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

Explore the beauty of Armenia with new flynas summer destination flights

Emil Lazarian
ZAWYA
May 4 2023
AIRLINES

  Travelers can now plan their next adventure to Armenia with Flynas. Image Courtesy: Armenia Travel

Flynas will connect Riyadh, KSA to this fascinating city with convenient and affordable non-stop flights

Press Release
May 4, 2023

Riyadh, KSA; Looking for a new adventure this summer? Look no further than Yerevan, the picturesque capital of Armenia! Starting from June, Saudi Arabia’s leading low-cost airline, Flynas, will connect Riyadh, KSA to this fascinating city with convenient and affordable non-stop flights.

Travelers can now plan their next adventure to Armenia with Flynas, where they can immerse themselves in the country’s breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine, and hospitality. Experience the rich history, culture and stunning architecture of Yerevan and its surrounding areas. From the country’s beautiful mountains to the bustling streets of the city center, there is something for everyone in Armenia.

Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture enthusiast or simply looking for a new travel destination, Yerevan has something for you. Book your flight now and experience the beauty of Yerevan with Flynas.

Flynas’ state-of-the-art fleet and exceptional services will make your journey to Yerevan comfortable and enjoyable. With this new route, Flynas is offering travelers more choices and opportunities to explore the world.

This new flight route highlights Flynas’ commitment to expanding its network and meeting the needs of its passengers. The airline is constantly looking for new ways to offer travelers safe, comfortable, and affordable travel options, and this new route is a testament to that.

For more information and to book your flight, visit www.flynas.com. Start planning your unforgettable journey to Armenia with Flynas today.

-Ends-

Website: https://armenia.travel/en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armenia.travel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmeniaTravelOfficial/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFaMANXTIAs5ms88CZeNwQ

About Armenia Travel:

Armenia.Travel is the official tourism website of Armenia that is managed by the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. Their mission is to help guests explore its hidden corners, discover what is yet undiscovered, and create great memories. Visitors can find all the essential travel information, from obtaining Armenian visa to other useful information about Armenia.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Paul Estorffe 
Black Watch Communications
[email protected]

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/explore-the-beauty-of-armenia-with-new-flynas-summer-destination-flights-u1aly58c

Armenpress: Positions on some key issues remain divergent – MFA on Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Emil Lazarian

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 00:13, 5 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov held negotiations on May 1-4 in Arlington, VA, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

The Ministers were hosted in George Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. While in Washington they met with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The Ministers shared their views on the current situation and stated their positions on existing issues related to normalization of relations.

The Ministers and their teams advanced mutual understanding on some articles of the draft bilateral Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, meanwhile acknowledging that the positions on some key issues remain divergent.

Both Ministers expressed their appreciation to the US side for hosting negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The parties agreed to continue the discussions.

Pashinyan could meet Putin next week

Emil Lazarian

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 13:44, 5 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Plans to hold a meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are being discussed as the Armenian leader is to visit Moscow next week, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.

“Let’s not get ahead, some plans are being discussed,” Peskov told reporters when asked whether Pashinyan and Putin could hold talks next week. “We will issue a corresponding statement depending on how the discussions will end. It’s still early [to tell],” Peskov said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced his upcoming Russia visit on May 4 in Prague.

Blinken Isn’t Taken Seriously By Azerbaijan. A Drone Strike Might Change That.

Emil Lazarian
1945
May 4 2023

By Michael Rubin

Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted Azerbaijan and Armenia’s foreign ministers in Washington, DC, in an effort to win peace in Nagorno-Karabakh. As the diplomats prepared to sit down, Blinken called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. According to the State Department’s readout, Blinken “expressed the United States’ deep concern that Azerbaijan’s establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process, and emphasized the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor to commercial and private vehicles as soon as possible.”

I visited the area of the checkpoint the next day, looking down on it from a nearby mountain. Azerbaijan shows no intention of shutting it down, even though it would be easy to do so: it is a glorified tent that was erected in a few hours, and could be dismantled even quicker. Armenians rightly point out that repeated declarations of “deep concern” are meaningless; they can actually do harm if Aliyev concludes—as he apparently has done—that he faces no more than finger wagging and can ignore Blinken at will. Such attitudes makes peace less likely: Armenians recognize that Azerbaijani agreements are meaningless while Azerbaijanis see a lack of consequence as a reason to become even more aggressive.

Indeed, I traveled along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border close enough to see Azerbaijani forces and pick up Azerbaijani cell phone service. While the State Department waives—and will again this year—Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in order to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan, I saw newly fortified Azerbaijani positions with advanced radar, missile launchers, and helicopter landing pads. Not far away, Azerbaijan is building airfields in areas with no civilian need. In essence, the U.S. government today finances an Azerbaijani military build-up aimed at eradicating the region’s oldest Christian community.

Perhaps it is time for Blinken to take a page from Ronald Reagan’s playbook in order to restore faith in American diplomacy and fortitude. In July 1987, Reagan reflagged Kuwaiti tankers to reinforce freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf. After a US escort ship struck an Iranian mine the following April, Reagan decided to retaliate against an Iranian oil platform. As per procedure, the Navy first broadcast warnings to the Iranians to evacuate and gave them time to do so. When it became apparent that the Iranians instead sought to reinforce the platform, a battle ensued and Iran effectively lost its navy.

Azerbaijan is not Iran. If the U.S. were to leaflet the illegal checkpoint and demand Azeris abandon the post within ten minutes followed by a drone strike to eliminate the illegal checkpoint, it might be a shot of adrenalin to diplomacy and ironically facilitate efforts at peace. Aliyev continues to push until someone pushes back. Armenia has not. Russia cannot. Should the United States act, Blinken might find that, in an instant, the United States’ word in the South Caucasus would once again matter. 

Now a 1945 Contributing Editor, Dr. Michael Rubin is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Dr. Rubin is the author, coauthor, and coeditor of several books exploring diplomacy, Iranian history, Arab culture, Kurdish studies, and Shi’ite politics, including “Seven Pillars: What Really Causes Instability in the Middle East?” (AEI Press, 2019); “Kurdistan Rising” (AEI Press, 2016); “Dancing with the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes” (Encounter Books, 2014); and “Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos” (Palgrave, 2005).

"Albanization" of Armenian churches is cultural genocide

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia – May 6 2023
13:20, 06.05.2023

Azerbaijan has adopted a state-level policy of total destruction of everything Armenian. Advisor to the President of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting on the start of illegal settlement of Hadrut [town in Artsakh occupied by Azerbaijan] and the “Albanization” of the Armenian church of Hadrut.

“Although it’s not always easy to destroy. Where the Armenian heritage, the monuments, are located away from the eyes of the public and the international community, yes, they are wiped off the face of the earth. Where it is impossible to do so, attempts are being made to change the history of the monuments, to ascribe to them a foreign origin. As for the temples. What is happening with the Hadrut church, the so-called “Albanization”, is nothing but a cultural genocide,” he said.

PM Pashinyan stated that the key disagreements with Azerbaijan concern Nagorno Karabakh, but not only

Emil Lazarian

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 17:29, 5 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. There are key disagreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a number of issues, one of which concerns Nagorno Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports, Prime Minister Pashinyan said, answering the following question of RFE/RL in Prague: What are the issues on which the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan remained in disagreement after the Washington negotiations?

“Although it was recorded in Prague and Sochi that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognize each other’s territorial integrity, we are still unable to reach an agreement on the wording of the draft peace treaty that would give us confidence that Azerbaijan recognizes Armenia’s 29,800 square kilometers”, Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that there are differences in addressing the rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and they are preserved.

“Next, any agreement, even the most unambiguously written ones, have interpretations, the way these interpretations should be resolved is a very important issue, and in the end, the issue of guaranteeing peace after the signing of the peace agreement is a very important issue. Both international and local mechanisms are taken into account, particularly in connection with the withdrawal of troops, should we not have a demilitarized zone? Regarding addressing the rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, there are misinterpretations, and they are preserved. Of course, there is a certain move, if before the difference between the positions of the parties was 1 km, now it is 990 meters, it is a move, but there is still a huge difference,” the Prime Minister noted.

Asbarez: French Foreign Minister Refers to Karabakh as ‘Enclave within Azerbaijan’

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 May 5, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna meets with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Apr. 27


During an interview with France’s public radio, that country’s foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, referred to Karabakh as an Armenian-populated “enclave inside Azerbaijan.” This statement is sure to anger Baku, which claims Artsakh as being part of Azerbaijan.

”We must distinguish the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan from the situation of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is an enclave inside Azerbaijan inhabited by Armenians,” Colonna said during the interview.

Colonna traveled to Armenia and Azerbaijan last week to meet with the leaders of the two countries and advance prospects of a peace treaty.

Colonna told the French public radio that France is committed to contributing to a peace agreement between the two countries, and noted that the position of France, the EU, and the International Court of Justice is that the blockade of Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan should be lifted without any conditions, crossroads reported.

She also announced that a possible meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev could take place on June 1, on the margins of the second summit of the European Political Community, in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.

Meanwhile, with the support of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, 32 Belgian and French politicians and public figures have adopted a statement condemning the installation of an illegal checkpoint by Azerbaijan and the double blockade of the people of Artsakh

“We condemn Azerbaijan’s installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, which deepens the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh and worsens the fragile security of the region. We hereby call on the government of Azerbaijan to fulfill its obligations, immediately open the Lachin Corridor, remove the checkpoint, stop the hostile policy against the native Armenian population of Artsakh and act as a responsible member of the international community,” the signatories say.

“I highly appreciate similar initiatives by political and public figures who enjoy respect in political and public circles in Belgium and France. This is a civil tool that forces European countries and the EU executive to keep this issue on the agenda and take concrete steps in this direction,” said EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetyan.

Prague hosts 6th session of Armenian-Czech Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation

Emil Lazarian

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 12:21, 5 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The 6th session of the Armenian-Czech Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held on May 4 in Prague.

Czech Republic’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Edvard Kozusnik and Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Teryan co-chaired the meeting, the Ministry of Economy said in a press release.

The meeting focused on a broad circle of trade-economic issues, cooperation in industry and industrial cooperatives, high technologies, agriculture, transportation, scientific-technical and educational areas, culture, environment, tourism and other sectors, which will contribute to stronger economic ties between the two countries.

The sides signed a protocol based on the agreements reached during the session.

A number of meetings were organized for businessmen participating in the event.

US says peace deal within sight after Armenia–Azerbaijan talks

Emil Lazarian
May 5 2023


Azerbaijan and Armenia have made “tangible progress” towards reaching a consensus in talks over the past few days, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, adding a final agreement was within sight.

Washington is hosting this week the foreign ministers of the two South Caucasus rivals. Tensions between them have flared anew after Azerbaijan installed a road checkpoint at the start of the Lachin Corridor, the only route linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

“The two sides have discussed some very tough issues over the last few days, and they’ve made tangible progress on a durable peace agreement,” Blinken said at a closing session for the bilateral peace negotiation.

He added that he believes that there is an agreement within sight and that Washington will continue to help both countries cross the finish line.

Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but home to mostly ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan committed to keeping the route open as part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire in 2020 that ended a six-week war between the two countries.

Azerbaijan said it had established the checkpoint in response to what it said were Armenian weapon supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan denies that charge.

The Kremlin on Tuesday said any efforts to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan were welcome, but that the basis of any long-term solution should be the 2020 Russian-brokered peace agreement. 

The stand-off is seen as a test of Russia’s resolve to mediate disputes in the region. Armenia – formally an ally of Russia through a mutual self-defense pact – has repeatedly called on Moscow to use its peacekeeping force to stop what it calls Azerbaijan’s “gross violation” of the peace deal.

The parties have agreed to hold talks in Moscow at some point in the future, though no date has been set yet.

Despite years of attempted mediation between them, Armenia and Azerbaijan have yet to reach a peace agreement that would settle outstanding issues such as the demarcation of borders and return of prisoners.

(Reuters)


In Karabakh, living in uncertainty

Emil Lazarian
Chaikhana
May 2 2023


02.05.23

Every day since December 12, 25-year-old Davit Gabrielyan has been fighting for his business. 

Gabrielyan, a marketing specialist and small business owner, is from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). 

His family-owned business, Nakhshun Tea, prepares and sells teas made from herbs native to the region. Gabrielyan says. “There was only one such company in Artsakh, and it is focused mostly on exports. We decided to create our herbal teas, started branding, and today we have a popular brand.” 

Davit and his younger brother make tea from locally grown herbs.

The businesses were thriving until December 12, 2022, when the only road connecting Karabakh to Armenia was blocked by a group of Azerbaijani environmental activists who are generally seen as supported by the Azerbaijan government. 

Karabakh is a contested territory that Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over, most recently in 2020. The blockade, which official Baku denies causing, effectively cut residents off from Armenia, which is Karabakha’s main source of trade and goods. The closure has been widely condemned by the international community–on February 22, the UN International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to “ensure unimpeded movement” through the area. But no progress has been made on the ground.

In the meantime, the estimated 100,000 people trapped in Karabakh and businesses like Nakhshun Tea, are suffering. 

Gabrielyan says the business lost most of its contracts and clients nearly overnight. 

“We have temporarily stopped cooperation with about 80 percent of our customers in Artsakh, until we understand what will happen in the future. percent includes our clients in Artsakh who continue to make purchases.”

Orders to clients abroad have been put on hold indefinitely. “Currently we have an order from the US for 200 boxes of tea but we can’t proceed with delivery because of the situation,” he says.

While the Karabakh authorities have provided some aid for people who lost their jobs or livelihoods due to the blockade, not all businesses have received support.

To fill the gap, organizations like the Artsakh Social Development Program Fund are trying to support small businesses and entrepreneurs who have been affected. Sofya Hovsepyan, director of the fund, notes some of the businesses were just getting started with the blockade hit. 

“There is mushroom production, for which we bought bags that were supposed to be brought from Armenia to Artsakh on December 15, but we could not bring them. The other is the chocolate business, for which there is a problem of raw materials. There is also the problem of bringing some printing materials from Armenia. We had a serious problem with rabbit farming, because the feed ran out and the animals had health problems,” she says.

“We cooperate with the Buy Armenian platform, through which products produced in Artsakh had been entering the international market. But those products, which are people’s small businesses, can no longer be sold on the online market, and may depend now on local consumption—or may not [have any clients any more].”

The fund, which is based in Armenia, is also trying to help families and children affected by the blockade. 

The biggest issue, however, according to Gabrielyan, is what happens next. He and his family are surviving off of the vegetables they grow on their own land, and he is still working remotely as the head of marketing for a company based in the Armenian capital and has other businesses that he is trying to maintain. But uncertainty and the difficult conditions are taking a toll. 

“Now there is only one question in the mind of every Artsakh resident: what will happen next?” You don’t know what will happen tomorrow if you take a risk. You cannot run away from the situation. There are queues everywhere, a tense situation, people who stand in line for basic bread, eggs, sour cream in the middle of winter in order to have food everyday,” he says.

“The electricity is only on for a few hours a day, the natural gas comes and goes. We live in an incomprehensible situation. It seems we have returned to the dark and cold years.”

*This report was prepared before Azerbaijan’s April 28 claim that the blockade is over. Armenia has denied reports that traffic has resumed on the contested pass.

This feature story was prepared with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) South Caucasus Regional Office. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of FES.