Category: 2021

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar said he was encouraged to hear Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s leaderships’ willingness to work together with the European Union in addressing the multiple challenges following the 2020 large-scale hostilities. In a series of tweets Toivo Klaar summed up his recent trips to Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

“Important to continue humanitarian efforts and crucial work on recovery of bodies of missing, including from the 1990s, and for confidence-building measures such as prompt return of all detainees and cooperation on pressing needs, including to address the impact of mines,” the EU representative added. 

In another tweet Toivo Klaar pointed to the need to cease negative public rhetoric. “Planning to be back in the region soon to pursue consultations on how the European Union can be the most useful in assisting both Armenia and Azerbaijan in the context of current challenges,” said the Eu official. 

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a country update on religious freedom conditions in Azerbaijan. The report evaluates trends relevant to freedom of religion or belief in Azerbaijan since USCIRF commissioners and staff traveled to the country in early 2020. 

According to the document in recent years, Azerbaijan has implemented some changes that have marked an improvement in conditions for religious freedom, such as ending law enforcement raids on religious communities and reportedly pardoning many religious activists. However, religious freedom in Azerbaijan remains severely impeded by problematic legislation, particularly the country’s 2009 law “On Freedom of Religious Beliefs,” which the government has shown little interest in revising. This country update also details the many obstacles posed by mandatory registration and other restrictions on religious communities, the continued imprisonment of religious activists, and recent violations committed in the context of the renewed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

As the report said, during the course of fighting in October, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of purposefully shelling the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. The cathedral was hit twice by precision missile strikes that severely damaged the roof and interior of the building. It recalls Human Rights Watch conclusion that the attack was intentional, constituting a war crime that should be investigated and prosecuted.

“The announcement of a ceasefire in early November formalized the territorial gains Azerbaijan had made militarily, and it set a staggered timeline for the cession of additional territories to Azerbaijan—raising concerns about the protection of various churches, monasteries, cemeteries, and other religious and cultural sites scattered throughout the region. President Aliyev reportedly gave assurances to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the country would protect Christian churches in these areas; however, some sites, such as a cemetery situated alongside an Armenian church in Hadrut, have already been vandalized. In late November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization reiterated a call for the protection of heritage sites in the area, and it proposed dispatching a preliminary field mission to produce an inventory of such sites “as a prerequisite for effective protection of the region’s heritage,” the document said. 

Science is the lifebelt for a state to recover from crises. In Armenia, however, the scientific potential goes down drastically and loses on high volumes. This is the alarm raised by dozens of associations, which have established Gituzh (Power of Science) initiative. They demand the government to increase the budget allocations to the science sector. The petition is published on Change.org website and  collected 7,500 signatures thus far. 

“Science is a nourishing source for other sectors,” Director of Engineering at VMware company, board member at the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) Khachik Nazaryan told an interview with Panorama.am. In his words, the science is often linked to the development of technologies, yet science, per him, is everywhere – in political science, diplomacy, linguistics, Turkish studies, etc. 

“Gaps in these humanitarian disciplines had a more negative impact on the country than the ones on the technological sector. It is now convenient to refer to the technological sector, the security, as those are related to business and income, yet there is no a possibility to assess the losses emanating from the defeat of the diplomatic thought. The Artsakh war is one of the vivid examples of the above-said,” Nazaryan explained. 

He highlights the education-science and primarily science-education links. In the words of the technologist, science is the producer of knowledge and the sector that prepares highly qualified specialists. 

“Everyone forgets who are writing textbooks. Those are the results of scientific work. The best form of higher education is through learning from a researcher and a scientist. That is to say, the science-education link is stronger and more important. We often hear recommendations to start improving the things from kindergartners. Who is tasked to solve that issue and what knowledge and models are needed for that? It is possible only through science. We may think there is much science in the world and no need for us to produce the one, instead taking and applying from others. However, even taking from others, adapting and localizing is possible only when you have specialists with relevant skills,” Nazaryan said. 

People with good understanding about the need of additional funding to the science sector have to explain to authorities the dire situation in the country and urge  them to take steps to prevent irreversible negative consequences, call on bold and revolutionary undertakings. 

“A country that once had some 40 thousand scientists, has only 4 thousand today, and most of them are aged. Young scientists obtain their Ph.D  and disappear. It is evident if we take no action in the next five years, there will be no scientists in Armenia. The issue is urgent and requires solution though increasing the funds directed towards science. When possible, we need also to organize a  brain-drain.”

In Nazaryan’s words, scientists may not be invited to live in Armenia but can be offered teaching online or managing scientific labs remotely. “The matter is urgent and acknowledging its urgency makes it easier to address all other issues,” stressed our interlocutor, noting no difficulty may impede and block the solution. 

Commenting on the recent meeting of the initiative members with the government representative, Nazaryan said with sorrow that the responsible bodies for the sector within the government do not recognize the urgency of the matter and that the respective minister lacks enough will to address the issue. 

“There were a lot of discussions, public promises recently, yet we fo not see long-term commitments. We were promised to see increased financing of the sector in this year’s budget, however the amount is too small and the general approach lacks strategy. We want the law to fix the increase of the funding continually year over year and be linked to the GDP percentage for the country to give a message to the scientific community and the world. That would be important in terms of the government commitments. Although we have heard promises, yet the practical solutions are in no way compatible with the depth and urgency of the problem,” noted Nazaryan.

The residents of Syunik province have shown their real attitude toward the current leaders of Armenia, the head of Goris community Arush Arushanyan stated on Saturday during the congress of “Reviving Armenia” party. Arushanyan’s remarks came when asked to comment on Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan’s statement that Pashinyan would get more votes in Syunik than in Yerevan at present and during the elections. 

Board member at “Revivng Armenia” party, head of Meghri community Mkhitar Zakaryan, in turn, said, dignity and honor are some of the characteristics Syunik residents have been known for.  

“It is below my dignity to respond to Alen Simonyan’s remarks. If his predictions come true I will accept I do not know well my people,” Zakaryan said. 

As to possible visits of the representatives of the government to Syunik province, Zakaryan noted they would hardly dare to visit Syunik and pass near the Shurnukh dangerous areas, where the Azeri forces are deployed.  

Head of Kajaran community Manvel Paramazyan, who is also a board member at the party, stressed that Syunik has always been united, and there can be no second opinion on that. 

“I feel pain every time to cross under the flags of Azerbaijan. That is a stress for our people. Syunik residents are the ones who bear it. During the elections they will show their character,” said Paramazyan. 

The heads of communities stated that they enjoy respect among the locals, and the people are determined to support them during the elections. “Let me confess that I welcomed the new authorities in Armenia hoping for a change, yet we received only lies and empty promises. All of you have seen how we ended. That is the reason we called for the resignation of Pashinyan and will stick to our demand. We will continue till the end when a new government is formed.” said the head of Tatev community Murad Simonyan.  

Russian-Armenian piano prodigy Eva Gevorgyan has received a support within Armonia Young Talents Program. As the

Armenian Assembly reported on its Facebook page, the Assembly has presented Eva with Yamaha grand piano. Winner of numerous prizes and international awards for her extraordinary talent, Eva was named Young Yamaha Artist days ago and signed a two-year contract with Yamaha Corporation. 

Earlier, the Armenian Assembly provided support to the young pianist in organizing her flight to the famous van Cliburn competition in the USA, Texas, Fort Worth, where Eva won the 2nd prize in the competition among 24 musicians from different countries. Eva also received the Press Award which highly underlined her extraordinary talent.

Eva Gevorgyan has received prizes in more than 40 international competitions for piano and composition—in the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Malta, Kazakhstan, Poland, Czech Republic, Georgia, Russia, and Serbia. Born and raised in Moscow, she has studied with Natalia Trull at the Central Music School of the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, and has performed across Russia, Europe (including a Royal Albert Hall debut in April), Armenia, and  in the United States. She also receives a scholarship from the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein and participates regularly in its intensive music weeks and activities.