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

Armenpress: Moscow reaffirms the need for demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian

Moscow reaffirms the need for demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan

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 21:08,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The situation on the problematic sections of the Kapan-Goris interstate road in Syunik, including the inspection of Iranian trucks by Azerbaijanis in areas under Azerbaijani control and the charging of money from their drivers, once again confirms the need to start delimitation and demarcation work between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports official representative of the Russian MFA Maria Zakharova said during a weekly briefing․

According to Zakharova, Russia attentively follows the developments in concrete sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

‘’Russia’s proposals on this issue have been passed to both Baku and Yerevan. We look forward to hearing from the sides for organizing the future process. In parallel, we will continue our joint efforts with Azerbaijan and Armenia to unblock transport links in the region, in accordance with the trilateral agreements reached on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021 at the highest level’’, Zakharova said.

On September 12, the National Security Service of Armenia reported that the police of the Republic of Azerbaijan stopped and checked the cargo documents of truck drivers with Iranian license plates on of the interstate road near the Vorotan settlement that passed under Azerbaijani control after the war. In connection with the incident, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia stated that the elimination of roadblocks is an imperative for Iran. According to the statement, Iran is closely following the developments in the Caucasus region in recent months, will pursue various ways of facilitating trade with neighboring countries, including Armenia.




Portantino Secures $100,000 Critical Funding for Homenetmen, Including Hrashq Program

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Sports, Top Stories

Homenetmen Hrashq chapter members compete in KAHAM Games in 2020

 
SACRAMENTO—Senator Anthony J. Portantino announced Wednesday that his budget request of $100,000 for the Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union was approved by the Legislature. The funds will benefit athletic and scouting programs, while helping to expand and support the recently established Hrashq Chapter.

Sen. Anthony Portantino (center) during a Homenetmen Hrashq event in Jan. 2019

“Expanding Hrashq is a priority for Homenetmen, especially during the pandemic,” stated Senator Portantino.  “Activities provided by scouting and other organizations are critical for the mental health and wellbeing of our young people.  I am pleased to be a position to help sustain and improve the vital services Homenetmen provides to the community, particularly those with special needs.”
 
Homenetmen Western US Region, founded in 1968, is a volunteer based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Armenian American community through scouting and athletic programs.  Homenetmen scouts are registered through the Boy Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council and conduct weekly scouting activities and teach our youth to become civic leaders and exemplary citizens.  The organization’s athletic programs provide an alternative for girls and boys to engage in physical fitness and learn teamwork. 
 
Hrashq, which means “miracle” in Armenian, is the latest addition to the organization and was established in 2018 on the occasion of Homenetmen’s centennial anniversary.  The Chapter is dedicated to serving youth and young adults with special needs and instilling values of inclusion, social awareness, and acceptance. Hrashq seeks to offer its core programs to those families and children with unique challenges and opportunities.  In its inaugural year, Hrashq was able to unite an impressive group of participants in bi-weekly practices and competed in the 2018 Navasartian Games & Festival.  The Chapter continues to grow.
 
“On behalf of Homenetmen Western US Region, we would like to thank Senator Portantino for his continued support of Homenetmen and Homenetmen’s Hrashq Chapter.  Homenetmen is committed to having an inclusive organization.  Homenetmen Hrashq enables parents who grew up in Homenetmen to share their experiences from their childhood, with their children who have special needs.  Hrashq is an avenue for these parents to network, find support, share resources, and for the participants to feel welcome in a safe environment,” stated Hagop Tufenkjian, Chairperson of the Homenetmen Western US Region Executive Board.

“Advocating for public funding for Armenian projects and community service organizations is one of the ongoing priorities of the ANCA-WR,” said Nora Hovsepian, Esq., the chair of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region. “We are grateful to Senator Portantino for his receptiveness to our request and congratulate the Homenetmen Western Region and its Hrashk program for this generous State grant.”

Senator Portantino was first introduced to Homenetmen Western US Region by attending the Navasartian Games & Festival.  Shortly thereafter, he was invited to sit down with the organization’s leadership.  The meeting was initiated by the Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region to provide an opportunity for the Senator to learn more about Homenetmen’s programs and needs.

Senator Portantino has an impressive record of support for California’s special needs population and this state allocation is consistent with his children centered values.

PRESS RELEASE: ANCA Western Region Cancels 2021 Gala Banquet Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Concerns

Emil Lazarian

For Immediate Release
Contact: Armen Sahakyan
tel. (818) 500-1918

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 health concerns, the ANCA Western Region Board of Directors has decided to cancel its 2021 Annual Gala Banquet which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 14 at the iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The organization plans to hold its next gala banquet in 2022 and will make an announcement once the date is confirmed.

“Given the volatile situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we made the tough decision to cancel our Gala for the second year in a row. As a grassroots advocacy organization, the safety and wellbeing of our community are of paramount importance to us,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Nevertheless, our work now is more important than ever with all the existential challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh. The persistent and passionate work of our Board, Staff, committees and chapters has never stopped despite all the challenges of the past year, and we are committed to our ongoing mission now more than ever. Even though we cannot come together in-person to chart our collective next steps, we call on our community members, supporters and donors to redouble efforts in furtherance of the Armenian Cause and in defense of our Homeland, especially at this critical time.”

The ANCA-WR Gala is eagerly anticipated each year as the premier event for the Armenian-American community, where over a thousand supporters, community leaders, public officials, and coalition partners come together to acknowledge and encourage the work of the organization and to pay homage to honorees whose contribution to the Armenian Cause is recognized each year. As the largest event of its kind, the annual ANCA-WR Gala serves as a catalyst to unify the community around the Armenian Cause in all its facets, highlighting the many accomplishments of the most effective and well-organized grassroots advocacy organization in the Armenian Diaspora.

—

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.



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Armenian MoD clarifies number of victims at combat post incident

Emil Lazarian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Sept 15 2021

Apart from the perished sergeant, during the incident at a combat position in the south-eastern direction, another serviceman was wounded, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 14, the Armenian MoD disseminated information about the death of a serviceman in a combat position in the south-eastern direction. According to the MoD, the incident was caused by a violation of the rules of combat duty.

Apart from the perished sergeant, another serviceman was wounded at the combat post, the “News.am” has reported with reference to the Armenian MoD.

According to media, there was a shootout, caused by hazing. “According to our preliminary information, interpersonal relations again caused the incident, as a result of which the servicemen fired at each other,” the online edition “ArmLur.am” has reported today.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 12:37 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Serviceman perishes in Armenia, Armenian soldier killed in a shootout at border, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of shelling its border positions.

Author: The Caucasian Knot;

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

US provides $9.5 million in support of Armenia’s efforts to fights corruption

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 15 2021
, 15:16

 1 minute read

The US Government supports Armenia’s efforts to fight corruption by providing $9.5 million through the United States Agency for International Development.

The announcement was made during today’s conference on “Priorities of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Policy,” which was also attended by Deputy Minister of Justice Suren Grigoryan. The program aims to reduce corruption opportunities, strengthen public demand for accountability in Armenia, and improve accountability.

Also present at the launch of the program were US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Lynne Tracy, Chairman of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption Haykuhi Harutyunyan, MPs, civil society representatives and others.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Grigoryan welcomed the launch of the program on behalf of the Ministry.

In the context of the development of the institutional system of anti-corruption policy, the Deputy Minister presented the procedure for forming the Anti-Corruption Committee, the regulation of prosecutorial control over the legality of criminal proceedings on corruption, as well as the process of establishing an anti-corruption court.

Armenian PM: Panels and footholds were placed since Goris-Kapan road is beyond Armenia’s border

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 15 2021
Armenian PM: Panels and footholds were placed since Goris-Kapan road is beyond Armenia’s border
21:12, 15.09.2021

There are many layers and subtexts under the events that are taking place along the length of the Armenian-Azerbaijani borderline, and it’s important for us to understand and translate them correctly. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during today’s question-and-answer session with government officials in parliament, touching upon the comment on the placement of an Azerbaijani police checkpoint in the Vorotan section of the Goris-Kapan road and the question why Iranian drivers are stopped and charged money.

Pashinyan declared that in December 2020, the positions of the Armed Forces of Armenia were matched with the borders inherited from the former USSR in order to avoid new military escalation.

“In 2010, the National Assembly adopted a law on administrative-territorial division which clearly states that the administrative boundaries of Shurnukh and Vorotan villages correspond to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. In two sites in those sections, the Goris-Kapan road is beyond the administrative boundary of the Republic of Armenia or Soviet Armenia. This is also why the panels and footholds are placed in the spots that are known to us,” he said.

According to him, in December 2020, an agreement was reached according to which the road should be used freely for the transit of vehicles and cargo in the Republic of Armenia.

“I assume that since the fact of foreign cargo was not recorded in the agreement, in this situation, Azerbaijan is using this measure, perhaps in response to Armenia’s statements that the provision related to the provision of a corridor through the territory of Armenia is not mentioned in the trilateral statements signed on November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. Although Armenia acknowledges the fact that routes need to be opened in the region, it records that foreign cargo must cross customs, passport and other points while drivers cross the territory of Armenia, even while moving from the western regions of Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,” he said.

Kazakhstan, Armenia discuss ties

Emil Lazarian
AkiPress, Kazakhstan
Sept 13 2021

AKIPRESS.COM – Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Armenia Bolat Imanbayev was received by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. During the meeting, issues of Kazakh-Armenian cooperation and interaction between the foreign ministries of the two countries were discussed, the Kazakh foreign ministry said.

The Minister expressed Armenia’s interest in intensifying the dialogue with Kazakhstan at all levels, both in the bilateral format and within the framework of common integration associations and international organizations. He noted the importance of deepening trade and economic cooperation, which has great potential and growth prospects.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the results of the visit of Armenian President Armen Sarkissian to Kazakhstan last June, as well as the implementation of the agreements of the 8th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kazakh-Armenian Commission on Economic Cooperation of May 26, and political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Armenia of April 20.

The Ambassador informed the Minister about the main terms of the State-of-the-Nation Address of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Unity of the People and Systemic Reforms are a Solid Foundation for the Nation’s Prosperity, as well as about current programs of socio-economic modernization in the country and its recent international initiatives.

Setting up post by Azerbaijani law enforcers sparks protests in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Sept 14 2021

An Azerbaijani post on the Goris-Kapan highway was set up in violation of international norms, Arman Tatoyan, the Armenian Ombudsperson, has stated. The opposition demanded to organize a parliamentary discussion of the situation with the participation of the director of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia.

According to Mr Tatoyan, the police post established by the Azerbaijani party on September 9 began operating on September 11. “Video cameras record car license plates, the number of passengers, their faces, as well as drivers’ faces. Thus, the collection of personal data is carried out in violation of international standards for the protection thereof,” the Ombudsperson has stated.

Besides, at least four masked men armed with submachine guns and other weapons are constantly on duty at the police post, Arman Tatoyan has reported.

The Ombudsperson has recalled that the delimitation and demarcation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border has not yet been carried out; and there were no grounds for setting up the post.

The oppositional “Armenia” bloc has demanded to hold a parliamentary discussion of the situation on the Goris-Kapan highway with the participation of the NSS Director.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 04:32 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Head of Armenian village accuses Azerbaijani soldiers of stealing a car, Residents of Syunik Region of Armenia complain about Azerbaijani militaries, Armenian MoD report mortar shelling of its positions.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

CivilNet: Understanding the legacy of the Soviet past in modern Armenia

Emil Lazarian
CIVILNET.AM

14 Sep, 2021 09:09

Dr. Pietro Shakarian, a lecturer at the American University of Armenia and specialist in Russian and Soviet History, in a conversation with CivilNet, speaks about the understudied nature of the Soviet past in modern Armenia. Dr. Shakarian moreover discusses how the Soviet Union achieved relative peace between different national groups, how Soviet decision making affected issues like the Karabakh issue, and how the Soviet Union is remembered in Armenia today. 

Armenia ombudsman: Azerbaijan police base, barricades, cameras on Vorotan road must be removed immediately

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 14 2021
09:21, 14.09.2021

The Azerbaijani police base, barricades, and cameras, the deployment of armed servicemen on the Vorotan road are clearly illegal and subject to be removed immediately. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Arman Tatoyan, informed about this, summing up the details of their fact-finding work done on the spot.

“In particular, on September 9, 2021, on the Yerevan-Kapan M2 interstate road in the Vorotan settlement section of Goris [city], the Azerbaijani authorities have set up a police base, which started operating on September 11.

The ombudsman’s fact-finding work has revealed gross human rights abuses on that section of the road.

In particular:

1) After the deployment of the Azerbaijani police base, a total of 10 video cameras installed on the mentioned section of the road were revealed.

In fact, people’s personal data are being collected [with these video cameras] in a blatantly illegal manner, in gross violation of the rules of international protection of those data.

It is a matter of openly, unlawfully intruding on a person’s private life and the safety of travelers.

2) At least 4 Azeri servicemen who are almost always masked, with their faces completely covered, demonstratively armed with machine guns and other weapons, are on permanent duty at the police base.

This is an absolutely inadmissible, an outfit of obvious intimidation, given that it is a road of interstate significance connecting communities and that the road is driven mainly by civilians. Moreover, the Azerbaijani servicemen being in masks absolutely increases their risk of their committing illegal actions and ensures impunity.

3) Barricades are placed on the road in the immediate vicinity of the Azerbaijani police base.

Moreover, the armed servicemen of the base stop, without any legal grounds, the trucks with Iranian license plates legally traveling on that road (…).

In addition, drivers are required, without legal grounds, to provide documents and various amounts of money payments. (…)

According to a number of reports, the Azerbaijani armed servicemen introduce themselves to the Iranian drivers that they are Armenians.

Due to these illegal, obvious criminal acts of the Azerbaijani armed servicemen, the movement of people and civilian vehicles has slowed down significantly, which is why traffic jams have become more frequent.

4) The Azerbaijani authorities have openly unlawfully seized the Vorotan settlement’s building and the adjacent land where their armed servicemen are stationed, and in the immediate vicinity of which an Azerbaijani police base, barricades, and video cameras are installed.

The thing is that this building and the land belong to an RA citizen, with the right of ownership. (…).

This means that any kind of Azerbaijani installation in the mentioned building or land in Vorotan is illegal (…).

Thus, all the noted actions by the Azerbaijani armed servicemen, including those related to the police base, cause massive human rights violations. (…).

It should also be taken into account that so far there has been no delimitation and demarcation of the state border between the two countries.

This means that the deployment of an Azerbaijani police base, barricades, and video cameras, as well as Azerbaijani armed personnel in the Vorotan settlement section of the RA Goris community lacks any legal title. (…).

Therefore, the Azerbaijani police base and barricades and the armed services must be removed immediately.

With this message, the Human Rights Defender has informed the international organizations (UN, OSCE, CoE, etc.) about the situation,” Tatoyan added.