Category: 2021

ECHR applies interim measures regarding 4 Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian

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 14:52,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The European Court of Human Rights applied interim measures regarding 4 Armenian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan, attorney Artak Zeynalyan told ARMENPRESS..

Lawyers Artak Zeynalyan and Siranush Sahakyan had asked the ECHR to indicate interim measures – prioritizing the physical inviolability and protection of the lives of the captives – in their application sent to the court in relation to those taken captive or who are missing during the military actions following the Azeri attack on November 16.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Russia hosts rare talks between arch rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan

Garnik Zakarian
euronews
Nov 27 2021
By Daniel Bellamy  with AP



Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted talks with Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the anniversary of a peace deal ending a conflict between the two neighbours over a separatist region.

In a rare meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, both Caucasus countries agreed to work towards demarcating the border of the region of Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev met for about three hours.

In remarks after the meeting, Putin said the three leaders “reached agreement on a whole range of issues” which he considers “key.”

Both Aliyev and Pashinyan echoed Putin’s positive assessment. The Azerbaijani president said the conversation was “open” and “genuine,” and the Armenian prime minister called it “positive.”

Putin also held two separate bilateral meetings with Aliyev and Pashinyan on Friday, before and after the three-way talks.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a decades-old dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

Azerbaijan gained control of a significant part of Nagorno-Karabakh and reclaimed all the regions controlled by Armenian forces outside the separatist region following a deadly flare-up of tensions last year.

Russia has deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the peace deal.

The peace agreement was celebrated as a triumph in Azerbaijan but was seen as a betrayal by the opposition in Armenia. Pashinyan defended it as the only way to prevent the Armenian forces from losing control over the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The 2020 deal envisaged a transport corridor via Armenia that would link Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan region. But the plan is resented by the Armenian opposition, which also fears that Armenian interests could be compromised by the planned demarcation of the border.

Opening the meeting with Pashinyan and Aliyev on Friday, Putin said that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia “achieved a lot” in a year that passed since the peace deal was signed. There is no large-scale fighting, some 53,000 refugees have returned to their homes, and Russian peacekeepers have been ensuring safety of the Nagorno-Karabakh residents, he said.

In their opening remarks, both Aliyev and Pashinyan said they were prepared to start the work on delimitation and demarcation of the border.

Pashinyan, however, noted that the situation on the border and in Nagorno-Karabakh is “not as stable as one would want it to be” and said that “dozens of people on both sides” died in clashes over the past year. He called the situation on the border a “crisis.”

“Our assessment is that Azerbaijani forces have made an incursion into the sovereign territory of Armenia,” he said.

Armenia’s prime minister also said the issue of prisoners of war, hostages and other persons held in captivity remained unresolved.

Aliyev, in turn, said that Azerbaijani authorities have publicly offered to start working out a proper peace treaty with Armenia “to put an end to the confrontation, to recognize each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and live as neighbors in the future, (or) learn to live as neighbors all over again.”

Foreign Ministers of Iran and Armenia speak on the phone

Emil Lazarian
Bollyinside
Nov 27 2021
ByDesk


TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian spoke on the phone with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan about a variety of bilateral and regional topics. According to the Iranian foreign ministry, they spoke over the phone on bilateral ties, economic cooperation, the Joint Economic Commission of the two countries, the ECO summit, and regional and international developments. Iran-Armenia relations are strong and progressing, according to Amir Abdollahian, who calls for the strengthening of ties in several spheres.

In the telephone conversation, the top Iranian diplomat underscored the Islamic Republic’s policy to not accept any change in the borders of regional countries. Amir Abdollahian also voiced concern over the recent hostilities in the Caucasus region and urged restraint and respect for the territorial integrity of regional countries. The Armenian foreign minister also referred to the proposed roadmap in relations between Iran and Armenia which was emphasized during his recent visit to Tehran. Mirzoyan said Yerevan is ready to hold the Joint Economic Commission and expand trade ties with Tehran.

He expressed satisfaction with the growing trend in ties between Tehran and Yerevan over the recent months and underlined the importance of expanding cooperation in political, economic and other fields. Iran’s foreign minister declared Iranian companies are ready to boost their activities in Armenia, expressing hope that the Joint Economic Commission of Iran and Armenia will convene as soon as possible. Amir Abdollahian voices concern over the recent hostilities in the Caucasus region.

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy to respect the territorial integrity of countries and described it as important. Mirzoyan stressed Armenia’s resolve to boost relations in all fields with Iran and renewed his invitation to Amir Abdollahian to visit Armenia. The Armenian foreign ministry also issued a statement on the call, briefly touching on the issues discussed by the two ministers. It said Amir Abdollahian and Mirzoyan “discussed issues of mutual interest related to regional security.”

It concluded, “The Foreign Ministers of the two countries also touched upon a number of issues of multifaceted cooperation between Armenia and Iran, expressing readiness to make efforts for further deepening the relations. They emphasized the importance of high-level reciprocal visits. The interlocutors exchanged views on expanding the contacts in the fields of trade, economy, infrastructure and energy. Implementation of directed work aimed at the multilateral agreement on the establishment of the ‘Persian Gulf-Black Sea’ international transport corridor was also emphasized.”

The Armenian statement said, “Minister Mirzoyan presented in detail to his counterpart the situation resulting from the recent aggression of the Azerbaijani armed forces against Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia is a serious threat to the efforts aimed at establishing security and stability in the region.” Mirzoyan highly appreciated Iran’s position on territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of Armenia, according to the statement.

Iran has long called for respect of international borders in the south Caucasus region amid continued border tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran also called on the two countries to settle their decades-long disputes through dialogue. In mid-November, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, issued a statement expressing concerns over border clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Khatibzadeh has expressed concern over new military clashes in the border regions of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and called on the two countries to exercise restraint and refrain from expanding and escalating the conflict. Khatibzadeh stressed the need for countries to respect internationally recognized borders and called on the two sides to resolve their differences through dialog and peaceful means.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman described the current tensions as dangerous for the gradual process of achieving peace and progress in the region. He stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as in the past, is ready to help the two sides resolve their disputes and establish stability and security in the region.

Qajar art exhibit celebrates 30 years of political relations between Iran, Armenia Culture

Emil Lazarian
Tehran Times, Iran
Nov 27 2021
  1. Culture
– 18:28

TEHRAN – An exhibition displaying artworks from the Qajar period (1789-1925) in Yerevan is celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Iran and Armenia.

The exhibit underway at the Matenadaran, a museum and repository of manuscripts in the Armenian capital, is being organized in collaboration between the museum and the Iranian Cultural Center in the country, the Embassy of Iran in Yerevan announced on Friday. 

Matenadaran director Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan, Iranian Ambassador Abbas Zohuri, Iranian cultural attaché Hossein Tabatabai, and a group of their colleagues visited the exhibition named “Iranian Cultural Day at Matenadaran”. 

They also attended a ceremony to unveil the fifth volume of “Persian Documents of the Matenadaran Decrees” written by Kristine P. Kostikyan, an Armenian scholar who was also in attendance at the unveiling ceremony.

The collection consists of governmental decrees that were issued concerning the Armenians during the Safavid period (1501-1736).

In his short speech, Zohuri said that the history of relations between Iran and Armenia needs to be reviewed regularly in the modern world, and praised the scholars who are studying in this field to generate food for thought for the academic centers.

He expressed his hope that the continuation of these study projects could prevent the distortion of historical facts, providing present and future generations with the truth about the history of the region. 
  
The curator of the exhibition, Ivet Tajaryan, also briefed visitors about artworks on view at the exhibition, and said that it has taken over four years to accumulate the artworks for the showcase, which will run for about a year.

Some of the artifacts are from Tajaryan’s personal collection. 

Speaking in a visit to the Matenadaran earlier in October, Tabatabai said that Iran is seeking closer cooperation with Armenia on the restoration of Persian manuscripts.

Ara Philipossian, an Iranian-Armenian professor of chemical engineering at the University of Arizona, who is scheduled to finance an immense project, which includes the restoration of Persian manuscripts at the Matenadaran, accompanied Tabatabai.

The Matenadaran has recently asked Iran to organize a workshop to be given by an Iranian scholar at the museum on the restoration of manuscripts with lacquered covers.

The Matenadaran – Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, home to Islamic manuscripts, now contains a total of 2715 volumes, 450 of which are in Persian.

The museum was established in 1959 on the basis of the nationalized collection of the Armenian Church, formerly held at Etchmiadzin.

Photo: Curator Ivet Tajaryan (L) briefs Matenadaran director Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan (2nd L) and Iranian diplomats on an exhibition of the Qajar-era artworks at the Matenadaran in Yerevan, Armenia. 

MMS/YAW

Putin announces agreement to create border demarcation and delimitation mechanisms between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
Market Research Telecast
Nov 27 2021
BY MRT ON NOVEMBER 27, 2021

The leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to develop mechanisms for demarcation and delimitation of the border between the last two countries, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a tripartite meeting held this Friday in Sochi (Russia) .

“There is no obstacle to the creation of these mechanisms,” Putin said when signing a joint statement with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Regarding the achievements of the trilateral negotiations, the Russian president commented: “We have worked very constructive. This has been a deep analysis of the situation that has been formed to this day “.

The parties confirmed their commitments to compliance consistent and rigorous of all the points of the Declaration on the complete ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh, of November 9, 2020, and the Declaration on the unblocking of all economic and transport links in the region, of January 11, 2021.

Likewise, the contribution of the Russian peace contingent to stabilize the situation in the disputed Nagorno Karabakh region.

The meeting came after a brief escalation of violence on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the middle of this month, followed by a Russian-mediated ceasefire.

Earlier, the autumn of 2020 saw the resumption of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, which dates back to 1988. Hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended on November 10, 2020 through a trilateral agreement sponsored by Russia.

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Pashinyan: It turned out that we have no misinterpretations on some issues as it seemed before Sochi meeting

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 27 2021

Nikol Pashinyan summed up the results of the trilateral meeting with the Russian and Azerbaijani leaders in Sochi on Friday, calling it “very positive”.

“I want to confirm that we had a very positive meeting, conversation, actually discussed all the issues on the agenda. This was not a meeting to hide the problems, but a meeting where we openly discussed all the issues,” he said in a statement for the press.

“I would like to positively assess the fact that we clarified the positions on many issues, and it turned out that we do not have any misinterpretations on a number of issues, opposite to what it seemed before this meeting,” Pashinyan said.

“I would like to mention that, in fact, in connection with the opening of all transport and economic communications in the region, we registered that we have a shared idea of how those communications will operate.”

He noted that the topic of starting the process of delimitation and demarcation is not new.

“We have discussed that issue. We also adopted a trilateral statement, in which we stated that before that the necessary conditions should be created, that is, security mechanisms should be created on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the premier said, adding humanitarian issues were also discussed during the talks.

He thanked Russia for hosting the talks. “I reaffirm the readiness of Armenia and the Government of Armenia, which has received a mandate from the people of Armenia, to open an era of peaceful development for our country and our region. We are interested in that, and of course, today’s meeting contributed to the fulfilment of that agenda,” Pashinyan noted.

Armenian president: Hayastan All-Armenian Fund needs modernization

Antonian Lara
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 27 2021

President Armen Sarkissian of Armenia on Saturday chaired the 30th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

“As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, President of the Republic of Armenia, a donor to the fund and an Armenian, I feel pain for the words of distrust and reactions. I expect that the results of the relevant studies will shed light on the situation and will help build an atmosphere of trust,” Sarkissian said.

“The All-Armenian Fund must do everything possible to correct the mistakes and restore the confidence,” he stated.

The president noted that the 30th meeting of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is being held in a difficult period “full of trials and challenges”, referring to the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, the military aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wishing tenacity to the families of Armenian captives and missing soldiers, the president pledged to make every effort to get back the captives and find the missing.

Sarkissian stated that the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund needs modernization. “It is necessary to adopt a new mindset, widely use new technologies and find new organizational models,” he noted.

The president thanked all compatriots, donors and benefactors, wishing productive work to the participants.

Among the issues on the agenda of the meeting is the report on the targeted use of funds raised during the “We Are Our Borders; All For Artsakh” campaign and donated to Armenia under nine contracts from 8 October to 1 November 2020.

Arsen Babayan: How authorities infect victims’ phones with Pegasus spyware

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 27 2021

Arsen Babayan, a member of the opposition Homeland Party Board, reflected on the Pegasus spyware attacks targeting Armenia’s opposition.

“There has been much talk recently about the well-known Pegasus software. The authorities, as you know, have spent millions of dollars to use a super-powerful and most inhumane cyber-weapon against opposition figures,” he wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

“The authorities infect the phones of the victims using the Pegasus software through:

1. An ordinary phone call. Even if you don’t answer that call, using the operator, the Pegasus software is installed on the phone. It cannot be uninstalled even if the phone is completely formatted.

2. An ordinary test message. No matter whether you click on the message or just delete it, as soon as you get the SMS, that’s it, the phone is infected.

3. The same actions outlined in the first and second points are performed through WhatsApp,” Babayan said, adding all the information is available on the international media and on Google.

“Incidentally, there is no real antivirus or any other program to fight against this. But it is 99% possible to protect yourself,” he said, promising to further elaborate on the matter in the future.