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

Peace treaty to be smooth sailing after Yerevan recognized Baku’s integrity — Aliyev

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia – May 25 2023
According to Ilham Aliyev, the lack of such recognition was the main factor keeping the sides from reaching an agreement

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that following Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the issue of negotiating a peace treaty will be that much easier.

“I think that after the recent statements of the Armenian leadership on the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, as well as the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan with the use of specific figures for the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic, the issue of agreeing on other items of the peace treaty will be much easier,” he said at the opening of talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

According to Aliyev, the lack of such recognition was the main factor keeping the sides from reaching an agreement.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik on May 17 that Armenia recognizes Azerbaijan’s sovereignty within its borders of 86,600 square kilometers, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that the settlement should be reached via dialogue. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the breakup of the Soviet Union, but which was primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Renewed clashes erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the document, Azerbaijan and Armenia maintained the positions that they had held, while a number of districts were handed over to Baku and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the line of contact and the Lachin Corridor. Later, the three countries’ leaders adopted several more joint statements on the situation in the region. Last year, Azerbaijan and Armenia began peace treaty talks.

Armenpress: The Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan will meet in a week. Putin

Emil Lazarian

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 00:14,

YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev agreed at the trilateral meeting held in Moscow that the deputy prime ministers of the countries will meet in a week, ARMENPRESS reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting.

“I hope this will be a good start for the practical solutions to some of the issues we’re talking about. We managed to achieve a lot in this format. In the fall of 2020, the hostilities stopped, and then work began on unblocking economic and transport communication, border delimitation,” Putin said.

According to Putin, despite some difficulties, the situation is developing in the direction of normalization. One of those directions is the work in the direction of transport communication.

“The three of us discussed it in detail. There are still unsettled issues, but in my opinion, they are purely technical in nature,” said Putin.

He said that they also discussed the issue of terminology, noting that, of course, there should be an accurate understanding of reality behind those terms.

“But in the opinion of the three of us, these are surmountable obstacles. By and large they don’t exist, they are purely technical issues. That’s why we have now agreed that the Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in the near future, after a week,” said Putin.

According to the Russian President, it is a good agreement that inspires hope that the unresolved issues will be resolved.

PM Pashinyan felicitates Georgian President, Prime Minister on Independence Day

Emil Lazarian

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 11:27,

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Independence Day.

The congratulatory message addressed to the President of Georgia reads as follows,

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you and the fraternal Georgian people on the occasion of the national holiday of Georgia, the Independence Day.

In order to build a state anchored on democratic values, the Georgian people took a decisive step on this day more than a century ago towards the restoration of independence and today they continue their path with steady steps.

I would like to emphasize that the deepening of mutually beneficial and neighborly relations with Georgia is among the priorities of our government’s foreign policy, and I am full of hope that thanks to our joint efforts, the relations between Armenia and Georgia will continue to develop in all directions of mutual interest for the benefit of our countries and peoples.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and productive work, and peace and development to the friendly people of Georgia.”

The message addressed to the Prime Minister of Georgia reads as follows,

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday of Georgia, the 105th anniversary of the restoration of state independence.

The road to statehood has not always been smooth, but the Armenian and Georgian peoples have proven their right to have an independent state thanks to their consistent struggle, and today, remaining committed to their aspirations, they continue to closely cooperate in state building.

I am sure that the existing potential for cooperation and the determination of the two friendly countries to deepen the partnership will further contribute and give a new impetus to the development of the fraternal relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the Armenian and Georgian peoples.

Commending the achievements of friendly Georgia, I assure you that Armenia is a reliable friend and neighboring state for Georgia and will remain so.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health and productive work, and peace and development to the friendly people of Georgia.”




Azerbaijani Press: Criminal case initiated against two Armenian saboteurs detained in Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
Azerbaijan –

A criminal case has been initiated against two Armenian saboteurs detained in Azerbaijan.

BYAZEMEDIA

Report informs, citing the joint information of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, that they were brought to the investigation.

According to the information, two members of the sabotage group of the Armenian Armed Forces were detained while trying to violate the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 26, on the section of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, passing through the territory of the village of Razdere, Zangilan district.

The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case against the detained Hovakimyan Harut Yuriki and Ghazaryan Karen Ashoti under articles 206.3.2 (smuggling of firearms by a group of persons by prior agreement), 214.2.1, 214.2.3 (terrorism committed by a group of persons by prior agreement with the use of firearms), 228.2.1 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying firearms by a group of persons by prior agreement), 283.2.1 (initiation of national, racial or religious enmity with the use of violence or with the threat of its use) and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan by a group of persons by prior agreement, with the use of violence) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

Based on the collected evidence, Harut Hovakimyan and Karen Ghazaryan were arrested as suspects and brought to the investigation.

Currently, the necessary investigative measures on the criminal case are being taken.

https://aze.media/criminal-case-initiated-against-two-armenian-saboteurs-detained-in-azerbaijan/

Armenian Delegation Visits Kansas Soldiers’ Home and Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery

Emil Lazarian
Kansas –
Steve Smith

TOPEKA – Members of the Armenian Ministry of Defense and the Kansas National Guard were on site touring the Kansas Veterans’ Home and Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Winfield to learn about the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO) mission to serve Kansas Veterans, learn about services provided, and facility operations. Also on the tour was a presentation from the KCVAO Mobile Services Unit, one of two buses outfitted to host Veterans and assist with VA Benefits and Claims.

“The KCVAO was privileged and proud to share information about how we continue to pay tribute to and honor our Veterans through the many services we provide here in Kansas,” commented Agency Director, Brigadier General (R) William Turner.

The Armenian Delegation spent four days in Kansas, included during the visit were presentations from Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam; Kansas State University Research and Extension, Kansas AgrAbility Project; and several area Veterans Service Organizations.

In 2003, Kansas and the Republic of Armenia were linked under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. The Kansas National Guard works closely with the Armenian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Rescue Service, and other governmental offices and agencies. Types of cooperation include military-to-military, military-to-civilian, and civilian-to-civilian events.

The Kansas-Armenia State Partnership was established to foster cooperation between the United States and Armenia, and to support the objectives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Each year, Kansas and Armenia conduct numerous joint exercises in both locations that span across educational, law enforcement, medical, military, and emergency preparedness endeavors.

https://newstalkkzrg.com/2023/05/27/armenian-delegation-visits-kansas-soldiers-home-and-kansas-veterans-cemetery/

​AGBU “rejects the validity of this rationalization”

Emil Lazarian
Armenia –

AGBU “rejects the validity of this rationalization”

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) issed a statement on May 26 “on agreement that gives Azerbaijan sovereignty over Artsakh“.

It reads:

“Yesterday, the Republic of Armenia’s leadership met with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia to continue advancing the process of securing a regional peace agreement. Citing its rationale of making it possible for the citizens of Artsakh to be “guaranteed their security and rights,” Armenia has indicated that it intends to officially agree that Azerbaijan has sovereignty over the people of Artsakh.  

AGBU, along with many Armenians across the Armenian World, rejects the validity of this rationalization. While all Armenians want stability, peace and security for Armenia and the region, we are deeply concerned by the prospect of Armenia signing away the fate of the Armenians of Artsakh to an enemy that knows no bounds in reaching its dual goals to eradicate Armenians from Artsakh and ultimately win hegemony in the region, which puts the sovereignty of Armenia, itself, at stake. Especially concerning is Azerbaijan stating that no country, including Armenia, will be permitted to stand in the way of its objectives for the population of Artsakh, signaling that blockades, humanitarian terrorism, and cultural genocide in Artsakh will all be fair game.  

“The history of this conflict over the past 30 years shows that Azerbaijan has never been an honest negotiating partner, “states AGBU President Berge Setrakian. “It has failed to honor any international treaty, convention, agreement, or law where the people of Artsakh are concerned. Ilham Aliyev’s relentless anti-Armenian public rhetoric, unprovoked military aggressions against civilian Armenian communities, and deprivation of thousands of Armenians in Artsakh with a ruthless economic blockade are evidence enough. We know that signing this document is tantamount to giving Azerbaijan a blank check to complete its mission to eradicate Artsakh of all Armenians, with impunity.”  

For 30 years, the people of Artsakh have tried to exercise their right to self-determination, as defined by the second article of the United Nation’s Charter and the principles of the OSCE Minsk Group. Self-determination is the only acceptable course of action and the world community must step up to finally see this process through.

As such, AGBU calls upon all international bodies to support the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, otherwise, they will be further subjected to ethnic cleansing by an Azerbaijan that consistently and unapologetically fails to fulfill its end of a settlement”.

Asbarez: Friends of ANCA-Western Region Host Welcome Reception Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Mayor Dan Brotman and Friend of ANCA Western Region Ronnie Gharibian


GLENDALE — The Friends of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region, led by community activist Ronnie Gharibian, organized a welcome reception on Thursday, May 25, for the newly-selected Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman. 

Mayor Dan Brotman From l to r: Aida Babayan, Karin, Pilavian, Ronnie Gharibian, Mayor Brotman, Maral-Demirjian, Ayana Hamamjian, Sako Tchakian and Alex-Izmirlian

The event was held at the Glen Arden Club in Glendale to warmly welcome Brotman to his new posting, introduce members of the community, and provide an opportunity for ANCA Western Region supporters to meet and greet the many public officials in attendance. 

As the city with one of the largest Armenian constituencies in the worldwide Armenian Diaspora, and home of the headquarters of the ANCA Western Region, Glendale serves as a home away from home for many Armenian community members as City leaders consistently and ably serve their needs both locally and globally. The ANCA Western Region and its local chapters work closely with the City to address issues ranging from the need to combat Armenophobia to standing in strong solidarity with Artsakh facing the threat of genocide and ethnic cleansing at the hands of the genocidal regime in Baku, in addition to finding ways to build on the sister city relationship between Glendale and Martuni to deliver tangible results to both cities and communities. 

Ronnie Gharibian, Ayana Hamamjyan, Ardy Kassakhian, and ANCA Western Region Community and Coalition Development Director Edward Barsoumian Former Mayor of Glendale Ardashes Kassakhian Attorney Garo Ghazarian introduces former Mayor Ardashes Kassakhian

The event was organized to express gratitude to the City of Glendale for providing a safe haven for many of our community institutions and organizations to thrive. Nearly one hundred community leaders and organizational representatives attended the event to show their support and appreciation including the Western Diocese, Western Prelacy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian American Museum, Armenian Consulate, Armenian Educational Foundation, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, St. Mary’s Church, Chamlian Armenian School, and numerous ACF and ANCA Western Region local chapters. 

“It’s an incredible honor to be Mayor of a city that has such a rich Armenian community. I’ve made many friends, and hope to deepen my ties to the community in this coming year”, said Mayor Brotman, after being introduced by Ronnie Gharibian, Friend of the ANCA Western Region.

Ayana Hamamjyan, Ronnie Gharibian, Police Chief Manny Cid, and Edward Barsoumian Ayana Hamamjyan and Ronnies Gharibian with Fire Chief Timothy Ernst (middle)

Dan Brotman was first sworn in as a Glendale City Council Member in April 2020. Brotman has over twenty years of professional experience, first as an economist at the Federal Reserve and then for 16 years in various finance roles at Cisco Systems. Brotman first moved to Glendale in 2015 to teach economics at Glendale College and has since been involved in several community organizations. He co-founded the Glendale Environmental Coalition and was Chair of the SoCal 350 Climate Action Legislative Committee, and was most recently selected as Mayor of Glendale on April 4, 2023, succeeding former Mayor Ardashes (Ardy) Kasshakian.

The reception also honored Kassakhian’s decades of involvement, service and dedication to the Armenian-American community and to the City of Glendale during his mayoral term. He was introduced and thanked by his colleague, attorney and Glendale’s Civil Service Commissioner, Garo Ghazarian. “Thank you for honoring me with the privilege to serve the city I grew up in and love. I will continue to work with you (the residents of Glendale) to make Glendale the best city that it can be, and I’m ready to support our new mayor in every way possible to make sure that his successes are our collective successes,” said Kassakhian.

Ronnie Gharibian, Aida Babayan, Tamar Tufenkdjian, Karin Pilavian, Silva Kechichian, Ardy Kassakhian, Ayana Hamamjyan, Maral Demirjian, and Sako Tchakian Sako Tchakian, Maral Demirjian, ANCA Western Region Board Member Lena Bozoyan, Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian, Ayana Hamamjyan, Karin Pilavian, and Ronnie Gharibian

Friend of ANCA Western Region, Ayana Z. Hamamjyan, introduced Glendale’s new executive leaders, including Chief of Police Manny Cid, and Fire Chief Timothy Ernst who were also welcomed to the City at the reception and were given well-wishes by community members, organizations, and officials for a long, fruitful career serving the residents of Glendale. 

Attendees of the Welcome Reception for Mayor Dan Brotman

The event was well-attended by city leadership including the entire Glendale City Council, Glendale Community College Board Members, Glendale Unified School District Board Members, as well as the City Manager, City Clerk, Glendale Police Department Deputy Chief, GUSD Superintendent, and GUSD President.

Glendale is home to the largest Armenian community in Los Angeles County, and is the vibrant central hub of Armenian-American culture, with many businesses, schools, churches, and organizations that serve the needs and interests of the Armenian diaspora. 

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

ICRC resumes transportation of patients from Artsakh to Armenia

Emil Lazarian

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 18:37,

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. On the initiative of the Red Cross, the transfer of patients from Artsakh to the medical centers of Armenia has been restored since May 26, Zara Amatuni, head of communication programs of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Armenia, told ARMENPRESS, noting that on May 26, 15 patients from the “Republican Medical Center” of the Artsakh Ministry of Health, along with their companions, with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross, were transferred to specialized medical centers of Armenia.

“Since May 17, we have also resumed the transportation of humanitarian cargoes. In general, we have transported various humanitarian supplies, especially medical supplies and medicines intended for local medical facilities. We have transported 16 trucks since May 17,” said Amatuni.

Baku, Yerevan may sign peace agreement in near future — Kremlin

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia –
Dmitry Peskov recalled that at Thursday’s talks, the three leaders “reached agreements and instructed their deputy prime ministers to meet next week”

MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. A peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia may be signed in the foreseeable future, but in the end, what matters most is not when it is inked but that all issues are resolved, Russian presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said on Friday.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia will meet “late next week in Moscow” to discuss the issues between the sides. “There is no objective to finalize everything to the end because what matters most is the final result no matter how long it takes,” he said. “That is why, no one can say exactly when the peace treaty may be signed.”

“Although, as was said yesterday (at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Moscow – TASS), the situation has largely changed; these changed circumstances actually make the signing of a peace treaty possible in the foreseeable future,” Peskov said.

He recalled that at Thursday’s talks, the three leaders “reached agreements and instructed their deputy prime ministers to meet next week.” “It [the meeting] will be held late next week in Moscow. They will try to finalize the issues on which the sides have an understanding in principle, and will decide how to settle them, but more talks are needed on the details,” he said. “They will talk it over.”

“There is a shared point of view, the heads of state have come to an understanding about how to solve it, so, there should be no artificial obstacles at the working level,” he added.

At Thursday’s trilateral meeting in the Kremlin, the Russian president noted that the situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia “is developing towards settlement despite an abundance of difficulties and problems.” According to Putin, there is still a lot of work to do to resolve the transport-related problems but such problems are purely technical.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said after the talks that the upcoming meeting in Moscow would focus on details concerning border crossing and border control issues.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik on May 17 that Armenia recognizes Azerbaijan’s sovereignty within its borders of 86,600 square kilometers, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that the settlement should be reached via dialogue.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union’s break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. Later, the three leaders adopted several more joint statements on the situation in the region. Last year, Azerbaijan and Armenia began to discuss a peace treaty.

Top Azerbaijani diplomat, NATO envoy discuss peace process between Baku, Yerevan

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia –
Javier Colomina stressed that NATO supports the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia

BAKU, May 26. /TASS/. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Aliyev met with the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina to discuss the process of normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said on Friday.

“The sides discussed issues of cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, the normalization process and the current state of talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” it said, adding that Bayramov informed the NATO secretary general’s envoy about the steps taken by the Azerbaijani side to promote the peace agenda and “Armenia’s military political provocations undermining the peace process.”

Colomina stressed that NATO supports the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the ministry noted.

“The Azerbaijani side stressed the importance of regular political dialogue and the development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO,” it added.