Author: Garo Vardanian

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Wednesday that the process of delimitation concerning the country's Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region will be discussed with Armenia at an upcoming meeting of commissions responsible for the matter.

“The next meeting of the commissions is scheduled for this month, and this issue is on the agenda: the delimitation issue of that region, the Gazakh-Tovuz region,” Aliyev said during an interview with local television channels.

He said the issue of eight villages still under Armenian occupation is always on the agenda in talks between the two countries.

“This issue was discussed during my contacts with the prime minister of Armenia (Nikol Pashinyan), including the last conversation in St. Petersburg. I raised this issue, and this issue is also on the agenda of commissions dealing with delimitation.”

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan must fully restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding they must solve this issue “once and for all” and there should not be “a single nest of separatism” anywhere in the country.

He later denied the need for guarantors, which he said is being sought by Armenia, expressing that the peace treaty needs to be signed at the bilateral level but that they don't mind if a third country expresses the desire to help.

“However, this help should not be mandatory,” he added.

Stressing that it is impossible to talk to them in “a language of threats or arrogance,” Aliyev said efforts to arm Armenia are aimed at keeping Azerbaijan “under constant pressure” and that France is at the forefront of such efforts.

“France is the country that arms Armenia, gives them support, trains their soldiers and prepares them for another war. When I said that France's policy is causing tensions in the Caucasus, this is exactly what I meant,” he said.

Aliyev further touched on the movement of cargo and citizens within Azerbaijan, indicating that it should take “place freely without undergoing any inspection.”

“Otherwise, Armenia will remain in an eternal deadlock, and if the (Zangezur) route I mentioned is not opened, we are not going to open our border with Armenia anywhere else. So they will do themselves more harm than good,” he said.

Aliyev went on to say that infrastructure projects in the Karabakh region give them the opportunity to return internally displaced peoples (IDPs) to their ancestral lands, adding that they plan on the return of Azerbaijani IDPs to the cities of Shusha, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi and Khojaly in 2024.

“Former IDPs are expected to return to the cities of Aghdam, Zangilan and Gubadli in 2025,” he added.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/azerbaijans-president-says-delimitation-concerning-gazakh-tovuz-region-to-be-discussed-with-armenia-3675865

The drone industry in Armenia has been experiencing significant growth in recent years. As technology continues to advance, drones are becoming increasingly popular and are being used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, construction, and photography. This growth presents both opportunities and challenges for Armenia.

One of the main reasons for the growth of the drone industry in Armenia is the increasing demand for aerial photography and videography. Drones provide a unique perspective and allow photographers and videographers to capture stunning images and footage from the sky. This has opened up new opportunities for professionals in the creative industry and has also attracted tourists who are looking for unique and breathtaking views of Armenia’s landscapes.

In addition to the creative industry, drones are also being used in agriculture. Farmers are utilizing drones to monitor crop health, assess irrigation needs, and even spray pesticides and fertilizers. This technology allows farmers to be more efficient and precise in their farming practices, ultimately leading to increased productivity and reduced costs. The use of drones in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the way farming is done in Armenia and can contribute to the country’s food security.

The construction industry is another sector that has benefited from the growth of the drone industry in Armenia. Drones are being used to survey construction sites, monitor progress, and inspect buildings. This technology allows construction companies to save time and money by quickly identifying any issues or discrepancies. It also improves safety by reducing the need for workers to physically access dangerous or hard-to-reach areas.

While the growth of the drone industry in Armenia presents numerous opportunities, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the main challenges is the lack of regulations and guidelines surrounding drone usage. Currently, there are no specific laws in Armenia that govern the operation of drones. This lack of regulation can lead to safety concerns and potential misuse of drones. It is crucial for the government to establish clear guidelines and regulations to ensure the responsible and safe use of drones in Armenia.

Another challenge is the limited availability of skilled professionals in the drone industry. As the demand for drone services increases, there is a need for individuals who are trained and experienced in operating drones. Currently, there are only a handful of training programs and courses available in Armenia. It is essential for the government and educational institutions to invest in training programs to meet the growing demand for skilled drone operators.

Despite these challenges, the growth of the drone industry in Armenia presents a promising future. The opportunities for economic growth and innovation are vast. With the right regulations and investments in training and education, Armenia can position itself as a leader in the drone industry in the region. The government, private sector, and educational institutions must work together to create an environment that fosters the growth and development of the drone industry. By doing so, Armenia can reap the benefits of this emerging technology and contribute to its overall economic development.

https://anyuakmedia.com/the-growth-of-the-drone-industry-in-armenia/#gsc.tab=0

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in a phone conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on Friday, welcomed a Joint Statement issued by Armenia and Azerbaijan in which the two sides agreed to a mutual release of prisoners of war and other confidence-building measures aiming to normalise their relations.

Gerapetritis also told the Armenian foreign minister that Greece supports the efforts to achieve permanent peace in the South Caucasus.
In addition, they discussed the latest developments in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Gerapetritis briefed Mirzoyan on the results of the Greece-Turkiye High-Level Cooperation Council on Thursday.

The Armenian foreign minister thanked Gerapetritis for Greece’s support and welcomed the progress in Greek-Turkish relations as a development that will have a positive impact on broader regional stability, the foreign ministry said. Mirzoyan also invited Gerapetritis to Yerevan, with the latter accepting the invitation and saying that the visit would be arranged through diplomatic channels.

The two foreign ministers are also to meet in Brussels on Monday on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which, at Greece’s request, will be preceded by an informal breakfast of the EU foreign ministers with the Armenian minister as an official guest.

In this context, Gerapetritis stressed the importance Greece places on addressing the displaced population’s humanitarian needs and promoting an institutional dialogue between the EU and Armenia.

He added that Greece is making an active contribution to both issues while supporting the continuation of efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/12/09/greek-fm-welcomes-armenia-azerbaijan-joint-statement-in-call-with-armenian-counterpart-mirzoyan/

United Nations, Dec 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to improve their relations, said his spokesman.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the joint statement issued by Armenia and Azerbaijan announcing a series of confidence-building measures and reaffirming their commitment to normalise bilateral relations," said Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesman, on Friday.

The United Nations encourages the parties to build on the agreement to advance mutual confidence and secure long-term peace for the benefit of their population and the region, Dujarric told a daily press briefing.

Armenia and Azerbaijan said on Thursday that they have reached an agreement on taking confidence-building steps by releasing prisoners of war following their first-ever direct negotiations with no mediators involved, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two countries said they intend to normalise relations and reach a peace treaty.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, since 1988. Peace talks have been going on since 1994 when a ceasefire was agreed on, despite sporadic clashes since then.

Source: IANS

https://www.socialnews.xyz/2023/12/08/un-chief-welcomes-armenia-azerbaijan-agreement-to-improve-ties/

“Despite our history enduring the longest night, I want the world to not see us as simply victims… I want them to see and be inspired by our resilience.”

These words of hope and strength about the Armenian Catholic Church come from someone who is himself a sign of hope — Viken Abassian, seminarian and subdeacon of the Our Lady of Nareg Armenian Catholic Eparchy of the US and Canada. He is the first American-born Armenian who has continued in his formation thus far as a seminarian for the Armenian Catholic Church in the United States.

Viken’s story of faith is inextricably tied not only to the persecution of the Armenian people, but also to the long history of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Viken was born in the United States for the same reason as many Armenian Americans — because his family was fleeing persecution.

His ancestors came from Adana and Mersin in historical Armenia (modern-day Eastern Turkey). In order to survive genocide, his family sought refuge in both Lebanon and the Holy Land. He recounts that from Jerusalem, “They escaped the Holy Land with the growing radicalism and aggression between Israel and Palestine and came to the US to build a new life.”

The suffering of his Armenian people is not covered heavily by secular media, yet is a striking story of repeated injustice. In his own words, Viken shares:

The history of our nation is saturated with suffering, which has been provoked by ethnic and religious persecution from many empires who wished to either subjugate us or eradicate us altogether.

This persecution has taken the form of two genocides, over one hundred years apart, but both targeted at destroying Armenian Christians.

[First came] the 1915 Genocide (the first of the 20th century) perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, which stripped 1.5 million souls from our people. The most recent is the ethnic cleansing by the Islamic regime of Azerbaijan. This country, which is a Soviet-Union fabricated state, initiated the cleansing of the ethnic majority of Armenians from the city of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) over the past three years, affecting the lives of 120,000 people.

This aggression, he explains, is motivated by a desire to create a two-nation state. Christians’ only “crime” is existing in these ancient lands for thousands of years.

Yet, in the midst of terrible suffering, there are signs of God’s accompaniment of Armenian Catholics. Viken’s eparchy has been a recent development — it became an eparchy is 2005, after being established as a mission in 1896 and an Apostolic Exarchate in 1981.

Vocations, as in the Latin Rite, have suffered somewhat in the modern era. “These were tumultuous years for the Armenian people, enduring the recent genocide, and then the subsequent rebuilding of our diaspora nation. Besides our ‘infancy,’ we too have been combating militant atheism and modernism — be it in our motherland as a post-soviet country, or the diaspora facing the growing anti-religious sentiment in their cultures.”

But here Viken is, in his 8th year of studying in Rome, preparing to serve the Armenian Catholic Church in America as a priest. He came from a devout Catholic family and says that he has always been drawn to the priesthood. Where he grew up in Fresno, California, there wasn’t a local Armenian Catholic Church, so he assumed he would discern becoming a Roman Catholic priest. Yet, when he was ready to apply for seminary, he was told that as an Armenian Catholic, he’d need to seek a dispensation from the Armenian Catholic Bishop.

Instead, the bishop encouraged Viken to consider becoming a priest in the Armenian Catholic Church. “He encouraged me to put my trust in God and take the leap of faith. Thanks be to God; I took that chance.”

God-willing, Viken will serve the faithful, suffering Armenian people. The story of his people, and of the Armenian people, is a tragic one. At the same time, their hope and faith is incredibly strong. Viken touches on the reason for their faith:

Even though we have been confronted by countless legions sent by Satan to extinguish the light of Christ, we have always known that to truly be defeated is to abandon the Holy Cross. In humility, we wear Christ’s admonishment on our shoulders, “Fear not those who kill the body; rather fear him who can destroy the soul and body in hell.”

https://aleteia.org/2023/12/07/armenian-catholics-inspire-by-their-faith-and-resilience/