Author: Mary Lazarian

Government-proposed "era of peace" actually agenda of peaceful surrender of Armenia and Artsakh – MP

Mary Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia – June 16 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. After the 44-war war, especially during the 2021 parliamentary elections, the government put into circulation an obviously false wording, “era of peace,”  Tigran Abrahamyan, a member of the opposition faction With Honor,  writes in a Facebook post.

Speaking of countries in post-war periods, especially of the ones  defeated in the war, he said that the factor of peace is an urgent  issue, and the government is using it to blackmail and presenting as  “a dilemma between war and peace” in the government-opposition  confrontation. 

According to him, the government-proposed “peace” has no real  grounds. 

“In other words, all the ways to peace are ‘mined’. Moreover, the  government admits it is their desire. But the other negotiator has an  entirely different attitude. Can we succeed? No guarantee. Peace is  not one-way traffic, but the result of cooperation. We do not have  illusions, we can see those wiling to destroy us are many more we can  imagine. The ‘peace agenda’ is an attempt to destroy us. No one can  guarantee it will succeed,” Mr Abrahamyan wrote. 

The government-proposed “era of peace” is actually an agenda of  peaceful surrender of Armenia and Artsakh, which must be opposed, Mr  Abrahamyan wrote.

Armenian Speaker of Parliament pays official visit to Iran

Mary Lazarian

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 16:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of the President of the Majles of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan is in Iran on an official visit, the Parliament’s press service said.

On June 15, the delegation led by Alen Simonyan met with the President of the IRI Majles.

Thanking the President of the Majles for the meeting and the acquaintance, Alen Simonyan noted that it is his first visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that the mutual visits will be continuous. He invited his colleague to Yerevan on a mutual visit.

Alen Simonyan told his colleague that in December of the previous year there were effective discussions with the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the IRI Majles hosted in Yerevan, and their continuous character are considered to be an important basis for the implementation of the joint programs of the two parliaments. In this context Alen Simonyan mentioned the meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO PA) held in Yerevan recently, where the parliamentary delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran also took part. He noted that after the meeting the parliamentarians of Iran had meetings in the National Assembly, and an opportunity was given to discuss issues regarding the bilateral agenda.

The President of the Majles of Iran welcomed the visit of the delegation led by the Speaker of Parliament of Armenia noting that the agenda items of today’s private talk should be at the focus of Armenia-Iran inter-parliamentary relations. According to him, there is a lot of work jointly to do at the parliamentary level, including the boosting of the economic ties, the development of legislative cooperation, as well as the creation and improvement of transport infrastructures. As he assessed, the parliaments should support the processes of the opening of Iran-Armenia railway and highways and creation of infrastructures.

Touching upon the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf informed about his position, underlining the preservation of the territorial integrity of the two countries and the establishment of lasting peace.

At the end of the meeting Alen Simonyan invited his colleague to Armenia on an official visit.

After the bilateral meeting followed the press conference of the heads of the parliaments of the two countries.

During the press conference with the President of the Majles of Iran Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf the NA President noted in particular:

“Distinguished Mr Ghalibaf,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank the President of the Majles of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, my colleague and good friend for the invitation, warm reception and effective discussions and negotiations.

During our discussions with the President of the Majles Ghalibaf in the atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust we expressed our satisfaction about the high level of the Armenian-Iranian relations and the inter-parliamentary close ties. We have underscored that our partnership is based on the friendship and neighbourhood of the millennia, we both expressed readiness for deepening our partnership in all directions.

We discussed in detail the regional developments. Naturally, I touched upon the Azerbaijani-Turkish last aggression and its consequences against Nagorno Karabakh.

I have noted that numerous humanitarian problems have remained after the war, particularly, the return of prisoners of war, the preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural and spiritual values on the territories passed under the control of Azerbaijan.

The encroachments of Azerbaijan towards the sovereign territory of Armenia endanger our efforts aimed at the stability and security of the region. In this respect we highly appreciate the position of Iran on the territorial integrity and the inviolability of the borders.

Certainly, the important themes of our today’s meeting were also the last challenges of the transport transit and the ways of their overcoming. Distinguished Mr President, we have also spoken about continuing our economic joint programs and reaching them to an end.

I would like to note once again, as Mr President also assured the political leaderships are resolute to fully develop our partnership relations and deepen them.

I am again thankful for the invitation, dear Mr President, and I will gladly wait for you in Yerevan. Thank you,” Alen Simonyan concluded his speech.

Cross-border murders remain Ilham Aliyev`s political creed – Ruben Mehrabyan

Mary Lazarian
ARMINFO

Armenia – June 8 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo. The unprovoked murder of the Armenian serviceman on duty on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is evidence that it is murders that remain the “trump card” or, in other words, political creed of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Ruben  Mehrabyan, an expert at the Armenian Institute of International and  Security Affairs (AIISA), said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

On May 28, in Armenia’s Syunik, Armenian serviceman David Vardanyan  was mortally wounded by an Azerbaijani sniper. 

“The war is over. Various aspects have been selected, with a peace  process underway. But we see Aliyev goes on sponsoring fire and  murders. And he will spare no effort to continue firing and  murdering.  Otherwise, he will lose his hobby, namely, jingoism based  on hatred for all that is Armenian – a ground regularly ‘fertilized’  with cross-border murders. The Aliyev regime will lose its comfort  zone, the very purport of its existence. The concept of the enemy,  namely, the Armenians that must be murdered, remains the fundament of  the Aliyev dynastic regime,” Mr Mehrabyan said. 

With normal developments, the “Brussels-3 results” should have served  a basis for the Armenian- Azerbaijani relations to take a more or  less predictable course. But that never happened for the simple  reason that even if the negotiations inch ahead, it means for Aliyev  to lose his comfort zone inch by inch. 

“All this makes it crucially important to hold Aliyev responsible for  being violently inclined to murders.  Armenia must expose the links  between the murders of Armenian servicemen and their political cost,  making the exposures available to the public inside Armenia first of  all. That among other things would be a step toward diversifying  Armenia’s foreign policy. It is not going to be an easy task. Rather,  it is going to be a hard and subtle game. But the most important  thing is that Armenia has the trump cards it has to play in the right  way now,” Mr Mehrabyan said.

Bundestag MP sees need for finding political solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict

Mary Lazarian

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 10:05, 8 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Member of the German Bundestag Till Mansmann says it is necessary to find a political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, the Bundestag MP said Germany supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in the negotiations over the NK conflict.

“As a member of the Minsk Group, Germany supports the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the negotiations for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, taking into account also the military clashes which started between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and lasted until November. Germany believes that it is necessary to find a political solution to the conflict. Following the clashes Germany has provided a total of 2 million Euro humanitarian aid at the level of the International Committee of Red Cross”, the MP said.

Till Mansmann also commented on the ongoing dialogue between Armenia and Turkey aimed at the normalization of the relations, stating that the long-term goal must always be the peaceful coexistence. “No matter how hostile the relations between Armenia and Turkey are, we face a reality when both Armenia and Turkey become more interconnected in conditions of globalization. Armenia should remain open for development of peace and trade”, he said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DOCUMENTARY, THE AMERICAN GOOD SAMARITANS TO PREMIERE IN SYDNEY ON 23RD JUNE 2022

Mary Lazarian
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AUSTRALIA
June 5 2022
Sunday,


SYDNEY: Sydney’s Armenian-Australian community will have a unique opportunity to preview “The American Good Samaritans”, a compelling Armenian Genocide documentary retelling the story of extraordinary American missionaries who saved thousands of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks during the 1915 Genocide.

The screening is being co-hosted by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) and the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia (AMAA) on Thursday 23rd June 2022, 7pm at St. Andrew’s Uniting Church.

Produced by Manvel Saribekyan in the United States of America, Lebanon, Greece and Iran, the film is his second documentary, the first of which was called “The Map of Salvation” and honoured the stories of European Missionaries who saved thousands of Armenian lives.

“The American Good Samaritans” features the late Swedish-American Associate Professor of Holocaust history and Genocide studies Dr. Paul Levine and other independent researchers from around the world who have studied the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, and the documentary also provides details of the aid provided by Americans.

While working on his first feature film “The Map of Salvation” in 2015, producer Saribekyan understood that the geography of good samaritans was vast. Therefore, while his second film focuses on aid provided by American missionaries, Saribekyan’s third film is centred around humanitarian aid provided by Australians and New Zealanders to survivors of the 1915 Genocide.

Saribekyan’s third film titled the “Golden Chain of Mercy” will be told by British/New Zealand award-winning journalist and historian James Robins, who authored “When We Dead Awaken: Australia, New Zealand and the Armenian Genocide” and was honoured as the ANC-AU’s 2021 Ben Bagdikian Media Award recipient.

“In conjunction with our good friends at the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia, we look forward to providing the Armenian-Australian community with the opportunity to witness this extremely moving and well-researched production,” said ANC-AU Political Affairs Director Michael Kolokossian.

For further information regarding the Documentary Screening, please refer to the flyer above.


Armenian PM, UNWTO Secretary-General discuss prospects of expanding cooperation in tourism sector

Mary Lazarian

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 14:03, 3 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili, who arrived in Armenia to attend the 67th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe, the PM’s Office said.

Welcoming the visit of Zurab Pololikashvili’s delegation to Armenia and highlighting the fact that Armenia was elected member of the UNWTO Executive Council for 2021-2025, the Prime Minister said this will further boost the productive partnership. He said that tourism is the most affected branches of the economy from COVID-19, which is now at a recovery stage, and the government assists this process with different programs.

The UNWTO Secretary-General expressed gratitude to the Armenian side for the warm welcome and congratulated the Armenian PM on birthday, wishing good health and a productive work. He welcomed the Armenian government’s decision to hold the meeting in Yerevan, shared his impressions on the course of the event and the meetings held, assessing the session works as effective. Zurab Pololikashvili praised the recovery trends of tourism sector in Armenia and expressed readiness to deepen the partnership with the government of Armenia.

The sides discussed the prospects of expanding the cooperation in tourism sector. Both sides attached importance to the initiatives aimed at the development of tourism and agrotourism, improvement of infrastructure, implementation of programs directed to doing tourism business, as well as the empowerment of women entrepreneurship. The Prime Minister presented the government’s programs in these directions and highlighted the UNWTO consulting support in this context.

Views were exchanged also about the possibilities of holding an investment forum on tourism in Armenia next year, and agreement was reached to continue the active work towards the fulfillment of the cooperation agenda.

Paris Mayor arrives in Armenia on official visit

Mary Lazarian

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 11:57, 27 May 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo arrived in Armenia on an official visit on May 26, the Yerevan City Hall said in a statement.

She was welcomed by First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Levon Hovhannisyan at the Zvartnots International Airport.

In his remarks Levon Hovhannisyan expressed hope that during the upcoming meetings at the Yerevan City Hall not only the programs, that have already been implemented between the Armenian and French capitals, will be discussed. He assured that they will succeed in agreeing over new areas of partnership in coming days.

The Paris Mayor thanked for the warm welcome and assured that the French capital is ready to assist and support the city that gave Paris, for instance, the idea of TUMO, in everything within its capacities.

The Mayor of Paris is also scheduled to meet with Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan. Issues relating to the further cooperation and ongoing programs between the Armenian and French capitals will be discussed.

Ex-Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian not to participate in Artsakh war inquiry

Mary Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian will not participate in the parliamentary inquiry into the 2020 war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), he said in a statement shared by the media on Saturday.

Earlier, Andranik Kocharyan, the chair of the parliament’s Standing Committee on Defense and Security, said Oskanian had been invited to join the ad hoc commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war.

Oskanian says he has not yet received a written invitation from the commission but has decided not to participate in its work, arguing that it cannot be objective.

The ex-minister believes the war could have been averted through good diplomacy.

“The same holds true for the current situation. Through skillful diplomacy, without risking renewed war and with the support of the international community, we can avoid the recognition of Artsakh within the borders of the former NKAO as a part of Azerbaijan, the handover of any sovereign Armenian territory to Azerbaijan and the opening of a transport corridor in Syunik, contrary to the pressure exerted by Turkey and Azerbaijan,” Oskanian said.

Artur Vanetsyan: Our final victory is right around the corner

Mary Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – May 17 2022

Homeland Party leader Artur Vanetsyan believes that the opposition campaign to force PM Nikol Pashinyan from office will succeed soon.

“This morning, our dignified citizens paralyzed traffic across Yerevan. More than 50 streets were blocked as part of the peaceful civil disobedience campaign,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The police used disproportionate force against peaceful protesters, detaining around 400 people. But it makes us stronger, more determined and confident that our ultimate victory is right around the corner,” Vanetsyan said.

He urged all to join a rally to be held in Yerevan’s France Square on Tuesday evening. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing you all in France Square at 7pm,” the opposition leader said.