Author: Jirair Kafian

Prime Minister Pashinyan, German lawmakers discuss inter-parliamentary ties, Lachin Corridor blockade

Jirair Kafian

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 13:33, 3 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with members of the German parliament’s (Bundestag) Germany-South Caucasus Friendship Group led by the Chairman of the Group MP Johann Wadephul over a luncheon in Berlin.

PM Pashinyan attached importance to the continuous development of cooperation between Armenian and German parliamentarians, including in international platforms, according to a read-out issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister Pashinyan said that partnership with Germany in various directions, including political and economic partnership, is of key importance to the Armenian government.

Johann Wadephul said that the group plans to visit the region soon and emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary relations with Armenia.

The Armenian PM and the German lawmakers also discussed bilateral ties and the developments taking place in South Caucasus, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The international community’s continual and consistent attention and reaction were highlighted for overcoming the humanitarian crisis. The necessity for urgent implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling by Azerbaijan was underscored.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.

Russian FM arrives in Azerbaijan on a working visit

Jirair Kafian

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 20:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit on February 27, ARMENPRESS reports, “TASS” informed.

As scheduled, the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will receive Lavrov in Baku. Lavrov will hold talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The minister’s visit coincides with the first anniversary of the bilateral declaration on allied cooperation signed on February 22, 2022.

During the meetings with the leadership of Azerbaijan, the whole range of bilateral issues, current regional and international issues will be discussed, as well as special attention will be paid to the implementation of trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Minister of Defense, United States Ambassador discuss development of Armenian- American cooperation in defense

Jirair Kafian

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 17:23,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan held a meeting with the new United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien.

Minister Papikyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and wished productive cooperation and success, the ministry said in a read-out.

A number of issues related to the development of the Armenian-American cooperation in the defense sector and regional security were discussed.

The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was also discussed.

Armenpress: The situation in the Lachin Corridor requires immediate action, PACE monitors for Armenia say

Jirair Kafian

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 21:51,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Following their visit to Armenia on 17-19th of February to assess the situation on the border with Azerbaijan and at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor, the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Armenia Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) and Boriana Åberg (Sweden, EPP/CD) today made a statement on Lachin Corridor. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the PACE, the statement reads as follows,

“The situation in the Lachin corridor requires immediate action. As of today, inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot travel freely out of the region and, as we were informed, 954 are still stranded on either side of the corridor. Only International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers’ vehicles are allowed to travel along this corridor, which is clearly insufficient to fulfill the needs of the population. Moreover, it is vitally important that goods can get through in time for the sowing season. The free circulation of all vehicles must be restored urgently in accordance with the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020.

Furthermore, the repeated disruption of gas and electricity supply to the territory has resulted in serious violations of the rights of the inhabitants: many people have already lost their jobs and children are deprived of education since schools had to close.

We recall our joint statement with co-rapporteurs for Azerbaijan of 16 December 2022 which urged the restoration of freedom of movement along the Lachin corridor, and the European Court of Human Rights’ decision of 21 December 2022 calling on the authorities of Azerbaijan to take all measures to ensure safe passage through the “Lachin Corridor” of seriously ill persons in need of medical treatment in Armenia and others who were stranded on the road. We also take note of the International Court of Justice’s order of indicating that “Azerbaijan shall (…) take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin corridor in both directions.” We invite all members of the Assembly to bring this situation to the attention of their respective national parliaments and join our call for the immediate cessation of the unlawful and illegitimate obstruction of the Lachin corridor.

Regarding the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, we observed the consequences of attacks from Azerbaijani troops on civilian infrastructures in the city of Jermuk and the village of Sotk. We noted that evidence of the use of cluster ammunitions in civilian zones had been collected and kept for further expertise. We were shown the presence of Azerbaijani military positions within Armenian sovereign territory, sometimes well beyond any disputed border line.

We commend the deployment of a civilian mission from the European Union at the border, noting the significant tangible effects of the previous mission in reducing tensions. We call on both parties to advance discussions on border delimitation and to agree on a mirror withdrawal of troops from the border as an immediate confidence-building move.

We will report our findings to the PACE Monitoring Committee during its next meeting. We remain extremely alert to future developments and reiterate our readiness to provide, at the parliamentary level, all political support needed to reach a long-lasting peace settlement.”

During their visit, the co-rapporteurs visited the cities of Jermuk, Goris and Vardenis and their surroundings, as well as the entrance of the Lachin Corridor on the Armenian side. They met local officials and inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh blocked in Goris due to the ongoing obstruction of the Lachin Corridor.

ARS-WUSA Announces 2023 Gala Major Sponsors

Jirair Kafian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Mr. & Mrs. Jack and Zarig Youredjian (left) and the late Verjine Koujakian


GLENDALE—The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA announced that the ARS Las Vegas Shoushi Chapter Verjine Koujakian Saturday School has become the ARS Gala’s benefactor with a $250,000 donation in Koujakian’s memory and Mr. & Mrs. Jack and Zarig Youredjian will be the Banquet Sponsors with a generous donation of $50,000.

A long-time member of the organization from her time in Lebanon to when she moved to California, Verjine Koujakian has served membership through ARS Lebanon, the ARS Hollywood Mayr and San Fernando Valley Anahid Chapters, and the ARS Las Vegas Shoushi Chapter until she passed away in 2001. In 1984, she established a scholarship fund in memory of her husband with the ARS Anahid Chapter providing awards to Ferrahian High School graduates excelling in Armenian and community service. After her passing, the scholarship fund was renamed the “Apraham and Verjine Koujakian Fund Scholarship” and keeps their memories alive by awarding two scholarships every year. In 1993, Verjine Koujakian started the Saturday School in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was then sponsored by the ARS Shoushi Chapter. The school continues to operate and thrive to this day with the financial guidance and moral support and encouragement of Ungerouhi Koujakian’s children Arda Koujakian Yemenidjian, Hagop Koujakian and Terenik Koujakian and their families so that her legacy continues to live on.

As staunch supporters of the Armenian Relief Society, Mr. & Mrs. Youredjian have long-supported worthwhile causes benefiting the Armenian community locally and internationally through their philanthropy. This includes implementing successful projects in Gyumri, Armenia helping earthquake-stricken families with housing, empowering students through educational programs, career planning and vocational training, as well as pandemic relief efforts locally. They are the founders of the Scholarship Fund for Children of Armenia Fund and have also been generous supporters of ARS Cyprus, Homenetmen, the American University of Armenia, and the Armenian International Women’s Association. Mrs. Youredjian has been a member of the ARS Santa Monica “Gars” Chapter since 2004.

“The region is thankful to all donors and chapters, along with the outpouring of support being received from the community for the upcoming fundraising event, whose proceeds will be benefiting the organization’s vital present-day and future humanitarian programs locally, as well as internationally reaching those in need in Armenia, Artsakh, Syria, and Lebanon,” the ARS said in a statement announcing the 2023 Gala’s major sponsors.

The ARS Gala will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Taglyan Complex, located at 1201 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA, with a cocktail hour starting at 5 p.m. followed by the official program and dinner at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and/or sponsorship opportunities, please contact the ARS Regional Headquarters at (818) 500-1343 or [email protected].

MSC2023: PM Pashinyan, OSCE Secretary General express hope that EU mission in Armenia will contribute to peace

Jirair Kafian

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 00:30,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Schmid held a meeting within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

Prime Minister Pashinyan spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and underscored the necessity for continuous and consistent steps by the international community with the purpose of resolving the issue, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a read-out.

Prime Minister Pashinyan and Secretary General Schmid discussed the activity of the EU civilian mission in Armenia and expressed hope that it will contribute to strengthening peace and stability.

Views were exchanged around ongoing processes in the region and other issues of mutual interest.

Yerevan vows readiness to restore peace with Ankara

Jirair Kafian
 TASS 
Russia – Feb 15 2023
Offering his condolences to the families of those killed in the powerful earthquakes in Turkey, Ararat Mirzoyan called for solidarity in addressing the humanitarian crisis

ANKARA, February 15. /TASS/. Yerevan is ready to bring its relations with Ankara back to normal and restore peace between the two countries, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Wednesday following talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Offering his condolences to the families of those killed in the powerful earthquakes in Turkey, Armenia’s top diplomat called for solidarity in addressing the humanitarian crisis. “While visiting Turkey in these trying times, I would like to assure you that we are willing to restore peace in the region and bring our relations with Turkey back to normal for a resumption of diplomatic relations with it,” Mirzoyan said.

In 2009 in Zurich, the foreign ministers of the two states signed protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the principles of mutual relations, but these documents have not been ratified by the parties. On March 1, 2018, Armenia announced the cancellation of the protocols. In 2021, Armenia and Turkey appointed special representatives for the settlement. Work is currently underway between the two countries to normalize bilateral relations.

Visits like Pelosi’s trip to Yerevan only aggravate conflicts — Belarusian top diplomat

Jirair Kafian
 TASS 
Russia – Sept 25 2022


One should not rely on any peacekeepers from outside, Makey says

MINSK, September 25. /TASS/. Visits, such as US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Armenia, can only aggravate conflict, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey said on Sunday, summing up the results of his participation in the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

“Such visits will not pacify these or those conflicts, on the contrary, they will only aggravate them. It is hardly ever appropriate to rely on foreign men and women,” BelTA agency quoted him as saying.

“Visits of such hawks, who are painting themselves as peacekeepers, can bring about no good,” the Belarusian top diplomat said. “Suffice it to recall her (Pelosi’s – TASS) visit to Taiwan, which entailed a dramatic aggravation of the situation in the region.”

“As for the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization, a posy-Soviet Russia-led security bloc – TASS), I am profoundly convinced that we should not rely on any peacekeepers from outside. Those people who visited Yerevan are not interested in our organization’s effective work,” he stressed. “Moreover, they represent an entire camp of countries, which used to be interested in maintaining permanent hotbeds of tension along the borders of the former Soviet Union, and now along the borders of Russia, which is seen by them as a key opponent, nearly a spawn of hell.”.

HPG: Armenia handed over our comrades Hank and Ali Shir to Turkey

Jirair Kafian
Sept 24 2022
People’s Defense Forces (HPG) revealed that Armenia had handed over the fighters Henk and Ali Shir to Turkey, and pointed to the Turkish intelligence’s attempt to show this as a success for it to rehabilitate it.
 KURDISTAN

The Media Center of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) issued today, Saturday; Written statement regarding Armenia’s handover of its fighters Henk and Ali Shir to Turkey.

It was stated in its text:

 “During the month of August 2021, while our comrades Hank and Ali Sher were at the head of their duties near the Armenian border, they encountered the forces of the Armenian state. Our comrades acted with caution and sensitivity to avoid any negative situation, but then our comrades were arrested, cases were opened against them, and they fought legally until on February 23, the Armenian Court of Cassation ruled for their release, and instead of releasing them according to international law and Armenian laws, they were kidnapped by Armenian intelligence.

As a result of the efforts made; The release of our comrades has been pledged; However, a month ago, the Armenian state handed over our comrades Henk and Ali Shir to Turkey.

With this incident; The Armenian state has violated both international laws and its official law as well. Armenia has handed over our two comrades who are two Kurdistan revolutionaries who struggle to defend the existence of their people and achieve freedom and who feel the pain of all oppressed peoples; This is a great shame for the Turkish state. Our two companions fell into the hands of the Turkish state in this way. However, the Turkish state’s private war media showed this incident as a successful operation of the Turkish intelligence service.

In our statement issued on the 14th of this September, we revealed that the two individuals named Khatib and Arya had fallen into the hands of the Iraqi state after they betrayed our movement and were handed over to the Turkish state as a result of interests.

In order for the Turkish intelligence service to rehabilitate it, it presents the capabilities of the Turkish state to the various forces and seeks to achieve some results in front of our movement and presents this matter as a victory for them. It is very clear that these stories of victory are being prepared on the tables with fake and not true scenarios. The people of Kurdistan and Turkey should know these lies of the Turkish intelligence service.”

T/ Satt.

https://hawarnews.com/en/haber/hpg-armenia-handed-over-our-comrades-hank-and-ali-shir-to-turkey-h33015.html

IAEA Director General to visit Armenia

Jirair Kafian

IAEA Director General to visit Armenia

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 13:24,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi and his delegation will arrive in Armenia on October 4-5.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a decision instructing the Foreign Minister and the Head of the State Protocol Service of the Foreign Ministry to prepare the agenda of the visit, ensuring the implementation of the events during the visit of the guests in Armenia.