Author: Maghakian Mike

Ruben Vardanyan sacked as state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh

Maghakian Mike
Feb 23 2023
 

ByAni Avetisyan
Ruben Vardanyan. Image via Aurora Prize.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s President Arayik Harutyunyan has dismissed Russian–Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan as state minister.

Announcing the decision during a televised cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Harutyunyan said that he and Vardanyan had ‘strategic’ differences in their approaches to internal and external issues.

‘I am grateful to Mr Vardanyan for the fact that he always tried to share responsibilities with me to the maximum extent in both a friendly and professional way’, Harutyunan said, adding that Vardanyan did not ‘try to put [responsibility] on me by referring to the constitutional norms’.

‘But on the other hand, he was aware and understanding of the scope and extent of my personal responsibility for the situation created in Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] and all future problems’.

‘No one hurts more than I do because of this decision’, Harutyunyan said.

The move comes as Nagorno-Karabakh grapples with food and energy shortages caused by the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. Earlier on Thursday, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to reopen the road, the only route connecting the region with Armenia.

[Read more on OC Media: ICJ orders Azerbaijan to unblock Lachin Corridor]

Vardanyan’s appointment in November 2022 was met with controversy from the outset, with questions arising over his links to Russia and the Russian Government.

His short-lived stint as state minister also saw the powers of his office expand significantly.

Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly railed against his appointment, claiming he was working directly for Russia.

During a panel at the Munich Security Conference last week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev vowed that Azerbaijan would start direct dialogue with the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, but would not talk with Ruben Vardanyan, who he said had been ‘exported’ from Russia. 

Vardanyan was appointed two months after he renounced his Russian citizenship and moved to Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Shortly after his appointment, a group of Azerbaijanis claiming to be eco-activists blocked the Lachin Corridor purportedly to protest mining in the region.

Vardanyan, whose estate is estimated to be worth around $1 billion, is a popular figure in Armenia. As an inventor and philanthropist, he co-founded the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, an award given to those ‘helping the most destitute’ on behalf of survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

The current General Prosecutor of Nagorno-Karabakh, Gurgen Nersisyan, has been offered the role of state minister in Vardanyan’s place. 

For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


Armenian Government interested in Italian experience in the field of culture – PM Pashinyan receives Italian Minister

Maghakian Mike

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 19:16,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister noted that Armenia and Italy have intensive relations in the political and economic spheres and expressed confidence that they will be further strengthened by the development and expansion of cooperation in the cultural sphere. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian government is interested in Italy’s experience in training specialists in the management of the cultural sector, restoration and preservation of cultural values, so as to develop these capacities in our country.

The Minister of Culture of Italy noted that bilateral historical ties are a good basis for giving a new impetus to cultural cooperation. According to Gennaro Sangiuliano, he discussed with the Armenian colleagues the further steps and plans aimed at making Armenian culture more recognizable in Italy. At the same time, he added that they are ready to support the training of specialists in the field of culture and organize educational courses for students.

EU Mission to Armenia will Kick Off on Feb. 20; Germany to Participate

Maghakian Mike
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

The EU deployed a mission to the Armenian border in October

Germany will participate in the European Union’s Mission in Armenia. The German government made the decision on Wednesday.

The aim of the mission, which is initially mandated for two years, is to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia and thus create the conditions for normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. That is why the federal government is sending police officers to monitor the existing ceasefire with Azerbaijan. In addition, Germany has offered to send civilian experts to Armenia.

At Armenia’s request, EUMA will carry out routine patrols and report on the situation. The situation has worsened in recent weeks due to the obstruction of traffic on the Lachin corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The Federal Government, together with its partners in the EU, is closely monitoring the situation and, together with the European Union, is trying to find a peaceful solution to the conflict,” the German Government said.

On February 20, 2023, EUMA will start its work as a civilian, non-executive and unarmed CSDP mission in Armenia. The decision was made on January 23, 2023 by the Council of the European Union based on an invitation from the Armenian government. The mission will include a total of 100 people, of whom a maximum of 15 will be German civil servants.

The German government has strongly supported the establishment of the mission. It played an active role in the planning process, as the mission shows that the EU has an effective and flexible security policy instrument in civilian CSDP that can make a substantial contribution to solving crises and conflicts in its neighborhood. With the federal police officer Dr. Markus Ritter, the Federal Republic of Germany also provides the head of the mission.

Barracks fire case: Officer who poured gasoline into stove faces criminally negligent manslaughter indictment

Maghakian Mike

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 13:26, 1 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The officer who is suspected in attempting to light the stove in a military barracks with gasoline – in violation of safety rules – and causing the January 19 deadly fire is facing criminally negligent manslaughter charges, prosecutors announced on February 1.

The general prosecution said that captain E.H. is charged under paragraph 4 of Article 532 of the Criminal Code, which deals with the violation of rules of using military equipment and hazardous substances which negligently caused multiple deaths.

Two other military officials are in the case.

Republican Party of Armenia: All worst predictions keep coming true

Maghakian Mike
NEWS.am
Armenia – Sept 1 2022
20:40, 01.09.2022

All the worst predictions keep coming true. Armen Ashotyan, vice chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, told NEWS.am.

He recalled that prior to yesterday’s meeting in Brussels, Aliyev said he was expecting Brussels to establish a working group to prepare a peace treaty.

“After the meeting, the Armenian authorities circulated a press release about nothing, except that they tried to mislead us by allegedly talking about the Karabakh problem. In fact, Baku’s demands are being met: the foreign ministers have been instructed to discuss the draft within a month, i.e. a working group.

Another traitorous step is also implemented: the so-called agenda of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations is separated from the Karabakh problem. Armenia’s traitorous government continues to pursue a line according to which Artsakh must be completely washed of its hands.

If the peace agreement doesn’t reflect the approaches and points related to Artsakh, it turns out that Armenia “reconciles” with Azerbaijan and leaves Artsakh at the mercy of Azerbaijan, or, at the best, leaves it to Russia, or at the discretion of fate,” Ashotyan added.

This, in his assessment, will not be a reconciliation, and Armenia will only end up in a “sagging state.” 

“Now Armenia is not only not a guarantor of Artsakh’s security but it does not even raise Artsakh’s voice in the international arena. If in the statement on the results of the previous meeting “Nagorno-Karabakh” became “Karabakh” (this is also an Azerbaijani demand), now it is not mentioned at all, which again completely reflects Baku’s viewpoint,” he stressed.

As for the prisoners and other issues, Armenia is not dealing with this issue, having all legal grounds.

“Yesterday the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination published a report on Azerbaijan, which says that Armenian prisoners are tortured, their humanitarian rights are violated, that Azerbaijan shows xenophobia against Armenians.

Normal authorities would have taken this report and other previously published documents and appealed to international instances, instead of forgiving Aliyev and washing the blood of Armenians off his hands.

We have 303 missing persons, over 100 unidentified bodies, over 100 prisoners. No one deals with the fate of our children. Before the change of power in 2018, during the incidents in the military, all the Soros media actively turned inside out. And now these people are gone.

These issues are not being addressed because Nichol is politically impotent. He is incapable of solving them and doesn’t want to do so. How will he do it on the international stage if inside he and his team call these people deserters or non-existent people. These are the same heroes who should have waited 1-2 months during the election campaign. Pashinyan could at least ask Charles Michel at every meeting to mediate and return 5-10 of our guys,” concluded the Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia.

Artsakh FM on US, France ambassadors not visiting Shushi: We consider it important political, humanitarian step

Maghakian Mike
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 28  2022
10:52, 28.08.2022

Azerbaijan has once again attacked the OSCE Minsk Group, using its appropriate diplomatic lexicon. One of the reasons was the refusal of the French and US ambassadors to travel to the [Azerbaijani-] occupied Shoushi [city of Artsakh]. We welcome this waiver and consider it an important political and humanitarian step. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister David Babayan wrote this on Facebook.

“However, the reasons for Azerbaijan’s actions to break up the Minsk Group lie elsewhere. The main reason for Baku’s interest in the collapse of the OSCE Minsk Group, and, in particular, the institution of this group’s co-chairmanship, is that through this, Azerbaijan is trying to destroy the de-facto and de-jure international diplomatic status of Artsakh, which is a recognized party to the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict and negotiation process. And most of the relevant documents, statements and other political and legal acts are in the sphere of activity of the Minsk Group and the Minsk process. The disbandment of the Minsk Group and the co-chairing of this group, according to the logic of #Baku, should actually level the de-facto and de-jure international diplomatic status of Artsakh. 

Here Baku and Ankara act together, making every possible use of the contradictions between Russia and the collective West, which also affects the activity of the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group. But this emotional flirting, through which the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance is trying to deceive Russia, is naturally tactical and temporary in its nature. It is quite obvious that both Turkey and Azerbaijan are doing everything possible to undermine the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, knowing full well that with Russia’s withdrawal, Artsakh will also be destroyed, the destruction of Artsakh in its turn will lead to tectonic geopolitical shifts in the Transcaucasus and in adjacent vast geopolitical spaces, which will create existential threats for a number of countries, primarily for Russia. This poses a threat, by the way, to the West as well, just in the longer term.

It is also possible that such a maximalist policy of Baku is also aimed at this kind of blackmail to achieve the inclusion of Turkey in the co-chairing countries of the Minsk Group as a kind of compensation for Baku to soften its tough position.

I am confident that this and many other things are well understood in Moscow, Washington, and Paris.

It is also obvious that the OSCE Minsk Group and its current co-chairmanship have no alternative yet,” added the Artsakh FM.

Armenia adopted the Declaration of Independence 32 years ago today

Maghakian Mike
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 23 2022
August 23, 2022, 11:04

 

On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia adopted Armenia’s Declaration of Independence, ending decades of Soviet rule and beginning a new chapter in history.

The adoption of the Declaration marked the start of the process of establishment of independent statehood positioning the question of the creation of a democratic society based on the rule of law.

The country was renamed the Republic of Armenia and a year later, on September 21, 1991 Armenia became an independent state.

То guarantee the security of the country and the inviolability of its borders, the Republic of Armenia created its own armed forces, internal troops, state bodies and public security under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council.

Under the Declaration, the Republic of Armenia guaranteed the use of Armenian as the state language in all spheres of the Republic’s life, created its own system of education and of scientific and cultural development.

This declaration served as the basis for the development of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenian PM congratulates Moldova’s President on Independence Day

Maghakian Mike

 

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 15:56,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to President of Moldova Maia Sandu on the occasion of the national day, the PM’s Office said. 

The letter reads:

“Dear Mrs. President, 

I warmly congratulate you on the national day of Moldova – the Independence Day.

I reaffirm our sincere desire to develop the mutually beneficial cooperation with Moldova, that is based on friendship, trust and mutual respect, at all possible directions and in different platforms. 

By using this chance, I wish you, dear Mrs. Sandu, good health and success in all your initiatives, and to the good people of Moldova – peace and welfare”.

Embassy of Kazakhstan offers condolences over Yerevan explosion

Maghakian Mike

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 10:12,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Armenia expressed condolences over the Surmalu market explosion in Yerevan.

“The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Armenia is expressing deep condolences on the deaths which resulted from the explosion in the Surmalu trade center in Yerevan. We wish swift recovery to all who were injured,” the embassy said.

Artsakh’s Herher and Machkalashen villages get new playgrounds

Maghakian Mike
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – Aug 15 2022


, 14:18

 

The official opening of two new playgrounds in Martuni’s Herher and Machkalashen villages recently took place as part of the Tufenkian Foundation’s Herher Village Cluster Restoration and Redevelopment program. The playgrounds have already been serving as safe and welcoming spaces for the 200 children in the two villages for the past few months.

The villages’ children and their families, the two mayors, and representatives of the Foundation’s Artsakh and Yerevan offices attended the ceremonies.

The Herher playground was built thanks to a partnership between the Tufenkian Foundation and Los Angeles-based JHM Foundation. Established by their namesakes, John and Hasmik Mgrdichian, JHM supports Armenian communities worldwide. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Herher Mayor Arman Aleksanyan and Tufenkian Foundation director Greg Bedian.

“The 80 school- and 35 preschool-age children in the village will now have the opportunity to play together outside, disconnect from their screens, and, if even for an hour a day, forget their worries. The children needed a space like this, especially in the summer months, when they are out of school,” explained Herher Mayor Aleksanyan.

Speaking to local reporters, Edvin Grigoryan, Tufenkian’s director of Artsakh programming, said the playground would help the village’s children better interact with one another and thus, allow them to develop social and interpersonal skills. “We must create comfortable conditions, so families stay in their villages. In this process, we should never forget the children—the future of our nation. The establishment of playgrounds and places of leisure and entertainment for kids is crucial,” Grigoryan explained.

Following the 2020 War and consultations with Artsakh authorities, the Foundation decided to work in the Herher cluster in the Martuni region of Artsakh, focusing on Herher and its surrounding villages, including Tsovategh, Kherkhan, and Machkalashen.

The playground in Machkalashen was renovated and outfitted with brand new equipment thanks to a generous gift by Sevan and Hagop Agopian of Vancouver, Canada, in honor of their parents, Clara Kassabian and Vahe Agopian. At the request of the donors, the playground was named the “Vanashen Playground.”

Machkalashen’s Mayor Lernik Avanesyan, who thanked the Canadian-Armenian donors and stressed the importance of such playgrounds in Artsakh’s villages, joined Bedian in the ceremonial ribbon cutting. “There are about 80 children in this village; they spend most of their day in this playground. Today marks the start of a new and exciting opportunity for our village and the development of community life here,” Avanesyan said. The new playground equipment includes swing sets, a jungle gym, a merry-go-round, and slides.

Following the ceremony, six-year-old Lilly, born and raised in Machkalashen, expressed her joy about the playground, which, according to her, not only provides her an opportunity to play but also to spend time with her dear friends outside of her school. “I love this playground because I get to play with all of my friends here. I want to keep coming here every day,” Lilly explained.