Category: 2022

Iran-Armenia Economic Commission to hold meeting in Yerevan

Andranik Taslakhchian
MEHR News Agency (Iran)
May 9 2022

TEHRAN, May 09 (MNA) – Deputy Foreign Ministry for Economic Diplomacy Affairs said that 17th Iran-Armenia Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission meeting will be held in Armenian capital of Yerevan on May 10-11.

Mehdi Safari made the remarks on Monday and stated that holding Joint Economic Commission with target countries is seriously followed up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the scheduled program, 17th Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission will be held in Yerevan on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11 which can play a leading role in boosting economic relations between Tehran and Yerevan.

Emphasizing the need for the two countries of Iran and Armenia to implement agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), he termed Iran’s share of $5 billion Armenian market ‘negligible’.

There are significant capacities and potentials in various fields such as energy, transit, power plants, agriculture, pharmacy and medical equipment, communications and information technology (ICT), he said, adding that if these capacities are used, the volume of trade between the two countries will increase considerably.

It is planned that various areas including trade and cleanliness, investment, transit and transportation, electricity and energy, oil and gas, customs, banking and finance, standards, tourism, health and other important issues would be discussed in the meeting of the Commission, Deputy Foreign Ministry added.

MA/5485811

St. Giragos Cathedral in Diyarbakir: Largest Armenian church in the Middle East reopens

Chmshkian Vicken
Italy – May 9 2022
Diyarbakir (Agenzia Fides) – The Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of St Giragos in the Turkish city of Diyarbakir reopens for religious services. This also provides an opportunity to review the status of relations between the Turkish government and the Armenian Apostolic Faith Community, the largest of the many small Christian communities in Turkey today.

St Cyriacus Church reopened for worship for the first time in 2012 after decades of neglect. Shortly after reopening, the Christian church of the local Armenian community was again taken away after it was damaged leading to renewed clashes between the Turkish army and pro-Kurdish independence paramilitary groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The conflict between the Turkish army and Kurdish militias that began in July 2015 was the bloodiest in two decades. As
reported by Fides Agency (see Fides, 30/3/2016), the government in Ankara had ordered the expropriation of the cathedral and all other churches in the metropolis on the Tigris in March 2016 as part of the military operations in southern Turkey against Kurdish PKK positions. The expropriation decision affected a total of five churches in Diyarbakir and more than 6,000 houses, most of which are located in the historic center of the Turkish city.

The official reopening of the church last Saturday afternoon, May 7, was attended by several national and local ecclesiastical and political authorities, including Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Sahak II Mashalyan and Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

In his speech, Minister Ersoy pointed out that in Diyarbakir “different cultures and beliefs coexist in peace” and the different communities freely practice the practices and worship related to their beliefs. The minister expressed the hope that the places of worship “will be a sign of respect and brotherhood among us throughout Anatolia,” stressing the importance of protecting and preserving them. Explaining that he shares the joy of the Armenian community, the Turkish politician recalled the historical importance of the reopened holy site: “We know how important this building is not only for our citizens in the city, but also for the world cultural heritage. The largest Armenian church in the Middle East reopens. I believe that this restoration, which cost about 32 million Turkish lira, is of great importance for the protection of cultural heritage”.

The Armenian Patriarch Sahak II also confirmed in his speech that the restoration of the church and its reopening for worship was only possible thanks to the funds made available by the government in Ankara. “There is no doubt,” added the Patriarch, “that this opening is a day of celebration for the Armenians of Diyarbakir. Even with the numerical decline in the Christian presence in Diyarbakir, the opening of this church can be a lifeline. And it contains an important and meaningful message of friendship with a view to improving Turkish and Armenian relations”.

The historic Marian Monastery in Sumela in the northern Turkish province of Trabzon was reopened to visitors at the beginning of May after more demanding conservation work had been carried out to protect the monastery complex from the risk of landslides. The monastery is particularly dear to Orthodox Christians. According to tradition, the monastery (now Meryemana Manastırı, i.e. the Monastery of Mother Mary) was founded by the Greek monks Barnabas and Sophronius, who arrived there in 385 AD, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I, after hearing an apparition received instructions from the Virgin Mary.

The location and the fortifications built over time made the monastery untouchable for centuries. In 532, after returning from one of his campaigns against the Persians, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian donated a silver urn containing the relics of Saint Barnabas to the monastery. The monastery remained a settlement of Christian monastic life during the Ottoman Empire until the last events of the First World War and the Greco-Turkish War: The monks only left the monastery for good in 1923. After decades of looting and neglect, the Turkish authorities began restoration work in the 1990s to protect the site as an archaeological-monumental complex of cultural importance, rarely allowing liturgies to be celebrated at the site important to the Byzantine monastic tradition. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 9/5/2022)

http://www.fides.org/en/news/72132-ASIA_TURKEY_St_Giragos_Cathedral_in_Diyarbakir_Largest_Armenian_church_in_the_Middle_East_reopens

Opinion from Baku: "Armenia’s 6 responses to 5 proposals of Azerbaijan – what to expect next?"

Emil Lazarian

May 5 2022


  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Armenia adds six principles for peace talks

Yerevan responded to the five principles proposed by Baku for the start of peace negotiations with six of its own. Armenia agrees with the principles put forward by Azerbaijan, but considered it necessary to add to them the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was not mentioned in the proposals from Baku. What to expect in such a scenario? According to political observer Agshin Kerimov, Armenia’s response is not fundamentally directed against the interests of Azerbaijan.

  • Opinion from Baku: “Moscow is against bilateral negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia”
  • “Peace agenda is not an agenda of defeat” – position of Armenian authorities on status of NK
  • Legendary city 30 years later: a trip to Karabakh

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan stated that Armenia added a six more principles to the five that have already been put forward by Azerbaijan for the start of peace negotiations and adopted by official Yerevan. One of the points concerns the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev’s remarks on peace negotiations with Armenia : “If Yerevan does not accept the five principles proposed by Baku, Azerbaijan will not recognize territorial integrity of Armenia”

According to Azerbaijani political observer Agshin Kerimov, Armenia’s response is not fundamentally directed against the interests of Azerbaijan.

“Apparently, the maps referred to by Azerbaijan in connection with the start of the process of delimitation and demarcation of the borders between the two states were accepted by Yerevan. Because Grigoryan noted in his speech that all the maps and historical facts are known and Azerbaijan can also get acquainted with them.

Of course, Grigoryan may be referring to distorted maps that are a product of the Armenian propaganda, but the fact that he used the word “everything” gives Azerbaijan great room for maneuvering during the negotiations.

Armenia announces that it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Armen Grigoryan himself refers to the mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of the two countries within the framework of the CIS in 1992”, Kerimov says.

The political observer notes that one cannot but notice the efforts of Yerevan to put the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh on the agenda, but “this time this issue is presented in a slightly different form”:

“Grigoryan speaks about the need to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians living in Karabakh, and sort of takes the issue of status to the background. But such a setting gives reason to say that Yerevan is still trying to catch fish in troubled waters. In fact, these statements can also be regarded as a method of playing on the internal audience. Under the current conditions, reassuring the people in the country is also on the agenda of the Armenian government.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that it recognizes all the rights of the Karabakh Armenians under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, and Grigoryan’s statement can in no way be reclassified as a thesis directed against the interests of Baku.

A possible signing, or at least the start of negotiations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement is actively discussed both in Yerevan and Baku

Despite all this, the Armenian proposal seems more like a question in the context of rights and security than a question of territorial conflict. This clearly shows that the authorities in Armenia began to adequately assess the existing realities.

Everyone, including Armenia, is well aware that Azerbaijan will not return to discussing the issue of status. Moreover, the entire territory of Karabakh has already found its reflection in the legal system of the country – it is divided into East Zangezur and Karabakh economic regions.

This, by the way, is based on international law, which recognizes the territorial-administrative system under the jurisdiction of the country that owns the same territory. In other words, such a territorial division does not contradict the principles of international law.

On the other hand, the balance of power in the region is far from parity, and any manifestation of revanchism is inappropriate.

There remains the issue of enclaves between the countries, which will become relevant in the course of peace negotiations, and will be resolved on the basis of their principles”.

Feds move to seize $63m LA mansion in corruption scandal involving Armenian politician

Chatinian Lara
The Independent, UK
May 9 2022
Gino Spocchia


The US Justice Department wants to seize a multi-million dollar Los Angeles mansion, which the government alleges was bought with bribe money paid to an Armenian politician.

US authorities said on Thursday that the 33,652-square-foot (3,126-square-metre) address in Holmby Hills was purchased “with bribes paid by an Armenian businessman” to Armenia’s former finance minister Gagik Khachatryan in 2011.

The disgraced politician and his two sons, who are accused of taking bribes in Armenia, allegedly used money paid by Sedrak Arustamyan to Mr Khachatryan and his family for favourable tax treatment, the Justice Department alleges.

US authorities said in a court filing that Mr Arustamyan paid more than $20m (£16m) in bribes to Mr Khachatryan for the favourable tax treatment, which was in violation of Armenian law, while the former was a so called “Super Minister”.

Mr Khachatryan was known as Armenia’s “Super Minister” because of his many responsibilities as chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee and as minister of finance, during which time he negotiated with Mr Arustamyan, it was alleged.

US authorities now want to seize the French Normandy-style mansion, which was put on the market last month for $63.5m (£51.5m), according to the federal complaint. A legal process is ongoing.

The address is not far from the famous Playboy Mansion, and has 11 bedrooms, more than two dozen bathrooms, a pool, wine cellar, home theater and maids’ quarters, according to real estate agency Hilton & Hyland.

The agency told The Los Angeles Times last week that viewings are still being carried-out while the US Justice Department seeks litigation against Mr Khachatryan and the businessman, and that “If we receive an offer and both the seller and the Justice Department agree on a sale price, we can still sell it.”

US authorities said the FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force (EOCTF), the US Marshals Service, the Republic of Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and National Security Service all cooperated in its investigation.

It was not clear who could speak on Mr Arustamyan or Mr Khachatryan and his family’s behalf.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/la-mansion-seized-armenian-politician-b2074558.html


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https://www.thedailybeast.com/justice-department-wants-to-seize-dollar63m-los-angeles-mega-mansion-paid-for-with-bribes-to-gagik-khachatryan

Music: Mother’s Day Armenian Concert Takes Place Saturday Night

Nahapetian Zhanna
May 5 2022

The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe is having a Mother’s Day Armenian Concert Saturday night.

Sponsored by the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America, the concert takes place Saturday May 7, with doors opening at 6:30 and music starting at 7 p.m., at the church, 1280 Boston Road, Route 125, in Haverhill.

Music will be provided by Margar Yeghiazaryan on vocals, Mher Mnatsakanyn playing the Duduk Clarinet, Markos Shahbazyan Dhol on Percussion and Gregham Margaryan on keyboards. The night includes meze, a variety of hot and cold dishes, and cash bar.

Tickets are $60 for adults and $40 for people age 18 and under and may be purchased at hyepointearmenianchurch.org or by calling Sarah Tavitian at 978-652-8448 or emailing [email protected].

Eurovision: Armenia – Style over substance?

Mary Lazarian
May 5 2022
By

 Phil Colclough

 –

May 5, 2022

My first thought when the postcard ended was “Fucking hell – how many people wrote this song?” My second thought was “Why is she singing this in her bedroom?” Followed by ”That’s some damn prop she needs to play with”.

Rosa manages the skill, and it is a skill, of interacting with the background (which has lots of things to pull at and has the infinite ability to go horribly wrong at a moment’s notice), whilst singing a remake of Denmark 2020 (that no one other than us will care about).

I know what she is trying to achieve here. Rosa Linn is telling the story of the song that when she “snapped” she turned her life around. I just don’t know if setting it in a bedroom with Post-It notes that she rips off to reveal phrases is the way to go? She said the mix was too loud in her ears, a seemingly common problem throughout all of the first semi-final rehearsals, but to my ears it didn’t seem to bother her.

Her second run-through was as good as the first one, apart from the camera work focussing on the bits of the wall that she needs to remove being a beat out of sync with what Rosa was doing – it really distracted from what was a decent performance. This, again, highlighted the issue that Lesley Roy had last year – well one of them – if you over-burden a singer with too much shit to interact with and it goes wrong, or you forget something in the moment, or the camera is late by a beat then you end up with an unholy mess and your three minutes in the sun is ruined.

Overall, though, it was a performance trying to tell a story rather than focussing on the lyric of the song. My issue is whether the story telling aspect has been overplayed.

Eurovision: Armenia’s Rosa Linn: From a small town to Eurovision in a ‘Snap’!

Karagyozian Lena
May 5 2022
TODAY, 12:00 CEST

From writing songs in her room as a child to performing ‘Snap’ on one of the world’s biggest stages, Rosa Linn’s road to the Eurovision Song Contest has been one full of unexpected opportunities.

Hailing from the small town of Vanadzor in northern Armenia, Rosa figured that her love of music would just stay between her and her friends. She loved writing and creating melodies, and was even in the running to represent her country at Junior Eurovision, but she was concerned that her pathway to musical success was limited.

I started making music when I was 11 or 12, in a small town. I had no resources, no connections, no money, I was just a kid with a guitar or piano who really wanted to make music. I had a lot of times when I wanted to give up, since I didn’t see a future. I just went on because I couldn’t not make music!

That’s where the Nvak Foundation and Collective come in. A non-profit organisation and record label started by Armenian-Americans Alex Salibian and Tamar Kaprelian (who represented Armenia at Eurovision 2015 as a member of the group Genealogy), Nvak provides resources to up and coming artists from underrepresented communities. Rosa just happened to be one of their first discoveries:

They just find talent and songwriters and give them everything they need to make their creations possible. I first met them in 2019 when I was performing with my band. They saw me and asked if I wanted to apply for a summer programme in Yerevan. They then started a label, and asked me to join as an artist…and I said ‘of course’!

Even with the support of Nvak, Rosa knows that she has to be her own biggest advocate and cheerleader, and she urges other budding musicians in her shoes to do the same.

Odds were against me…my only advice is that if you really feel that you’ve found something that is you, go with it! The universe, the world, God, energy, something will make your dream come true. If you don’t do it, of course you won’t succeed. Work hard, try hard, dream big, and always stay objective about things.

Rosa’s song Snap is deeply personal, but it’s a message that probably resonates with many viewers, especially after the past few years.

I was feeling really down and depressed and anxious because I was going through a lot. These past two years we’ve all been going through a lot! And I just wrote it all out and let it go. In the end I’ve realised that every difficulty is easier to overcome when you love yourself a bit more and take care of yourself, and that’s my main message. Take care of yourselves and read what’s really going on inside yourself. If something’s wrong, you need to deal with that and work to make things better.

The staging for Snap reflects that same journey of self-discovery and healing, but it also reflects Rosa’s own journey as she grew from a pre-teen scribbling lyrics in her room to performing in front of millions of viewers around the world.

It’s about the songwriting process, starting in my room! I can go back in time and show people how I started. It’s also about going through the process and revealing stuff and then it’s a way into my inner world as I get to know myself.

We’re so glad to get to know you too, Rosa Linn! Armenia competes in the First Semi Final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 10 May.



Reuters: Armenian police detain protesters calling for PM to step down (May 5)

Kanayan Tamar
May 5 2022
Reuters
  • PM under pressure over disputed region
  • Protesters block roads in capital
  • Armenia, Azerbaijan fought six-week war in 2020

TBILISI, May 5 (Reuters) – Police detained dozens of protesters who marched and blocked roads in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on Thursday calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

Local television footage showed officers grabbing protesters and dragging them into vans. Police said they had detained 49 protesters as of midday.

The landlocked South Caucasus country has seen a string of protests in recent days as pressure mounts on the embattled premier. read more

Pashinyan has faced heavy criticism for agreeing to a Russian-brokered ceasefire that saw Armenia defeated by Azerbaijan in a six-week war in 2020 and lose significant territory in and around the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia is a close ally of Armenia. It has a military base in the northwest of the country and sent peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh under the accord that ended the fighting.

Asked about Moscow’s position on the protests, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was entirely a domestic issue for Armenia.

“We are interested in this period ending in Armenia as soon as possible and for a period of stability to resume, allowing us to gradually move towards the implementation of the trilateral agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh,” Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Pashinyan angered the opposition last month when he said the international community had urged Armenia to “lower the bar” on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated and until recently fully controlled by ethnic Armenians.

Azerbaijan said last month it was ready for negotiations on a peace treaty with Armenia, but said Yerevan needed to renounce any claim on its territory. read more

Pashinyan – who says he agreed to the Russian-brokered ceasefire in 2020 to avoid further losses- has insisted he will not sign any peace deal with Azerbaijan without consulting ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Heavens

Armenian police arrest dozens of protesters calling for PM Pashinyan to resign

Arsine Chaltikian
Iran – May 5 2022
Thursday, 05 May 2022 1:51 PM  [ Last Update: Thursday, 05 May 2022 1:51 PM ]

Armenian police have arrested dozens of protesters who rallied in the streets of Yerevan to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan.

Local authorities said 49 protesters were detained on Thursday. Television footage showed officers grabbing protesters and dragging them into vans.

Armenia’s national security service said in a statement on Wednesday that the organizers of rallies were planning to incite demonstrators to seize parliament, to destabilize the country and undermine its security and public order.

The demonstrations have been ongoing since Sunday, with thousands of opposition supporters blocking streets in the city center to force Pashinyan, 46, to resign.

The embattled premier is facing heavy criticism for agreeing to a ceasefire with Azerbaijan after a six-week war in 2020 when Armenian troops were driven out of Azerbaijani territories outside Karabakh.

Opposition leaders have accused him of plotting to cede to Azerbaijan the entire Karabakh region, an enclave internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenians since the 1990s when Azerbaijanis fled their homes following a war.

Opposition leader Ishkhan Saghatelian earlier said in the course of demonstrations that “Pashinian is a traitor, and permanent street protests, which are mounting, will force him to resign.” 

“The more people are detained, the greater the number of protesters. Yerevan has already taken to the streets,” Saghatelian said.

Pashinyan hit back at the opposition last month saying that the international community had urged Armenia to “lower the bar” on the Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan last month announced its preparedness to hold negotiations on a peace treaty with Armenia, under the condition that Yerevan renounces any claim to its territory.

The Armenian premier has publicly stated that the elements proposed by Azerbaijan are acceptable to Yerevan but has insisted that he will not sign any peace deal without consulting ethnic Armenians in Karabakh.

Turkey Plans to Fully Normalize Ties With Armenia Published May 5th, 2022

Vanyan Gary
May 5 2022
Published May 5th, 2022
Highlights
Türkiye’s Ambassador, Serdar Kilic, and the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Ruben Rubinyan, “reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions.”

Turkish and Armenian envoys for the normalisation of ties between the two countries have reaffirmed their goal of “achieving full normalisation.”

“The special representatives reaffirmed the declared goal of achieving full normalisation between their respective countries through this process,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

It came after the third meeting of Turkish and Armenian envoys in the Austrian capital Vienna.

The envoys discussed the possible steps that can be taken for tangible progress in normalisation, the statement said.

Türkiye’s Ambassador, Serdar Kilic, and the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Ruben Rubinyan, “reiterated their agreement to continue the process without preconditions,” it added.

Kilic was named as Türkiye’s special envoy to discuss steps towards normalisation with neighbouring Armenia on December 15, 2021. Three days later, Armenia appointed its own special representative, Rubinyan.

Mending ties

The first round of talks was held in Russia’s capital, Moscow, on January 14, with both parties agreeing to continue negotiations without any preconditions. 

The Turkish and Armenian envoys met for the second time in Vienna on February 24.

Also, a historic bilateral meeting took place between the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye on March 12.

As part of the efforts, Türkiye and Armenia have also resumed commercial flights as of February 2 after a two-year hiatus.

The two countries have been divided on a range of issues, including the 1915 events in the Ottoman Empire and Armenia’s occupation of Karabakh in 1993. 

Since then the land border between Türkiye and Armenia has been closed.

On October 10, 2009, the two neighbouring countries signed a peace accord, known as the Zurich Protocols, to establish diplomatic relations and open the border, but failed to ratify the agreement in their respective national parliaments.

Relations between Ankara and Yerevan entered a new phase in the fall of 2020 with the end of the second Karabakh war, which lasted 44 days and in which Türkiye helped Azerbaijan recapture its territory.

This article has been adapted from its original source.