18:06, 3 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. On August 3 the President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree, announcing a partial military mobilization from August 3, 2022, ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh.
Provocations by the Azerbaijani side are being undertaken to implement the November 9 document, Colonel General Movses Hakobyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.
Movses Hakobyan noted that talks fail to resolve the issue, so the enemy resorts to provocations.
“We understand how bad the November 9 document is, so Azerbaijan takes such steps. At the moment the situation is not tense, but not calm either,” General Hakobyan said.
18:58, 1 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried on August 1. ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs that during the telephone conversation, the sides exchanged ideas regarding the existing security environment in the region.
Issues related to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were discussed.
Referring to the solution of the humanitarian problems that arose as a result of the 44-day war, the parties emphasized the need for the speedy release of Armenian prisoners of war and other detained persons.
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has emphasized the importance of recent U.S. House passage of Amendment #121 to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.7900), reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The measure calls for a report by the State Department and Defense Department that would detail the use of U.S. parts in Turkish drones used by Azerbaijan against Armenia and Artsakh; Azerbaijan’s use of white phosphorous, cluster bombs and other prohibited munitions deployed against Artsakh; Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters during the 2020 Artsakh war.
“Over the course of 44 days starting in September 2020, Azerbaijan perpetrated a horrific war and humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, killing thousands of Armenians and forcing thousands more to flee their ancestral homelands. And to this day, Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain Armenian soldiers who have been subject to torture. Azerbaijan also threatens thousands of innocent civilians who live in fear of another attack and invasion. It is of the utmost urgency that we understand the full extent to which Azerbaijan has violated international law so that we can hold the Aliyev regime to account, and send a strong message that America will not stand by as Azerbaijan continues its belligerency against the Armenian people,” said Congressman Schiff.
Joining Representatives Cardenas, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) as Congressional cosponsors of the bipartisan amendment include Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Andy Levin (D-MI), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and David Valadao (R-CA).
An Armenian orphanage, publicly known as “Kamp Armen,” in Istanbul’s Tuzla district, which was demolished on April 8 to prepare for the construction of a new building, have been chosen to be rebuilt in October, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
A dormitory where 100 young people could stay, cultural center, foyer, library, auditorium and multi-purpose halls will be built on the land belonging to the Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church and School Foundation.
The orphanage was built in 1962 by the Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church, as a former building on the site could not host the increasing number of Armenian students arriving from various parts of Anatolia.
During the summer of 1962 and afterwards, Armenian orphans, between the ages of eight and 12, worked on the construction of the buildings at the camp.
Known as the orphanage where Hrank Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist who was murdered in 2007, and his wife, Rakel Dink, met, studied and grew up, the orphanage was expropriated by authorities in 1987 on the basis of a 1936 bill preventing minority foundations from acquiring property.
Although the Turkish government signed a decree in 2011 to return property taken away from minority foundations in the past, the orphanage was left out of its scope.
The building changed hands several times before being bought by Fatih Ulusoy, who had decided to demolish it to make room for new buildings in 2015.
The controversial plan was later shelved as Ulusoy donated it to the Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church and School Foundation after a group of activists protested the demolition in front of construction vehicles, drawing public attention to the orphanage.
The protesters, who had held a vigil for 19 days, said on May 27, 2015, that they will resume camping in the area until the day the license for the buildings is given to the foundation.
20:57,
YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. Lasting peace in the South Caucasus region can only be established as a result of comprehensive solutions, which requires real and sincere efforts from both sides, ARMENPRESS reports after the meetings held in the National Assembly of Armenia, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAlister said, whose delegation is in Yerevan on a regional visit.
“Discussions with our Armenian partners were very useful to better understand the concerns that Armenia has in the current situation regarding security and humanitarian issues. It is very clear that lasting peace can be achieved through comprehensive solutions. This requires real and sincere efforts from both sides. These efforts should be based on the political will and commitment to implement the agreements reached to date. Our visit is a very clear indication of the importance that we, as the European Union, attach to the entire South Caucasus,” McAlister stated.
In this context, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament emphasized the active mediation efforts of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in the negotiations between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Within the framework of this initiative, Prime Minister Pashinyan met with the President of Azerbaijan Aliyev in Brussels in April and May,” McAlister reminded, adding: “We hope that the contribution of the European Union will be useful in solving long-standing problems and paving the way for the establishment of lasting peace.”
David McAllister reminded that the European Parliament has expressed its view on the issue with several resolutions adopted. In particular, in May, 2021 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Armenian prisoners of war, demanding Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians without any preconditions. And on March 10, 2022, adopted a resolution condemning the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, under the title “Destruction of the cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh”.
The delegation led by the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, came to Armenia on a regional visit. In Yerevan, the 6 members of the delegation had meetings with the Prime Minister, the President and Vice President of the Parliament, and the Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the representatives of all three political parties represented in the National Assembly. Before that, the delegation was in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Former MP Artur Ghazinyan, who represented the opposition Hayastan alliance, urged the Armenian public to “get serious” amid security challenges facing the country.
“The security and territorial integrity of Artsakh and Armenia have been violated, the enemy has seized a part of our homeland, killed thousands of soldiers and now has its eye on Syunik,” he wrote on Facebook.
“But what are we doing? The whole nation is discussing the erection of a statue of Jesus Christ atop Mount Hatis.
“We’re in a difficult position, but we’re not getting any more serious,” Ghazinyan said.
The European Union supports the “bilateral decision” of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, to hold their inaugural meeting in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, said on Saturday.
In his tweet, Klaar highlighted his “excellent” meeting with Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.
The meeting between Bayramov and Mirzoyan comes amid the Georgian Government’s Peaceful Neighbourhood Initiative for the South Caucasus, a platform for facilitating talks between the regional states.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili also held meetings with the Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers earlier today.
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17:18,
YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Russia’s Minister of Transport Vitaly Saveliev and his delegation, the PM’s Office said.
During the meeting Prime Minister Pashinyan praised the intensity in the Armenian-Russian relations in the person of regular official visits which highlight the unique nature of the bilateral ties. Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to the cooperation in all directions, including in the field of transport, and also highly valued the efforts and operational response of the Russian side in solving emerging crisis situations in the Upper Lars border checkpoint.
The Russian minister conveyed the warm greetings of Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin to the Armenian PM and assessed the work with the Armenian partner agencies effective. He said that Russia is interested in developing the friendly, brotherly partnership and mutually beneficial programs with Armenia.
Views were exchanged also around the cooperation in transportation and logistics fields. The sides touched upon the aviation and road communication, public transport infrastructure, both sides highlighted exchange of experience and active inter-agency work in these directions. It was stated that the development of transportation communication will contribute to the increase in bilateral passenger and cargo transportations, will boost economic contacts and tourism ties.
PM Pashinyan asked to convey his greetings to Mikhail Mishustin.
17:49,
YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia signed a decree on concurrently appointing Hovhannes Igityan as Armenia’s Ambassador to Estonia, the Presidential Office said.
Hovhannes Igityan is also Armenia’s Ambassador to Lithuania.
The President signed the relevant decree based on the proposal of the Prime Minister.