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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

Azerbaijani press: Construction of new highway bypassing liberated Lachin underway [PHOTO/VIDEO]

Emil Lazarian
21 April 2022 16:42 (UTC+04:00)
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The construction of a new 32-km-long highway bypassing Azerbaijan’s liberated Lachin city is underway, the State Agency for Automobile Roads reported on April 21.

Under the project, the carriageway will be 7 meters wide, the roadbed will be 12 meters, and the shoulder sections will be equal to 5 meters in total (2×2.5), the report added.

The construction of the roadbed, as well as artificial facilities is underway, the state agency underlined.

Unsuitable soil and vegetation are being excavated in accordance with the “Construction Norms and Standards” in order to expand the roadbed. Special equipment is being used to widen and profile the road, and a new landfill is being constructed.

The construction of circular pipes and various artificial structures is also underway to ensure the transfer of water along the road, which passes through difficult terrain.

In this regard, the construction of a 139.5-m-long 4-span bridge on the 22nd km of the road is nearing completion.

The new highway is being built in accordance with the established timetable and technological sequence under the supervision of the State Agency for Automobile Roads.

The necessary forces have been mobilized in the area in order to finish the construction work this year.

One of the most important aspects of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh rehabilitation plan is the reconstruction of road infrastructure.

All roads in the territory of the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions are designed to bypass large settlements, ensuring the comfort of both residents and road users.

The construction of a new route bypassing Lachin was agreed upon in a trilateral agreement signed on November 10, 2020, by the Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders following Azerbaijan’s victory in a 44-day war over Armenia. The new road was conceived as an alternative to the Lachin corridor, which connects Karabakh with Armenia and is controlled by Russian peacekeepers temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region. 

Turkish press: Christians in Syria’s Idlib worship freely: Archpriest

Emil Lazarian
Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu and Ahmet Karaahmet   |22.04.2022


IDLIB, Syria

Christians in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province have been performing their religious duties freely, said Hanna Celluf, the archpriest of Qunayah Church.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Celluf said: “No one disturbs us while we are performing our prayers. No one harasses us. We don’t come across any adverse condition while carrying out our activities in the church.”

The 70-year-old Franciscan has been serving as an archpriest for Qunayah Church for 21 years.

Qunayah Church, which was built in the 5th century in the village of Qunayah, is located in a mountainous and green area, and several historical artifacts are also preserved in the church.

Now, only around 210 Christians in Idlib gather and worship at the church in Jisr al-Shughur district due to the civil war that broke out in 2011.

Celluf said that before the civil war, the Christian population of Qunayah, Yacubiyeh and Jdayde villages used to be around 10,000 and Syrian Christians lived mainly in the Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, Hama and Jazira regions.

But due to the war, most Christians had to leave the country or were internally displaced.

Christians living in areas under the control of military opposition groups in Idlib are among the most ancient inhabitants of the region, although they are in a minority.

While the number of Christians in Idlib exceeded 10,000 before the civil war, it has dropped to 600 due to the attacks of Bashar Assad regime forces and the Daesh/ISIS terror group.

“Occasionally, (Christian) families living in other provinces of Syria return to their homes. We welcome them,” Celluf said.

‘Brotherly love between us’

“In general, our relations with people are excellent. There is a brotherly love between us. I hope those who left their homes will return to their families and lands so that we can live in love and peace,” he went on to say.

In response to a question on why he didn’t leave Idlib, the archpriest said: “No one abandons their roots. Because the Christians took root in Antakya. Our roots have stood firm since then. Our ancestors and families lived here. We will live here until we die.”

He noted that there are many Christians in the region from the Armenian Church of Dhok and the Greek Orthodox, Protestant and Latin Catholic churches.

“As the Catholic Church, we are no different from other sects. We do our prayers together. We live together, we commiserate with each other,” he said, adding, “There is no difference between us as Greek, Orthodox or Armenian. We all worship the one God and the one Christ.”

Expressing his honor to serve the Christians in Idlib as a Christian of the Franciscan Priests of the Guardianship of the Holy Land, Celluf said that Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, wrote a letter to them.

“The Pope wrote us a letter of encouragement to continue our lives and sacrifices by living with the people here,” he said.

He said the Pope encouraged them to give hope to the Christians living in Idlib, writing in his letter that one day peace will come to these lands.

Thanking everyone who helped them so that they can live in safety and peace, he said: “We have hope that the unity of these lands will be restored under the supervision of the UN, Turkiye and other countries.”

Armenpress: Series of events planned in Istanbul for Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Emil Lazarian

Series of events planned in Istanbul for Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

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 09:51,

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. A number of commemorative events will be held this year on April 24 – the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day – in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Istanbul-based Agos newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief Bagrat Estukyan told ARMENPRESS that in the past two years events weren’t organized in public spaces due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This year the COVID-19 situation has improved and the Armenian community of Istanbul will organize several events.

A rally will take place at 19:00, April 24 in the Besikstas district of Istanbul. The Human Rights Union will deliver a statement for the press on the same day.

“On midday April 24 a visit to the grave of Sevak Balıkçı is planned. He is the young Private who was murdered on April 24 in 2011 in a hate-fuelled killing while serving in the military,” Estukyan added. He noted that last week the Saturday Mothers organization issued a statement commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

In addition, various discussions and press conferences on the Armenian Genocide are planned in different locations on April 24 in Istanbul, as well as television programs.

Asked what discussions are taking place around the latest Armenia-Turkey dialogue process and does it impact the Armenian Genocide issue, Estukyan said there are no significant discussions at all in Turkey.

“By in large there is no dialogue. The envoys meet, but we don’t know what they talk. We find out from the press that they met in Vienna, in Moscow, but this doesn’t mean dialogue because there is no result, no development and no progress. There is no reaction over this issue in Turkey. It seems that this matter is more urgent for Armenia and there is greater interest for the developments in Armenia, but in Turkey this isn’t an item on the agenda, there is no tangible result,” Estukyan said.

Anna Gziryan




Armenian investigators probed 10,000 more cases in 2021 compared to previous year

Emil Lazarian

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 11:38,

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. 44,751 criminal cases were investigated in 2021 by all investigative agencies, 10,000 more than in the previous year, the Prosecutor-General Artur Davtyan told lawmakers at a parliamentary committee hearing on the prosecution’s report.

In 2021, 1698 people were investigated for corruption crimes, which is 300 more than in 2020. “Nearly 600 of these 1698 people were officials,” Davtyan said.

During the year 433 people were handed over to courts for corruption crimes.

“As of yearend, the damages to the state discovered under the corruption-related ongoing criminal cases stood at 443 billion drams. Only in 2021, 7 billion drams in damages were recovered during investigations,” he said.

“…In the first quarter of this year alone we have recovered 19 billion drams in damages to the state. This proves that criminal cases that were instituted long ago are reaching resolution,” Davtyan said, noting that corruption-related probes require a lengthy process.

Armenian Genocide victims to be commemorated at Sao Paulo mass

Emil Lazarian

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 12:08,

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Brazil Guiga Peixoto announced during April 18 parliamentary hearings that a mass will be served on the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Sao Paulo.

“I have to mention that on April 24th there will be a mass in Sao Paulo in commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. More than a million people were killed in the Armenian Genocide,” Peixoto said.

Criminal prosecution instituted against 60 representatives of Azerbaijani military-political leadership over 44-day war

Emil Lazarian

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 12:48,

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian prosecution possesses objective evidence proving that the military-political leadership and servicemembers of Azerbaijan committed gross violations of international humanitarian law during the 44-day war, Prosecutor-General Artur Davtyan said at the parliamentary committee on state-legal affairs while presenting the prosecution’s 2021 report.

“In concrete cases they premeditatedly targeted civilian settlements and civilians, murdered civilians, violated the rules of war, deployed banned munitions, targeted and destroyed Armenian historical-cultural values and fueled by ethnic hatred committed violence, torture and killings,” Davtyan said, describing the actions of the Azerbaijani troops.

He also spoke about the acts of terror committed during the 44-day war. 

“The objective evidence gathered under the criminal cases clearly prove that as early as in June-July 2020, infamous terror groups started recruiting mercenaries from northern Syria. The recruited mercenaries were unimpededly transferred into Turkey through the Turkey-Syria state border, without control or check, and were then transferred by plane to Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, they underwent military training. The Syrian mercenaries detained by us have testified that they underwent special training for combat in mountainous terrains. They were ordered to target, kill and torture civilians in settlements,” Davtyan said.

Criminal prosecution was instituted against 60 representatives of the Azerbaijani military-political leadership, he added.

Statement by the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day

Emil Lazarian
Office of the Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau



Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, also known as Medz Yeghern:

“Today, we join Armenian communities in Canada and around the world to honour the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide – one of the darkest chapters in human history. We also honour their descendants, including Canadians of Armenian heritage, who have contributed and who continue to help shape the strong, diverse, and inclusive country that we enjoy today.

“The atrocities committed and the horrific number of lives that were taken from 1915 to 1923 must never be forgotten. In 2015, a century after the start of this tragedy, Parliament passed a motion declaring April 24 as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, a date that has since served to remember the loss, trauma, and pain inflicted by these atrocities and to ensure they are never repeated. This day falls during Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month.

“Hatred and violence must never again be met with indifference. Each and every one of us has a role to play in making sure such brutality is never repeated, and it starts with taking a stand against discrimination and hate in all its forms – whenever and wherever it occurs.

“Together, on this sombre anniversary, we remember the lives lost, recognize the strength and spirit of the Armenian people, and look forward with hope to a future of peace, mutual respect, and dignity among people and countries around the world.”



AZERBAIJANI PRESS: No way to future for Armenia without giving up claims on so-called "genocide"

Emil Lazarian
14:07 (UTC+04:00)
611

By Trend

New realities and conditions have been created in the region for the long-awaited and sustainable peace after the liberation of the Azerbaijaniterritories from the Armenian occupation [in the 2020 second Karabakh war].

One of these realities has been the normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan, which is greatly needed by Armenia, whose policy has led to its isolation from regional projects.

A year later after the launch of the so-called “Football Diplomacy” towards Armenia by the former Turkish President Abdullah Gul in 2008, the first “step” was taken to normalize relations between Ankara and Yerevan.

The former Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who is presently head of one of the Turkish opposition parties, and his former Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandyan signed two protocols in Zurich [in 2009]. The signing ceremony was also attended by the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“This event is one of the most significant in the history of the new Turkey,” some Turkish media not understanding and realizing the essence of what was happening said commenting on the signing of the protocols.

These media didn’t understand the meaninglessness of signing the protocols, since Armenia will never give up its basic principle regarding the events of 1915.

The former Armenian authorities believed that after the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, Armenia became a real power in the region, and Turkey, entering into negotiations with Yerevan, would recognize it as such power, and they thought that despite the defeat in the football match [between Turkey and Armenia in 2008], victory at the negotiating table for Armenia was guaranteed.

Only the current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially opposed the signing of the protocols in Zurich, because he was well aware that without the liberation of the territories of Azerbaijan and without renouncement of the world Armenians’ claims regarding the events of 1915, all attempts to normalize the relationships are doomed to failure, and he was absolutely right.

Presently, the events of 1915 unfoundedly called by Armenia “genocide” remain the main obstacle to the normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan. Turkey has repeatedly proposed the establishment of an independent commission to investigate these events, but the Armenian authorities, for “valid excuses”, haven’t yet responded to this proposal from Turkey.

This “valid excuse” for the Armenian political elite is that in case of refusal from claims over the so-called “genocide”, the Armenian lobby will no longer sponsor Armenia, which will lead to the final collapse of its economy.

The authorities in Yerevan are well aware of this, but they don’t realize that the development of Armenia depends on itself.

The political elite of Yerevan is still hiding from its people that without the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey and without giving up claims over the events of 1915, instead of developing, Armenia will fall into greater poverty and hit new records in the export of labor migrants.

Rufiz Hafizoglu

Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency


Garo Paylan submits bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide to the Turkish parliament

Emil Lazarian

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 17:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. On the eve of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Member of the Turkish parliament of Armenian origin Garo Paylan (representing pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, HDP) submitted a bill recognizing the Armenian Genocide to the Turkish parliament, ARMENPRESS reports Agos said.

The message says that the bill envisages recognizing the Armenian Genocide, defining those responsible, removing the names of the perpetrators of the genocide from public places, naming those places after the civil servants who opposed the genocide, granting Turkish citizenship to the victims and their families.

“If such a thing happens (recognition-edit), it will not be important what the leaders and parliaments of other countries say about it. Only the Turkish society can heal the wounds of the Armenian people. The Armenian Genocide was committed in these lands, and justice can only be established here in Turkey,” the bill reads.

Turkey would become more "dignified and stronger" by recognizing Armenian Genocide, says Spain legislator

Emil Lazarian

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 08:00,

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. Member of the Congress of Deputies (lower house of parliament) of Spain Jon Iñarritu says he believes that the reason behind Spain not having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide yet is the pressure exerted by Turkey.

In an exclusive interview to ARMENPRESS, the legislator expressed hope that the situation will change soon. 

ARMENPRESS: This year marks the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. More than 30 countries have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. However, Spain is not among them. What’s the reason behind it? 

Iñarritu: Firstly, I have to say that in Spain there are several parliaments such as the Basque Parliament or the Catalan Parliament that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, the Spanish Congress has not done until now. Secondly, I am hopeful that soon this can change and the Spanish Parliament recognizes the first genocide of the 20th century. 

I believe that the reasons why Spain and other some States have not recognized it to this day, is the pressure exerted by Turkey, but if historically the facts are evident, it makes no sense that this is not recognized by his name: genocide.  

ARMENPRESS: More than a century after the Genocide Turkey still continues its policy of denial. How would you assess the behavior of Ankara to avoid the historical truth? 

Iñarritu: The facts of denial and historical relativism in relation to the Armenian Genocide I think are very unfair and humiliating to the Armenian people and other minorities such as Assyrians or Pontic Greeks, but in the same way I think they do not benefit the Turkish society. 

ARMENPRESS: A process has started aimed to normalize the relation between Armenia and Turkey. In your opinion, can the process succeed if one of the parties refuses to accept the historical truth and admit the crime of genocide committed by his ancestors? 

Iñarritu: Hardly, I know Turkey and I lived a short period of my life in Turkey and it is a fascinating State, but I think that acknowledging of the historical facts in relation to Armenians would help to consolidate a better relationship with Armenia, and at the same time, it would be an act of historical justice. 

I think that Turkey should follow the example of Germany to deal with dramatic events in its own history. That would not weaken Turkey, it would make Turkey more dignified and stronger. 

ARMENPRESS: Impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes. We recently witnessed it in Artsakh, where the Azerbaijani military tortured, killed and mutilated unarmed captive Armenian soldiers and civilians. Don’t you think there’s a lack of proper reaction from the international community? 

Iñarritu: The war crimes committed in Artsakh by the Aliyev´s Regime and its allies are evident. I myself witnessed what was happening. The responsibles for these acts should be brought to the International Justice. The best way to prevent similar events, I believe, would be that the international community  recognize that Artsakh is a clear Remedial Secession case. That would prevent new crimes, allow the Armenians of Artsakh to live in peace in their ancestral land, and to improve relationships  between the South Caucasus peoples and States.

Finally, I want to express my solidarity and support for the Armenian people on the day of commemoration of the Genocide.