Author: Jagharian Tania

"Baku has no political will to settle relations" – Armenian Foreign Minister

Jagharian Tania
Jan 24 2024
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Ararat Mirzoyan on settlement

“The rhetoric we witnessed in the latest interview of the Azerbaijani president does not allow us to lower our vigilance for a second. We have heard outright territorial claims to Armenia’s sovereign territories,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said, referring to a possible escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Ilham Aliyev “distorts” the names of cities and regions of Armenia and calls the entire territory of the country “Western Azerbaijan”. All this convinces the Minister that “Baku has no political will to settle relations”.

He believes that there is constantly a possibility of a new escalation, especially this year, as elections in the U.S. and European Parliament are to come. At the same time, he does not notice a weakening of international interest in the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. He believes that a “settlement using the language of threats” is unacceptable for international actors. He regards the position of partners in this regard as objective and balanced.

Summing up the results of 2023, the Foreign Minister talked about the peace treaty with Azerbaijan, border delimitation, opening of regional communications, normalization of relations with Turkey and other issues important to Armenia.

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Commenting on the peace process with Azerbaijan, the Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized a noticeable regression on key issues. In the latest interview with Aliyev, he notices a step backward even from the preliminary text of the Azerbaijani proposal:

“The Azerbaijani president insisted that new borders should be drawn, or some pre-Soviet borders should be taken as a basis. No one has the authority to draw new borders. And we strongly adhere to the position that during the delimitation process the commissions of the two countries should reproduce the borders drawn on legal grounds, in the form in which they existed at the time of the collapse of the USSR.”

According to the Minister, the statements of the Azerbaijani President on unblocking regional transport by corridor logic do not contribute to the settlement of relations. That is, Armenia will provide roads with the loss of control over these territories. In the same vein, Mirzoyan regarded Aliyev’s words that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will not leave the territories of Armenia, where they have advanced since 2021.

The Armenian Foreign Minister called the agreement reached with Azerbaijan on prisoner exchange in December last year a “positive event”. At the same time, he noted that “unfortunately, this constructive approach has not been continued.” According to the minister, a regression is observed both in the text of the peace treaty exchanged between the parties, and in Baku’s official position and refusal to hold summit meetings.

The journalists were interested in how Yerevan treats the proposal of direct negotiations without the participation of mediators. Mirzoyan considered this question “artificial”. He says that the negotiations that have taken place so far can also be considered direct and that different partners helped, organized meetings, but the parties by and large negotiated directly with each other:

“This issue is not fundamental for us, the content of the negotiations and the principles around which they should take place are fundamental.”

The Minister expressed the hope that “Azerbaijan will soon return to the constructive field and it will be possible to finalize the peace process started long ago”.

He said that he has not received a proposal for a meeting on the border, but if it is received, it will be considered. There is no agreement on a meeting at the level of foreign ministers or state leaders.

Mirzoyan emphasized that Yerevan is ready to take steps to strengthen confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He recalled that maps of minefields – all the information available at the time – were given to the Azerbaijani side twice:

“However, we have periodically heard complaints that these maps are not very effective and do not reflect the exact location of the mines. In this regard, it is appropriate to recall that Azerbaijan itself started this process of mine clearance in the early 90s.”

At the same time, the minister said that now the relevant bodies in Armenia are working on collecting new information about the mines. He did not rule out that if they manage to obtain reliable information, it would also be provided to Baku.

According to Mirzoyan, the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey on normalization of relations between the two countries did not meet in 2023.

“No tangible progress on the settlement of relations without preconditions has been seen.”

He recalled that he himself and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with their Turkish counterparts during the year, which is a “positive basis”.

However, he noted that even the agreements reached earlier have not been fulfilled. In particular, he refers to the opening of the border by Turkey for representatives of third countries, which was agreed upon by the special representatives in July 2022.

https://jam-news.net/ararat-mirzoyans-n-settlement/

Direct contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan more or less active, says Pashinyan

Jagharian Tania

 13:30,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressing the session of the initiative group of his Civil Contract party and presenting details of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, stated that there had been various episodes in mediated and direct contacts during that period.
“As a matter of fact, direct contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan are now more or less active.
Basically, there are working channels to work, particularly between my office and the office of the President of Azerbaijan.
Through those channels a joint statement was accepted on December 7, resulting in the return of 32 prisoners from Azerbaijan to Armenia,'' said Pashinyan.

According to the Prime Minister, Armenia and Azerbaijan are working on the text of the peace treaty and sending it to each other sequentially.

Armenia has always supported One China principle – Foreign Ministry

Jagharian Tania

 16:47, 15 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has always supported the One China principle, foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan told Armenpress when asked to present Armenia’s position regarding the 2024 Taiwanese “presidential election”.

“Armenia has always supported the One China principle. We reiterate our position on this occasion,” Badalyan said.

Fr. Dr. Abraham Malkhasyan Historic Visit to Etchmiadzin, Armenia

Jagharian Tania
Queens Gazette, NY
Jan 10 2024

BY CATHERINE TSOUNIS

On December 18, 2023,  in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Reverend Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan, Pastor of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America (New York), who received the doctoral degree from Fordham University in the USA.

With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Father Abraham continued his studies at the Department of Religion and Religious Studies of Fordham University, defending his doctoral thesis on the topic “Understanding Disaffiliation in the Armenian Church: A Study of Older and Younger Millennials. Fr. Abraham is also teaches at St. John’s University in New York as a professor of Theology.

Presenting his doctoral work to His Holiness, Father Abraham emphasized that the purpose of the work is to identify the current challenges, as a result of which young families find it difficult to participate in church life, and to find ways to overcome them.

The Catholicos of All Armenians reflected with satisfaction about the academic achievement of Father Abraham, emphasizing that this work is an important contribution in the field of pastoral theology and an opportunity for the clergy to familiarize themselves with the issues related to youth.

The Armenian Pontiff noted with joy that the clergymen are engaged in scientific activities in parallel with the pastoral service, enriching their knowledge for the benefit of the spiritual service.

At the meeting, His Holiness, as a token of appreciation, granted a beautiful Pectoral Cross.

At the conclusion, the Reverend Father presented His Holiness his thesis work and the doctoral diploma.

A wonderful Christmas program was presented Sunday, January 7th in the church hall. For information, contact Lara Ciamcian on Facebook.

“THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA” is a book co-authored by  sociologist Armen Khachikyan, historian Mikayel Malkhasyan, and Fr. Dr. Abraham Malkhasyan. The publication highlights the Republic of Armenia’s demographic policy, historical demographic trends, the impact of the 2020 Artsakh War, the coronavirus pandemic, and other factors on demographic processes. The trend of birth and death rates is analyzed, as well as the impact of migration and population distribution system on the demographic situation. Visit Fr. Dr. Abraham Malkhasyan on Facebook.

Why should Greek Americans learn about the Armenian contribution to their history? The nation played a  unique contribution to Eastern Orthodoxy and Hellenism. Few people know that they carried a lantern of light in the Byzantine Empire throughout its history.

The Byzantine Empire was multi-cultural. Nations and races were united under the Greek language, civilization, and Orthodox faith, calling themselves ROMANS. “Due to centuries of foreign domination, much of Armenian history has been neglected and surpressed,” according to” peopleofar.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/armenians-of-byzantium-part-1/.

“As such much of the influence Armenians had on the Byzantine Empire has been swept under the rug by the Ottomans and later the Soviets. Nevertheless, the contributions of Armenian people to the Byzantine Empire have been more than significant. As the historian P. Charanis (1959) says: “The important role played in the history of Byzantium by that talented minority, the Armenians, has been generally unrecognized.” Even though Armenia was only in part a vassel of Byzantium, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire. From bishops, architects, important military figures and even Emperors, Armenians were represented in all walks of Byzantine life. In fact, one out of five Byzantine emperors and empresses were ethnically full or in part Armenian.”

“The best example of this is Emperor Heraclius, whose father was Armenian and Mother Cappadocian. Emperor Heraclius began the Heraclean dynasty (610-717 A.D.).,” according toen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia .The Akathistos Hymn sung during Orthodox Lent commemorates his victory and saving of Constantinople with the help of Our Lady, Virgin Mary.

Basil, “The Bulgar Slayer “became one of the strongest Byzantine emperors, winning territory in the Balkans, Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Georgia,” according to encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Basil+II+The+Bulgar-Slayer.  “He was noted for his victory (1014) in the war with Bulgaria, which ended with his blinding all the soldiers in the defeated Bulgarian army. He increased his domestic authority by attacking the landed interests of the military aristocracy and of the church.” He was of Armenian descent.

The Armenian military power, to some scholars, was the basis of the stability and longevity of Byzantium. A strong army was needed. Armenia was the source. “From the 5th century forwards, the Armenians were regarded as the main constituent of the Byzantine army,” states en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia.

In the article, “Armenia, Byzantium, and the Byzantine Armenians” (www.looys.net/byz_arm.html), “another example of the impact of Armenians within the Byzantine Empire is the Great Church known as Hagia Sophia. As  Rummel explains, ‘After 
the great earthquake of October 25, A.D. 989, which ruined the great dome of Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine emperor Basil II asked for the Armenian architect Trdat (or Tiridates), creator of the great churches of Ani and Agine, to repair the dome. The magnitude of the destruction in the church caused reconstruction to last six years. The church was re-opened on May 
13, 994.’ The magnificent, reconstructed dome designed by Trdat in the tenth century remains aloft the “Great Church” to this day.” We must not only remember the 100 year genocide, but the unique contribution of Armenians as carriers of the Greek language, civilization, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

All photos by permission of Fr. Dr. Abraham Malkhasyan.

3,945,010AMD to the Health Fund for Children of Armenia:The Power of One Dram for January to go to Armenian Mothers fund

Jagharian Tania

 10:17,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Idram and IDBank summarize the December program of the "The power of one dram" initiative. The "one drams" collected for the payments made by the clients of the two companies in December, 3.945.010 AMD, will be sent to the Health Fund for Children of Armenia.

Summarizing the year, Tatevik Vardevanyan, the Head of  Idram&IDBank communication unit, notes, that they managed to support more than a dozen initiatives and foundations. "During 2023, we have directed more than 40 million drams to various initiatives: healthcare, educational programs, as well as initiatives to support our compatriots forcibly displaced from Artsakh," notes Tatevik Vardevanyan.

The “one drams” accumulated during the January 2024 will be directed to the “Armenian Mothers” fund.

According to Narine Manukyan, director of the fund: “The cooperation between us and Idram has years of history and we are happy that this month too we had the opportunity to work with our partners for the sake of hundreds of children’s health improvements. The project is very important for us, because this year in the rehabilitation treatment we included children with disabilities, who were forcibly displaced from Artakh. They have the need to receive the treatment. In “Erazi Tun 1” and “Erazi Tun 2” children rehabilitation centers they will receive free rehabilitation therapies.”

 

You can become a goodwill ambassador without spending any extra money. For that, you just need to make all your payments via Idram&IDBank application, IDBanking.am online platform, via terminals of two companies, and for each payment you make, the companies will donate one dram to good deeds.

 

By the way, “The Power of One Dram” has directed more than 150 million drams to dozens of initiatives throughout its activity, contributing to the development of various sectors of our country and building a better future for our people.

 

In 2023, “The Power of One Dram” was directed to:

 

  • The “Music for the Future” Foundation, for the “Talentum” educational program: AMD 3.008.215
  • Installation of solar water heaters in private households in rural areas of Artsakh: AMD 6.463.511
  • The program to reveal the professional potential of war participants: AMD 3.389.788
  • Public organization “Road of Life”: AMD 3.520.698
  • “Hayordi” camp: AMD 3.482.779
  • Children of Armenia fund: AMD 3.480.466
  • SOS – Children's villages: AMD 3.500.572
  • Hayq to the World educational program: AMD 3.397.784
  • Hayordi-Artsakh initiative: AMD 3.580.216
  • Greenhouses for Artsakh Armenians in Syunik: AMD 3.588.848
  • Health Fund for Children of Armenia: AMD 3.945.010

 

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Armenia’s Gleb Mosesov wins bronze in Val Palot slalom

Jagharian Tania

 10:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian skier Gleb Mosesov has won bronze at the men’s slalom event at FIS Val Palot alpine skiing tournament in Italy.

Mosesov finished his first run in 40,63, and second run in 40,47 and took the third place with a total time of 1:21.10. (FIS points 28,49). 

Andorra’s Alex Rius Gimenez won the first place, and Italy’s Diego Bucciardini finished second.

Mosesov will now compete at the Alpine Skiing FIS Europa Cup event in Berchtesgaden, Germany, on January 13-14, marking the first ever Armenian participation in the tournament.

Mosesov, 25, was part of the Armenian State University of Economics Team that won bronze in the first European Universities Winter Championships skiing tournament in Val Di Zoldo, Italy earlier in 2023. He also recently won silver at an international tournament in Switzerland.

Armenpress: Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia meets with Head of Division for European External Action Service

Jagharian Tania

 21:04, 9 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan on January 9  received the delegation headed by  Rory Domm, Head of Division for European External Action Service, Grigoryan said on social media.

"I welcomed the delegation's visit to Armenia and highlighted the development of Armenia-EU cooperation in the field of security. I emphasized that collaboration with the EU contributes to maintaining a stable security environment in the region,’’ said Security Council Secretary.

Grigoryan added that during the meeting they discussed the process of providing support to Armenia through the European Peace Facility.

Armenpress: Changes in ANIF

Jagharian Tania

 13:40, 7 January 2024

YEREVAN, 7 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. ANIF would like to inform that, at the initiative of the Ministry of Economy, changes were made to the management staff, including the board of directors of ANIF. Previously the Board of ANIF was chaired by Dominique de Villepin, former PM of and Minister of the Interior of France. By the decision of the Minister of Economy, he was replaced in this position by the Deputy Minister of Economy of RA Ani Ispiryan. Ani Ispiryan holds the post of Deputy Minister of Economy since September 2021. Before that, in 2020-2021 she worked as an expert at the RA Ministry of Economy within the framework of the "iGorts" program.

New members of the Board of Directors were appointed: Edgar Mkrtchyan, the Chief of Staff of RA Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and Arman Adilkhanyan, the Chief of Staff of RA Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan.

The contract of ANIF Director David Papazian was prematurely terminated by the vote of three new members of the Council. After this decision of the Ministry of Economy, the former Chairman of the BOD, Dominque De Villepin, also submitted his resignation from the position of a member of the BOD. Another long-time member of the Board of Directors of ANIF, Isidoro Lucciola also left the Board. Mr Lucciola is the founder and chairman of an investment banking and corporate finance independent boutique (Appeal Strategy & Finance), of a systemic provider of advisory and agency services to banks active in Italy (loan agency services) as well as of the Italian market leader in invoice trading fintech solutions for corporations (TSFVC). Mr. Lucciola has also been a member of ANIF's Board of Directors since its inception, and has supported the implementation of a number of investment projects in Armenia.

Khaled Helioui, the head of ANIF's investment committee, and Michael Thompson, a member of the Investment Committee, have also resigned.

Since 2019, ANIF has implemented a number of strategic projects with the now former composition of the board of directors and management structure, including the largest foreign investment project in Armenia at the moment, the "AYG-1" project jointly with the UAE State owned Masdar company, as well as Fly Arna Armenian National Airline jointly with Air Arabia.

A brief description of ANIF's recorded success in numbers:

Attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) in the total volume of 84.6 billion drams (at the exchange rate of 09.11.2023) or 210 million US dollars, of which:

Fly Arna: 10 million USD.

AYG-1: 200 million USD;

Investments in the domestic market through the "Entrepreneur + State anti-crisis investments" in 2021-2023:

7.8 billion drams – money directly invested by ANIF,

900 million drams – money co-invested by private partners, 1.931 billion drams – money drawn from commercial banks.

Paid taxes in 2021-2022: 837 million drams;

Taxes paid in 2023 in 9 months: 3.3 billion drams;

Taxes to be paid in 2023-2024: 8.9 billion drams (including taxes actually paid in 9 months of 2023);

More than 800 jobs created

Average salary in the projects created by ANIF in 2023. as of now: 558 thousand drams, when the average salary in RA is 263 thousand AMD.

Systemic investment attraction solution: creation of ARFI (Armenia Financed), the first online state crowdfunding platform in the world, which systematically solves the problem of ensuring a stable flow of investments from the diaspora to the Homeland.

1.76 billion drams (about 4.5 million dollars) net accounting profit in 2022. as of December 31.

The outgoing ANIF CEO David Papazian said “It has been an honor to lead Armenia’s nascent Sovereign Investment Fund since its inception in 2019. I am thankful to everyone who has believed in our journey, to our local and international partners, to everyone who through interaction has taught me lessons which I now take to my next career chapter. I wish the Ministry of Economy much success in building on top of the heritage we pass on to them today”.

How to observe the New Year

Jagharian Tania
January 2, 2024 Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian Keeping the Faith, Columns 0

Hebrews 12: 1-2 (WC Ferrell, Flickr)

As the page turns on our calendar, we ask, “How do we observe the New Year?” The New Year is an opportune time to evaluate our lives and hopefully gain a deeper understanding of life. In this respect, the Bible is the best source that can be of great assistance to provide us with insight and guidance.

In the Bible, life is compared to the flower of the fields, a trust and a journey. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, life is compared to a race. The picture is that of a person standing at the starting line, ready to run. This scripture sheds some light concerning life’s journey. It tells us the following:

First, we must look behind us. The author of Hebrews speaks of “a great cloud of witness,” in reference to the previous chapter where he called on the roll of the faithful across the centuries. He speaks of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and others as if they sit in a stadium waiting to watch us run. The past offers us a body of experience. If we are wise enough to use it, surely it can save us to take advantage of the insights of the past upon which to build our own future.

Second, we must look within us. The author of Hebrews urges us “to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Are we carrying around an old cardboard box full of worries, guilt and past regrets? We don’t have to carry it anymore. We should not allow the frustrations, disappointments or mistakes of one day, a week or even earlier years to ruin our entire life. We should not dwell on thoughts that depress us. If our minds are filled with clouds, we should chase them away and fill them with sunshine. We should gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for our actions.

Third, we must look forward. There is a life out there to live. Hebrews 12 calls it “the race which lies ahead.” We should not live in the past. It is true that we cannot turn back the wheels of time physically, but we can go back psychologically. We can sentimentalize the good-old-days. The danger of sentimentalizing the past is that it destroys our effectiveness in the present and kills aspirations for the future.

The Apostle admonishes us “to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” That is the forward-looking orientation of which St. Paul speaks about when he writes, “I press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14).

We can go forth worthily to meet the future and make it a significant one if we honestly accept what we have in the way of talent, ability and resources and use them productively.

Finally, we must look upward. The race which lies ahead is uncertain. Only God knows what the future holds, and He is too wise to spoil the excitement by taking away the anticipation. The New Year will be a year in many ways like the past—hills and valleys, good times and bad. For some people who are with us in the race of life, this will be their last year. Yes, the future is unknown to us. But one thing is known: Our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, will be with us, whether we live or die.

As for those who are in the race of life, the writer tells them “to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith.” Just as a runner concentrates on the finish line, we should concentrate on Jesus, the goal and objective of our faith. 

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Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian is the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical World Council.