Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan to set up a working group to discuss unblocking economic relations and transport links in the region

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 11 2021
 
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a new statement on Nagorno-Karabakh after the trilateral summit held on Moscow on Monday.
 
The statement vows support to the proposal of Russian President Vladamir Putin on the creation of a trilateral working group under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and Deputy Chairman of the government of the Russian Federation.
 
According to the document, the working group is established ‘to implement paragraph 9 of the declaration on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region signed on November 9, 2020, in terms of unblocking all economic relations and relations in the field of transport in the region.’
 
According to it, the  working group will hold its first meeting by January 30, 2021, based on the results of which it will form a list of the main areas of work, setting railway and road communication as priorities.
 
To support the activities of the group, it is envisaged to form expert subgroups tasked with submitting a list of projects with justification of the necessary resources and activities for their implementation and approval at the highest level by the Parties within one month after the meeting of the working group.
 
By March 1, 2021, the working group will submit for approval at the highest level a list and schedule of activities involving the restoration and construction of new transport infrastructure facilities necessary for the organization, implementation and security of international transportations carried out through Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as transportations that require crossing the territories of Azerbaijan and Armenia,” the final point of the statement said.
 

UK Civil Aviation Authority to provide safety management assistance to Armenia

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Public Radio of Armenia 

Jan 13 2021
CAA International (CAAi), the technical cooperation arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), has been contracted by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to develop a Safety Management Manual for the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) of the Republic of Armenia. This project is funded by the British Embassy Yerevan at the request of the CAC.
 
Over the next three months, aviation regulators from the UK CAA will work with CAC to develop a Safety Management Manual to help manage Armenia’s ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Annex 19 and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) competent authority obligations. The manual will establish the steps for implementing and maintaining a Safety Management System and provide assurance that State aviation safety risks are managed effectively. The manual will also be critical in assessing the safety management systems of Armenian service providers, facilitating the collection and exchange of information on safety hazards and deficiencies. A workshop on the contents of the manual and new procedures will also be delivered.
 
The UK CAA’s assistance is part of a wider programme being conducted by CAC to improve the level of safety oversight capability in Armenia and improve international safety standards which will facilitate the growth of Armenia’s aviation industry and, in turn, Armenia’s economy.
 
The project was formally launched during a virtual kick-off meeting on Wednesday morning, attended by CAC, CAAi and FCDO officials, including Ms Helen Fazey, UK’s Chargé d’Affaires to the Republic of Armenia.
 
Speaking after the meeting, Rob Erskine, Head of Operations at CAAi commented:
 
“With more than 15,000 passengers from the UK alone flying to Armenia each year, we are delighted to be able to assist our Armenian counterparts with the experience and know-how of the UK CAA. Thanks to FCDO funding, we can build a stronger, more robust aviation regulator in Armenia. We are fully committed to supporting CAC on its journey to improve international safety standards and promote the sustainable development of Armenia’s aviation system.”
 
In her opening speech, UK’s Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia Helen Fazey mentioned: “The enhanced air connectivity will be key to unlocking Armenia’s significant economic growth potential and prosperity, in part because it will enable the country to attract more business investment, facilitate international trade and spur tourism. UK Civil Aviation Authority International is extremely well-placed to support Armenia’s aviation regulator: drawing on its experience of providing aviation safety, security and economic regulation in over 140 countries, and working hand-in-hand with the CAC in pursuit of the common goal of raising aviation standards in Armenia.”
 
Tatevik Revazyan, Director General at CAC concluded: “Armenia has one of the highest safety records at the International Civil Aviation Organisation with an implementation rate of 84.89% where the world average is 68.85 %. Despite this, safety gaps have been identified, leading to an institutional reform at our Civil Aviation Committee. The root-cause of these gaps are mainly related to the lack of an efficient Safety Management System. Therefore, we highly welcome the acknowledged expertise from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and are thankful to the UK Embassy and especially UK’s Charge D’affaires, Mrs Helen Fazey for enabling the implementation of this project.”
 
The project commenced on 8th January 2021 and is expected to last three months.
 

Azerbaijani President Aliyev announces ‘big return’ to Karabakh

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
TASS, Russia
Jan 15 2021
The Azerbaijani leader informed that recovery works in the city of Shusha had begun

BAKU, January 15. /TASS/. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has announced the beginning of recovery works in Nagorno-Karabakh and the “big return” to the region.

– World – TASS

“The big return is beginning, all [recovery] works have started,” the president said during the ceremony timed to the laying of the foundation of an international airport in the Fuzuli District in Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyev was quoted on his website on Friday.

The Azerbaijani leader also informed that recovery works in the city of Shusha had begun.

During a visit to Shusha, Aliyev met with military officers and visited a number of cultural and religious monuments.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over 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.

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 starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed.

Moscow Treating Downing of Russian Helicopter by Azerbaijan as ‘Willful Murder’

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

January 4,  2020



Wreckage of a Russian Mi-24 helicopter shot down by Azerbaijan in Armenia

Russian military investigators are now treating the November 9 downing of a helicopter over Armenia as “willful murder,” a more serious charge than the previous “death through negligence,” Interfax reported on Monday, citing a source.

Hours before the announcement of the defeatist November 9 agreement between the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan that stopped the military hostilities in Karabakh, Azerbaijan claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian Mi-24 military helicopter, which  crashed in Armenia’s Ararat Province, killing two crew members.

At the time Baku apologized for the incident, with its foreign ministry saying it was an accident and the “move was not aimed against Moscow.” Azerbaijan said its forces decided to open fire due to heightened tensions in its war against Artsakh. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry also said at the time that the helicopter flew at a low altitude during hours of darkness and close to the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

At the time, Moscow said the helicopter was accompanying a convoy from the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri.

Interfax said on Monday, citing the Russian source, that a case had initially been opened into a potential infringement of flying regulations that had resulted in deaths through negligence.

The reported switch to a murder charge, which could lead to a sentence of life imprisonment for those held responsible, may complicate relations between Moscow and Azerbaijan, the news agency said.

Offering its condolences, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry at the time of the crash condemned the attack saying “the tragic incident occurred far away from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, at a location, where no military clashes have been recorded during this period. From this perspective the claims of the Azerbaijani side and attempts to justify it are false and groundless.”

“We strongly condemn this assault towards the Russian Armed Forces by the Azerbaijani armed forces within the sovereign territory of Armenia,” said Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on November 9. “We are convinced that the use of force against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will receive an adequate response.”

Nonprofit Brings Christmas Presents to 2,000 Displaced Armenian Children

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Missions Box
Dec 29 2020
December 29, 2020December 28, 2020

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — In an effort to bring joy and Christmas to the displaced suffering Armenian children, For The Martyrs, a 501c3 organization will bring Operation Christmas to Armenia. Operation Christmas will provide wrapped Christmas boxes that are full of gifts such as toys, dolls, clothing, and more for children so they can have a present to open on the holiday.

Photo by For the Martyrs, Facebook

Due to the Azeri aggression, 75,000 Armenians are now internally displaced, 90% of them are women and children. 97% of Armenians are Christians. Many Eastern Christian Churches in the Middle East celebrate Christmas on January 6th. The For The Martyrs team will be received by His Excellency Archbishop Raphael Minassian Ordinary of the Armenian Catholics in Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe.

This initiative is led by the Founding President of For The Martyrs, Gia Chacon, a young Christian woman who has led multiple mission trips and efforts to help refugees across the world. She was inspired by her grandmother, Dr. Michelle Corral, who was personal friends with Mother Teresa.

  • Humanitarian Organizes ‘For The Martyrs’ To Bring Attention To Neglected Persecuted Christians
  • For The Martyrs in SoCal Raising Awareness About Christian Persecution
  • For more info: visit the For The Martyrs Website

About For the Martyrs

For the Martyrs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to bring awareness to the crisis of Christian persecution, advocate for religious freedom, and provide aid to suffering Christians across the globe. Founded by Gia Chacon.

About Gia Chacon

Founder of For the Martyrs, Gia Chacon is a humanitarian, speaker and Pro-Life Director of Bienvenido US. She first began her humanitarian efforts in 2017 and has traveled to Central America, East Africa, and throughout the Middle East. She has worked with the victims of hurricanes, natural disasters, hunger crisis, and refugees of war and persecution. Through working with refugees and hearing their stories, her first-hand experience in the Middle-East, as well as her extensive research of religious oppression, Gia felt called to make a larger impact for the suffering members of The Body of Christ. This led to the founding of For the Martyrs. In addition to public speaking, pro-life advocacy and religious freedom advocacy, Gia is a published writer and has been featured in articles and interviewed on TV and radio shows. To donate or learn more please visit www.forthemartyrs.com.

CONTACT: Paloma Chacon, 949-281-6259, [email protected]

Armenia to start winter conscription on December 25

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

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 21:20, 23 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Winter conscription will start on December 25 in Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports the issue is included in the agenda of the December 24 Cabinet session.

Military service in Armenia is mandatory for male citizens aged 18 to 27. The service lasts two years, and conscripts are drafted twice a year pursuant to the Government’s decision. Citizens aged 27 to 50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared.




Medical training sessions held in Nagorno-Karabakh with sanitary instructors of observation posts

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 26 2020

Within the framework of combat training sessions with personnel of the peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh, medical training sessions were held on the basis of a special purpose medical unit, Russian Defense Ministry reported. 

About 30 sanitary instructors of observation posts have practiced methods of stopping various bleeding, applying bandages, tourniquets and splints for injuries and fractures, as well as the procedure for providing emergency resuscitation care.

During the training, the servicemen were shown the actions of loading and unloading the wounded using improvised means and overhead systems to evacuate victims from military equipment and hard-to-reach areas, the source said.     

Combat training sessions with the peacekeeping contingent are held regularly and are aimed at constantly improving the level of professional training of military personnel, improving the acquired skills, as well as maintaining the established requirements for the combat capability of units.


Prosperous Armenia faction initiates urgent discussion on issues related to the borders

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 24 2020

Prosperous Armenia faction initiates an urgent parliamentary discussion on the situation with borders . As the fraction said in a statement, the discussion entitled “On the occurred situation in borderline communities, current issues, ways to solve them, the border clarification,  protection and ensuring the secirty.” will be held on Friday at 14։00. 

“It is of utmost importance to break the information blockade on these topics, for that we have invited the representatives of the government, members of My Step and Bright Armenia factions to get thorough information and assess the current state of affairs. 

To note, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that specific problems may arise concerning two settlements in Syunik province – Vorotan and Shurnukh. “These issues may cause certain painful situations, but I want to assure that in all cases in which problems arise from the point of view of the interests of our citizens, the government will provide full and adequate compensation to our citizens and their interests will be fully protected,” Pashinyan stated at the cabinet session. 


Senior advisor stresses Iran-Armenia cooperation

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Dec 20 2020

TEHRAN, Dec. 20 (MNA) – Iranian Parliament Speaker’s Special Aide for International Affairs emphasized the need to expand cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia.

Speaking in his meeting with Armenian representatives in the Parliament on Sunday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the diverse cooperation between the two countries.

According to a tweet by Amir-Abdollahian, in a meeting with intelligent and active representatives of Armenians in the North and South, Messrs. Begrian and Shaverdian praised the key role of former Iran’s IRGC Quds Force Commander Martyr Lt. Gen. Soleimani in the fight against terrorism.

While reviewing the developments in the region, “We said that Islamic Republic of Iran and Republic of Armenia are two good neighbors and have a lot in common.”

MA/FNA13990930000973

FBI Offers $50,000 Reward Regarding SF Armenian Church Arson

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
The Patch
Dec 18 2020
By Jeff Arnold, Patch Staff
Dec 18, 2020 1:23 pm PT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Four months after an arsonist set fire to an Armenian church in San Francisco, the city’s FBI bureau is offering a $50,000 reward leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of anyone involved in setting the fire, officials announced this week.

The fire, which was set shortly after 4 a.m. on Sept. 17 at the administration building of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, caused significant fire, smoke and water damage to the building, FBI officials said. The administration building, which is located at 51 Commonwealth Ave. in the Laurel Heights neighborhood, housed church offices, a library and a Sunday school before the fire was set.

The fire followed incidents earlier in the year in which hateful graffiti was left at San Francisco’s KZV Armenian School in July before shots were fired at the school in September. At this time, FBI officials do not know if the incidents are related to the arson at St. Gregory, officials said.

“This act of violence was not just an attack on a building, but on a congregation. This was an attack on a community,” FBI Special Agent Craig Fair said in a news release announcing the reward for the church arson. “We are counting on assistance from members of the community to keep our city safe. Every lead will be thoroughly investigated.

“Regardless of how insignificant you think your information might be, we strongly encourage you to come forward and we welcome your information and assistance.”


The FBI said it takes all acts or threats of violence seriously and is committed to investigating crimes that are potentially hate-motivated. The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate fires set at houses of worship under the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996.

If anyone has information about the arson at the church, they are asked to contact the FBI San Francisco Division at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can remain anonymous. Informants may also contact the San Francisco Police Department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444, or may text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD, which guarantees the callers’ anonymity.

https://patch.com/california/san-francisco/fbi-offers-50-000-reward-regarding-sf-armenian-church-arson

Also at
https://sfbayca.com/2020/12/18/fbi-offers-reward-for-arrest-incowardly-arson-attack-on-armenian-church/
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fbi-offers-50k-reward-in-arson-fire-at-armenian-church-in-sf/2427239/
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/fbi-offers-50k-reward-in-search-for-arsonist-behind-armenian-church-fire/
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/fbi-offers-50k-reward-in-armenian-church-arson-investigation/
https://www.sfgate.com/hdn/hrlm/p/fastly_redirect.html?dm=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfgate.com%2Fnews%2Fbayarea%2Farticle%2FFbi-Offering-Reward-In-Arson-Fire-That-Left-15814553.php