Author: Emil Lazarian

 10:32,

Yerevan, May 22, ARMENPRESS. “Ser Artsakh” will continue to support Artsakh newborns under the blockade, giving each newborn its first gift box.

In an interview with Armenpress, Armenian-American author, philanthropist, lawyer, president of the “Anna Astvatsaturian” Foundation and founder of the “Ser Artsakh” Initiative, Anna Astsvataturian  Turcotte stated that her Foundation continues to deliver the gift boxes through representatives of the Republic of Artsakh and the Red Cross.

“On June 1, 2022, International Children’s Day, we launched the “Ser Artsakh” Initiative based on the desire to support and protect the children born in Artsakh after the 44-day Artsakh war in 2020. It was extremely important for me to nurture the children born in families who chose to live in Artsakh. And today, almost a year later, I can say that we were able to gift 1553 boxes full of vital essentials for mother and babies to every newborn in Artsakh,” she said.

Anna Astvatsaturian emphasized that she had previously decided to implement the program for one year, but since Artsakh is under the blockade at the moment, and the need for this help is more than ever, she decided to continue delivering aid until December, or as long as they can deliver to Artsakh.

When brainstorming the initiative in early 2021 it was important for Anna to include items either made in Armenia or Artsakh or purchased there.  This was a way to support the local economy and  promote domestic products. “One of my very good friends in Artsakh, who makes wooden toys, agreed to make the wooden toy bird, which has become the symbol of the project,” she added.

“Before the project started, we were looking for Armenian-made clothes, toys, and care items for months. And of course, we found high-quality items of Armenian production, which we included in the gift boxes. There were some things that were not produced in Armenia, for example, diapers or thermometers. That was unfortunate, but we purchased these in Armenia for the Artsakh babies to support the Armenian economy and the Armenian businesses.

Anna Astvatsaturian said during the conversation that at the time they were finalizing the idea for this project and deciding which products to include in the boxes, many people asked her why she was focusing on the best and highest quality products instead of just mere quantity. It was hard for people who had not seen the refugee path to understand the emotional nuances. “I was a refugee once too and wore second-hand clothes and my brother played with old worn-out toys. I remember the feeling that came with that very well. It is a second layer of trauma. To me this project is not a donation but a gift because Artsakh families deserve the best and we should honor them for being so strong.” she said

Astvataturian mentioned that this program is an opportunity for her not only to support Artsakh and the economy of Armenia, but also to connect the Diaspora to Artsakh with their donations. “For me, the most important thing was not giving support but to show the Diaspora that people live and continue to be born in Artsakh. And to show the people of Artsakh that the Diaspora is still worried about them. The most important thing was emotional support, showing them our attention, and providing  these rare moments of joy with so much stress and pain around them daily. “- she added

When speaking about new projects, Anna Astvataturian said that she plans to meet and talk with the leadership of the Syunik region in order to discuss the idea of implementing a similar project there as well, under the title “Ser Syunik”.

“It is very important for me that people stay in Syunik and have many children there. It is also important for me to ensure they know we remember them.   I hope that this assistance will last, because this is an opportunity for people to continue to stay in Artsakh and Syunik.

“At the moment, the situation in Artsakh is quite difficult and the Diaspora is very concerned about this issue, and I have come to talk to people on the ground and understand the situation,” said Anna Astvatsaturian.

She mentioned that the project requires quite a lot of resources because each box costs around $105 and any support is very important for the Foundation. Anyone can support the Initiative by visiting www.astvatsaturian.org.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an American-Armenian writer, philanthropist, lawyer, elected official, president of the Westbrook City council and the president of the “Anna Astvatsaturian” foundation. Anna also is an author of a book “Nowhere, a Story of Exile, 2012″based on her diaries which she wrote as an 11 year old child escaping the Baku massacres. In 2013 Anna spearheaded a successful recognition of Artsakh at the state of Maine legislature. Since thenAstvatsaturian Turcotte has implemented a number of charitable programs in Armenia and Artsakh. In 2020 she founded the Anna Astvatsaturian Charitable Foundation. One of the fund’s major projects is the “Artsakh War 2020: Losses, Challenges – Opportunities for resistance development” survey conducted after the 44-day war.

 12:50,

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on the attempted kidnapping of his son and the protests which were sparked by the jailing of the suspect, who is the mother of a fallen soldier.

Pashinyan said he hasn’t asked his son to reverse his report.

“I wasn’t in Armenia when the incident happened,” Pashinyan said when asked by reporters on whether or not he’s asked his son to reverse his complaint in court.

“Before returning, I saw that legal procedures had already begun. When I was speaking with [my son], he was saying, ‘isn’t this all about issues having to be resolved lawfully in Armenia’? Now how should I respond to his?” the Armenian Premier said.

“[My son] told me, ‘I thought this was the entire purpose and goal of your political activities’. After that, I don’t have any argument to ask him [to reverse] [the complaint].”

PM Pashinyan said that everyone must realize that all issues must be resolved lawfully in Armenia.

 12:55,

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the West is not telling Armenia to disrupt its ties with Russia or push Russia out.

Pashinyan made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent remarks claiming that the West is signaling Armenia to push Russia out of its territory in exchange of ensuring security.

“We are not receiving any signals from the West on disrupting relations with Russia or pushing Russia out, we haven’t received such signals and I don’t think such signals would ever happen. Signals can be in relation to the development or course of bilateral relations, which pertains to Russia, among others. I mean that we are discussing our bilateral relations with our Russian partners very transparently. And I believe there is no unclarified point in these talks about our concerns which we have on Russia in the region and the situation in our relations,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan stated that it is Russia’s obligation to keep Lachin Corridor under control by the 2020 ceasefire agreement. The Armenian PM said that the illegal installation of a checkpoint by Azerbaijan on the corridor is a violation of that obligation.

“Russia had, and has to keep this corridor under its control. We’ve previously also talked both publicly and in a working level about the developments in Khtsaberd to Parukh. After all, the trilateral statement noted the existence of the line of contact and the obligations of the Russian peacekeeping forces deployed inside of the line of contact, and we have constantly encouraged, we haven’t created any problems, we’ve helped with whatever we could in order for these obligations to be fully fulfilled,” Pashinyan said.

“The most important factor of our relations are our relations itself, our mutual obligations. To what extent are these obligations being fulfilled? I don’t think the West is restraining someone and not allowing for these obligations to be fulfilled, in the most various sectors, in security, military-technical cooperation, or activities pertaining to peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh. There was a case when a farmer was shot dead in the presence of peacekeepers. And we think that Russia’s response was improper. Moreover, as far as I know, the peacekeepers themselves had convinced that farmer to start working there, telling him they would ensure his security, but he was killed half an hour later. What has the West got to do with it? 90% of our compatriots who are held captive today were taken captive after the deployment of the Russian peacekeepers in their area of responsibility. What’s the West got to do with it?”

Pashinyan noted that there is no agenda of pushing Russia out in the Armenia-EU or Armenia-USA agenda.

At the same time, Pashinyan said that he has started to discuss security issues with Western partners unlike in the past when they believed that security architecture was in place.

“When we see that this security system isn’t functioning the way it should under binding documents, due to objective and subjective reasons, we also discuss security agenda issues with Western and not only Western partners,” Pashinyan said.

 13:39,

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. The issue of possible withdrawal from the CSTO is still on Armenia’s agenda, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

“Why was that issue raised? Because it is our understanding that the CSTO has withdrawn or is withdrawing from the Republic of Armenia. I mean, if Armenia were to make a de-jure decision on withdrawing from the CSTO, it would take place as a result of Armenia recording that the CSTO has withdrawn from Armenia. By saying the CSTO’s withdrawal I mean first of all the obligations of the organization. I wouldn’t say that this issue has been withdrawn from our agenda, because the issue is being discussed as long as there is an issue to discuss. Look, there is a lot of talk on whether or not the monitoring group should come to Armenia, why it’s not coming. I don’t rule out that Armenia could de-jure make a decision on suspending or freezing its membership to the CSTO, but this could happen only in case when we were to record that the CSTO is withdrawing from Armenia. What else should we do if it has left? That is, if we were to record that the CSTO has withdrawn from Armenia, the [needless] status of a de-jure member of the CSTO would only hinder us from discussing security agenda with other countries,” the PM said.

Pashinyan said that membership to CSTO has blocked Armenia’s opportunities for arms acquisitions from other countries.

 13:44,

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. United States Major General Keith Phillips and Mr. Patrick Prior from the U.S. Department of Defense have arrived in Armenia, the U.S. Embassy announced Monday.

“The U.S. Embassy in Armenia welcomes to Yerevan Major General Keith Phillips and Mr. Patrick Prior from the U.S. Department of Defense. They will meet with Armenian government officials and members of the Armenian Armed Forces to discuss opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia defense and security relationship,” the U.S. Embassy said.

 11:19,

YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. The State Revenue Committee’s anti-smuggling division has thwarted an attempted smuggling of unprecedented amount of Fentanyl in the region.

In a statement released on May 23, the State Revenue Committee said the investigation began when a U.S. citizen residing in Yerevan was detained while receiving a postal package containing 10,8 grams of heroin.

Investigators revealed the accomplices of the smuggler and gathered information of another incoming smuggling attempt. The second suspect, a citizen of Armenia, was detained while receiving a postal package containing 80 tablets of Fentanyl hidden in a candy box. Authorities searched the residence of the suspect and found two loaded Makarov handguns and numerous used syringes with traces of narcotics.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, authorities warned. Fentanyl causes more fatal overdose cases than any other narcotic. 

Fentanyl is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.

According to the United States DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage.  DEA analysis has found counterfeit pills ranging from .02 to 5.1 milligrams (more than twice the lethal dose) of fentanyl per tablet.

42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose, according to DEA. 

Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram.  One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people, according to DEA.

 15:30,

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Russia will continue dialogue with Armenia regarding the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said in response to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s comments that the issue of a possible withdrawal is still on the agenda.

“Overall, the CSTO has a reputation among its member states, it shows its effectiveness in various situations. Regarding the Armenian Prime Minister’s statement, we will continue dialogue with our Armenian friends. We will talk to them also about our future participation in the CSTO’s activities,” Russian news media quoted Peskov as saying.

The CSTO has a potential for development, Peskov said.

 15:40, 19 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Some progress has been achieved in context of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization around several provisions of the possible peace treaty, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the beginning of the trilateral talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

“Some progress has already been achieved over several provisions of the possible peace treaty in context of the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization. There is some mutual understanding also in a number of other issues, including the unblocking of connection routes, delimitation and demarcation based on the Almaty Declaration,” FM Mirzoyan said.

The Armenian FM stressed the necessity for not allowing further escalations and the use of force, noting that Armenia is committed to all trilateral statements signed between the leaders.

“The Armenian side will engage in constructive work in these negotiations,” Mirzoyan said.

In turn, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also noted that progress has been made in the talks.

Armenia and Azerbaijan held U.S.-mediated foreign ministerial talks in Washington in early May. 

On May 14, an EU-mediated Armenian-Azerbaijani summit was held in Brussels.