Category: 2021

Karabakh hosts "The Past, Present and Future of Armenian Statehood" international conference

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Sept 12 2021
18:08, 12.09.2021

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) today hosted an international conference entitled “The Past, Present and Future of Armenian Statehood”, as reported in the video made by Public Television of Artsakh.

This is the fifth international conference that Artsakh is hosting and has gathered 50 scholars from nearly a dozen countries.

Most of the speakers touched upon the current developments and identified the major challenges in the rapidly changing world and especially near the borders of Armenia and Artsakh.

Lebanese Armenian George Boujikian appointed Industry Minister

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 10 2021


, 21:44

 1 minute read

Lebanese Armenian George Boujikian representing the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has been appointed Lebanon’s Industry Minister, The National reports.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister designate Najib Mikati formed a government of 24 ministers on Friday, exactly one year after his predecessor Hassan Diab resigned in the wake of a deadly blast at Beirut port

The cabinet includes 12 Christians and 12 Muslims in line with Lebanon’s sectarian politics. The Prime Minister is always Sunni Muslim, the President Christian Maronite, and the Parliament Speaker Shiite Muslim. There is only one woman among the ministers.

Born in 1950, George Boujikian holds a bachelor’s degree in law and political science from the Lebanese University, according to the NNA. He worked as a journalist for MBC FM Radio in London and Lebanese television channel LBC. He was awarded the title of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Organisation.

Baroness Caroline Cox awarded St. Sahak – St. Mesrop Order of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Hambik Zargarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 10 2021


, 22:19

 1 minute read

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin member of the House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox.

His Holiness expressed his joy for Baroness Cox’ visit to Armenia and her participation in the conference on International Religious Freedom and Peace. His Holiness appreciated the Baroness’ efforts in various international instances to protect the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to live freely and independently, as well as to provide constant support and assistance to the children of Artsakh.


In appreciation of the praiseworthy services rendered by Baroness Caroline Cox to the Armenian people and the Armenian Church, the Catholicos awarded her with the high order of St. Sahak-St. Mesrop of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In her turn, Caroline Cox thanked the Armenian Patriarch for such a high honor. The Baroness assured His Holiness that she would continue to speak from various international platforms about the atrocities committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Artsakh and the Armenian cultural and religious heritage.

Political scientist: Unlike Treaty of Moscow, Treaty of Kars states that territory of modern-day Tigranashen belongs to Armenia

Emma Jilavian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Unlike the Treaty of Moscow, the Treaty of Kars states that the village of Tigranashen belongs to Armenia, political scientist Edgar Elbakyan said on Facebook on Thursday.

“The funny thing is that unlike the Treaty of Moscow, the Treaty of Kars, which Armenia’s enemies, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the capitulator, refer to, states that the territory of modern-day Tigranashen belongs to Armenia. Before the Great Patriotic War, the territory was unilaterally annexed by Azerbaijan as an enclave through administrative violence,” he wrote.

“However, since the so-called Armenian-Azerbaijani border demarcation talks are not based on an _expression_ of good will and ratio decidendi, but rather Azerbaijan’s efforts to impose whatever it wants on the capitulated leader of Armenia, there are constant signals about the imminent threat facing Tigranashen.

“Unfortunately, there is silent consensus of the Euro-Atlantic and ruling Russian circles over the further rule of the capitulator. The Armenian nation, not as a modern, static reality, but as a national-political collective of people who have lived, live and will continue to live in the Armenian Highlands, united around the idea of a unified Armenian statehood, is alone in this struggle and must rely only on itself,” Elbakyan said.

Former MP: During Pashinyan’s ‘peace era’ these Turkic-speaking savages will burn our houses

Elizabeth Jabejian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Arman Abovyan, a former MP representing the opposition Prosperous Armenia faction, shared on Facebook a video of Azerbaijani soldiers setting fire to gardens and fields on Armenian territory.

“This video clearly shows how Azerbaijanis deliberately set fire to gardens and fields on Armenian territory.

“Whereas, the Armenian authorities are going to open the border and establish brotherly ties with these Turkic-speaking barbarians,” he wrote.

“One thing is for sure: during the formation of Pashinyan’s “peace era”, these Turkic-speaking savages will burn our houses with the same zeal.

“There is a future … enjoy it!” Abovyan said.

The ruling party abstained from voting on including the word Artsakh in the name of NA Standing Committee

Emil Karabekian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Members of the ruling “Civil Contract” faction in parliament abstained from voting on renaming the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Foreign Relations to Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Artsakh. The discussion and the follow-up vote was held on Friday at the parliamentary Committee on legal and state affairs. 

Lawmaker from opposition Armenia bloc Aghvan Vardanyan noted in his remarks that various developments are going on around Artsakh and as a parliamentary country they should be able to include issues concerning Artsakh in the work of the NA committees. 

Vardanyan stressed that opposition “Armenia” bloc suggested to make amendments into the NA decision of setting up Standing Committees and debate the matter at the NA plenary session. Vardanayan said that the word Artsakh is not included in the names of any Standing Committee. 

“Since we have the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs with its key function to deal with Artsakh issue the faction suggested to rename it,” said the opposition lawmaker. 

“With voting down the proposal the ruling majority expressed its attitude toward Artsakh,” Vardanyan told reporters after the Committee sitting.

Evelina Barseghyan’s film "The Heiress" included in the main program of Kinoshok film festival

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

The short film “The Heiress” directed by Armenian filmmaker Evelina Barseghyan has been included in the main program of Kinoshok film festival of CIS and Baltic states, the National Cinema Center of Armenia reported. 

The 30th jubilee edition of the festival will be held in Anapa from September 25 to October 2. As the source said,  out of thousand of submissions, 30 films have been selected to participate in the competition during the event. The hairman of the Jury is Vladimir Kot. 

To note the film has been produced by Academy Films through the funding from the National Cinema Center of Armenia. The film features Levon Hakhverdyan, Diana Malenko and Julieta Stepanyan. 

Divorce rate in Armenia up 35% this year

Talar Tumanian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 10 2021

Armenia has registered 2,440 divorces from January to July this year, which is 35% more compared to the like period of the previous year, the latest figures released by the State Statistical Committee suggest.

To note, in the first six months of 2020, the divorce number stood at 1,807 and 2,150 – in 2019. 

According to the official statistics, the marriage rate has also grown. 9, 629 marriages were formalized in Armenia in the reporting period as expected after imposed restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in 2020. The figure of registered marriages is 49.6% higher to compare with previous year’s data.

CFTJ Publishes White Paper of the Torture and Mistreatment of Armenian POWs

Emil Lazarian

To Whom It May Concern,

 

Attached you will find the press release and White Paper, which document the human rights abuses committed by the government of Azerbaijan against Armenian POWs, that was submitted by the Center for Truth and Justice to specific members on the Hill. 

 

The White Paper specifically requests the following Congressional actions in response to Azerbaijan’s human rights violations:

  • Allow testimony of Armenian POWs during hearings that protect the identity of the victims. These testimonies must be heard to understand the extent and severity of human rights violations undertaken by Azerbaijan;
  • Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan;
  • Suspend all security and military assistance to Azerbaijan;
  • Enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act restricting U.S. aid to Azerbaijan;
  • Impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on senior Azerbaijani government officials for their responsibility in engaging in major human rights violations;
  • Apply the Leahy amendment to Azerbaijan; and
  • Support self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh – the only way to guarantee security and human rights protections of Armenians living there.

 

We’d appreciate for the White Paper to be shared with various international organizations, human rights organizations, Armenian embassies, etc.

 

Best,

CFTJ Board




White Paper On Azerbaijani Torture of Armenian POWs - Sept 2021.pdf

Turkish press: Turkey, Pakistan, Azerbaijan to hold joint military drill

Chalian Meline
 ISTANBUL POLITICS 
SEP 11, 2021 11:25 AM GMT+3

Turkish soldiers take part in a joint drill with the Azerbaijani military in Baku, Azerbaijan, July 27, 2021. (IHA File Photo)

The Turkish, Azerbaijani and Pakistani militaries will hold joint drills for the first time from Sept. 12-20 in Baku, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Saturday.

The goal of the “Three Brothers – 2021” exercises is to improve cooperation between their special forces and to share knowledge and experience, the ministry said in a statement.

In July, Turkish, Azerbaijani and Pakistani parliament speakers accepted the Baku Declaration in a ceremony held at the Azerbaijani Parliament.

The joint declaration emphasizes the need to strengthen cooperation among the three countries, based on cultural and historical ties, mutual respect and confidence. It also emphasizes Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan’s roles in building peace, stability and development in their regions.

Turkey and Azerbaijan held joint live-fire drills in Baku earlier this year.

Ankara last year threw its support behind Baku, whose Nagorno-Karabakh region had remained under illegal Armenian occupation for nearly three decades before finally being liberated last November.

Last September, clashes erupted between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan when the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, which ended in a truce on Nov. 10, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages in Nagorno-Karabakh from a nearly three-decade occupation. The two countries finally signed a Russia-brokered deal to end fighting and work toward a comprehensive solution.

Turkey and Azerbaijan enjoy strong relations, as the two countries embrace the “one nation, two states” motto.

During his presidency, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has visited Azerbaijan more than 20 times, while the number of delegation visits has reached more than 100.