CIVILNET.AM
1 February, 2021 22:14
✓Dimitry Medvedev calls for Karabakh status issue resolution to be left for future.
✓Economic activity in Armenia decreases by 7.5%.
✓The Grey Wolves have begun constructing a school in Shushi.
Author: Karapet Navasardian
Valadao to serve as co-chair of Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Hartford Sentinel
Jan 26 2021
| News | hanfordsentinel.com
WASHINGTON — Tuesday, Congressman David G. Valadao was named a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
“Armenia is a nation so many of my constituents know and love,” said Congressman Valadao. “During my time in Congress, I introduced several resolutions formally recognizing the Ottoman Empire’s deportation and extermination of over two million Armenian people and, after years of Armenian-American advocacy for this cause, the House and the Senate finally passed H.Res. 29, Affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide. However, my fight on behalf of my Armenian-American constituents must continue. Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh recently faced attacks from Azerbaijani forces in violation of their decade-old ceasefire agreement. This kind of aggression is unacceptable and must end immediately. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress on this issue and other issues of importance to the Armenian-American community as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. We must continue to advocate for the Armenian people and encourage the new Administration to maintain and strengthen relationships between the United States, Armenia, and Artsakh.”
“The ANCA welcomes Congressman Valadao’s leadership on the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,” remarked Armenian National Committee of America Chairman Raffi Hamparian. “The fact the Congressman Valadao was named to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations earlier this month – which controls all federal spending – will make him an even more important ally for the U.S. humanitarian aid package we are seeking to secure for the heroic people of Artsakh,” the ANCA Chairman added.
Congressman Valadao joins co-chairs Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and Vice-Chair Adam Schiff.
2nd President Kocharyan: Azerbaijan does not give captives back because it wants to stop Artsakh army replenishment
News.am, Armenia
Jan 28 2021
09:11, 28.01.2021
I am convinced that we should not have any contact without resolving the issue of captives; that should be a precondition for taking all the other steps. The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, said this in an interview with three media outlets on Wednesday, referring to the issue of POWs.
“Now, what does ‘state secret’ mean? Another question arises: from whom, could Azerbaijan not know how many [Armenian] captives it has? (…). It is a matter of principle; they must be returned (…).
Why does Azerbaijan not give to the captives? It wants to stop the replenishment of the Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] army. (…). I am convinced that [Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev is under constant pressure over the captives’ issue. He keeps [them] for a very specific purpose; he keeps that tool to destroy the fragments of the Artsakh state system. After handing over the captives, they will take [captives] again, until they receive an assurance from here that they will not send any military from Armenia to Artsakh; the price will be that, and our government will go for it,” Kocharyan added.
Turkish press: Turkey remembers diplomat martyred in US
Ahmet Gençtürk |29.01.2021
ANKARA
Turkey on Thursday remembered its martyred diplomat Kemal Arikan.
Recalling that Arikan, Turkey’s consul general in the US city of Los Angeles, was martyred by Armenian terrorists affiliated with the JCAG terror group, Serdar Kilic, Turkey’s ambassador to the US, noted that he will be remembered with respect as a distinguished diplomat.
Arikan was shot to death 14 times by Hampig Sassounian and Krikor Saliba. Saliba escaped justice, but Sassounian was arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 1984.
Since the 1970s, Armenian terror groups martyred 31 Turkish diplomats and their family members, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.
The vast majority of the attacks were conducted by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and JCAG.
The assassinations took place in the US, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Iran and the UK.
Armenia returns 1 Azerbaijani POW in exchange of 5
20:21,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia returned 1 war prisoner to Azerbaijan and 5 Armenian war prisoners returned from Baku, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, as quoting commander of the Russian peacekeeping units in Nagorno Karabakh Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov.
‘’The Russian airplane transported 1 POW to Baku, 5 POWs returned to Armenia’’, Muradov said.
Armella Shakaryan appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Mexico
20:09,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, Armella Shakaryan has been appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Mexico, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the President.
Armella Shakaryan headed the division responsible for affairs with Canada and the USA at the Department of American Countries of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia.
Expert weighs in on Biden’s presidency and Armenia
Big News Network
Jan 20 2021
PanARMENIAN.Net – Once U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office, America’s attitude towards Armenia may change, but policies won’t, political scientist Suren Sargsyan said Wednesday, January 20. Sargsyan believes, the influence of American policies on Armenia has three components – global policy and its impact on Armenia, regional policy and its impact, and bilateral relations.
According to the expert, it is natural that the United States’ relations with Iran, Russia and Turkey have an impact on Armenia: ‘Economic pressure on a strategic ally (Russia is the strategic ally of Armenia – Ed.), sanctions on neighboring Iran are also hitting our economy hard, with strained relations further complicating our ability to maneuver.’
As far as Turkey is concerned, Sargsyan said, the new administration too will try to establish relations with Armenia.
‘There will be policy adjustments towards the South Caucasus, taking into account the recent war and the realities that have emerged since then, such as the fact that it (the U.S. – Ed.) is a co-chair of the Minsk Group and has somewhat been excluded from the process,’ Sargsyan wrote in a Facebook post.
‘However, global changes, as I have already noted, should not be expected.’
In the second part of his analysis, Sargsyan said he will weigh in on bilateral relations between Armenia and the U.S.
Biden is to be sworn in as U.S. president on Wednesday. Alongside him, Kamala Harris will make history when she is sworn in as the nation’s first female vice-president. Donald Trump will leave the White House for the last time, bound for Florida.
US administration to review security assistance to Azerbaijan – Secretary of State-Designate Blinken
12:10, 22 January, 2021
YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. US President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as Secretary of State, Antony Blinken – in written responses submitted following his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – expressed support for U.S. funding to meet the security needs of Armenia and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“We welcome Secretary-designate Blinken’s commitment to renewed U.S. leadership that supports the security needs of Armenia and the protection of Artsakh” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “In the wake of months of reckless U.S. indifference to Azerbaijan’s relentless aggression, we look forward to constructive, responsible engagement by the Biden-Harris Administration on the full range of issues of special concern to Americans of Armenian heritage and our many coalition partners.”
In four detailed responses to Questions for the Record submitted by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Blinken voiced support for “the provision to Armenia of security assistance and aid to strengthen democratic governance and promote economic growth, both of which will help to strengthen Armenia’s security and resilience.” He added that: “In light of the recent outbreak of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, our administration will review our security assistance to Azerbaijan”, noting that, “if the circumstances warrant, the Biden-Harris administration will be prepared to suspend waivers of requirements under section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.” In three of his responses, he underscored his commitment to “working with Congress and the Secretary of Defense to determine the appropriate level of assistance to meet the security needs of Armenia and the region.”
In response to a question by Chairman Menendez regarding U.S. reengagement in the OSCE Minsk Group process in a way that advances “a sustainable peace that reflects the interests of Armenians, not just Aliyev, Erdogan, and Putin,” Blinken stated that he will “reinvigorate U.S. engagement to find a permanent settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that protects the security of Nagorno-Karabakh and helps to ensure another war does not break out. This includes stepping up our engagement via the Minsk Group, of which the United States is a co-chair, and additional diplomatic work to prevent any further interference by third parties.”
Armenian, French FMs discussed the post-war situation in Artsakh in phone call
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 21 2021
Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian held on Thursday a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of France Jean-Yves Le Drian, the press department at the ministry reported. During the call, the interlocutors touched upon the post-war situation in Artsakh, issues of regional security and peace.
In the context of the implementation of the trilateral statements of November 9 and January 11, Minister Aivazian once again stressed the priority of fully addressing the humanitarian issues, first of all, the immediate and safe repatriation of prisoners of war, captured citizens and others detained.
The ministers next exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in Artsakh and the need for continuous involvement of international organizations, their unimpeded and direct involvement.
One of the main topics of the phone conversation was the need for undertaking steps to preserve the Armenian historical-cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh fallen under the Azerbaijani control, taking into consideration Azerbaijan’s efforts aimed at destroying the Armenian historical-cultural heritage or distorting its identity.
The need for resuming the peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship was stressed. The sides also exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest.
Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan sends interstate statement against Armenia to European Court of Human Rights
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 17
Trend:
An interstate statement on the violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens affected by Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan was prepared in accordance with the instruction of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and was submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on January 15, 2021, Trend reports.
The statement was prepared by experts known in the field of international law and leading lawyers of Azerbaijan.
The issues of violation of residence and property rights, freedom of religion and freedom of movement of Azerbaijani citizens as a result of the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan by Armenia, which lasted for about 30 years were raised in the statement. The statement also includes the facts that 3,890 Azerbaijani citizens went missing and Armenia is not taking any measures to clarify the further fate of these people.
The statement also reflects the facts of violation of the rights of Azerbaijani citizens protected by the European Convention on Human Rights as a result of the military provocation committed by the Armenian Armed Forces in July 2020, the inhuman actions of the Armenian Armed Forces against civilians in Azerbaijani cities during the 44-day Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh War, which ended with the glorious victory of Azerbaijan.
The statement also emphasizes that there is a huge number of mines in the territories previously occupied by Armenia, that the cities and villages of Azerbaijan have been razed to the ground, that Azerbaijani citizens are deprived of their rights return to their houses because Armenia sent illegal armed formations to the territories liberated after the act of surrender (trilateral statement on ceasefire and cessation of all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region) dated November 10, 2020.
The document contains a requirement for Armenia to take the necessary measures to restore the violated rights of Azerbaijani citizens.