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

Armenian school students get exclusive chance to speak with Shenzhou 15 crew

Emil Lazarian

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 13:22,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. A group of school students in Armenia were given the opportunity to speak with the crew of Shenzhou 15, the Chinese spaceflight that launched on 29 November 2022.

China’s Ambassador to Armenia Fan Yong said that this event – first of its kind organized in Armenia – is a very good chance for Armenian young people to get to know China’s achievements in space.

“Because Armenia and China are very good partners and friends, we try to share our experience of development with Armenia. I think this is a very good chance to spark interest for space among Armenian young people, which will then develop the country. The development of astronautics played a big role in China’s path of development,” the Ambassador said.

“I think the knowledge in this sector is highly important for Armenia because Armenia has also launched a satellite into space,” he added.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Artur Martirosyan said the event is a sign of the friendship between Armenia and the People’s Republic of China.

“Around 60 children are participating in this online dialogue. I am sure that this will be a very good opportunity for them to choose a future profession,” he said.

Students from 14 other countries from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were also participating in the video conference with the crew of the Shenzhou 15 .

The students got to know the activities of the crew, their daily routine and work.

Azerbaijani military opens gunfire at farmers in Nagorno Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

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 15:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani troops opened fire at several Armenian farmers working in the agricultural fields in Nagorno Karabakh around 12:00, April 18, the Nagorno Karabakh authorities announced.

The shooting happened in the Aknaghbyur village.

The Azerbaijani troops used various caliber small arms in the shooting.

The farmers stopped the agricultural work.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh said they notified the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.

No injuries were reported.

Armenian President says all steps will be taken to hold next Armenian-Lithuanian business forum in Armenia

Emil Lazarian

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 18:47,

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the official visit to the Republic of Lithuania, the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, along with his counterpart Gitanas Nausėda, participated in the official opening ceremony of the Armenian-Lithuanian business forum, during which the presidents made opening speeches.

ARMENPRESS reports President Vahagn Khachaturyan welcomed all the participants of the Armenian-Lithuanian business forum, expressing gratitude to the Lithuanian side for their support in organizing the event.

“The interest shown by the representatives of various business circles in the forum is really encouraging. At the same time, I must admit that the interest of the Armenian side in participating in the forum was much greater. I am committed to provide all the necessary steps to hold the next business forum in Armenia. As an economist and politician, I would like to note that economy is tight politics, while tight economy is successful business. Therefore, the success of the business is the evidence of the success of both the economy and politics,” he said.

The President emphasized that, guided by that logic, from the beginning of the planning of his visit, he wanted to include a business component in the visit, and he is happy that they succeeded in this.

“Greeting all of you once again, I urge you to take this opportunity to identify, consolidate and implement your interest in businesses that are important for both countries and make the best use of this platform kindly provided by the Lithuanian authorities.

 I will end my speech with the note that business is not about long-winded speeches, but about actions and results, so I wish you all a fruitful event and assure you that I am ready to support all your ideas and initiatives,” concluded Vahagn Khachaturyan.

At the start of the business forum, in the presence of Presidents Vahagn Khachaturyan and Gitanas Nausėda, the Ministers of High-Tech Industry of Armenia and Lithuania signed a cooperation and mutual understanding agreement. Agreements and memorandums were also signed between Armenian and Lithuanian businessmen participating in the conference.

Bitcoin Influence on the Technology of Armenia

Emil Lazarian
GISuser

APRIL 19, 2023 BY GISUSER

Bitcoin, the world’s first decentralized digital cryptocurrency, has had a significant impact on the technology of Armenia. The country’s tech-savvy population and its embrace of blockchain technology have made it one of the leading countries in the region when it comes to developing and implementing Bitcoin-based services. Visit bitcoin union for further information.

In 2017, Armenian citizens were granted access to Bitruble, Russia’s first government-backed cryptocurrency. This allowed local traders to benefit from lower transaction costs associated with digital currency transactions compared to fiat money transfers. In addition, Armenia is also home to a number of high-tech startups that are leveraging blockchain technology to create efficient payment solutions for businesses.

The most prominent example is P2P Cash, which was founded in 2018 as an alternative payment system for merchants and consumers. The company enables customers to make payments without having to incur fees associated with traditional payment systems like credit cards or bank transfers. Additionally, P2P Cash provides users with enhanced security through their use of multi-signature wallets.

 

Armenia is also at the forefront of other innovative uses of Bitcoin such as smart contracts and distributed ledger technology (DLT). For instance, Smart Valley is a platform that harnesses DLT to facilitate investments between companies and venture capitalists all over the world by providing them with immutable records on all financial activities taking place within their network. 

 

Furthermore, the country has seen an emergence of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) that allow traders to exchange cryptocurrencies in a secure manner without entrusting sensitive data such as personal information or KYC documents to any third party counterparties. 

 

Overall, Bitcoin has had far-reaching implications on the technology sector in Armenia due its widespread adoption across various industries, including finance and tourism. The prevalence of blockchain applications has enabled businesses and individuals alike to reap greater benefits from digital transactions while enjoying increased privacy and security features not available with traditional banking options.

 

The introduction of Bitcoin and blockchain technology has seen a drastic rise in the use of various digital technologies in Armenia. Bitcoin has allowed for new advancements that have led to an increase in the development of innovative solutions to some of the most pressing economic and technological issues faced by Armenia.

 One advantage is that Bitcoin provides an alternative financial system which is not reliant on government or banking institutions, allowing Armenians greater access to financial services. This also eliminates costly fees associated with conventional banking and enables more transparent transactions. Additionally, blockchain technology prevents fraud and money laundering, allowing for more secure transactions between users.

Another benefit of Bitcoin is its ability to facilitate faster payments and transfers for both individuals and businesses. By using cryptocurrency, users can make payments almost instantaneously without having to wait for banks to process their transactions. This makes business operations much smoother and more efficient by eliminating time-consuming procedures related to traditional methods of payment.

 In addition, Bitcoin provides a more cost-effective infrastructure for online commerce as well as other online activities such as gaming or streaming services. By removing the need for traditional payment methods, businesses are able to lower operational costs while still providing customers with convenient options for purchases or subscriptions. Furthermore, this also allows consumers to make cross-border payments at a much lower price than traditional methods offer.

 The presence of Bitcoin in Armenia has also helped foster a climate of innovation that has seen numerous startups launch their products or services over the past few years. These startups are utilizing the advantages provided by cryptocurrencies such as low transaction costs and secure transactions, which helps them create profitable business models where otherwise they would have failed due to the expensive fees associated with traditional banking systems..

Overall, Bitcoin has had a significant impact on technology in Armenia by offering numerous advantages over traditional methods of payment such as improved security, faster processing times, reduced transaction costs, increased accessibility and innovation opportunities fueled by cryptocurrencies. As such, it serves an invaluable role in helping Armenians take advantage of digital technologies in order to improve their lives and their country’s economy overall.



Trends of repatriation remain high in 2023, says High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan

Emil Lazarian

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 10:42,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Repatriation trends remain high in 2023 and the flow that began in 2022 is maintained, according to High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan.

Sinanyan said his office received 1000 letters, 200 calls and 60 visits in January-March of 2023. Another 32 Syrian-Armenians applied for healthcare issues.

He said that the Center for Integration of Repatriates, which will be opened soon, will facilitate the process by offering comprehensive services in a single location.

The High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs said his office has been working in very difficult conditions in the past years, because the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by the war, and all of that impacted the Armenia-Diaspora relations.

“We must be able to restore the atmosphere of honesty, sincerity based on mutual respect between the Diaspora and Armenia. And most importantly, we must all understand what needs to be done and what unites us all. Our priority objective is to formulate this, the rest are tactical steps, while the development of this healthy atmosphere doesn’t only depend on our work, but also the nature of relations between Armenia and our compatriots in the Diaspora, and by creating this all we can bring qualitative change into our relations, which will bring huge benefits to both Armenia and the Diaspora,” Sinanyan told ARMENPRESS.

It is important to establish relations not on the principles of a donor and a philanthropist, but based on mutual dialogue, understandable, profitable foundations for all sides.

The Global Armenian Summit, which was held in October in Yerevan, is part of that dialogue, he added.

As a result of the event, Sinanyan’s office began developing the Armenia-Diaspora Strategy, which will be submitted to the government’s approval.

Another idea generated during the summit is the creation of the Global Armenian Congress, a consultative body under the Office of the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs. The congress is now under development.

The National Youth Conference, another event organized by Sinanyan’s office, will take place August 1-3, 2023. Over 450 participants are expected to attend the event.

He praised the program, noting that 68% of participants chose to stay and work in Armenia.

Azeri aggression against Artsakh is continuation of Armenian Genocide – U.S. Congressman

Emil Lazarian

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 10:48,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Frank Pallone has said that Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh and the blockade of Lachin Corridor are the continuation of the Armenian Genocide.

He made the remarks at the Congressional Armenian Genocide Observance – 2023.

Pallone said that Azerbaijan continues military invasions into Armenia.

He expressed hope that eventually pressure from the US and other Minsk Group Co-Chairs will contribute to the opening of the Lachin Corridor and that as a result of talks Artsakh will be ultimately recognized as an Armenian territory in any capacity.

Watch Congressman Pallone’s speech at the event from 3:30 in the video below.

Azerbaijani soldier who crossed into Armenia charged with murder

Emil Lazarian
 

ByAni AvetisyanandIsmi Aghayev

Armenia’s prosecutor’s office has charged one of two Azerbaijani soldiers captured in Armenia with murdering a security guard at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Prosecutor General said that Huseyn Akhundov shot Hayrapet Meliksetyan, 56, on 12 April, stole his phone, and then recorded a video on that phone, later posting it on his social media. 

In the video, which spread on Armenian and Azerbaijani social media after Akhundov’s capture, the soldier says that he had ‘shed Armenian blood’, claiming to have ‘beheaded’ Armenians. 

The porescutor’s statement alleges that Akhundov also attempted to steal the guard’s car, but failed and continued by foot, adding that the soldier had planned to cross into Iran from Armenia. 

A day after the murder, Akhundov was detained near the village of Achanan, Syunik; about 25 kilometres from Shgharshik, where he allegedly killed Meliksetyan with several gunshots. 

[Read more: Second Azerbaijani soldier captured in Armenia]

On Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office amended the charges against the soldier, adding murder to the earlier charges of illegal border-crossing and illegally carrying weapons across the border. 

‘Deeply troubling’ footage

Huseyn Akhundov and Agshin Babirov were both detained within Armenia last week after entering the country from Azerbaijan’s autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry claimed that the soldiers had crossed the border earlier that week, after getting lost due to poor visibility. 

The soldiers were first seen in Syunik region, around 15 kilometres from the border with Nakhchivan, on 9 April. Agshin Babirov was captured by people from the village of Ashotavan the following day. 

Akhundov was found and detained on 14 April later near the village of Achanan, 40 kilometres from the border with Nakhchivan. At the time of Akhundov’s capture, local people claimed that he was responsible for the murder of Meliketsyan, but official statements underscored that this was not yet supported by evidence. 

The soldier’s civilian captors physically abused him and later posted footage of this on social media, drawing condemnation from Armenian and Azerbaijani commentators, as well as international organisations. 

On 17 April, the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE issued a statement describing the footage as ‘deeply troubling’ and calling for the incident to be investigated immediately. 

The same day, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, raised the issue of the Azerbaijani prisoners during a meeting with Louis Bono, the US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, and stressed the importance of their immediate release.


Washington needs a new approach on Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
OPINION
by Michael Rubin
  11:06 AM

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s words on Tuesday were chilling. Forget integration. Forget diplomacy. He demanded Armenia declare, “Karabakh is Azerbaijan,” or face the consequences. “Either they [Armenians] should accept Azerbaijani citizenship or find another place of residence,” he said.

This is a call to transfer a millennia-old population. It is no accident that his words come as Armenians prepare to commemorate their previous genocide. Ethnic Armenians, meanwhile, refuse to place their security under Aliyev, given Azerbaijan’s record of pogroms, ethnic incitement, cultural denial, and destruction of centuries-old Armenian heritage.

Censuses dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, and physical and anecdotal evidence before that, show Nagorno-Karabakh to be historically Armenian. A century ago, Joseph Stalin transferred the mountainous region to Azerbaijan, however, as he sought to gerrymander the Caucasus to ensure ethnic identity was subordinate to the political and economic interests of the nascent Soviet Union. While, under the Soviet constitution, Nagorno-Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan was legal and its referendum in favor of the move overwhelming, the United States and the international community continue to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as belonging to Azerbaijan, even as they call for diplomacy to resolve the dispute.

Azerbaijan’s threats and Aliyev’s belittling of the Minsk Group diplomatic process undercut any legal basis for a State Department waiver to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. That legislation ties American assistance to Azerbaijan to its commitment to resolve conflicts diplomatically. Behind the scenes, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has defied the law, arguing that Azerbaijan is too strategically important. On this, he lives in the past.

Just as Turkey coasted on its reputation as a pro-Western asset while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan eviscerated the country from the inside, so too is the reality of Azerbaijan today at sharp dissonance to its reputation in Washington. Simply put, the U.S. owes Azerbaijan nothing, given its recent efforts to launder both Iranian and Russian oil. Like Turkey, it plays both sides of the Ukraine and Iran matters and treats Blinken and key senators and representatives as useful idiots. On one issue, however, Aliyev is correct. Diplomacy has not worked. The reason is simple: It takes two sincere partners. Aliyev shows insincerity.

It is time for a new approach: The State Department’s recognition of Stalin’s cynical border adjustments today disincentivizes diplomacy. If Blinken wants Aliyev to negotiate sincerely, the State Department should rescind its recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty and declare the entirety of Nagorno-Karabakh to be absent of the sovereignty of either Azerbaijan or Armenia pending the outcome of negotiations.

To do so would encourage both sides to negotiate sincerely. It would also ease international efforts to broker talks by lifting the de facto veto Azerbaijan exercises on access by American and European diplomats to the besieged communities in Nagorno-Karabakh. It would also benefit the local population by enabling mine clearance specialists from U.S.- and U.K.-funded groups such as HALO Trust to clear fields, roads, and villages, activities that Aliyev currently impedes.

Diplomats might additionally accommodate local feelings via a referendum and enable local travel through the issuance of temporary travel papers, such as the United Nations once provided to Palestinian refugees. To ensure that Azerbaijan does not simply seek to conduct a military fait accompli, such revocation of recognition of Azerbaijan’s should coincide with the deployment of European, perhaps neutral Scandinavian, peacekeepers in the territory.

Aliyev has rejected the Minsk Group. For diplomacy to succeed, Blinken must bury Stalin’s legacy. It is time to negotiate Nagorno-Karabakh’s sovereignty based not on the whims of a Soviet dictator but on the democratic and cultural aspirations of its people.

Michael Rubin (@mrubin1971) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential. He is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

 

Armenpress: Wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan becomes three-time champion of the European Championship

Emil Lazarian

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 20:40,

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Arsen Harutyunyan, a member of the Armenian freestyle wrestling team, became a three-time champion of the European Championship.

ARMENPRESS reports, 61 kg Arsen Harutyunyan competed with Albania’s Zalimkhan Abakarov at the European Freestyle Wrestling Championship in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The Armenian wrestler won with a score of 5:2.

Arsen Harutyunyan became the champion of the European Championship in 2019 and 2022. He is a participant of the Tokyo Olympics, a two-time bronze medalist of the World Championship.

Earlier, Vazgen Tevanyan became the gold medalist of the European Championship in the 65 kg weight category.