Category: 2022

YEREVAN. – Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: According to Past newspaper’s information, over the past one week the RA authorities have been exerting unprecedented pressure on the authorities of the Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] Republic, trying to keep them away from the ongoing internal political developments in Armenia.

However, the problem is that the issue concerns Artsakh itself, and there is awareness inside of the fact that these authorities of Armenia remaining unchanged will inevitably lead to the handing over of Artsakh [to Azerbaijan].

Our Artsakh source conveys that [Armenia’s PM] Nikol Pashinyan is using obvious tools of blackmail against Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and his circlers, intimidating with direct text that if they do not carry out his instructions, it will be very bad for them.

We have information also that Harutyunyan complains, in his inner circle, that he is between a rock and a hard place and does not know what to do. Today, a reality has already been created that on the one hand, it is the desire and assertions of the people of Artsakh to stand with the forces [in Armenia] that are defending Artsakh in the streets today; on the other hand, the crumbling authorities and the threats that Pashinyan conveys to the Artsakh authorities—directly or through “mediators.”

Lilit Makunts, the Ambassador of Armenia to the US, has called the latter’s police against American Armenian youth for the third time in three months, according to Yerkir.am.

This time Makunts demanded from the US police to detain the American Armenian youth who were attending—at the US Congress—the commemoration of the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier, Makunts had attempted to have the American Armenian youth detained when they were fighting for the release of the Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Genocide official commemoration, which has been traditionally held for 20 years, was held in the Uruguayan parliament, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from Armenian National Committee – International.

The event was attended by the President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, Vice President Beatriz Argimon Cedeira, President Ope Pasquet of the Chamber of Representatives, numerous ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Uruguay, heads of Armenian organizations, and several other others.

Vice President Beatriz Argimon Cedeira of Uruguay and President Ope Pasquet of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay delivered remarks on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide remembrance day.

Pasquet, reflecting on the Turkish nationalist Gray Wolves’ sign made to Armenians by Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu a few days ago in Montevideo, strongly condemned it, stating: “We consider this gesture an insult not only to the Armenian community, but also to the people of Uruguay.”

In her turn, the Vice President of Uruguay reaffirmed her country’s commitment to the fight for the Armenian Cause, and added that as historically accepted, Uruguay will always continue to commemorate this day to prevent future atrocities—as the Armenian Genocide was.

The embassy of Armenia Armenian in Greece organized an international symposium in Athens—and dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Representatives of the Athens City Hall, ambassadors accredited to Greece, scholars, and members of the Armenian community attended this symposium, the embassy added..

Geoffrey  Robertson, a well-known British human rights barrister, academic, author and broadcaster, delivered opening remarks.

The keynote speaker of the event was Ara Sarafian, the founder and director of the Gomidas Institute in London. He delivered a lecture entitled “Turkey and the Armenian Genocide: Commission, Consolidation and Denial.”

Also, a documentary short film was shown, which was entitled “Blue Book: Evidence of Armenian Genocide,” which was shot in 2015 by the UK company Ballista Media in the context of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

A total of 39 people have apprehended in Yerevan Thursday for blocking streets, the Police of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

These demonstrators were taken into custody for not carrying out the lawful demands of the police officers.

To note, the opposition is carrying out decentralized actions of protest in various parts of the Armenian capital.

Azerbaijani pro-government news agencies have disseminated reports entitled “Easter Celebrated in Hadrut” and posted new photos from the Armenian Church of the Surb Harutyun (Holy Resurrection) in the city of Hadrut, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), war.karabakhrecords.info reported.

Examination of these photographs clearly shows that its cross was removed from the church, and its Armenian inscription was erased.

All this is a result of the policy planned by Azerbaijan, which is evidenced by the statements of its high-ranking officials.

Before the Artsakh war in the fall of 2020, the Surb Harutyun was a functioning church, it did not suffer damages during the war, and its desecration was consistently carried out after the war.

After the war, all Armenian cultural monuments are becoming victims of cultural vandalism in the same way in the Azerbaijani-occupied territories of Artsakh.

The leader of the Turkish nationalists called on the deputy of Armenian origin Garo Paylan to leave Turkey, Evrensel reported.

Touching upon the bill on Armenian Genocide recognition submitted by Garo Paylan, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Devlet Bahceli said: “He should either say that Turkish Parliament is not his parliament or the Turkish Parliament leadership should remove him from it. Let him go where he wants. Let him establish ties with the Armenian diaspora. I advise him to go to America.”

Assistant to the President, head of the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev said that Baku offered an integration model for the South Caucasus, Azerbaijani media reported.

“Azerbaijan offered an integrated model of the South Caucasus. The region is currently very fragmented, so we need to establish more ties and contacts between people,” Hajiyev said Thursday at the “South Caucasus: Development and Cooperation” conference in Shushi.

According to him, quoted by Azerbaijani media, Baku expects Yerevan to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and is ready to recognize Armenia’s territorial integrity. “Azerbaijan’s main message to Armenia is the recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Is Armenia ready for this? We are ready,” the presidential aide said.

He also highlighted the importance of solving the issue of border delimitation and demarcation between the two countries: “We are already receiving certain signals that this process will begin in the near future.”

Hajiyev added that Baku considers the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh of Armenian origin as its citizens.

There was a clash between police and protesters on Thursday on Northern Avenue of Yerevan.

The incident occurred during a march by the head of the “I Have Honor” bloc faction Artur Vanetsyan and his supporters.

“We do not give in to provocations, no one clashes with the police officers. Police officers, stay within the limits of your authority. We are strong, we don’t give in to provocations. Be patient, everything will be alright. Now we are all going to Freedom Square,” said Vanetsyan.