Author: Khondkarian Raffi

The message of the establishment of the Consulate General in Kapan, Armenia

Khondkarian Raffi
IRNA – Iran
Aug 27 2022

Tehran, IRNA – The Iran government, in the meeting dated January 8, 1400, based on Article (138) of the Constitution, agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a license to establish a Consulate General in the city of Kapan, Armenia, in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.

Kapan, also known as Qapan, is a region in southern Armenia, which is the largest city and the capital of Syunik Province. This province borders Iran and is connected to Iran’s Nordoz customs through Meghri Customs of Armenia. Due to the existence of many mines in Kapan, during the Qajar dynsty this city was called “Mines” and it was renamed to Kapan in 1991. This city is located 316 km from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and Iranians who go to Yerevan by land pass through Kapan. Iranian trucks also enter Armenia from the Nordoz border and reach the Eurasian region from the Kapan and Goris  transportation axis.
The reason for establishing a consulate general of a country in another country is to help and support its citizens, issue passports or travel documents and deal with their problems. In addition to consular activities, the main role of consulates is to promote trade and facilitate transportation through establishing relationships with economic companies. The establishment of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kapan is considered a necessary and constructive measure in the field of Iran’s foreign relations for the following reasons.

1- The Moscow Agreement, which after the 44-day war between the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, led to the liberation of seven Azerbaijani cities and the establishment of a ceasefire, promised to make peace and security. The opening of the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan means Iran’s practical acceptance of solving conflicts through peaceful means and creating peace and stability in the region.

2- The end of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia also created good opportunities for economic cooperation, and Iran’s strong presence in the Caucasus region can strengthen Iran’s trade with the Eurasian Economic Union. After Iran’s preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union came into force in 2018, Iran’s trade with these countries has started and it is expected to experience significant growth in the future. The Consulate General of Iran in Kapan can play a constructive role in this regard. The existence of a population of 183 million people in the five member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union is a booming market for Iranian goods.

3- Due to the increasing importance of transit in regional and international relations, the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan can strengthen the transit capacities of Tehran and Yerevan while solving and reducing the problems of truck drivers and providing them with the necessary facilities. Considering the final stages of the construction of the new Goris-Kapan road, the beginning of cooperation with Russia, Georgia and India to build the Persian Gulf corridor to the Black Sea and Europe, and the activation of the Meghri Free Zone as a transit route between Iran and Armenia, the role of the Consulate General in Kapan for The strengthening of economic partners will be more prominent.

4- The foreign policy of the 13th Iran government is to expand interactions, especially in economic fields, with neighboring countries. Therefore, strengthening relations with Armenia through the establishment of a consulate general in this country can be defined in the framework of Iran’s neighborhood policy. Today, economic interactions are the prelude to creating peace and security in different regions, and increase the level of economic interactions between neighbors, and prove the regional stability, security and peace.

5- Iran has friendly relations with the South Caucasus countries, especially the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and this situation has increased the relative advantage of Tehran to play a role in stabilizing the ceasefire and peace. The establishment of the Consulate General in Kapan is not against any of the Caucasus countries, but like the Consulate General of Iran in Nakhchivan, it pursues efforts to strengthen regional security and develop economic and cultural cooperation. The symbolic message of the establishment of this consulate general is that there is no longer going to be a war in the region or a country to be occupied. Iran warmly shakes the hands of its neighbors and has prioritized the policy of strengthening relations with its neighbors within the framework of mutual respect and national interests.

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Armenian Church serves requiem for victims of trade center blast

Khondkarian Raffi

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 12:32,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos Karekin II served a requiem mass for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Surmalu trade center explosion. 

Before the mass began in Etchmiadzin, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Director of the Conceptual Affairs Office of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, called on Armenians to be united and support one another in overcoming these difficult times.

National days of mourning are declared in Armenia August 17-18 in memory of those who died in the Surmalu trade center explosion.

Chess Olympics: Armenia’s women’s team lose

Khondkarian Raffi
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 8 2022

In the penultimate round of the World Chess Olympiad held in the Indian city of Chennai, the Armenian women’s team lost to the Azerbaijani team with a score of 0:4.

Armenian team with 14 points share 11-21 places. The Indian team are in the lead with 17 points. 

Relatives of Armenian POWs demand a meeting with Pashinyan

Khondkarian Raffi
Caucasian Knot
Aug 8 2022
Residents of Armenia, seeking the return of their relatives from Azerbaijani captivity, gathered in front of the Armenian government building. They demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The chair of the Armenian government did not come out to the audience.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the relatives of the Armenian soldiers who were taken prisoner of war (POW) after the end of the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh repeatedly held actions with the demand to organize the return of the prisoners. In particular, on June 28, the POWs’ relatives held such an action in front of the building of the Russian Consulate in Gyumri. According to the protestors, Russia, being a party to the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, containing the point on the return of POWs, is to force Azerbaijan to return the Armenian prisoners of war.

Today, the relatives of captured militaries have held a sit-in protest in front of the Armenian government building, demanding a meeting with Nikol Pashinyan.

According to the protesters, an official of the Prime Minister’s administration came out to them, but even several hours after the start of the protest, their demand was not met, the “NEWS.am” reports.

In December 2020, a month after the cessation of full-scale fighting in Karabakh, 64 soldiers from several Karabakh combat posts, mostly residents of the Shirak Region of Armenia, were taken prisoner. Some of them were returned to their homeland, but others were prosecuted in Azerbaijan for espionage, terrorism, and illegal border crossing. On May 25, 2022, Nikol Pashinyan announced that 39 Armenian citizens remained in captivity in Azerbaijan.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 8, 2022 at 06:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:
Relatives of perished militaries demand to interrogate Pashinyan, Relatives of perished Armenian soldiers achieve open trial on their complaint, Relatives of perished servicemen come out to protest in Yerevan.

Source: Caucasian Knot
Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Armenia former FM says he met Azerbaijani taxi driver in Yerevan

Khondkarian Raffi
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 9 2022
15:32, 09.08.2022

Talking with reporters Tuesday, former foreign minister of Armenia and Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovhannisian spoke about a noteworthy incident involving him in the capital Yerevan.

According to him, a few days ago he got into a taxi whose driver was an Azerbaijani.

“The taxi driver had an Armenian name. He said that there are many Azerbaijanis in Armenia. Then he started, like a politician, to say who Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] belongs to. He was saying that Armenians lived in Artsakh, as they lived in Nakhichevan. (…) and he draws parallels that Armenians behaved like fascists. He says that [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev is like [Soviet political leader Joseph ] Stalin, who punished the German fascists. When I was getting out of the car, he says ‘salam’ to me. I realize that he is an Azerbaijani living in Armenia,” Hovhannisian said.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier calls for termination of all U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan after deadly attack in Artsakh

Khondkarian Raffi

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 07:18, 4 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. United States Congresswoman Jackie Speier is calling on Washington to pull all U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan immediately after the latest deadly Azeri attacks in Artsakh.

“Aliyev will only stop his bloody drone strike campaign against the people of Artsakh if/when the U.S. shows leadership & strength. Pull all U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan immediately until it comes to the negotiating table,” Congresswoman Speier tweeted.

On August 3, two Artsakh soldiers were killed and around 20 others were wounded when Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire and launched an attack on Artsakh military positions. The Azerbaijani military used mortars, grenade-launchers, combat UAVs in attacking a permanent deployment location of an Artsakh military base.

Connection between Azerbaijan’s western regions and Nakhijevan to be provided exclusively under Armenian legislation-PM

Khondkarian Raffi

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 12:32, 4 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to provide the connection of Azerbaijan’s western regions with Nakhijevan through its territory, but exclusively in accordance with Armenian legislation, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

“Azerbaijan is saying that Armenia has assumed the obligation to provide connection of Azerbaijan’s western regions with Nakhijevan. We are ready to provide that connection every day; it is Azerbaijan that doesn’t take the opportunities we offer. Today we again say, in accordance to the procedures defined by Armenian legislation come and cross the border of the Republic of Armenia, right today. Since last year, we have Armenian customs and border guard service checkpoints in several sections and we told Azerbaijan that at any moment they can cross and establish connection with Nakhijevan in accordance to procedures defined by Armenia’s legislation,” PM Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the new roads which are being built, Pashinyan said that the trilateral statement clearly states that this must take place with consent of the parties.

“We say that we consider the discussion of the routes of these roads to be a secondary issue, the first issue must be the stipulation and launch of legal procedures. Today, I am officially stating: Azerbaijan can cross the border of Armenia in several points and travel towards Nakhijevan. If we interpret it literally, it mentions that we must ensure the connection of Azerbaijan’s western regions with Nakhijevan. The westernmost region of Azerbaijan is the Gazakh district, we are ready, let them come and cross and go to Nakhijevan, we guarantee the security of that traffic. Furthermore, not only through the Gazakh-Ijevan section, they can do it through the sections of Vardenis, Sisian, Yeraskh and Goris also. During this period Azerbaijan didn’t even try to use it. This must take place in accordance with the procedures defined by Armenian legislation,” the PM said.

Erdogan: It is important that Armenia fulfills its obligations under the tripartite statement

Khondkarian Raffi
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 6 2022
14:49, 06.08.2022

It is important that Armenia fulfills its obligations under the tripartite statement as soon as possible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Speaking about Azerbaijan’s latest aggression against Artsakh, Erdogan noted that he had discussed this issue with the President of Azerbaijan. At the same time, Erdogan accused the Armenian side of the attack.

“First of all, we condemn the attack that resulted in the martyrdom of one of our Azerbaijani brothers. Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan located within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan,” he said. “Azerbaijan, of course, does not want illegal armed formations to be on its territory. Almost two years have passed since the tripartite statement. It is important that Armenia fulfill its obligations as soon as possible.”