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: Slovak Foreign Minister briefed on Azerbaijan’s ongoing policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 20:01, 24 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. On August 24, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Miroslav Wlachovský, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the details of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and the severe conditions created for the 120,000 population due to Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that supplies of food and medicine to Nagorno-Karabakh are not delivered even through the International Committee of the Red Cross, the functioning of which is also hindered by Azerbaijan. In this context, the Foreign Minister of Armenia recalled the case of abduction by the border guard service of Azerbaijan of Vagif Khachatryan, who was being transported from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for medical treatment on July 29, as a gross violation of international humanitarian law and an unacceptable step aimed at terrorizing the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijan's pattern of behaviour, which continues despite the numerous appeals of international partners and two legally binding Orders of the UN International Court of Justice, is an open policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The further prevention of such actions requires bolder positions and active steps from international actors.

It was highlighted that in the current situation, it is imperative to lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor in order to overcome the humanitarian crisis, noting that the further escalation of the situation by Azerbaijan may undermine the efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region.

During the phone call, the two Ministers stressed their readiness to effectively use the existing significant potential for the development of cooperation between the two countries.

‘This is a second genocide’, Glendale and LA officials show solidarity for Artsakh with 24-hr hunger strike

Emil Lazarian
FOX 11, Los Angeles
Aug 25 2023
By Araksya Karapetyan
LOS ANGELES - The Pan Armenian Council of Western USA held a press conference on Wednesday evening to launch a nationwide, 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with the residents of Artsakh. 

In December of last year, the nearby country of Azerbaijan instigated an allegedly illegal, 8-month blockade at the Lachin Corridor. This blockade halted critical resources, such as fuel, electricity and water reserves, from entering Artsakh, according to reports.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a new genocide or a second genocide. The people in Artsakh are facing a humanitarian catastrophe," said Mayor of Glendale Dan Brotman. "Glendale has the single largest concentration of Armenian immigrants and their descendants in the United States, it is my responsibility to step forward and ask our leaders, President Biden and the U.S. State Department to take a stand and to take some aggressive actions to end this catastrophe before it gets worse."

The press conference took place Wednesday evening at the Consulate of Azerbaijan in west LA, and marked the start of the 24-hour nationwide hunger strike.

The aim was to raise awareness about the "rapidly unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region, which has left 120,000 civilians on the brink of starvation and genocide." LA officials demanded "tangible action" by President Biden's Administration to end the blockade and end military assistance to Azerbaijan.

The Pan Armenian Council of Western USA listed the following demands of President Biden and the U.S. Department of State at the press conference:

"1. Ensuring the immediate re-opening of the Lachin Corridor by introducing and facilitating the passage of a UN Security Council Resolution requiring Azerbaijan to adhere to the February 22, 2023, preliminary measure of the ICJ ordering Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor;
2. Immediately halting all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan in light of the illegal humanitarian blockade imposed on the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), consistent with Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
3. Sanctioning members of the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by individual members of the Aliyev regime;
4. Delivering $100 million in USAID humanitarian assistance to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) through the Lachin Corridor to ensure the survival of the 120,000 civilians who have been completely blockaded since June 15, 2023;
5. Introducing a UN Security Council resolution to establish a United Nations Mission in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) [UNMINK] consisting of 5,000 international military personnel to ensure the physical security of the population."

"The United States Government has the power to do just about whatever needs to be done. Whether it has the will is another matter," said Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian, "We can't let a bully, a dictator, dictate our values."

Azerbaijan refuses to receive Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office

Emil Lazarian

 14:54,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has refused to receive Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office who planned to visit the country after his trip to Armenia.

According to the Azerbaijani APA news agency, “official Baku did not see the need for his visit, considered it a waste of time and did not agree.”

Kasprzyk met with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on August 22.

He then visited the Armenian village of Kornidzor on August 25 to inspect the entrance to the blocked Lachin Corridor.

Kasprzyk intended to visit Azerbaijan after his Armenia trip.

Iran reiterates support to Armenia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty

Emil Lazarian

 15:33,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Iran has reiterated its support to Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani, on August 25, said that Iran “defends the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia.”

“Our principled policy is to develop relations with the Republic of Armenia. We defend Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Ambassador Sobhani told reporters during an economic exhibition in Yerevan.

The ambassador added that Armenia and Iran have never had any problems in any area or level, especially since Armenia regained its independence.

Milan records hottest day since 1763

Emil Lazarian

 12:46,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Italy's northern city of Milan registered a new record high average daily temperature of 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday as a heatwave which began around mid-August reached its peak, Reuters reported citing the regional environmental protection agency (ARPA).

It was the hottest day since the Milano Brera weather station started recording temperatures in 1763. Milan's previous record of 32.8 C was set on Aug. 11, 2003.

The Italian capital Rome registered a record peak of 41.8 Celsius (°C) in July, as much of southern Europe broiled this summer, fuelling wildfires, prompting governments to issue health warnings, and disrupting holidays for many tourists.

ARPA said in a statement that Aug. 23 and 24 have been the hottest days of the summer across the whole of the Lombardy region which surrounds Milan, with several towns registering peak temperatures above 40 C.

Iran against any change in Armenia borders: envoy

Emil Lazarian
MEHR News Agency, Iran
Aug 26 2023

TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (MNA) – Iran's ambassador to Yerevan Mehdi Sobhani says that Tehran supports the territorial integrity of Armenia and is against any change to the borders.

Referring to his previous remarks on Iran's steps over supporting Armenia's territorial integrity, Sobhani told NEWS.am. that Tehran has already taken those steps.

We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia, and we are against any change of borders. We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia as we recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, he said.

The Iranian ambassador went on to say that Iran is not against the opening of communication channels and provided such channels to Azerbaijan as well, stressing that all channels of communication should be under the control of the countries in whose territory they are located, especially in the case of Armenia.

Answering a question on what would Iran do if Azerbaijan tried to open the so-called “Zangezur corridor” by force, he once again reiterated Iran's support for the opening of communication channels. But they should be under the control of the Armenian government. Nothing will change by force, he said.

MP/PR

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 25-08-23

Emil Lazarian

 16:55,

YEREVAN, 25 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 385.98 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.95 drams to 416.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.08 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.71 drams to 486.84 drams.

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

Gold price up by 6.20 drams to 23789.72 drams. Silver price up by 5.41 drams to 300.12 drams.

Accepting Azerbaijan’s demands would further deepen and complicate the situation, warns senior Nagorno-Karabakh official

Emil Lazarian

 19:07,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Yielding to Azerbaijan’s terms would further deepen and complicate the situation, Nagorno-Karabakh’s State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan warned Friday.

“The people of Artsakh have been facing a new challenge since 12 December 2022. Artsakh was first blockaded under a false environmental pretext, then the corridor link with Armenia was blockaded, and then the Hakari Bridge was closed. A device was installed there under the pretext of arms shipments from Armenia, then it was removed and a checkpoint was installed instead. Humanitarian shipments have been suspended since June 15, instead of free movement of persons we only have transfer of patients through the Red Cross, while the shipment of goods has been completely halted. After keeping the people of Artsakh in this condition for over two months, Azerbaijan presented new demands, the launch of the Aghdam-Askeran road and a meeting with representatives of ethnic Armenians in Karabakh on Azerbaijani territory. There will be endless demands like this as long as the Azerbaijani plan to subject the people of Artsakh to genocide, to give a final solution to the Karabakh conflict by way of depopulating Artsakh isn’t completed. Therefore, the claims that making concessions in response to Azerbaijan’s demands would allow us to recover are baseless illusions. Furthermore, it would only further deepen and complicate our situation,” Nersisyan said in a video address.

Nersisyan said that they must accept the reality that the international community, including the peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, are ensuring insufficient security in Artsakh and are unable to create the conditions necessary for the most basic livelihood, and are tacitly defending or encouraging the Azeri agenda which intends to eventually lead to genocide.

Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival Launches Second Edition In Lori

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Armenia, Arts & Culture, Latest, News, Top Stories


The arts festival, on August 25–27, 2023, will feature performers from around the world! 

TUMANYAN, Armenia – The Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival, which launched in September 2022, is back for a second year, it was announced by festival co-founders Anoush Rima Tatevossian, Nyree Abrahamian and Tina Yesayan.

The festival, which honors the legacy of noted 19th century poet, author, and public intellectual Hovhannes Tumanyan, will take place on Friday August 25th through Sunday August 27, and will bring visitors to the town of Tumanyan, to celebrate all forms of storytelling— including traditional Armenian folk tales, contemporary first person narratives, poetry, film, visual arts, theater, music, and audio storytelling. The theme of this year’s festival is “place,” in recognition of the breathtaking nature of Lori Province, and its significance in inspiring Tumanyan’s body of work. 

“When we launched the festival last year, it was our intention to create an immersive, inspiring weekend to reconnect contemporary audiences with the rich heritage and tradition of storytelling. With this edition, we have laid the groundwork to make this an annual event that will continue to grow, and celebrate Armenian storytelling in conversation with storytelling traditions from around the world.” said Co-Founder Anoush Rima Tatevossian.

The festival will feature three days of performances, workshops, hikes and activities for adults and children, held in the town’s unique venues, including old factory buildings and a Soviet-era house of culture. A hike on the Giqor Trail will be accompanied by a telling of Tumanyan’s story “Giqor,” an intimate evening story-salon will feature folk tales in the Hamshen Armenian dialect by Mahir Özkan of Istanbul, and an evening of musical performances by Shushiki Band from Yerevan and Alin Demirdjian of Buenos Aires will take place under the stars. 

Featured international artists include Kenyan-Scottish storyteller Mara Menzies, Lebanese performer & percussionist Raffi Feghali, and Raphael Rodan of the Mezrab Storytelling School of Amsterdam. 

“Last year, we were blown away by the sense of community that developed during the festival and this year, we want to build on that,” said Co-Founder Nyree Abrahamian. “I hope that the diverse range of stories shared at this year’s festival will awaken people’s imaginations and their compassion. I want them to leave with a heightened sense of curiosity about the world around them, and a deeper appreciation for the power of their own stories.” 

 Another highlight of the weekend is a tour of the Abastan Artist Community, a converted former textile factory that serves as a creative residency space for a community of international artists from Armenia, Russia, Iran, and other countries. 

The weekend’s performers and workshop leaders include: 
● Mara Menzies, award-winning Scottish-Kenyan storyteller & performer 
● Raphael Rodan, storytelling coach & co-artistic director of the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival 
● Torfeh Ekhlasi, Iranian visual artist 
● Sevana Tchakerian, French-Armenian multi-instrumentalist 
● Melisa Ferayan, Istanbul-based storyteller & educator
● Mahir Özkan, published author of Hamshen folktales 
● Scout Tufankjian, acclaimed Armenian-American photojournalist 
● Shushiki Band, high-energy traditional Armenian folk band 
● Kourken Papazian, Beirut & Berlin-based documentary filmmaker 
● Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, Armenian linguist & scholar 
● Aram Pachyan, contemporary Armenian writer 
● Alin Demirdjian, Argentinian-Armenian singer-songwriter 

Click for the complete weekend program.

The Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival is a project of the Tumanyan Development Foundation, a registered charitable foundation in Armenia founded in August 2020 with the purpose of creating opportunities to revitalize the town of Tumanyan through tourism and economic development projects. The concept was incubated by Artbox, a creative incubator developed by Creative Armenia and supported by the European Union and German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

2023 Festival headline sponsors include the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Partners and supporters include Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), the Hrant Dink Foundation, The British Council, Muziekgebouw Production House, Abastan Artist Community, and HikeArmenia.

"Baku intends to allow only the exit of people from Nagorno-Karabakh" – Pashinyan

Emil Lazarian
Aug 24 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenians leaving NK along the Lachin corridor

“We have received reliable information that Baku is developing a plan to open the Lachin corridor in one direction, i.e. to allow people to leave Nagorno-Karabakh but not to allow entry,” the Armenian Prime Minister said at a government session.

Nikol Pashinyan said that “as a result of illegal blocking of the corridor, 5 thousand people are still waiting for an opportunity to return to NK, another 30,000 became refugees as a result of the 44-day war.” According to him, they cannot return home “due to the non-implementation of the 7th point of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020.” According to this paragraph of the document on the cessation of hostilities, they were supposed to return to NK under the control of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

On August 21, with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers, 41 people, Karabakhi Armenians and Russian citizens, were able to travel to Armenia through the Lachin corridor. This was the first travel authorization since June 14. It was reported that among them were students enrolled in Armenian and foreign universities.

The day before, Azerbaijani media reported that another 100 people received permission to travel to Armenia through the “Lachin” checkpoint. According to the “Turan” news agency, these were “ethnic Armenians who have Russian citizenship, as well as holders of Russian passports”.

  • Internal political situation in the unrecognized NKR. Forecast from Yerevan: what to expect
  • “The future belongs to Armenia more than Azerbaijan” – Armenian analyst
  • “The future belongs to Armenia more than Azerbaijan” – Armenian analyst

Talking about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyan said that the situation remains tense. According to him, there is only one change in Baku’s position: with the assistance of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, some movement has started along the Lachin corridor. Those “in need of medical treatment and other citizens” were able to leave for Armenia. It was in this context that the Prime Minister talked about movement along the corridor in one direction only.

“Illegal blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan continues. About 400 tons of humanitarian cargoes sent to Nagorno-Karabakh by the Armenian government, the private sector [a private Armenian company] and France continue to wait at the entrance of the Lachin corridor.”

The Lachin corridor has been blocked since December 12, 2022, and since June 15, 2023, Azerbaijan has not allowed any humanitarian aid, food, medicine and basic necessities from Armenia.

The Armenian government has sent trucks with humanitarian aid. They have been waiting for almost a month for permission to pass into the territory of unrecognized NKR near the Armenian village of Kornidzor. France has also joined this initiative. However, Baku does not allow the aid to be delivered and says it is ready to ensure deliveries through its territory via Aghdam.

NK Armenians categorically rejected this possibility as soon as this proposal was made. Earlier, the Armenian media reported that the president of the unrecognized republic had discussed the issue with the parliament and talked about “pressure being put on the local authorities” regarding this issue. What decision was eventually made has not been revealed.

Judging by the document leaked to the media, Armenian experts came to the conclusion that the Russian Foreign Minister “describes a scenario for ensuring the rights of NK Armenians as a national minority within Azerbaijan”

Pashinyan emphasized that many residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, who found themselves in Armenia as a result of the blockade, as well as those who “became refugees as a result of the second Karabakh war in 2020,” cannot return to their homeland. According to official information, there are about 30,000 such people.

He raised the issue of implementation of the 7th point of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. It provides for the return of “displaced persons and refugees to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas under the control of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.”

According to the Prime Minister, this means that “not only the Armenians of Martakert, Hadrut, a number of villages of Martuni, but also Getashen, Martunashen, Shahumian and other districts should be able to return to their homes in dignity and safety”. And the failure to fulfill this provision proves that “the main goal of Azerbaijan is to expel Armenians from NK through ethnic cleansing, whether by starvation, exhaustion, military operation or other means”.

A group of local residents held a protest in front of the military base of Russian peacekeepers stationed in NK. They said that “all deaths will remain on Putin’s conscience”

The Prime Minister also raised the issue of ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and noted that Armenia’s position on this issue has not changed. Namely, these issues should be resolved through dialog between Baku and the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of an international mechanism.

At the same time, Pashinyan said that “Baku is constantly torpedoing the dialog with Stepanakert in various ways, trying to shift the responsibility to Nagorno-Karabakh”.

The Armenian Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to the peace agenda. Regarding the possible signing of an agreement with Azerbaijan, he said:

“I have to inform that we have handed over to the Azerbaijani side our new proposals on the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”