09:55,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan have attended a banquet in the Élysée Palace hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in honor of the visiting heads of state, government and international organizations participating in the Paris Peace Forum 2023.
11:15,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has introduced legislation demanding Azerbaijan’s immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war, captured civilians, and political prisoners, including Nagorno-Karabakh government officials illegally detained during Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing last month, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The resolution specifically calls on the Biden Administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani government officials responsible for the illegal detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing of Armenian POWs. It also reiterates Congressional calls for the enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. military and security assistance to Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan is already guilty of grave atrocities committed during the recent war, and the continued illegal detention of Armenians compounds the problem. Azerbaijan’s treatment of these prisoners, including torture and killings, is heartbreaking and a direct threat to international law and order,” said Rep. Schiff. “My resolution urges the American government and international community to stand up to these gross human rights violations being perpetuated against the Armenian community by the Aliyev regime and return these prisoners back to their families.”
The resolution condemns Azerbaijan’s illegal detention of Nagorno-Karabakh civilian and military officials held as political prisoners: former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, former Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister David Babayan, Speaker of Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament Davit Ishkhanyan, former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, and former Nagorno-Karabakh military commanders Levon Mnatsakanyan and David Manukyan.
Rep. Schiff’s resolution builds on similar legislation he and the Congressional Armenian Caucus led in 2021 (H.Res.240), which garnered broad bi-partisan support. The resolution’s call for U.S. sanctions on Azerbaijani leaders and enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan echoes bipartisan legislation (H.Res.108 / H.R.5683) and multiple Congressional letters to the Biden Administration which has garnered the support of over 100 Congressional leaders.
12:33,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia has called for American leadership in aiding Nagorno-Karabakh’s 100,000 forcibly displaced persons, during discussions with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and a dozen U.S. Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Aram I was on Capitol Hill at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and served as Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.
After a meeting in the Capitol with Speaker Johnson, Rep. Schiff, and U.S. House Chaplain Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, His Holiness Aram I offered the opening prayer at the November 10 U.S. House of Representatives session. In his prayer, he noted, “Help us, God of Mercy, remember in our prayers more than one hundred thousand Armenian refugees who were recently forced to leave Nagorno Karabakh, their centuries old homeland…” The prayer was televised on CSPAN and streamed live on the ANCA’s social media channels.
In remarks on the U.S. House floor, Rep. Schiff welcomed His Holiness Aram I to Congress, noting that “his unwavering commitment to the values of faith, community, and compassion embodies the spirit of our vibrant Armenian community.” Rep. Schiff went on to stress that His Holiness Aram I’s “support for humanitarian issues, advocacy for human rights, engagement in several educational and cultural initiatives, and promotion of interfaith understanding have left an indelible mark making the world a better place for all.”
Following the prayer, His Holiness Aram I met with Speaker Pelosi, House Democratic Whip Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), at a reception hosted by the ANCA. His Holiness also met separately with Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL). The Armenian pontiff praised members of the Congressional Armenian Staff Association in attendance, for their efforts to educate elected officials on Armenian American concerns.
Prior to leaving the Capitol, His Holiness Aram I led fellow clergy in a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer, sung in Armenian in the Congressional Prayer Room near the rotunda in the United States Capitol.
During his visit to the U.S. Capitol, Catholicos Aram I was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of the Canadian Prelacy; His Grace Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate of the Western U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Vicar General of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, head of the Catholicosate Media Department; Very Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian, head of the Middle East and Christian-Islam dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department of the Catholicosate; Mr. Stepan Der Bedrosian, co-chair of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate; Leaders of the Executive Councils of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy, Western U.S. Prelacy, and Canadian Prelacy; as well ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and members of the ANCA Washington DC Staff.
15:10,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Russia has reiterated its readiness to host a foreign ministerial meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijan with its mediation.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin confirmed readiness to host such a meeting but did not mention possible timeframes.
“We’ve numerously confirmed our readiness to provide the Moscow platform for further dialogue on the level of foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, around issues of normalization of bilateral relations and signing of a peace treaty. Our readiness remains unchanged. Whenever we agree upon the timeframes of such an event, we will announce about it,” Galuzin told reporters.
15:28,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has attended the opening ceremony of the Paris Peace Forum 2023 at the Brongniart Palace in Paris.
President of the Paris Peace Forum Ángel Gurría welcomed the Armenian Prime Minister and the other participating world leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered welcoming remarks.
PM Pashinyan will be among the speakers of the Insights on Cooperation in a world of rivalry : Crafting Peace and Building a Safer World – The case of Caucasus panel discussion.
21:36,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. "At the 6th Peace Forum in Paris, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the issue regarding the missed opportunity for a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Granada. Pashinyan clarified that the Granada meeting and its format were agreed upon on July 15, 2023, in Brussels. Therefore, it was not planned a week, ten days, or even a month ago.
"We reached an agreement on this matter, and we had a preliminary understanding of the meeting's format in Granada, which, I believe, took place in June. The first five-party meeting took place there, and we reached an initial agreement that the subsequent five-party meeting would be held. An essential detail is that the list of participants was confirmed. Subsequently, on July 15, we reaffirmed this meeting in Brussels," Pashinyan stated.
"We were not aware, and I personally was not informed, of another agenda. When preparing for the Granada meeting, it seemed that everything had been agreed upon. I believe the Azerbaijani President's refusal to participate in the Granada meeting was not due to other circumstances; it was simply a matter of addressing an issue that had already been agreed upon," Pashinyan clarified.
21:51,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. During the question and answer session at the "6th Peace Forum" panel discussion held in Paris, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred to the "Western Azerbaijan" thesis put forward by the official Baku.
Nikol Pashinyan drew the attention of the audience to the growing rhetoric by Azerbaijan, by which the Republic of Armenia is called "Western Azerbaijan".
"This is a very disturbing message, and this narrative is sponsored by the government. But if Azerbaijan reaffirms the three principles on which we have reached an agreement with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, it will signify that we can continue to move forward," said the Prime Minister of Armenia.
His Holiness Aram I led Armenian clergy and lay leaders from thePrelacies of Eastern U.S., Western U.S. and Canada in meetings on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C.—His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, today called for American leadership in aiding Artsakh’s 100,000 Armenian Christian refugees, during discussions with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and a dozen U.S. Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church meeting with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Adam Schiff and U.S. House Chaplain Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, prior to offering the Nov. 9 opening prayer
“We warmly welcome His Holiness Aram I’s constructive consultations with Congressional leaders – among them Speaker Johnson and former Speaker Pelosi,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “A global ambassador for Armenian aspirations and inter-faith understanding, His Holiness represents a powerful voice for justice in Washington and in capitals around the world.”
The Armenian pontiff was on Capitol Hill at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and served as Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Speaker Mike Johnson gaveled in the November 9 session of the U.S. House of Representatives, where His Holiness Aram I offered the opening prayer at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff
After a meeting in the Capitol with Speaker Johnson, Rep. Schiff, and U.S. House Chaplain Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben, His Holiness Aram I offered the opening prayer at today’s U.S. House of Representatives session. In his prayer, he noted, “Help us, God of Mercy, remember in our prayers more than one hundred thousand Armenian refugees who were recently forced to leave Nagorno Karabakh, their centuries old homeland…” The prayer was televised on CSPAN and streamed live on the ANCA’s social media channels, available here.
In remarks on the U.S. House floor, Rep. Schiff welcomed His Holiness Aram I to Congress, noting that “his unwavering commitment to the values of faith, community, and compassion embodies the spirit of our vibrant Armenian community.” Rep. Schiff went on to stress that His Holiness Aram I’s “support for humanitarian issues, advocacy for human rights, engagement in several educational and cultural initiatives, and promotion of interfaith understanding have left an indelible mark making the world a better place for all.”
Following the prayer, His Holiness Aram I met with Speaker Pelosi, House Democratic Whip Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), at a reception hosted by the ANCA. His Holiness also met separately with Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL). The Armenian pontiff praised members of the Congressional Armenian Staff Association in attendance, for their efforts to educate elected officials on Armenian American concerns.
His Holiness Aram I led Armenian clergy in singing a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer in Armenian at the Capitol Prayer Room, adjacent to the rotunda
Prior to leaving the Capitol, His Holiness Aram I led fellow clergy in a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer, sung in Armenian in the Congressional Prayer Room near the rotunda in the United States Capitol.
During his visit to the U.S. Capitol, Catholicos Aram I was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Eminence Archbishop Papken Tcharian, Prelate of the Canadian Prelacy; His Grace Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate of the Western U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Vicar General of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy; Very Rev. Fr. Hovagim Panjarjian, head of the Catholicosate Media Department; Very Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian, head of the Middle East and Christian-Islam dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department of the Catholicosate; Mr. Stepan Der Bedrosian, co-chair of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate; Leaders of the Executive Councils of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy, Western U.S. Prelacy, and Canadian Prelacy; as well ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and members of the ANCA Washington DC Staff.
His Holiness Aram I with members of Congress, Armenian clergy and lay leaders from the Prelacies of Eastern U.S., Western U.S. and Canada and ANCA advocates
His Holiness Aram I arrived in Washington, DC earlier this week, the first stop in his visit to the Eastern Prelacy, continuing his mission to revitalize Diasporan life through the various fields of activity of the Cilician Catholicosate prelacies.
17:00,
YEREVAN, 10 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 November, USD exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 402.59 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.13 drams to 430.21 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.37 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.08 drams to 492.25 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price down by 30.26 drams to 25336.39 drams. Silver price up by 1.36 drams to 291.88 drams.
15:31,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has lauded his recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, describing the talks as ‘excellent’.
PM Pashinyan met with French President Macron on November 9 ahead of the Paris Peace Forum.
“Excellent talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. We discussed issues related to the strengthening of the Armenia-France exceptional, friendly relations and bilateral agenda, cooperation with the EU, as well as the situation in the South Caucasus,” Pashinyan said in a post on X.