14:13,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Civil Aviation Committee says the NovAir airline requested authorization to launch domestic flights from Yerevan to Kapan.
The flights are planned to be launched from January 20, 2022 and will be operated twice a week.
Meanwhile, the government allocated 49,5 million drams to the “Syunik” airport of Kapan because the current lack of funding could jeopardize its future operations.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A tractor with a local resident inside was shelled by Azerbaijani militaries, the head of the Khachik village of the Areni community said on November 10.
The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 9, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of shelling some engineering equipment on the border of the two countries in the Black Lake region. Workers who fell under fire were laying the road. Units of the Azerbaijani army took immediate adequate response measures, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported.
On November 9, at 2:30 p.m. local time, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces shelled the tractor near the village of Khachik in the Areni community of the Vayots Dzor Region of Armenia; at the moment of shelling a local resident was in the tractor busy with some agrarian works, Ovik Smbatyan, the village head, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
“The tractor driver was not wounded, but he miraculously escaped by hiding. Only the tractor was damaged,” Mr Smbatyan has added.
It was a targeted shelling of civilians in the village of Khachik by Azerbaijani militaries, Arman Tatoyan, the Armenian Ombudsperson, has stated.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 10:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Armine Martirosyan; Source: CK correspondent
Source:
© Caucasian Knot
15:53, 8 November, 2021
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Artsakh will hold an extraordinary session on November 9 at the initiative of lawmakers.
The session will begin at 11:00.
One item is on the agenda: the statement of the Parliament about the inalienable right of the people of Artsakh to live freely and independently.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan briefs lawmakers on Nov. 4
What happened during the first and second Artsakh wars clearly showed that the Armenians of Artsakh cannot live under Azerbaijani control, and will face eventual annihilation, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan told lawmakers on Thursday.
“What happened during both the first and second Artsakh wars clearly shows that the Armenians of Artsakh cannot live under Azerbaijani control. That is, because [Azerbaijan] is in fact engaged in a policy of extermination. The best proof of this is the total absence of Armenians in the territories presently controlled by Azerbaijan,” said Gevorgyan.
Armen Rustamyan, a member of the parliament’s Armenia bloc asked Gevorgyan whether there were plans for Armenia to give Artsakh “remedial recognition” under the principle of people’s right to self-determination.
In response to Rustamyan’s inquiry, Gevorgyan said that stated principle “is getting firm substantiation.”
“And I think that this approach, that the Armenians of Artsakh are facing annihilation under Azerbaijani control—this truthful, reliable and accurate narrativ—is being advanced by us in both our discourse and during negotiations,” added Gevorgyan, who added that Armenia will be consistent in restoring and protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh and will make every effort to guarantee their right to live safely and with dignity in their homeland.
He said that in relation to the Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh in 2020 and Baku’s aspirations toward the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, the foreign policy priorities remain the ensuring of the security of Armenia and Artsakh, the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as the establishment of regional peace and stability, and the process of unblocking transportation links.
“Armenia’s principled position regarding the Artsakh conflict has been expressed on numerous occasions. That includes a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which can be achieved under the auspices of the only internationally mandated format–-the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship—based on the well-known principles and elements, which implies the determination of the final status of Artsakh taking into account the unbreakable right to self-determination of the Armenians of Artsakh,” Gevorgyan said.
In this phase, he prioritized the re-launching of the peace process under the OSCE MG Co-chairmanship, as well as prioritizing humanitarian issues, including the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, the determination of the fates of those missing or who are victims of forced disappearances, and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.
To that end, Gevorgyan said that process of the so-called unblocking of transport routes cannot take place at the expense of the security, sovereignty and vital interests of Armenia.
“Establishment of a peaceful and beneficial environment for co-existence in the region is also based on the unblocking of the region. Thus, the implementation of the January 11 trilateral statement is very important. The effective implementation of the unblocking process is possible if all players demonstrate a constructive stance and take practical steps. At the same time it’s important to note that this process cannot take place at the expense of Armenia’s security, sovereignty and vital interests,” Gevorgyan explained.
The deputy foreign minister announced that the top diplomats of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold new meetings mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and new conditions will be created for the complete re-launch of the peaceful resolution process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Gevorgyan cited a meeting in New York between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and mediated by the Co-chairs as an example of the peace talks resuming, in response to another Armenia bloc lawmaker Anna Grigoryan.
“After the meeting, the Co-chairs issued a statement reiterating that they are working within the framework of their mandate, which is the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” said Gevorgyan. “I believe that at this juncture this is an important aspect to register.”
The international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is also among the priorities of the Armenian foreign policy. Gevorgyan reaffirmed that Armenia will continue to actively contribute to the international community’s efforts for preventing genocides and other crimes against humanity.
The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Overchuk’s visit to Armenia, noting that it is a good opportunity to discuss the current agenda. “I would like to note that I highly appreciate the works of the trilateral working commission chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I hope that we will finally be able to reach concrete solutions,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Armenia is committed to the statements of November 9 and January 11, which refer to the unblocking of all transport and economic ties in the region, but emphasized that “the statements made by Azerbaijan regarding the corridors have a negative impact on the efficiency of our work and atmosphere, especially considering that in our trilateral statements there are no remarks about corridors.”
“My impression is that Azerbaijan is trying to impose its perceptions on the commission, which, of course, is unacceptable for us. I would like to reaffirm that Armenia is interested in opening and unblocking regional transport and economic infrastructure. I have repeatedly stated publicly that we are ready for concrete solutions, the essence of which should be the following. Armenia should get road and railway communication routes through Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan should receive railway and road communication routes through Armenia, including one connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic,” PM Pashinyan said.
“Our documents are about the unblocking of economic and transport infrastructures, our position is the following. What do we offer? The railways that existed during the Soviet era must be restored; the highways that existed during the Soviet era, including those connecting the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with Azerbaijan, must also be restored,” he added.
“We are ready for such solutions. We have concrete proposals, it should be emphasized that according to the January 11 statement, about which we have talked many times, we should also negotiate on customs control, phytosanitary control, border control and other possible types of control. This is what is stated in our statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. I want to confirm once again that Armenia is interested, ready, and we hope that in the near future we will be able to reach concrete solutions to these issues. We are constructive,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.
Alexei Overchuk thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting and for highly appreciating the activities of the working group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.
“We are really working within the mandate that you, together with the leaders of the other countries, granted us in the framework of the statements of November 9-10, 2020 and January 11, 2021. I would like to note that we keep in constant touch with our partners and deputy prime ministers. We have held 8 meetings, 4 of which were in-person, the other four were held remotely,” the Russian Deputy PM said.
“At the same time, we talk on the phone almost every day, discussing various options to find more optimal, more acceptable solutions for all parties. You know that road construction experts have examined the roads. Today we have a very good understanding of what those roads really look like. Based on these data, after the 8th session of the joint working group held on October 22, it seems to us that we will reach concrete solutions. They are based primarily on that the roads remain under the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass,” he said.
“You also mentioned and it is enshrined in the statements that all kinds of controls should be carried out. We agreed that such control should be exercised based on the parity principle, and we also discussed it, including how and from where to start unblocking automotive infrastructure. We want to discuss it with you today and think about how to move forward,” Alexei Overchuk said.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region will bestow the “Human Rights Champion” Award to Dr. Arman Tatoyan, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, at the 2021 ANCA-WR Grassroots Luncheon, in recognition of his consistent efforts aimed at advocating the interests and upholding the rights of the people of Armenia and Artsakh. The outdoor luncheon will be held on Sunday, November 21 at 1 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
“As the Ombudsman of Armenia, Dr. Tatoyan has utilized his powerful voice and all resources at his disposal to uphold human rights and the dignity of our people by highlighting the aggressive actions of the Azeri government in front of the international community, with the aim of holding the perpetrator regime accountable,” stated Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA-WR. “He is highly deserving of the ANCA-WR’s prestigious “Human Rights Champion” Award and we look forward to having him in California, where our community can express its collective gratitude for all he has done and continues to do for our homeland and the Cause,” she continued.
Dr. Tatoyan has been invited to California by the ANCA-WR for a two-week delegation trip, where he will engage with a number of community stakeholders, elected officials, academic circles, and other interested parties throughout the Golden State to present the latest developments in the region, including discussing his latest reports on the Azerbaijani torture and ill-treatment of Armenian POWs and other captives.
Arman Tatoyan obtained his LLM and Ph.D. from the Yerevan State University, Department of Criminal Procedure and Criminalistics. He holds his Master of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 2016, Tatoyan was elected as the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia. He also serves as an Ad Hoc Judge in the European Court of Human Rights, the Permanent International Advisor at the Council of Europe’s Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, and lectures at the Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia, and the Academy of Justice of Armenia. He previously held positions in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (2013-2016) and the Deputy Representative (Deputy Agent) of the Government of Armenia before the European Court of Human Rights (2013-2016). He has also been involved in different working groups for drafting laws and strategies for Armenia.
Those interested in attending the ANCA-WR Grassroots Luncheon on Sunday, November 21 at 2021 at 1 p.m., can purchase their tickets online as soon as possible online. Space is limited and the event will comply with all COVID-19 health protocols.
The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.
Armenia’s prime minister denies media reports that the country has withdrawn forces from Syunik a province bordering Iran. Nikol Pashinian was responding to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s claim about the so-called Zangezur corridor before parliament.
Pashinian said there has been no change in the posture of the Armenian troops in Syunik province.
He added, “Our border guards have been serving in the posts since December 2020”. The denial from Pashnian comes after repeated claims by Azerbaijani officials about the Zangezur corridor near the Iranian border.
Aliyev has threatened to capture the corridor by force and in violation of the UN Charter. Azeri officials stand accused of causing tension over “Zangezur” through resorting to propaganda after the country signed a truce with Armenian in November 2020, ending their 44-day bloody war.
They claim that during the ceasefire talks, Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia agreed on carving out a swath of land linking Nakhjavan to Azerbaijan.
This is while the 9-point agreement does not make any reference to the issue. Only Article 9 says Armenia has agreed to open closed routes for transportation between Azerbaijan’s west and Nakhjavan.
The wording does not say anything about the creation of a corridor which would eliminate the border and deprive Iran of access to Armenia’s transit route.
Obviously, Baku is making an effort to insinuate its own narrative and interpretation of Article 9 of the truce deal through resorting to propaganda.
In a message to the Armenian people, Hampig Sassounian announced on Friday that he is in Armenia, Asbarez reported.
“With the utmost happiness I am writing to you from Armenia. After almost 40 years, I have the honor to be on Armenia’s soil, drink Armenia’s water, breathe its air and feel in a familial environment,” he said.
“The support you have shown throughout the years has always encouraged me and has had a positive impact during my most difficult days.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who wrote to me, visited me and have always kept me in their hearts. Finally, I am home,” reads the message.
Sassounian has been serving a life sentence when he was convicted in 1984 for the 1982 murder of Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles Kemal Arikan. In 2002 a federal appeals court overturned a special circumstances finding in his sentence, making Sassounian eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.
On December 27, 2019, the Board of Parole Hearings found Sassounian suitable for release on parole. However, on May 25, 2020, Governor Newsom rejected the Board’s decision based on the prisoner’s crime, “outsized political import,” and that his insight was “relatively new.”
The Los Angeles County Superior Court on February 24 reversed a decision by Governor Newson who rejected the parole eligibility and application of Hampig Sassounian.
LA County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan vacated Newsom’s decision to reject Sassounian’s parole and reinstated the California Parole Board’s decision to grant Sassounian parole.