19:30, 1 March, 2022
YEREVAN, 1 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz called on the leadership of Russia to stop the military actions in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports, Scholz said at the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
“I can’t miss the opportunity to call on Russia together with my counterpart to immediately stop all military actions, withdraw Russian forces and return to dialogue.” said Scholz.
By Vugar Khalilov
Azerbaijani MPs Tahir Mirkishili and Soltan Mammadov have been received by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as part of their working visit to Yerevan, Trend reported on February 21.
Pashinyan met the Azerbaijani MPs along with Georgian and Ukrainian representatives in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the co-chair of the European Union, the report added.
The participants discussed EU-Armenia and Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, as well as the situation around Ukraine in the meeting.
Mirkishili stressed that speaking about Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, Pashinyan said that despite the difficulties, certain steps have already been taken and agreements have been reached on a number of issues, including the opening of the railway (between Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhchivan and its other territories via Armenia), which is critical for regional communication.
“Then, Pashinyan touched upon the issues of handing over maps of minefields, delimitation, and demarcation of borders, the visit of a UNESCO mission to the region, the transfer of the remains of persons missing during the first Karabakh war,” he added.
The MP stated that Pashinyan also spoke positively about the progress of Armenian-Turkish ties, his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels, and the videoconference meeting held on February 4.
Mirkishili, speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani delegation, emphasized that topics such as long-term peace, regional growth, communication openings, and reconstruction and construction activity are on Azerbaijan’s agenda.
“I stressed that Azerbaijan has broad opportunities for cooperation with the countries of the region and the European Union in the field of energy security, economic development in the post-pandemic period, and the widespread use of technology,” the MP noted.
“I said that this was my first time in Yerevan and that this visit of the Azerbaijani delegation should be taken as another indicator of our country’s goodwill for lasting peace. In general, the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere,” he added.
The Azerbaijani MPs are visiting Yerevan to attend meetings of the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held on February 22.
They will express Azerbaijan’s position on issues on the agenda of the meetings.
It should be noted that a group of people describing themselves as war veterans blocked the road to Armenia’s Zvartnots International Airport in protest against the arrival of Azerbaijani MPs in Yerevan on February 21.
The protesters also oppose the restoration of Yerevan-Istanbul flights and the rebuilding of relations with Turkey, the Armenian media reported.
Commenting on the visit of Azerbaijani MPs, Armenian MP from the Civil Contract faction Maria Karapetyan stated that it is their institutional, formal obligation to receive the Azerbaijani delegation like all other participants.
Azerbaijani MPs are reported to have no plans to communicate with the Armenian media.
The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary forum in which members of the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia participate and forge closer political and economic ties with the European Union. It was established in 2011 by the European Commission as a component of the Eastern Partnership.
Armenia destroyed and vandalized Azerbaijani territories during the three-decade occupation between the early 1990s and late 2020. The scale of destructions on Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories and mass graves found there is shocking, implying deep hatred and animosity toward the Azerbaijani people, with many experts describing these mass destructions and killings as genocide.
The country’s war-torn Aghdam region alone is seen as a stark example of Armenian hatred and enmity. Aghdam, known as the “Hiroshima of the Caucasus” astounds delegations from all over the world with its infamous scenes of destruction.
The Armenian American Museum construction site where the Concrete Pouring Ceremony took place
GLENDALE—The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California celebrated the first concrete pour of the historic project by hosting a Concrete Pouring Ceremony at the construction site of the landmark center at Glendale Central Park.
Executive Director Shant Sahakian officially kicked off the Concrete Pouring Ceremony by welcoming the Board of Trustees, Board of Governors, Construction Committee, and government officials to the construction site.
“Today, we are one step closer to the dream of the Armenian American Museum and we are all so privileged that the museum is going to be in the City of Glendale,” stated Glendale Mayor Paula Devine. Mayor Devine was joined by her colleagues on the Glendale City Council including Councilmember Ara Najarian, Councilmember Vrej Agajanian, Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian, and Councilmember Daniel Brotman as well as City Manager Roubik Golanian.
Executive Director Shant Sahakian Glendale Mayor Paula Devine
“The concrete pouring is a historic milestone that represents the foundation of the museum and a symbol of unity for the Armenian community here in Los Angeles and throughout the world,” stated Ambassador Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles.
“The Armenian American Museum will serve as a hub and stand forever as a center that celebrates the rich culture and history of the Armenian people and brings our diverse communities together,” stated Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian.
The historic milestone was commemorated with a prayer led by the Board of Trustees Co-Chairs including Archbishop Hovnan Derderian representing the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Bishop Torkom Donoyan representing the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, and Bishop Mikael Mouradian representing the Armenian Catholic Eparchy.
Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian
Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian expressed appreciation to the many donors, supporters, community members, and government partners who have contributed to the project.
In his remarks, Karapetian reflected on the moment when the vision for the Museum project was first formally discussed during an early meeting of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA’s Landmark Subcommittee on January 13, 2014. He then announced that the Concrete Pouring Ceremony would conclude with the burial of a time capsule featuring the official minutes of that meeting to forever be part of the foundation of the cultural and educational center.
Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian Glendale City Council members at the Concrete Pouring Ceremony
The time capsule burial was led by Executive Vice Chairman Zaven Kazazian, Architect Aram Alajajian, and Construction Committee Member Hrair Balian who were part of the founding committee with Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian.
The Concrete Pouring Ceremony followed a series of construction site visits by Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Anthony J. Portantino, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the Glendale City Council to witness the progress on the project.
From left: Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Primate of the Western Diocese Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Bishop Mikael Mouradian, Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian A scene from the Concrete Pouring Ceremony
The Armenian American Museum will be hosting its Legacy Gala on Sunday, March 27 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. The event will pay tribute to the visionary benefactors and supporters who are building a legacy of education, preservation, and cultural enrichment for generations to come.
For more information, visit the website.
Human Rights Defender of Armenia Kristine Grigoryan is in constant contact with the Armenian Embassy in Ukraine, her Office said.
The Ombudsperson regularly receives information on the problems faced by the Armenian community of Ukraine and the Armenian citizens in Ukraine.
In the current situation, the issue of protection of the rights of the Armenian community in Ukraine will remain under the direct attention of the Human Rights Defender.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
The leader of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Ilham Aliyev for his help and efforts.
Zelenskyy thanked Ilham Aliyev for his efforts to achieve a ceasefire, turn the confrontation into a political plane and deliver medicines and medical equipment to the Ukrainian people.
15:00,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Some Armenians living in Donetsk are being evacuated but most of the Armenian residents prefer to stay, according to Vahagn Matevosyan, the President of the Donetsk Representation of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine.
“We had actually prepared the evacuation plan weeks ago. The Armenians in Donetsk region who wanted to leave have left. There were some Armenians who wanted to leave but didn’t have cars so we supported them. But a very large segment prefers to stay in Donetsk, they don’t want to leave their homes,” Matevosyan said.
He said there are large queues outside pharmacies, banks, gas stations and ATMs in Donetsk, like elsewhere. People are unable to withdraw money from ATMs.
“Sounds of gunfire are heard in the city, we feel that heavy artillery is firing, but I find it difficult to convey specific details now. I can only say that there are no victims among Armenians,” Matevosyan told ARMENPRESS’s Anna Gziryan.
Russia has begun a military operation in Ukraine following a request from the authorities of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics for assistance in repelling Kiev’s military aggression, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in urgent address on Thursday.
He said that Moscow would seek the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine, called upon the Ukrainian army to lay down weapons and warned there would follow a prompt response to attempts at foreign intervention from outside.
Russian troops take control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
21:55,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Russian forces have taken contol of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports, citing “Reuters” agency, Adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mikhail Podolyak said.
ArmInfo.The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are primarily responsible for finding solutions to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin stated this in an interview at the Media Center, referring to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the role of the European Union.
At the same time, she recalled that the European Union, after the end of hostilities, has repeatedly declared its readiness to do much more for the peace process. In this vein, the diplomat drew attention to the fact that the EU, both during the war and after it, provided direct humanitarian assistance. “We also provide assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is also represented in Nagorno-Karabakh and provides internal assistance there, as we cannot carry out activities inside Nagorno-Karabakh. We have repeatedly noted that we are ready to do more”, Wiktorin emphasized once again, while adding that President of the European Council, Charles Michel, takes a personal interest in this issue and has taken part in various initiatives. In this vein, she recalled that with his assistance last summer, in November 2021 and in February of this year, groups of Armenian prisoners of war were returned from Azerbaijan. The diplomat noted that the EU is ready to do more to resolve humanitarian issues.
Speaking about the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the possibility of establishing a special EU monitoring mission on the border, the Ambassador noted that Brussels offered its services and assistance. “Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, and I held special discussions here, and we are ready and willing to help improve the border situation if we are invited. This is the main condition, that is, they should turn to us so that we can help. We can also assist in the issue of delimitation and demarcation of the border, which is also difficult to move forward, if, of course, they turn to us. We are in touch with both sides”, she said, once again pointing out the importance of dialogue between the parties to the conflict.
The diplomat also disagreed with the statements of the President of Azerbaijan regarding the fact that the Karabakh conflict has been resolved. According to Wikkorin, there are so many open questions that it cannot be said that the conflict has been resolved. “We are ready to assist in finding solutions to the problem at any stage, and at any step we will consult with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, as this is also the position of the RA government as well,” the European diplomat said.