“Then the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces fired at the ambulance carrying the wounded serviceman.
As a result of the fire opened by the adversary in the direction of the ambulance, the medical assistant received injuries,” the Ministry of Defense said in a news release.
10:48,
YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The United States has welcomed the reports that Armenia and Azerbaijan are going to continue to engage in discussions and reiterated that peace is within reach and that direct dialogue is key to resolving issues.
“…we continue to provide full support and engagement of the United States as these two countries work to secure a durable and dignified peace. We welcome the reports that the parties are going to continue to engage in these discussions, and we reiterate that – our conviction that peace is within reach and that direct dialogue is key to resolving these issues. Our view is that direct talks between the parties are of utmost importance, and we’re glad to see them happen and take place. Whether they are taking place in Arlington, in Brussels, in Moscow, our support with this effort will continue to endure,” U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing when asked on the upcoming May 19 foreign ministerial talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow.”
Patel declined to “prescribe or hypothesize or speculate” on the possible outcome of the talks. He again stressed that “peace between the countries is possible, and the U.S. continues to welcome and work towards a durable and dignified peace in this case.”
The State Department spokesperson added that the U.S. has found the Washington D.C. foreign ministerial talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan to be “constructive”.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is expected to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart on May 19 in Moscow in Russia-mediated trilateral talks.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Pashinyan is expected to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on May 25 again in Moscow, under the mediation of President Vladimir Putin.
11:37,
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has held a meeting with the new Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha.
Andreasyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and wished her productive work for the benefit of the development of Armenian-Indian friendly relations. The minister expressed conviction that the new ambassador will have her contribution in strengthening and deepening the relations between Armenia and India.
“We have very good experience of cooperation,” Andreasyan said at the meeting, according to a readout. “I am sure that with your appointment this cooperation will deepen in all directions, which is truly very important. We are happy that over 2800 Indian citizens are studying in our universities. I think this number can grow significantly, we will be only happy for the opportunity of developing cooperation between universities,” Andreasyan said.
The Armenian minister proposed to consider the deepening of cooperation in medical education and IT and to discuss exchange programs, as well as joint educational-research initiatives.
Presenting the 2030 Education Development Program of Armenia, Andreasyan pointed out the Academic City project, which ensures new prospects of cooperation in higher education. Cooperation in vocational education was also highlighted given India’s experience.
Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha attached importance to the prospects of deepening and developing relations with Armenia.
She said that deepening the inter-university cooperation is a priority. “In this context we are interested in the Academic City project, in terms of both involving more students and investments,” she said.
Speaking about possible cooperation in sports and youth, Andreasyan proposed to consider exchange programs for athletes and coaches and joint training camps, as well as seminars and joint programs for developing youth tourism. The Armenian minister stressed the importance of programs for developing sports medicine.
Andreasyan attached importance to cooperation in culture. The Indian side’s inquiries on establishing a cultural center in Gyumri, namely a separate museum-gallery, and holding joint exhibitions and festivals were addressed.
Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
16:44,
YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS. On May 17-19, the delegation led by the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, will participate in the session of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the parliament of Armenia, Vice President of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan, MP from the opposition “Armenia” faction Gegham Manukyan, ruling “Civil Contract” faction MP Hovik Aghazaryan, other members of the National Assembly staff will go to the capital of Belarus as part of the delegation.
12:28,
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan has said that the Armenian-Azerbaijani foreign ministerial talks were a “productive” phase in terms of approximating the stances around a possible peace treaty.
Speaking at a press briefing on May 12, Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS that there are a number of issues that have yet to be discussed during the upcoming May 14 Brussels summit.
PM Nikol Pashinyan said on May 11 that Azerbaijan sought to nullify the progress in the Washington talks with its latest aggression.
Asked what progress the prime minister was referring to, Hovhannisyan said the progress pertains to the sides having a better understanding on each other’s stances.
“This was done. The American side did everything possible to create a positive atmosphere. It was truly a productive phase for bringing closer the positions around a possible peace treaty. Of course, there are a number of highly important issues that have yet to be discussed, and that’s why the highest-level meeting is being organized in Brussels, which will be followed by the foreign ministerial meeting in Moscow, and there will be other meetings as well,” Hovhannisyan said.
Speaking about the Azeri military attack on Armenian positions in Sotk on May 11, Hovhannisyan said that Azerbaijan has been behaving in this manner ever since the 1990s.
“I’ve been serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1995, and I can’t recall a single phase of negotiations without such provocations taking place either before or after the meetings,” he said.
Sarigyugh, Armenia (Photo: Varak Ghazarian)
Dear Armenia,
I am grateful. Every day I wake up and think how grateful I am to be living in Armenia. To be living in Armenia during a crucial time of Armenian history. To be living on the land where my ancestors have lived for thousands of years. To be living on a land full of centuries-old culture. To be able to learn the songs and dances that my predecessors sang and danced to. To be able to explore the land rich in holy mountains, endless valleys, dense forests, constantly flowing water, ancient churches and prehistoric ruins. To be able to speak and hear a nearly two-millennia-old language. To be able to affect change through my everyday life.
A profound sense of meaning entered my life due to the 2020 Artsakh War. I understood that I needed to be in my homeland. I understood that Armenia’s livelihood was severely threatened. After two years of struggle, I count my homeland as an everyday blessing. I was fighting against myself and everything around me. I have now found peace within myself and my current situation, even if Armenia’s situation has continued to get more and more grim. I view every day as an attempt to create a stronger and better Armenia through my everyday actions and perspectives. I hope to inspire a new generation that will help bring about positive change and a sense of belonging to their homeland.
In a world where patriotism is condemned and punished, here I stand as a “patriot” of Armenia. I do not believe that love for your country will necessarily breed nationalistic ideas and hatred toward other nations. I believe this patriotism within me stands for not just the development and survival of Armenia, but for upholding global democratic values. To be able to fight for democracy against dictatorial regimes and struggle for the betterment of human society. For peace to come for Armenia, the people must not continue to breed hatred for one another. Each side, starting with Turkey, must recognize its past mistakes and repent for the atrocities they have committed. Not only forgiveness, but also restitution for what was lost during such atrocities because a simple “sorry” does not undo such horrible wrongdoings. Only then will we be able to move forward in a positive light. The people on both sides must be rid of the hatred within their countries and breed a new generation of understanding and forgiveness that will bring about innovative solutions to the current conflict.
With Love,
A Concerned Armenian
May 8, 2023
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold talks in Brussels on Sunday, the European Union said, amid efforts to reach a peace deal over their three-decade territorial dispute.
European Council president Charles Michel will host Armenia’s Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev as part of the push “to promote stability in the South Caucasus and normalisation between the two countries”, a statement said Monday.
del/imm
14:06,
YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna visited the Yerablur Pantheon military cemetery in Yerevan, Armenia on April 28.
Colonna placed a wreath at the monument commemorating Armenian fallen troops in the Nagorno Karabakh wars.
[see video]
Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan accompanied the French Foreign Minister during the visit.
12:36,
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. United States President Joe Biden could announce his bid for a second term as early as next week, according to US media reports.
According to reports in outlets including The Washington Post and CNN, citing unnamed sources, Biden is set to launch his re-election campaign with a video release.
The Post reported that this could be on Tuesday, the anniversary of the day in 2019 when Biden joined the race to take on then incumbent Donald Trump in 2020. However, the report underlined that the plans were not finalized and could be postponed.
Already the oldest US president in history at 80, Biden would be 86 by the time he completed a second term. The current frontrunner for the Republicans is Donald Trump.
Armenian refugee woman and child receiving food relief, American Committee for Relief in the Near East (Wikimedia Commons)
Cracked wheat,
Ground beef,
Onions, peppers, tomatoes.
Food from the old country.
Food of my people.
Farmers, merchants, textile artists
Fight oppression for 1,500 years.
Forced out in 1915
Bringing the food with them.
Growing up in the Depression
They still found ways
To preserve our heritage
Through church,
And through food.
Now that we are
Under attack again
I try to continue
To keep attached
To my roots
So I can say
With pride
“I am Armenian”