Author: Emma Jilavian

Minsk Group Co-chairs, international community should condemn Azerbaijan provocations – MFA Artsakh

Emma Jilavian

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 19:46,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh has issued a statement on the occasion of the Azerbaijani provocative actions in the directions of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd of the Hadrut region and Mets Shen and Hin Shen of the Shushi region. As ARMEN PRESS was informed from the press service of the MFAS Artsakh, the statements runs as follows,

‘’On December 11, 2020, the Azerbaijani armed forces undertook offensive actions in the direction of the villages of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd of the Hadrut region, as a result of which six military personnel of the Defence Army received gunshot wounds of varying severity. The provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side continued on December 13 in the direction of the villages of Mets Shen and Hin Shen of the Shushi region.

The Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the Republic of Artsakh were immediately informed about the facts of violation of the ceasefire by the Azerbaijani side. As a result of the intervention of the Russian peacekeepers, hostilities were stopped, and additional observation posts of the peacekeeping forces were set up to monitor the situation around the clock and control the observance of the ceasefire.

The provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side on December 11-13 were a flagrant violation of the trilateral statement on ceasefire of November 9, 2020. Azerbaijan’s failure to comply with its international obligations, its extremely dismissive attitude towards the agreed format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, the artificial delay in the resumption of the political process on the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict and Baku’s reliance on military force continue to be the main source of threat in the region and an obstacle to the establishment of long-term and sustainable peace.

These actions of Azerbaijan, which are evidently a continuation of the aggressive policy of Baku and an attempt to expand the occupation zone in Artsakh, as well as the seizure of a significant part of Artsakh and ethnic cleansing in general, should receive the strongest condemnation by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community as a whole.

The Republic of Artsakh, for its part, will continue to make consistent efforts aimed at the international recognition of Artsakh in order to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, to ensure the de-occupation of the republic’s territory and the return of the population to the places of their former residence’’.

PM post candidate: We call on Armenia, Artsakh armed forces to take necessary decisions with Russian

Emma Jilavian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 13 2020
peacekeepers

The single candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Armenia from the Homeland Salvation Movement Vazgen Manukyan has issued a statement.

“We call on the leadership of the armed forces of Armenia and Artsakh to make the necessary decisions in cooperation with the Russian peacekeepers,” he said.

“We highly appreciate the implementation of the mission of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Artsakh, but the peacekeeping troops of no country can single-handedly provide full protection and security of borders and the population without local armed forces. This is evidenced by the developments in Artsakh yesterday, which cause deep concern.”

“The suspicious indifference of the current political power of Armenia, and in some cases deliberate behavior, does not allow the Armenian armed forces to fulfill their duty to the Motherland.”

“We also expect from the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group that they will make active efforts and fulfill their mission.”


Armenian Separatists Hurt In Skirmish With Azerbaijan

Emma Jilavian
BARRON’s
Dec 12 2020
AFP – Agence France Presse


Separatist officials in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh said Saturday that three fighters were wounded in a skirmish with Azerbaijani forces, undermining a recent peace deal brokered by Russia.

The defence ministry in the ethnically Armenian province said in a statement that Azerbaijani troops attacked Friday evening and that “three Armenian servicemen were injured during the ensuing gunfight”.

It added that the fighters were in a stable condition and an investigation into the incident was under way.

Six weeks of fighting between separatists backed by Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region ended last month after the two sides agreed to a peace deal that saw the Armenians cede swathes of disputed territory.

More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed during the fighting in the Caucasus between the ex-Soviet rivals, which fought a war in the 1990s over the mountainous region.

Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have deployed to the region and Baku’s close ally Turkey has said it will monitor the truce from an observation centre in Azerbaijan.


His Holiness Garegin II, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan discuss further activity of Artsakh Diocese

Emma Jilavian

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 14:06,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Primate of Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan who was recently abroad for healthcare purposes, Information department head at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Vahram Melikyan said on Facebook.

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan thanked His Holiness for the care and advise to depart for treatment thanks to which his life-threatening danger was possible to prevent.

During the meeting His Holiness Garegin II and the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese discussed the situation in Artsakh, the programs aimed at covering the needs of the Artsakh people, as well as the further activity of the Diocese and care for holy sites.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Cher: ‘Nobody stood next to the first Christian nation because all we have is history and culture’

Emma Jilavian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 12 2020

World-famous American pop-singer of Armenian origin Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) took to Twitter on Saturday to condemn the international community for remaining silent in the wake of the attack on the “first Christian nation”.

“Dark day for Christianity. Nobody stood next to the first Christian nation because all we have is history and culture and that’s not something we can export…Thanks humanity,” Cher said.

“Armenia is a small country with no natural resources to steal. Turkey tried to destroy her, killed two million of her people. Now Azerbaijan is trying to destroy her. They have “black gold” men kill for or watch others do the killing. Russia wants her land. Bless and protect you, home of my father,” she tweeted.

 


Armenian FM briefs OIF Secretary-General on post-war humanitarian situation in Artsakh

Emma Jilavian

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 11:42,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian, who is in France on a working visit, met on December 9 with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF), the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The Armenian FM and the OIF Secretary-General discussed the activity of the organization amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges facing the Francophonie territory due to the pandemic.

Minister Aivazian briefed Mrs. Mushikiwabo on the humanitarian situation caused by the recent war unleashed by Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance against Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the actions for addressing the current crisis. He also informed the OIF chief about the direct engagement of terrorists in the recent war with the sponsorship of Turkey, stating that this is a serious threat not only for the security of Armenia and Artsakh, but also that of the entire region.

By using the chance the Armenian FM thanked the OIF Secretary-General for the principled and clear stance on the recent war launched against Artsakh.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russia vows continuous COVID-19 response support to Armenia

Emma Jilavian

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 16:17, 7 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Russia will continue donating COVID-19 response measures to Armenia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Armenian FM Ara Aivazian in Moscow.

“In the bilateral format, Russia will continue [donating] mobile biological laboratories, testing systems, reagents and medical equipment to our Armenian friends. Yerevan is displaying interest for cooperation in using the Russian coronavirus vaccine,” Lavrov said.

Earlier in November, Russia donated a mobile laboratory and samples of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 07-12-20

Emma Jilavian

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 17:24, 7 December, 2020

YEREVAN, 7 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 7 December, USD exchange rate up by 1.29 drams to 512.54 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.38 drams to 619.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.89 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 9.39 drams to 679.78 drams.

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

Gold price up by 251.49 drams to 30369.95 drams. Silver price up by 1.91 drams to 399.19 drams. Platinum price up by 652.13 drams to 17467.25 drams.

‘History has examples when diplomacy took country out of difficult situation’, Armenian FM says

Emma Jilavian

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 17:08, 4 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian asks to believe in and trust the Armenian diplomacy, stating that history has examples when diplomacy has taken the country out of the hardest situation.

“The Armenian diplomacy has been and remains in the forefronts of the defense of the Homeland. Especially today we consider it our duty to do the utmost to make sense of the sacrifice of our heroes and keep their memory alive in that way. Diplomacy loves silence, therefore it will fulfill its works silently, and their results will be more telling than any comment. History has examples when diplomacy has taken the country out of the hardest situations, therefore, I ask you to believe in and trust the Armenian diplomacy”, the FM told reporters in the Parliament.

The FM stated that “Armenia’s foreign ministry is one of the pillars of our sovereignty and statehood, and being as an apolitical structure, has one lasting goal – to defend the interests of Armenia and its people via a daily work”.

“Any attempt to discredit this structure and involve it in domestic political speculations is a blow to the statehood of Armenia. Especially these days, when the whole burden and responsibility after the end of the military operations is gradually transferred to diplomacy”, Ara Aivazian said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Human Rights Watch Accuses Azerbaijan of Abusing Armenian POWs

Emma Jilavian
Voice of America
Dec 3 2020
By VOA News
Updated 11:22 AM

Human Rights Watch accused Azerbaijani forces Wednesday of brutalizing some Armenian troops captured in the conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Acts of mistreatment were captured on video and circulated on social media over the past two months, HRW said. Azerbaijan says it will investigate.

The rights group said in a statement the videos show “Azerbaijani captors variously slapping, kicking, and prodding Armenian POWs” and forcing them to “kiss the Azerbaijani flag,” praise Azerbaijan’s president, swear at Armenia’s prime minister “and declare that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan.”

HRW official Hugh Williamson said humanitarian law requires that POWs be protected and called on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately end the inhumane treatment.

The number of POWs in custody is unknown but HRW, citing Armenian officials, estimated the number is in the “dozens.”

Ethnic Armenian soldiers sit in a military truck on a road during the withdrawal of troops from the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nov. 19, 2020.

Hikmat Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, told PBS Newshour that all war crimes committed by Azerbaijani soldiers will be investigated: “We do regret such kind of incidents happened…it is unjustifiable, in no way it can be justified…All of these videos are going to be investigated. And who are guilty, of course, will be brought to justice.”

The HRW report acknowledged that some of the prisoners depicted in the videos have since communicated with their families and said they are being treated well, but it said there remain serious grounds for concern about their safety and well-being.

HRW also said Armenia has captured Azerbaijani troops and that it is investigating videos on social media that apparently show Azerbaijani POWs being abused.

Armenia signed a Russian-brokered deal with Azerbaijan on Nov. 9 after six weeks of intense fighting.

The fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted Sept. 27, marking the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since a 1994 cease-fire.

The predominantly ethnic Armenian territory declared its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 during the collapse of the Soviet Union, sparking a war that claimed the lives of as many as 30,000 people before a 1994 cease-fire. That independence, however, is not internationally recognized.