Author: Nahapetian Samvel

MASSACHUSETTS MANDATES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO COVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Nahapetian Samvel
Tampa Dispatch
Jan 25 2022

Massachusetts will require its public schools to cover the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century following a decision by state legislators. This makes Massachusetts the sixth state in the United States to mandate education on the genocide, during which the Ottoman Empire killed or displaced around 2 million Armenian Christians.

Despite much advocacy from Armenian groups regarding the addition of the Armenian Genocide to Massachusetts’ curriculum, some Turkish groups fought against the new mandate. The Turkish government continues to undertake a campaign of denial surrounding the genocide, and has been known to spread disinformation surrounding the atrocity.

Last year, President Joe Biden became only the second United States president to affirm the existence of the genocide, greatly angering his Turkish counterparts and adding to the already tense U.S.-Turkey alliance.

Although the Armenian Genocide occurred more than a century ago, education about the atrocity is still vital to continue. In the 2020 Karabakh War, Turkish-paid mercenaries and Azerbaijani soldiers committed several war crimes against the Armenian Christian population of Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh) in manners reminiscent of the genocide.

In order to preserve the memory of the rich Christian heritage of Armenia, the first Christian nation in the world, and prevent such future atrocities from happening, institutions must continue to educate future generations on the devastation of the Armenian genocide.

French institute established in Armenia

Nahapetian Samvel
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 18 2022

A French instate has been established in Armenia, former Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote reported on Facebook. The initiative has been brought to life in cooperation with the Aznavour Foundation having been developed during the four years of the Ambassador’s tenure in the country, Lacote said. 

“This Institute will combine all programmes which contribute to cultural relations between France and Armenia and offer projects related to the French culture and the language in Armenia. We owe all Armenians for creating this Institute, all those who love France, the teachers who teach the language in the country and the youth who are interested in the culture and share our values,” Lacote wrote, sharing the French government decree on establishing the Institute.

Russian Deputy FM hosts Armenia’s special envoy for dialogue with Turkey ahead of first meeting

Nahapetian Samvel

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 16:05,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. On January 14, ahead of the meeting of the Special Representatives of Armenia and Turkey, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia, Special Representative of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process Ruben Rubinyan met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Andrey Rudenko in Moscow.

The sides exchanged views on the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey.

CSTO Secretariat sends plan to end CSTO peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan to member states

Nahapetian Samvel

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 19:59,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian side informed the CSTO Secretariat that the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed Prime Minister of Armenia and the Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council Nikol Pashinyan with a request to terminate the CSTO peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan from January 13, ARMENPRESS was informed from the CSTO.

According to the CSTO Secretariat, the order of withdrawal of peacekeeping forces will be decided on January 13 during the session of the Council of CSTO Defense Ministers that will be held through a video conference.

Earlier, CSTO Spokesman Vladimir Zaynetdinov told TASS that the withdrawal of peacekeepers from Kazakhstan will begin on January 13 and will last 10 days.

Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road

Nahapetian Samvel
 NEWS.am 
Armenia – Jan 10 2022
21:31, 10.01.2022

Azerbaijanis threw stones at an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road. The incident took place in the area of Azerbaijani occupied Shushi.

On January 10, a resident of Vanadzor V.P., born in 1991, reported to the Kashatagh police department that he was provoked on the Stepanakert-Goris road.

Azerbaijanis threw stones at the car, the front part of the car was damaged. The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Package being “refined” – Moscow on unblocking of South Caucasus connections

Nahapetian Samvel

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 10:56, 3 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. The unblocking of all economic and transport connections in South Caucasus is one of the “important directions” of the work for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told TASS in an interview in response to an observation that despite the agreement on unblocking there are disagreements between the sides regarding concrete steps in this direction.

“Basically this is about the chance of the two countries for obtaining concrete practical benefits from peaceful co-existence. Russia is a direct participant of this process. During the 2021 January 11 Moscow summit the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to create a trilateral working group co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of the three countries. Within the framework of this mechanism important preparatory work has been done for both railway and road connection restoration in the region. Right now a package is being refined, this approach will ensure the stability of the decisions made,” Rudenko said.

Armenia allows its airline to operate charter flights from Yerevan to Istanbul

Nahapetian Samvel
TASS, Russia
Dec 31 2021
Despite the common border, Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations

YEREVAN, December 30. /TASS/. The civil aviation authorities of Armenia have given permission to the Flyone Armenia airline to operate charter flights on the route Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan, Chairman of the company’s board Aram Ananyan told TASS.

“Several days ago, Flyone Armenia applied to the aviation authorities of Armenia and Turkey for permission to operate charter flights on the Yerevan – Istanbul – Yerevan route. We thank the Armenian aviation authorities for their positive response,” he said, adding that the company is now awaiting permission from the Turkish side.

On December 16, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara is considering applications of Turkish and Armenian airlines to operate flights on the Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul route.

Despite the common border, Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations. In 2009, in Zurich, the foreign ministers of the two states signed protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the principles of relations, but these documents were not ratified. On March 1, 2018, Yerevan announced the cancellation of the protocols.

Earlier, Ankara and Yerevan announced the appointment of special representatives for the normalization of bilateral relations.

The Armenian audience enjoyed the gala concert of "The Three Tenors"

Nahapetian Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 25 2021

CULTURE 17:45 25/12/2021 ARMENIA

A unique concert of “The Three Tenors” with the famous and beloved Armenian tenors – Liparit Avetisyan, Arsen Soghomonyan and the rising star, young opera singer Tigran Hakobyan took place on December 24 at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. The concert was held under the baton of Eduard Topchjan, the Artistic director and principal conductor of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

As the National Philharmonic Orchestra reported, the concert featured famous opera arias, songs and opera overtures. Following the concert, the tenors noted it was a great opportunity for them to perform in the homeland in front of their beloved audience. It was also an occasion to encourage and inspire them, cure their feelings. 

Instructions of Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office in Aghvan Hovsepyan’s case are groundless, watchdog says

Nahapetian Samvel
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 23 2021

The Anti-Corruption Committee has submitted objections to the instructions of the Prosecutor General’s Office in regard to the case of Armenia’s former Prosecutor General and Chairman of the Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan due to the fact that they are groundless, News.am learns from the anti-corruption watchdog.

The Anti-Corruption Committee also stated that the case has not been forwarded to the overseeing prosecutor with an indictment.

Hovsepyan was arrested in September after being charged with bribery, money laundering and illegal entrepreneurial activity. The case has been investigated for nearly one and a half years.