Author: Emil Lazarian

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. The Azerbaijani State Committee on Religious Associations has made a statement protesting against the biased resolution of the European Parliament adopted on March 10, 2022, Trend reports via the committee.

According to the statement, the resolution was prepared under the influence of the Armenian lobby, doesn’t reflect reality, and contains false Armenian statements.

The statement noted that the resolution nothing mentions the true situation connected with the fate of Azerbaijani historical and religious monuments.

So, during the period of Armenian occupation in the territories of Azerbaijan, 65 out of 67 mosques were destroyed (the Aghdam Juma mosque was partially preserved due to the fact that it was used by Armenian armed forces for military purposes, and the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha, after the so-called repair, was presented as a “Persian” mosque ).

The resolution also mentions nothing about the ethnic cleansing and genocide against Azerbaijanis by Armenia, the Armenization of Azerbaijani toponyms, the destruction, along with hundreds of historical and cultural monuments, mosques and other shrines, the desecration of religious values, the facts of the Gregorianization or destruction of Albanian churches, in general, about the vandalism against the religious and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.

Besides, nearly 900 cemeteries were completely destroyed, tombstones were broken, and graves were excavated with the desecration of the remains. Azerbaijani citizens were deprived of the opportunity to visit the graves of their loved ones for 30 years.

The committee’s statement once again highlighted the fact that during the 2020 second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces didn’t conduct any military operations against civilians, as well as religious facilities, which was repeatedly confirmed by foreign journalists.

“Following the second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani government announced its intention to restore all religious monuments destroyed by the Armenian Armed Forces in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation during the war, and this process is already being carried out as part of the socio-economic development of these territories on the basis of the “Great Return” program,” the statement said.

Besides, according to the committee’s statement, the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly stated that the protection of historical and religious monuments in the territory of Azerbaijan, including the liberated lands, is the responsibility of the Azerbaijani state.

The statement further said that the ongoing restoration of two churches, along with mosques, in Shusha, is a clear indicator of Azerbaijan’s respectful attitude towards other cultures and religions.

“Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, doesn’t discriminate against historical and cultural heritage on religious and ethnic grounds and is committed to its obligations under international conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Time of Armed Conflict,” the statement emphasized. “However, the Armenian side violates, along with this Convention, the requirements of the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”, the European Convention of 1992 “On the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage” and other international documents.”

The statement also reminded that following the video meeting held on February 4, 2022, with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, the President of France as the chairmanship of this country in the EU, President of the Council of the EU and the Prime Minister of Armenia, an agreement was reached to send a UNESCO mission to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to the statement, the above agreement is a confirmation of the need to study the state of the cultural heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people on the territory of Armenia.

In conclusion, the committee’s statement expressed regret that the resolution of the European Parliament didn’t mention all the facts.

5.9 magnitude earthquake rocks southern Iran

 09:23, 17 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked southern Iran on Thursday, TASS reports citing the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

The quake’s epicenter was located at a depth of ten kilometers some 166 kilometers northwest of the city of Bandar Abbas with a population of around 352,000.

There have been no reports about casualties and damages.

 10:37, 17 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, Member of the European Parliament, Marina Kaljurand, has expressed her concerns about the current humanitarian situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

In a statement she called for the speedy resumption of negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement.

“On 8 March, the natural gas pipeline supplying Nagorno-Karabakh was damaged in an area under the control of Azerbaijan. Despite freezing temperatures, the pipeline has not been repaired yet and the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been without gas supplies already for a week. It is urgent that unhindered access is provided to the damage site without delay in order to restore supplies as soon as possible”, she said in a statement.

“At the same time, reports of ceasefire violations have multiplied since early March, along the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact, as well as on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including reports of Azerbaijan’s high-calibre mortar shelling of several Nagorno-Karabakh villages. Over the past weeks, Azerbaijani army loudspeakers directed at these villages have been calling on the local Armenian population to leave the area, intensifying the psychological pressure and threatening the use of force.

I am seriously concerned by these developments and the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and strongly condemn any hostile actions aimed at civilians. I reiterate my call for the speedy resumption of negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement and recall the EU’s readiness to step up assistance to build confidence and address humanitarian and other issues”, the MEP said.

 11:26, 17 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia allocated 2 billion 35 million drams to the Police for the launch of patrol service in Shirak and Lori provinces.

The money will be used for acquiring 140 vehicles, as well as administrative equipment.

At the Cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the launch of the new patrol service in Shirak and Lori provinces is a very important reform for the government.

“The new patrol service is operating in Yerevan from July of the last year, and we need to record that the results of the activity of the patrol police are satisfying. I want to note that democracy is the most important brand of Armenia’s external image, and we, in fact, are building a police that meets the democracy standards”, the PM said.

 13:00, 17 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says the current level of the COVID-19 vaccination rate is not satisfactory.

During the Cabinet meeting today, the PM said it is necessary to fully get vaccinated for the sake of public health.

The PM reminded that today is already the third session of the Cabinet they are not wearing face masks.

“It depends on the fact that the coronavirus situation in Armenia is quite good today, three weeks ago we noticed a declining trend in new cases and predicted that we were going to have a declining numbers”, he said.

However, Pashinyan noted that if the vaccination process is not properly organized, at some point they will have to return to the face mask mandate.

“If, God forbid, there is a worse course, we will move to stricter regimes, therefore, my call, request is that the vaccinations continue in a proper way, as the current level is not satisfactory”, he said.

Asaf Hajiyev, the secretary-general of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

 09:49,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian pavilion at the annual MITT Moscow tourism expo is of big interest to travel agencies, governmental organizations and potential tourists.

Gayane Ayvazyan, the PR and Digital Marketing expert at the Armenian Tourism Committee told ARMENPRESS from Moscow that they’ve had meetings with tourism representatives from the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, Sochi, as well as representatives of Rostourism and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and media outlets.

“There is rather big activeness, both individuals and tourism representatives display big interest towards the Armenian pavilion. We’ve had a number of meetings with representatives of the sector. We mostly talked about the importance of cooperation especially in the current conditions [Russian-Ukrainian conflict]. There is big interest from Russia to expand cooperation, they are eager to work more effectively with Armenia. We even talked about proposals on Yerevan becoming a hub from where it will be possible to connect with the world, especially when Russia is under sanctions,” Avyazyan said.

According to Ayvazyan, most of the questions raised during the discussions related to flights. The work of Armenian airlines was highlighted.

13 travel agencies from Armenia are participating in the event.

One of the participants, the Armenia-based Just Travel agency, is presenting tour packages offering adventure, cultural and gastro tourism.

“In this difficult situation, when many countries have shut down the opportunity of visits for Russian citizens, Armenia is one of the few countries where Russian tourists can come,” Just Travel representative Naira Tovmasyan said.

She added that Armenia is a very convenient place also for corporate tourism.

Russia is Armenia’s biggest and primary tourism market. In 2021, more than 350,000 Russian tourists arrived in Armenia, making Russia the top inbound country of origin of tourists.

Anna Gziryan

 11:33,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PM’s Office said.

The message runs as follows,

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus.

March 18 marks the consolidation of interstate relations based on centuries-old Armenian-Cypriot ties and strong friendship, common values, mutual respect and sympathy.

Armenia values the warmest interstate relations and effective cooperation established between our two countries over the past three decades, which are the evidence of the unwavering brotherhood and mutual support of the Armenian and Cypriot peoples.

It is no secret that Cyprus is one of the EU member states with which Armenia enjoys high mutual trust and strategic cooperation.

I am convinced that the rich experience and the multifaceted bilateral agenda gained during these years provide wide opportunities for revealing and comprehensively utilizing the full potential of the Armenian-Cypriot cooperation, giving a new impetus to the bilateral relations, raising them to a qualitatively new level.

The vibrant Armenian community gives a special content and warmth to the Armenian-Cypriot relations with its contribution to the political, economic and cultural life of the country, which has always been highly appreciated by the Government of Cyprus.

I once again congratulate all of us on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, wishing our countries and brotherly peoples prosperity, peace, fruitful cooperation full of jubilees.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration”.