Author: Frangulian Shushan

Armenia’s President Says Moscow Has Admitted to Not Fulfilling its Obligation in Parukh

Frangulian Shushan
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

President Vahagn Khachatryan (center) briefs members of the Russian Armenian community


President Vahagn Khachatryan said on Friday that Russia has admitted that it had not fulfilled its obligation in its peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, which led to Azerbaijani forces breaching the line-of-contact and advancing their positions into the Parukh village in Artsakh’s Askeran Region.

Khachatryan was speaking to members of the Armenian community in Russia as he is in St. Petersburg to attend an international economic forum.

“I also took part in the discussions during those tense days and we showed a very tough position,” Khachatryan told the gathering. “As a result of that position, the Russian side finally admitted that there was a gap. Now they are conducting an internal investigation to understand the reason, but they admitted that they had not actually fulfilled their obligation,” the Armenian Service of RFE/RL reported on Friday.

Khachatryan said that at the time there was no need to address the matter publicly. He explained that during internal discussion the Russians admitted that the peacekeepers did not do what they should have done.

After weeks of attacks on the Parukh village, in late March, Azerbaijani forces breached the line-of-contact, which is under the Russian peacekeepers control, and advanced their positions into the village, from where they also set up positions on the strategic Karaglukh Heights.

At the time, Russia called on Azerbaijan to withdraw its troops from the area. However, local observers continue to observe that such a pull-back has not occurred and Azerbaijani forces continue to remain in the area.

“The situation is so tense there that even the people of Nagorno Karabakh have said that if the peacekeepers can not ensure our security, we will return to Armenia,” said Khachatryan, who explained that the Russian side has insisted that its peacekeepers are obligated to ensure the security and urged the population to not abandon the area.

Last week, while in Yerevan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that a resolution to the situation in Parukh was a key foreign policy priority for Russia, adding that such issues would be discussed within the context of delimiting and demarcating of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Lavrov’s remarks set off a frenzy in Baku, which shot back by saying that the Parukh region has nothing to do with the demarcation process, since the village is located in Khojaly, which Azerbaijan is currently occupying.

Since then, the Russian foreign ministry has walked back Lavrov’s statements, with its spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday saying that Parukh matter has no connection to the border demarcation process.

During his meeting with the Russian Armenian community, President Khachatryan insisted that based on the new developments, Yerevan should first advance the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, and secure the final status of Nagorno Karabakh. Moreover, Khachatryan claimed, that the leadership of Artsakh agrees with this position.

Official Stepanakert has been clear in its position: the Karabakh conflict should be settled by ensuring Artsakh’s right to self-determination, which does not envision Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.

Khachatryan claimed that when he met with Lavrov on June 9, Russia’s top diplomat supposedly told him that Moscow shares Yerevan’s position on the Parukh matter, which Khachatryan claimed Lavrov spoke about “in a special way” and thanked him for coming to that conclusion, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported.

The first documentary book on the Armenian Genocide published in Spain

Frangulian Shushan

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 19:24,

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. The first documentary book on the Armenian Genocide has been published in Spain. ARMENPRESS reports the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Spain informs that on this occasion on June 13 Ambassador Sos Avetisyan received the author of the book, lecturer at CEU San Pablo University of Madrid, political analyst, journalist Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna.

The Ambassador stressed the importance of the book in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide in Spain.

The book is available in all bookstores in Spain.

Officers to receive 3-room apartment in Yerevan after graduating from military-training institution

Frangulian Shushan

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 17:04,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Graduates of military-training institutions in Armenia will receive a 3-room apartment in Yerevan regardless of the place of their service, Member of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction Armen Khachatryan said.

“A respective bill will be submitted to the Parliament soon, according to which starting July 1, 2022, the government will provide a 3-room apartment in Yerevan free of charge for the representatives of our future officers admitted to the military-training institutions of Armenia”, the MP said.

The lawmaker said the place of the officer’s service won’t matter, as he will have a 3-room apartment in Yerevan after graduation. He called on young people aged 18-23 to apply to a military-training institution.

The respective bill was approved during the recent Cabinet meeting.

Armenian Defense Minister: ‘No danger’ of new war with Azerbaijan

Frangulian Shushan
June 8 2022



Interview with the Minister of Defense of Armenia

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, in an interview with Public Television, said that despite “certain tensions” on the border with Azerbaijan, he did not see the danger of a new war. The Minister confirmed that “incidents” happen, it happens that false information comes from Baku that the Armenian side has violated the ceasefire.

“However, as a rule, the armed forces of Armenia prevent the violation of the ceasefire regime by forcing the enemy to obey it. That is, if there is a shootout, then it does not happen on our initiative”, Suren Papikyan stressed.

He also talked about the expected reforms, including the transition to a professional army, the acquisition of modern weapons, although he did not say which one.

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The minister announced that the process of creating a professional army had already begun. According to him, in the near future the Ministry of Defense will come up with a large-scale legislative initiative.

The first step on this path, according to Papikyan, will be to change the quality, form and content of military educational institutions, the second – the transition of the army to a professional basis.

The minister stressed that those who criticize the situation in the army are well aware that it is impossible to change everything in one day. But the reforms are underway and will bring results.

In particular, active contract servicemen will soon have the opportunity to undergo certification, and conscripts will be offered to remain in the army – to switch to contract service.

“We will create social guarantees, opportunities for a serviceman to see his future in the army as a professional soldier. This should be the basis of our future army”, Papikyan said.

Cancellation of the meeting of the commission on delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was assessed differently by the parties to the conflict. Baku accused Yerevan of opting out, while Yerevan refuted it

The minister does not consider it a problem that the post of chief of the General Staff has been vacant for four months, although the opposition has been criticizing the government all this time, accusing the army of being deprived of its head.

Papikyan assures that the acting chief of the General Staff fully exercises these powers, and a new one will be appointed after structural changes in the ministry.

The Minister of Defense announced that a new model of government would be introduced, according to which the Chief of the General Staff would be the First Deputy Minister of Defense. And the General Staff of the Armed Forces will no longer be engaged in procurement and logistics, which is part of its functions under the current law.

“Purchase, maintenance, provision of equipment – all such issues will be dealt with by other departments. That is, starting with rear support, some functions will be removed from the servicemen. Many of these functions will be delegated to civilian services, as we have already done with the soldiers’ canteens”, he said.

These changes are provided for in the new legislative package, which has already been submitted to the government and will soon be submitted to parliament for approval.

Yet the minister acknowledged that the head of the General Staff has not yet been appointed, not only because structural changes are expected after the adoption of the new law, but also because it is necessary to “make the right decision.”

Political scientist Armen Grigoryan calls for urgent revision of Armenia’s foreign policy to replace the ongoing “pseudo-diversification” of the country’s foreign affairs

Papikyan said that in order to increase the defense capability, Armenia, of course, is replenishing its arsenal of weapons. However, the minister stressed that the government “does not intend to publicly announce the acquired weapons” and specify what exactly is being purchased.

He only stressed that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the Armenian army “is able to defend the sovereign territories of Armenia”.

FlyOne Armenia to carry out first Yerevan-Beirut-Yerevan flight on June 16

Frangulian Shushan

FLYONE ARMENIA to carry out first Yerevan-Beirut-Yerevan flight on June 16

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 13:30,

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS.  The first Armenian national airline FLYONE ARMENIA starts regular flights to Lebanon on June 16. The first Yerevan – Beirut – Yerevan flight from Zvartnots Airport to Rafic Hariri International Airport will take place on Thursday, June 16. Then there will be two flights a week, Monday and Thursday. The flights will be carried out from “Zvartnots” international airport at an affordable price for everyone.

“We are looking forward to FLYONE ARMENIA’s flights to Beirut. It is a crucial event for us. It is an opportunity to connect our two friendly peoples more closely, to make travel opportunities accessible to everyone – tourists, businessmen and the Armenian community. We will do our best to make these flights demanded by our passengers,” said Aram Ananyan, Chairman of the Board of FLYONE ARMENIA, reports ARMENPRESS.

Sports: Armenian, Georgian football legends to meet in Yerevan

Frangulian Shushan
Public Radio of Armenia
June 4 2022

The football legends of Armenia and Georgia will meet in a match in Yerevan on June 16.

The match dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Football Federation of Armenia will take place at Hanrapetakan (Republican) Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan and will kick off at 19:00.

The Armenian team will feature Yura Movsisyan, Marcos Pizzelli, Edgar Manucharyan, Robert Arzumanyan, Karlen Mkrtchyan, Gevorg Kasparov, Arthur Edigaryan, Levon Hayrapetyan, Valeri Aleksanyan, Arthur Sarkisov, Ararat Arakelyan, Samvel Melkonyan. Keeper Roman Berezovsky will coach the team.

The Georgian national team will feature Levan Kobiashvili, Alexander Iashvili, Gocha Jamarauli, Jano Ananidze, Georgi Demetradze, Otar Martsvaladze and others. The coach of the team is David Mujiri, the assistant coach is Mikhail Kavelashvili.

A concert program is planned before the match and during the break.

Tickets go on sale next week. All proceeds from the sale will go to charity.

Artsakh official: Number of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh must be increased

Frangulian Shushan
NEWS.am
Armenia – June 3 2022
11:45, 03.06.2022

The number of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh must be increased. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Minister of State Artak Beglaryan said this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“We believe that the number of the Russian contingent should be increased, and its powers should be expanded,” Beglaryan said.

As a reason for this, he noted the fact that the line of contact between the two sides has increased almost 2.5 times after the Artsakh war in the fall of 2020. Also, Beglaryan accused the Azerbaijani side of inciting a number of incidents at the border.

According to him, the Artsakh authorities will continue their efforts to achieve international recognition of the republic.

“After the international recognition of Artsakh’s independence, it will be possible to consider also the matter of the republic joining Armenia,” Beglaryan added.

He stressed that now Azerbaijan “feels strong,” in addition, Turkey provides military and political assistance to it, and therefore the Artsakh authorities need to seek avenues to “resolve their problems gradually, step by step, and later through direct negotiations with Azerbaijan.”

But for that, Azerbaijan must be “ready for peace,” the Artsakh official added.

Student biologists distressed about raising funds to make Armenia competition

Frangulian Shushan
New Zealand – June 3 2022
By Kate Nicol-Williams, 1News Reporter
New Zealand’s participation in the International Biology Olympiad next month is at risk, with a Government fund that contributes to travel costs for overseas student science competitions on hold.

This year’s premier event for high school biologists is in Armenia from July 10.

Hillcrest High School student Janet Guo is one of four New Zealand students who has qualified to participate.

“Science is conventionally still quite a male-dominated field and so like it provided confidence for me to go deeper and be like, ‘oh yes, I can do this too.'”

Guo says science brings her happiness and has shaped her world view.

“It helps me think rationally… especially biology, I think it’s helped me understand how to perceive the world through literally reading about like sensory receptors.”

Guo said fundraising for the trip is eating into her study time.

“For us, it’s quite distressing I guess… it’s been multiple 10 hour days for a lot of us and to feel like that might be taken away from us because of the immense costs, like $13,000 is a lot for all of us, I’m not from a wealthy family,” Guo said.

The Talented School Students Travel Award was put on hold by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment because of Covid-19 and is now being reviewed.

The scheme began in 2003 with a budget of $30,000 per year and grew to $250,000 per year until the fund was paused.

Some funding went to applicants to cover costs to attend competitions virtually.

The remaining $110,000 from the 2020/2021 budget for the scheme was spent on other initiatives from the MBIE Science in Society portfolio, including the New Zealand in Space exhibition, development of science resources for students to access during Covid-19 lockdowns and funding for the Science Media Centre to respond with information to media during the pandemic.

“We feel now it is timely to assess whether changes are needed to ensure a broader range of opportunities are available to students,” an MBIE spokesperson said in a statement.

“We also want to see whether different types of opportunities should be offered as part of the award, and these mightn’t necessarily be international travel opportunities.”

The Government agency said Covid-19 still makes travel high-risk.

“Logistics are unable to be safely managed for students travelling at this time,” the spokesperson said.

MBIE said, “locally relevant initiatives within New Zealand are being created to make the most of the country’s excellent research and learning opportunities.

“In the future, select international opportunities may also be supported to provide a wider variety of experiences, once the logistics can be safely managed.”

A draft research paper from New Zealand International Biology Olympiad chairperson Dr Angela Sharples includes reports from former participants that the local competition and international competition influenced their decision to pursue careers in science after high school.

“Programmes like this give students the confidence to consider themselves as scientists so they’re creating links through our programme in New Zealand, we work with universities throughout New Zealand to link them up with top researchers in biological scientists and then when they represent New Zealand, they link up with students who are also interested in those,” Sharples said.

“They’ll be their colleagues working on collaborative science research later in life so we’re creating a network of students with a passion for science who will contribute to our economy, now we don’t always know in what way, we don’t have a crystal ball as to what the latest scientific research will be, but we do know that these are our top students.”

Sharples said the students who have been selected for the New Zealand team have been working towards it for more than two years.

“They’ve worked so hard so to fall over at the last minute because of the lack of funds and to have the fund on hold for Covid when the borders are now open and these students are travelling to compete face to face, that’s pretty disappointing.

“I would be absolutely gutted if these students can’t go through… it’s life changing to represent New Zealand in a competition like this with over 70 countries competing.”

Hayk Sargsyan detained under remand

Frangulian Shushan

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 21:26, 1 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. Hayk Sargsyan, the nephew of the third president Serzh Sargsyan, is under remand, ARMENPRESS reports his lawyer Amram Makinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Hayk Sargsyan is charged with mass disruptions of public order after the clashes near the third government building. He had been arrested earlier.

Yerevan Calls for Investigation of Azerbaijan’s Attack that Killed Armenian Soldier

Frangulian Shushan
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Armenia-Azerbaijan border


Mirzoyan Slams Aliyev’s Provocative Remarks

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the latests military provocation by Azerbaijani forces, which resulted in the death of Armenian soldier, private Vahani Vardanyan on Saturday. The foreign ministry also said that President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, through his “destructive, belligerent and superfluous” remarks, was making territorial claims against the sovereignty of Armenia.

In an interview with Armenpress, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan responded to the remarks made by Aliyev, who on Friday said that there is no Nagorno Karabakh, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, there is no OSCE Minsk Group.

In its statement issued on Sunday, the foreign ministry said that since May 2021, units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have illegally invaded the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia in the Sotk-Khoznavar section, occupying an area of more than 45 square kilometers.

“The incident of May 28 and similar provocations, regular ceasefire violations once again justify the need for a mirror withdrawal of troops from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the deployment of an observation mission on the border, which has been repeatedly raised by the Armenian side,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“Taking into consideration that the Commission on Border Delimitation and Security between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already started its work, this incident should be investigated and assessed by the commission,” the statement reads.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry said, that the consequences of the previous gross violation of the ceasefire established by the November 9, 2020 statement, as a result of which the Azerbaijani Armed Forces invaded the village of Parukh in Nagorno Karabakh, which is under the responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops, are yet to be dealt with.

“We consider it important that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the CSTO, the European Union and the entire international community give a proper and targeted assessment of Azerbaijan’s provocative actions and statements, aggressive rhetoric aimed at undermining peace efforts in the South Caucasus,” the foreign ministry added.

In his interview with Armenpress that was published on Saturday, Mirzoyan said that there is a document bearing Aliyev’s signature that acknowledges the existence of Nagorno-Karabakh. He was referring to the November 9, 2020 agreement signed by Aliyev, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mirzoyan explained that by signing the document, Aliyev acknowledged the very existence of Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that “this is an irrevocable fact.”

“We can show the official statements made by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, where they reaffirm their commitment as Co-Chairs. The United States and France made such statements only in the last week. The Prime Minister of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation also emphasized the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in their joint statement on April 19,” said Mirzoyan.

“At the December 2021 summit of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm, the foreign ministers of dozens of countries stressed the exclusive role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group was not created by Azerbaijan, but by the international community, so Azerbaijan cannot dissolve it or consider its mission over,” explained Mirzoyan in his Armenpress interview.

“The same international community states today that the OSCE MG exists. As I mentioned, it also states that there is a Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that needs to be resolved. This is stated in the above-mentioned statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation. The US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Armenia stated this quite recently, expressing the official position of the U.S.,” added the foreign minister.

“Moreover, in the same statement, it was emphasized that the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh status is on the agenda, the right of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination is also on the agenda. By the way, Armenia has never had territorial claims from Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a matter of right and is perceived by the international community as so. And that is evidenced from the meeting in Brussels. We have stated that the page of the war is closed for us, there is a problem that must be solved through political and diplomatic means,” said Mirzoyan.

In his Armenpress interview, Mirzoyan touched on another claim made by Aliyev, who said on Friday that during his meeting with Pashinyan in Brussels, an agreement was reached to create the so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” adding the envisioned road that is to connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan will run through Meghri.

Mirzoyan categorically rejected that statement.

“We have continuously recorded Armenia’s position. But let us repeat again. The existence of any corridor in the territory of Armenia is ruled out. This is not even a matter of debate. Our discussions are exclusively about opening roads, transport and economic communications and unblocking them,” said Mirzoyan.

“As for the routes, we said that before clarifying the routes, we must first agree on the legal regulations for the passage of Azerbaijani citizens and cargo through our territory and the passage of Armenian citizens and cargo through Azerbaijan (including Nakhichevan). However, it is obvious that one branch of the railway will pass through Meghri, Ordubad, Julfa, Yeraskh. There is no agreement on the route of the highways at the moment,” added Mirzoyan.