13:01, 2 September 2022
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the course of implementation of the trilateral agreements ( 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 and November 26) on Nagorno Karabakh and prospects during a September 1 phone call, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“An agreement was reached to continue contacts soon,” the Russian foreign ministry added in the readout.
19:54, 2 September 2022
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. 50 Diaspora-Armenian specialists received certificates during the closing ceremony of the iGorts 2021 program in the government of Armenia.
The ceremony was attended by High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan, deputy ministers, program participants who arrived in Armenia from abroad a year ago for working in a public sector.
Zareh Sinanyan thanked the participants for the dedicated work in their fields.
“Within the framework of iGorts program, projects were implemented in healthcare, education, culture, social, labor, territorial administration, economy and investment sectors. All our participants are amazing specialists in their spheres. Most of the participants, nearly 70%, have made a decision to repatriate, some part will stay in the public administration and others will start working in the private sector”, he said.
“We have selected the participants with special criteria, as the applicant must have had a Master’s or a higher degree and been ready to live and work in Armenia for a year”, Sinanyan said.
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan stated that Armenia highly needs the professional and human resource that this program provides. iGorts program is also a good opportunity for exchange of experience and introduction of a new culture.
Vahan Mkrtchyan, who was born and lived in Russia for many years, told ARMENPRESS that this program was the best mean of returning back to the homeland. “I was working at the Yerevan City Hall through the program. It gave me a great circle, ties, friends and enabled to understand how the Armenian government is working today”, he said.
20:13, 2 September 2022
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the direction of an Armenian defense ministry vehicle in the eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Armenian ministry of defense said.
No casualties are reported on the Armenian side.
“At the same time, the Azerbaijani ministry of defense spread disinformation, claiming that the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions and military vehicles in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”, the ministry added.
On 1 September, the first meeting of the EU-Armenia Civil Society Platform was held. One of its mandates is to monitor the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union.
The platform consists of civil society representatives from the European Union side, including members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and representatives of civil society organisations (NGOs, trade unions and employers) from the Armenian side.
Jan Plešinger, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation, said that the EU welcomes the establishment of the platform: “A proactive involvement of civil society in policy making and governance reforms is crucial for the transformation process in Armenia, and for contribution to deepening EU-Armenia cooperation.”
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https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/eu-armenia-civil-society-platform-holds-its-first-meeting/
Garo Paylan studies condition of Armenian churches, monasteries that are under danger of destruction in Van province
20:52, 2 September 2022
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Ethnic Armenian lawmaker of the Turkish Parliament Garo Paylan studied the current conditions of churches and monasteries in Van province which are facing a danger of elimination because of destruction, Arti Gercek reports.
At first, Paylan visited Varagavank monastery. The monastery has suffered great damages and if not restored it may collapse in several years.
“Why is Varagavank, one of the key structures of the province, not being restored? Because we see the following response from the ministry of culture and tourism to the application sent for the restoration of the monastery: “It is a private property. We can’t take steps”. It turned out that the monastery’s ownership certificate belongs to journalist Fatih Altayli”, Garo Paylan said.
He reminded that Varagavank has a history of 1200 years and has 7 churches. He called on Fatih Altayli to refuse from the ownership right in order for the monastery not to be collapsed.
“This is a very important religious complex where thousands of clergymen could be prepared. This monastery is in an isolated condition. If Mr. Fatih Altayli transfers this place to the Armenian Patriarchate or the culture ministry as soon as possible, that site will be restored”, he said.
He reminded that 100 years ago every 5th of the people living in that region and 2 out of 3 living in Van were Armenians.
“The Armenian people have created a very serious civilization. They have thousands of cultural values, monasteries, churches, schools and hospitals. Unfortunately, these cultural values have been destroyed by a planned policy after the massacres of the Armenian people. Under the conditions of the vandalism organized by the state, few traces of these thousand-year-old cultural values remained”, Paylan said, adding that if an interference is not made for saving these monuments, nothing will remain from what has been maintained as well.
Garo Paylan said that he will deal with this issue after returning to Ankara.
The opposition Hayastan alliance issued a message on the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Independence Day marked on September 2.
On 2 September 1991, the people of Artsakh declared independence from the Soviet Union and became the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
“The Republic of Artsakh with its constitutional relations, well-established state institutions, educational and cultural institutions and economic capabilities was built over years of persistent and hard work, sacrifices and courage, as well as the selfless devotion of Artsakh Armenians to the idea of independence,” the bloc said in its message.
“Artsakh was getting stronger day by day, being convinced that it was part of the security, spiritual and economic system of Mother Armenia. Alas, the dangerous, reckless and anti-national policy pursued by the incumbent Armenian authorities dealt a devastating blow to the unbreakable Armenia-Artsakh unity, putting the two states at serious risk.
“Nevertheless, no matter how severe the consequences of the 44-day war imposed on us are, Artsakh’s destiny is in the hands of us all. Defeat is not a verdict.
“Independence and dignity are earned by those nations that do not give up on their dreams, that know how to defend their rights and appreciate their homeland,” reads the message.
Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders – Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman David G. Valadao and Congressman Adam Schiff – congratulate the Republic of Artsakh on 31st Independence Day marked on September 2, the ANCA reported.
https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2022/09/02/US-Artsakh/2725192
ArmInfo.The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Artsakh. Thus, the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reads in part: “On September 2, 1991, the joint session of the deputies of all levels of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and Shahumyan region adopted the declaration of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.
This step was the logical consequence of the policy of ethnic cleansing against Armenians by the Azerbaijani SSR, which is still manifested today.
In contrary to the constant statements by the authorities of Azerbaijan that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial unit no longer exist, it is a fact that around one hundred and twenty thousand Armenians continue to live in Nagorno-Karabakh, and as a member of the international community, they have equal and inalienable rights, and the conflict cannot be considered as resolved until the core needs of the Armenians of Artsakh are not addressed.
Ensuring the security and rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by using the experience and potential of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, continue to be a milestone for achieving stability and peace in the South Caucasus.
The Republic of Armenia continues to be committed to providing all the necessary conditions for the secure life of the people of Artsakh in their homeland.” It should be recalled that on September 2, 1991, at the joint session of the Nagorno-Karabakh regional and Shahumyan district Councils of People’s MPs, a Declaration was adopted on the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic within the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) and the Shahumyan region.
Thus, the right that reflected in the legislation in force at that time, in particular, in the law adopted on April 3, 1990, which provided for the granting to national autonomies of the right to independently determine their state-legal status in the event of the collapse of the Union Republic from the USSR, was realized. On December 10, 1991, just a few days before the official collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh, during which the vast majority of the population – 99.89% – voted for complete independence from Azerbaijan. After that, the NKR parliament was elected in the parliamentary elections, which formed the first government. The independent government of the NKR carried out its duties under the conditions of an absolute blockade and the subsequent military aggression of Azerbaijan.
Garo Paylan, who has been studying destroyed Armenian churches in Van, addressed the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism.
According to Turkey’s Sondaggi, Garo Paylan visited the Varaghavank, Zoradir St. Echmiadzin, and St. Bardokhemeos monasteries in Van and studied them on site.
Seeing that the monasteries were destroyed and on the verge of destruction, Garo Paylan turned to the Minister of Tourism and Culture with the words, “What benefit do you want to gain from the destruction of this monastery? Turkey will neither gain nor lose from the destruction of this monastery. Have you thought about that?”