Byzantine secrets, a
mysterious chess master and his relationship with the Vatican and
Kremlin.
Uncle Yeghia’s Basement continues Janigian’s passion for
truth telling and disclosing secrets along the way, from the unknown realities
of the Pacific War to Ukraine,
and the destruction of Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The novels feature half
Armenian protagonist Mark Jamison, the thinly disguised alter ego for the fully
Armenian Janigian, whose international adventures included foreign
correspondent in Beirut, Fulbright scholar, legal adviser for USAID and the
Navy, and vice president of the American University of Armenia.
The trilogy is available on Amazon.
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Still no response from Azerbaijan on Armenia’s latest peace treaty proposals
12:06, 4 December 2023
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan still hasn’t responded to Armenia’s latest proposals on a peace treaty, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan told reporters Monday.
“We’ll make an announcement when we receive an answer,” Safaryan said.
On November 21, Armenia conveyed to Azerbaijan its latest proposals on signing a peace treaty.
First Lady of Poland visits Armenia, meets with NK refugees
13:16, 4 December 2023
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda visited Armenia on November 28-29.
At the airport, First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda was welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan and the Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Piotr Skwieciński.
As part of the visit, Agata Kornhauser-Duda met with representatives of the Polish community in Armenia, as well as with students and teachers of the Polish language. As part of the ‘Aid to Poles in the East’, the First Lady provided material assistance as well as educational and teaching materials, the Embassy of Poland said in a press release.
During the visit to Yerevan, the First Lady of Poland was hosted by Mission Armenia, where she met with the refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.
The 'Mission Armenia' Charitable Non-Governmental Organization was founded in 1988 by a group of volunteers, who united their efforts to bring aid to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake in 1988 and to the refugees, who fled the war for Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s.
During her talks held with refugees, the First Lady asked, among others, how the forced displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh took place, as well as what they needed most and how they envisioned their future.
The meeting was attended by Alla Harutyunyan, Deputy Director of the organization and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR Armenia.
In connection with the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, RARS and the Ministry of National Defense, implemented, among others, humanitarian transportation for refugees. In response to UNHCR's appeal, funds in the amount of USD 300,000 were also provided. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Yerevan, in cooperation with Armenian Caritas, provided a special aid for a group of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh who currently live in the Tegh community.
The First Lady of Poland also visited the Komitas Museum-Institute in Yerevan, where she met with representatives of the Polish community in Armenia. The meeting was enriched by the performance of the "Poloniada" choir. After the concert, the First Lady toured the Museum, where she became acquainted with the life and activities of Komitas, the creator of Armenian national classical music.
RFE/RL Armenian Service – 11/27/2023
Monday, November 27, 2023
Russia Tightens Border Controls For Armenian Trucks
November 27, 2023
• Narine Ghalechian
• Shoghik Galstian
RUSSIA - Cars and heavy trucks are lined up near the Upper Lars border crossing
with Georgia, November 21, 2023.
Hundreds of Armenian trucks were stuck at the main Russian-Georgian border
crossing on Monday after Russia reportedly tightened import and export controls
on them amid its unprecedented tensions with Armenia.
Truck drivers said that the Russian customs service is subjecting them to
stricter sanitary and other checks, causing long lines of the heavy vehicles on
both sides of the Upper Lars crossing vital for the Armenian economy.
“I’m stuck at Lars for a second day,” one driver told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
“There is a problem with paperwork. It’s not just me but also other Armenian
trucks.”
“According to our information, several trucks have already returned [to Armenia]
and about 200 others are waiting in line,” Garnik Danielian, an opposition
parliamentarian, wrote on Facebook.
Deputy Economy Minister Arman Khojoyan confirmed that Russian customs officers
have turned away some of the Armenian trucks carrying goods for the Russian
market. But he did not give any numbers.
“As the head of the State Revenue Committee told me yesterday, it’s not that
they are turning away all goods or entire categories of goods,” he told
reporters. “We also have cargo crossing the border.”
Khojoyan would not say whether he believes there is a political reason for the
stricter border checks introduced by the Russians.
RUSSIA -- An Armenian truck passes through the newly expanded Upper Lars border
crossing with Georgia, June 21, 2023.
Artur Khachatrian, another Armenian opposition lawmaker, suggested that Moscow
is retaliating against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s decision to boycott last
week’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Minsk which
highlighted a significant deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations.
“I think that Russia is sending certain messages [to Yerevan],” said
Khachatrian. “Let’s acknowledge that this is not accidental.”
The truck driver, who did not want to be identified, also felt that he and his
Armenian colleagues remain stuck at Upper Lars because of the tensions between
Moscow and Yerevan.
“The [Armenian] government picked a fight with the Russians and the Russians are
now retaliating in this way,” he said.
Russia is Armenia’s leading trading partner, accounting for more than one-third
of the South Caucasus nation’s foreign trade. It has long been the main export
market for Armenian agricultural products, prepared foodstuffs and alcoholic
drinks.
The total volume of Russian-Armenian trade, mainly carried out through Upper
Lars, has skyrocketed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting
barrage of Western sanctions against Moscow.
Armenian entrepreneurs have taken advantage of those sanctions, re-exporting
various goods manufactured in Western countries to Russia. This explains why
Armenian exports to Russia nearly doubled to $2.6 billion in January-September
this year.
Yerevan Won’t Rule Out CSTO Exit
November 27, 2023
• Shoghik Galstian
Belarus - The presidents of Russia and other CSTO member states meet in Minsk,
November 23, 2023.
Armenia could leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) due to
the Russian-led alliance’s reluctance to openly support it in the conflict with
Azerbaijan, a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party said on Monday.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also did not rule out such a possibility on
Friday one day after boycotting a summit of the leaders of Russia and other CSTO
member states held in Minsk. He again accused the CSTO of not honoring its
security obligations to Armenia.
“There is a defined situation in which we would definitely leave [the CSTO,]”
Gevorg Papoyan, the deputy chairman of Civil Contract’s governing board, told
journalists. “We don’t have that situation yet.”
“But there is also a situation where we would definitely participate in those
[CSTO] meetings. There is no such situation either,” he said, alluding to an
effective freeze on Armenia’s participation in the alliance’s activities.
Papoyan did not specify those “situations.” Nor did he say if Pashinian’s
government wants to obtain security guarantees from Western powers before
officially reorienting Armenia’s towards the United States and the European
Union.
The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Yerevan of planning such a reorientation in
late September as tensions between the two longtime allies rose further
following Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh which Moscow did
not prevent, stop or even condemn.
In recent months, Pashinian has repeatedly said that the alliance with Russia
cannot guarantee Armenia’s national security. His refusal to attend the CSTO
summit in Minsk stoked speculation about the South Caucasus state’s imminent
exit from the alliance.
Alen Simonian, the Armenian parliament speaker and another senior Civil Contract
member, said last week that he will not attend an upcoming session of the CSTO’s
Parliamentary Assembly.
CSTO Head Downplays Armenian Boycott Of Summit
November 27, 2023
Armenia - CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov at a meeting with
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian, Yerevan, March 16, 2023.
The secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on
Monday downplayed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s refusal to attend last week’s
summit of the leaders of ex-Soviet states making up the Russian-led military
alliance.
Imangali Tasmagambetov, who is due to visit Yerevan soon, claimed that Pashinian
did not fly to Minsk for the summit last Thursday for merely “technical” reasons.
“In my view, it makes no sense to draw any categorical conclusions from this
situation,” Tasmagambetov told the TASS news agency. “Armenia was and remains
our ally.”
Pashinian’s boycott of the summit highlighted his government’s mounting tensions
with the other CSTO member states and Russia in particular. Pashinian on Friday
again accused the CSTO of not honoring its security commitments to Armenia. What
is more, he did not rule out the possibility of eventually pulling his country
out of his alliance.
Speaking on the eve of the Minsk summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that Pashinian’s administration is planning a
“radical change” of Armenia’s traditional geopolitical orientation at the behest
of Western powers. The ministry had earlier accused it of “ruining”
Russian-Armenian relations.
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed over the weekend the
criticism of the CSTO voiced by Pashinian as well as other Armenian leaders.
Peskov expressed hope that Yerevan will soon resume its “full-fledged
participation in the organization.”
Earlier this year, Armenia also refused to participate in CSTO military
exercises and boycotted a meeting of the defense ministers of the bloc’s member
states.
Armenian Authorities Seek To Dispossess Tsarukian
November 27, 2023
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian speaks at an election
campaign rally in Aragatsotn province, June 15, 2021.
The Armenian authorities have moved to confiscate hundreds of millions of
dollars worth of assets belonging to Gagik Tsarukian, one of Armenia’s richest
men leading a major opposition party.
The assets include the largest of Tsarukian’s companies and about 90 properties
owned by him or members of his family. The authorities are also seeking to seize
over 86 billion drams ($213 million) in revenue generated by them. All this may
well account for most of the vast fortune made by the tycoon since the early
1990s.
The Office of the Prosecutor-General announced late last week that it has asked
an Armenian court to approve the seizures in accordance with a controversial law
that allows the authorities to confiscate assets deemed to have been acquired
illegally. It said the court has already agreed to freeze them pending a verdict
in the case.
A statement released by the law-enforcement agency did not publicize any
evidence in support of its claims that Tsarukian and his family have amassed
their wealth illegally. The tycoon’s lawyers were quick to reject the claims and
insist that “the origin of Gagik Tsarukian’s assets is illegal.”
“There is weighty evidence of that, which will be presented to the court and the
Office of the Prosecutor-General as soon as possible,” they said in a statement.
The lawyers declined to comment further when contacted by RFE/RL’s Armenian
Service at the weekend. It thus remained unclear whether they see any political
motives behind the case.
Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian arrives for a court
hearing on his pre-trial arrest, September 25, 2020.
Tsarukian is the founding leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party
(BHK) that had the second largest group in the country’s former parliament. It
challenged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and demanded his resignation even
before the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Tsarukian was charged with vote buying and arrested in September 2020 just days
before the outbreak of the war. The BHK leader, who rejected the accusations as
politically motivated, was freed on bail one month later.
Like other opposition groups, the BHK blamed Pashinian for Armenia’s defeat in
the six-week war and tried to topple him. It failed to win any parliament seats
in snap general elections held in June 2021. Tsarukian has kept a low profile
since then.
The law invoked by the prosecutors allows them to seek asset forfeiture in case
of having “sufficient grounds to suspect” that the market value of an
individual’s properties exceeds their “legal income” by at least 50 million
drams ($100,000). Armenian courts can allow the nationalization of such assets
even if their owners are not found guilty of corruption or other criminal
offenses.
Over the past two years the prosecutors have petitioned courts to dispossess
dozens of former officials, including ex-Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Robert
Kocharian, and their relatives. So far there have been no court verdicts in any
of those cases. Tsarukian is apparently the first person who risks losing his
assets despite having never held any executive posts in government.
Armenia - A screenshot from an Aravot.am report on expensive property
acquisitions by current Armenian officials, March 15, 2023.
Pashinian has repeatedly portrayed the law in question as a major
anti-corruption measure that will help his administration recover “wealth stolen
from the people.” Opposition figures counter, however, that Pashinian is simply
keen to suppress dissent and cement his hold on power.
In November 2021, opposition lawmakers appealed to the Constitutional Court to
declare the law unconstitutional. They said that it contradicts articles of the
Armenian constitution guaranteeing the presumption of innocence and property
rights. The court, dominated by judges installed by the current government, has
still not ruled on the appeal.
Also, Pashinian is facing growing media allegations that members of his
entourage themselves are enriching themselves or their cronies. In February this
year, the prime minister publicly urged senior officials to sue publications
“falsely” accusing them of illicit enrichment. In March, hackers hijacked the
YouTube channel of an Armenian newspaper just as it was about to publish a video
report detailing expensive property acquisitions by several senior government
officials and pro-government lawmakers.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Armenpress: Blinken reaffirms United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
10:00, 28 November 2023
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has spoken by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the U.S. State Department said in a readout of the November 27 call.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. They discussed U.S. support for efforts to reach a durable and dignified peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and outlined efforts to increase bilateral cooperation with Armenia as we work to support its vision for a prosperous and democratic future,” the U.S. State Department said.
Blinken also spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the same day.
In a readout of the call with Aliyev, the State Department said that Blinken noted “recent points of concern” in the U.S.-Azeri relations.
“The Secretary welcomed President Aliyev’s commitment to conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Secretary recognized the suffering that this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians alike and underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region. The Secretary discussed our enduring relations with Azerbaijan, noted recent points of concern in the relationship and also spoke about opportunities to strengthen cooperation, especially around the peace process, and the importance of high-level engagement,” the State Department said.
Travel: Why Armenia should be your next travel destination
First Post, India
Dec 2 2023
As the pilot’s voice cut through the speakers, announcing our imminent arrival in Yerevan, the sight of Mount Ararat, a snow-capped peak piercing the sky like a giant’s ice cream cone, sent my heart into a tailspin. Nestled amidst the rugged peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, Armenia boasts a rich history that spans millennia, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Palaeolithic era. I was eager to step into a land where history whispers from every corner. Yerevan, Armenia’s rosy capital and a city so old that it could give Methuselah a run for his money, owes its delightful pink hue to Tuff, a robust stone that puts mere bricks to shame. The city never sleeps, but instead of neon lights and honking taxis, it’s adorned with a blush that would make Barbie jealous.
Tatevik Arshakyan, my guide, was quick to point out that Tuff emerges from the fiery aftermath of volcanic eruptions, from the pumice that once danced in the molten chaos. It’s both lightweight and fragile, yet capable of bearing the weight of history and the hues of a thousand sunsets. With a history that eclipses Rome by 29 years, Yerevan boasts its place among the world’s most ancient cities, its genesis dating back to 782 BC under the reign of King Argishti I.
Frozen in time, Yerevan is like a living time capsule, a Soviet-era relic that has somehow managed to escape the clutches of modernity. My time in Armenia’s capital transported me back to the days of red stars and hammer-and-sickle emblems. It’s a city where Brutalist buildings stand tall, and the streets are lined with imposing Soviet structures, coexisting seamlessly with modern cafes, trendy shops, and bustling markets.
The city’s very atmosphere exudes a Soviet charm, a nostalgic echo of the era of borscht and ballets. The city’s theatres, with their gilded interiors and velvet curtains, seem to mutter tales of thunderous applause. The art museums haul you back to a time when art was a tool for cultural _expression_. The National Opera House, with its imposing façade, stands as a symbol of the rich artistic heritage that blossomed under Soviet patronage. It’s a city that’s old-fashioned, but not outdated, just like a good glass of rosé. Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely stroll or a romantic rendezvous, Republic Square (locally Hraparak), is where all the action happens. It’s where locals and visitors alike gather to bask in the glorious sunshine and revel in the pulsating energy of Yerevan. This architectural masterpiece blends an oval roundabout with trapezoid-shaped sections, creating an ensemble of five grand neoclassical buildings bedecked in pink and yellow tuff. The square’s ambience is further enhanced by the melodies of the musical fountains.
Amidst Yerevan’s bustling squares and grand cathedrals, uncover the poignant tribute to the Armenian Genocide at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex featuring a towering obelisk and a walkway lined with 1,500 basalt pillars. Visit the Cascade Complex, its towering staircase, adorned with sculptures and fountains, cascades down the hillside, offering breathtaking views of the city below. Delve into the world of Armenian manuscripts at Matenadaran, home to a vast collection of 23,000 manuscripts dating back centuries. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich history at the History Museum of Armenia which houses a national collection of over 400,000 objects spanning prehistoric artefacts to contemporary art, and discover hidden gems at Vernissage, a vibrant flea market.
When your feet feel weary from exploring, refresh with sweet water from a Pulpalak fountain, and savour the flavours of traditional Armenian cheese and bread, or desserts like Gata. To embark on an offbeat adventure through Yerevan’s cultural tapestry, step into the Megerian Carpet Museum and let your imagination wander through the centuries-old stories woven into exquisite textiles as well as sample Armenian cuisine that is just as rich. At Lusik Agulesti’s House Museum and Art Cafe, savour the flavours of time-honoured Armenian cuisine while immersing yourself in the artistic legacy of Lusik Agulesti, a pioneer of Armenian modernism. And for a taste of Yerevan’s bohemian side, venture to Dalan Art Gallery, where creativity and culinary artistry converge, leaving you with a symphony of flavours and artistic inspiration.
My second stop in Armenia was Gyumri, its second-largest city which is a mere 120 km (or a brisk two-hour drive) from Yerevan. With a history stretching back an impressive 5,000 years, Gyumri, formerly known as Alexandropol, is a veritable archaeological trove, where history whispers from every stone. During the Soviet era, Gyumri underwent a name change and a makeover, shedding its former moniker of Alexandropol and embracing the Soviet moniker of Leninakan. Here, ancient ruins stand side-by-side with modern buildings, creating a fascinating blend of old and new. As you navigate through Gyumri’s labyrinthine alleys and cobblestoned streets, you will find the echoes of the past serenading you, their melodies weaving tales of forgotten lore.
From churches with intricate carvings to quaint houses exuding old-world charm, Gyumri’s architecture stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of generations gone by. Galleries pepper the cityscape, their walls decked with the works of talented local artists who draw inspiration from both the past and the pulsating rhythm of the present. Some of Gyumri’s most fascinating museums can be found tucked away within the homes of renowned authors Hovhannes Shiraz and Avetik Isahakyan, or in the artistic world of sister artists Mariam and Yeranuhi Aslamazyan. For a glimpse into Gyumri’s rich history, don’t miss the Dzitoghtsyan Museum, or the Museum of Urban Life and Culture, a hidden gem clad in red and black tuff, housed in the grand two-story residence of one of the city’s wealthiest families during the 1800s.
Amidst Gyumri’s architectural tapestry, there are a few landmarks that stand out like a sore thumb, or rather, a striking masterpiece. The Seven Wounds church, constructed from black tuff stone, stands defiant, a testament to resilience even during the Soviet era when churches were shuttered. Its domes, though toppled by the 1988 earthquake, still stand guard. St. Nshan, Gyumri’s oldest church, graces the charming Rustaveli Street, its weathered walls whispering tales of centuries past. All-Savior’s Church, a masterful replica of the cathedral in Ani, Armenia’s former capital, was built between 1858 and 1873.
Across town, in the park commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, stands the Mother Armenia statue, a symbol of strength and resilience. Next door to Mother Armenia stands Gyumri’s iconic Black Fortress, Sev Berd, a formidable structure crafted from black tuff stone in the 19th century. This circular sentinel once served as a military barracks and prison, its walls mirroring tales of battles fought and prisoners held. Today, the fortress has been transformed into a cultural hub, its stern interiors now welcoming exhibitions, concerts, and events. Venture inside to explore the small museum and descend into the depths of the fortress’s basement, where a deep well awaits, its secrets whispered from the shadows of time. No trip to Gyumri would be complete without indulging in its culinary delights.
Have your taste buds tantalised by chechil, a string cheese native to the Shirak region, or dine at Chalet Gyumri, where traditional Armenian cuisine dances in harmony with a captivating collection of historical artefacts. And wash down your culinary adventure with homemade fruit vodkas, infused with the sweetness of apricots, cornelian cherries, peaches, or mulberries.
My third and final stop in Armenia was Dilijan, tucked away a mere 95 km (about an hour and a half) from the bustling streets of Yerevan. Dilijan is a picturesque town nestled amidst the verdant Tavush region. This verdant haven, often dubbed Armenia’s Switzerland or Little Switzerland, has long been a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the urban clamour. Its serene charm is enhanced by its idyllic location along the banks of the Aghstev River. Dilijan’s verdant embrace will greet you from every angle, and if you visit during autumn as I did, the forested slopes transform into a vibrant canvas of golden yellows and crimson reds. Legend has it that the town’s name stems from a shepherd named Dili.
Sharambeyan Street, the heart of Dilijan’s old town, has been lovingly preserved, its pedestrian-only lined with artisan workshops, art galleries, and traditional Armenian architecture. Step back in time where cobblestone streets and beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings await. Delve into the treasures of the Museum of Folk Art on Getapya Street and discover exquisite local art and handicrafts, from intricate woodwork to delicate lace, and from handcrafted dolls to vibrant ceramics. While Dilijan’s natural beauty is undeniable, it’s the town’s mediaeval-era architecture that truly steals the show. Nestled amidst the forests of Dilijan, the monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank stand as an exemplification of the architectural prowess of Armenia’s mediaeval era. Haghartsin, with intricate carvings and breathtaking views of the valley below, showcases the grandeur of Armenian ecclesiastical art.
Haghartsin’s trio of churches – St. Gregory, St. Stepanos, and St. Astvatsatsin – will leave you awestruck with their architectural beauty and serene ambience. Haghartsin boasts a rare 13th-century refectory, echoing the architectural ingenuity of its time, and is decorated with stunning khachkars, cross-stones that stand as silent sentinels of Armenian heritage. Nearby, you’ll spot the charred remains of an ancient walnut tree, once a symbol of protection against lightning strikes. Legend has it that if you can squeeze through the gnarled cavity in its trunk, your dreams will take flight. To delve into Dilijan’s rich tapestry of folklore, and artistic heritage, visit the Local Lore Museum and Art Gallery. Embark on a nature adventure to the Drunken Forest, where the trees seem to sway in a perpetual state of intoxication or venture to Gosh Lake where tranquillity reigns supreme.
Dilijan’s culinary scene is a symphony of flavours, harmoniously blending traditional Armenian fare with international influences. Kcuch, on Myasnikyan Street, reimagines Armenian classics with a modern twist. For a taste of old-world charm, Haykanoush, situated within the Old Dilijan Complex, transports diners to a bygone era with its restored 19th-century dining room, where handmade Tufenkian carpets adorn the floors and hearty Armenian cuisine warms the soul. Under the watchful eye of Haghartsin Monastery’s benevolent gaze, I embarked on a culinary adventure, learning the art of crafting Gata sweet pastries from local artisans and savouring the unique flavours of green-coloured honey wine, a first for my palate. Most diners perfectly complement the breathtaking views of the town and surrounding hills.
On your way back, don’t miss the mesmerising shores of Lake Sevan and the majestic forested slopes of the Tavush region, a landscape so picturesque it’ll leave you breathless.
With more than a decade of writing experience and a passion for exploring the world, the author is a travel journalist with a knack for captivating storytelling.Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/why-armenia-should-be-your-next-travel-destination-13456102.html
Cairo: Armenian President Hails Meeting with Sisi
Egypt – Dec 2 2023
Nada Mustafa
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan confirmed that his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Saturday, December 2, 2023, reflected the friendly nature of Armenian-Egyptian relations.
The meeting came on the sidelines of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai.
"Held a very cordial meeting with H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt in the frames of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. Stressed the friendly nature of Armenian-Egyptian relations," he posted on 'X'.
"Exchanged views on the current agenda & further strengthening the multifaceted beneficial cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Discussed wide range of international and regional affairs, developments in the South Caucasus and the Middle East. Looking forward to increased mutual interaction," he added.
First Armenian indigenous satellite already in orbit
14:15, 2 December 2023
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The first Armenian indigenous satellite – Hayasat 1 – developed by Bazoomq space research lab jointly with CSIE – Center for Scientific Innovation and Education, has detached from the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket and has entered orbit.
“Next the satellite will deploy its antennas and we will establish contact with it. At this moment the satellite is charging its batteries through solar panels,” Bazoomq Co-founder, board member & CTO Hayk Martirosyan told Armenpress.
The satellite will then start to send status updates.
The ground station can already receive data from the satellite.
The SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket carrying Hayasat-1 took off into orbit on December 1.