Category: 2020

President Sarkissian holds phone talk with co-chair of Armenian Assembly of America

Emil Lazarian

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 16:26,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian held a telephone conversation with co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America Van Krikorian, the presidential office told Armenpress.

The officials discussed the latest developments around Artsakh and the current situation in the country in this context. Van Krikorian said they are deeply concerned over the recent statement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh and its terms.

President Sarkissian said Arsakh is facing various and especially humanitarian problems today, adding that these issues are possible to solve only by national unity and joint efforts.

President Sarkissian and Van Krikorian also exchanged views on other priorities of the pan-national agenda.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Charges pressed against Fatherland Party leader Artur Vanetsyan

Christine Harutyunian

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 17:14,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Leader of the Fatherland Party, former director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan has been charged for illegal possession of firearms, plotting assassination of a state, political or public official and attempting to seize power, his lawyer Lusine Sahakyan told reporters today.

She said that Vanetsyan denies the wrongdoing.

Earlier, the National Security Service of Armenia has announced that it has prevented an assassination of a government official, attempts to seize power by a group of people with prior consent, as well as revealed cases of illegal acquisition and possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives by a group of persons for this purpose.

In particular, a resident of Syunik province Ashot Minasyan, by using the fact of the presence of weapons in Artsakh during the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan, has illegally transported and stored large amount of weapons, ammunition, explosives in one of his buildings in the town of Sisian after a preliminary consent with a group of people. This person, during and after the military operations launched on September 27, has agreed with a number of opposition party leaders, former politicians and their supporters to seize power through these illegally acquired weapons, in particular to assassinate the Prime Minister, as well as to usurp power, and also they have even discussed issues relating to a possible candidate for the next prime minister.

As a result, the resident of Syunik province and a group of opposition party leaders, former officials and their supporters have acquired measures and tools for conducting a deliberate crime, as well as have deliberately created other conditions for preparing to commit the assassination of a government official and usurping power, however, all their plans were revealed and prevented by the National Security Service.

A group of people, including the leader of the Fatherland party Artur Vanetsyan, former Member of Parliament Vahram Baghdasaryan, as well as commander of the Sisian volunteers squad Ashot Minasyan have been arrested in suspicion of being involved in the conspiracy. Investigative operations are being carried out to find the remaining members of the group and prevent and neutralize their criminal activity.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Charges pressed against former MP Vahram Baghdasaryan for plotting assassination of state official

Liana Toganian

Charges pressed against former MP Vahram Baghdasaryan for plotting assassination of state official  

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 18:07,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Charges are pressed against former head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia Vahram Baghdasaryan and a motion has been filed for his detention, ARMENPRESS reports lawyer Vahagn Gasparyan told the reporters.

He said that the court session during which Baghdasaryan’s detention should be examined, has been cancelled, because it’s necessary to get acquainted with the materials. The session will take place on November 15, 18:30.

Earlier, the National Security Service of Armenia has announced that it has prevented an assassination of a government official, attempts to seize power by a group of people with prior consent, as well as revealed cases of illegal acquisition and possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives by a group of persons for this purpose.

In particular, a resident of Syunik province Ashot Minasyan, by using the fact of the presence of weapons in Artsakh during the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan, has illegally transported and stored large amount of weapons, ammunition, explosives in one of his buildings in the town of Sisian after a preliminary consent with a group of people. This person, during and after the military operations launched on September 27, has agreed with a number of opposition party leaders, former politicians and their supporters to seize power through these illegally acquired weapons, in particular to assassinate the Prime Minister, as well as to usurp power, and also they have even discussed issues relating to a possible candidate for the next prime minister.

As a result, the resident of Syunik province and a group of opposition party leaders, former officials and their supporters have acquired measures and tools for conducting a deliberate crime, as well as have deliberately created other conditions for preparing to commit the assassination of a government official and usurping power, however, all their plans were revealed and prevented by the National Security Service.

A group of people, including the leader of the Fatherland party Artur Vanetsyan, former Member of Parliament Vahram Baghdasaryan, as well as commander of the Sisian volunteers squad Ashot Minasyan have been arrested in suspicion of being involved in the conspiracy. Investigative operations are being carried out to find the remaining members of the group and prevent and neutralize their criminal activity.




Armenian, Russian FMs discuss future activities over Nagorno Karabakh

Karagyozian Lena

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 18:37,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Armenian FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on November 15. ARMENPRESS reports, citing the statement issued by the Russian MFA, the Ministers discussed the implementation process of the November 9 declaration signed between the leaders of Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, including the issues of the deployment of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone.

Sergey Lavrov informed about the plans of the Interdepartmental Center for Humanitarian Response established by the instruction of the Russian President on November 13.

The Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of establishing cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNESCO, the United Nations Development Program, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other multilateral organizations for easing the situation of civilians in the conflict zone and preserving religious and cultural sites.

President Sarkissian meets with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

Boris Nahapetian

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 19:27,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, ARMENPRESS reports Hassan Sajwani, active illustrator of UAE developments, wrote on his Twitter page.

‘’Both leaders discussed strengthening the relationship between our two countries. Sheikh Mohamed also expressed UAE’s support for a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and peace and stability in the region’’, he wrote.

The meeting took place in Abu Dhabi.

The world ignored Armenia’s pleas in latest fighting. U.S. must hold Turkey accountable

Hagop Kamalian

By Sevag Tateosian 

07:00 AM
Protesters with Armenian flags walk along a street during a protest against an agreement to halt fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in Yerevan, Armenia, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Yerevan once again on Wednesday, protesting an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to halt the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, which calls for deployment of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers and territorial concessions. Protesters clashed with police, and scores have been detained.Dmitri Lovetsky AP

A few days after the United States election, I tuned in to a local popular radio program at lunch to listen to what callers were saying. A few minutes into the program, and to my surprise, the topic of Armenia and Armenian-Americans came up. A caller provided analysis of Armenian-American voters in “battleground” states and was of the opinion that had President Trump recognized the Armenian Genocide, he’d get those votes and ultimately retain the presidency. 

After listening and thinking about the situation, the analysis has some merit. Armenian-Americans make up a portion of the electorate in battle ground states like Nevada, Arizona, Philadelphia, Wisconsin and Michigan. In those communities, they have churches and organizations. Had President Trump recognized the Genocide and not been so friendly to Turkish President Erdogan, perhaps more Armenian-Americans would have voted for him. For the record, Erdogan was quick to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden, even as his “friend” President Trump contests the election. 

A few minutes later, a second caller called and talked about the Armenian-American demonstrations in Fresno and around the world. The second caller’s question, “What do they want us to do, send troops?”

As an Armenian-American, I’d like to address this question. No, I don’t want to send troops. To the contrary, it was Turkey that inserted themselves in a dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They provided troops and technology (F-16s). Instead, I’d like our country and the world to stop turning a blind eye and hold Turkey and Azerbaijan accountable for their actions via sanctions. 

Approximately six weeks ago, the Azerbaijani military, with leadership from Turkish armed forces and Syrian mercenaries, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh. The war ended by Armenia signing an agreement to give up land to Azerbaijan in what many are calling a continuation of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. 

Dozens of drones were downed by Karabakh and Armenian forces. It was discovered that the Azerbaijani drones included components made in the United States from “name brand” companies. Armenian Americans are working with their representatives in Congress to prevent components from U.S. companies from being used in weapons, as done by Canada. The drones created havoc and killed innocent civilians.

War is ugly but there is evidence that Azerbaijani forces have committed appalling human rights abuses and war crimes. Video obtained by the BBC ( https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54645254) show an Armenian soldier and village civilian being shot with their hands behind their backs and in humiliating positions. These types of actions are why Armenian-Americans are pushing for sanctions and for Azerbaijani and Turkish leadership to be held accountable. Aid, security assistance and arms sales to both countries should be restricted. People like me are upset that our tax dollars are going to help two countries with terrible human rights records. 

Until the U.S. finds an alternative location for the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, like Germany did with finding a base in Jordan, the Turkish government will always have the upper hand in negotiations. Using the air base isn’t cheap. In 2010, public radio’s The World ran a report that suggested the air base was valued at approximately $1.7 billion dollars (https://www.pri.org/stories/2010-10-04/cost-empire). In 2003, Turkey’s leaders didn’t allow the U.S. to launch direct strikes into Iraq from the airbase, jeopardizing operations. To add insult to injury, it is believed that Incirlik is on historic Armenian lands. 

A lawsuit was filed years ago stating (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/land-under-us-airbase-stolen-by-turkey-during-armenian-genocide-according-to-lawsuit-filed-by-yeghiayan–associates-111950024.html) that the land was confiscated by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide. Considering that the base is in the Adana region, which had a large Armenian population pre-1915, this assertion is highly likely. 

As an Armenian-American, my hope and request is that the U.S., the only country I know and love, will not contribute to the wreckage caused by Azerbaijan, Turkey and the foreign mercenaries who are aiming for destruction of the Armenians. Already Azerbaijani leadership has begun to erase Armenian history. Just a few days after the agreement was signed, Anar Karimov, first deputy minister of culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, tweeted that historic Armenian churches are really Albanian and not Armenian (https://twitter.com/Anar_Karim/status/1326437397270310912). 

I hope Azerbaijan and Turkey are held accountable, but doubt anything will happen. The world ignored Armenia ‘s pleas again. 

Sevag Tateosian lives in Fresno and is a volunteer with the Armenian National Committee of America–Central California fighting for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. 
Sevag Tateosian Contributed Special to The Bee
Read more here:

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/15/2020

Garnik Tadevosian 
                                        Sunday, 
Armenian Opposition Leader Freed Despite Coup Charges
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Former National Security Service Director Artur Vanetsian addresses 
opposition protesters in Yerevan, November 11, 2020.
Artur Vanetsian, a former National Security Service (NSS) director leading an 
opposition party, was released from custody late on Sunday despite being charged 
with plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and overthrow 
Armenia’s government.
The NSS arrested Vanetsian and three other opposition members on Saturday. It 
formally brought the same coup and murder charges against three of the suspects 
on Sunday just hours after Yerevan courts opened hearings on appeals against 
their preliminary detention filed by their lawyers. The latter rejected the 
accusation as politically motivated.
One of the court judges agreed to declare Vanetsian’s detention unjustified and 
order his release. Another judge is expected to rule on Monday on the former NSS 
chief’s pre-trial arrest sought by investigators.
Vanetsian’s Hayrenik (Fatherland) party is one of 17 Armenian opposition groups 
that launched on November 10 street protests against the terms of a 
Russian-mediated ceasefire agreement that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war 
in Nagorno-Karabakh. They accuse Pashinian of capitulating to Azerbaijan and 
demand his resignation. The prime minister has dismissed the accusations.
The Armenian authorities say that the opposition protests are illegal, citing 
martial law declared by them following the outbreak of the war on September 27. 
The opposition forces have pledged to continue their demonstrations in Yerevan, 
however.
One of the arrested and indicted suspects, Ashot Minasian, is the commander of a 
volunteer militia from the southeastern town of Sisian that took part in the 
six-week war. The NSS claimed on Saturday to have found large quantities of 
weapons in a property belonging to him.
On Sunday the security service publicized what it described as audio of 
Minasian’s wiretapped phone conversations with two other suspects, Vahram 
Baghdasarian and Ashot Avagian, during which they blamed Pashinian for the 
unsuccessful war and seemingly discussed ways of assassinating him and seizing 
power.
Baghdasarian is a senior member of former President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican 
Party while Avagian is affiliated with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation 
(Dashnaktsutyun).
One of Vanetsian’s lawyers, Lusine Sahakian, insisted that the recordings do not 
prove her client’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy. Speaking before his 
release, Sahakian said the NSS has failed to substantiate its accusations 
against Vanetsian with any other evidence.
Vanetsian, 40, was appointed as head of the NSS immediately after the 2018 
“Velvet Revolution” that brought Pashinian to power. He resigned in September 
2019 after falling out with Pashinian. He has since repeatedly accused Pashinian 
of incompetence and misrule, prompting angry responses from the premier and his 
political allies.
Russia ‘Satisfied’ With Karabakh Truce Observance
Armenia - Russian peacekeeping troops heading to Nagorno-Karabakh are seen on a 
highway in Armenia, November 13, 2020.
In fresh phone calls with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia’s 
President Vladimir Putin has praised the implementation of a Russian-mediated 
ceasefire agreement that stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Kremlin said Putin phoned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev late on Saturday to discuss “practical 
aspects of implementing the agreement” announced by them on November 10.
“The parties expressed satisfaction over the observance of ceasefire and a 
fairly calm situation along the contact line,” it added in a statement.
The agreement came six weeks after the outbreak of large-scale hostilities in 
and around Karabakh that left thousands of soldiers from both sides dead and 
displaced tens of thousands of civilians.
Azerbaijan agreed to halt offensive military operations in return for an 
Armenian pledge to withdraw by the end of this month from three districts around 
Karabakh. Baku regained control over four other districts, which had been 
occupied by Karabakh Armenian forces in the early 1990s, during the latest war.
The truce accord also calls for the deployment in the conflict zone of around 
2,000 Russian peacekeepers and the return of refugees and internally displaced 
persons.
NAGORNO-KARABAKH -- A man loads possessions on his truck after setting his home 
on fire in Kelbajar (Karvachar), November 13, 2020.
Putin announced on Friday that the Russian government will set up an Interagency 
Center for Humanitarian Reaction to assist in the return of the refugees and 
reconstruction of civilian infrastructure damaged during the war. He said the 
center will also provide “humanitarian aid to residents of districts that have 
suffered from the hostilities.”
The Kelbajar district sandwiched between Armenia and Karabakh is due to be 
handed back to Azerbaijan by Monday. Virtually all of its 3,500 or so ethnic 
Armenian residents have left their homes in recent days. Many of them have 
burned down their houses and other properties.
Kelbajar is also home to the 12th century Armenian monastery of Dadivank. RFE/RL 
Armenian Service correspondent Susan Badalian reported from there on Saturday 
that scores of grief-stricken worshippers held farewell ceremonies as clergymen 
removed bells and traditional Armenian cross stones in advance of the area’s 
handover to Azerbaijan.
The monastery abbot, Father Hovannes, insisted at the same time he has no 
intention to leave Dadivank. “I’m going to stay in my church,” he told reporters.
Nagorno-Karabakh - The medieval Armenian monastery of Dadivank, September 8, 
2018.
Later on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the Armenian Apostolic Church said that the 
Dadivank clergymen will stay put and continue to hold religious services there. 
“Dadivank is now under the control of Russian peacekeepers and not at risk,” 
Father Vahram Melikian wrote on Facebook.
Russian soldiers set up a post just outside the monastery on Friday as they 
continued to enter Karabakh as part of their peacekeeping mission.
According to the Kremlin statement, Putin also discussed with Aliyev the fate of 
the Christian churches in areas handed over to Muslim Azerbaijan.
“In this context he stressed the importance of ensuring the preservation and 
normal operation of those holy sites,” the statement said. “The President of 
Azerbaijan expressed understanding in this respect and said that Azerbaijan will 
certainly act in this spirit.”
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

The Literary Armenian News – 11/15/2020

Nahapetian Zhanna

Artsakh War of the World 2020
2500 Armenian soldiers sacrificed
Mostly 18 year old recruits
“We ought to win”Was the war slogan
Ironic, engulfed in hubris
Hyperbole, high praise, folly
We had old tanks, Kalashnikovs and limited supplies
They, an unlimited trove of kamikaze drones
Made in Israel, electro-optically guided, swank
Deadly killers, and Turkish drones too
Made of EU and US parts, called Bayrakdar
Turkish flag proudly brandished on their side
Erdogan and Aliyev strutted their billion dollar bribes
To hush the international press and pay for positive coverage
The prostitutes of the world obliged. Including the NYT and LAT
But not the Guardian or the NY Post…
Russia laughed and watched the velvet revolution disintegrate
Watched our prime minister drown in his own verbal vomit
Watched our youth perish, fed Azeri beasts what they bought
Petro-dollars still pouring in. Petro-loot fueling their coffers
Buying ISIS fighters to come scalp Armenians for $100 bonuses
And when that did not work either, Turkish elite commandos!
US trained, NATO ally nation state, murderous genocidal thuggery
With F-16s.
In 2020
Artsakh lost seven provinces
1000 year history
Not as worthy of attention
As a criminal autocratic dictator’s whim
Georgia only too pleased to aid and facilitate
Ukraine signing military pacts with Turkey
Putin consolidating power and permanent presence
Under the guise of peace keeping
Two-faced dictator for life, he.
They will all pay, one day
After Trump is in the heap of history
His Turkish debts, his Azeri business deals
Exposed, and him rotting in jail
Orange jumpsuit matching his spray-painted hair
Wriggling every night through the howls of agony.
Bedros Afeyan
11-15-2020
Pleasanton, CA

—
Dr. Bedros Afeyan is a theoretical physicist who works and lives in the Bay area with his wife, Marine.
He writes in Armenian and in English and also paints and sculpts.
He is the current editor of The Literary Armenian News at News.org/tlg/
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CivilNet: Le journaliste Arthur Fouchère raconte les derniers jours de la guerre à Shushi

Emil Lazarian
CIVILNET.AM

14:32

Arthur Fouchère est un journaliste indépendant. Il se trouvait dans le Haut-Karabakh durant les derniers jours de la guerre. Dans l’interview accordée à CivilNet, il raconte la situation tendue à Shushi, les heures vécues à Stepanakert avec les derniers habitants résistants aux bombardements et un avenir optimiste qu’il perçoit pour l’Arménie.

UK hopes Karabakh armistice will “move the parties closer towards a fully negotiated settlement”

Eduard Nalbandian

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 13:58, 13 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The United Kingdom welcomes the Karabakh armistice and expresses hope that it will move the parties closer towards a fully negotiated settlement of the conflict, Nicola Murray, Deputy Head of the UK Delegation said at the OSCE Permanent Council on November 12.

“The United Kingdom welcomes the fact that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to end the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. It is clear that with the increasing numbers of civilian casualties and displaced persons, as well as the rising number of COVID-19 cases, a ceasefire was urgently needed. These actions will prevent further loss of life and will hopefully move the parties closer towards a fully negotiated settlement.

As the fighting subsides and winter sets in, we urge both parties to prioritise the humanitarian situation with a particular focus on the needs of women and children. Both the UNHCR and the ICRC should be given full access and support to provide much needed aid to civilians. We call on all parties to act responsibly and in good faith in enabling the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The UK would like to reiterate its support for the OSCE Minsk Group as the primary format through which any final settlement is reached. Its Madrid Principles provide a strong basis for a lasting resolution of the conflict, and its structures provide the framework for their implementation. We urge all parties to work closely with the Co-Chairs in support of their efforts.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan