Author: Janet Ekmekjian

Dozens of families displaced from Artsakh may end up homeless

Janet Ekmekjian
Panorama
Armenia – June 16 2022

Dozens of families, who were displaced from Artsakh during the 2020 war and took temporary refuge in Armenia, may become homeless. They have to leave the hotels, community and other buildings in different parts of Armenia where they live temporarily.

Presumably, those are the people who have been unable to live with their relatives or cannot afford to rent a house, thus the deprivation of shelter would cause serious social problems for them.

Deputy Head of the Operational Headquarters of Artsakh in Armenia Sasun Savadyan told Panorama.am that the idea of expelling the Artsakh people from these buildings originated earlier this year after it was decided to make the hotels and hostels serve their purpose.

As of June 1, there are 5,902 families or 20,016 people displaced from Artsakh living in Armenia.

"Most of them have rented houses or live with their relatives. There are Artsakh people living in hotels, state and community buildings who are now forced to leave them, waiting for the children to finish classes. I can't provide an exact figure, but there are not many of them, some 100-150 families," he said.

Savadyan said in the near future a decision will be made in Artsakh to provide each displaced family with 40,000 drams from July 1 for renting and other social problems. According to the official, it's possible to rent a house for 40,000 drams, for example, in the villages near Masis.

"For example, I am a displaced person too. I rent a house from the very beginning. I work. These people may say they don't work, but they may actually have a job. If five thousand families can rent an apartment or live with relatives, they can do it too, using the 40,000 drams in financial aid. In Azatashen and Khachpar villages, which are just 5-7 kilometers away from Yerevan, you can rent a house for 30,000 drams. Artsakh people have rented houses there and have been living there for over a year now,” Savadyan said.

He says no inventory of the needs for Artsakh people living in hotels and community buildings has been conducted.

"This deadline has been postponed since the beginning of the year. Now I can't give a deadline when they have to vacate the buildings," Savadyan added.

Biden’s NSA Chief Praises Yerevan-Baku Diplomatic Efforts

Janet Ekmekjian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 June 7, 2022

 

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

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan


National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the United States is committed to peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region.

“Mr. Sullivan conveyed the commitment of the United States to peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region,” NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. Sullivan reportedly made the remarks during meeting with Azerbaijan’s presidential advisor Hikmat Hajiyev.

“He praised the significant and historic diplomatic efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia toward a lasting peace.  Mr. Sullivan expressed support for talks hosted by President of the European Council Charles Michel.  He conveyed the readiness of the U.S. to engage closely and support progress through a variety of means, including in our capacity as a Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group,” Watson added in her statement.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy and discussed the latest meeting of a Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani commission to unblock transit between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Grigoryan represents Armenia in these talks and he met with his Russian and Azerbaijani counterparts on Friday in Moscow. He told reporters Monday that approaches to opening transit routes were clarified during Friday’s meeting.

Grigoryan and Tracy also discussed issues related to U.S.-Armenia cooperation, the government press service reported.

Reportedly, the two also exchanged view on direction of police reforms in Armenia, including the tasks of a patrol service and the creation a proposed interior ministry in Armenia.

Mirzoyan: There is definitely no political crisis in Armenia

Janet Ekmekjian
https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=69922&lang=3ARMINFO
Armenia – June 9 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. There is definitely no political crisis in Armenia.  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced this on November 9 in Yerevan at a press  conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, at a request  to comment on the protests in the country.

According to him, to confirm his words, he can cite two arguments -  the snap parliamentary elections held last summer in the summer,  which resolved the then political crisis, answered many questions and  was recognized by all international organizations as transparent and  democratic. "And secondly, we follow the actions, and the small  number of participants in the rallies does not speak of popular  support," he said. At the same time, Mirzoyan noted that in a  democratic country, which is Armenia, everyone has the right to  peaceful rallies. "If we move away from the issue of law and touch on  the logical side of this issue, then I can express my private  opinion. Here I see issues related to sanity," the Armenian Foreign  Minister said, emphasizing that the parliamentary opposition can  exercise its right to criticize authorities from the parliamentary  platform, which, unfortunately or fortunately, it does not do.

"The rally organizers say that the Republic of Armenia is pursuing  the wrong policy on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, the normalization  of Armenian-Turkish relations and the agenda of the Azerbaijani-  Armenian negotiations," he said. Mirzoyan added that he could  understand the opposition if they talked about the need to cancel the  statement of November 9, 2020, withdrawing from the delimitation  process and unblock communications, or the statements of January 11  and November 26, 2021, the delimitation process. But since the  opposition does not do this, according to him, all this suggests that  the topics discussed by the opposition are just ugly speculations. 

It should be noted that since May 1, the Resistance Movement has been  holding actions of disobedience throughout the republic demanding the  resignation of current Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan and his team. The Movement is convinced that the  current government in Armenia is pursuing a policy that is disastrous  for the Armenian state and Artsakh, and cannot represent the  interests of the country in the international arena.

https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=69921&lang=3

Regime to be installed will be based absolutely on sovereignty of Armenia’s territory – Lavrov on regional unblocking

Janet Ekmekjian

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 13:20, 9 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the regime to be introduced in the framework of unblocking of economic and transportation communications in South Caucasus will be based absolutely on the sovereignty of the territory of Armenia.

“As you know, the railway route has been agreed upon, now the agreement on the automobile route is being completed, as well as the agreement over the regime that will be installed is being completed. It will be based absolutely on the sovereignty of the territory of Armenia. There couldn’t be any ambiguity here”, the Russian FM said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on June 9.

There is no political crisis in Armenia – FM on ongoing protests

Janet Ekmekjian

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 17:15, 9 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan commented on the ongoing protests in the country, stating that there is no political crisis in Armenia.

During a press conference today with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Mirzoyan told a reporter that he can substantiate his statement by two facts. “Firstly, snap parliamentary elections were held last summer, where the citizens of Armenia gave very clear answers to a number of questions and solved the political crisis that really existed that time. It’s worth noting that these elections were recognized as democratic and transparent by all observer missions. So, this shows that citizens undoubtedly had a chance to express their position and make a decision.

Secondly, we follow, as far as I managed to follow, the small number of people participating in rallies, perhaps, doesn’t show that these rallies are supported by the citizens of Armenia. But I want to note that Armenia is a democratic country, and everyone has a right to hold peaceful rallies”, the FM said.

Touching upon the logical sides of this process, the FM said he could present his own, personal position. “I see some problems with sound judgment here and I can state why. Firstly, that political forces have a chance to run their activity in the parliament and strongly criticize the authorities and ask the sharpest questions, which, unfortunately or fortunately, they do not use. It is their right again.

And secondly, the most important, the content part of the issue: as far as I managed to follow and understand, the forces that organize and participate in the rallies state that Armenia is not running a right policy over Nagorno Karabakh, is not running a right policy in the directions, the negotiations, I already mentioned, with Azerbaijan, and is not running a right policy in the process of normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey, and so on.

And here I want to state that strangely we have not seen statements that, if our government resigns, and the power is somehow transmitted to these forces, they are going to cancel, for example, the November 9 trilateral statement, or the trilateral statements of 2021 January 11 and November 26, or they are going to withdraw from the delimitation process, or they are going to suspend the process of unblocking the regional communications, etc. In other words, if such an approach was announced, perhaps it would have been logical, because I have already presented our approach and it has been announced long ago. And I suppose that it would have been logical if these aspiring political forces have had opposite positions on these key matters. As I said, I didn’t manage to follow much, but as far as I managed, I didn’t meet any talk on suspending the processes I mentioned or withdrawing from that processes, which allows me to suppose that the topic that is being discussed is just a way and occasion of manipulation by the opposition”, he said.

Sports: Preview: Ukraine vs. Armenia – prediction, team news, lineups

Janet Ekmekjian
Sports Mole
By Jonathan O'Shea | 20h

After a much-changed side bounced back from playoff heartbreak to win their first UEFA Nations League fixture in midweek, Ukraine meet outsiders Armenia in Lodz on Saturday afternoon.

Though the troubled nation's World Cup dreams are over, they are tied on points with their visitors and Scotland at the top of the early League B Group 1 table, and will now host a first match at their new adopted home.

After enduring the pain of losing out to Wales in the World Cup playoffs last Sunday, perhaps wisely, Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov decided to rotate his squad for a midweek trip to Dublin.

With a radically overhauled starting XI, featuring several young stars, the Blue and Yellow saw substitute Viktor Tsygankov's rather fortuitous strike seal all three points against the Republic of Ireland; kicking off their latest Nations League campaign in successful style.

The Dynamo Kyiv winger's in-swinging free kick eluded Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher just after the interval, and puts Ukraine on the road to regaining League A status next year.

Controversially demoted from the top tier in 2020, after a COVID-19 outbreak forced former coach Andriy Shevchenko's squad to pull out of a fixture with Switzerland – with the points later being allocated to the Swiss – the intent to right a perceived injustice will be strong.

Most of the Ukraine squad have been starved of regular football over recent months, due to the national league being suspended since Russia's invasion, but wins against Scotland and Ireland in their last three competitive games – and such a close call against Wales – have demonstrated the talents of a squad that reached the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.

Days after recording one of their most notable wins in years by defeating the so-far pointless Irish, another Celtic challenge awaited Armenia on Wednesday, when they took on Scotland at Hampden Park.

Their first away fixture of the new Nations League campaign ended in defeat, however, after conceding two first-half goals against Steve Clarke's side, who had suffered playoff elimination to Ukraine in their previous outing.

Nonetheless, three points from Armenia's first two matches at League B level represents success for head coach Joaquin Caparros, a wily veteran who was present at the start of Sevilla's rise to prominence as a force in Europe.

The 66-year-old was also in charge as Armenia secured promotion from League C at the end of 2020, when they finished ahead of Estonia, Georgia and North Macedonia in their group.

With a first competitive win since beating Romania in World Cup qualifying last year already in the bag, a side thumped 9-0 by Norway in March will now look to overcome their setback in Glasgow, as they tackle the Group 1 favourites on Saturday.

Ukraine Nations League form:
  • W


Ukraine form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W

Armenia Nations League form:
  • W
  • L


Armenia form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L


Facing the fourth of five competitive games to be played in quick succession, Oleksandr Petrakov is poised to shake up his starting XI again, after making 10 changes on Wednesday.

Viktor Tsygankov could be rewarded for a positive showing and scoring the winner against Ireland with selection out wide, while Eduard Sobol may return at left-back as Everton's Vitaliy Mykolenko takes a rest.

Up front, meanwhile, Roman Yaremchuk is likely to be drafted back in for Artem Dovbyk, with captain and leading active goalscorer Andriy Yarmolenko (108 caps, 45 goals) also coming back into contention. However, young Mykhaylo Mudryk could hold down his spot due to some eye-catching displays so far this summer.

Armenia, though, have a shallower pool of creative players to draw from – particularly since Henrikh Mkhitaryan's international retirement last year – and are likely to field a similar side to that which lost at Hampden.

Colombus Crew striker Lucas Zelarayan and back-up defender Hayk Ishkhanyan are set to miss out due to injury, so Sargis Adamyan should start in the absence of the former up front, while Colombia-born pair Jordy Monroy and Wbeymar Angulo are among several men hoping for promotion from the bench.

Ukraine possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Sobol; Shaparenko, Sydorchuk, Malinovskyi; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Mudryk

Armenia possible starting lineup:
Yurchenko; Hambardzumyan, Haroyan, Mkoyan, Mkrtchyan, A. Hovhannisyan; Bayramyan, Grigoryan; Spertsyan, Barseghyan; Adamyan

Despite the backdrop of conflict at home, and the crushing disappointment of missing out on Qatar 2022, Ukraine have acquitted themselves admirably over the last fortnight, and they are comfortably at home in League B.

Armenia, meanwhile, are still new to this level of Nations League competition, and are not particularly prolific – drawing a blank in four of their last seven games. Their weekend trip to Poland, then, should end pointless.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/ukraine/uefa-nations-league/preview/preview-ukraine-vs-armenia-prediction-team-news-lineups_487705.html

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Ukraine vs Armenia Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 UEFA Nations League – The Stats Zone
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Music: Armenian pianist wins First prize at international competition in Italy

Janet Ekmekjian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – June 6 2022
June 6, 2022, 15:56

 

Laura Galstyan, a young pianist representing Armenia, was awarded the First Prize and a special scholarship at the 24th Pietro Argento International Music Competition held in Gioia del Colle, Italy on June 1-5, 2022.

The annual competition was founded in 1998 and is a member of Alink-Argerich Foundation. It is named after the famous Italian conductor Pietro Argento.

This year it was held in three categories: piano, vocal and chamber music. It featured bout 30 musicians from different countries of the world.

Laura Galstyan, 18, is currently studying at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim (Germany) with Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy. She is enhancing her professional skills with outstanding pianist Hayk Melikyan.

Artsakh Cannot be Part of Azerbaijan, Says Armenian Academy of Sciences

Janet Ekmekjian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 June 6, 2022

 

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

Armenia's National Academy of Sciences


Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences called for uniting the entire potential of the Armenian nation to confront challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh. Specifically, however, the influential academic group rejected any outcome where Artsakh will be part of Azerbaijan.

Despite its apolitical mandate, the Academy said it could not stay indifferent to the existential political challenges facing the nation warning that ‘the danger of possible being deprived of a homeland and a genocide of Artsakh-Armenians is such a challenge today, which is a red line for the human race.”

“Artsakh, which has been part of the Armenian civilization for millennia, is an inseparable part of our homeland—the Artsakh-Armenians have preserved the longest statehood of our nation, our eastern stronghold. However, since at least the early 20th century, the Caucasus Tatars, with the support of Turkish circles, later their Azerbaijani descendants, were making every effort to eliminate any Armenian trace in Artsakh. All these was accompanied by crimes against humanity,” said a statement issued by the Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences on Monday.

“This policy also continued following the collapse of the Soviet Union and gained special momentum in the new conditions formed as a result of the 2020 44-Day War, in fact turning into an inseparable component of the official ideology of Azerbaijan. Today we are witnessing such open manifestations of this vicious policy as plans to totally eliminate the Armenian historical-cultural identity in the territories now under its control, spread Armenophobia in all possible international platforms, distort history, ignore the international law, particularly, violate the Geneva Convention on treatment with prisoners of war,” added the statement.

The group also warned of the danger to the Armenians living Artsakh, which it said will face immediate eviction if Artsakh is to be government under Azerbaijani control, thus depriving them of their homeland and living under the threat of another genocide.

“The Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of the security of the people of Artsakh and the exercise of their right to self-determination. We cannot back down from this fundamental principle,” said the Academy. Today the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh are facing serious challenges. It is necessary to bring together its entire potential to resist those challenges and find solutions to existing problems.”

“The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia is ready to provide professional consulting to Armenia’s authorities, could become one of the platforms where issues of pan-Armenian significance are discussed, solutions and alternative options could be proposed for forming a pan-Armenian agenda,” added the statement.

Friendly relations between Armenia and Greece oblige to further deepen cooperation: Nicholas Hardalias

Janet Ekmekjian
ARMINFO
Armenia – June 3 2022
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.On June 2, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan received a delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense of Greece Nicholas Hardalias.

As reported by the press service of the Armenian Defense Ministry,  Suren Papikyan highly assessed the current level of the  Armenian-Greek cooperation in the defense sphere and emphasized the  need to develop cooperation in the military- technical direction.

Nicholas Hardalias confirmed the readiness of the Greek side to  develop cooperation and noted that warm, friendly relations between  the two countries oblige to further deepen cooperation in order to  counter the existing challenges.  During the meeting, issues of  regional security were also discussed. The Minister of Defense  presented the security situation in Artsakh after the 44-day war and  the existing threats.

On the same day, the delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of  National Defense of Greece was received by the Deputy Minister of  Defense of the Republic of Armenia Karen Brutyan. The perspctives of  developing cooperation in the military-technical secorwere discussed. 

Tbilisi Deputy Mayor Ilia Eloshvili found dead

Janet Ekmekjian

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 14:04, 1 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi Ilia Eloshvili was found dead in his house on June 1, the Georgian ministry of internal affairs said.

Law enforcers are working on the spot.

The exact cause of the death is still unknown.

Ilia Eloshvili has been serving as Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi since 2017.