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

Aleppo Governor expresses readiness to provide assistance to Armenian structures

Emil Lazarian

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 13:54, 4 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria Tigran Gevorgyan met with Governor of Aleppo Hussein Diab, the Armenian Embassy in Syria said in a statement.

The sides discussed the current socio-economic problems in the Aleppo governorate, including the problems facing the Aleppo-Armenian community and their solution ways.

Ambassador Gevorgyan informed the Governor that the 8th mission of the Armenian humanitarian demining and expert center arrived in Aleppo.

The Governor of Aleppo thanked Armenia and the Armenian people for assisting the people of Syria in the difficult period. He expressed readiness to provide necessary support to the Armenian churches, schools, cultural and sports unions and the Aleppo-Armenian community.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress: Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-12-21

Emil Lazarian

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-12-21

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 17:21, 4 December, 2021

YEREVAN, 4 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 4 December, USD exchange rate stood at 489.99 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 553.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.65 drams. GBP exchange rate stood at 650.95 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price stood at 27805 drams. Silver price stood at 352.8 drams. Platinum price stood at 14776.82 drams.

Asbarez: At OSCE Forum, Yerevan Highlights Azerbaijan’s Aggression, Invasion of Armenia

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 December 2, 2021

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Foreign Ministers of OSCE member-states gather in Stockholm on Dec. 2

A year after Azerbaijan’s aggressive attack on Artsakh and the ensuing ceasefire agreement signed on November 9, the situation in Karabakh, as well as along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border remains tense, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during an address to the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday.

“Since May 2021, Azerbaijani armed forces have breached the borders of Armenia. Up to now, they maintain and continue strengthening their illegal presence on the sovereign territory of Armenia,” he explained. 

“Through its aggressive actions, Azerbaijan is flagrantly violating the United Nations Charter and the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Needless to say, Azerbaijan’s actions also violate its obligations under the trilateral statement of November 9 on the cessation of all hostilities,” added the foreign minister.

He also stressed that Azerbaijan continues to capture and hold captive Armenian servicemen and civilians.

“Not only does Azerbaijan continue to ignore the calls of the international community for the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, but on a number of occasions, most recently on November 16, its armed forces captured more military personnel in the course of its attack on the territory of the Republic of Armenia,” said Mirzoyan.

No pretext can justify these violent actions, Mirzoyan said, adding that “the continued presence of Azerbaijani armed forces on the territory of Armenia is a destabilizing factor in the region.”

He voiced hope that the November 26 trilateral meeting organized by the Russian Federation would pave the way for taking certain measures toward the de-escalation of the situation in the region. 

“The use of force has never been a way to peace in general and in particular in our region.  The use of force can de-freeze dormant conflicts for a certain period of time, but they will get frozen again once there is no negotiated and peaceful solution. War can come as a unilateral choice but peace always requires consent of all sides,” Mirzoyan said.  

He stressed that Armenia is willing to achieve lasting stability in the South Caucasus and is ready for negotiations to achieve that. 

“The sooner Azerbaijan embarks on the resumption of the peace process, the better will the chances be to achieve comprehensive and durable settlement in our region. The definition of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh based on the right to self-determination, the safe and dignified return of the displaced Armenian population throughout the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh should be substantive issues of negotiations. Equally, the resolution of pending humanitarian issues such as unconditional return of all Armenian POWs and other captives, inquiry into the cases of enforced disappearances, protection of cultural heritage, necessitates the strong engagement of the OSCE and its relevant mandates,” Mirzoyan emphasized.

“With this in mind, Armenia will further contribute toward the resumption of a full-fledged NK peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in close cooperation with all OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,” he concluded.

Armenian Aussie volunteer braves war zone

Emil Lazarian
Australia – Dec 5 2021
World

 Despite the ever-present threat of violence, young children in Armenia continue to learn and play.

Just weeks after the heaviest fighting this year in the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe claimed 22 lives, 55-year-old mother of two Milena continues running kindergarten programs in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

Previously, when tensions escalated, she has been forced to take cover in basements. Her fear makes her reluctant to identify herself in the media.

Iranian-born, Milena moved with her parents to Australia in the 1970s to be among what is the world’s largest English-speaking Armenian diaspora community. Most are settled in Ryde in Sydney, others in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Since then, however, she has spent more than three decades volunteering in Armenia and currently works with independent humanitarian group the Armenian Relief Society.

“We had 12 kindergartens, a few closed because the numbers of children attending became less, we lost four of them because of Azerbaijan taking over the Artsakh (also known as Karabakh) territory and now we are down to four that are still operating,” she tells AAP.

Despite being an Australian citizen and her parents still calling Sydney ‘home’, most of Milena’s life has involved travelling between the two countries.

“I feel like I am that one drop extra in the ocean and I feel like everyone has got to do something, if everyone does something to help, the country will be a better place,” she says.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a decades-old dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory that lies within Azerbaijan but is controlled by ethnic forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

Moscow brokered a peace deal last November to end six weeks of fighting. The truce allowed Azerbaijan to reclaim large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Tensions on the border with Armenia have been building since May, when it protested an incursion by Azerbaijani troops.

The Armenian Relief Society raises money around the world to help the families of dead and missing soldiers.

Armenia’s low wages and pensions means $A170 a year can help buy a uniform and school books for a student.

At the height of fighting in 2020, Milena volunteered in hospitals at Yerevan.

“We would bring clothing, food supplies, medicine and newspapers to the wounded and their families,” she says.

As the region continues to experience daily gunfire, she remains on standby to again help with casualties.

“A farmer was shot driving his tractor … just the other day and so it is continuing and there is no guarantee of security for Armenians in those border regions,” she says.

Tension continues for Armenian communities who believe their prisoners of war are being mistreated and there is a growing appetite among some to reclaim the land and homes they lost in the settlement deal.

“Armenians are stuck in the middle of this war,” Milena says.

“We used to think it was a religious issue before but it is not, it is a territorial one and it doesn’t matter who is blocking the way, the other side will just rampage in and that’s not right.”

Despite the ever-present threat of violence, children at Milena’s kindergartens continue to learn and play. Youngsters can be seen laughing and happy on the streets of Yeraskh, just kilometres from military bases.

Extra reporting by AP.

Australian Associated Press


Documentary: Thinking out loud – War and life in the aftermath. A movie from Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Dec 5 2021


    Sofi Tovmasyan

What does war mean to you? How do you envision happiness? Tell us about your dreams. What is love for you? How about death? Do you believe in peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? What future awaits the two countries? How to achieve prosperity in the country and in the region? What should the authorities do for this? Should ordinary citizens do anything, and if yes, what?

We asked these questions to four residents of Armenia – linguist Amalia Soghomonyan, mathematician Smbat Gogyan, khachkar maker Ambik Ambartsumyan, and actress and dancer Kristina Danielyan.

The film was produced in partnership with the Public Journalism Club of Yerevan and JAMnews.

Thinking Out Loud is one of four documentarу films produced in Armenia and Azerbaijan in the aftermath of the 44-day war (September 27 – November 10 2020) that claimed the lives of over 7,000 people from both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. Thousands were injured or disabled, and their lives have drastically changed after the war. The ceasefire agreement of November 9, 2020 has been repeatedly violated, and a number of post-war humanitarian issues remain unresolved. These movies tell stories of local people whose lives have been affected by the second Karabakh war.

https://jam-news.net/thinking-out-loud-war-and-life-in-the-aftermath-a-movie-from-armenia/

The Documentary can be watched at 

Turkish press: ‘Part of Armenian society favors normalization with Turkey’

Emil Lazarian
Ayse Rabia Sarioglu   |03.12.2021

YEREVAN, Armenia

A segment of Armenian society is in favor of peace and normalization of ties with Turkey, according to the head of an Armenian think tank.

There is a three-way split in public opinion in Armenia about peace with Turkey, Benyamin Poghosyan, director of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies, told Anadolu Agency.

“There is one faction that is entirely opposed to any sort of normalization with Turkey, largely due to their recent conflicts rather than the historical disputes,” he said.

A second group believes direct dialogue between Armenia and Turkey, not through mediators, is necessary to resolve outstanding issues, but they still harbor hostility toward Turkey for its support to Azerbaijan, Poghosyan added.

“The third group supports Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s views on relations with Turkey. They are in favor of overlooking Turkey’s role in last year’s Karabakh conflict and opening new channels for dialogue to achieve peace and normalization,” he explained.

Turkey’s support was critical for Azerbaijan in the 44-day conflict with Armenia over Karabakh that erupted last September.

By the time a Russian-brokered agreement brought the fighting to an end on Nov. 10, Baku had liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

Over the past year, Ankara has repeatedly urged Yerevan to check its hostile approach and work for regional peace.

In August, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan advised Armenia to acknowledge reality and take advantage of new opportunities created by Azerbaijan’s liberation of Upper Karabakh.

“If Armenia moves in line with this, Turkey will also act accordingly,” he said.

Pashinyan acknowledged the “positive signals” coming from Ankara, hinting in October at “starting a conversation with the aim of normalizing our relations with Turkey.”

Most recently, Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar urged Armenia to “take the hand of peace extended by Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

“There are conflicts and troubles in many parts of the world, but the places where people have come together for talks and to find political solutions are now much safer and more prosperous,” he said in a November visit to Baku.

“If Armenia understands this, makes the necessary contributions and responds positively, serious progress can be made in terms of both security and welfare.”

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara

Armenia’s representative to ECHR to attend ICJ sitting on delivery of order about appeal against Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian

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 12:30, 3 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Representative to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Yeghishe Kirakosyan will depart for the Netherlands to take part in the delivery of order by the International Court of Justice relating to Armenia’s application against Azerbaijan.

Kirakosyan will depart for the Netherlands on December 6.

The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will deliver its order over Armenia’s request to apply provisional measures against Azerbaijan on December 7.

The International Court of Justice held public hearings over Armenia’s request to indicate provisional measures against Azerbaijan on October 14-15.

On September 16, 2021, Armenia instituted proceedings against the Republic of Azerbaijan before the International Court of Justice with regard to alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Armenia also requested the Court to indicate certain provisional measures “as a matter of extreme urgency”, including the return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives from Azerbaijan, as well as the closure of the so-called “Military Trophies Park” in Baku.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian, Polish FMs discuss issue of repatriation of Armenian POWs, hostages and other detainees

Emil Lazarian

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 19:28, 3 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Conference, on December 2, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau․

As ARMENPRESS was informed form the press service of the MFA Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan and Zbigniew Rau discussed a number of issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral relations and expressed readiness to take practical steps to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Touching upon the issues of regional security and stability, Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his counterpart the situation created by Azerbaijan’s infiltration into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and the recent aggression.

The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed the need for full restoration of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group. The interlocutors referred to the issues requiring urgent solution, especially the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees.

Ararat Mirzoyan also congratulated Poland on its forthcoming chairmanship of the OSCE and expressed confidence that Poland will take appropriate measures to ensure peace and security in the OSCE area of responsibility during its presidency.

Armenpress: Civil Contract Party nominates Kristine Grigoryan for the post of Human Rights Defender

Emil Lazarian

Civil Contract Party nominates Kristine Grigoryan for the post of Human Rights Defender

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 19:31, 3 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. During the regular sitting of the “Civil Contract” faction, a decision was made to nominate Kristine Grigoryan for the post of Human Rights Defender, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Facebook page of the party.

Arman Tatoyan’s term will end on February 23, 2022, after which the parliament will elect a new ombudsman by secret ballot.