Category: 2020

Artsakh Forces Down Turkish Bayraktar Drone

Ani Basmajian

October 19,  2020



[see video]

Video footage showing the wreckage of the five drones downed by Artsakh’s Defense Army proves that at least one of them was a Turkish Bayraktar TB2, the Artsakh Defense Ministry reported.

The sensor and optic gyroscope of the footage is similar to that of Bayraktar TB2 drone. Additionally, one of the power cables has an inscription in Turkish that reads,  “GÜÇ ve Haberleşme Kablosu,” which means power supply and communication cable.


An official investigation is pending.




Pashinyan Discusses Azerbaijan’s Aggression with Non-Parliamentary Parties

Emil Lazarian

October 19,  2020



Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with leaders of political forces not represented in parliament on Oct. 19

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday met with representatives of political forces that are not represented in parliament to discuss and brief them about the ongoing Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh that is supported by Turkey, his press office reported.

This was the second such meeting with parties not represented in parliament, with the first taking place on October 12. The same forces were in attendance at the meeting on Monday.

The meeting followed a meeting with the Parliamentary Council, which includes members of parties represented in parliament, as well as the chairs of the permanent legislative committees.

Participating in the meeting were Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov; Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Ishkhan Saghatelyan; Lilit Makunts of Pashinyan’s My Step faction, as well as parliament member Arman Babajanyan; Citizen’s Choice party executive board secretary Suren Sahakyan; and Armenian National Congress vice-president Levon Zurabyan, reported news.am.

On Saturday, Saghatelyan unveiled an announcement signed by 13 political parties calling for the “creation of a special body for the operative management of military-political issues, endowing it with the powers to make decisions, plan and coordinate operative actions.”

The parties also call for the involvement of “the former and incumbent presidents, prime ministers, ministers of defense and foreign affairs, and other persons with military and political experience of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh in order to effectively organize the defense of the homeland.”

The announcement was signed by the Freedom party, National Agenda party, National Democratic Union party, National Self-Determination Union party, Yerkir Tsirani party, Heritage party, Bright Armenia Party, Democratic Party of Armenia, Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Homeland party, For Social Justice party and One Armenia party.

Also on Saturday, the ARF Bureau Chairman Hagop Der Khachadourian met with Armenia’s former president Levon Ter-Petrossian as part of the party’s efforts to initiate dialogue with political forces in Armenia.

The two discussed the ongoing situation in the frontline and exchanged views on how best to ensure stability in Artsakh and Armenia.

Asbarez: Bishop Torkom Donoyan Unanimously Elected New Western Prelate

Kalantarian Kevo

October 19,  2020



Bishop Torkom Donoyan is the new Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Western U.S.

  • “Working for Armenia and Artsakh is my highest duty.”
  • “Serving the Armenian Church and people through the Holy Sea of Cilicia, is the reason for my existence.”
  • “Instilling the Christian faith in the lives of the youth, through the Western Prelacy is the focus of my mission.”
  • “Spreading the Gospel is my heavenly purpose.”

The 48th National Representatives Assembly of the Western Prelacy took place on Friday, October 16 at the “Avedissian” Hall in Encino. During the second session of the meeting, the representatives unanimously elected Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, as the new prelate of the Western Prelacy. Donoyan succeeds Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, who served as prelate for the past 25 years.

Immediately following the announcement of the election, the newly elected prelate was greeted with a standing ovation as he entered the hall. The clergy formed a procession, and with the singing of “Ourakh Ler” and “Hrashapar,” they guided the newly-elected prelate Bishop into Holy Marty’s Church to say the “Canonical Prayer.”

Following the “Canonical Prayer,” Donoyan received the prelate’s staff from his predecessor and delivered his first message to representatives and clergy members.

The prelate stated, “Prayer is fundamental in strengthening the spirit, enlightening the mind, having a healthy body and is a daily presence in my life. That is why, today, I pray with a deeper conviction that God will give me strength, as I am elected the prelate of the Western Prelacy by His blessing and your votes. I believe and trust the words of the psalmist; “Lord I put my trust in You, do not forsake those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10.)

“With sincerity and a deep gratitude, I greet His Holiness Aram I. Catholicos of the Great See of Cilicia, whose educational leadership I have gained throughout my tenure at the seminary. I pray and wish that God grants H.H. Aram I, Catholicos, a healthy and long life, so that he may continue to lead his flock to greener pastures and calmer waters,” added the new prelate.

Continuing his remarks, the prelate thanked Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian for his lengthy, keen and high esteemed service to the prelacy.

“He became a good example of diligence, hard work, consistency and endurance. Through his service and experiences, he became great, and like many others, I have learned a great deal from Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. I believe that his greatness will continue in the coming years as well, and wished him a healthy and peaceful life,” added Donoyan.

He continued his message to the representatives, saying: “Thank you for your trust and by a unanimous vote, you have placed a heavy yet sweet burden of responsibility on my shoulders, which I trust that we will carry together: by the leverage of our clergy members and the unreserved partnership of the Executive Council. With the spirit of renewed faith, hope, unfaltering love, let us come together, unite and work towards a better and brighter future for our church and youth.”

Speaking about the war in Artsakh, the prelate reconfirmed that “Armenia and Artsakh remain the main focus in the lives, deeds and prayers of each Armenian. War cannot shake the faith of an Armenian, and the prime example is the current war in Artsakh. Hence, that is why I work even stronger for the Armenian and Artsakh cause.”

The prelate expressed and emphasized the importance of service to the people and the Church. “Each clergy member is a servant of God and His people. He finds greatness through his service. I have learned the importance of service at the seminary. With the spirit of service, I place my being on the altar of God, to serve Him and His people. That is the reason why serving the Armenian Church and people through the Holy Sea of Cilicia, is the reason for my existence.” stated the prelate.

Also, realizing the importance of our youth’s upbringing, the prelate stated that throughout the last decades within the prelacy, there have been many initiatives which have been implemented to foster the spiritual care of our youth, such as; Prelacy day schools, Sunday schools and Bible studies. Today, more than ever, our youth should be our utmost priority within our communities. Hence, “Instilling Christian faith in the lives of the youth, through the western prelacy is the focus of my mission.”

With regards to the importance of spreading the Christian faith throughout our lives, the prelate confirmed this thought by saying; “I am a messenger of God’s word. Before all things, I am called to be a soldier of God through my service and spreading the living word of God to His people. Also, in contrast with the prior statement, I consider one of my most important tasks is to prepare and aid in the spiritual maturity of the church’s servants and Sunday school teachers. Therefore, spreading the Gospel is my heavenly purpose.”

The newly elected prelate also wished for the end of all wars, and for peace to reign throughout the world. Also, appealing for God to heal all those who are in pain and are weary, for the production of the Corona virus vaccine and for all types of trials and tribulations to be resolved in peace.

In conclusion, Prelate Donoyan appealed that may he be allowed to put forth his youthful enthusiasm and charisma to action, for the sake of the collective “us.”
Following the singing of the “Lord’s Prayer,” the representatives delivered congratulatory remarks to the newly elected prelate and wished him success in his mission to the Prelacy and the Armenian Church.

Bishop Torkom Donoyan was born in 1986, in Beirut, Lebanon. He has received his early education at the “Souren Khanamirian” school. He was accepted to the Holy Sea of Cilicia seminary in 1997, and ordained a celibate priest in 2006. In 2010 he defended his thesis “the anathema within the Armenian Church,” and received the rank of Vartabed.

In 2016, he defended his second thesis “the Armenian Prelacy in Adana,” and received the rank of Dzayrakouyn Vartabed.

From 2006 until 2013, he has been the director of the Christian Education Department in Antelias, Lebanon. From 2010 until 2014, he has been the choir master at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, and has been the choir conductor of both the Catholicosate’s “Shnorhali” and the Seminary’s “Armash” choirs. From 2013 until 2015, he has been the editor of the Catholicosate’s “Hask” monthly newsletter. Also, while conducting the tasks mentioned above, he has also been an educator at the Seminary, Antelias Armenian Studies Center and local schools.

He was the Dean of the Seminary from 2014 to 2016. He has authored many books, pamphlets, articles and has given many speeches to various parishes throughout Lebanon and abroad. He has studied music in Beirut and Yerevan, and received master classes in vocal training in England.

In 2016, he completed comprehensive theological studies, with an emphasis on the rituals and music of the Anglican Church, at St. Michael’s Anglican Seminary in Wales, United Kingdom.

In 2017, by the decision of rchbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and the joint council, he was appointed as Vicar General of the Western Prelacy.

In 2018, he was ordained as a Bishop by Catholicos Aram I.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/19/2020

Jalatian Sonya 
                                        Monday, 
Armenian, Azeri Leaders Say Ready To Meet
        • Heghine Buniatian
Germany -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (R) and Azerbaijani President 
Ilham Aliyev meet in Munich, February 15, 2020.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 
expressed readiness on Monday to meet in Moscow for urgent talks on the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The two men were interviewed by the official Russian news agency TASS as heavy 
fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continued in and around 
Karabakh.
“The Karabakh conflict must be resolved by exclusively peaceful means … And I’m 
ready to make every effort to achieve such a result, including to travel [to 
Moscow,] meet and talk,” said Pashinian.
He said that Armenia remains committed to a “compromise” peace deal. “If there 
is no such readiness on the opposite side we are ready to fight till the end for 
our people, our compatriots in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
Aliyev said, for his part, that Baku is “prepared for any contacts” with 
Yerevan. “We are always ready to meet in Moscow or any other place to end the 
conflict and reach a settlement,” he told TASS.
Aliyev noted at the same time that he has received “no such invitation” from 
Russia yet.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted on October 9-10 talks between his 
Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts that resulted in an agreement to stop 
hostilities in the conflict zone. However, the fighting has continued since 
then, with each side accusing the other of violating the agreement.
Lavrov said earlier on Monday that Moscow keeps pressing the sides to stop the 
war and resume “substantive” peace talks that will center on a framework peace 
accord proposed by the Russian, French and U.S. co-chairs of the Minsk Group.
Aliyev said that unlike Armenia’s current leadership he supports the proposed 
settlement that calls, among other things, for Armenian withdrawal from 
districts around Karabakh before an agreement on the disputed territory’s 
status, the main bone of contention.
Pashinian put the emphasis on Azerbaijan’s recognition of the Karabakh 
Armenians’ right to self-determination. This issue is of “strategic importance” 
to the Armenian side, he said.
UN Chief Urges Armenia, Azerbaijan To Restore Truce
        • Heghine Buniatian
U.S. -- Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, speaking 
during the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, September 
21, 2020
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Armenia and 
Azerbaijan to respect their latest ceasefire agreement and resume peace talks 
mediated by France, Russia and the United States.
“The Secretary-General deeply regrets that the sides have continuously ignored 
the repeated calls of the international community to immediately stop the 
fighting,” read a statement released by a spokesman for Guterres on Sunday.
“The Secretary-General notes the latest announcement on the start of the 
humanitarian truce on 18 October and expects both parties to fully abide by this 
commitment and resume substantive negotiations without delay under the auspices 
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” it said.
The truce was due to come into force early on Sunday. However, hostilities in 
the Karabakh conflict zone have continued since then, with each side accusing 
the other of violating the agreement.
Guterres also condemned shelling of civilian areas which has killed dozens of 
people from both sides.
“The tragic loss of civilian lives, including children, from the latest reported 
strike on 16 October on the [Azerbaijani] city of Ganja is totally unacceptable, 
as are indiscriminate attacks on populated areas anywhere, including in 
Stepanakert/Khankendi and other localities in and around the immediate 
Nagorno-Karabakh zone of conflict,” said the statement.
“As [Guterres] underscored again in his latest calls with the Foreign Ministers 
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, both sides have the obligation under international 
humanitarian law to take constant care to spare and protect civilians and 
civilian infrastructure in the conduct of military operations,” it said.
Russia ‘Keeps Trying’ To Stop Karabakh War
RUSSIA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint press 
conference with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanian following their 
talks in Moscow on October 12, 2020.
Russia keeps pressing Armenia and Azerbaijan to work out a “verification 
mechanism” that would ensure their compliance with ceasefire agreements reached 
by them, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
“In order for the ceasefire to work -- we have seen that after two documents 
that were adopted but did not allow to radically change the situation on the 
ground -- [it is necessary] to create a mechanism to verify compliance with the 
ceasefire regime,” Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.
“We, including our Defense Ministry, are actively working on that, with 
colleagues from Azerbaijan and Armenia in the first instance,” he said, 
according to the TASS news agency. “I hope that such a mechanism will be agreed 
on in the very near future.”
Lavrov made a case for such a mechanism after an Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire 
agreement brokered by Russia on October 10 failed to stop hostilities in and 
around Nagorno-Karabakh. He said Moscow is ready to deploy “military observers” 
to the conflict zone as part of such an arrangement. Azerbaijan reportedly 
objected to the idea.
According to a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the Russians 
tried unsuccessfully to organize a meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani military 
officials last week. She said representatives of the Armenian Defense Ministry 
flew to Moscow but the meeting did not take place because their Azerbaijani 
counterparts did not show up.
Lavrov again spoke with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts on Saturday. 
The separate phone calls were followed by the announcement of another 
Armenian-Azerbaijani truce agreement which was reportedly brokered by France. 
Fighting in Karabakh continued even after that deal, which the warring sides 
accusing each other of not respecting it.
Lavrov on Monday also urged the sides as well as “international players” to tone 
down their “confrontational rhetoric.” “The next absolutely necessary step … is 
a halt to the hostilities and strikes on civilian areas,” he said.
Earlier in the day the Armenian Foreign Ministry insisted that Yerevan remains 
“faithful” to the truce agreements. It claimed that Baku “does not want or is 
unable to implement” them.
Trump Praises Armenians On Campaign Trail
        • Harry Tamrazian
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha 
Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, October 13, 2020.
U.S. President Donald Trump has lavished praise on Americans of Armenian descent 
and said his administration is “working” to address their concerns.
Trump reacted to a supportive chant from an Armenian American woman as he spoke 
at an election campaign rally in Nevada on Sunday. “We are working on some 
things,” he said without elaborating.
“Armenians, they are good people,” Trump went on. “They are great businesspeople 
too, you know … Where I just left there were some many Armenians with beautiful 
flags. We’re working on some things.”
“People from Armenia, they have a great spirit for their country. Thank you very 
much,” he added.
Trump spoke after being greeted in neighboring California by Armenian American 
supporters who waved Armenian flags and urged the U.S. administration to 
recognize Nagorno-Karabakh and help stop Turkey’s military support for 
Azerbaijan.
Trump has still not publicly commented on the hostilities in and around Karabakh 
that broke out on September 27. But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has 
repeatedly called for an end to the fighting.
On Thursday Pompeo also criticized Turkey’s involvement in the conflict. “We now 
have the Turks, who have stepped in and provided resources to Azerbaijan, 
increasing the risk, increasing the firepower that’s taking place in this 
historic fight,” he told broadcaster WSB Atlanta.
“We’re hopeful that the Armenians will be able to defend against what the 
Azerbaijanis are doing, and that they will all, before that takes place, get the 
ceasefire right, and then sit down at the table and try and sort through this,” 
Pompeo said in remarks criticized by Azerbaijan.
The United States, Russia and France have long been leading international 
efforts to end the Karabakh conflict through the Minsk Group of the Organization 
for Security Organization in Europe.
Moscow brokered an Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire agreement on October 10. 
Hostilities in the conflict zone have continued since then, however.
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic rival in the November 3 
presidential election, last week expressed deep concern over the “collapse” of 
the ceasefire and accused the Trump administration of being “largely passive and 
disengaged.”
Karabakh Ceasefire Still Not Holding
NAGORNO-KARABAKH -- An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) explodes atop of a mountain 
outside Stepanakert, 
Hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone reportedly continued on Monday 
two days after another humanitarian ceasefire agreement announced by Armenia and 
Azerbaijan.
Karabakh’s Armenian-backed army said Azerbaijani forces again started shelling 
in the morning its frontline positions north and south of Karabakh. It said its 
troops are “taking adequate measures” in response.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said, for its part, that Armenian forces shelled 
Azerbaijani districts north and east of Karabakh overnight and in the morning.
The conflicting parties continued to accuse each other of not respecting the 
ceasefire agreement which was reportedly brokered by French President Emmanuel 
Macron and was supposed to come into force on Sunday morning.
“Minutes after the announcement of the humanitarian truce, the Azerbaijani armed 
forces resumed hostilities and on the morning of October 18 launched a 
large-scale offensive on the southern front,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said 
in a statement.
“In fact, this is the second ceasefire agreement that Azerbaijan does not want 
or is unable to implement,” it added, referring to a similar deal that was 
brokered by Russia on October 10.
Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le 
Drian discussed the situation on the ground in a phone call on Sunday. According 
to his press office, Mnatsakanian “reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to 
strengthening the ceasefire regime.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claimed, meanwhile, that it was the Armenian 
side that “blatantly violated” the truce agreement early on Sunday. He said at 
the same time that the Azerbaijani army has made more territorial gains since 
then.
Karabakh authorities said that the Karabakh town of Martuni and several villages 
came under Azerbaijani rocket fire on the night from Sunday to Monday. But the 
Karabakh capital Stepanakert was not shelled for a second consecutive night, 
RFE/RL correspondent Susan Badalian reported from the scene.
Most local residents continued to stay in basements and bomb shelters. Some of 
them told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that they expect renewed shelling.
Many buildings in Stepanakert have been seriously damaged since the start of the 
war on September 27.
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.

CivilNet: An Israeli Photojournalist’s Insight of Karabakh During the War

Dabaghian Diana
CIVILNET.AM

19:00

Gilad Sade is a photojournalist from Israel and he is currently in Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh covering the ongoing war. 

Sade gives his take about the current situation in the region. Through images and stories, the journalist portrays the aftermath of war on the people of Karabakh. 

It’s been 22 days that the region has shifted from peace to despair since Azerbaijan started to attack the capital Stepanakert on September 27.

CivilNet: Azerbaijani and Armenian Leaders Express Readiness to Resolve Issue Politically

Badalian Vardan
CIVILNET.AM

19:21

Azerbaijan is ready to stop the bloodshed and resolve the Karabakh issue politically, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Russia’s TASS.ru news agency on October 19.

“In this case, the priority is the political will of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders. From our side, that is present. I reaffirm our position once again, especially today, following the announcement of 13 liberated communities and following defeat by the Armenian army. Azerbaijan is showing its advantages in the battlefield. Despite this, not wanting to continue the bloodshed, and wanting to save people’s lives, we are ready for this issue to be resolved through political means,” said President Aliyev.

The president also noted that Azerbaijan is committed to to the basic principles of negotiations, which include the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh, discussions regarding the future of Nagorno Karabakh, and return of refugees. And that following the settlement of these issues, the deployment of foreign peacekeepers will be agreed upon by Armenia and Azerbaijan, he noted.

On the same day the news agency also released an interview with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who expressed readiness to meet President Aliyev in Moscow for talks on the conflict.

Responding to the reporter’s question about his openness to meet Aliyev, Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan said, “The Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, that is our position.”

Pashinyan mentioned that the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh should be based on compromise.

“And if there is no readiness from the other side, we are ready to fight to the end for the rights of our people, the rights of our compatriots in Nagorno Karabakh. This is the position of the Armenian government, the people of Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora, and I think it is an honest, constructive position,” Pashinyan continued.

The renewed fighting between the sides began on September 27, following an Azerbaijani offensive, backed by artillery fire and precision drone strikes. The New York Times reports that while Armenia’s limited air defenses have failed to stop the drones, but its troops, bolstered by volunteers and conscripts, have slowed the Azerbaijani advance. The use of Syrian mercenaries, deployed by Turkey to Azerbaijan, has added a new layer of security issues in the region. 

CivilNet: Day 23, A Diary of War, Nagorno-Karabakh

Parkev Tvankchian
CIVILNET.AM

02:25

I spoke with a friend a few days ago. She asked me if I had ever written a diary. I thought for a while, and realized I hadn’t. I remember that once I asked my grandmother to buy me a diary, there was such a beautiful pink notebook (it was a luxury in the 2000s). I tried to write, but after two sentences it got boring. Once I heard in a movie that happy people don’t have time to write diaries, they are too busy living life. I always believed in this, living life to the fullest. The saddest thing about this is that if I’m not bored with writing a diary any longer, it means I am not happy, to some extent. Well, but who is happy now? In times like these… So this diary has become my friend in these difficult days.

Today, I found a grey hair on my head. In the last five years, I regularly wanted to dye it red, but never dared. There was a day I decided to do it, but they refused me in the beauty salon, saying my hair is so natural, why? “You have no  grey hair. No, I won’t do it, if you want, go to another place.” So, I left it that way, and deep down I was even a little proud – “oh, I don’t have grey hair!” Well, today life has decided that I must have at least one grey hair. They say that hair turns grey when a person becomes wise, or when worries about someone.

I think I matured on September 27, 2020: at the time of the bombing, when we went down to the first floor of our building. Or maybe when I saw my little sister trembling with fear (literally trembling). Or maybe when my brother went to the frontline? I don’t know at what exact moment, but I know for sure – during this war.

From now on, the fish are my responsibility again. I’m not complaining, I really love them. I’ve had fish before, but they died a month later. It was very sad. And today again, I said goodbye to their owner. Now, we are again waiting for him. 

I hate the word “wait” as well as the process itself. It’s a ridiculous  phenomenon when you are powerless, and the only thing given is inaction. How can the disobedient soul of an Armenian woman follow this? It cuts like а blade of a not very sharp knife. And all we have to do is wait: for a brother, for a friend, for a meeting of ministers, presidents, and then for their statements. And then – to guess the veracity of those statements. Well, and of course, wait for the end of the war. We are doomed to wait, alas, there is nothing else we can do. 

But during this waiting it is still possible to do some little things. 

Today, I visited some of Stepanakert’s residents in one of the shelters. And there were some children there. To be honest, I missed children’s voices in the city so much. I thought all of them had gone. But here they are, they live in their city and are not going anywhere. I talked to them. Their mother said when a car came to take them to Yerevan, the children started crying and did not want to go anywhere. They said, “Mom, please, let us stay here! We know you are afraid for us, but this is our home, how can we leave it?” And they stayed. They cannot go outside to play, they cannot see their friends, their father, but most of all they miss their school. For me this is one of the worst aspects of this war, that children are deprived of the chance to learn. Can you imagine? In the 21st century, children are deprived of the right to learn. How will the world live with this…

I’ll end today’s post with a story about the last war. Once a boy was reading a book under the light of a candle (First Artsakh war, 1988-1994). His neighbor asked, “Hey boy, what are you doing? There is a war going on.” And the boy replied, “What do you mean? Do you want me to remain ignorant because of the war? No, I don’t think so!”

I think people like him were and are the basis of everything good and kind that surrounds us.