13:05, 9 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian men’s team defeated Spain in the last round of the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2,5-1,5.
Manuel Petrosyan, Robert Hovhannisyan and Hrant Melkumyan all ended their sessions in draws, with only Gabriel Sargsyan winning.
The final results will be reported after the Uzbek team finishes the game because the Armenian and Uzbek teams have equal ranking.
There are a number of institutional issues related to the Russian peacekeeping operation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), PM Nikol Pashinyan told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
“In particular, in the third point of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, it is clearly stated that there is a contact line in Nagorno Karabakh, along which the Russian peacekeeping forces are deployed. That area is called the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Nagorno-Karabakh. And we expect that any attempt to cross the contact line will be stopped by the Russian peacekeeping troops, and the Azerbaijani units inside the contact line will be withdrawn,” he said.
Speaking about the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyan reiterated that the signatures of Armenia and Russia are sufficient for implementing that mandate in full force.
“And if not, then it is necessary to take measures to establish that mandate internationally, or to endow the peacekeeping mission with a wider international mandate. I don’t want to reveal too many working details now, but these issues have been of our concern since November 2020, we have made efforts to reach concrete solutions, and now these efforts must be doubled and tripled,” he said.
Pashinyan claims no matter how much the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020 is criticized, it envisages important security institutions for Artsakh.
“First, the entity of Nagorno-Karabakh was recorded, which Azerbaijan is still trying to deny, saying that Nagorno Karabakh does not exist. By the way, such statements from Azerbaijan are a gross violation of the trilateral declaration,” he said.
“Second, it was recorded, as I said, that there is a line of contact and thirdly, the Lachin corridor, which ensures the connection of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. In fact, today’s struggle of Azerbaijan is against these three institutions, and it is our expectation that, as stipulated by the trilateral declaration, the Russian peacekeeping force will not give Azerbaijan the opportunity to undermine these three institutions recorded in the trilateral declaration.
“Today, Azerbaijan constantly talks about the Defense Army of Nagorno-Karabakh, why they are stationed along the contact line. If the Russian peacekeeping troops and Azerbaijan guarantee the integrity of the contact line, I think the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army will not have the need to carry out combat duty.
“That necessity arose only after Azerbaijan refused to sign the mandate of the peacekeepers and continuously violates the provisions of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, including the cessation of all military operations, which is the core point of the above-mentioned document. Azerbaijan also continuously speculates about the presence of Armenian armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. I have to officially announce that there are no servicemen of the Republic of Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Pashinyan noted.
14:07, 2 August 2022
YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. Three Azerbaijani de-miners were injured in an anti-personnel landmine blast on August 2 while patrolling in the Fuzuli (Varanda) region, the Azerbaijani APA news agency reports.
One of the victims lost a leg in the explosion, and the two others received various-degree wounds.
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.