Author: Frangulian Shushan

UNESCO Warns of Using Cultural Heritage as ‘Political Instrument’

Frangulian Shushan
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said it is continuing its efforts to send an independence mission to Karabakh, the organization’s press office told Armenpress, adding that it hopes hopes that such a mission will take place soon.

Calls for UNESCO and other international organizations intensified after Azerbaijan’s culture minister announced the establishment of a special government commission that will appropriate Armenian religious landmarks located in Artsakh territories that are now under Azerbaijani occupation as having Albanian roots.

“We continue working to send a UNESCO Independent Technical Mission within the framework of the 1954 Convention. We hope that it will be possible soon, but for the moment the necessary conditions are not in place. So discussions are still ongoing,” Thomas Mallard, UNESCO’s spokesperson told Armenpress.

The International Court of Justice, on December 7, ordered Azerbaijan to “take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artifacts.”

When pressed about UNESCO’s response to Azerbaijan’s failure to adhere to the ICJ’s provisional measure, Mallard warned against using culture and history for political gains.

“Heritage and history should not become instruments of politics,” said Mallard. “We urge all our Member States, all over the world, to respect this principle.”

Several members of the European Parliament this week added their voices to the growing chorus of international condemnation of Azerbaijan and its cultural ministry for attempting to label Armenian monuments as Albanian.

The European lawmakers took to social media warn of the dangers of the destruction and misappropriation of Armenian historical and cultural heritage in the territories of Artsakh currently being occupied by Azerbaijan. They also urged the international community to take action and condemn Azerbaijan.

“The international community must act now. We must condemn and stop any attempt to distort or destroy the Armenian historical and cultural heritage in Artsakh,” Demetris Papadakis, a Cypriot member of the European Parliament, wrote on his Twitter page.

Commenting on the brazen initiative of Azerbaijan’s culture ministry, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, Peter van Dalen wrote on Twitter that Aliyev’s crimes have no bounds.

“Azerbaijan has announced that it plans to erase Armenian traces from churches,” van Dalen wrote, urging the European Parliament to condemn the Azerbaijani initiative.

Armenian PM offers congratulations to Serbian counterpart on Statehood Day

Frangulian Shushan

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 15:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić on the occasion of the Statehood Day, the PM’s Office said.

The message runs as follows,

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the Statehood Day of Serbia, wishing new achievements and all the best to the friendly Serbian people for further strengthening the foundations of its statehood and for constantly leading the country to prosperity.

Armenia highlights the friendly ties with Serbia based on common values and mutually beneficial cooperation. The relations between our countries have always been unique for the special warmness and mutual sympathy between the two peoples.

I hope that it will be possible to record new achievements and success and to increase the diverse cooperation between Armenia and Serbia to a new level of quality with joint efforts.

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

Acting President of Armenia congratulates Serbian counterpart on Statehood Day

Frangulian Shushan

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 16:29,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Acting President of Armenia Alen Simonyan sent a congratulatory letter to President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić on the occasion of the Statehood Day, the Presidential Office said.

“Armenia attaches great importance to the consistent development and deepening of the friendly ties with Serbia in bilateral and multilateral platforms. The stable partnering relations between our countries have always been distinguished by mutual trust and sincere wish for deepening them”, Alen Simonyan said in his letter. “I am sure we will continue developing with joint efforts the mutually beneficial partnership for the benefit of our peoples”.

Georgia continues to repair the road to the border with Armenia

Frangulian Shushan
Feb 16 2022


TBILISI, Feb 15 – Sputnik. The repair of the section from 30 to 37 km of the international road Ponichala-Marneuli-Guguti (Georgian-Armenian border), located in the east of Georgia, is being actively carried out, the Department of Highways of Georgia said in a statement. This is the shortest route that connects the Kvemo Kartli region and Armenia from Tbilisi. By this time, the roadway at the facility will be covered with a layer of rubble and curbs installed. “The project will ensure the safe movement of cars and pedestrians and significantly improve the living conditions of families living here,” the message says. The rehabilitation of the second section (40-46 km), 7 km long, is underway on the road. According to the Department of Roads, the repair work should be completed in October 2022. 


Scholz calls for urgent de-escalation around Ukraine

Frangulian Shushan

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 19:37,

YEREVAN, 15 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The de-escalation of the situation around Ukraine is urgently needed, a war should not start, ARMENPRESS reports “RIA Novosti” informs, citing the statement of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“My visit is taking place under the light of the worst and most threatening crisis in Europe of recent decades. Russia’s military activity, the concentration of Russian troops along the border, the issues of security guarantees formulated by Russia took up a lot of time in our negotiations. I expressed my assessment of the security situation, we discussed how we and our European partners assess this situation”, Scholz said after the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are concerned that the military is concentrated on the Ukrainian line of contact, for no apparent reason. Therefore, de-escalation is urgently needed. In this tense situation, it is very important not to start a war,” he said.

Opposition MP: Shushi Declaration poses ‘existential challenge’ to Armenia, Artsakh

Frangulian Shushan
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 14 2022

Armenian MP Andranik Tevanyan, who represents the opposition Hayastan faction, calls for proportionate response to the recent ratification of the Shushi Declaration by the Turkish and Azerbaijani parliaments.

The declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, focuses on Turkish-Azerbaijani defense cooperation and establishing new transport routes. It affirms joint efforts by the two armies “in the face of foreign threats”, and the restructuring and modernization of their armed forces.

“The document poses a challenge to Armenia’s Declaration of Independence, the existence of Armenia and Artsakh,” Tevanyan wrote on Facebook on Monday.

He rejected claims about “positive signals” from Turkey and launch of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process without preconditions as a “bluff”.

“By ratifying the Shushi Declaration, Azerbaijan and Turkey sent the opposite signals and Armenia must adequately respond to them,” the deputy noted.

He also shared the text of a draft statement on the ratification of the Shushi Declaration, which requires parliamentary approval.

“Being provocative and destructive in nature, the Shushi Declaration is unacceptable to the Republic of Armenia. It poses serious challenges to regional and global security, does not contribute to the peaceful development of our region, contradicts the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations on the basis of “no preconditions” principle and raises serious doubts about the real intentions and conduct of the official Ankara,” reads the statement in part.

Armenia plans to discuss with UNESCO the issue of sending an assessment mission to the region

Frangulian Shushan

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 18:44, 9 February, 2022

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The statement of the minister of culture of Azerbaijan Anar Karimov is a proof that an attempt is being made to simply erase the traces of the presence of the Armenian people from Nagorno Karabakh, in their historical homeland in general, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at the National Assembly, referring to the statement of the Azerbaijani minister of culture about setting up a working group aimed at changing the identity of the Armenian cultural and religious monuments that have passed under the Azerbaijani control.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a statement regarding the position and intention of the minister of culture of Azerbaijan. And in that statement we strongly condemned that approach. In our opinion, this is another proof of the fact that an attempt is being made to simply erase the traces of the presence of the Armenian people from Nagorno Karabakh, from their historical homeland in general”, Mirzoyan said, adding that its’ also a challenge for the UN International Court of Justice in terms of the decision of December 7, 2021 on the application of urgent measures, which clearly obliges Azerbaijan to prevent, punish cases of vandalism of Armenian cultural heritage, religious heritage, including churches, other monuments, and sights. Azerbaijan must fulfill its obligation imposed by the court decision”, Mirzoyan said.

The Foreign Minister noted that the intervention of UNESCO becomes imperative here, and Armenia welcomed the intention of sending a UNESCO assessment mission to the region, about which Armenia and Azerbaijan exchanged views on February 4.

“There are no clear dates, but the parties have reaffirmed the importance of such a visit to the region. And now, after this announcement, we are applying to the UNESCO, we are also planning non-online meetings to discuss this issue. In our opinion, that visit should take place in accordance with the principles established by the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the event of armed conflict,” Mirzoyan concluded.

Armenian ombudsman: Azerbaijani authorities inciting religious enmity at state level

Frangulian Shushan
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 7 2022

The Azerbaijani authorities are inciting religious enmity at the state level, accusing Armenians of Islamophobia with absolute falsehood, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said on Sunday, referring to his new ad hoc report on Azerbaijan’s policy of Armenophobia after the 44-day war in Artsakh.

“How, for example, can they explain the famous Decree of the founder of Islam, Muhammad, which he adopted in 626AD after the visit of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Abraham and his 40 delegates? By this he extended his protection to the Holy Thomb of Christ, churches and monasteries in “Jerusalem, Damascus and Arab regions”, including the St. Hakobyants Monastery in Jerusalem, educational institutions and property. It was preserved later,” he wrote on Facebook.

In Tatoyan’s words, historical facts prove the respect of the Armenian people, as well as the respect of the Armenian Church for Islam and other religions, starting from the countries with Islam. With many peoples of the Islamic world Armenians have lived as friends for centuries

“This policy of the Azerbaijani authorities incites hostility towards Armenians living in countries where they profess Islam. It incites enmity between nations,” Tatoyan stated.

The ombudsman highlighted that the Upper and Inner Mosques of Shushi, Artsakh remained standing and preserved, the Upper Mosque and the building of the madrasa, a caring school, were completely renovated, and a park was built. There is a functioning mosque in Yerevan, he added.

“Instead, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled and desecrated the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and Kanach Zham church in Shushi, destroyed the Zoravor Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Mekhakavan in Artsakh, desecrated the St. Yeghishe Church in Mataghis, destroyed Armenian khachkars in Shush, Hadrut. The St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Baku has been desecrated, turned into a library archive, the cross has been removed from the dome, there is no tabernacle, the tombstones that were adjacent to the church have been destroyed,” Tatoyan stressed.

“Currently, everything is being done at the state level to change the affiliation of Armenian churches and monasteries. This policy is already manifested in the new forms of torture of Armenian captives on religious grounds.

“Therefore, the Azerbaijani statements are absolutely false, they have political motives and are very dangerous for peace.

“All these facts are presented in details in the report of the Armenian HRD published two days ago and in this press conference,” he noted.

Karin Tak heroic battle took place exactly 30 years ago

Frangulian Shushan
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 26 2022

Today, January 26, marks the 30th anniversary of the heroic battle for the Artsakh village of Karin Tak, Colonel Senor Hasratyan, former spokesman of the Artsakh Defense Army, said in a Facebook post.

“Today, exactly 30 years ago, the heroic battle for Karin Tak took place… On January 26, 1992 the self-defense of the village was led by Vagharshak Arushanyan, a driver by profession. The actions of the enemy were coordinated personally by then Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Tajeddin Mehdiyev,” he wrote.

As a result of the combat operations, the enemy, that had launched an attack from three sides, suffered over 90 casualties and was pushed back to its initial positions. There were only 22 casualties on the Armenian side, including three women, Hasratyan said.

“The village remained impregnable. Nearly 28 years after the Karin Tak heroic battle, another fight for the defense of the village took place. This time, the Armenian defensive operations were led by academically qualified commanders, while the actions of Azeri forces were coordinated by senior officials of the Azerbaijani and Turkish General Staffs…

“Under very incomprehensible circumstances, the securely protected Karin Tak fell on November 4, 2020,” he noted.

During the Karin Tak heroic battle 30 years ago, Vagharshak Arushanyan fell heroically, while his son Mkhitar Arushanyan was killed in the 2020 fighting, the colonel said.

“Glorifying the fallen heroes, let us remain committed to the idea of preserving our homeland,” he added.

Asbarez; Red Cross Warns of Further ‘Agony’ in Artsakh as Winter Sets In

Frangulian Shushan
by Asbarez Staff

 

 January 27, 2022

 

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

ICRC representatives in Artsakh

“In marshy fields and mountain slopes, in hard-to-reach areas overgrown with bushes, littered with mines and unexploded ordnances, dozens of men and women have been searching for and finding the remains of fallen soldiers for more than a year,” the International Committee of the Red Cross said about the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020.

About 300 people are still missing as a result of the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020. Since the ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2020, the remains of more than 1,700 people have been found and the process of identifying them and returning them to their families has begun.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, together with Russian peacekeepers, has conducted about 360 searches for human remains, supporting local rescue teams in their work.

“Nothing can bring their loved ones back but giving these hundreds of families a chance to know what happened is incredibly important. Conditions are always extremely dangerous because the terrain is littered with mines and unexploded ordnances, and on top of that, in winter visibility drops to almost zero,” said Christopher Poole, who leads ICRC’s regional specialists in landmines, explosive remnants of war, stockpiles and small arms.

“In order to retrieve these remains, recovery teams must face mortal danger. It is not just about treating the dead with dignity, but also doing it safely. Our teams support local specialists as they do this,” Poole said.

Restoration work is often put on hold for a variety of reasons, including winter conditions. These operations are part of the ICRC’s longstanding work as a neutral intermediary in the region since 1992.

The ICRC’s forensic experts also assist mortuaries in the region by providing cold storage, equipment and advice to groups undertaking the difficult task of identification.

“Retrieving human remains, identifying the victims and returning them to their families is complex and takes time. There is always a lot of pressure on forensic practitioners from authorities and families to work as quickly as possible, but there is no margin for error,” said Jane Taylor, ICRC’s regional forensics manager for Europe and Central Asia.

In addition to the hundreds of people missing in the November 2020 escalation, more than 4,500 people went missing as a result of the 1990s conflict.

“People going missing and families not knowing what happened to them is one of the most agonizing and often overlooked scars left by conflict. Thousands of families across Europe today are living with this pain.

Besides those affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, there are hundreds of people missing in Ukraine after almost eight years of conflict, for example, and more than 10,000 people missing in the Balkans,” said Martin Schüepp, ICRC’s regional director for Europe and Central Asia.