Author: Karagyozian Lena

Armenia to participate in Moscow International Book Fair

Karagyozian Lena

 13:04,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will participate in the Moscow International Book Fair September 23-27.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said that the traditional participation is dedicated this year to the 30th anniversary of Armenian independence.

The program seeks to promote Armenian literature and writers abroad.

The official opening ceremony of the event is scheduled for September 24.

The Armenian pavilion will be represented by Shirak Province Library director Gevorg Amiryan, National Library of Armenia Head of Literature Promotion Department Arevik Kamalyan, and representative of the Yerevan’s Dom Moskvi (House of Moscow) Center Svetlana Sahakyan.

The books displayed at the pavilion will then be donated to the library of the Armenian Embassy in Russia.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 23-09-21

Karagyozian Lena

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 17:37,

YEREVAN, 23 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.48 drams to 483.75 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.90 drams to 567.05 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 6.66 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.33 drams to 661.53 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 43.72 drams to 27581.55 drams. Silver price up by 2.46 drams to 353.6 drams. Platinum price up by 794.31 drams to 15366.29 drams.

Ivan Korčok invites Ararat Mirzoyan to Slovakia

Karagyozian Lena

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 13:39, 14 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Reaffirming the growing dynamic of relations, Armenia and Slovakia are boosting joint work.

At a joint press briefing with Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, the Slovakian FM Ivan Korčok said that his doctrine is to maximally utilize the existing potential of cooperation.

“Undoubtedly there is great potential for cooperation in the relations of Armenia and Slovakia, particularly in economic direction. There was growth in trade turnover, but we must surpass these results. Armenians and Slovaks expect tangible results. The energy sector is very promising in terms of cooperation. A Slovak company is now negotiating to participate in the modernization of the Metsamor nuclear power plant. Possibilities for cooperation exist also in agriculture, IT, digitization and tourism sectors. We will encourage Slovaks to come to this wonderful country, and Armenians to Slovakia,” the Slovak FM said.

FM Korčok added that as an EU country, Slovakia encourages and supports Armenia to continue structural reforms.

At the end of the press conference FM Korčok invited FM Mirzoyan to visit Slovakia at any convenient time.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Customs problem is a result of fuzzy Yerevan-Baku agreements

Karagyozian Lena
Caucasian Knot
Sept 17 2021

Azerbaijan is unilaterally regulating the traffic on the Goris-Kapan highway, since no specific mechanisms of post-war interaction with Armenia have been stipulated, political analysts assert.

The opening of the post is backed by Azerbaijan’s fears that Iran might supply military items to Nagorno-Karabakh, Andrias Gukasyan, a political analyst, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 9, the Azerbaijani side arranged a police checkpoint on the Azerbaijani section of the road from Goris to Kapan, and it began operating on September 11. The police checkpoint was arranged in violation of international norms, the Ombudsperson of Armenia Arman Tatoyan stated. Several days after the opening of the police checkpoint, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan reported about the detention of two Iranian truck drivers who transported cement.

The problem is that Azerbaijan made a decision to set up a police post unilaterally, Mr Gukasyan has added and explained: “When the decision was made on the functioning of this section of the Goris-Kapan highway, all possible details were not thought out. The November 9, 2020, statement (made by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on end of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) failed to stipulate, in particular, mechanisms for maintaining the ceasefire regime, the functioning of corridors and security issues.”

The opening by Azerbaijan of a police post on the Goris-Kapan highway is contrary to Iran’s interests; and these actions violate the principle of good-neighbourly relations, Saak Shakhmuradyan, an Iranian political observer, believes. “By an order from Russia and Turkey, Azerbaijan is trying to cut off Armenia from Iran and deprive it of the exit, via Armenia and Georgia, to the Black Sea and to Europe. This road is of great importance for Iran, which is striving to break the US blockade,” Mr Shakhmuradyan told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 08:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Azerbaijani police checks on Goris-Kapan road do not affect Armenian drivers, Azerbaijani law enforcers detain drivers from Iran on road from Goris to Kapan, Setting up post by Azerbaijani law enforcers sparks protests in Armenia.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

The Armenian church of Malatya reopens for worship after 106 years

Karagyozian Lena
Sept 1 2021
Wednesday, 1 September 2021
Malatya (Agenzia Fides) The Armenian Apostolic Church of Surp Yerrortutyun (Holy Trinity), in the eastern Turkish province of Malatya, has reopened its doors to divine worship after an interruption of 106 years. The divine liturgy, celebrated in the church on Sunday, August 29, was presided over by Sahak Maşalyan, current Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, and was attended by a large number of Armenian Christians residing in the region. The day before, Saturday, August 28, the building had been reopened as a “Cultural Center of Art and Tashhoran Culture”. The architectural work, whose construction had been completed in 1893, was in a state of decay after decades of total abandonment. The last liturgical celebration took place there in 1915, when the place of worship was under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, and before Anatolia became the scene of the deportations and massacres known as the “Armenian Genocide”.

The restoration of the church – reports the bilingual Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos – was promoted by the local Hayder association. Local political authorities, present at the inauguration, explained that the architectural complex is being reopened to the public as a cultural center. At the same time, upon request, local Armenian Christian communities will be able to use the church for ecclesial initiatives, baptisms and weddings, prayer meetings and divine liturgies. “The church, restored 100 years later as an artistic and cultural center” declared Patriarch Maşalyan in the speech given during the inaugural celebrations, “also opens to Christian citizens for worship. Of course, we take this as a very important message in terms of peace, unity and brotherhood for this country”.

In recent times (see Fides, 23/1/2021 and 27/1/2021) the fate of ancient Christian places of worship reduced to a state of abandonment that had been put up for sale by private owners or had even been dismantled in order to free up land for the benefit of new building and real estate initiatives had caused disappointment. Even the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople had issued a statement on the matter, expressing regret that “ecclesiastical buildings are perceived as a commercial good and are seen by some as a source of income”. In the past – the declaration of the Armenian Patriarchate based in Istanbul continued – Christian places of worship were established, built or restored thanks to the ‘edicts of the Sultan’. We know that protecting the ecclesiastical buildings that contribute to the cultural wealth of our country, which are no longer available to the communities of reference, is in any case a duty of the competent institutions of the state”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 1/9/2021)
  

Armenpress: Fighting crime in Artsakh is responsibility of Artsakh’s authorities – Prosecutor’s Office responds to Kamran Aliyev

Karagyozian Lena

Fighting crime in Artsakh is responsibility of Artsakh’s authorities – Prosecutor’s Office responds to Kamran Aliyev

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 21:34, 1 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Artsakh has responded to the statements of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev, according to which the Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan is initiating criminal cases “in connection with crimes in the areas of temporary deployment of Russian peacekeepers.”

The Prosecutor’s Office of Artsakh responded to the mentioned announcement in a statement provided to ARMENPRESS, which runs as follows,

”Fight against crime in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh is carried out by the law enforcement agencies of Artsakh, and unlike a number of countries that are members of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, we do it with the utmost diligence to comply with the provisions of the Convention and adherence to the rule of law.

The greatest mission of the Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan may be coordinating the activities of the law enforcement system so that to assist in prevention of crimes such as the torture of a person with obvious mental health problems who got lost and appeared under the control of Azerbaijani servicemen, or firing at civilian settlements and houses regularly, day and night aimed at intimidating the civilian population, cases of desecration of corpses, torture of prisoners, murder. Of course, it’ the obligation of the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies to investigate into such cases, but since xenophobia against Armenians and violations of rights of Armenians based on ethnic belonging is openly encouraged in that country, we cannot expect anything from them but inactivity. And if the law enforcement system is unable to prevent such crimes, to prosecute its citizens and military who have committed a criminal act, then the only thing it can do is making statements”.

275,138 COVID-19 vaccinations carried out in Armenia so far

Karagyozian Lena

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 10:39,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. A total of 275,138 vaccinations against COVID-19 have been carried out in Armenia so far, of which the first dose is 176,552 and the second dose – 98,586, the ministry of healthcare reports.

Vaccinations with AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Sinopharm and CoronaVac in Armenia are available for people aged over 18.

Vaccinations are carried out on voluntary basis. 

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Prosecutor General of Armenia leaves for Russia

Karagyozian Lena

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 18:31,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan has left for Russia to participate in the 6th conference of the Eastern Economic Forum in in Vladivostok from September 2-4.

Arthur Davtyan will take part in the discussion on “National legislation and trust in international relations as a guarantee of investment attraction” to be held within the framework of the conference, as well as will deliver a speech, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia.

In the sidelines of the visit Artur Davtyan will also meet with his Russian counterpart Igor Krasnov.

Turkish Press: Armenia acknowledges ‘positive signals’ from Turkey

Karagyozian Lena
Hurriyet, Turkey
Aug 27 2021

Armenia is seeing “positive signals” from Turkey and will respond in kind, the country’s prime minister said on Aug. 27.

At a Cabinet meeting in the capital Yerevan, Premier Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged that there were positive signals coming from Ankara in terms of regional peace.

“We will evaluate these gestures and respond to positive signals with positive signals,” he said.

Pashinyan’s remarks came days after Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged Armenia to acknowledge reality and take advantage of the new opportunities created by Azerbaijan’s liberation of Upper Karabakh.

“If Armenia moves in line with this, Turkey will also act accordingly,” Erdoğan said on Aug. 25.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

Armenian Protestant church transformed into library in SE Turkey

Karagyozian Lena
Aug 28 2021
By

 SCF

 –

Krikor Agabaloglu

An Armenian Protestant church in Diyarbakır province has been leased to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for a period of 10 years to serve as a public library, Turkish media reported.

According to the protocol, the ministry will pay a monthly fee of TL 1,000 ($120) to the Directorate General for Foundations.

The decision caused an outcry from Turkey’s Armenian community. In a video message shared by journalist Aris Nalcı on Twitter, Krikor Ağabaloğlu, leader of the Armenian Protestant community of Turkey, said the decision caused them great pain and that they absolutely condemned it.

“Every human has the right to worship,” Ağabaloğlu said. “It’s the property of the Armenian Protestant community. … As the spiritual leader of Armenian Protestants in Turkey, I have requested that it be handed over us.”

According to Ağabaloğlu, the Armenian community had turned the church over the government back in 1983 due to security concerns. But it was not returned to the Armenian community despite requests. Prior to the latest move, the church was used by the provincial governor’s office for carpet weaving courses.

“Can you imagine this? There’s a church where people can worship. There‘s a community, and it isn’t handed over for their use,” Ağabaloğlu said. “They don’t think it‘s appropriate to use this building as a church and instead allocate it to other people to be used for different purposes. … This can’t be considered appropriate, either from a religious or an ethical perspective.”

Arat Karagözyan, chairman of an Armenian non-profit, said the area where the church is located is closed off to civilians until 2023. “Given this, we wonder why they made such a hasty decision,” he said.

There have been ongoing concerns about the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in Turkey. On January 17, the Turkish-Armenian bilingual Agos weekly reported that a 19th century Armenian church was put up for sale on a Turkish real estate website. In the ad, the church, which is located in Bursa province, was described as “perfect for a tourist attraction because it is in a UNESCO protected area.”

On January 26, Agos reported that an Armenian church dating to 1603 in the western province of Kütahya that was on the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s preservation list was demolished after it was acquired by a private party.

Another Armenian church, Surp Yerrortutyun (Holy Trinity), will serve as the “World’s Masters of Humor Art House” as part of a project to found a “humor village” in central Turkey’s Akşehir district, the hometown of famous 13th century Turkish satirist Nasreddin Hoca.