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

Arman Tatoyan: The mistakes of the past must not be repeated

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Armenia’s former Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyanon on Saturday addressed the territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the past. His full statement is provided below.

“The mistakes of the past must not be repeated.

During the Soviet era, in border disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it was common for Azerbaijani authorities to take part in official discussions, but, in parallel, to carry out attacks on residents of Armenian villages, seize their land plots and then turn them into the subject of “discussions” (Barana, now Noyemberyan, Kokhb, Koti, Doveg and other villages).

For example, despite the resolution of the Land Disputes Commission of the Central Executive Committee of the Transcaucasian Federation of April 28, 1923, which envisaged the transfer of only 5,000 dessiatines [an archaic land measurement] of land in the Shinikh-Ayrum region to the Gazakh district, the Gazakh land construction group drew up a completely different plan, ignoring the decision.

They illegally seized more lands from the territory of the Armenian SSR than envisaged by the decision. In particular, by intimidating a local forester, they seized an area of about 7,000 dessiatinas, increasing their “achievement” to 11,800 dessiatinas and making it the subject of discussion.

Let me bring another example: the disputes over the Tavush, Karvansaray (Ijevan) and Ghazakh border areas, which began in May 1922, and the final work of the commissions dealing with them were constantly dragged out because the Azerbaijanis had seized most of the lands owned by the Armenians, but fallen into their territory and refused to return them. This, in turn, made it difficult for the villagers to use their pastures, forests and water resources.

In general, disputes often arose because of big Azerbaijani landowners who sold their lands to the Armenians and then unreasonably demanded them back. Whereas, Azerbaijan’s violations were not properly recorded by the authorities of Soviet Armenia, who relied on discussions and Azerbaijani “lulling” and tried to avoid “unnecessary trouble”.

Thus, they were only making a gift to the Azerbaijani authorities to show the world that they were peaceful and humane at the expense of our homeland and compatriots.”


Serzh Sargsyan re-elected as Armenian Chess Federation president

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Armenia’s third President and Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serzh Sargsyan has been re-elected as president of the Chess Federation of Armenia.

The voting took place during the Chess Federation’s reporting conference on Saturday, RPA said on Facebook.

Sargsyan was the only candidate and was re-elected unanimously. He has headed the Armenian Chess Federation since 2004.

Also, Smbat Lputyan was re-elected as first vice president of the federation.

Armenian Ambassador, Kazakh deputy FM discuss regional and international issues

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 14:15,

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Kazakhstan Armen Ghevondyan presented the copy of his credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister Yermukhambet Konuspayev, the Embassy of Armenia in Kazakhstan reported.

The sides exchanged ideas about the current situation of the Armenian-Kazakh mutual partnership and the development prospects, including within multilateral and integration unions.

They also discussed the timetable of contacts over bilateral inter-state cooperation mechanisms.

The relevant issues of the regional and international agenda were also touched upon.

The Kazakh deputy foreign minister wished the Armenian Ambassador success in fulfilling the priorities of Armenia’s diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan.

Shell to launch network of filling stations in Armenia

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 16:56,

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The British-Dutch oil and gas company Shell will launch a network of filling stations in Armenia this autumn, the Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told ARMENPRESS.

“The Shell filling station network will be launched in Armenia already in autumn,” Kerobyan said.

Kerobyan said the filling stations will be of new quality and standards. The plan to open the gas stations existed since last year.

Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers discuss normalisation

Emil Lazarian
 

ByIsmi AghayevandAni Avetisyan

The foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia have met in Dushanbe to discuss the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The discussion between Armenia’s Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijan’s Jeyhun Bayramov took place on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States.

It comes after almost two weeks of opposition protests in the Armenian capital Yerevan sparked by fears the Armenian government planned to make concessions over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh in a peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

In their statement on the talks, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said they had discussed ‘the conclusion of a peace agreement between the two countries’.

In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Yerevan-based political analyst Tigran Grigoryan pointed out that the Armenian and Russian statements did not mention any ‘peace agreement’, which he suggested could mean they intended to separate normalisation from the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mirzoyan also emphasised that he reiterated Armenia’s position on the ‘rights of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh’ during the meeting.

Both sides mentioned that fulfilling the terms of the 9 November ceasefire agreement was discussed, including normalising relations, border delimitation, and the opening of transport links.

The issue of a peace agreement has led to unrest in Armenia, with the opposition attempting to topple the government of Nikol Pashinyan.

On 6 April, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Pashinyan in Brussels, along with EU Council President Charles Michel.

Readouts of the meeting said the parties agreed to start work on a ‘peace agreement’ and establish a joint commission on the delimitation of borders.

Pashinyan’s statement following the April meeting, as well as a speech to Parliament hinting at concessions on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparked outrage in Armenia, leading to the protests that are still ongoing.

On 11 May, during a call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, President Aliyev reportedly said that Armenia had accepted a five-point peace agreement proposed by Azerbaijan and that steps were being taken to implement this.

Armenia disputed this, claiming they had sent an additional six-point proposal to Azerbaijan to be included in the peace talks.

Blinken reportedly stressed that the United States was ready to support the delimitation and demarcation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the opening of transport links.


iGorts: 300 Diaspora specialists apply for work in Armenia’s public sector

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 11:19

 1 minute read

Nearly 300 Diaspora Armenian professionals from 31 countries have applied for participation in the iGorts program, the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs reports.

Applications have been received from Russia, the United States, Lebanon, Ukraine, Belgium, Iran, Canada, France, Germany, Belarus, Argentina, Switzerland, Norway Italy and other countries. Professionals from the Netherlands, Jordan, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand have applied to the program for the first time.

The program provides an opportunity for specialists from the Diaspora to work in more than 25 departments in Armenia and Artsakh for a year, bringing their experience and knowledge, initiating new programs, and starting their careers in their Homeland.

All applicants have a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of professional experience or a master’s degree (or higher) with three years of professional experience. This year the applicants include graduates from Harvard, Bradford University, MSU, Columbia University, and UCLA.

This year the oldest applicant is 77 years old, and the average age of candidates for the program is 35 years.

After the final round, 50 specialists from the Diaspora will begin their career in Armenia in September 2022. The government of the Republic of Armenia will offer a round-trip air ticket, a monthly stipend of 336.000 AMD AMD to cover living expenses, emergency medical insurance, and a one-year residency status fee for the participants.

Over the past two years more than 100 specialists started their work in the public sector of Armenia and Artsakh, 70% of them decided to repatriate.

iGorts is the only state program in the history of Armenia that invites specialists from the Diaspora to help change Armenia’s administration system using their skills.

His Holiness Aram I receives Armenian and Russian Ambassadors to Lebanon

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 22:01

 

On Friday, May 13th, 2022, His Holiness Aram I received the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, and the Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekyan respectively, in Antelias.

Armenia and the war in Ukraine were the focus of the hour-long discussion with the Russian Ambassador. His Holiness presented his ideas and concerns.

Ambassador Rudakov, in turn, clarified Russia’s position on the Ukraine issue and Russia’s effort to seek mutually understandable solutions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that a few days ago His Holiness had received a personal letter from the head of the Russian Church, Patriarch Kirill, with whom Catholicos Aram I has been friends for many years.

In the afternoon, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon, Vahagn Atabekian, also visited the Patriarch. The meeting was an occasion to make a general reference to the issues concerning Armenia.

Artsakh flag raised in Ryde, Australia

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

POLITICS 13:00 13/05/2022 WORLD

On Monday 9 May 2022, the most Armenian populated municipality in Australia, the City of Ryde raised the flag of the Republic of Artsakh at Kissing Point Park, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The flag of Artsakh, which is currently under occupation after a brutal 44-day offensive launched against the self-determined Armenian Republic by the Azerbaijani and Turkish dictatorships, will fly alongside the Australian flag for the next two weeks after a solidarity motion was passed by the City of Ryde Council.

The motion was moved by Mayor Jordan Lane with the support of Armenian-Australian Councillor Sarkis Yedelian reaffirming the City of Ryde’s commitment to friendship city, Artsakh’s capital Stepanakert. The Resolution can be viewed here.

The formal ceremony took place in the presence of over 30 Armenian-Australian community leaders as Armenians worldwide and the people of Artsakh celebrated the anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, currently one of the many ancestral Armenian towns under occupation by Azerbaijani forces.

Councillor Yedelian welcomed attendees and commenced the ceremony’s formalities with a minute’s silence honouring the thousands of innocent Armenian victims who lost their lives in the 44-day Nagorno Karabakh war. Mayor Jordan Lane affirmed Council’s support for the Armenian-Australian community of Ryde and the people of Artsakh in their fight against modern manifestations of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Armenian-Australian community leaders who were present at ceremony also heard from the the Republic of Artsakh’s Permanent Representative in Australia, Kaylar Michaelian, ANC-AU Political Affairs Director Michael Kolokossian and Archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, His Eminence Haigzaoun Najarian

Michaelian thanked the City of Ryde Councillors for their ongoing commitment to the Armenian people of Artsakh.

“We express our deepest appreciation to Mayor Jordan Lane, Councillor Sarkis Yedelian and all the City of Ryde Councillors for this special event, which will bring pride and joy to the people of Artsakh, who are comforted knowing 14,000km away in Australia there are good people who value the importance of human rights,” he said.

ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Michael Kolokossian echoed these sentiments.

“The City of Ryde remains the yardstick among cities around the world saying no to illegal occupation by force, and no to Azerbaijan’s trampling over the indigenous Armenian people of Artsakh’s human right to self-determination, independence and democracy,” Kolokossian said.

The ceremony concluded with the official raising of the Republic of Artsakh flag conducted by Homenetmen Ararat Scouts member George Keshishian.

In 2019, the City of Ryde unanimously voted on a resolution to form a Friendship City with the capital of Republic of Artsakh, Stepanakert.

Councillor Jerome Laxale, a candidate for the Federal seat of Bennelong and the City of Ryde’s Mayor when the Council recognised Artsakh’s independence and formed the Friendship City relationship with Stepanakert, declared his pride at this latest show of solidarity.

“I am proud to be part of a City Council that has always championed the rights to self-determination of the Armenian Republic of Artsakh. As Mayor, I seconded motions recognising Artsakh and forming a Friendship City with its capital Stepanakert,” Laxale said.

“Today, the City of Ryde raised the Artsakh flag at Kissing Point Wharf, in support of the occupied Republic. I salute the people of Artsakh, which is always Armenian,” added Laxale.

Simon Kennedy, also a candidate for Bennelong, added: “We have a proud Armenian community here in Bennelong and Monday’s flag raising event was a powerful symbol of the bond between our local community and the people of the Republic of Artsakh.”

“I congratulate everyone involved in this initiative, particularly the Armenian National Committee for their advocacy and the City of Ryde for this powerful symbolic gesture,” added Kennedy.

Lawyers seek closure of Open Society Foundations office in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

A group of lawyers plan to apply to a court to end the operations of American billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations in Armenia, famous lawyer Tigran Atanesyan said in a statement on Friday.

He accused the foundation of “sowing the seeds of division and destruction all over the world.”

“The example of our state makes it clear that, in fact, this foundation and its beneficiaries are extremely far from the real goal of building civil society. The foundation actually seeks the destruction of a specific state with far-reaching and calculated political goals,” Atanesian wrote.

He highlights that supporters and beneficiaries of the foundation backed the 2018 “revolution” in Armenia, while now they remain silent about violations of the rights of the opposition.

“These days, Soros’ hirelings are making ordered statements advocating the handover of Artsakh to the enemy. The first step to get Armenia out of the current situation should be to take legal action to ban the operations of the Soros foundation and liquidate it in Armenia,” the lawyer stated.

“A Yerevan court of first instance is now hearing a criminal case in which a beneficiary of Soros’ foundation is accused of inciting ethnic hatred between Yezidis and Armenians. The perpetrator received a tidy sum from corrupt oligarch Soros. His foundation has now taken up the defense of its colleague in a panic which is not surprising, since in a normal country such a criminal prosecution may server as a legal basis for recognizing the operations of the Open Society Foundations illegal and dangerous for the public, thus banning them.

“Although the court has not yet issued a verdict in the case and the defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence, given the crucial moment and the imperative to immediately stop the activities of a foreign network of agents in the country, I and several of my colleagues have decided to apply to a court to demand that the operations of the Open Society Foundations in Armenia be halted,” he said.