Public Radio of Armenia Aug 3 2022 Route passing through Lachin Corridor can be changed only according to a plan approved by all parties – Armenia MFA August 3, 2022, 20:22 2 minutes read Azerbaijan continues its planned policy of terrorizing the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing and “creeping occupation,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The comments come after the armed forces of Azerbaijan, once again violating the trilateral statement of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan on ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh of November 9, 2020, resorted to aggression in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces, which resulted in casualties and injuries. “Despite the steps taken by the Armenian side to achieve stability and peace in the region, Azerbaijan continues its planned policy of terrorizing the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing and creeping occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Ministry said. It reminded that examples of such aggression and ceasefire violation are the advancements of the Azerbaijani forces in the direction of the village of Parukh on March 24, the attack on the villages of Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher on December 11, 2020, which are also located in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops. “We consider inadmissible the statements made by the Azerbaijani side, which attempt at unilaterally changing the legal regime of the Lachin Corridor defined by point 6 of the trilateral statement and reaffirm that the route passing through the Lachin Corridor can be changed only according to a plan approved by the parties that signed the statement,” the Foreign Ministry stated. “As the statement of November 9 clearly notes, with the agreement of the parties (i.e. the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan), the plan for the construction of a new traffic route through the Lachin Corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh will be decided within the next three years, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect that route,” the Foreign Ministry noted. It emphasized that to date there is no such plan approved in a tripartite format, and called on all parties to the trilateral statement to adhere to their commitments, to make immediate efforts to implement the conditions established by the statement of November 9, including respect for the ceasefire regime, opening of regional communications, release of prisoners of war and other detained persons. “The Republic of Armenia has fulfilled all its obligations. The reason for non-implementation of a number of points of the tripartite statement of November 9 is Azerbaijan’s arbitrary interpretations, continued aggressive rhetoric and actions,” the Ministry stated. “The Republic of Armenia, once again reaffirming its commitment to the agenda of establishing peace and stability in the region, calls on the international community to take measures to stop the aggressive attitude and actions of Azerbaijan and to launch the necessary international mechanisms for this,” it concluded.
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
Rep. Pallone calls for diplomatic efforts to halt Aliyev’s dangerous actions
Public Radio of Armenia Aug 3 2022 August 3, 2022, 23:22 Less than a minute Member of US House of Representatives Frank Pallone calls on the State Department and US Mission to the OSCE to condemn Azerbaijan’s actions. The Congressman called the new wave of aggression by Azerbaijan against Artsakh “the latest example of Aliyev threatening the people of Artsakh over absurd demands like the closing of the Lachin corridor.” He urged the State Department and the US Mission to the OSCE to condemn these actions and use every diplomatic tool available to halt Aliyev’s dangerous actions. Two Armenian soldiers have been killed, 19 are wounded in latest Azerbaijani attack.
Symphonic Yerevan International Music Festival to be held in Armenia
Panorama
Armenia – Aug 3 2022
In August 2022, the inaugural edition of the Symphonic Yerevan International Music Festival will land in Armenia, organized by the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC), in collaboration with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, and in partnership with the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Yerevan Municipality, Armenian State Philharmonia and Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall and the Komitas Museum-Institute.
Commencing on the 12th of August, and running until the 25th of the month, this festival will see some of the most acclaimed musicians and conductors of our time performing in the Armenian capital over the course of 14 days, with the festival presenting a mixture of chamber and symphonic concerts in some of the city’s most celebrated venues, including the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, the Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall and Komitas Museum-Institute, the State Symphony Orchestra reports.
Featuring a number of performances by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, who will be taking on the role of Orchestra-in-Residence for this first edition, Symphonic Yerevan will also witness appearances by a host of leading international soloists, including violinists Giovanni Andrea Zanon (Italy), Marc Bouchkov (Belgium) and Nancy Zhou (China/USA), pianists Saleem Ashkar (Israel/Palestine), Vanessa Benelli Mosell (Italy), Armine Grigoryan (Armenia), Sona Barseghyan (Armenia), clarinettist Fabrizio Meloni (Italy), cellist Brannon Cho (USA), flautist Noemi Gyori (Hungary), Gevorg Avetisyan (Armenia), guitarist Xuefei Yang (China) and others.
Moreover, throughout the festival, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra shall also be teaming up with various distinguished conductors from around the world, with Dutch conductor Daniel Raiskin, Hungarian conductor Gergely Madaras and Sergey Smbatyan, the Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, each set to lead the orchestra at different points of the festival.
Across Symphonic Yerevan’s 14 concerts, audiences will be able to enjoy music from a variety of seminal composers from Armenia, the wider European region and beyond, with the concert programmes specially selected to feature works from historic greats alongside contemporary offerings from some of the renowned composers of our own time.
It should be noted that Alexey Shor is the Composer-In-Residence of the “Symphonic Yerevan” International Music Festival.
“I am very proud to be launching the first edition of the “Symphonic Yerevan” International Music Festival in this wonderful city, and honoured to be doing so alongside the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, one of our oldest and most treasured partners, who share our deep passion for the global heritage that is classical music. I have no doubt that this festival shall prove to be yet another successful collaboration, and encourage you all to join us along with the dozens of internationally-acclaimed artists and musicians who will all be taking part in this joyous celebration of culture,” notes Konstantin Ishkhanov, President of the EUFSC.
Sergey Smbatyan notes that the cooperation with the European Foundation for Support of Culture is expanding year by year, and their approaches and desires in creating new projects coincide. “I sincerely congratulate all the outstanding soloists and conductors of the “Symphonic Yerevan” International Music Festival, as well as our audience, who will have the opportunity to enjoy the concert performances both in the halls and online platforms,” says Sergey Smbatyan.
Polish OSCE Chairmanship expresses concern at reports of armed incidents and casualties in South Caucasus
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 3 2022
Alexandr Avanesov
ArmInfo.The Polish OSCE Chairmanship is extremely concerned about reported armed incidents and casualties in the South Caucasus. This is stated in the statement of the Polish delegation to the OSCE in its microblog on Twitter.
“We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to bring de-escalation and resume dialogue. We remain committed to support all efforts aimed at consolidating peace in the region,” the statement emphasizes.
According to the Artsakh Defense Army, “On August 3, starting at 09:00, Azerbaijani units, grossly violating the ceasefire regime, using mortars, grenade launchers and attack UAVs, fired at the positions of one of the military units of the Defense Army, as a result of which contract servicemen Gurgen Gabrielyan and Artur Khachatryan were killed. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh shares the heavy sorrow of the loss and expresses its solidarity with the family members, relatives and comrades of the fallen servicemen.”
According to the report, another 14 servicemen received injuries of varying degrees. , the information of the defense department says.
Armenian men`s team is sole leader of World Chess Olympiad
ARMINFO
Armenia – Aug 3 2022
Alexandr Avanesov
ArmInfo. The Armenian men’s chess team won the sixth consecutive victory at the World Chess Olympiad, becoming the sole leader of the tournament. The International Chess Federation reports on its microblog in Twitter.
“Despite the amazing effort of Gukesh, India B surrenders 1?-2? to Armenia. 3-time Olympic champions, Armenians were stronger on the lower boards. GMs Ter-Sahakyan and Hovhannisyan won their games. Going into a rest day, they are the sole leaders with perfect 12 match points!” The World Chess Olympiad takes place in Channai, India from July 28 to August 10. –
Police use force to detain citizens protesting against government
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 3 2022
21:50, 03.08.2022
Some time ago, police forcibly detained a woman protesting against the government, as well as the son of journalist and writer Vahan Ishkhanyan Hovhannes Ishkhanyan, who demanded that the police present the reasons for the woman’s detention.
Vahagn Chakhalyan, a founding member of the National Christian Party Zartonk, also participated in the protest in front of the government, saying that by detaining people, the police are trying to prevent people from joining the protest and raising their voice against the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh.
Chakhalyan also said that the ambassadors of all countries operating in Armenia should gather right now in front of the government building and present what is happening in Artsakh.
First edition of Symphonic Yerevan International Music Festival to kick off August 12
11:56, 3 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The first edition of the Symphonic Yerevan International Music Festival will take place in the Armenian capital of Yerevan between the 12th and 25th of August 2022.
Organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture, in collaboration with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, and in partnership with the Armenian State Philharmonia and Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall, the Municipality of Yerevan and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, this inaugural edition will see no fewer than 17 internationally-acclaimed soloists and ensembles from around the world taking to the stage of three of Armenia’s most illustrious venues – the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall and Komitas Museum-Institute. Together with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra – the festival’s Orchestra-in-Residence – who shall be led by a number of distinguished international conductors, they will be interpreting works from a variety of historic and contemporary European and international composers, including various pieces from the pens of Armenian masters.
This first edition of Symphonic Yerevan shall boast no fewer than 14 recitals and symphonic and chamber concerts, which shall be held in three of the city’s most celebrated venues – the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, the Komitas Museum-Institute, and the Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall.
The first of these concerts shall be taking place on the 12th of the month, and will present a duo recital by bassoonist Nikolay Poghosyan (Armenia) and pianist Anahit Dilbaryan (Armenia). This will be followed by a second duo recital on the 13th featuring another two pianists – Armine Grigoryan (Armenia) and Sona Barseghyan (Armenia) – which will in turn precede a third duo recital, this time showcasing the talents of flautist Gevorg Avetisyan (Armenia) and pianist Anahit Dilbaryan (Armenia).
For the fourth concert of the festival, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra shall be taking to the stage, led by Dutch conductor Daniel Raiskin, and accompanied by the Italian violinist Giovanni Zanon. Then, for the 16th of August, Raiskin will be making an appearance once again, this time to conduct the string section of the ASSO in a chamber concert featuring the clarinettist Fabrizio Meloni (Italy). The 17th will witness another duo recital with cellist Sevak Avanesyan (Armenia) and pianist Sona Barseghyan (Armenia), before the ASSO takes centrestage under Raiskin’s baton once more in a symphonic concert alongside Saleem Ashkar (Israel/Palestine).
Symphonic Yerevan’s 8th concert on the 19th of August shall be a special affair, headlined by the acclaimed Aram Khachaturian Trio, while the following entry on the 20th shall see the ASSO, this time led by Hungarian maestro Gergely Madaras, accompanying cellist Brannon Cho (USA) and flautist Noemi Gyori (Hungary). Raiskin and the string section of the ASSO shall return once again on the 21st, in a chamber concert with Belgian violinist Marc Bouchkov, before Madaras takes the reins of the orchestra once more for a symphonic concert with Italian pianist Vanessa Benelli Mosell on the 22nd.
The final three concerts of Symphonic Yerevan will kick off with a chamber concert featuring Raiskin and the string section of the ASSO in a special collaboration with Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang, which will be followed by Russian pianist Nikita Mndoyants in a solo recital. Finally, for the festival’s closing concert, the ASSO’s Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Sergey Smbatyan will be leading the orchestra himself, which will team up with Chinese-US violinist Nancy Zhou in a grand event at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall.
Azerbaijan’s demand to replace Lachin corridor with another route is not legitimate – Armenia Security Council Secretary
12:49, 3 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan states that Azerbaijan’s demand to organize the traffic connecting Artsakh with Armenia through a different route instead of the Lachin corridor is not legitimate.
ARMENPRESS: Mr. Grigoryan, yesterday, during the extended session of the Security Council, the President of Nagorno Karabakh said that Azerbaijan, through the commanding staff of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, has presented a demand to them to organize the traffic connecting with Armenia by another route. How would you comment on this statement?
Grigoryan: Point 6th of the 2020 trilateral statement of the Armenian Prime Minister, the Russian President and the President of Azerbaijan, which defines issues relating to the creation and activity of the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia, says the following: “The Parties (Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan) have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route”. During this period, of course, some work has been done on this direction, but as of this moment there is no agreed plan. In any case, Armenia has not approved any plan, therefore, Azerbaijan’s demand is not legitimate.
ARMENPRESS: But you have stated that Armenia is starting the reconstruction of the Kornidzor-Tegh-M12 road which is supposed to join the new route of the Lachin corridor.
GRIGORYAN: Yes, that construction has already started, but notice that the trilateral statement mentions about the plan for the construction of a new route. No such agreed upon plan exists. The Republic of Armenia has already proposed to agree over and sign the plan in a trilateral format and move forward with an agreed schedule and roadmap. This is what is envisaged by the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement.
Russia records 14,638 daily COVID-19 cases
15:30, 3 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 14,638 over the past day to 18,636,741, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.
In absolute terms, the growth rate has been the highest since April 6, when 14,661 cases were recorded.
Russia’s COVID-19 recoveries rose by 10,266 over the past day, reaching 18,000,314.
A day earlier some 8,573 patients recovered.
Russia’s COVID-19 death toll rose by 43 over the past day, reaching 382,560.
A day earlier 48 COVID-19 deaths were registered.
Armenpress: The European Union calls for an immediate end to hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh
The European Union calls for an immediate end to hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh
21:57, 3 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The European Union called on the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides to immediately stop the military operations around the Lachin Corridor and other parts of the contact line, to defuse the tension and return to the negotiating table, ARMENPRESS reports the EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced.
“The European Union calls for an immediate end of hostilities that have erupted between Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces around the Lachin Corridor and other parts of the contact line. Unfortunately, these clashes have already resulted in loss of life and injuries. There is a need to defuse tensions, fully respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table to seek negotiated solutions. The European Union remains committed to help overcome tensions and continue its participation in the process of establishing lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus,” the EU statement said.
The tension in Nagorno-Karabakh started on August 1, when, according to the Artsakh Defense Army, Azerbaijani units resorted to provocation in a number of parts of the northern and northwestern border zone of the Artsakh Republic starting at 09:00 in the morning, trying to cross the contact line. As a result of the Azerbaijani provocation, the serviceman Albert Bakhshiyan was injured. Aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani side continued in the following days. On August 3, around 3:00 p.m., Azerbaijani units launched a new attack in the northwestern direction of the contact line, using attack drones, as a result of which two servicemen of the Artsakh Defense Army were killed, and 14 more servicemen were wounded in various degrees.