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

Gazprom Armenia reports partial blockage in main pipeline supplying gas to Armenia

Emil Lazarian

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 01:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Gazprom Armenia said it will suspend gas supply to several Natural Gas Fueling Stations for one or two days as a safety precaution because of the disruptions of the daily volumes of imported gas.

The operator reported a partial blockage in the North Caucasus-Transcaucasia Transit Gas Pipeline, which supplies gas to Georgia and Armenia.  The partial blockage happened 16:00, February 14 in Stavropol Krai, Russia, which resulted in significant decrease in the daily volumes of the gas imported to Armenia. It did not mention the cause of the blockage. 

Given the interruptions and insufficient quantities of imported gas, as well as the technical conditions and capacity of the underground gas storage facility in Abovyan, Gazprom Armenia said it will briefly suspend gas supply to a number of Automobile Natural Gas Fueling Stations starting 11:00, February 18 as a safety precaution to prevent accidents and ensure the reliable and uninterrupted gas supply to the remaining gas consumers.

Over 90 other Natural Gas Fueling Stations will continue functioning normally with uninterrupted gas supply.

Paul Fletcher MP Calls on the Australian Gov’t to support Armenia & Artsakh against Azerbaijani aggression

Emil Lazarian
Feb 17 2023
Friday,

CANBERRA: On Tuesday, 14th February 2023, the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP became the third Federal Australian politician to rise in the first parliamentary sitting fortnight of 2023 to speak out against Azerbaijan’s illegal aggressive tactics against the people of Artsakh and Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Member for Bradfield, who was Australia's Communications Minister in the previous parliamentary term, utilised a 90-second Private Members Statement to highlight Azerbaijan’s “new wave of aggression, cutting off the only land link between Artsakh and Armenia in an attempt to subjugate the civilian population to a new form of psychological terror”.

The Vice-Chair of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union (Friendship Group) thanked the Armenian National Committee of Australia and the broader Armenian-Australian community living in and around his electorate of Bradfield, who have highlighted the need for safety for the Armenian people on this issue.

Fletcher, who was the first Federal Australian Member of Parliament to speak up for the rights of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh in the House of Representatives in 2010, directly called on the Australian Government to “speak up clearly in expressing the principle of the sovereignty of borders, and in raising our clear concerns as a nation about the conflict in Artsakh and the aggression demonstrated by the nation of Azerbaijan”.

The current Manager for Opposition Business and Shadow Minister for Government Services and Digital Economy also delivered a powerful message in September 2022 condemning Azerbaijan’s invasion of the sovereign borders of the Republic of Armenia, and published a statement in late December 2022 on his website over concerns over Azerbaijan’s blockade against Artsakh.

Fletcher, who received the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Freedom Award in 2021, has demonstrated an unflinching commitment to advocate for issues of concern to his Armenian constituents and the broader Armenian-Australian community.

“Mr Paul Fletcher is currently one of the longest-standing champions of the Armenian cause in our Federal Parliament, and we are honoured to have him by our side and be our community’s voice,” said ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian.

“Mr Fletcher has always stood up for what is just and right, no matter the heights he has risen to in Australian politics. He takes a principled stance and does not shy away from voicing the truth to power,” added Kolokossian.

Over the last two weeks, statements have been delivered by Senator for Victoria, Janet Rice and the Member for Bennelong and Chair of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union, Jerome Laxale MP.

https://www.anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/Paul-Fletcher-MP-Calls-on-the-Australian-Government-to-Support-Armenia-and-Artsakh-Against-Azerbaijani-Aggression

Opposition lawmaker: Armenia allocated more than 2 billion drams to repair closed Margara bridge road back in 2020

Emil Lazarian
News.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2023
13:28, 17.02.2023

Today, the entry of Armenian humanitarian aid to the territory of Turkey through the Margara bridge and the return of Armenian rescuers through the same bridge are considered historic. Emphasis is made in such a way that the Armenian side no longer mentions that the Armenian-Turkish border was closed by Turkey in 1993 as a tool of pressure, Armenian opposition MP Gegham Manukyan told a press conference on Friday.

He reminded that back on July 9, 2022, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan visited the Margara bridge section on the Armenia-Turkey border and said that he got acquainted with the progress of the M3-Turkey border-Margara-Vanadzor-Tashir-Georgia border motorway repair work with the funds of the Armenian state budget.

According to him, on June 25, 2020, when there was no 44-day war yet, there were no Armenian-Turkish processes, and there was no talk of reopening the border at all.

"On those same days, Armenia's national security strategy is published where Turkey is seen as a dangerous state for Armenia, and in case of a possible conflict, Turkey can intervene and assist Azerbaijan. And in the [Armenian] government session of June 25, 2020, a change is made in the budget, with which it is planned to repair the Turkey border-Margara-Vanadzor-Tashir-Georgia [motorway] section, as well as the Talin-Karakert-Turkey border road. In fact, back then the [Armenian] government allocated more than 2 billion drams to repair the closed border road," said Manukyan.

When asked what these facts indicate, he said: "I must remind that at that time there were unofficial conversations that there are shadow discussions between Armenia and Turkey. Later, when journalists ask [then] Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian if there is an Armenian-Turkish dialogue, he does not deny, but says ‘I’m not aware of such a dialogue.’ There is no justification why more than 2 billion [drams] should be spent on the road starting from Margara bridge. That part has been considered an ‘appendix’ section for 30 years."

"My conclusion is as follows: In the current Armenia-Turkey relations, the Turkish side is limited to small, symbolic gestures which have no practical results for Armenia. The Armenian authorities are trying to present these gestures as historical events. But as evidenced by the [Turkish and Armenian FMs] Cavusoglu-Mirzoyan [joint] news conference [in Ankara on Wednesday], Turkey continues to condition all its relations with Armenia through negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and continues to speak in the language of preconditions. Turkey will continue its pressure until Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the document which, although Armenia calls it a ‘peace treaty,’ is actually a treaty that creates the basis for [a new] war," Gegham Manukyan emphasized.

Presidential advisor: Karabakh is so sensitive now that I don’t think anything can be provoked or happen from outside

Emil Lazarian
News.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2023
Presidential advisor: Karabakh is so sensitive now that I don't think anything can be provoked or happen from outside
17:57, 17.02.2023

Constitutional amendments are a vital necessity in Artsakh. David Babayan, Advisor to the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"If we do not make these amendments, our state may face a disaster. Choosing the time is another issue; here we have to make a very deep analysis, show a wise approach. Suddenly any sensitivity, settling some issues hurriedly can also lead to disaster. That's why we need to think carefully. Perhaps as a result of the discussions it will be found that it should be postponed for some time; but that this provision should be changed, in my opinion, this cannot be doubted in any way," he said.

Regarding the remark that there are rumors that there are intra-governmental disagreements in Artsakh, and that it is also stated in a direct text from Artsakh that this is instigated by Armenia’s authorities, Babayan said. "Reforms cannot be instigated by anyone in any way. We are really in a difficult situation. It turned out that as a result of the constitutional reforms of 2017, we have the new Constitution, which is generally good, not bad; but the institute of the President and the National Assembly have become Siamese twins. According to the Constitution, if something happens to the president, the National Assembly must be dissolved after 45 days. Now will we be able to make an election or not? How will it be? After the dissolution of the National Assembly, the state system of Artsakh is generally delegitimized. What does it matter who is instigating? No one is instigating; this is vital. It is necessary to do everything to preserve the legitimacy of Artsakh in the political sense as well, to preserve the power structure, the pyramid as well."

According to David Babayan, if it is possible to implement the constitutional amendments and a referendum will take place in Artsakh, the presidential institute and the National Assembly will be separated from each other.

Regarding the rumors that Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan wants to have his desired power in Artsakh, Babayan emphasized: "Artsakh is so sensitive now that I don't think that anything can happen from outside or whether it is appropriate for someone from outside to interfere. You know there is an unwritten law: Artsakh does not interfere in the internal political life of Armenia, and neither does Armenia in Artsakh. It does not mean that we are indifferent to each other. Elections were held in 2021; this is the people's election. I do not accept the approach that the people do not make mistakes. No. The biggest mistake is made by the people; but this is a different issue. We have a government system and no one has the right to undermine it. The government system, the pyramid can be changed only in a civilized way, through normal elections."

And asked whether he saw an unhealthy atmosphere within the governmental arena, David Babayan answered. “Depends on what we mean by saying ‘unhealthy.’ The fact that there should be competition in the government, in society in general, is unequivocal. What is unhealthy is when people try to abuse their authority, when they try to take illegal steps. Such manifestations should be directly suppressed; whoever he may be. In this difficult situation, no one has the right to make Artsakh an object of their own ambitions or a springboard for resolving other issues. This is unacceptable by anyone."

Ex-defense minister declared fugitive from justice

Emil Lazarian

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 13:28,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan is wanted by law enforcement agencies, the Prosecutor-General’s Office said.

Sargsyan, who was Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018, is suspected of violating the rules and regulations of the military housing program during his tenure and ordering respective officials to include 26 handpicked servicemembers, as well as three other individuals in the program who were otherwise either ineligible or behind the waiting list.

The Prosecutor-General’s office had earlier said that Sargsyan’s actions “caused significant damage to the rights and legal interests of persons, as well as the legal interests of the state, by negligently causing grave consequences.”

Five members of the Defense Ministry’s Central Housing Commission are also facing indictments in the case.

Sargsyan is charged with abuse of power. A court issued an arrest warrant for Sargsyan on February 10.

He denies wrongdoing.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/16/2023

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Thursday, 


Squatters Evicted From Former Defense Ministry Building

        • Robert Zargarian

Armenia - Squatters evicted from the former Defense Ministry building outside 
Yerevan, .


The Armenian police made more than 20 arrests on Thursday as they evicted 
hundreds of squatters from the former building of the country’s Defense Ministry.

The building located about 15 kilometers west of Yerevan housed the ministry 
until 2005. More than 150 impoverished families moved to occupy its rooms in the 
following years.

The Armenian government decided last year to give the high-rise to its State 
Revenue Committee (SRC). The agency comprising the national tax and customs 
services is due to relocate there in 2027 after a large-scale reconstruction.

The occupants of the abandoned building received formal eviction orders last 
month. They refused to move out, saying that they are too poor to rent, let 
alone buy, homes elsewhere.

Hundreds of police officers scuffled with some squatters as they began the 
evictions early in the morning. A police spokesman said later in the day that 
more than two dozen people were detained as a result.

Armenia - Riot police guard the former Defense Ministry building cleared of 
squatters, .

“Who the hell are you?” one man shouted at the policemen. “Under what law? Tell 
us about that law.”

“They kicked the door open. It’s such an inhuman treatment,” said Paulina 
Petrosian, a middle-aged woman who has shared a room in the building with her 
daughter and two young grandchildren for the last four years.

The family previously lived in Gyumri. Petrosian said it left the city for 
economic reasons.

After being forced out of their rooms, the squatters gathered in the building’s 
courtyard with suitcases and other belongings, refusing to leave. They said they 
have nowhere to live.

“If they give us another place to live in, no problem, we’ll hand their 
privatized building back to them,” Petrosian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “If 
not, I will stay here with the other people.”

The Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs promised to provide the 
evicted people with temporary housing. The ministry said it is also considering 
fully or partly paying their rent.




Karabakh To Reopen Schools Despite Lack Of Gas Heating

        • Gayane Saribekian

Nagorno-Karabakh - An empty classroom in a school in Stepanakert, January 20, 
2023.


Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh said on Thursday that they will likely fully 
reopen all local schools next week even if Azerbaijan continues to block 
Armenia’s natural gas supplies to the region cut off from the outside world.

Dozens of schools using natural gas for heating were shut down on February 7 
following a fresh disruption in the gas supplies carried out through 
Azerbaijani-controlled territory. About half of Karabakh’s 19,000 or so 
schoolchildren are enrolled in them.

Classes were not suspended for high school students because the authorities 
installed woodstoves in their classrooms. The other Karabakh schools are now 
fully heated by firewood.

Azerbaijan reportedly unblocked the flow of gas to Karabakh on Wednesday only to 
halt it again two hours later.

“We have wood-heated schools without a second shift,” said Hasmik Minasian, the 
Karabakh education minister. “In other schools we installed stoves for grades 
9-12. We will try to organize second shifts for the other students.”

“All schools will probably operate in the coming days,” Minasian told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian Service.

Karabakh schools had already been shut down for three times since Azerbaijani 
government-backed protesters blocked on December 12 the sole road connecting 
Karabakh to Armenia. They were most recently reopened on January 30 after a 
partial restoration of the gas supply.

Following the February 7 disruption, Karabakh’s leadership urged the 
international community to exert stronger pressure on Azerbaijan to end the 
blockade. It accused Baku of trying to create “unbearable” living conditions for 
the Karabakh Armenians so that they leave their homes.

Russia, the United States and the European Union have repeatedly urged 
Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin corridor. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken 
telephoned Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for that purpose late last month. 
Aliyev again defended the Azerbaijanis blocking the corridor and demanding that 
Baku be given access to “illegal” copper mines in Karabakh.




Pashinian Hopeful About Armenian-Azeri Peace Treaty

        • Astghik Bedevian

Czech Republic - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev talk during an EU summit in Prague, October 6, 2022.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday expressed hope that Armenia and 
Azerbaijan will finalize in the near future a bilateral peace treaty while again 
accusing Baku of trying to depopulate Nagorno-Karabakh through an ongoing 
transport blockade.

Pashinian said that Yerevan presented the Azerbaijani side on Wednesday with 
fresh proposals regarding the treaty. He did not disclose those proposals or 
give other details of the deal discussed by the two countries.

“Obviously, this document should be acceptable to Azerbaijan as well, and we 
hope that it will be possible to build on some progress observed as a result of 
three rounds of negotiations,” he said during a weekly session of his cabinet.

Azerbaijani leaders have said all along that the treaty must be based on key 
elements which it presented to Armenia in March 2022. Those include mutual 
recognition of each other’s territorial integrity. This would presumably mean 
Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.

Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, said earlier this 
week that the peace deal should make a reference to Karabakh. He said Yerevan is 
pressing for an “international mechanism” for direct negotiations between Baku 
and Stepanakert regarding the security and rights of Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian 
population.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry deplored Grigorian’s comments on Wednesday, 
saying they show that Armenia has not abandoned territorial claims to 
Azerbaijan. A ministry spokesman ruled out any talks with the Karabakh Armenians 
whom he described as Azerbaijani citizens.

Nagorno-Karabakh - Empty shelves at a supermarket in Stepanakert, January 17, 
2023.

As well as reaffirming his declared commitment to the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
treaty, Pashinian condemned the continuing Azerbaijani blockade of the sole road 
connecting Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world. Baku has also been 
blocking Armenia’s supplies of electricity and natural gas to Karabakh, 
aggravating the humanitarian crisis there.

“Azerbaijan's actions have one goal: to complete the policy of ethnic cleansing 
of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh,” charged Pashinian.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov again defended Azerbaijani 
government-backed protesters blocking the road when he spoke with U.S. Assistant 
Secretary of State Karen Donfried by phone on Wednesday for the second time in a 
week. Bayramov said that the protesters’ demands for an end to “illegal” mining 
in Karabakh have still not been met.

The United States as well as the European Union, Russia and international human 
rights organizations have repeatedly called for an immediate reopening of the 
Lachin corridor.

Later on Thursday, Pashinian flew to Munich to attend an annual international 
security conference that will open in the German city on Friday.

Pashinian’s press office said he will hold “a number of bilateral meetings” with 
foreign leaders on the sidelines of the forum. The office declined to say 
whether Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is also scheduled to participate 
in the Munich Security Conference, will be among them.




Armenia Sees More Progress In Normalization Talks With Turkey

        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Turkey/Armenia – The ruins of a medieval Armenian bridge on the Turkish-Armenian 
border, April 23, 2014.


Armenia and Turkey have agreed to speed up efforts to normalize their relations, 
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Thursday after his landmark visit to 
Ankara.

Mirzoyan met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and also visited 
Adiyaman, one of the cities in southeastern Turkey ravaged by last week’s 
powerful earthquake. The Armenian government sent more humanitarian aid to its 
residents during his trip.

Mirzoyan said he and Cavusoglu reached “concrete understandings” on bilateral 
ties as he spoke during a weekly government meeting in Yerevan chaired by Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian.

“I can announce a decision to accelerate the process of dialogue and the process 
aimed at the ultimate opening of the [Turkish-Armenian] border,” he told fellow 
cabinet members.

Mirzoyan reiterated that the two sides plan to rebuild a medieval bridge over a 
river marking a section of the closed frontier. He also announced that they 
could open the border to citizens of third countries as well as holders of 
Turkish and Armenian diplomatic passports this summer.

Turkey - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Armenian Foreign Minister 
Ararat Mirzoyan meet in Ankara, .

Speaking at a joint news conference with Mirzoyan on Wednesday, Cavusoglu said 
the assistance provided by Armenia to victims of the devastating earthquake 
could facilitate the normalization process. But he appeared to link that process 
to the outcome of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks.

Turkey has for decades made the opening of the border and the establishment of 
diplomatic relations with Armenia conditional on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace 
deal acceptable to Azerbaijan. Turkish leaders have repeatedly reaffirmed this 
precondition since the start of the normalization talks with Yerevan in January 
2022.

Ankara briefly opened one of the border crossings on Saturday and Wednesday to 
receive two batches of Armenian humanitarian aid. According to Mirzoyan, it will 
also allow the 27 members of an Armenian search-and-rescue team, who flew to 
Adiyaman last week, to return home through the same border gate.


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.

Danger of renewed escalation by Azerbaijan remains high, says Armenian Foreign Minister

Emil Lazarian

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 15:30,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. The danger of Azerbaijan instigating new escalation remains high, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.

“We live in a region full of security threats. It’s more than two months that the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh continues as a result of Azerbaijan’s blockade of Lachin corridor,” Mirzoyan said in his speech at the opening event of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 in Yerevan.

FM Mirzoyan said that Azerbaijan continues to keep Armenian prisoners of war and civilians captive and the fate of many missing persons and victims of forced disappearances remains unknown. Sovereign territories of Armenia are under Azerbaijani occupation as a result of the Azerbaijani attacks in May and November of 2021 and September of 2022. “And the danger of Azerbaijan instigating a new escalation remains high,” the Armenian FM said.

ICRC again facilitates transfer of patients from blockaded Artsakh to Armenia

Emil Lazarian

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 16:40,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 8 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology as well as pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions and post- implantation correction have been transported today, on February 16, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Ministry of Health of Artsakh said in a press release.

4 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh.

3 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of the Arevik medical centre.

8 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 5 of them in critical condition.

A total of 105 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Japan is determined to cooperate with Armenia in solving Armenian-Azerbaijani problems. Ambassador

Emil Lazarian

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 20:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Armenia Fukushima Masanori highlights the unresolved issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the signing of the peace treaty and the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. The Ambassador assures that Japan, as a member of the international community, is determined to cooperate with Armenia in solving these problems, ARMENPRESS reports, the Ambassador announced at the reception on the occasion of the birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

He noted that Armenia faced serious challenges, such as the fight against Covid-19 and early parliamentary elections. "I think that the Armenian people have properly solved these problems. However, on the other hand, parallel to the negotiation process, there are unresolved issues in the relations with Azerbaijan, including the signing of the peace treaty and the blockade of the Lachin Corridor," said the Ambassador.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that the Armenian people, with their prudence, will solve these issues in a peaceful way. "As a member of the international community, Japan is determined to cooperate with Armenia in solving these problems," he said.

The Ambassador also sent congratulatory words to His Majesty the Emperor, wishing further development of friendly relations between Japan and Armenia and building real peace in this region.

Artsakh prepares to mark 35th anniversary of liberation movement

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 15 2023

Artsakh is gearing up for the celebration of its national-liberation movement anniversary.

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan on Wednesday signed a decree to establish a state commission for the organization and coordination of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Artsakh national-liberation movement and to approve its individual composition, the presidential office reported.

The state commission will be chaired by the speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly, Artur Tovmasyan.

According to the decree, the state commission must discuss and approve the comprehensive program of the festive events within three days.