Wednesday,
Yerevan Urged To Resume Russian-Mediated Talks With Baku
RUSSIA - People walk on a bridge in the Zaryadye park with a Kremlin's tower and
Russian Foreign Ministry building in the background, Moscow, October 25, 2021.
Russia urged Armenia on Wednesday to agree to resume Russian-mediated
negotiations with Azerbaijan based on earlier understandings reached by the
leaders of the three countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and
the Armenian ambassador in Moscow, Vagharshak Harutiunian, discussed the
normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations “in detail” during a meeting
requested by Harutiunian.
“The Russian side emphasized the urgent need for an early resumption of
trilateral work in this area based on a set of agreements between the leaders of
Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the ministry said in a short statement. It gave
no other details.
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and embassy in Russia did not immediately comment on
the meeting.
Late last year, Moscow repeatedly offered to host high-level
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks as it sought to sideline the West and regain
the initiative in the negotiation process. In early December, the Russian
Foreign Ministry rebuked the Armenian leadership for ignoring these offers. It
warned that Yerevan’s current preference of Western mediation may spell more
trouble for the Armenian people.
The warning came amid unprecedented tensions between Moscow and Yerevan which
rose further after Russian peacekeepers’ failure to prevent or stop Azerbaijan’s
September 19-20 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh. The 2,000 or so
peacekeepers remain deployed in Karabakh in accordance with a Russian-brokered
ceasefire that stopped the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war.
Citing the Azerbaijani offensive, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on January
13 that Baku and Moscow effectively scrapped the truce accord. He also accused
Azerbaijan’s leadership of undermining prospects for an Armenian-Azerbaijani
peace treaty with statements amounting to territorial claims to Armenia.
Pashinian hoped, at least until now, to sign such a treaty as a result of peace
talks mediated by the United States and the European Union.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev twice cancelled meetings with Pashinian which
the EU planned to host in October. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov
similarly withdrew from a meeting with his Armenian counterpart scheduled for
November 20 in Washington. Baku accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian bias.
It now wants to negotiate with Yerevan without third-party mediation.
Armenian PM Still Hopeful About Peace With Azerbaijan
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is about to answer a question from an
opposition lawmaker in parliament, Yerevan, January 17, 2023.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian expressed hope on Wednesday that Azerbaijan is
committed to making peace with Armenia, responding to fresh opposition claims
that his far-reaching concessions to Baku have only created more security
threats to his country.
He came under a barrage of criticism from opposition lawmakers during the
Armenian government’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly. They
pointed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest statements which
Pashinian construed on January 13 as territorial claims to Armenia and a “very
serious blow to the peace process.”
“You keep speaking about giving away while Aliyev speaks about taking,” Agnesa
Khamoyan, a parliament deputy from the main opposition Hayastan alliance, told
Pashinian. “You speak about handing over so-called enclaves, roads, Azerbaijani
criminals, and look at what Aliyev says in response to that. So I wonder … where
that process of concessions will end.”
Armenia - Opposition deputy Agnesa Khamoyan attends a session of parliament,
Yerevan, January 17, 2023.
“I hope that the purpose of the statements coming from Baku is not to
deliberately bring the peace process to a deadlock,” replied Pashinian. He
admitted, though, that Armenia and Azerbaijan are now “talking different
diplomatic languages.”
Another Hayastan deputy, Artur Khachatrian, pointed out that Baku did not
recognize Armenia’s borders even after securing Pashinian’s recognition of
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh and recapturing the region as a
result of last September’s military offensive. Khachatrian singled out its
renewed demands for an extraterritorial corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its
Nakhichevan exclave through a strategic Armenian region.
Pashinian reaffirmed Yerevan’s rejection of those demands. He also said that his
administration will first and foremost counter the security threats emanating
from Azerbaijani with “international legitimacy relating to Armenia’s borders,
territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Tensions on the parliament floor rose after Levon Kocharian, a son of Hayastan’s
top leader and former Armenian President Robert Kocharian, decried Pashinian’s
“pathetic” response to Aliyev.
Armenia - Levon Kocharian (right) attends a parliament session, November 15,
2023.
“Why are you so scared? Don’t you see that false peace is a failed agenda?”
Kocharian Jr. asked, sparking angry cries from some of the pro-government
lawmakers attending the session.
“I want to remind you that you are not at a school party and must behave
properly in the National Assembly,” Pashinian shot back.
Answering a question from another parliamentarian, he said: “If, for example,
Azerbaijan moves away from the peace agenda, it does not mean that we should
also abandon it.”
Pashinian drew strong condemnation from the Armenian opposition after declaring
last May that Armenia recognizes Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan. Opposition
leaders say that this policy change paved the way for Azerbaijan’s September
19-20 military offensive that forced Karabakh’s practically entire population to
flee to Armenia. Pashinian’s political allies deny this.
Armenian Opposition Scoffs At Pashinian’s New Offer To Baku
• Shoghik Galstian
Armenia - Oppositon deputy Artur Khachatrian speaks during a parliament session
in Yerevan.
An Armenian opposition leader brushed aside on Wednesday Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian’s calls for an arms control treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
saying that Baku will not even discuss the idea.
Pashinian voiced the proposal on January 13 just as he accused Azerbaijan of
effectively laying claim to Armenian territory and dealing a “serious blow to
the peace process.” He referred to the latest statements made by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and his top aides.
Aliyev last week renewed his demands for Armenia to open an extraterritorial
corridor to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. Also, he again demanded Armenian
withdrawal from “eight Azerbaijani villages” and dismissed Yerevan’s insistence
on using the most recent Soviet maps to delimit the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Pashinian also complained that Aliyev has rejected a mutual withdrawal of
Armenian and Azerbaijani troops from the border and other confidence-building
measures proposed by him earlier.
“I can make another proposal: let’s sign a treaty on arms control so that
Armenia and Azerbaijan reach concrete agreements on weapons and are able to
verify the implementation of that agreement,” he told members of his Civil
Contract party.
Artur Khachatrian, a senior member of the main opposition Hayastan alliance,
scoffed at Pashinian’s remarks, saying that the premier simply wants to make
Armenians believe that his conciliatory policy on the conflict with Azerbaijan
has not been an utter failure.
“Azerbaijan has never accepted any proposal made by Pashinian,” Khachatrian told
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “It’s illogical to assume that he will agree to
formally limit his arsenal of weapons.”
“Just a few months ago, he bought $1.2 billion worth of new weapons from
Israel,” he said. “Will Aliyev now agree to let the defeated Pashinian tell him
how many tanks, drones, warplanes or assault rifles he should have? That’s a
joke. Who is Pashinian mocking?”
Pro-government lawmakers pointedly declined to comment on Pashinian’s latest
offer to Aliyev. Baku has still not reacted to it.
Aliyev has repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan’s will continue its military
buildup despite its victory in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku was due to
spend a total of $3.5 billion on defense and national security last year. By
comparison, Armenia’s 2023 defense spending was projected at $1.25 billion.
Aliyev’s latest statements were construed by Armenian opposition politicians and
analysts as a further sign that he plans to ratchet up military pressure on
Yerevan. Some of them suggested that Azerbaijan is gearing up for another
military offensive against Armenia.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Adventist Health Glendale Celebrates Armenian Christmas
Jan 16 2024
On Friday, Jan. 5, Adventist Health Glendale held a community ceremony celebrating Armenian Christmas.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese Armenian Church of North America, presided over the holiday service for hospital patients, medical staff, and community members.
Archbishop Derderian extended benedictions of health, love, and hope as attendees were gifted holy water and blessed Gata bread.
Glendale City Councilmembers Ardy Kassakhian and Ara Najarian, and members of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce were also present for the hospital’s heartfelt community celebration.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese Armenian Church of North America, presided over the holiday service for hospital patients, medical staff, and community members.
Archbishop Derderian extended benedictions of health, love, and hope as attendees were gifted holy water and blessed Gata bread.
Glendale City Councilmembers Ardy Kassakhian and Ara Najarian, and members of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce were also present for the hospital’s heartfelt community celebration.
Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi meets Archbishop of Armenia
Jan 16 2024
Yerevan [Armenia], January 16 (ANI/WAM): Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federal National Council (FNC), who is currently heading the FNC delegation visiting the Republic of Armenia, has met with Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See. During his meeting with Archbishop Hovhannisyan, Al Nuaimi, accompanied by several members of the FNC delegation, emphasised the UAE's unwavering commitment to fostering balanced partnerships and promoting values of tolerance and human coexistence on a global scale. He expressed the country's strong belief in the power of cultural and religious dialogue to bridge differences and bring diverse viewpoints closer.
Al Nuaimi praised the bilateral relations between the UAE and the Republic of Armenia, which are witnessing notable and growing development at various levels and fields, noting that these visits strengthen relations among peoples at a time when human societies face many challenges, the most prominent of which are the spread of hate speech and extremist and racist ideas. He also emphasised the importance of uniting the efforts of various organisations, international institutions and civil society institutions to achieve security, peace and prosperity for the people of the world.
Hovhannisyan praised the UAE's attention to preserving cultural heritage, pointing in this regard to the restoration of the Armenian Haghartsin Monastery Complex under the directives of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in addition to the UAE's support for a number of Armenian secondary schools in the capital, Yerevan. He also lauded the UAE's approach and its keenness on enhancing international peace and security, and its role in establishing the principle of harmony and coexistence among followers of different religions, promoting dialogue, tolerance and openness policy, and confronting extremist ideas, hate speech and racism. (ANI/WAM)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/2778807-ali-rashid-al-nuaimi-meets-archbishop-of-armenia
Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Holds Armenian Christmas Event
Jan 16 2024
Giancarlo Diaz
Glendale News-Press
PHOTO GALLERY
Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital celebrated Armenian Christmas in the facility’s auditorium on Jan. 4.
Inclusion is one of the core values of Dignity Health and the event was a way for their community, staff and supporters to gather and share their values.
Dignity Health Glendale President Jill Welton was in attendance, along with City Manager Roubik Golanian, the clergy from St. Mary’s Church, and members of the Glendale Police Department and Glendale Fire Department, among others.
First published in the January 13 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
Uncertain future for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh
Jan 16 2024
16-01-2024
Eastern Europe
Kathryn Idema, CNE.news
Most of the 100,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh have no house but live in shelters. Armenia is still in shock. But at the same time, miracles are happening.
September 2023 marked the month of displacement and desperation in the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. How is the situation now?
After several shortages from blockades, forces from Azerbaijan carried out one of the largest attacks to date, leaving the area vulnerable with an uncertain future. According to data from Council on Foreign Relations, the attacks left 80 per cent of Karabakh’s population without a place to call home. Separatists from Azerbaijan also called for the enclave’s dissolution by 1 January 2024. Within a week, Armenia soon saw at least 100,000 of the enclave’s population enter its borders.
Many who fled to Armenia have received financial support but continue to struggle in a familiar yet foreign land. Baruir Jambazian, who works for the Christian relief agency, Diaconia Charitable Fund Armenia, said many refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh or the Republic of Artsakh have received help in finding a job and getting psychological support. While the government provides rental assistance for the first six months, challenges remain, such as finding adequate housing.
At this point, Jambazian said, people have yet to find houses. The government has set up temporary shelters, but long-term solutions have yet to be discussed. “We never thought they would have to flee. They have huge problems in finding themselves here,” he said. “Because of the hardships, no one wants to live near the border.”
Jambazian sees the Republic of Artsakh as a “strong part of our people.” In Armenia, they are regarded as the formidable “mountain people” who have withstood decades of attacks from Azeri forces. In the past, Diaconia Charitable Fund provided medical assistance, job opportunities, education, and first aid to wounded soldiers and veterans in the Armenian territory.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Nagorno-Karabakh managed to stay together under the Armenian identity. However, Jambazian said the recent events have brought a new era of uncertainty in his country. “We are in a decisive time. We have to acknowledge that they lost a part of their homeland and that they will never get it back,” he said.
Transport from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, at the border point between Kornidsor and Goris. Photo Diaconia Charitable Fund
For decades, Azerbaijan has portrayed Armenia as the aggressor and has compared its people to Hitler’s Third Reich, he said. While he still does not agree with Azerbaijan’s recent demands to open the Zangezur corridor (an internationally recognised territory of Armenia), he fears that Azerbaijan is not finished with their operation. He also thinks his country may be next.
While answers remain under fierce debate, Jambazian believes a revival is needed in Armenia. The country has always remained under the Orthodox Christian identity. Still, he said many attend church out of tradition and do not actively live as Christians.
However, the recent wave of Artsakh refugees have been open to hearing the Gospel and have breathed new life into its churches, Jambazian added. He told the story of how a group of people from Nagorno-Karabakh saw rockets and bombs being deflected from the sky as they prayed.
Other miracles have followed. Vahe Abrahamian, a Lebanese-Armenian pastor and orthopaedic doctor in Armenia, said that the greatest miracle has been seeing those from Nagorno-Karabakh come to Christ. During his travels to mountain villages as a doctor, he also shared the Gospel. “Today, we have so many different ways of evangelism,” he said.
Fleeing from Artsakh. Photo Diaconia Charitable Fund
While Abrahamian provided treatment to heal bodies, he had also witnessed healings in their soul. Over the years, many of his patients have accepted Christ in their lives. After the Iron Curtain fell, the father of four said that many in his country became Christians after years of atheism under Soviet rule.
Now, the situation is different. Many find themselves entrenched in church traditions or have little understanding of who God is, he said. Still, the Armenians have a “heart of accepting Christ,” he said. Like Baruir Jambazian, he is also waiting and praying for revival in his country and his congregation of over 30,000 Christians. “The Holy Spirit does the revival,” he said.
While those from Nagorno-Karabakh continue to forge a new life in Armenia, Jambazian believes that trusting God is essential, as “he may take care of us in a way we don’t understand.”
“We need allies, and we need a strong army. But what we need most is that our nation turns back to God,” he said.
https://cne.news/article/4066-uncertain-future-for-refugees-from-nagorno-karabakh
Armenpress: We are ready to support initiatives that contribute to regional stability – Georgia on Crossroads of Peace project
09:48,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Georgia is prepared to collaborate with its neighboring countries to further the mutual goal of diversifying and strengthening regional communications, the Georgian Embassy in Armenia told Armenpress when asked on Tbilisi’s position regarding the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project.
“We acknowledge the strategic significance of the Caucasus as a vital region for communications and its growing importance in connectivity. Georgia is prepared to collaborate with our neighboring countries to further our mutual goal of diversifying and strengthening regional communications. We are ready to support initiatives that contribute to regional stability, economic growth, and enhanced connectivity,” the Georgian embassy told Armenpress.
Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace project is designed to establish connections between the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea via a consolidated, regional railway network and via the North-South and East-West roads.
Armenian President, Finland’s Foreign Minister meet in Davos
10:45,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has held a meeting with Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Khachaturyan and Valtonen discussed the enhancement of bilateral agenda between Armenia and Finland, as well as issues pertaining to the Armenia-EU partnership. “The general situation in the South Caucasus region and the existing security challenges were also discussed,” the Armenian President’s Office said in a readout.
Both sides attached importance to the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, and the concepts and programs aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, Khachaturyan’s Office added.
Aurora’s Sunrise by Inna Sahakyan included in top 25 films of 2023 by Irish Cinephile
11:01,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Inna Sahakyan’s animated documentary Aurora's Sunrise has been included in the list of 25 best films of 2023 according to Irish Cinephile, an online film and television review platform.
The story of Aurora Mardiganian from Armenian genocide survivor to silent movie star is close to unreal. Having lost her family, escaped slavery and now enduring trauma, she journeys far to tell the world of the Armenian Genocide as it happened. Once in Hollywood, as a star of the silent screen, her story becomes the biggest blockbuster of the time. 30 million dollars is raised, which will save 160 000 orphans, whose descendants number in the millions today. Her courage long forgotten, “Aurora’s Sunrise” revives Aurora’s story through unique testimony, archive footage, and the magic of animation.
Aurora's Sunrise was earlier included in MovieWeb’s 16 Best Animated Movies of 2023.
It also won the Grand Prix at 2023 FIFDH.
EUMA marks 1,500 patrols to border areas
11:04,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has marked its 1,500th patrol to the areas bordering Azerbaijan, the monitoring mission said on social media.
“Today, EUMA marks 1500 patrols to the border areas. The Mission is tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground. EUMA conducts patrols from 6 operating bases in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni & Ijevan,” EUMA said in a post on X.
Aram Khachaturian 120th anniversary celebrated in China with competition, concerts
11:33,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. A number of events honoring the 120th anniversary of birth of prominent Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian were organized in China in 2023.
For the first time, Beijing hosted the Khachaturian International Competition.
The 19th Khachaturian 120th Anniversary International Violin Competition was organized by the Aram Khachaturian Cultural Foundation, China National Opera and China’s state organizations. The competition was supported by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.
The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra was invited by the Chinese side to play with participants in the final round, and perform at a gala concert. The orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan, then delivered 3 concerts in late December 2023, one in Beijing’s national Opera House and two at the Xinjiang Culture Center.