Author: Maral Chavushian

Russian Defense Ministry denies Azerbaijani statement about ceasefire violation committed by the Armenian side

Maral Chavushian

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 20:44, 3 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone have not recorded a ceasefire violation incident during the past day, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Defense Ministry of Russia. By this, the Russian Defense Ministry denies the statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry about the ceasefire violation incident committed by the Defense Army of Artsakh in Shushi direction.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani defense ministry had issued a statement that allegedly on September 3 from 01:00 to 02:15 the Armenian side opened fire at one of the Azerbaijani positions in Shushi, but after the counteractions of the Azerbaijani side, retreated suffereing casualties. The Defense Ministry of Artsakh had announced about the Azerbaijani disinformation, noting that the Defense Army units strictly respect the ceasefire regime and only take counteractions for preventing the provocations of the adversary.




Armenian PM congratulates Uzbekistan on Independence Day

Maral Chavushian

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 11:11, 1 September, 2021

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the Independence Day, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The letter reads:

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you and the good people of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the Independence Day.

I am sure that your rich experience as a state figure will serve for the prosperity of Uzbekistan in the future as well.

I am convinced that the mutual relations of Armenia and Uzbekistan will also develop on the path of strengthening the cooperation both at bilateral and multilateral formats.

By using the chance, I wish you good health, happiness, and to the good people of Uzbekistan – peace and welfare”.  

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CivilNet: Understanding remedial secession and the status of Karabakh

Maral Chavushian
CIVILNET.AM

26 Aug, 2021 09:08

Gerard Guerguerian, advisor to the Karabakh Human Rights Ombudsman and the Executive Director of the Francophonie center in Stepanakert, speaks to CivilNet about the nuances of remedial secession and whether this notion should be pursued by Armenia. Gerard also discusses Karabakh’s status, the changing role of the OSCE Minsk Group, and Russia and Turkey’s influence on the conflict. 

Caucasian Knot | Residents of Armenian villages deprived of medical care because of blocked road

Maral Chavushian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Aug 27 2021

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In the Syunik Region, villagers have limited access to food and medical services, as the road from Goris to Kapan has been blocked by Azerbaijani soldiers, the local authorities report.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the State Border Guard Service of Azerbaijan claimed Armenian soldiers attacked a border guard on the territory of the “Gubadly” border-combat checkpoint. The Armenian side denied the accusations. On August 25, Azerbaijani soldiers blocked a section of the road from Goris to Kapan and stopped cars with residents of Armenia for several hours. The Russian peacekeepers negotiated to get people out of the blocked section of the road. On August 26, the soldiers blocked the second section of the road, and residents of the villages of Vorotan, Shurnukh, and Bartsravan found themselves deprived of a car connection. The blocked villages faced problems with the supply of food.

“The free movement of the population in the villages, including children, women, and the elderly, is seriously limited,” Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan reported on Facebook.

He called on the Azerbaijani armed forces “to immediately unblock the road and stop massive violations of human rights.” The Ombudsman of Armenia noted there was a danger of a humanitarian crisis in Syunik.

Gevorg Parsyan, Mayor of Kapan city, added that on August 26, the negotiations on the crisis in Syunik ended with no success. “The Azerbaijani side does not voice any logical arguments about the blocking of the road. As a result, more than 50 trucks from Iran remained blocked on the road,” Gevorg Parsyan reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 27, 2021 at 12:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Residents of three Armenian villages blocked after closure of road from Goris to Kapan, Incident on Armenian-Azerbaijani border requires Russian militaries’ intervention, .

Author: Armine Martirosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Caucasian Knot

Putin, Armenian PM discuss current issues of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement – Kremlin

Maral Chavushian
TASS, Russia
Aug 28 2021
Russian Politics & DiplomacyAugust 28, 0:07

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. The current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was the focus of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Kremlin press service said on Friday.

“The sides discussed current issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in the context of the implementation of agreements committed to paper in the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, and the current situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” it said.

Putin and Pashinyan also agreed to continue contacts at various levels.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs – Russia, France and the United States.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachinsky corridor that connects Armenia with the enclave to exercise control of the ceasefire observance. Apart from that, a number of districts came over to Baku’s control.

The situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has been tense since May 12, when Armenia’s defense ministry said that Azerbaijani armed forces had tried to carry out “certain works” in a border area in Syunik Province in a bid to “adjust the border. Since then, the sides have been reporting border incidents from time to time.


ANCA-WR Accepting Fall 2021 Internship Applications

Maral Chavushian

July 30, 2021


ANCA-WR is accepting internship applocations

The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region is now accepting applications for its fall 2021 internship program, scheduled to run from September 13 to December 10, 2021. 

The interns will have an opportunity to learn the inner workings of grassroots organizing, public policy advocacy, and help with the ongoing priorities of the organization. The program also features regular meetings with community leaders, elected officials, and professionals to discuss topics related to the Armenian Cause as well as civic engagement. 

“The ANCA-WR Internship program is designed to cultivate young leaders and prepare them for a successful career,” remarked Verginie Touloumian, ANCA-WR Community Outreach Director. “Interns will hone their leadership and advocacy skills through various projects and engage in candid discussions with elected officials, community leaders, and professionals to gain a deeper understanding on various topics,” she concluded. 

The deadline to submit applications is August 15, 2021. Interested candidates may fill out the application online. Applicants must be college students and be able to devote at least 15 hours a week to the program.

Alumni of the ANCA-WR internship program are also given priority for the selection of the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Program, an eight-week intensive program in Washington.

 Established in summer 2006, the ANCA Western Region Internship Program is a selective part-time leadership program, which introduces college students, and recent college graduates to all aspects of the public affairs arena. The program provides an opportunity for student leaders and activists to gain an in-depth understanding of the American political system, Armenian-American issues and advocacy efforts on the local, state, and federal levels.

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.

Armenian Parliament convenes extraordinary session – LIVE

Maral Chavushian

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 12:00, 30 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament has convened an extraordinary session today.

The session has been convened at the initiative of the ruling My Step faction members.

The lawmakers will debate at second hearing the bills on making amendments and changes to the Low on Road Traffic Safety, Automobile Transport and the State Border.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Moscow concerned by recent armed incidents on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Maral Chavushian

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 14:03,

YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. Moscow is seriously concerned by the recent armed incidents in separate sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border which led to casualties, Deputy head of the department of information and press at the Russian foreign ministry Alexander Bikantov said, stating that Russia is ready to provide the necessary support to the normalization of the situation in the future as well.

The Russian official expressed condolences to the families of those killed in action and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

“Unfortunately, the situation in the border remains tense. We call on the sides to refrain from any actions which could lead to deterioration of the situation and solve the issues through political-diplomatic means. Russia is ready to provide necessary support to the normalization of the situation in the future as well through de-escalation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the immediate launch of joint demarcation and delimitation works. We plan to work actively to turn the South Caucasus into a stability, security and prosperity zone within the logic of the 2020 November 9 and the 2021 January 11 trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan”, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Tigran Abrahamyan: Authorities failed to take any measures to ensure Armenia’s security

Maral Chavushian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenian security expert Tigran Abrahamyan, the head of the analytical center Henaket, stated the Armenian authorities failed to take any measures to ensure the country’s security.

In a public post on Facebook on Saturday, he referred to the Defense Ministry’s statement on an attempt by an Azerbaijani drone to cross into Armenia’s airspace late on Friday.

The air defense units of the Armenian armed forces took measures to thwart an attempt by an Azerbaijani UAV to cross into Armenia’s airspace in the south-western direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on Friday, at around 11pm, the Defense Ministry reported.

The situation was relatively stable in all sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as of 9am Saturday, it said.

Abrahamyan underlined that the Defense Ministry was late to release a statement on the border tensions recorded late on Friday afternoon, while the ministry considered it expedient to respond to the reports of different sources over various border sections only today.

“This came despite the fact that the situation was rather uncertain and the information disseminated by various sources, including Azerbaijani, was contradictory.

“From the point of view of ensuring information security, the problem of efficiency creates new security risks, which either the structures dealing with the problem don’t realize or are simply inactive,” the expert said.

“It is not about reacting to Azerbaijani rumors, which is not always advisable, but the vacuum created in the Armenian media space, accompanied by the threats of clashes from Azerbaijan, poses a threat to information security.

“As it was the case in many other issues, this time as well the structures dealing with information security remember this concept only when the task is to isolate those who oppose the higher echelons of power and take active steps within its framework with unacceptable purposes and methods.

“The meaning of security remained incomprehensible for these people after all and no measures were taken to ensure it,” Abrahamyan said.

Armenian Church Threatened in Nagorno-Karabakh

Maral Chavushian



07/25/2021 Nagorno-Karabakh (International Christian Concern) –  Holy Mother of God Church (St. Astvatsatsin) is being threatened with destruction, located in Taghavard, Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh). In just over one month, between June 10 and July 12, a large swath of the village was destroyed. The current bulldozed section reaches just outside the church.

St. Astvatsatsin Church was built in 1840 and was a Christian heritage site for the Armenian population prior to the fall 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Caucasus Heritage Watch, which monitors and reports via satellite images, called on the Azerbaijani authorities to protect the church and cease the bulldozing of Taghavard.

St. Astbatsatsin is one of several historic Armenian churches facing potential destruction in Artsakh, including Ghazanchetsots cathedral, after Azeri forces began to clear the region of any Christian history.