Category: 2020

Not a single meter from the territory of Armenia will be ceded – Defense Minister

Toneyan Mark
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 17 2020
Not a single meter from the territory of the Republic of Armenia will be ceded, Armenia’s Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan said at a meeting with the heads of a number of communities of Syunik province.

The participants of the meeting presented to the Minister of Defense their concerns about the difficult situation created in the region due to the border adjustments. The community leaders reported that due to the border changes, a number of settlements will be targeted by the enemy, including the regional center Kapan.

The Minister of Defense noted that the border is being adjusted in the presence of high-ranking officers of both sides, that not a single meter will be conceded from the territory of the Republic of Armenia. He stressed that these areas will be controlled by the Russian border guards, and a relevant agreement has already been reached. The Minister said it will create additional guarantees to strengthen the security system.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan noted that a whole complex of measures is being taken to ensure the security of these zones, in particular, new military units are being formed, new infrastructure is being created, and this process will be continuous.


War in Nagorno-Karabakh to be high on the agenda of Armenia-EU Partnership Council session – FM

Karlen Baghdasarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 17 2020

The war in Nagorno-Karabakh and regional issues will be at the center of discussion of the third session of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council, Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian said in a doorstep statement ahead of the meeting: The Foreign Minister further noted:

As you know, this is the third meeting of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council. And it is timely and important meeting when we are going to discuss a wide range of issues, starting from situation in Nagorno Karabakh and in the region, and also issues concerning with Armenia-EU political dialogue, implementation of Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement as well as our participation in the framework of the Eastern Partnership. Of course, we will also address the issues of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different spheres of our life and the ways of overcoming it. 

There will be an important reflection on our reforms agenda including democracy, implementation of rule of law and protection of human rights. We will touch upon the cooperation in different sectors among them trade and economy, political dialogue, education, transport, energy and environment.

I would like to note with satisfaction that since our last Partnership Council meeting, all but one state already notified the ratification of the CEPA agreement. And the draft of the roadmap of the provisions that still are not into force, have been drafted in Armenia. We are looking very much forward to the early prompt ratification of CEPA and its full entry into the force, so the effects of our cooperation will amplify and multiply to the benefit of the people of the Republic of Armenia. 

Of course, at the center of our discussion will be the regional topics and the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, when Azerbaijan challenged the values of the very initiative of the Eastern Partnership, our core European values. Azerbaijan blatantly violated its international commitments by using force against the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, deliberately targeting the civilian population and vital civilian infrastructure, committing systematic and heinous war crimes targeting not only the indigenous people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), but also our rich religious and cultural heritage explicitly demonstrating its genocidal intent to wipe out any reminders of Armenia’s millenia-old presence in the region.

You know that this aggression was directly supported by Turkey, in overall this aggression undermined the security and peace in the South Caucasus. It also put in evidence that Turkey and Azerbaijan set a precedent for solving the conflicts in the area of Eastern Partnership.

And in this regard we would like to hear the opinion of our colleagues of the European Union about this last aggression and its implication on regional stability. 

Cynical and aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan is not acceptable and should be condemned because they put into question the core values of the Eastern Partnership.

We are also looking very much forward to hearing the role of the European Union in addressing the consequences of this aggression particularly in regard to the overcoming of the humanitarian crisis on the ground. 



Ombudsman to send maps presenting parts of Armenia as “historical Azerbaijani lands” to international bodies

Karlen Baghdasarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 17 2020

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Taoyan has presented the maps that the Azerbaijani military have in their special booklets. Most of these maps show the Republic of Armenia as a historical territory of Azerbaijan.

According to the Ombudsman, these maps are accompanied by texts that clearly do not correspond to reality, which are directly based on the theses of the propaganda of anti-Armenianism and hostility organized by the Azerbaijani authorities.

Moreover, he says, those very texts are accompanied by inflammatory and inspiring expressions of deep hatred towards Armenians.


“All this is falls within the competence of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, as it concerns the guarantee of the entire Armenian people’s rights to life, property and all others rights, their protection from torture and inhuman treatment,” Arman Tatoyan said.

According to him, it is this kind of propaganda that has over years developed an institutional system of propaganda of hatred and enmity towards Armenians based on ethnicity in Azerbaijan.

The Ombudsman’s investigation shows that these are among the main reasons why the Azerbaijani Armed Forces committed and continue to commit war crimes, atrocities (beheadings, shootings, torture, etc.) against Armenians in April 2016, September-November 2020 and other periods.

Expert examination of videos of atrocities by Armenian Ombudsman’s staff confirms that Azerbaijani servicemen use expressions derived from the propaganda theses of inspiration when torturing or killing Armenian soldiers or civilians.

All this is confirmed by real and concrete evidence obtained by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

“It is obvious that in the face of these challenges today more than ever we need solidarity, unity, respect for each other and exclusion of any kind of development that could lead to tensions within our country, for the sake of each of us and the rights of our entire nation,” the Human Rights Defender said.

“The international community, and especially international organizations with a mandate to protect human rights, must take decisive action to prevent a reprehensible propaganda of hatred and enmity towards Armenians based on ethnicity, using information that is clearly untrue. They must prove that they are true to their calling and mission, that they still adhere to the international rules they have established,” Arman Tatoyan added.

The Ombudsman will send all this, accompanied by a corresponding analysis, will be sent to international bodies and will be provided to the relevant structures of Armenia.


Dutch Parliament passes motion, calling for humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh

Antranik Varosian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 17 2020

The Dutch Parliament passed a motion today, calling on the government to immediately offer humanitarian aid to Armenians affected by the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, in support of their basic necessities, such as food, shelter and medical aid, reports the Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands.

The motion establishes that many hospitals and other basic facilities in Nagorno-Karabakh have been devastated by the violence of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Syrian rebels.

It stressed the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for both the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh and people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

From 27 September 2020 to 8 December 2020 there have been 22 motions submitted in the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamen) of the Netherlands concerning the war violence by Azerbaijan, Turkey and Syrian rebels against Nagorno-Karabakh.




Patriots Coach Belichick speaks in support of Armenians and conflict against Azerbaijan

Markos Nalchajian
Wicked Local, MA
Dec 17 2020
Jackson Ripley  |  Wicked Local

Two of the things for which New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is known for is winning Super Bowls and keeping his nose out of politics. But last month he broke his usual silence to speak out in support of Armenians and their conflict against Azerbaijan.  

“I hope that our country will take action against Turkey and Azerbaijan for their unprovoked and deadly attacks on Armenians,” Belichick told the Boston Globe in a Nov. 18 article. In the past, Belichick has joined the Patriots’ Director of Football Operations Berj Najarian, who is of Armenian descent, in bringing Americans’ attention to issues affecting Armenians.  

Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has also been vocal about the conflict. On December 6, after the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers, Newton was spotted sporting custom cleats designed by Najarian and bearing the colors of the Armenian flag to show support for Armenia.  

            But Lexington resident John Sahagian, who is Armenian, sees the gestures differently. “The reason Belichick [spoke out] is he’s familiar with someone who’s Armenian American,” Sahagian, 82, said. “If he didn’t know that person he might not have said anything.”  

While Sahagian is happy to see prominent figures like Belichick show their support for the Armenian struggle, he doesn’t believe it will make more Americans care. “People who care about issues such as genocide will discuss this, and get involved with it,” said the retired electronics salesman, but it’s not necessary for other organizations like the Patriots to do so.  

When Belichick made these comments last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan had recently agreed to a tenuous ceasefire brokered by Russia. The deal has held up, however tensions are high and there are concerns that peace won’t last much longer.  

On Sept. 27, Azeri forces supported by their Turkish allies, invaded the Nagorno-Karabahk region between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Control of the ethnically-Armenian region has been viscously contested since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

Sarah Ignatius, executive director of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research in Belmont, said she believes Turkey’s involvement in the conflict is a continuation of “anti-Armenian sentiment” painfully marked by the Armenian genocide, which occurred in the early twentieth century and resulted in an estimated 1.5 million Armenian deaths. Ignatius also cited claims of human rights abuses in the area, such as the bombing of civilian areas and the use of the chemical weapon white phosphorous.  

“This is a complicated, underreported area of the world,” Ignatius said. “What happened there shouldn’t be able to occur without people knowing about it and trying to do something to prevent that in the future.”  

Jackson Ripley is a Boston University journalism student writing as part of a collaboration with BU News Service.

Gazprom and Armenia discuss terms of gas supplies in 2021

Garo Vardanian
TASS, Russia
Dec 17 2020
Since January 1, 2019, the price of Russian gas for Armenia has increased from $150 to $165 per 1,000 cubic meters

MOSCOW, December 17. / TASS /. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan discussed the terms of gas supplies in 2021, the gas holding said in a statement on Thursday.

"The parties discussed the results of work on gas supplies to Armenia in 2020 and the terms of supplies in 2021," the statement said. Gazprom is the only gas supplier to consumers in Armenia. The gas supplier to the domestic market of the country is Gazprom Armenia.

Since January 1, 2019, the price of Russian gas for Armenia has increased from $150 to $165 per 1,000 cubic meters. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the republic Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said earlier that the issue of reducing the price of Russian gas is of great importance for Armenia, negotiations with Moscow in this direction are continuing. At the end of March, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan sent a letter to the head of Gazprom with a proposal to start new negotiations on reducing gas prices due to the worsening economic situation associated with the spread of the new coronavirus.


Bodies of nine Armenian servicemen found in Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd section

Varazdat Torgomian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 17 2020

On December 16, the bodies of nine Armenian servicemen found near the Armenian military positions in the direction of Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd were handed over to the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh by the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the area, Artsakh’s Ministry of Defense said.

Necessary actions are being taken at the moment to find out the circumstances of the soldiers’ death and their identity, the Ministry added.

The Defense Army said on the eve that the fate of 73 people in that section was unknown.

Armenian ombudsman: Government must provide proper explanations to public

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 17 2020

The anxiety and anger of residents of Kapan, Goris and other towns and border villages of Syunik Province of Armenia, including those related to the process of demarcation and delimitation of borders in the region, are justified, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said on Thursday.

“We are talking about the right to life and other fundamental rights of the residents of these settlements, their physical safety and security, the opportunities to ensure their livelihood and, finally, the security of Armenia’s state borders,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Along with specialists of my office, I paid a special working visit to Syunik and was convinced of the relevance of these issues. In addition, since early yesterday morning and today, the Office of the Human Rights Defender has been receiving alarming calls and concerns from residents of Syunik border communities over the same issues, and protest actions are being monitored.

“I emphasize that the government of Armenia (not the local authorities of Syunik), the supreme executive body of our country, must provide proper explanations to the public and especially residents of border settlements on issues and developments concerning them and our society as a whole.

“This is a right of citizens granted by the Constitution. The state has a direct obligation to ensure it, period!” the ombudsman said. 


Pilgrimage to the Armenian St. Thaddeus Monastery in Iran inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Heritage list

Babken Chilingarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 17 2020
Pilgrimage to the Armenian St. Thaddeus Monastery in Iran inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Heritage list

Pilgrimage to the Armenian St. Thaddeus Apostle Monastery in Iran has been inscribed on UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The annual three-day pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus Apostle Monastery in northwestern Iran is held each July. The pilgrimage venerates two prominent saints: St. Thaddeus, one of the first apostles preaching Christianity, and St. Santukhd, the first female Christian martyr.

The bearers of the element are the Armenian population in Iran, Iranian-Armenians residing in Armenia, and followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Pilgrims gather in Tabriz before departing for the monastery. They cover 700 kilometers from Yerevan to the monastery annually.

The commemoration ceremony includes special liturgies, processions, prayers and fasting. It culminates in a Holy Mass with Holy Communion. Special times are set aside for traditional Armenian folk performances and Armenian dishes are served.

The pilgrimage is the primary social and cultural event of the year. Because attendees reside in tents in close proximity to one another, the sense of community is enhanced. The monastery has been a pilgrimage site for over nineteen centuries.

However, during the years of Soviet power in Armenia, participating in the pilgrimage was prohibited. Bearers of the element preserved cultural memories of the pilgrimage and transmitted it to families and communities. Only after independence in the 1990s was the pilgrimage from Armenia resumed.

https://en.armradio.am/2020/12/17/pilgrimage-to-the-armenian-st-thaddeus-monastery-in-iran-inscribed-on-unesco-intangible-heritage-list/



Armenian ombudsman: Government must provide proper explanations to public (corrected source)

Boris Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 17 2020

The anxiety and anger of residents of Kapan, Goris and other towns and border villages of Syunik Province of Armenia, including those related to the process of demarcation and delimitation of borders in the region, are justified, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said on Thursday.

“We are talking about the right to life and other fundamental rights of the residents of these settlements, their physical safety and security, the opportunities to ensure their livelihood and, finally, the security of Armenia’s state borders,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Along with specialists of my office, I paid a special working visit to Syunik and was convinced of the relevance of these issues. In addition, since early yesterday morning and today, the Office of the Human Rights Defender has been receiving alarming calls and concerns from residents of Syunik border communities over the same issues, and protest actions are being monitored.

“I emphasize that the government of Armenia (not the local authorities of Syunik), the supreme executive body of our country, must provide proper explanations to the public and especially residents of border settlements on issues and developments concerning them and our society as a whole.

“This is a right of citizens granted by the Constitution. The state has a direct obligation to ensure it, period!” the ombudsman said.