Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Armenia – Azerbaijan: EU deplores fatal incident on Karabakh line of contact

Kalantarian Kevo
March 7 2023

The EU deplores the outbreak of violence on the Karabakh Line of Contact, which led to at least five deaths on 5 March.

The circumstances of the fatal incident should be fully investigated, said Peter Stano, the EU’s lead spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy, in a statement.

“We urge all stakeholders to show restraint in order to prevent any further actions which could further undermine regional stability and threaten the peace process,” says Peter Stano.

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Press release

Russia guided by “do no harm” principle in South Caucasus – FM Lavrov

Kalantarian Kevo

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 15:19,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Russia is guided by the “do no harm” principle in the South Caucasus, but not all players in the region share this approach, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

“We are guided by the principle that can be described as “do no harm”, and above all the principle of contributing to resolving all emerging problems, which will first of all be based on the principled agreements of the three leaders within the framework of their four statements,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying at a joint press conference with his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The other principle, according to Lavrov, is to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of the region based on mutual respect. “Not all players are guided by the same principles, especially those who are far from South Caucasus,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also commented on the EU civilian mission in Armenia. According to him, the mission “raises many questions in terms of legitimacy.”

“We see how the EU is explicitly abusing its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, including by advancing its so-called mission in the territory of Armenia, which raises serious doubts in terms of legitimacy,” Lavrov said.

The mission “raises numerous questions”, according to the Russian FM, including “in terms of its functions, mandate and the added value that it can bring to the efforts aimed at the normalization of the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

“But it is the sovereign choice of the parties with whom to cooperate and with whom not,” FM Lavrov added.

Armenian National Committee of America Endorses Portantino For Congress

Kalantarian Kevo
PASADENA NOW
Feb 21 2023
STAFF REPORT

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) today announced its endorsement of Senator Anthony Portantino for the 30th Congressional District of California.

California’s 30th Congressional District is home to the largest concentration of Armenian-American constituents anywhere in the United State. The district includes part of Pasadena and the communities of Glendale, Burbank, the Foothills, and Little Armenia.

“Senator Portantino’s commitment to the Armenian-American Community is manifest in his unrelenting advocacy for Armenian issues,” said ANCA-WR Board Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

“Senator Portantino has worked closely with the ANCA-WR for many years both as a State Assemblymember and then as State Senator, and we look forward to continuing our close partnership with him in Congress. We are confident that he will be the leading voice for Armenian-Americans in the United States Congress as he follows in the footsteps and example set by Congressman Adam Schiff. While we typically do not issue endorsements this early in a campaign, we make exceptions for candidates who have proven themselves to be champions of our Cause and leaders on our issues, as Senator Portantino most certainly has over a period of many years. We are therefore proud to stand with him from this early stage of the campaign.”

The ANCA – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.

In 2018, Portantino and other state and local leaders visited Armenia as part of an ANCA-WR-led delegation focused on deepening economic ties between California and Armenia.

As the chair of the senate appropriations committee, Portantino has supported various Armenian-American institutions like the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian-American Museum, which was allocated $10 million in Governor Newsom’s budget.

During his time as chair of the senate budget subcommittee on Education from 2018-2019, Senator Portantino successfully allocated $500,000 to California’s state budget to fund curricula on the Armenian Genocide.

In 2021, the Senator introduced legislation ensuring that California taxpayers no longer fund the Turkish Government and its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Senate Bill 457, introduced by Senators Anthony Portantino and Scott Wilk, allowed local agencies to divest from Turkey. The bill passed in the California Senate with overwhelming support.

More recently, Portantino and 21 other legislators from California’s Senate and Assembly authored a letter to President Biden regarding Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Artsakh. The letter calls upon the Biden Administration:
• To condemn and call for the unconditional lifting of the blockade by Azerbaijan;
• To allocate humanitarian assistance to Artsakh;
• To halt all U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act;
• To sanction the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Act for violating International Humanitarian Law; and
• To introduce a resolution in the United Nations to establish a mission in Artsakh to ensure regional peace and security.

“I am extremely honored to receive the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. I have many long-standing friendships with ANCA members and grassroots activists, and I have been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my friends for human rights, Genocide recognition, condemning the violent Azeri attacks on Arstakh and supporting increased trade and cooperation between California and Armenia. I can think of no better way to begin my campaign to succeed Adam Schiff than with the support of the ANCA.

From my youth, I remember my mother speaking about Armenian orphans in the wake of the Genocide, and I was pleased to have developed friendships in California where I can utilize my mother’s lessons to make a positive difference for a vibrant community. I have been to Armenia and Artsakh four times, and I look forward to my continued support of Armenian American causes and greater community in Congress,” said Portantino.

Armenia: EU-funded Artbox Entrepreneur accelerator programme starts its activities

Kalantarian Kevo
Feb 23 2023

On 21 February, the Artbox Entrepreneur accelerator programme was officially launched in Armenia, with 24 newly-selected participants.

During the eight-week career acceleration programme, a new generation of creative entrepreneurs will meet and work with leading mentors to develop their creative careers.

“Culture, creativity, and enterprise are interconnected and essential components of a thriving society that fosters innovation, economic growth, and social progress. The EU wishes all creators good luck and inspiration on their new journey,” says the EU Delegation to Armenia in a Facebook post.

Artbox is developed by Creative Armenia, funded by the European Union in Armenia and launched in partnership with AGBU Armenia within the framework of the KATAPULT Creative Accelerator Programme. 

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Press release

Prosecutor General of Artsakh resigns

Kalantarian Kevo

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 18:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. On February 24, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Artsakh, Gurgen Nersisyan, submitted his resignation, ARMENPRESS reports, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Artur Tovmasyan said.

According to the legislation of Artsakh, in the event of resignation, the powers of the Prosecutor General cease, if the Prosecutor General submits another resignation within one week after the submission of the resignation application.

Earlier, the President of Artsakh proposed the Prosecutor General Gurgen Nersisyan to take over the duties of the State Minister.

CivilNet: Armenia greenlights long-stalled gold mine operations

Kalantarian Kevo
CIVILNET.AM

22 Feb, 2023 10:02

  • The Armenian government signed an agreement with the mining company Lydian Armenia to greenlight operations at the long-stalled, controversial Amulsar gold mine.
  • Armenia rejected an Azerbaijani proposal to install checkpoints along the sole road connecting Armenia and Karabakh.
  • Russian peacekeepers confirmed that a ceasefire violation took place in northern Karabakh yesterday, but did not lay responsibility on either side.
  • An official at Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned a European Union diplomat that the EU’s newly deployed civilian mission to Armenia “does not contribute to real stabilization” in the region.

Credits: Ruptly


ICRC facilitates transfer of patients from blockaded Artsakh

Kalantarian Kevo

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 12:09,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 8 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology and pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions have been transported today, on February 21, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Ministry of Health of Artsakh said in a press release.

5 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh.

5 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of the Arevik medical centre.

7 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 3 of them in critical condition.

A total of 113 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

MSC2023: Armenian Foreign Minister meets with USAID Assistant Administrator

Kalantarian Kevo

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 15:50,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. On February 18, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Erin Elizabeth McKee, the Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for Europe and Eurasia within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

During the meeting, the programs implemented by USAID in Armenia and the prospects of further cooperation were discussed, the foreign ministry said in a read-out.

Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized the role of the U.S. and especially USAID in institutional capacity building in Armenia and providing support to democratic reforms of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. 

Issues on regional security and stability were also touched upon.

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the humanitarian challenges faced by 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. In this context, the imperative of the unimpeded humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh for relevant international organizations was stressed.

Paul Fletcher MP Calls on the Australian Gov’t to support Armenia & Artsakh against Azerbaijani aggression

Kalantarian Kevo
Feb 17 2023
Friday,

CANBERRA: On Tuesday, 14th February 2023, the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP became the third Federal Australian politician to rise in the first parliamentary sitting fortnight of 2023 to speak out against Azerbaijan’s illegal aggressive tactics against the people of Artsakh and Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Member for Bradfield, who was Australia’s Communications Minister in the previous parliamentary term, utilised a 90-second Private Members Statement to highlight Azerbaijan’s “new wave of aggression, cutting off the only land link between Artsakh and Armenia in an attempt to subjugate the civilian population to a new form of psychological terror”.

The Vice-Chair of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union (Friendship Group) thanked the Armenian National Committee of Australia and the broader Armenian-Australian community living in and around his electorate of Bradfield, who have highlighted the need for safety for the Armenian people on this issue.

Fletcher, who was the first Federal Australian Member of Parliament to speak up for the rights of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh in the House of Representatives in 2010, directly called on the Australian Government to “speak up clearly in expressing the principle of the sovereignty of borders, and in raising our clear concerns as a nation about the conflict in Artsakh and the aggression demonstrated by the nation of Azerbaijan”.

The current Manager for Opposition Business and Shadow Minister for Government Services and Digital Economy also delivered a powerful message in September 2022 condemning Azerbaijan’s invasion of the sovereign borders of the Republic of Armenia, and published a statement in late December 2022 on his website over concerns over Azerbaijan’s blockade against Artsakh.

Fletcher, who received the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Freedom Award in 2021, has demonstrated an unflinching commitment to advocate for issues of concern to his Armenian constituents and the broader Armenian-Australian community.

“Mr Paul Fletcher is currently one of the longest-standing champions of the Armenian cause in our Federal Parliament, and we are honoured to have him by our side and be our community’s voice,” said ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian.

“Mr Fletcher has always stood up for what is just and right, no matter the heights he has risen to in Australian politics. He takes a principled stance and does not shy away from voicing the truth to power,” added Kolokossian.

Over the last two weeks, statements have been delivered by Senator for Victoria, Janet Rice and the Member for Bennelong and Chair of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union, Jerome Laxale MP.

https://www.anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/Paul-Fletcher-MP-Calls-on-the-Australian-Government-to-Support-Armenia-and-Artsakh-Against-Azerbaijani-Aggression

Presidential advisor: Karabakh is so sensitive now that I don’t think anything can be provoked or happen from outside

Kalantarian Kevo
News.am
Armenia – Feb 17 2023
Presidential advisor: Karabakh is so sensitive now that I don’t think anything can be provoked or happen from outside
17:57, 17.02.2023

Constitutional amendments are a vital necessity in Artsakh. David Babayan, Advisor to the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“If we do not make these amendments, our state may face a disaster. Choosing the time is another issue; here we have to make a very deep analysis, show a wise approach. Suddenly any sensitivity, settling some issues hurriedly can also lead to disaster. That’s why we need to think carefully. Perhaps as a result of the discussions it will be found that it should be postponed for some time; but that this provision should be changed, in my opinion, this cannot be doubted in any way,” he said.

Regarding the remark that there are rumors that there are intra-governmental disagreements in Artsakh, and that it is also stated in a direct text from Artsakh that this is instigated by Armenia’s authorities, Babayan said. “Reforms cannot be instigated by anyone in any way. We are really in a difficult situation. It turned out that as a result of the constitutional reforms of 2017, we have the new Constitution, which is generally good, not bad; but the institute of the President and the National Assembly have become Siamese twins. According to the Constitution, if something happens to the president, the National Assembly must be dissolved after 45 days. Now will we be able to make an election or not? How will it be? After the dissolution of the National Assembly, the state system of Artsakh is generally delegitimized. What does it matter who is instigating? No one is instigating; this is vital. It is necessary to do everything to preserve the legitimacy of Artsakh in the political sense as well, to preserve the power structure, the pyramid as well.”

According to David Babayan, if it is possible to implement the constitutional amendments and a referendum will take place in Artsakh, the presidential institute and the National Assembly will be separated from each other.

Regarding the rumors that Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan wants to have his desired power in Artsakh, Babayan emphasized: “Artsakh is so sensitive now that I don’t think that anything can happen from outside or whether it is appropriate for someone from outside to interfere. You know there is an unwritten law: Artsakh does not interfere in the internal political life of Armenia, and neither does Armenia in Artsakh. It does not mean that we are indifferent to each other. Elections were held in 2021; this is the people’s election. I do not accept the approach that the people do not make mistakes. No. The biggest mistake is made by the people; but this is a different issue. We have a government system and no one has the right to undermine it. The government system, the pyramid can be changed only in a civilized way, through normal elections.”

And asked whether he saw an unhealthy atmosphere within the governmental arena, David Babayan answered. “Depends on what we mean by saying ‘unhealthy.’ The fact that there should be competition in the government, in society in general, is unequivocal. What is unhealthy is when people try to abuse their authority, when they try to take illegal steps. Such manifestations should be directly suppressed; whoever he may be. In this difficult situation, no one has the right to make Artsakh an object of their own ambitions or a springboard for resolving other issues. This is unacceptable by anyone.”