Author: Kanayan Tamar

House Approves Funding for Artsakh De-Mining

Kanayan Tamar
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11 hours ago

ANCA Backed Life-Saving Measure Overwhelmingly Adopted by Legislators

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House today adopted an amendment by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) backing continued Congressional appropriations for the HALO Trust’s life-saving de-mining across the interior farmlands and villages of the Artsakh Republic.  The decisive move was welcomed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which spearheaded the launch of Artsakh aid in the 1990s and has, over the past two decades, secured tens of millions of dollars in life-saving U.S. assistance to the independent republic.

The Valadao Amendment was approved by voice vote, as part of the FY 2018 foreign aid appropriation, which, in turn, is part of a broader spending measure (H.R. 3354), which will be voted on as early as Friday, September 8th.  Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), who serves as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, was joined in supporting this bipartisan measure by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff (D-CA), and his fellow Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jackie Speier (D-CA).  Rep. Valadao introduced his measure on the House floor, as part of an en bloc series of amendments, and spoke passionately in support of its adoption.

“Progress for Artsakh. The Valadao Amendment’s overwhelming adoption by the full U.S. House of Representatives powerfully affirms, over Aliyev’s relentless opposition, America’s enduring support for Artsakh’s safety and security,” said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian.  “We join with friends from Fresno, across America, and from as far away as Artsakh in thanking Congressman Valadao and all his colleagues for his leadership in the victory of this pro-peace, life-saving legislation.”

Immediately following his amendment’s passage, Rep. Valadao shared with the ANCA that: “It is a grave reality that families in Nagorno Karabakh live under the very real threat of landmine accidents each and every day. However, with the funding secured in my amendment today, I am optimistic significant strides will be made to ensure the region is landmine free by 2020, restoring these communities so they may live without fear of mine-related accidents.”

Following passage of his amendment, Rep. Valadao told the ANCA that “with the funding secured in my amendment today, I am optimistic significant strides will be made to ensure the region is landmine free by 2020″

Rep. Pallone concurred, noting that “I was proud to work with my colleagues to extend aid to Nagorno Karabakh.  U.S. aid especially towards demining efforts in Nagorno Karabakh has helped the HALO Trust to clear mines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war since 2000. This aid will help HALO Trust to complete this important work by their 2020 deadline and I will continue to work to support efforts relating to Nagorno Karabakh in the future.”

Rep. Speier thanked her colleagues for “providing critically needed funding for the ongoing effort to remove deadly landmines from Artsakh. Given the danger posed to the people of this Republic – an area that suffers the highest per capita incidence of landmine accidents in the world, with a third of these casualties involving children – this modest $1.5 million amendment is destined to have a major impact on the physical and mental health of the people of Artsakh. It is also shows our government’s strong and abiding commitment to securing peace and prosperity for Artsakh, which has achieved great progress and has an even brighter future on its horizon.

ANCA Chair Raffi Hamparian, National Board member Aida Dimejian and ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian discussing efforts to expand US aid to Artsakh and Armenia with House Appropriations Committee member David Valadao (R-Calif.).

The Valadao Amendment represents the first time in four years that the full U.S. House has gone on record affirming its official support for the Artsakh assistance program.  The Senate has traditionally been more consistent in its support in this area.  The Executive Branch is responsive to Congressional intent, as reflected in legislative and report language, particularly on appropriation priorities.

Thanks to the efforts of the ANCA and the leadership of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), former Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone and former Republican Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and many others – the U.S. has provided millions in funding to The HALO Trust, which has successfully demined approximately 97% of Artsakh. Over the last 16 years, the HALO Trust has destroyed over 8,733 anti-personnel mines, 2,584 anti-tank landmines, 180,858 small arms ammunition, 12,423 cluster bombs and 48,572 other explosive items.

The HALO Trust’s infographic shows the incredible progress made toward a mine-free Artsakh by 2020

The ANCA’s efforts to secure direct U.S. assistance to Artsakh date back to May of 1997, when Congressman Brad Sherman first offered an authorization amendment, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to the Foreign Policy Reform Act, to authorize direct U.S. funding for Artsakh. This effort lead to subsequent support, later that same year, by appropriators, notably then-senior Congressman Joe Knollenberg of Michigan, who successfully worked to ensure that the House Appropriations Committee approved a Foreign Aid bill (Public Law 105-118) that ultimately led to the allocation of an initial $12 million FY 1998 allocation for Artsakh.

Senate Appropriations Committee Calls for Continued Aid to Artsakh and Armenia; Slams Turkey and Azerbaijan For Human Rights Abuses

Parallel to House passage of H.R. 3354, the Senate Appropriations Committee today adopted its version of the FY 2018 foreign aid calling for continued assistance to Artsakh at current levels and allocating assistance to Armenia as follows: $17.633 million in economic assistance, $1.5 million for battling narcotics trafficking, $600,000 in for international military education and training and $1 million in foreign military financing.  The Senate maintained parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted three ANCA-backed amendments including one, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Committee Vice-Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) opposing the use of US funds to facilitate the sale of arms to Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail; as second amendment by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) denying U.S. visas to Turkish officials involved in the unlawful imprisonment of U.S. citizens; and, the third by Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) denying U.S. visas to Azerbaijani government officials connected to the improper jailing of the editor of the independent Turan News Agency.

Additional coverage of the Senate’s fiscal year 2018 foreign aid bill will follow.

Canadian MPs Visited Talish Village in Artsakh

Kanayan Tamar 
Lragir, Armenia
Sept 4 2017
 Canadian MPs Visited Talish Village in Artsakh
Lragir.am
Politics - , 17:32
Members of the Canadian parliament Tony Clement and Rachel Harder, the
executive director of One Free World International Mejed el Shafee and
the representative of the Armenian National Committee of Canada Sevak
Pelean, as well as the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Republic Ruben
Melikyan visited the village of Talish in Artsakh, the HRD’s office
informed.
The Canadian delegation observed the facts of atrocities of the
Azerbaijani armed forces during the April war in 2016 which have been
recorded in the result of the fact-finding mission of the Ombudsman’s
office of Artsakh.

Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov to face Cuban boxer at World Boxing Championships

Kanayan Tamar
  • 12:46 | August 30,2017 | Sports
  • Armenian:
  • Rus

The World Boxing Championships continue in Hamburg, with the semi-final games scheduled for August 31.

To reach the finals, Hovhannes Bachkov (64kg), the only representative of the Armenian national team to remain in the championships, will face Andy Cruz Gómez of Cuba.

After his victory in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, Bachkov has ensured at least bronze at the World Championships.

The semi-final games start at 8.00 p.m. Yerevan time, the National Olympic Committee of Armenia reports.

Bachkov won gold at the last European Championships.

BAKU: Azerbaijan says Amnesty Press correspondent’s visit to Karabakh illegal

Kanayan Tamar
APA, Azerbaijan
Aug 29 2017

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Amnesty Press correspondent Izabella Rosengren’s visit to Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by Armenia is illegal, Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told APA on Tuesday.

 

On August 15, Amnesty Press, the publication of Amnesty International, published an article on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Amnesty Press correspondent Izabella Rosengren also paid an illegal visit to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

 

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has received no appeal regarding [Rosengren’s visit], Hajiyev said, stressing that this article is biased and promotes the consequences of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.  

 

“Despite the fact that during the coverage of conflicts the objective media principles require taking into account the stances of both sides, unilateral propaganda was conducted in this article. This indicates that this article is custom-made,” added the spokesman.   

 

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is currently investigating the Amnesty Press correspondent’s visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, and her name can be added to the list of undesirable people.

 

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict entered its modern phase when the Armenian SRR made territorial claims against the Azerbaijani SSR in 1988.

 

A fierce war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As a result of the war, Armenian armed forces occupied some 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory which includes Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts (Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli and Zangilan), and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced people.

 

The military operations finally came to an end when Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in Bishkek in 1994.

 

Dealing with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created after the meeting of the CSCE (OSCE after the Budapest summit held in December 1994) Ministerial Council in Helsinki on 24 March 1992. The Group’s members include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Finland and Sweden.

 

Besides, the OSCE Minsk Group has a co-chairmanship institution, comprised of Russian, the US and French co-chairs, which began operating in 1996.  

 

Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 of the UN Security Council, which were passed in short intervals in 1993, and other resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, PACE, OSCE, OIC, and other organizations require Armenia to unconditionally withdraw its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan is hot on the heels of a Philippe Coutinho record – and Man United fans are loving it

Kanayan Tamar
The Mirror, UK
Monday 4:34 PM GMT


Henrikh Mkhitaryan is hot on the heels of a Philippe Coutinho record – and Man United fans are loving it
The Armenian has started the season in sensational form, making four goals in just two games

By Jake Polden

Manchester United fans have a lot to be happy about at the moment.

They’ve bought some brilliant players this summer – £75million forward Romelu Lukaku and £40million Nemanja Matic top this pile.

And the entire team has hit the ground running, recording two sensational 4-0 results against West Ham on the opening day of the season and Swansea the following week.

Stand out performers have been Lukaku, who just cannot stop scoring, Paul Pogba, who looks rejuvenated with Matic standing next to him, Anthony Martial, who has bagged goals and assists as a cameo player, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Armenian is widely considered to be one of United’s most creative outlets, and so far this season has demonstrated this to be 100 per cent accurate.

Against West Ham he recorded two assists, and then in the win over Swansea he recorded two more, meaning he has set up a total of four goals so far this season – three more than he managed during the entire 2016/17 campaign.

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho – the Reds’ prized possession who has been the subject of some serious Barcelona interest of late – is yet to feature in the Premier League this season.

But his record amount of assists, which he managed last season, is seven, meaning after just two games, Mkhitaryan is only three behind matching it.

And well, United fans haven’t shied away from boasting about the fact that there man is almost certainly going to eclipse Coutinho’s record.

BAKU: Armenia trying to find new centers of power in West – Russian expert

Kanayan Tamar
Trend, Azerbaijan

Aug 22 2017
20:30 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 22

By Seba Aghayeva – Trend:

Armenia’s rapprochement with the European Union and NATO is a political line of Yerevan, which believes that Russia, as a major mediator in the negotiations process over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement, as well as the country’s main partner in the economic and political context, is, at present, unable to defend the interests of either Armenia or the Armenian people, Nikita Isayev, political analyst, leader of the New Russia public and political movement, told Trend, Aug. 22.

“The rapprochement of Armenia with the EU and the Western countries in general has long stopped to be a news or viewed as something surprising,” he said. “In addition, this rapprochement in economic and political context has progressed far enough, just like the military cooperation between Armenia and NATO, which is considered as priority for Yerevan. Thus, Armenia, to protect its economic and political interests, as well as to reorganize its political and economic system, is looking for the new centers of power, like Brussels.”

All negotiations processes of Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, including the country’s participation in multinational drills under the auspices of the Alliance in early August 2017 in Georgia, together with the overt geopolitical and military opponents of Russia, show that Armenia is looking for support in the Alliance, said Isayev.

According to the expert, this way will most likely pass quite calmly, without internal shocks, as it was in Ukraine. That’s because obvious pro-Russian sentiments in Armenia are not enough to split the society, he said.

“Armenia has made its choice,” Isayev said. “I think that it will make no sense to be surprised at the comments and statements of the Armenian officials regarding the European integration.”

According to the political scientist, Russia in this case will have to take a pragmatic position.

Russia will have to no longer perceive Armenia as a part of its so-called Russian world, but as a supporter of the European integration and build its relations with Armenia in a different way, he added.

BAKU: Notorious Israeli journalist trying to sow discord between Azerbaijan and Israel

Kanayan Tamar
News.az, Azerbaijan

Aug 18 2017

Fri 11:15 GMT | 7:15 Local Time

Notorious Israeli journalist Yossi Melman is trying to sow discord between Azerbaijan and Israel.

For several days now, the information space of Israel, as well as the South Caucasus, has been shaken by the scandalous report of Maariv-Hashavua correspondent Yossi Melman about the incident with the Israeli company Aeronautics in Azerbaijan. This information was immediately picked up by many other websites. However, none of them conducted an independent investigation. They only referred to the original source, that is, to Maariv. If they spent their efforts on the investigation, they would found that the whole story with the Israeli company and Azerbaijan is a fiction from the beginning to the end.

The author of the article, Yossi Melman, although one of the most famous Israeli journalists in the world and the author of numerous journalistic investigations and a dozen books, turned out to be a weak person and could not stand the test with money. He was fired from the Haaretz newspaper after more than 20 years of work. The same fate befell him only after a year of cooperation with Walla website for the fact that Yossi Melman took bribes in fairly large amounts. Over the years of work in journalism, he violated one of the basic requirements of journalism – social responsibility, integrity, objectivity in evaluation, ability to defend the truth.

It is also known that the Jerusalem Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, created on the basis of the legacy and property of the Albanian church, has a great influence and wealth in Israel. Together with the Armenian Embassy in Egypt, led by Armen Melkonyan, who simultaneously heads the diplomatic mission of Armenia in Israel, as well as the rather large 10,000 Armenian lobby of Israel, the Armenians turned this journalist into a zealous critic and hater of Azerbaijan. Thus, from the pages of The Armenian Interest Yossi Melman has recently proposed to the representatives of Armenia that Israel had supposedly matured for work with Armenia, but the initiative must come from this state.

Even the one, who does not know much about foreign policy and the diplomatic landscape, understands that Armenians, no matter how much they work and how much money they spend, are too weak to change or at least somehow influence the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel.

News.Az

Leaked Document: Azerbaijani Forces Suffered 1,851 Casualties in 2016 April War

Kanayan Tamar
The Armenian Weekly

Aug 17 2017

By Weekly Staff on


NOTE: At the time of this article’s publication, the Armenian Weekly could not authenticate the letter in question, as was stated in the article. We have since received information indicating the letter is likely a fabrication. Washington-based writer Emil Sanamyan, whose writing focuses on the Caucasus and neighboring states, told the Armenian Weekly that the letter was likely a response to a fabricated document published by Azerbaijani sources recently. According to him, there are clear indications that the “leaked” document is not authentic, including the misspelling of the word “General” in Azerbaijani.

***

YEREVAN (A.W.)—An image of an ostensibly leaked letter on Azerbaijani Defense Ministry letterhead indicating that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces suffered 558 deaths and 1,293 wounded during the April 2-6, 2016 April War with Armenian troops has been published online.

The letter was made public on Aug. 17 by Armenian political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan on the website Russian-Armenian bilingual website voskanapat.info. It is unclear how Melik-Shahnazaryan came to have access to the document.

The image of the letter was made public on Aug. 17 by Armenian political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan on the website Russian-Armenian bilingual website voskanapat.info. It is unclear how Melik-Shahnazaryan came to have access to the document.

The letter, addressed to Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and apparently penned by Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces and Deputy Minister of Defense Najmaddin Sadigov on April 28, 2016, indicates that 205 out of the killed soldiers were servicemen of the Special Forces of the Defense Ministry, 98 of whom were killed during military operations in Talish-Aghdara (Martakert), in the northeast of Artsakh; 32 in Fuzuli-Jabrayil, in the south; and 75 during military operations in areas in between.

In the letter, Sadikhov makes several suggestions to “eliminate the negative criticisms of the Azerbaijani society toward the armed forces” and to keep the morale and psychological spirit of the army staff high, including not transferring all the bodies of the deceased soldiers at once, and carrying out funerals of some of the soldiers at night.

Below is the English translation of the letter, as published by Yerevan-based Armenpress. The Armenian Weekly has no other information regarding the authenticity of the letter.

***

To the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Z. Hasanov

Dear Mr. Minister,

I report to you that the total losses of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ staff in the period from April 2 to 6 of 2016 were 558 killed and 1293 wounded soldiers. Fifty-eight of the wounded soldiers are in critical condition. Fifty-two out of 558 killed soldiers cannot be identified.

Two hundred and five out of the killed soldiers are servicemen of the special-purpose forces of the defense ministry. Ninety-eight of them have been killed during military operations in Talish-Aghdara (Martakert), 32 in Fuzuli-Jabrayil, and 75 have been killed during the military operations conducted at central directions.

In order to eliminate the negative criticisms of the Azerbaijani society toward the armed forces, the further fall of the morale and psychological spirit of the army staff and the panic of the staff, I propose:

  1. Not to conduct the transfer of the bodies of killed soldiers of the Azerbaijani armed forces at the same time (about 60 per week);
  2. To carry out the funerals of some of the killed soldiers during the night hours under supervision in agreement with their parents;
  3. To allocate 5000 manats (approx.. $2,950 USD) from the Defense Ministry’s fund to families of the victims.

Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces and Deputy Minister of Defense Najmaddin Sadigov

[Signed]

Letters to Editors – 08/13/2017

Kanayan Tamar 
Dear Armenian News readers,
    We bring to your attention the following letters we've received.
    No statements made in these letters are to be construed as
    recommended by Armenian News's Administation or by USC. Nor does Armenian News's
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    presented in these letters.
***************************************************************************
    From: Katia Peltekian 
    Subject: LETTER to EDITOR of the Armenian Weekly
    Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2017 23:16:35 -0400
    The Armenian Weekly
    Aug 11 2017
    Letter to the Editor: Armenia Will Always `Feel Like' Armenia#
    August 11, 2017 
    Letter to the Editor
    A view of Yerevan from the Cafesjian Museum of Art (Photo: Serouj)
    Don't have expectations of Armenia to make you feel a certain
    way. She doesn't owe us any particular experience when we choose
    to visit#
    In the article "Why Did Armenia Not Feel Like Armenia?" the author
    states that he has no answers to give to the disillusioned locals
    he comes across while in Yerevan. I would suggest-first and
    foremost-to change our own mindset, before advising others.
    The importance of the type of mindset adopted by Diasporans with
    regard to Armenia cannot be overstated.
    I urge us to see Armenia as our active partner, rather than as a
    distant charity case.
    I urge us to see her as a burgeoning young state, with endless
    possibilities, and so much to offer to this world.
    I urge us to be visionaries-to never stop in the face of
    discouragement, never surrender or lose faith when hitting a wall,
    never waver in our commitment to progress. Through this lens, we
    can see the potential for something great, even if it isn't right
    in front of us just yet.
    The author states that he doesn't know what the future holds for
    "these people in Armenia," and isn't sure if anyone does. Yet, it
    is so clear that the people of Armenia, in cooperation with their
    brothers and sisters from the Diaspora, will determine their own
    future.
    We see the power of their will through countless social and
    political movements that fight tirelessly against injustices.
    We see it through great endeavors like the Ayb School, UWC
    Dilijan, the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, Impact Hub
    Yerevan, Birthright Armenia, and the many buzzing tech startups in
    the country.
    We see it through the scores of willing repatriates ready to make
    an impact on Armenia's development.
    And the list goes on#
    The Diaspora's perception of Armenia must-as matter of
    survival-unequivocally reject feelings of hopelessness, defeatism,
    and gross oversimplifications.
    I'm not advocating for naivety or ignorance of real issues that
    Armenia faces. However, progress doesn't come easy, and we must be
    wholeheartedly committed to a positive mindset in order keep
    moving forward against all odds. Our shortcomings don't define us;
    they push us to work harder and be greater.
    I also visited Armenia this summer. Each of my visits-each with
    its own unique experiences- makes me fall more deeply in love with
    this country, which is-above all descriptions-ours.
    Sanan Shirinian,
    Orange County, Calif.
***************************************************************************
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Armenian Disaster Response Simulation Supported by UN Migration Agency

Kanayan Tamar
ReliefWeb

Aug 8 2017


Report

from International Organization for Migration

Published on 08 Aug 2017 
Participants of the inter-agency simulation exercise on humanitarian relief and disaster preparedness between Armenia and Georgia.

© UN Migration Agency (IOM) 2017

Yerevan – On 2 August, the first inter-agency simulation exercise on humanitarian relief and disaster preparedness between Armenia and Georgia took place with the support of IOM, the UN Migration Agency.

At the request of the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, IOM organized a simulation for 30 participants from concerned agencies at the Gogavan crossing on the Armenian-Georgian border. The exercise aimed to build the capacity of Armenian officials in humanitarian crisis response, including conflict-induced displacement.

The initiative comes on the heels of increased migration to Armenia, including from Syria, and rising concerns of climate-induced displacement.

“The mountainous part of the South Caucasus is one of the most seismically active regions in the world,” noted Ilona Ter-Minasyan, Head of the IOM Yerevan office. “As such, earthquakes, floods and landslides have the potential to devastate local populations and economies. The risk of hostilities in the region underlines the importance of joint simulations. It is crucial that border officials are well prepared.”

The Armenian officials taking part included representatives of border management, police, health, and agricultural agencies, who focused on striking a balance between humanitarian responsibility, the safety and dignity of migrants, and facilitating orderly migration through improved registration and protection. Georgian officials participated as observers.

The simulation created a small camp just a few kilometres from the Gogavan border crossing point, where participants worked together to discuss shelter, access to food and clean water, sanitation facilities, and the medical needs of migrants.

“Such exercises should be conducted in the most realistic way possible in order to expose existing shortcomings and correct them,” said Davit Tonoyan, Armenia Minister for Emergencies, at the simulation.

For more information, please contact Ilona Ter-Minasyan at IOM Armenia, Tel: +37410583786, Email [email protected]

International Organization for Migration