Author: Greg Madatian

 18:17, 1 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on March 1 within the framework of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the parties praised Armenia’s close cooperation with the UN, in particular with the UN Human Rights Office. Ararat Mirzoyan noted that the year is symbolic, it marks the 30th anniversary of Armenia’s membership in the UN. In this regard, the Foreign Minister stressed that Armenia has established itself as a responsible, reliable partner of the international community and has consistently contributed to the promotion of multilateralism, as well as the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world.

Presenting the situation created by the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of unhindered involvement of international organizations in the full settlement of humanitarian issues in Nagorno Karabakh, including the implementation of humanitarian missions by the UN High Commissioner.

Minister Mirzoyan noted that the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh, its people, was accompanied by gross violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, which were documented in detail and presented to international human rights organizations.

Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that Armenian prisoners of war are still illegally detained in Azerbaijan, civilians, whom official Baku refuses to release and return, which is a gross violation of international law. Attention was also drawn to the planned actions of vandalism and destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces as a result of the war against Nagorno Karabakh.

The parties also exchanged views on the ongoing reforms in Armenia and the achievements made within their framework, in particular, in the areas of strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, the rule of law, the judiciary, and the fight against corruption. The interlocutors highly assessed the coordinated cooperation with international structures in this process.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to advancing the agenda for the prevention of genocide and crimes against humanity.

 11:11,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. 946 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Armenia in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 417,456, the Ministry of Healthcare reported.

24 people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the total death toll to 8378.

4759 tests were conducted on February 23.

1545 people recovered (total 395,700).

As of February 23, the number of active cases stands at 11,780.

 11:46,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan says it is necessary to restore social solidarity in Armenia.

Speaking at a final press conference on his 6-year tenure, the Ombudsman said that social solidarity is disrupted today because of condemnable discourses.

He said the labeling, dividing and differentiating of certain groups of the society if condemnable.

“The fake account and organized campaign attacks on social media are condemnable. This has principally influenced the growth of an atmosphere of intolerance,” Tatoyan said, emphasizing that the discourse of insults – which still exists in the public dimension – is highly dangerous.

He emphasized that any issue must be based on respect of human rights.

 14:48,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Hungarians have always shared the grief of Armenians over the painful event of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004, but they also feel it is time to open a new page and look towards a more hopeful future, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program H.E. Tristan Azbej said in a joint interview together with Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjén exclusively for ARMENPRESS.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, how would you describe the cultural-historic ties between the Armenian and the Hungarian peoples, and the contribution of the Armenians and the Armenian community to the centuries-old history of Hungary?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjén: The Armenian community has been present in Hungary for centuries. Our king, Andrew II has visited Armenia, where he almost arranged the marriage of his son to the daughter of King Levon II. The origin of the names of the localities around Esztergom – the capital of Hungary in that time – is also a proof of the Armenian presence. In Transylvania, the Armenians obtained permission to settle and various privileges from Duke Mihály Apafi in the 17th century. In the middle of the 19thcentury, we can assume a population of cca. 12-15 thousand who had Armenian identity: language, religion and origin. Two of the 13 generals executed after the Hungarian revolution of 1848-49 were of Armenian origin: Ernő Kiss, and Vilmos Lázár. After the system change in 1989, the Armenian societal, cultural and religious life started to revive in Hungary.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. State Secretary, the well-known events of 2012 resulted in the suspension of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Hungary, upon which the then Foreign Minister of Hungary expressed sorrow and regret. However, the violent murder of Gurgen Margaryan in 2004 remains a painful issue among the Armenian society. Meanwhile in 2021, we observed the moral gesture of the Government of Hungary mediating for the repatriation of 5 Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan. Do you think it might be an attempt to open a new page in the relations of Armenia and Hungary?

H.E. Tristan Azbej: Hungarian-Armenian solidarity is based on our common Christian faith, our cultural, religious and educational ties and last but not least on the Armenian diaspora in Hungary and their descendants. This fraternal bond is so strong that it has existed even during the suspension of diplomatic relations; for example, in the form of cooperation between universities and the realization of Armenian cultural events in Hungary. This holds true for the manifestations of human solidarity also. In recent years, through the Hungary Helps Program I’m leading, the Hungarian government has supported the reconstruction of a damaged school of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Syria, the restoration of a church in the Iraqi city of Zakho and has provided help for Armenian Catholic families in Lebanon. In Armenia, we have supported the humanitarian and charity work of the Armenian Apostolic Church and faith-based NGOs. The Armenian community of Budapest is also quite active in keeping their traditions and the religion of their ancestors. A few months ago, in December 2021, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros Minassian XXI celebrated Armenian liturgy in the church of the catholic community. The Armenian Faculty at our Péter Pázmány Catholic University is also becoming more and more popular. The Government of Hungary provides all support for our local community in order for them to continue thriving.

Hungarians have always shared the grief of Armenians over the painful event of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004, but they also feel it is time to open a new page and look towards a more hopeful future.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, how important is the normalization of Armenian – Hungarian relations in Hungary, including among the public?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjén: Armenia is the first Christian nation in the world, so it is our brotherly duty to cooperate in all possible fields for a better, more brotherly world. The Hungarian people await with a hopeful heart the re-strengthening of the centuries-long friendship and brotherhood between our nations on the diplomatic level, which in our view has become well-established on scientific, cultural, religious and humanitarian levels in the past year.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, what perspective directions can you outline?

H.E. Dr. Zsolt Semjén: Most recently, the Hungarian government successfully mediated the release of 5 Armenian citizens detained in Azerbaijan. In addition to their release, the Hungarian government also provided Covid-19 vaccines to Armenia. These results represent an active _expression_ of solidarity between the Hungarian people and government and the Armenians. The original bond has not been destroyed during recent years and we are pleased that all this contributes to making the relations between our peoples more complete and to hopefully resume diplomatic relations.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. State Secretary, Hungary is among the few countries in the world that have taken up the mission on a government level to openly speak about the plight of Christians being persecuted around the world because of their belief. Why is this issue so important for Hungary and how are you helping?

H.E. Tristan Azbej: Undoubtedly, the Government of Hungary was the first administration in the world to raise the issue of helping persecuted Christians to government level. The reason for this is the fact that Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize that the persecution of Christians is the most significant – and most concealed – humanitarian crisis of our time: 360 million people worldwide are persecuted and discriminated for being Christian. The objective of the Hungary Helps Program is to provide direct humanitarian assistance on the spot thus making it possible for crisis-hit communities to remain and succeed in their ancestral lands.

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Editor’s Note: Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan was murdered by Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov during a February 2004 training course organized by NATO in Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan was asleep in his room when Safarov attacked him with an axe.

During the trial in Hungary, Safarov admitted in court to having killed Margaryan because of his hatred towards Armenia and Armenians. He was sentenced to life in prison by the Hungarian court. However, in 2012 Hungary extradited him to Azerbaijan upon Baku’s request. He was released upon arrival, glorified on the state-level and pardoned by President Aliyev. On the same day, then-President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan severed diplomatic relations with Hungary.

The pardon and glorification of Safarov in Azerbaijan received widespread condemnation around the world.

ISTANBUL

As I was watching a stunning view of Mount Agri from the Armenian capital Yerevan, it reminded me of Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist tragically assassinated in 2007, who described Turks and Armenians as “two close peoples, two distant neighbors.”

The highest peak in Turkiye, which is also known as Mount Ararat and is featured on the Armenian currency, seemed so close but yet was far, far away.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia’s independence, on Sept. 21, 1991.

But following the 1993 occupation by Armenian forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, the border between the two countries was closed, a condition that has remained to this day. There are other contentious issues as well, including the events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

Past attempts to normalize relations

On Oct. 10, 2009, the two countries signed a peace accord, known as the Zurich Protocols, to establish diplomatic relations and open the border, but failed to ratify the agreement in their respective national parliaments.

Fast forward to fall 2020 and the end of the 44-day second Nagorno-Karabakh war, which helped Azerbaijan recapture its territory and also put Turkish-Armenian relations into a new phase.

That December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to Azerbaijan, said Turkiye could open its borders to Armenia if Yerevan takes positive steps toward regional peace.

There were positive signals from both sides, who then appointed special envoys as the first step to end decades of hostilities. It was followed by the resumption of flights after a two-year hiatus and Armenia’s lifting of a ban on Turkish imports.

Ahead of 2nd meeting in Vienna

The special representatives from Turkiye and Armenia, Serdar Kilic and Ruben Rubinyan, first met on Jan. 14 in Moscow, and the next meeting is set to be held in Vienna on Thursday.

As Rubinyan and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan have also been invited to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye, set for March 11-13, but have yet to confirm their attendance, all eyes are on the meeting in the Austrian capital.

In recent weeks, I had the opportunity to visit Armenia and speak to a variety of people, including traders and academics, and my colleagues at Anadolu Agency spoke to businesspeople in Turkish border cities, who see the normalization of relations as a win-win situation.

Despite differences, many agree that the opening of the borders and railways between Turkiye and Armenia would bring economic benefits to both sides. Shopkeepers in border cities such as Kars, Igdir, and Gyumri are especially eager to grab the opportunity.

While some retailers in the Armenian border city of Gyumri urged caution in terms of competition with Turkish goods and its risks for domestic industry, one shop owner told me that “trade brings people closer and brings peace.”

Meanwhile, businesspeople in Turkiye’s eastern city of Kars, near the currently closed Dogu Kapi border gate, said they expected a “massive influx of tourists” from Armenia to their historical and religious sites if the ongoing efforts succeed, and a link between Kars and Armenia by road and railway is established.

Despite the sealed borders, Turkish products make their way to Armenia by way of Georgia and Iran. The trade volume between Turkiye, with a population of over 83 million, and Armenia, with a population of 3 million, stood at $15.3 million in 2012-2021.

Several Turkish clothing chains such as LC Waikiki, Koton, and Mavi also have locations in the Armenian capital.

What’s next?

Analysts I spoke to sounded optimistic about the historic bid by Turkiye and Armenia and stressed that normalization is not “reconciliation,” but rather the first step towards addressing issues concerning the two societies and two countries.

Resuming direct flights was hailed as a positive development by people from both sides, but they said that the real turning point would be the opening of the borders.

President Erdogan said Wednesday on his way back from an Africa tour that “If Armenia is determined to continue the process that started with the special representatives, for us keeping the doors closed will be out of the question.” He added that Turkiye is in favor of a six-country regional cooperation platform, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Georgia, and Iran, while also stressing that his country will continue the normalization process in “close coordination” with Azerbaijan.

The first meeting between the special representatives discussed a roadmap to normalize relations, and it is expected that opening of the land borders, resuming railway services, and establishing diplomatic relations could be next in line.

One can hope for a more positive and conducive atmosphere if the neighboring countries agree to establish trade and tourism relations and open borders to boost people-to-people contacts, which would, in turn, help them overcome the remaining political issues.

 08:50,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine closed its airspace for civilian aircraft due to possible risks, NOTAM reported.

Early Thursday morning Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in Donbass.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he had made the decision to hold a special military operation in response to the address of leaders of Donbass republics.

“People’s republics of Donbass approached Russia with a request for help. In connection therewith, <…> I made the decision to hold a special military operation. Its goal is to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals,” Putin said in the television address.

Justice and truth are on Russia’s side, President Vladimir Putin said in a special television address.

“The welfare, the very existence of entire countries and peoples, their success and health are always originating from the strong root system of culture and values, experience and traditions of ancestors, directly depending on abilities to quickly adapt to continuously changing life, consolidation of the society, its readiness to consolidate and gather all forces together for moving forward,” Putin said.

“Forces are always needed but they can be of different quality,” the Russian leader said. “And we know the real strength is in justice and truth that are on our side,” he added.