Author: Jhanna Virabian

N.Y. Times Bestselling Author Chris Bohjalian Presents ‘Artsakh: Our Line in the Sand;’ Fundraising Held for Arajamugh Village Expansion Project

Armenian Weekly — Fifty friends and supporters of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) gathered in New York on October 29, to hear New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian discuss his recent trip to Artsakh.

Held at the Tufenkian Artisan Carpets Showroom in midtown Manhattan, Bohjalian’s presentation called “Artsakh: Our Line in the Sand,” vividly described Artsakh’s current conditions, especially in light of the recent Four Day War in April. Bohjalian spent much time with people living near the front lines, and in the liberated territories—especially those areas in and around the Lachin Corridor.

During his five-day visit, Bohjalian also met with Artsakh government officials, everyday heroes—both military and civilian—as well as students, teachers, and literary figures, who were eager to meet him and learn more about his work.

Since his return, Bohjalian has been busy putting pen to paper, recounting his impressions in articles in various publications, including USA Today, the Burlington Free Press, and other U.S. media outlets. His most recent story depicted the life of a Syrian-Armenian refugee who escaped from the clutches of Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) with his family, and resettled in the liberated territories of Artsakh, where he has received a warm welcome.

The event was co-organized by ACAA Artsakh Fund and the Tufenkian Foundation. Antranig Kasbarian opened the program by explaining the significance of recent events in Artsakh, particularly April’s Four Day War, and emphasized the crucial strategic importance of the liberated territories in maintaining Artsakh’s national security, as they promote an indivisible bond with Armenia.

Kasbarian noted that areas near the Lachin Corridor, routinely called “occupied territories,” are in fact the cradle of Armenian Christianity, with centuries-old villages, cemeteries, churches, and other cultural artifacts attesting to widespread, continuous Armenian presence there—before Azerbaijan’s wholesale ethnic cleansing of these territories in the 1920’s. Kasbarian then introduced Bohjalian, whose longstanding interest in Artsakh became a pressing concern following April’s Four Day War.

Following his presentation, Bohjalian patiently answered numerous questions from his enthusiastic audience.

In addition to promoting awareness, the October 29 event also raised funds for the Arajamugh Village Expansion Project, which is being implemented by the ACAA Artsakh Fund, with the support of the Tufenkian Foundation. Arajamugh village is located in the liberated territories of NKR. Those who wish to donate to this worthy project may do so by sending checks to ACAA Artsakh Fund, 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.

About 50 cases of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact with the Karabakh forces last night.

The rival fired more than 430 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the NKR Defense Army remained committed to the ceasefire regime and resorted to response actions in case of extreme necessity.

“This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Armenia. I am confident that we will further take advantage of every possible opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in trade, transport, innovations, science, education, and other areas of mutual interest,” wrote Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

According to Linkevičius, Lithuania welcomes and wholeheartedly supports the ongoing negotiations on the new legally-binding EU-Armenia Agreement, which will open up new opportunities for enhanced bilateral trade, investments and people-to-people contacts.

On 21 November, Lithuania and Armenia will mark the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago.

On 13 September Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, NKR President’s Press Office reports.

The meeting addressed a number of issues related to the situation along the line of contact between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces.

Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, accused of killing a family of 7 in Armenia’s second city of Gyumri has been sentenced to life.

The family, including a six-month-old baby, was killed as a result of an armed assault on January 12, 2015.

Permyakov was arrested and later charged with the murder of two or more persons under the Armenian Criminal Code.

On August 12, Permyakov was found guilty of desertion, theft of weapons and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The murder case was singled out for considering it in a separate procedure and passed to the Armenian authorities.

On October 13, Permyakov was found sane. According to experts, he was not in the heat of passion while committing the crime. He also could recognize the consequences of his actions.

On October 16, Permyakov was additionally charged with armed assault, home-invasion robbery and attempted border crossing.

Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich, Goal.com reports.

The Germany international, who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, had previously left Dortmund for the Bavarians but has now re-joined Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Gotze departed the club in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in 2013, having scored 31 goals in 116 matches for the club after his debut in 2008.

Some fans subsequently claimed that the 24-year-old would not be welcomed back to the club, but the deal has now been confirmed by both sides, with Gotze signing a four-year contract until 2020.

The attacking midfielder has also apologised to fans for his move to Bayern, and insists he will work hard to regain their trust, telling the club’s official website: “When I switched from BVB to Bayern in 2013 that was a conscious decision that I will not hide myself behind today.

“Three years later, and at 24, I look with different eyes at my decision. I can well understand that many fans could not understand my decision. I would not even take it today!

“When I return to my home, I want to try to convince all people with my performances – especially those who will not receive me with open arms. My aim is to again play my best football. For all of us, the club and the BVB fans. ”

Gotze struggled for game time at the Allianz Arena, and made just 14 Bundesliga appearances last term.

Standoff at the Armenian police station seized by gunmen early on Sunday enters the third day.

 

The row triggered by the German parliament’s Armenia resolution is rumbling on. Bundestag MPs have threatened to scupper NATO’s new reconnaissance flights if they cannot visit German soldiers at Incirlik, Turkey, reports.

The diplomatic impasse between German MPs and the Turkish government has escalated, with the Bundestag’s defense committee threatening to deny the mandate for Germany’s participation in reconnaissance flights over Syria if they are not allowed to visit the German soldiers stationed at the Incirlik NATO base in southern Turkey.

The Bundeswehr has about 250 personnel stationed at the base who help fly Tornado planes on reconnaissance missions to locate the “Islamic State” militia in Syria. But the Bundestag’s vote in early June to recognize the Ottoman massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915-16 as genocide has precipitated a diplomatic fallout that is threatening the countries’ military cooperation.

On Thursday, committee chairman Wolfgang Hellmich told the “Bild” newspaper that the Bundestag could vote to block the AWACS reconnaissance flights that NATO wants to fly over Syria.

“I hope that the NATO secretary general realizes that if he wants to have AWACS, then German soldiers are necessary,” committee spokesman Rainer Arnold told DW.

Just two weeks after the vote on the Armenia resolution, which triggered personal abuse from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against certain MPs, Turkey refused to allow a senior German defense official and several Bundestag members to visit the base. The trip was “seen as inappropriate,” in the words of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu – though he suggested that a “nonpolitical” delegation would be allowed.

The Left party MP Alexander Neu said the committee was planning a trip to Incirlik on September 15 – which is now likely to be seen as a test of relations. The Defense Ministry was also hoping to sign a new stationing agreement with Turkey and build new barracks and a command post, all plans that are currently on hold because of the deadlock.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov had a meeting on the sidelines of the sitting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers in

The Ministers referred to issues related to Armenian-Russian allied relations, the process of implementation of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries.

The interlocutors discussed the steps towards implementation of the agreements reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits on Nagorno Karabakh.

Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov exchanged views on the urgent regional and international issues.

Today, on the occasion of Independence Day of the United States of America, President Serzh Sargsyan visited the residence of the US Ambassador to Armenia. On the occasion of the holiday, President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Ambassador Richard Mills and in his person the staff of the Embassy and the people of the United States, and wished success in the continuous development and strengthening of the Armenian-American relations. The President of Armenia highly valued the input of the United States to our country’s economic development since independence, strengthening of democracy, maturing of the civil society and underscored that he was hopeful that after the presidential elections in the US, the bilateral relations will continue to develop dynamically.

Ambassador Richard Mills thanked the President of Armenia for the visit and congratulations. He noted that for the last twenty-five years he has been following closely developments in Armenia and agreed with President Sargsyan on the issue of the achievements registered in the country in the mentioned period of time. The US Ambassador underlined that the citizens of Armenia can rightfully take pride in progress achieved by Armenia in the last quarter of the century in the economic, social as well as political areas. He said that he was glad that the people and Government of the United States have played their part in that advancement.

The President of Armenia also sent a congratulatory message to the President of the United States Barack Obama:

“Honorable President Obama,

Allow me to wholeheartedly congratulate you and the people of the United States on the occasion of Independence Day of the United States of America.

Early next year, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our nations. Looking back on our journey, I note with great satisfaction that the Armenia-US relations have always been marked by cordiality, mutual trust and respect.
We highly value the great support extended by the United States towards the development of Armenia’s economy, the implementation of various reforms and the strengthening of our democratic institutions. Building on a strong tradition of fruitful cooperation and on the existing significant potential, Armenia stands ready to further deepen and develop the Armenian-American friendship and the close partnership.

We greatly appreciate the US engagement, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, in the Nagorno-Karabakh peaceful settlement process. The diplomatic efforts that followed the full-fledged military operation of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh in the early April, 2016, have once again underscored the key role played by the United States in the peace process. Similar to the co-chair countries of the Minsk Group, we are also strongly convinced that the maintenance of the unlimited-in-time trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994-1995 and the implementation of steps leading to the establishment of an environment conducive to negotiations, would serve as a strong foundation for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through exclusively peaceful means. We expect that the United States, jointly with the other co-chair countries – Russia and France, will continue its active mediation mission towards the establishment of a stable and durable peace in our region.

Please allow me to once again congratulate you on Independence Day and to wish you and people of the United States continued progress and prosperity. Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration,” reads the congratulatory message of the President of Armenia.