16:55, 8 September, 2021
TBILISI, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan paid homage at the Heroes Square in Tbilisi after his meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
The state orchestra played the Armenian and Georgian anthems at the event.
PM Pashinyan will then have a meeting with President Salome Zourabishvili.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
17:27, 7 September, 2021
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Georgia on September 8 on a two-day official visit, his office said.
The Armenian PM will have meetings with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
After holding high-level negotiations, Prime Minister Pashinyan and Prime Minister Garibashvili will deliver statements to the press.
As part of the visit, PM Pashinyan will pay homage at the Heroes Square in Tbilisi.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group representing the Congressional Armenian Caucus joined with Armenians across the US and around the world in marking the 30th anniversary of the Republic of Artsakh’s (Nagorno Karabakh) independence, pledging to continue efforts to strengthen US-Artsakh ties and push back against ongoing Azerbaijani and Turkish aggression, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“We mark Artsakh’s independence with our work, together with our Congressional allies – advancing a targeted array of ANCA-backed legislative initiatives blocking US military aid to Azerbaijan and securing US humanitarian assistance to Artsakh,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “In particular, we look forward, in the coming days and weeks, to cooperating with our Congressional friends, coalition partners, and community activists to stop all Defense Department funding for Azerbaijan’s army – through the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act.”
In videos shared with the ANCA and premiered during September 2nd Artsakh Independence Day celebrations hosted by ANC International in Artsakh’s capital city, Stepanakert, members of Congress congratulated the people of Artsakh for their commitment to peace and democracy, as they continue to recover from the September, 2020 war launched by Azerbaijan with Turkey’s military backing. During the 44-day onslaught, over 5,000 Armenians were killed, more than 100,000 displaced from their ancestral homes, and hundreds of Armenians illegally taken as prisoners of war. The Independence Day program coincided with the official opening of the Armenian National Committee of Artsakh offices.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and David Valadao (R-CA), and Vice-Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA), were joined by Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) in sharing powerful words of solidarity with the Artsakh people, excerpts of which are provided below.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ): “I’ve never seen a more resilient people than the people of Artsakh, faced with all this aggression and all these problems from their neighbors around them, and I just want you to know that we in Congress remain supportive of you. We’re working diligently with President Biden and his Administration with the spending bills to try to see and get as much help to Artsakh, to rebuild as possible, and also to penalize Turkey and Azerbaijan for their aggression. Also, I would like to see, ultimately, official recognition of Artsakh as a state, as a country, an engagement in an official way between the United States and Artsakh, and also really move forward with the peace process.”
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA): “On September 2nd, 1991, the people of Artsakh voted overwhelmingly to stand up to ongoing Azerbaijani aggression – in a fight for freedom to determine their own destiny. […] I visited Artsakh in 2017 and saw first-hand the dedication of its people to peace and self-determination – foundational values that the US and Artsakh share. I have led efforts on the House floor to ensure expanded US aid to Artsakh, to strengthen US-Artsakh relations, and save lives through demining efforts. […] I stand with the people of Artsakh and Armenia in condemning Azerbaijani aggression and will continue working with my Congressional colleagues to secure the release of Armenian POWs, zero-out military aid to Azerbaijan, and increase US assistance to Artsakh and Armenia.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): “Today we come together to mark Artsakh’s independence day – when 30 years ago, the brave people of Artsakh declared their independence from the Soviet Union. And while Artsakh’s path has never been an easy one, the war over the past year or so has tested the people of Artsakh in unimaginable ways. Your resilience in the face of adversity is an inspiration to all of us. So, on this important day, let’s rededicate ourselves to confronting the many threats to the people of Artsakh. Because independence is just the beginning of the struggle for liberation.”
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA): “Thirty years ago, in an embrace of democracy and self-determination, the people of Artsakh voted overwhelmingly for independence. Sadly, this peaceful vote was met with years of violence, including the war in the summer of 2020, that left homes and villages destroyed and claimed far too many lives. But I have been to Artsakh and I know how strong the people there are. That is why I am proud to stand with the people of Artsakh and Armenians everywhere. I am committed to ensuring the support needed, to help Artsakh not only rebuild but thrive.”
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA): “It’s an honor and a great pleasure to shine light on the achievements and contributions made by the people of Artsakh. As we saw with the great American experiment, the path to freedom is never easy. However, we know that freedom and independence are worth fighting for. After three decades, Artsakh and her people have made great strides. Here in America, certainly in my home in the San Joaquin Valley, CA – the land of William Saroyan – Armenian Americans have contributed to the vibrancy and strength of our own democracy. Please know, my colleagues and I have pledged to continue to work in the US Congress to ensure a free and prosperous Artsakh during these challenging times.”
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA): “Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Artsakh’s independence. This is a historic moment for the people of Artsakh. Your resilience against decades of adversity is an inspiration to me and to millions of people around the world. As I speak to you from my office in Washington, DC, across from the Capitol, I want you to know that you have many friends in the US Congress who stand with you against those who refuse to accept your independence and seek to do you harm. I look forward to celebrating many more years of your independence and know that you will always have a friend and a partner in me here in the Congress of the United States.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA): “Even as Azerbaijan has launched countless assaults and attempted to redraw the map by force, culminating in the deadly wave of Turkish and Azerbaijani violence last September, Artsakh remains standing strong as ever and, just as importantly, remains steadfastly dedicated to long-term regional peace. I want you to know that so many people in Massachusetts and across the United States stand with the people of Artsakh and Armenia in condemning Azerbaijani aggression. And, we will continue working in Congress to build strong support on behalf of Artsakh for a peaceful, democratic, negotiated resolution that treats the people of Artsakh and Armenians everywhere with the dignity and the respect that they deserve.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Leadership Salutes Artsakh Independence
In addition to the Congressional video tributes to Artsakh resilience, the Congressional Armenian Caucus leadership sent a congratulatory letter to Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan where they emphasized the Caucus’ ongoing support for Artsakh self-determination, their call to penalize Turkey and Azerbaijan for the war waged against Artsakh in the fall of 2020, and urged the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to include Artsakh in peace negotiations.
The full text of the September 2nd letter sent to President Harutyunyan is provided below.
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Text of Congressional Armenian Caucus Leadership Letter to President Harutyunyan Marking 30th Anniversary of Artsakh Independence
Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515
September 2, 2021
H.E. Arayik Harutyunyan
President of the Republic of Artsakh
Stepanakert
President Harutyunyan:
We write to congratulate you and the people of the Republic of Artsakh on the 30th Anniversary of your independence.
The United States Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues offers our support and commitment to Artsakh on this celebration of three decades of your independence. We continue to stand with your people as they face with incredible resilience the ongoing challenges and threats posed by Azerbaijan. Artsakh’s transformation over the years is truly a testament to its people and to the leaders like you who have helped guide it along the way, despite the constant pressure and acts of aggression taken by the regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
We continue working diligently to persuade the Biden Administration to take every available diplomatic action to penalize the Azerbaijani & Turkish regimes for their deadly and illegal attacks on Artsakh last fall. This conflict clearly demonstrates the dire need for international actors to take a stronger position pressuring Aliyev to return in good faith to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group negotiations. And, we continue to push for Artsakh to directly participate in negotiations regarding its future status and security to ensure a durable and lasting peace.
We remain committed to pushing for official engagement between the United States government and your administration, and we look forward to working with you to build on Artsakh’s already impressive transformation in the face of so many challenges. Again, please accept our sincerest congratulations on this important occasion and offer our full support for your country.
Sincerely,
Frank Pallone Jr.
Member of Congress
Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress
Jackie Speier
Member of Congress
David Valadao
Member of Congress
Adam Schiff
Member of Congress
[see all videos on the page]
By Orkhan Baghirov*
After the parliamentary elections in June, there was a widely accepted consensus in Armenia that the political situation will stabilize and the economy will recover from the wounds of the pandemic and the 44 Day War. However, economic data shows that the opposite process is occurring in Armenia. According to recent data published by the National Statistical Service of Armenia, inflation in July has reached 8.2% on an annualized basis. The highest increase in prices was observed in the food products. In July, average prices for food products, for the first time this year, reached a double-digit figure of 13.9% which was 4.9% more compared to the previous month.
If we examine the prices of different types of food products, we can see that prices of almost all daily consumer goods have risen. The price of rice has increased by about 13.4%, the price of bread by about 8.6%, the price of pork by about 32.2% and poultry by about 24.3%. The highest increase was observed in the price of eggs which was more than 51%. The price of other important food products such as potatoes has increased by about 38.4% and the price of butter by about 15.9%. As these products constitute the main part of the consumer basket of the population, their price increases significantly affect the prosperity and social situation of the population.
The increase of the prices in July is the continuation of the inflation process that has started from the beginning of the year. Despite the fact that at the end of 2020 the level of inflation was just about 1.23%, after two months it reached 5.3%, driven by high food prices, depreciation of Dram (national currency of Armenia) and rising price expectations. Despite the efforts of the Central Bank to curb the rising inflation by using monetary tools such as refinancing rate (it was increased four times from December of 2020) it has not led to favorable results and inflation continues to rise.
The increase in the prices of food products in Armenia is directly related to the economic implications of the war as Armenia lost its access to the agricultural resources in Karabakh which were illegally exploited during the Armenian occupation. The agricultural lands in Karabakh played an important role in crop production and animal husbandry which were significantly contributing to the provision of food security in Armenia. According to calculations, as a result of the 44 Day War Armenia lost control of the 90 thousand hectares of agricultural lands which consists of 90% of arable land in the previously occupied territories. Annually about 150 thousand tons of different grain products were being produced on those lands and 66% of this production was being exported to Armenia which met about 25% of the local demand. Azerbaijan also regained control over 70% of the orchards in Karabakh. Therefore, after the war, Armenia was faced with food shortages which necessitated the increase in the import of grain products and other agricultural goods. Increasing the share of the imported agricultural products, in turn, is having an enhancing effect on inflation. Along with increased imports, increased electricity tariffs (from February of 2021) have also affected inflation.
Another sign of the economic crisis in Armenia is the mass emigration of the population, which is a traditional problem for Armenia. In the early 90s, due to economic and political instability after the Karabakh War, Armenia was faced with a severe emigration crisis. Between the years 1992-2020, the number of the population decreased by about 22.6%, from 3.63 million to 2.96. However, according to some estimates, around 31% of the population had de facto emigrated between 1991 and 2019, even though many are still officially registered in Armenia. Most of them emigrated to Russia: according to the statistics, about 20% of families in Armenia have labor migrants in Russia.
The same process is taking place after the 44 Day War. Since, during the war, Armenia was faced with severe defeat and Azerbaijan liberated its territories, political chaos and economic problems overtook Armenia. This situation accelerated the emigration process. According to the official data, in January-March of 2021 63,7 thousand citizens irrevocably left Armenia. In April this figure increased by 16,827 and in May by 8,3 thousand. Thus, the negative balance of passenger traffic for the first 5 months of the year approached 90 thousand. During this period the passenger traffic amounted to 368 thousand, about 25% of which did not return. In the first half of the year, 21.9 thousand Armenian citizens received Russian citizenship. It is worth noting that this figure was 30.5 thousand in 2020, and 24 thousand in 2019.
In parallel with emigration, the capital outflow from the country also has been accelerated in recent months which is another indication of the economic crisis. It is related to the emigration process as the remittances issued by emigrants are the main source of the capital outflow. In the first five months, money transfers made from Armenia to other countries increased by about $70 million or 17.6%, amounting to $467 million. The $154 million of it were remitted to Russia and $78 million to the USA and smaller amounts to other countries. In general, in the last three years, about $4 billion has left Armenia.
All these processes and the economic indicators demonstrate that the negative economic implications of the war continue to affect the economic and social situation in Armenia. The death of soldiers on the border because of the Armenian provocations, political instability and declining confidence in the development prospects of the country in the upcoming years will continue to accelerate emigration and capital outflow. Therefore, for the future economic development of the country, Armenia should stop its aggressive attitude and provocations on the border with Azerbaijan and implement the provisions of the November agreement including the opening of the Zangazur Corridor. The only way for the economic survival of Armenia is the normalization of the political and economic relations with its neighbors and release from the economic blockade. Otherwise, deepening the economic crisis in the country will not be manageable.
*Orkhan Baghirov, Leading advisor for Center of Analysis of International Relations
Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan (97 kg) scored his third victory in the Greco-Roman wrestling tournament at the 32nd Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and made it to the final, securing Armenia’s first medal at Tokyo 2020.
In the semi-final, champion of Rio 2016, world’s multiple and Europe’s five-time champion, winner of the European Games Artur Aleksanyan competed with 23-year-old Iranian wrestler Mohamadhadi Saravi and won 4-1.
During the final to be held on August 3, Aleksanyan’s opponent will be world and Europe’s two-time champion, 28-year-old Russian wrestler Musa Yekloyev.
Armenia's Acting foreign minister Armen Grigoryan meets with ICRC head of delegation to Armenia Thierry Ribaux in Yerevan on July 30
Armenia’s Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday raised the issue of the illegal prosecution of the Armenian prisoners of war during a phone conversation with the president of International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer.
According to Pashinyan’s press office, he told Maurer that Azerbaijan’s actions are inadmissible, calling them a gross violation of international law.
Pashinyan said emphasized the need for the immediate return of all POWs and captives and told Maurer that Baku is deliberately withholding the actual number of Armenian captives.
Maurer assured Pashinyan that the ICRC will continue making all possible efforts for solving the humanitarian issues.
Armenia’s Acting Foreign Minister Armen Grigoryan held a similar discussion on Friday with the head of delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross to Armenia Thierry Ribaux.
Grigoryan highlighted the imperative for the immediate repatriation of Armenian POWs and civilian captives illegally being held in Azerbaijan and said their prosecution by Azerbaijan is unacceptable.
Grigoryan stated that according to Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, the captives have a status as prisoners of war, therefore they must be under the protection of international humanitarian law. He added that Azerbaijan’s policy contradicts the 8th point of the November 9 trilateral statement, according to which the exchange of POWs, hostages and other persons held must have taken place.
Grigoryan said that Azerbaijan was denying the fact that many POWs are under its control, which has been proven by numerous sources. Furthermore, he said, Baku is refusing to provide information about them, as well as is hiding the location of their detention.
He told Ribaux that Azerbaijan’s behavior gives serious grounds to suspect that serious crimes are being committed by Azerbaijan against the captives, as well as their enforced disappearances.
Touching upon the issue of providing humanitarian aid to the affected population, Grigoryan highlighted the need to expand the presence of international humanitarian organizations in Artsakh.
Grigoryan also briefed Ribaux on the current humanitarian situation caused by the Azerbaijani offensive operations against the sovereign territory of Armenia, expressing concerns that the continued presence of Azerbaijani armed forces in the Armenian territory disrupts the normal life of bordering residents and leads to violations of their rights.
Ribaux spoke about the actions taken by the ICRC aimed at ensuring communication between the captives and their families, as well as introduced his organization’s ongoing efforts in the border regions.
Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan in the Office of Government. This was their first meeting after the early parliamentary elections in Armenia and Nikol Pashinyan’s July 7 working visit to the Russian Federation.
Nikol Pashinyan: Mr. President, welcome to the Office of Government. This is our first official meeting after the early parliamentary elections and it is important in that we can outline our next steps. We have passed a challenging path together, I mean the Republic of Artsakh, the Republic of Armenia, our people. The responsibility, the honor to lead our people in these difficult times rests with us and we must live up to our mission.
We have talked a lot about the details of what happened during the pre-election period and following the elections. I consider it important to emphasize that during the electoral campaign I clearly stressed the need to carefully study the circumstances of the 44-day war, and it is important that we formulate such a format and organize work in such a way that might lead to reliable findings, considering that many important questions need to be answered yet.
I also think it important to state that after the 44-day war, we made serious efforts together to restore normal life in Artsakh. During that time we probably had dozens of formal and informal meetings, and to be honest, I am pleased with the current status of our cooperation; I consider that we have so far made effective decisions. I hope our compatriots in Artsakh will feel the efficiency of those decisions, but of course, there are strategic programs to be discussed in the near future, I mean the social and economic spheres.
Indeed, the most important item on our agenda is the issue of clarifying the status of Artsakh. And we must state that after November 9, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs made a statement, in fact, fixing this agenda as a working one. Also, we will have to agree upon a specific strategy in a new situation; outline ways to achieving our goals.
I greet you again, and I am confident that as a result of today’s discussions, we will be able to add momentum to those programs that are being implemented at this point of time, as well as to formulate the upcoming projects.
Arayik Harutyunyan: Dear Mr. Prime Minister, first of all I would like to thank you for the audience. I would also like to wish you every success in the context of the vote of confidence you received from the people in the latest elections.
I am confident that the programs we discussed will lead to Artsakh’s social and economic development. We need to rally all Armenians around Artsakh. Of course, Armenians have supported Artsakh for many decades, but today we need unity more than ever and we will achieve it.
I would like to state that the social-economic problems are being addressed successfully and the Armenian government’s social programs have unequivocally helped us get out of a state of shock. No family is ignored in Artsakh owing to the funds provided by the Government of Armenia. The funds raised through the Hayastan All-Armenian Foundation are being spent on housing construction and infrastructure development. Artsakh seems to be a large construction site.
The ongoing projects should be continued, first of all, housing construction, which is a priority. Today, the housing problem is so acute in Artsakh that even building one apartment a day will not be enough. We need to build at least 4-5 apartments a day to implement what we have planned. We want to present this program to Armenians all over the world so that every Armenian might participate in housing programs in the coming years.
In the meantime, Artsakh’s security and status is what matters most now/And fortunately, the principles underlying the status have not changed on the agenda of the OSCE Minsk Group. We must strive to keep this issue high on the agenda. All your statements, our statements that Artsakh’s path to independence is not subject to negotiation testify that we must continue our struggle.
As for security, I want to assure you that the Defense Army and the peacekeeping forces are jointly controlling the situation. The geography is difficult, but fortunately there were no major problems. The harvesting season is underway; there are no problems or impediments whatsoever; infrastructure restoration activities are going on along the line of contact.
There are many projects that we have to discuss together. Most of them imply rebuilding what we have lost, which calls for a lot of hard work. Mr. Prime Minister, I wish you all the best in completing the mission that you have assumed in such a difficult period.
Azerbaijan hands over 15 Armenian prisoners in return for minefield maps
Reuters
Jul 03, 2021
BAKU — Azerbaijan handed over 15 prisoners of Armenian origin to Armenia on Saturday in return for maps detailing the locations of 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said.
Ethnic Armenian and Azeri forces fought a bloody conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave last year that locked in territorial gains for Azerbaijan and was eventually brought to a halt by a Russian-brokered ceasefire..
In a statement on Saturday, Azerbaijan said that mediation by Moscow had helped it to obtain minefield maps from Armenia covering areas in the Fizuli and Zangilan regions in Nagorno-Karabakh.
It said it had released and handed over prisoners of Armenian origin who had served their sentences. It gave no details of who they were. (Reporting by Nailia Bagirova in Baku and Anastasia Teterevleva in Moscow; writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Kevin Liffey)