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

Senator: Russia will help ensure Armenia’s security if sovereignty threatened

Emil Lazarian
PanArmenian
Armenia –
– 17:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia guarantees assistance in ensuring the security of Armenia if there is a threat to its integrity, independence and sovereignty, according to Viktor Bondarev, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security.

Bondarev said on his Telegram channel that Russia is aimed at constructive dialogue and good neighborliness with all CIS countries, but among them one of the key strategic partners of the Russian Federation is Armenia.

“We cooperate through the CSTO and guarantee assistance in ensuring the security of Armenia in cases where there is a threat to its integrity, independence, sovereignty. The Russian military base in Gyumri is an outpost for protecting the Asian region from external aggression,” the Senator said.

He maintained that when Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020, Russia made an “invaluable and decisive contribution to its peaceful settlement.”

Bondarev also revealed that he and his colleagues are flying to Armenia for events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The Second Karabakh war lasted 44 days and ended when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev signed a ceasefire statement on November 9, 2020. Under the deal, the Armenian side returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.

Senator Robert Menendez honored for bold pro-Artsakh leadership

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia –
, 10:05

 3 minutes read

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) leaders gathered with friends and supporters to honor U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) – a decades-long champion of Armenian American concerns, who led the historic 2019 battle to secure unanimous U.S. Senate recognition of the Armenian Genocide and continues his unwavering support for Armenia’s security and Artsakh’s freedom.  Chairman Menendez has had strong ties to the ANC of New Jersey for decades and consistently receives an “A+” rating on the ANCA Congressional Report Card.

“Senator Menendez’s bold leadership and principled defense of human rights and American values have been a hallmark of his service in the House and Senate,” said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian. “The ANCA has been with him every step of the way and looks forward to our continued work together.”

Mr. Garo Mardirossian, Esq. and his wife Yulia generously hosted the evening, which included special guest, His Eminence Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan, Holy Etchmiadzin’s Pontifical Envoy-at-Large and former Primate of Artsakh. Hamparian was joined by ANCA National Board members Zanku Armenian, Aida Dimejian, and Ani Tchaghlasian, who traveled from the Senator’s home state of New Jersey to offer a Garden State Armenian welcome to Chairman Menendez.

“I was honored to host Chairman Menendez at my home with a broad and distinguished cross-section of Armenian Americans,” shared Garo Mardirossian.  “I am proud to stand with Chairman Menendez – who is firmly committed to working to strengthen U.S.-Armenia ties, defend Artsakh freedom, and secure justice for the Armenian Genocide,” stated Mardirossian.  “With new challenges facing the United States and our Armenian Homeland, Chairman Menendez’s visionary leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is needed now more than ever to ensure that peace and justice prevail for Armenia and Artsakh.”

“Armenian Americans in the Garden State and across the U.S. stand with Senator Menendez in our collective pursuit for justice for the Armenian Genocide, self-determination for Artsakh, and stronger U.S.-Armenia ties,” said ANCA National Board Member Ani Tchaghlasian.  “From his unstinting resolve to end U.S. complicity in Armenian Genocide denial to ongoing efforts to stop U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and block the sale of U.S. aircraft to Erdogan’s autocratic Turkey – Senator Menendez has been a champion for human rights and peace. We look forward to working together for years to come to advance Armenian American priorities and values.”

Senator Menendez’s tenacious resolve to end U.S. Senate complicity in Turkey’s Armenian Genocide denial culminated in the unanimous passage of the bipartisan resolution he authored in December, 2019.  The Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.150) established, as a matter of U.S. policy, 1) the rejection of Armenian Genocide denial, 2) ongoing official U.S. government recognition and remembrance of this crime, and 3) support for education about the Armenian Genocide in order to help prevent modern-day atrocities.

Senator Menendez has been equally adamant about enforcing Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, initially adopted as part of the FREEDOM Support Act in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade and attacks against Armenia and Artsakh.  In June, 2020, alarmed that the U.S. military aid program to Azerbaijan had skyrocketed, Senator Menendez requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provide the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with a detailed report on this assistance program and its compliance with Section 907.  The GAO report, released in March, 2022, revealed that the State Department consistently failed to inform Congress of the impact of over $164 million in assistance to Baku on the military balance between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“The human consequences of the terrible war in Nagorno-Karabakh underscore the deep concerns that I have long had about providing U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan,” stated Sen. Menendez. “These findings are further proof that the status quo is unacceptable, and we must exercise additional scrutiny over the U.S. government’s ongoing provision of assistance to Azerbaijan. In the coming weeks, I will be renewing my efforts for the State Department to reconsider any future planned assistance to Azerbaijan, respect Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, and improve its reporting to Congress in the future.”

Senator Menendez’s stellar record of support for key community concerns began with his election as mayor in Union City in 1986 and continued during his time in the New Jersey State legislature from 1988 to 1992, and his 1992 election to the U.S. House of Representatives.  Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Senator Menendez often took the lead in questioning U.S. ambassadorial nominees to Turkey and Azerbaijan regarding their positions on the Armenian Genocide and efforts to mediate a lasting peace for the Republic of Artsakh.  And, when nominees crossed the line into Armenian Genocide denial or showed undue bias toward Azerbaijan, Senator Menendez resisted White House and Senate leadership pressure, placing a “hold” on the candidates, ultimately blocking nominee Dick Hoagland from becoming U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, and stopping a full-term appointment for Matt Bryza as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Armenian Genocide victims’ cross-stone installed in France

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
Armenian Genocide victims’ cross-stone installed in France 
13:05, 21.04.2022

The unveiling of the cross-stone dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place in Nimes, France.

The event was attended by Armenia’s Ambassador to France Hasmik Tolmajian, Mayor of Nimes Jean-Paul Fournier, chairwoman of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Armed Forces of the French National Assembly Franoise Dumas, Consul of Armenia in Marseilles Samvel Lalayan, and several other officials.

Also, the Nimes city park, where the aforesaid cross-stone was placed, was named in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

https://news.am/eng/news/697665.html

Armenia political scientist: OSCE Minsk Group no longer exists de facto

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia –
17:02, 21.04.2022

The ongoing processes on the normalization of Karabakh, as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations have moved to the sphere of the most brutal confrontation between Russia and the West. Political scientist Vigen Hakobyan told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, commenting on the recent statements by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry.

According to him, despite all the disagreements and conflicts, the format of the OSCE Minsk Group has remained a format of cooperation for decades.

“It was an exceptional format. Now the logic of this confrontation has moved to the sphere of normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. It should also be noted that the Minsk Group truly does not exist de facto [anymore]. De jure, of course, it exists, but de facto practically does not exist; and we see that,” said Hakobyan.

The political scientist added that now each country co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group is trying to “pull” the “blanket” on itself.

Vanetsyan: Iran’s stance towards Armenia is very friendly

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Armenia MP Artur Vanetsyan, leader of the opposition With Honor (Pativ Unem) faction and the Homeland Party, who has been holding a sit-in in Yerevan’s Liberia Square for five days now, does not object to any talks within the 3+3 format (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia – Russia, Turkey, Iran), however he says not all issues can be discussed by it.

“I think any format of communication is important, especially for the regional countries, however it is necessary to clarify what issues are discussed within this format and whether the issues discussed earlier in other formats will be discussed too,” Vanetsyan told reporters.

“It’s about the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue, which cannot go beyond the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and be discussed in other formats. In general, I welcome the contacts and consider them normal,” the opposition leader said.

Referring to Iran’s stance on the recent developments, Vanetsyan underscored that the country had set clear red lines in the region.

“Iran has repeatedly spoken of its red lines. The country has made it clear what it will not tolerate at its borders. I believe that Iran is on the right track to ensure long-term peace in the region,” he said.

“I think Iran has a very friendly stance towards Armenia,” Vanetsyan noted.

Artsakh solution: from rights toward status, but not vice versa – Edmon Marukyan

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.The current global political situation is making us review the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. In this context, a proposal has been made to move from the  fundamental human rights toward the status, but not vice versa, Edmon  Marukyan, Chairman of the Bright Armenia party, said in an interview  with ArmInfo. 

“What is the international community telling us? We are being told  that all out expectations for many years are unrealistic. We are  being reminded of our hardships for the last decades. And now are  faced with a dilemma: either insisting on achieving our goals ‘in  lonely pride’ – as the world is not yet understanding them – or  bringing them in line with the present geopolitical reality,” Mr  Marukyan said. 

Armenia’s refusing to “speak the international community’s language”  and bring its position on Artsakh in line with the real international  relations is pregnant with even graver problems. It is impossible to  go on entertaining illusions in the current situation, especially  after the illusions were destroyed in the 44-day war. 

Since “politics is the art of the possible,” Mr Marukyan stresses  that if this “possible” makes Artsakh’s independence possible, it  will be done. As ambassador-at-large, he is ready to do his best to  get an international mandate to honor his commitments to lead Armenia  and Artsakh out of the current crisis. 

“We are not opponents of normalization of relations with Turkey or of  a peace agenda with Azerbaijan.  And, of course, we are welcoming  reforms in our country in a number of fields. But we should realize  that the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, is of importance  for the international community. It is being and will be implemented  regardless of whether we want it or not,” Mr Marukyan said. 

Russia takes full control of Mariupol – Defense Minister

Emil Lazarian

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 11:35,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu announced that the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is now under the full control of Russian troops, TASS reported.

“As of today, entire Mariupol is under the control of the Russian army and the national militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Shoygu said in a briefing with President Putin.

Shoygu added that the territory of the Azovstal factory in the city is “reliably” blocked. According to Russia, foreign mercenaries still remain in the territory of the factory.

Arabic translation of poetry collection by Edward Militonyan published in Damascus

Emil Lazarian

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 12:00,

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. The Arabic translation of the poetry collection by Edward Militonyan, the President of the Union of Writers of Armenia, was published in Damascus, Syria.

Translated by Dikran Kapoyan (pictured above), the book was published by the Dar Al-Hilal Publishing House.

The publication is sponsored by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Armenian Literature Abroad Foundation and under the patronage of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Primate of the Dioscese, Archbishop Armash Nalbandian.

Armenpress: Ambassador Nersesyan presents to the Speaker of the House of Commons the priorities of Armenian foreign policy

Emil Lazarian

Ambassador Nersesyan presents to the Speaker of the House of Commons the priorities of Armenian foreign policy

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 21:55,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. On April 20, Armenian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Varuzhan Nersesyan met with Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, ARMENPRESS reports the Facebook page of the embassy informs.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the Armenian-British inter-parliamentary ties, and attached importance to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Nersesyan spoke about the current priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy.

The Speaker of the House of Commons welcomed the Ambassador and expressed readiness to contribute to the implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia.

Pashinyan: A large part of the agenda of my visit to Russia concerns the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.A large part of the agenda of the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia concerns the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.   According to TASS, this was announced during the meeting of Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with Russian President Vladimir Putin  in Novo-Ogayevo.

In particular, he noted that this visit has not only practical, but  also symbolic significance, since it is timed to coincide with the  30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.  Pointing to the high level of bilateral relations, the Prime Minister  of Armenia stressed that their agenda is quite full, starting with  the economy, ending with cultural, military-technical cooperation.

At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan said that Russia and President  Putin personally played a key role in ending hostilities in  Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020, and the Russian peacekeeping  contingent ensures the safety of the local population.

“Russia plays a key role in ensuring stability and security in our  region. I must again note your exceptional role in the establishment  of ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in  2020. After which Russian peacekeepers began their peacekeeping  activities there, which generally ensure security”,  he said. At the  same time, the head of the RA government noted that there is a need  to increase the effectiveness of the peacekeepers’ activities.

It should be noted that earlier press secretary of the President of  the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that during the visit of  the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Russian Federation, it is  planned to sign a package of documents on cooperation. According to  the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers, in addition to meeting with the  Russian leader, Pashinyan will hold meetings with his Russian  counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin  and Speaker  of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.