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Author: Jirair Kafian

Complaints to Armenian HRD’s office over children’s rights increased in 2021

Jirair Kafian
Panorama
Armenia – June 2 2022

The office of Armenia’s human rights defender (HRD) received grants worth 22.9 million drams (about $51,000) in 2021, Ombudsperson Kristine Grigoryan said at budget discussions in the parliament on Thursday.

One of the programs is being implemented with funds allocated by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry to the HRD’s office. The agreement was signed in 2019, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war, it was postponed until 2021, Grigoryan said.

The program is more than 90 percent implemented, she added.

The other program is funded by the UN and is aimed at developing the capacity of the ombudsperson’s office, Grigoryan said, adding the program is over 80% implemented.

Separately, she said that in 2021 the ombudsperson’s staff visited about 200 children, informing them about their rights.

Complaints to the office concerning children’s rights increased by 154 to 904 last year, the defender said.

Meanwhile, complaints from people with disabilities increased by 251. In addition, the HRD’s office hotline received 14,124 calls in 2021, a 20% increase from 2020.

Opposition leader: Pashinyan simply asked Aliyev and his other partners for a ‘timeout’

Jirair Kafian
Panorama
Armenia – May 25 2022

Opposition protesters demanding Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation blocked the Armenian presidential residence in central Yerevan on Wednesday, preventing employees from entering or leaving it.

“They [the authorities] cannot hide behind the police and security officials for a long time,” one of the opposition leaders Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a deputy parliament speaker, told reporters at the protest, responding to the statement of ruling Civil Contract faction MP Vahagn Aleksanyan, who called Tuesday’s blockade of the Armenian Foreign Ministry by opposition demonstrators an act of “hooliganism”.

“Before making such statements, they must realize that their rule is not eternal and each of them will sooner or later answer for their statements and steps,” Saghatelyan said. “They are hooligans themselves, who are consistently leading the country to disaster.”

Asked whether they will return to the parliament if they fail to force Pashinyan from office, Ishkhan Saghatelyan noted: “We will return to the parliament with our own agenda.”

He claims the opposition campaign has disrupted the plans of the Armenian authorities to make concessions to Azerbaijan in the near future.

“The meeting in Brussels is a clear proof of that. I am sure that in parallel with the verbal commitments, which were announced, Nikol simply asked Aliyev and his other colleagues for a timeout given the current situation in Armenia, hoping that the tensions would somehow ease or they would be able to stop the campaign. In this sense, the results achieved by the people are obvious,” Saghatelyan said.

The opposition leader says the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo is evidently in a hurry to capitalize on the advantages gained in the 2020 war in Artsakh.

“They understand that when they lose Nikol Pashinyan’s rule in Armenia, their plans will not be fulfilled,” the opposition figure said.

Saghatelyan stressed the need to step up pressure on the government.

“Obviously, the people have stood up and there is a public demand to oust the treacherous authorities. The task is to attract all our supporters to the rallies and to give new momentum to the morning protests,” he said.

CSTO Defense Ministers discuss challenges, threats to military security during virtual session

Jirair Kafian

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 16:05,

YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS. The session of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers was held today, on May 24, in a video conference mode, chaired by the Defense Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan, the ministry reports.

The CSTO Defense Ministers discussed issues relating to the military security challenges and threats in the collective security regions, as well as the implementation process of the proposals made with the results of the CSTO peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan.

The session participants approved the Plan of joint training of the command bodies and formations of the forces and means of the collective security system of the Collective Security Treaty Organization for 2023, which determines, in particular, the holding of joint trainings with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Forces.

The documents on improving the management of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces), as well as a draft decision of the Collective Security Council on the joint formation of radiation, chemical and biological protection and medical support, which defines the tasks of the formation when deployed on the territory of a CSTO member State and the procedure for equipping it with weapons, military and special equipment were approved.

Summing up the results of the meeting, Chairman of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council Suren Papikyan thanked all the participants for the productive work and said that the next meeting of the Council was to be held in Armenia in the second half of this year, the CSTO said in a news release.

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan, EBRD to ink deals in alternative energy sector

Jirair Kafian
 17 May 2022 15:59 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will sign deals in the alternative energy sector.

The remarks were made by EBRD Head of Azerbaijan Kamola Makhmudova at the EU-Azerbaijan business forum on May 17, Azernews reports citing Trend.

She noted that the bank implemented projects in Azerbaijan in the sphere of green technologies in previous years, ensuring the safety of industrial waste. Makhmudova added that this work was carried out in large cities, and this trend will continue in the future.

“EBRD is involved in other large projects, in particular in the agriculture and transport sectors, and also in the sphere of alternative energy. The bank plans to expand its participation in the sphere of alternative energy,” she said.

Makhmudova also added that it is planned to sign relevant agreements by the end of May as part of the construction of power plants with an installed capacity of 230 mW and 100 mW.

Moreover, she stated that the bank is ready to share its experience with Azerbaijan in the field of boosting control of overpayments.

Stressing that reforms in the banking sector should be aimed at strengthening control of overpayments, she noted that the cooperation of the EBRD with the state structures of Azerbaijan in this direction is an important element.

“We are ready to share our experience with banks and the regulator within these works,” she said.

The EBRD office head also noted that the growth of the Azerbaijani economy and the investment potential of the country creates an opportunity to increase foreign direct investment.

“This is facilitated by the reforms carried out in recent years and the increase in the loan portfolio,” she said.

She noted that the Central Bank of Azerbaijan is carrying out work contributing to the growth of the economy, employment, and the use of preferential mortgages.

“It’s also necessary to note the leading role of the regulator in the field of social security of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

Additionally, she added that the economic zones being created in Azerbaijan, including those in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, also contribute to the growth of foreign direct investments.

Established in 1991, EBRD invests in projects that contribute to the transition to an open market economy, as well as the development of private and business activities.

Earlier, the bank approved a $51 million loan for the construction and subsequent operation of the Garadagh solar power plant, to be built by the UAE’s Masdar in Azerbaijan.

Moreover, on May 12, Azerbaijan and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a loan agreement to finance the “solid waste management” project in Ganja. The project is part of Ganja’s engagement in the EBRD’s Green Cities program and will trigger the development of a Green City Action Plan (GCAP). The €10 million loan will be used to introduce smart waste collection and route optimization systems. New container types, enhancement of the current fleet, and introduction of greener vehicles will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the city’s municipal services.

Azerbaijan has been a member of the EBRD since September 25, 1992. The main strategic directions of the EBRD’s activity in Azerbaijan, are the diversification of the economy, the development of local capital markets, and the support of the green economy. To date, the EBRD has invested over €3.5 billion through 181 projects in the country.

One of the main priorities of EBRD in Azerbaijan is to support the local corporate sector with direct financing. EBRD continues to pursue investments in energy projects, especially where there is a gap to improve efficiency and energy security.

Azerbaijan is the largest recipient of the EBRD funds in the Caucasus, as well as one of the largest recipients of this organization’s funds in the CIS and Eastern Europe.

United States welcomes dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan – State Department

Jirair Kafian

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 12:03,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. The United States remains ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in the normalization of relations, including in its capacity as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, United States Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said at a press briefing.

“We very much welcome the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We remain committed to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region as part of that. We do urge this dialogue to continue and for the parties to intensify their diplomatic engagements to make use of existing mechanisms for direct engagement, and in an effort to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues related to and resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and – to normalize their relations through the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement. We are there to support this process. We remain ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan with these efforts, including in our capacity as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,” Price said when asked by a reporter on the US State Department’s expectations of the current ongoing negotiations process.

Protester dies from cardiac arrest in Yerevan

Jirair Kafian
Panorama
Armenia – May 5 2022

A protester, who was in one of the tents set up by the opposition in Yerevan’s France Square, passed away in hospital where he was taken to on Thursday, YSMU chief of staff Shushan Danielyan said on social media.

“An unidentified man was taken to Heratsi Hospital Complex from one of the tents in France Square with cardiac arrest,” she wrote.

“All necessary resuscitation measures were immediately taken in the hospital, but unfortunately the doctors’ efforts failed and the man was pronounced dead,” Danielyan said.

Azerbaijani press: France confirms OSCE Minsk Group no longer exists

Jirair Kafian
27 April 2022 14:28 (UTC+04:00)
723

By Ayya Lmahamad

With Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War and the liberation of its territories from the Armenian occupation, the OSCE Minsk Group became absolutely useless.

In the early 1990s, Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories and the OSCE Minsk Group was established to resolve the conflict in 1992. However, the organization was not able to do anything to implement the four UN resolutions, which implied the withdrawal of occupying forces from Azerbaijan’s territories.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly declared the futility of the OSCE, which for 30 years has been engaged only in issuing some statements and allegedly expressing concern but doing everything to keep the conflict as frozen as possible.

Immediately after the end of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan declared the end of the Karabakh conflict and expressed its readiness to establish lasting peace in the region. Already then it was obvious that the OSCE Minsk Group has completely failed as the conflict was over. For some time after that, Armenia tried to delay the process. After the Brussels meeting held in April, it became clear that Armenia is ready for peace with Azerbaijan. It is worth recalling that as a result of the meeting, the foreign ministries of both countries were instructed to work on the preparation of a peace agreement between the two countries, as well as to begin the process of delimitation and demarcation of the borders. This means that the OSCE Minsk Group is no longer needed.

President Aliyev regularly stressed this fact and now it has also been confirmed by one of the co-chair countries, France.

On April 26, the French Foreign Ministry website published a statement that Brice Roquefeuil, who holds the position of co-chairman of the group, will visit Baku for an official visit. However, the website indicated his position as France’s ambassador for the EU’s Eastern Partnership. Thus, the French Foreign Ministry also confirmed the worthlessness of the OSCE.

Moreover, the statement says that France welcomes the recent phone conversation between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, as well as their decision to convene a bilateral commission on border issues and to start negotiations on a peace treaty. The statement stresses that France will continue to give its full support to this process.

The OSCE Minsk Group had almost 30 years to resolve the Karabakh conflict, however, the organization has failed in its mission.

It is worth recalling here the recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who said that there is no such institution as the Minsk Group.

“The U.S. and France have suspended their participation in the OSCE Minsk Group. Russia must halt its activities in light of this. As a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Minks Group has suspended its operations. There is no such institution,” he said.

Speaking about the Minsk Group, President Ilham Aliyev has also noted that under the current circumstances, this organization and its co-chairs are virtually non-functional. He said that the OSCE can now play a role as a credible international organization.

And the statement by OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau during his visit to Azerbaijan that he had accepted the new reality in the South Caucasus was in fact the last step in the end for the Minsk Group.

Thus, the promising rise of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the conflict in the South Caucasus ended in a long and painful decline. In contrast to the 30 years of useless activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, the new format created under the mediation of Charles Michel has already produced real results in just two meetings within four months.

Armenia’s economic activity index grows 9,6% in January-March 2022

Jirair Kafian

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 13:39,

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s economic activity index increased 9,6% in January-March 2022 compared to the previous year’s same period, according to official statistics issued by the Statistical Committee.

Industrial output grew 3,1%.

The gross domestic output volume of agriculture dropped 5,4%.

Construction volume grew 6,2%.

Trade turnover increased 7,6%.

Services grew 22,2%.

The consumer price index grew 7,8%.

The industrial price index  grew 11,3%, while electricity production volumes grew 16,7%.

38,5% growth was recorded in the foreign trade turnover volumes (exports grew 26,9% and imports grew 45,6%).

No document on Artsakh’s status being discussed at the moment – President Harutyunyan

Jirair Kafian

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 18:06,

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. An expanded Cabinet meeting took place on April 25 in Artsakh, chaired by President Arayik Harutyunyan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the President of Artsakh, the Head of State presented the military-political situation in the Republic, the latest developments around Artsakh, in particular, in the context of the recent meetings with the participation of the Armenian PM in Moscow and Brussels.  The President stressed that at this stage no document on the status of Artsakh is being discussed and there is a clear agreement with the Armenian PM that in case of any discussion on the future status of Artsakh at the international level, the position of the Armenian side must be agreed with the opinion of the authorities and the people of the Artsakh Republic.

Touching upon the issues related to the cooperation between the two Armenian republics, President Harutyunyan noted that in the post-war period the need for Artsakh to have closer ties with the public administration systems of Armenia and to increase the efficiency of cooperation with the partner agencies of Armenia has increased. In this context, the President instructed the members of the government to take the initiative, emphasizing that steps will be taken at the state level to further strengthen these ties.

Burbank: Armenian Genocide Remembered At City Hall

Jirair Kafian
California –

Dignitaries speak from the heart and eloquently before Laying of Flowers caps the day.

By

 Rick Assad

 –

One hundred and seven years ago today the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians began at the hands of the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) in the Ottoman Empire.

In front of City Hall on a bright, clear Saturday afternoon and before more than a hundred people and several guest speakers that numbered Mayor Jess Talamantes, State Senator Anthony Portantino, State Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, Armenian National Committee of America, Burbank chapter chairman Sarkis Simonian, Board of Education member Steve Ferguson, proclaimed this a Day of Remembrance and concluded with Laying of Flowers to commemorate this horrific atrocity.

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Every speaker was eloquent and powerful, and each reminded the crowd to never forget the past and to honor those who lost their lives.

They also noted that days like this are for the younger members in the throng who need to continue to remember what their parents and grandparents have done to keep their ancestors’ memory alive.

As of this year, 31 countries have recognized those tragic events that took place from 1915 through 1917 as genocide, including this country under President Joe Biden.

“Burbank does have a large Armenian community. We live so close to Glendale. So today means that we are in solidarity with the Armenian community, and we show them support,” Talamantes said. “As far as the genocide, we completely agree with the Armenian community and the nation that there were some atrocities done that shouldn’t have happened. Some people have ignored them or just said it never happened, but we acknowledge that it did happen, and we are in full support of the Armenian community.”

Portantino also stands wholeheartedly behind the Armenian community.

“The Armenian community has been under a threat for more than a century,” he said. “Obviously the genocide was 107 years ago, but even in the late 1880s there were attempts to kill and harm the intelligentsia of the Armenian community in Turkey, so there’s been an assault on the community for over a century.”

Portantino went on: “With the recent activity in Artsakh and the aggression on the border by Azerbaijan and the Turks, it just continues,” he said. “It’s important for us as non-Armenians in California to stand in solidarity with our friends and neighbors from the Armenian-American community and to say we condemn the atrocities that are going on in Armenia and Artsakh and we stand in solidarity and most importantly, with respect for this proud, resilient community.”

Friedman, who represents the 43rd District, spoke about an individual in her speech who denied the Armenian Genocide.

“I found out last Thursday when someone from the Turkish counsel came to oppose the Genocide Resolution that we do every year in the Capitol,” she said. “That there are genocide deniers that are still out there. And when you erase history, you leave the door open for it to repeat.”

Freidman added: “We have to acknowledge that these are atrocities so that the next time they happen, and they do continue to happen, the world can say this is exactly what we don’t want to allow,” she noted. “This is what we have to stop and here’s why: We didn’t stop it over a hundred years ago and millions of people were killed. We didn’t stop it in the 1930s in Germany and nine million were killed. So, we can’t erase and forget history. It teaches and it reminds us.”

(Photo by © Ross A Benson)

Simonian gave his thoughts on the ceremony. “Being an Armenian and my grandparents being survivors of the genocide and everybody here are survivors of the genocide, so it’s really meaningful to us because it reminds us that the thing continues, especially with what happened in Artsakh two years ago,” he pointed out. “How can you forget anything when it’s happening every couple of years?”

Simonian continued: “When Armenians are being killed and ethnically cleansed, so this is a reminder. I would say to people: Imagine what would happen if we were not doing this? If we’re not reminding people about it? How bold they would actually be when nobody is watching them, just calling their shots. It’s not just honoring their memory, but also preventing others in the future,” he said. “We don’t want other people to go through what we went through. The Holocaust happened because nobody said anything about the Armenians. Even [Adolf] Hitler mentioned that. Who remembers the Armenians? Now imagine what’s happening in Ukraine. It’s happening also in Armenia. So, it’s going to happen to every small country when nobody cares about them. So, we don’t want that.”

More photos at the link below: