Category: 2022

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the next to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest strongly against the pre-planned aggression by Azerbaijan on the sovereign territory of Armenia. The demonstrators held slogans reading “Stop Aliyev! Get out of Armenia!”, “Pan-Turkism = fascism,” etc., Jean Eckian informs.

About twenty politicians joined Armenians, including Gabriel Attal, former Spokesman of the French government, Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts. 

Ara Toranian, co-chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), thanked France, which was almost the only power in the world to react diplomatically to the situation by referring the matter to the United Nations Security Council. 

Joining the demonstration was Berivan Firat, Spokesperson for the Kurdish Democratic Council in France. She said “the struggle of the Armenians is the struggle of the oppressed peoples, it is my struggle.”

“Today, I am Armenian. Erdogan is a danger for the Kurds, for the Armenians, for the Syryans, but also for France, for the West, for our youth and the generations to come,” she added.

CCAF co-chairman Mourad Papazian noted: “Today, Baku is attacking the Republic of Armenia, a sovereign territory recognized by the UN. It is not allowed to attack a territory recognized by the UN without receiving a response from the UN. […] We fear for Armenia, its security and its people. We must find a way to ensure peace for the Armenians of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to Armenia visited several regions affected by the latest Azerbaijani aggression.

The representatives of the diplomatic corps were accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan.

In the city of Jermuk, Eduard Asryan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, presented in detail the situation resulting from aggression instigated by Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Erik Tintrup, the new Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Armenia, was shocked by the images of destruction he had to see in Jermuk on Friday, the German Embassy in Armenia says.

He was one of about 50 diplomats who were invited to the briefing organized by the Armenian Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs in the city.

“Jermuk is a beautiful, peaceful resort located in beautiful nature. There were also German tourists here on Tuesday. The fact that none of the residents were killed is almost like a miracle, because the artillery shots were aimed at restaurants and cable cars located kilometers from the border, only a few hundred meters away from residential buildings and hotels full of tourists,” the Chargé d’Affaires said as he shared the impressions from the visit.

He said the explosions were so close that a German tourist was able to photograph the explosions from a hotel room.

“I am extremely concerned. We sympathize with the Armenian people,” Tintrup sums up.

More than 10 Armenian servicemen were taken captive by Azerbaijan during the September 13-14 Azerbaijani attack. spokesperson for the Armenian representation to the ECHR Hasmik Samvelyan told Armenpress.

She said the numbers could still change and declined to provide more information on the captives already identified.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) earlier requested Azerbaijan to provide information by September 22 about the 1 identified (as of September 13) Armenian captive and the remaining unidentified captives seen in footages.

At least 135 Armenian servicemen have been killed in the large-scale attack unleashed by Azerbaijan shortly after midnight on September 13.

The ceasefire has been holding since 8 pm, September 14.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a Congressional delegation to Armenia to highlight the strong commitment of the United States to security, economic prosperity, and democratic governance in Armenia and the Caucasus region.  Speaker Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Armenia since the Republic achieved its independence.

“We are proud to travel to Yerevan following the 2019 passage of House Resolution 296, introduced by Chairman Adam Schiff, which recognizes the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, and following President Biden becoming the first president to formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.  “It is the moral duty of all to never forget: an obligation that has taken on heightened urgency as atrocities are perpetrated around the globe, including by Russia against Ukraine.”

Speaker Pelosi continued, “Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Armenia is a powerful symbol of the United States’ firm commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Armenia, and a stable and secure Caucasus region.  In working meetings with government leaders, civil society members and members of the security establishment, we will convey the strong and ongoing support of the United States, as an OSCE Minsk Chair and longtime friend to Armenia, for a lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.”

“Our distinguished Congressional delegation members have been proud and longtime champions of Armenia,” Speaker Pelosi concluded.  “Congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier bring a personal commitment to this fight, as proud Armenian Americans and as Californians, home to America’s largest Armenian population.  Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey is the longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.  Our delegation looks forward to productive meetings that will continue to strengthen our partnership with the Republic of Armenia and advance our values and interests in the region.”

The Members of the delegation are:

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi
• Chairman Frank Pallone, Chair, Energy and Commerce Committee; Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
• Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Chair, Subcommittee on Health, House Energy and Commerce Committee; Member, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
• Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair, Subcommittee on Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Chair, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, House Armed Services Committee; Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues

During her September 17-19 visit, Speaker Pelosi will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, and other senior Armenian officials to discuss U.S.-Armenian relations, and the current security situation.

Speaker Pelosi will also address the press, participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, and deliver a speech at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts.

Speaker Pelosi will engage on the strong partnership between our two countries, rooted in shared values and long-standing ties between our peoples.

She will be joined by Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone, and Representatives Anna Eshoo, and Jackie Speier.

Armenia has submitted an application to the International Court of Justice over the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, Hasmik Samvelyan, spokesperson for Armenia’s representative for international legal issues, told Armenpress.

Samvelyan said the letter has been sent, but will be officially published on September 19.

“The grounds for applying to the International Court of Justice are the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan,” she said.