Author: Karagyozian Lena

MEPs condemn Azerbaijan’s provocative actions, raise issue of Karabakh’s status

Karagyozian Lena
Panorama, Armenia
July 30 2021

The Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand, the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Željana Zovko, on Friday issued a joint statement on the deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The full text of the statement is provided below. 

“We deplore the death of three Armenian servicemen on 28 July in clashes with Azerbaijani forces at Armenia’s Gegharkunik province border after Armenian positions and several villages were reportedly fired at since early morning, and express our deep condolences to their families. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a series of incidents or provocations over the last months, including violations of the inter-state border that began with the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May. The recent exchange of fire at the Nakhchivan border, where another Armenian soldier died, was no less concerning.

We call on both sides to strictly observe the ceasefire and refrain from any provocations. Any possible disagreements about the border must be addressed through negotiations in a border delimitation and demarcation process, not through the use of force and unilateral actions. All forces need to pull back to positions held before 12 May and in line with the provisions of the Tripartite Ceasefire Statement.

To de-escalate the situation, it is of utmost importance that inflammatory rhetoric ceases immediately. In this context, we condemn in particular recent statements by Azerbaijani representatives regarding so-called ‘West Zangezur’ and referring to the territory of the Republic of Armenia as Azerbaijani ‘ancestral land’. Such statements are highly irresponsible and threaten to undermine regional security further.

We recall the EU’s commitment to support confidence-building measures and the addressing of any issues at the negotiating table, including through the resumption of negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement and the future status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.”

Restoration of OSCE Minsk Group format a path to fair solution of Artsakh issue – expert

Karagyozian Lena

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 12:48, 30 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The decision of the US House of Representatives to cut the US military aid to Azerbaijan contains a key message, Expert on Turkish studies Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference in Armenpress, stating that it calls on the US Administration to revise its position towards Azerbaijan.

“To revise the attitude towards that aggressive, dictatorial state where democratic norms are violated. It’s very important for the Senate to join this decision so that it becomes a law. It’s important that the US executive leadership accepts this as a serious message and changes its attitude towards Azerbaijan”, he said. However, the expert noted that the US administration sometimes doesn’t react to the messages coming from the Congress. The US executive leadership has its interests in the region, and these facts should be taken into account.

The US Department of State made a statement calling on to return to negotiations under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. There are such calls also from Europe and Russia. According to Mr. Safrastyan, the restoration of the Minsk Group format would be very important for Armenia. The status of Artsakh is not solved yet, and the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship should return to the discussion of this issue. According to him, this is a path to fair solution of the Artsakh issue.

“Azerbaijan doesn’t accept the activity of the Minsk Group at the moment, but I hope that the international pressures on Azerbaijan would give their results. Here Armenia’s diplomacy has a lot to do. Serious works must be done with that states, the Armenian lobby there”, the expert stated.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Constitutional Court rejects judge’s motion to invite President Armen Sarkissian as witness

Karagyozian Lena

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 11:34,

YEREVAN, JULY 10, ARMENPRESS. The Constitutional Court of Armenia rejected the motion of judge Hrayr Tovmasyan to invite President Armen Sarkissian as a witness over the case of disputing the results of the June 20 snap parliamentary elections.

President of the Court Arman Dilanyan stated that the President of the Republic does not have a procedural status of a party in this particular case.

Since yesterday the Constitutional Court is holding a hearing over the appeals submitted recently by 4 political forces – “Armenia”, “I Have the Honor” alliances, “Zartonk” and “Hayots Hayrenik” parties, to annul the election results.

During the July 9 session judge Hrayr Tovmasyan has submitted three motions. The first one related to the President of the Republic, in particular in what conditions he made a decision to set June 20 as the election date. “Those attending the session can’t answer to this question, but this issue is raised in at least 3 appeals”, Tovmasyan said.

On June 27, 2021, the CEC has formed and signed the protocol on the results of the elections, according to which the Civil Contract party led by caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received 53.91% of the votes, the “Armenia” bloc led by 2nd President Robert Kocharyan received 21.09% and “I Have The Honor” alliance received 5.22% of the votes.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

COVID-19: Armenia abolishes age limit for vaccination with Sputnik V

Karagyozian Lena

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 10:42, 1 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. From July 1, people at risk, as well as those aged over 18 can be vaccinated with Sputnik V against COVID-19 in Armenia based on applications, on voluntary basis, the ministry of healthcare said in a statement.

Previously vaccinations with Sputnik V were available for people at risk – healthcare workers aged 18 to 54, people having chronic diseases aged over 18, residents and employees of social care centers aged 18 to 54.

But according to the current changes, people aged over 18 can get vaccinated with all the three vaccines available in Armenia – AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, CoronaVac, based on application, on voluntary basis.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress: First online collection of the Museum of Typography available on Google Arts & Culture

Karagyozian Lena

First online collection of the Museum of Typography available on Google Arts & Culture

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 14:56, 26 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. Thanks to the cooperation between the National Library of Armenia and the Google Cultural Institute, the first online collection of the Museum of Typography is already available on Google Arts & Culture.

ARMENPRESS reports the online exhibition “The Firsts of Armenian Typography” presents to the international audience the 500-year history of Armenian typography and the way it has gone, showing the first printed works in Armenian.

AFP ‘One God’: Empty Armenian church’s last worshipper in Bangladesh

Karagyozian Lena
Yahoo! News – Agence France Presse
June 22 2021
Shafiqul ALAM
Tue, June 22, 2021, 4:50 AM·3 min read

Several assistants help Ghosh maintain the church and feed the half a dozen stray dogs living in the grounds

With no priest to minister and no faithful to pray, an Armenian church in Bangladesh has one last parishioner: a Hindu caretaker doing his “sacred duty” to preserve a relic of the city’s former commercial elite.

Shankar Ghosh makes the sign of the cross before opening the entrance of the striking white and yellow edifice, built 240 years ago in the capital Dhaka.

Back then the city was home to hundreds of Armenians, a diaspora that traced its roots in the Muslim-majority nation back to the 16th century and eventually rose to become prominent traders, lawyers and public officials.

The last known descendant of this community left Bangladesh several years ago — but not before entrusting the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Resurrection to Ghosh, who had already lived within its grounds for half of his life.

“I love this work. I consider it a sacred duty bestowed upon me,” the 61-year-old told AFP.

“Whether it is a church, temple or mosque, I believe all are for one God.”

Four decades ago, Ghosh worked at a jute factory — an industry pioneered by Armenians in the region — where he struck up a friendship with the family running it.

Through them, he met church custodian Michael Joseph Martin, who invited Ghosh to be his assistant.

The young man moved into the church compound in 1985 and never left.

“It is a home of God and I thought no other work would better suit me,” Ghosh said.

His 30-year-old son was born in the compound and acts as its resident historian.

When Martin moved to Canada in 2014, he handed his protege the keys to the church.

Ghosh became full-time custodian after Martin died last year at the age of 89, and is now supported by overseas Armenians — led by Los Angeles-based businessman Armen Arslanian — who keep the church running.

“The Ghosh family has a special place in our church,” Arslanian told AFP.

– ‘This beautiful place’ –

Ghosh is drawn to tranquility of the grounds in the heart of the capital’s Armanitola neighbourhood, which was named for the city’s Armenian community.

Narrow and congested roads, flanked by residential blocks and wholesale markets, lay just beyond the compound.

But within the grounds, the cacophony of traffic horns fade away and birdsong rises from a small garden.

Young couples and students gather under the garden’s trees, sharing private moments in the shade.

Each morning, Ghosh emerges from the compound where he lives with his wife and two children to open the church doors and light candles on the altar.

He utters a non-denominational prayer for 400 Armenians — once prominent members of Dhaka and now buried under neat rows of tombstones next to the building.

Several assistants help him maintain the church and feed the half a dozen stray dogs living in the grounds.

Baptisms and weekly mass haven’t been held in the church for several decades.

But the church comes to life every Easter and Christmas, when a Catholic priest holds services attended by ambassadors stationed in Dhaka.

Ghosh often strolls around the tombstones — the earliest dating back to 1714, decades before the church was built.

Laying a flower on the grave of Martin’s late wife Veronica — the last Armenian to be buried in the compound, in 2005 — Ghosh hopes her husband’s remains are brought back to Dhaka.

“He belongs here in this beautiful place,” he said, adding that he too hoped to be buried in the grounds after his death.

“I only pray that I’ll get similar treatment to what I have been providing to these (graves).”

sa/grk/gle

https://news.yahoo.com/one-god-empty-armenian-churchs-015033501.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&tsrc=fb

‘I find it difficult to imagine myself in parliament’ – Kocharyan

Karagyozian Lena

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 14:54,

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, leader of the “Armenia” bloc, hasn’t yet decided to take up his parliamentary mandate or not.

During a press conference today Kocharyan told reporters that he finds it difficult to imagine himself in the legislature, adding that he considers himself a man of executive power.

“Part of my team thinks that I should be in the parliament, use that tribune for political fight. The other part thinks it is not necessary. I do not have such a wish, I am not inclined to do that. I haven’t made a final decision yet. You have to make a decision cold-heartedly, without emotional component. I find it difficult to imagine myself in the parliament”, he said.

Armenia held snap parliamentary elections on June 20.

21 political parties and 4 blocs were running for parliament.

Accordingly, the Civil Contract party led by caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received 53.92% of the votes, the “Armenia” bloc led by 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan – 21.04%, “I Have the Honor” bloc – 5.23%, CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said at the Committee’s extraordinary session.

1 million 282 thousand 411 citizens or 49.4% of the voters cast their ballot in the early elections.

4682 ballots were declared invalid.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Mine maps prove how strong protection was provided by former Armenian authorities – Artak Zakaryan

Karagyozian Lena
Panorama, Armenia
June 15 2021

Former Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Artak Zakaryan, a candidate of the I’m Honored bloc running in the June 20 snap parliamentary elections, on Tuesday denounced Nikol Pashinyan for using the release of 15 Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) by Azerbaijan in exchange for maps of mined areas as an election campaign tool.

“The negotiations have been going on for a long time. They refused to provide maps of mined areas several times. The process was delayed to the election period to also turn it into a campaign tool for the capitulator,” he said.

He noted that the mine maps could have been swapped for the prisoners 5-6 months ago, however the authorities delayed the process to the election period allowing the POWs to be subjected to torture to “mislead and fool the public again”.

The former deputy minister said that the maps are of great strategic significance, since the mined areas prevented Azerbaijan from unleashing hostilities against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) for many years.

“The maps also go to prove how strong protection was provided by the former authorities. Mining is part of the engineering work. It’s about some 97,000 landmines in the area of Akna alone,” he said.

Zakaryan said it is important for Azerbaijan to quickly populate the town of Akna (Aghdam), because it already poses a threat to Karabakh.

“This is why they purchased the maps from the capitulators, and the latter sold the maps, to put it bluntly, because if he [Pashinyan] had really cared about our captives, he would have resolved this issue long ago, there would have been no discussions,” he said. 

‘There is a revolutionary situation in Armenia today’, Pashinyan says

Karagyozian Lena

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 17:33,

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The Civil Contract party led by caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan honored the memory of all fallen heroes during the meeting with the residents of Yeghegnadzor on the sidelines of the pre-election campaign in Vayots Dzor province.

In his remarks Pashinyan said during these 10 days of the campaign the people have developed the political process and reached it to a pre-revolutionary situation.

“There is a revolutionary situation in Armenia today, with the difference that 3 years ago we were conducting peaceful, velvet revolution. This time as well the time for peaceful, but steel, rather than velvet, revolution has come. Tomorrow, on June 17, at 20:00, there will be time for truth, and the Armenian citizens should gather in the Republic Square of Yerevan to show the obvious that there is no game before the people”, he said.

The early parliamentary elections in Armenia will be held on June 20.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

ICRC Discusses Humanitarian Programs in Artsakh

Karagyozian Lena
by ara-asbarez

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan meets with ICRC Karabakh mission head Bertrand Lamon

Artsakh’s State Minister Artak Beglaryan discussed the implementation of humanitarian programs with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mission Karabakh mission Bertrand Lamon who was in Stepanakert on Monday.

Beglaryan praised the ICRC’s active efforts in implementing humanitarian programs in Artsakh and emphasized the coordinated work of the Artsakh government and the ICRC mission, especially in addressing effective solution to a number of post-war problems, stressing the need to attract additional resources.

Lamon presented the ongoing programs in Artsakh in recent months, as well as his interest in the government’s approaches.

The sides attached importance to the further deepening of cooperation aimed at supporting the socio-economic development of vulnerable groups, healthcare, access to education and solution of other vital issues.

Meanwhile ICRC President Peter Maurer responded to a letter from President Armen Sarkissian regarding to the immediate return of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives from Azerbaijan, the president’s office told Armenpress on Monday.

Maurer has assured that all issues addressed by Sarkissian were under his and his Organization’s full attention.

Maurer stated that since 1992 the ICRC has had a continuous practical presence in the region and from the very first days of the 2020 war it has provided a humanitarian aid, as well as expressed readiness to carry out further activity within the humanitarian mandate provided by the international community to the Organization.