Author: Parkev Tvankchian

Armenian expert: We must get ready for ‘new inevitable clash’ with enemy

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 20 2021

Vardan Voskanyan, an Armenian expert on Iran and head of the Chair of Iranian Studies at the Yerevan State University (YSU), believes Armenia must get ready for a new clash with Azerbaijan, calling it “inevitable”.

“For years, attempts have been made to convince us that peaceful coexistence with the enemy is possible according to a conventionally very simplified formula, "Let's concede this and peace will come". In fact, this is a delusion stemming from improper knowledge about the enemy, an illusion of settling down in a comfort zone that does not exist in Advanced Asia, the vanity of which we see almost every single day,” he wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, even after colossal losses, we as a nation and a state do not want to realize that such a comfort zone in the region, where the sacred land of our ancestors is located, has never existed in the long run, does not exist now and will not exist in the foreseeable future.

“Thus, it is necessary to prepare not for some stillborn ‘era of peace’, but for the inevitable next clash with the enemy, and the first step to be ready for it and to succeed is to brace ourselves for the inevitability of such a confrontation, rather than to stick to the unrealistic and destructive approach ‘concessions in exchange for peace’,” Voskanyan stated.

ANCA ‘Rising Leaders’ Seminars Set for March 2022 in Washington

Parkev Tvankchian
 by Contributor

 

 November 12, 2021

 

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ANCA’s “Rising Leaders” seminar slated for March 2022

Apply at anca.org/RisingLeaders to sign up for 3-Day Interactive Career Development and Civic Engagement Program

WASHINGTON—Armenian American university students are invited to apply for the Armenian National Committee of America’s “Rising Leaders: Career Development and Civic Education” – a three-day program in Washington, now in its second year, that introduces young Armenians to advocacy, policy, politics and media opportunities in the nation’s capital.

The ANCA is offering two participation options – March 6th to 8th, 2022, and March 13th to 15th, 2022 – to coincide with the two major Spring Break timelines at most universities. The top 25 applicants, based on academic excellence and proven community youth leadership, will be chosen for each session.

The ANCA has once again teamed up with the Armenian Youth Federation Eastern and Western U.S. and the Georgetown University Armenian Students Association in hosting these unique student-focused events, generously supported by Dean Shahinian and the family of the late ANCA activist Lucine Kouchakdjian.

Perspective participants can visit anca.org/RisingLeaders to review the program and submit their applications.  Students who are chosen for the program have two participation options – one that offers housing for the 3-day program ($100) and the other which includes program fees alone ($25). Students are responsible for travel to and from Washington. Financial aid will be provided based on need and availability.

“Building on a great inaugural experience in 2019, we are gearing up for ‘ANCA Rising Leaders 2022’ to offer even better in-person opportunities for university students to explore careers in Washington while engaging with civic leaders to advance key pro-Artsakh/Armenia priorities,” said ANCA Program Director Alex Manoukian. “We are excited to partner with the AYF Eastern and Western U.S. and the Georgetown ASA once again to offer this fun, innovative, and educational program in our nation’s capital.”

“The ANCA Rising Leaders program builds on our local and regional Hai Tahd efforts to provide hands-on advocacy training to help expand youth voices in the halls of Congress and the Administration in support of pro-Armenia and Artsakh priorities,” noted AYF Eastern Region Central Executive Chair Vrej Dawli. “We are deeply grateful to the Shahinian and Kouchakdjian families for providing dozens of bright and devoted young Armenians the chance to give voice to their values in Washington and explore career opportunities in our nation’s capital.”

“The 2020 Artsakh war is a stark reminder of the importance of an engaged Armenian American community – particularly our youth – working in Congress and with the media, and advocating from our communities across America,” said Armenian Youth Federation Western U.S. Vice-Chair Hasmik Burushyan. “We are thrilled to partner once again with the ANCA in encouraging civic participation and exploring career opportunities in Washington, DC, as university students start to make critical career decisions.”

The 2022 sessions will begin Sunday with a full day of interactive presentations by the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee focusing on career search fundamentals, from resume preparation and networking 101 to an overview of the Washington, DC internship and job market. Monday activities will include meetings with policy, political and media professionals, including current and former federal agency and Congressional staff, to discuss careers in the nation’s capital. Those will be followed by an extended session with ANCA team members on advancing community priorities on the federal, state, and local levels. The seminar will be capped off with the Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day, a full day of Capitol Hill discussions with Members of Congress and staff on strengthening U.S.-Armenia ties, supporting Artsakh freedom, and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide.

Throughout the program, ample opportunities will be provided to explore Washington, DC, and make new friends.

Over 30 students from top universities and high schools across the U.S. traveled to the nation’s capital to take part in the ANCA’s inaugural Rising Leaders Program in 2019, which was made possible, in large part, through a generous contribution by the Ararat Foundation Shahinian Educational Fund. Longtime ANCA supporter Dean Shahinian is again the major sponsor of this unique youth development program along with the family and friends of Lucine Kouchakdjian.

Dean Shahinian served in the federal government in various capacities for over 30 years, including 16 years at the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, where he worked with Committee Chairs on numerous bills and laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act.  He has staffed over 100 hearings and negotiated complex legislation with regulators and financial services industry members.  In the Armenian community, he has served on the boards of St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Students Association, among many others.  In 1995 and 1999, he traveled to Etchmiadzin to serve on the National Ecclesiastical Assembly (to elect the Catholicos).  He has also served multiple terms on the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

For dozens of years, living in the Washington, DC area – in addition to her cultural, education, and charitable work with a broad range of community organizations – Lucine Zadoian Kouchakdjian organized highly effective ANCA campaigns to call, write and meet with Members of Congress and engage in political campaigns, always fostering a forward-leaning spirit of civic responsibility among Armenian Americans across the nation’s capital. The Rising Leaders Capitol Hill day was named in memory of her lifetime of service to the Armenian Cause following her passing earlier this year.

For more information, email [email protected], or simply register today by visiting anca.org/risingleaders.

Footage of incident near Shushi emerges online

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 13 2021

SOCIETY 11:34 13/11/2021 NKR

A video of the incident between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides near the Azerbaijani-occupied Artsakh town of Shushi has emerged online.

The footage released on a Telegram channel shows a man approaching the Azeri checkpoint on the Stepanakert-Berdzor road and throwing an explosive device near it. The man appears to have been held by Russian peacekeepers.

It was reported earlier that the Stepanakert-Shushi-Berdzor interstate road was shut down. Later, the Artsakh Interior Ministry said that the road was already open to traffic on both sides and details of the incident would be provided soon.

According to rumors, the incident is connected with the murder of a young man from Artsakh by an Azerbaijani a few days ago near Shushi. One of the relatives of the killed 22-year-old man reportedly tried to take revenge on the Azerbaijanis. He drove up to the Azerbaijani soldiers and threw a grenade towards them. The latter opened fire in his direction.

There are no immediate reports of casualties.

Armenia to have commissioners for Diaspora affairs abroad on voluntary basis

Parkev Tvankchian

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 14:12, 10 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is going to appoint commissioners for Diaspora affairs on voluntary basis abroad, in a status of an advisor.

The parliamentary standing committee on state-legal affairs approved the draft on making an amendment to the Law on Public Service during today’s session.

The necessity of adopting the draft is connected with the creation of the institute of the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. “The commissioners will be appointed by the decision of the Prime Minister of Armenia at the proposal of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, they will have a status of an advisor abroad, will not be paid and will not have a working regime. They will provide professional consulting on the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation directions and will assist the works being carried out by the High Commissioner in the field of cooperation with the Diaspora”, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan said at the session.

There is no need for additional financial allocations from the state budget for the adoption of the draft. The commissioners will be appointed in a country where they will be in that moment, they will not be sent from Armenia, they will be people familiar with the local community.

The standing committee will propose the Parliament’s Council to include the draft into the agenda of plenary sessions.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

People leaving Armenia in record numbers

Parkev Tvankchian
Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 11 2021
 11 Nov in 14:50

In the three quarters of 2021, 103,000 more Armenians left the country than entered it, according to official data. Armenia's population is 2.963 million people, so this is an extremely alarming figure, because  that amounts to about 3.5% of the country’s entire population . In other words, every 29th resident of Armenia has left the country since the beginning of the year.

Why does emigration from the country reach such a catastrophic scale?

First, it should be noted that some of 103 thousand people are separatists and illegal settlers who fled to Armenia from Karabakh and Zangezur last year during and after the Patriotic War of Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that they had Armenian passports, there was no place for them in Armenia, because the republic doesn't have enough work and money even for local residents, so they were forced to leave. At the same time, they are displayed in the statistics as Armenian citizens who emigrated, without specifying that before that they lived in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Second, after the Karabakh war, Armenia simply did not have any means of subsistence. War is an expensive business, especially for small and poor states. The republic spent too much money to maintain the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, as a result, the government has nothing to invest in revitalizing the national economy. So, along with the Karabakh Armenians, residents of Armenia also leave the republic.

Third, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the Armenian authorities do not abandon plans for a military revenge, pumping up the Russian peacekeepers'  zone of responsibility with weapons and building there new military positions. Yerevan is looking for sponsors to rearm Armenian troops (since they don't have money for this). Armenia remains both unattractive for foreign investment and dangerous for living. People have not forgotten how they were forced to go to the war last year, and they do not want it to happen again. They emigrate not only because of money, but also because of war.

There is a fourth reason, according to the opposition politician, representative of the Prosperous Armenia party Naira Zohrabyan. The ex-parliamentarian told Vestnik Kavkaza that many were forced to leave due to the results of early elections to the National Assembly.

Armenian foreign ministry condemns assassination attempt on Iraqi Prime Minister

Parkev Tvankchian

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 18:15, 7 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian foreign ministry condemned the assassination attempt on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

“We strongly condemn assassination attempt on PM of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhimi”, the foreign ministry tweeted. “We express our support & solidarity to friendly Iraq in its fight against terrorism & efforts aimed at regional & domestic security & stability.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi escaped unharmed in an assassination attempt by armed drone in Baghdad on Sunday.

Six members of Kadhimi's personal protection force stationed outside his residence in the Green Zone were wounded, Reuters reported citing security sources.

Three drones were used in the attack, including two that were intercepted and downed by security forces while a third drone hit the residence, the Iraqi state news agency INA reported.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

PM Pashinyan receives President of Russian Academy of Sciences

Parkev Tvankchian

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 15:43, 5 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Alexander Sergeev, the PM’s Office reports.

Pashinyan highlighted the development and expansion of cooperation between Armenia and Russian in the field of science. He hoped that during Mr. Sergeev’s visit the opportunities of implementing joint projects will be discussed. The PM noted that science and education sectors are among the priorities of the Armenian government. He informed that the funding for science in 2022 will increase 85%.

Alexander Sergeev said they are interested in expanding the partnership with Armenia’s scientists, researchers, adding that discussions are currently underway on concrete proposals. He said that during the Soviet times the cooperation between Armenian and Russian scientists has been on the high level, and the Armenian scientists had a significant contribution to the development of the field.

PM Pashinyan welcomed the initiatives aimed at expanding the Armenian-Russian ties in science field and stated that the government will assist their successful implementation with all possible means. According to him, science field could also become one of the key directions of the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia says Baku not fulfilling pledges, situation fragile

Parkev Tvankchian
Iran Front Page
Nov 4 2021
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 IFP Media Wire

 -

November 4, 2021

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan says the situation in South Caucasus is still unstable due to Azerbaijani authorities’ quote non-constructive measures.

“Despite the cessation of hostilities in line with the trilateral Armenian, Russian, and Azerbaijani statement of November 9, 2020, the situation is still unstable because Azerbaijan is not fulfilling certain obligations under the above-mentioned statement. In particular, it misinterprets certain provisions, refuses to release military and civilian detainees, and indulges in bellicose and expansionist rhetoric,” Mirzoyan said in an interview with France’s Nouvelles d’Armenie.

“Armenia continues its efforts to reach stability in the region,” he continued.

“The program of our government clearly states our readiness to contribute to the establishment of an era of peaceful development in the region. I am sure that if other countries demonstrate a corresponding political will and make constructive steps, all necessary conditions will be created for the beginning of active discussions on the above-mentioned agenda,” he added.

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 Lachin 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.

Armenian Ombudsman insists on demilitarized zone at the line of contact with Azerbaijani forces

Parkev Tvankchian
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 3 2021
November 3, 2021, 12:32

 1 minute read

Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan insists on the urgent need for establishment of demilitarized security zone in the areas of contact with the Azerbaijani forces.

“It is the fundamental guarantee of the rights of border residents of Armenia,” the Ombudsman said at a press conference today.

The Human Rights Defender’s staff has documented the criminal acts of Azerbaijan in Armenia’s border villages. The documents will be sent to relevant state bodies and international organizations.

“We have substantiated the need for a security zone and stressed that the Azerbaijani troops, flags, equipment should be removed from the immediate vicinity of Armenian villages and the roads connecting the communities,” Tatoyan told reporters.  

He stressed that without this, normal life of people and their rights cannot be restored.

“The ad hoc report shows that their deployments are, without exception, unlawful,” the Defender stressed.

He emphasized the need to analyze cadaster documents, issues of land ownership.

“In some cases we see the Azerbaijani armed forces physically present on the lands belonging to people from the Soviet times. There is a clear international demand that the delimitation and demarcation of borders cannot be considered legitimate if human rights are not ensured, the rules of democracy have not been respected, normal life of the population is not guaranteed, “Arman Tatoyan said.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan recalled from the post of Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe

Parkev Tvankchian

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 19:51, 1 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVERMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of Armenia, Paruyr Hovhannisyan was recalled from the post of Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s office. 

Paruyr Hovhannisyan was Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Armenia to the Council of Europe since July 2016. From 2014 to 2016, he was Director of the European Department at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among other positions, he also served as Advisor to the Minister on EU issues, Ministry of Economy, and as Deputy Head of the Mission of Armenia to the EU. He holds a degree in International Relations and Governance from St. John’s University, New York, and a degree in International Relations from Yerevan State University.