Author: Ani Basmajian

Armenia Resort Struggles To Heal ‘Scars’ After Azerbaijan Attack

Ani Basmajian
BARRON'S

Aug 2 2023

Armenia Resort Struggles To Heal 'Scars' After Azerbaijan Attack

________________________________
By Irakli METREVELIAugust 2, 2023

Jermuk was Armenia's busiest spa resort before arch foe Azerbaijan attacked nearly a year ago.

Now only the croaking of frogs and the occasional cry of a solitary swan fill the silence in the small town's deserted park.

The mountain spa town dotted with hot springs came under artillery fire from Azerbaijan in September 2022.

While authorities insist Jermuk is ready to host tourists again, locals say the wounds are still raw and the tourism industry has been struggling to recover in the aftermath of the assault.

"You can't see the scars of the war in the streets of Jermuk any more. They are on people's souls," said restaurant owner Ovsanna Stepanyan.

She said that the number of tourists visiting Jermuk — which gave its name to Armenia's most famous mineral water brand —  had plummeted after the Azerbaijani attack.

"Hotels and restaurants are nearly empty, we are operating at a loss," the 42-year-old told AFP.

Stepanyan's eatery was once so busy people had to book a table days in advance. Now she receives just several customers each day and has been forced to lay off half of her staff.

Tour guide Vazgen Galstyan, 33, said hotels, cafes, schools, and kindergartens were open but stressed that the emotional trauma inflicted by the conflict had not healed.

"Many people here are still suffering from psychological trauma," he said. "We know that the risk of a new war persists."

Stepanyan said she had been struggling to forget last year's attack.

She hid with her toddler son and mother in a basement when Azerbaijani forces shelled the town, an experience similar to that of many residents.

"Those hours were full of fear, like in a horror movie," she said. "Then women and children fled Jermuk for Yerevan in trucks."

"The road was full of cars with fleeing people, forests and fields on the outskirts of Jermuk were ablaze. I am still trembling when I remember that terrible night."

Locked in a decades-long dispute over Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan and Baku have fought two wars  for control of the mountainous enclave, in the 1990s and 2020.

Despite a Moscow-brokered ceasefire that ended the latest conflict, there have been near-daily border clashes between the Caucasus neighbours.

In the worst fighting since the end of the war, Azerbaijan captured a pocket of land inside Armenia last year in fierce clashes between the neighbours that claimed the lives of 210 people.

Both sides have accused each other of provoking the hostilities, which erupted on September 13, 2022, and ended with international mediation the next day.

Yerevan  said at the time that Azerbaijan attacked the towns of Jermuk, Sotk, and Verin Shorza — located near the two countries' border — using artillery, mortars, and large-calibre firearms.

"The shelling of Jermuk began at midnight," said the town's vice-mayor, Vardan Sargsyan.

"Azerbaijanis were targeting roads and forests; they damaged residential buildings, vital infrastructure, the cemetery."
But he insisted that "the consequences of the attack were eliminated, and damaged infrastructure was rebuilt".

"Jermuk is ready to host tourists again," added the vice-mayor.

Tigran Sargsyan, 20, returned to Jermuk four months ago after completing his military service and is now running a shooting gallery in an amusement park. Targets feature Azerbaijani flags and portraits of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.

"The enemy is too close," he said, referring to Azerbaijani troops stationed about four kilometres from Jermuk.

"If the situation does not change, there will be a fresh conflict and I'll have to go to war."

A Russian tourist strolling nearby sounded a more optimistic note.

"I know what happened in Jermuk last year, but I am not scared," said Yuliya Shtykova, a 51-year-old Muscovite.

"Jermuk is a miracle, it has huge tourism potential."

The work of public transport in the entire territory of Artsakh will be completely stopped

Ani Basmajian

 18:21,

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. As a result of the completion of scarce fuel reserves caused by the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the work of public transport in the entire territory of the Republic of Artsakh will be completely stopped from July 25, ARMENPRESS reports, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Artsakh said in a statement.

"Due to the dire fuel shortage caused by Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh, since July 18, public transport in the capital of Artsakh, Stepanakert, has been paralyzed, but inter-regional routes were maintained.

At the moment, the scarce fuel reserves have also been exhausted, and from July 25, the work of public transport in the entire territory of the republic will be completely stopped," the statement said.

European or Asian? The Origins of the Armenians

Ani Basmajian
 Jane Partizpanyan Opinion 0

The discourse around Armenian identity is one that oftentimes creates division within the Armenian community, as Western Armenians and Iranian Armenians tend to stand firm in the belief that Armenians are Southwest Asian and Middle Eastern, while some Eastern Armenians from the Caucasus lean towards the notion that Armenians are and should identify as European. Armenians, and even people from the Western world, are torn about the nuanced complexities of Armenian identity. But the geographic, genetic and historical identity of the Armenian people showcases an Asian and Middle Eastern heritage. 

In the past year there have been several significant instances where Armenia was regarded as a European country, most shockingly during a CNN segment on the show The Lead with Jake Tapper. While reporting on the blockade of Artsakh, Tapper called Armenia and Azerbaijan “two European countries.” Another significant moment was when a CBN News host deemed Armenians as part of Europe while reporting on the same issue. Earlier this year Armenia was even listed as one of the “most welcoming countries in Europe,” according to euronews.

These moments have ignited a long-simmering discourse around Armenian identity, as people on social media debate whether Armenians are European, Asian or if they can claim Middle Eastern heritage. Oftentimes, non-Armenians join the discourse and deny the nuanced perspective of the Armenian identity. When this happens, it becomes clear that Armenians must take control of their narrative before the Armenian identity becomes erased all together.

Geographic identity is a core part of nationhood and cultural identity. That is why the concept of the homeland is so sacred. By looking more closely at the geographical placement of Armenians, we can better understand why Armenians are an Asian and Middle Eastern peoples. 

The Middle East is a geographic region located in Southwest Asia and North Africa. It was first coined as a geopolitical term in the 1850s by the British. The British definition includes the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. The Middle East, soon after its inception, replaced the term “Near East,” which also was a British term used around the same time period. The Near East was originally created to differentiate West Asia, which shares borders with Europe, from the rest of Asia, which is further away from Europe and deemed the Middle and Far East. The old definition of the Near East also included the Balkans. 

Armenian Highlands (Wikipedia)

Armenians are indigenous to the Armenian Highlands, which spans Eastern Anatolia and the South Caucasus, spilling over slightly into northern Mesopotamia. Anatolia, also known as modern-day Turkey, has historically been known as Asia Minor, a strategic trade route of the Silk Road and home to some of the first farmers. The people of Anatolia played an instrumental role in the ancient Near East and the Neolithic settlement of the European continent thousands of years ago. 

With these geographic realities sorted out, one can conclude that, by using the British definition, Armenians who are indigenous to Eastern Anatolia and northern Mesopotamia are Middle Eastern. So what about Armenians from the Caucasus?

The Caucasus is a mountainous region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. This unique mountainous region spans parts of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The South Caucasus consists of the modern-day countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the Caucasus mountains spill over into the southern tip of Russia (also known as the Northern Caucasus), eastern Turkey and northern Iran as well.

We know that the Northern Caucasus lies in Eastern Europe, so where does that leave the South Caucasus? The continents of Europe and Asia are one massive Eurasian landmass with no clear breakage, so the borders of the two continents are purely man-made and are based on history, ethnicity and culture, researched by geographers and historians over time. The concept of Europe, Asia and Africa dates back to ancient Greece, and definitions have varied over time. Even though the map around the Caucasus has been redrawn many times, historically, modern-day Armenia’s borders have commonly been considered to be part of Asia. 

This complicated space has always been a topic of debate. The Soviet Union placed the entire Caucasus in Asia, and very rare, unofficial alternative maps place the South Caucasus entirely in Europe. Other experts refuse to categorize the region altogether, calling it a space “between” Europe and Asia. 

Calling a region “in-between” doesn’t fare well in a globalized society and can cause confusion amongst people, especially when almost every other country in the world has a clear indicator of which continent it belongs too. Therefore, it makes sense that the most widely accepted and used division between Europe and Asia is the Greater Caucasus, which spans northern Georgia and Azerbaijan, and the Ural Mountains, which splits Russia into European and Asian portions. This places modern-day Armenia in Asia and ends a complicated and socially constructed debate. 

So if modern-day Armenia is generally accepted to be a part of Asia, why is it cut off from the British definition of the Middle East? Armenia borders two core Middle Eastern countries: Iran and Turkey. The definition of the Middle East is constantly changing, with continual disagreements on the world stage of what countries should make up the Middle East. 

Some newer definitions include the modern state of Armenia; some don’t. Others argue that the term should be replaced completely by Southwest Asia/North Africa (SWANA) in order to be more inclusive of surrounding countries with historical and cultural ties, since the British definition of the Middle East viewed West Asia and North Africa through the outdated 19th-century European lens. 

Map of the Greater Middle East (orthographic projection) (Wikimedia Commons)

In 2004, the United States attempted to redefine the Middle East and replace it with the term “Greater Middle East.” The Greater Middle East was part of a reformation of the Middle East led by President George W. Bush and his administration. This sought to reframe how the Western world viewed the Middle East and desired to unify the Arab and Islamic world. Though this new definition was applied with ulterior motives and led with a stereotypical view of West Asia and North Africa, it still helped bring nuance to the region by including formerly excluded neighboring countries with historic and cultural ties. The Greater Middle East includes modern-day Armenia as part of the newly-updated American definition of the Middle East and is used by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Armenians who still cling to the notion of being European must understand that geographic reality is different from cultural influence. Since the modern-day borders of Armenia are near Europe, it is evident that there will be European influence in the region, particularly since Armenia just recently became independent after nearly 200 years of Russian occupation. Having European influence in a post-colonial Armenian state does not mean that Armenians are geographically, genetically or historically European. 

One must also remember that the Middle East is extremely diverse both ethnically and religiously. It is not a race, nor is it solely the Arab or Islamic world. It is a geographic region with many different peoples, customs, cultures and religions. They simply have historic ties to one another as neighbors, and therefore have influenced one another culturally because of their shared geographic region. Some non-Arab ethnic groups from the Greater Middle East are Armenians, Assyrians, Persians, Kurds, Turks, Azeris, Afghans, Pashtuns, Amazighs, Yezidis, Jews, Copts, Greeks, Georgians and much more. 

Now that we’ve covered geographic identity, let’s take a look at the genetic identity of the Armenian people. During the Bronze Age, there was significant population mixing that took place, laying the foundations of the Armenian identity. 

The genetic components that mixed to create the Armenian identity are mainly made up of the Anatolian Neolithic Farmer. It makes up roughly half of the average Armenian genome, similar to the Assyrians, an indigenous ethnic group of Mesopotamia. The other half of the average Armenian genome usually comprises of the Caucasian Hunter-Gatherer, which is shared with other Caucasians and Assyrians, the Iranian Neolithic Farmer and the Levant Natufian Hunter-Gatherer, which is shared with Levant Arabs. Though the average Armenian will share a similar genome with their ancient ancestors, Armenians are very diverse and individual genetic make-up of a person will vary.

Armenians have maintained genetic continuity since the sudden collapse of the Bronze Age, with the last significant epoch of genetic admixture occurring around that time. Due to their geographic location and later adoption of Christianity, Armenians have managed to maintain their genetic identity since then. Modern-day Armenians and Assyrians look more like the ancient Anatolian and Mesopotamian Near Easterners than many of the modern-day majority populations of the region. Armenians are descendants of the original inhabitants of the Near East. 

Some people point out the genetic affinity Armenians have to some Europeans as proof that Armenians have European origins. But this genetic affinity is due to the Anatolian Neolithic Farmer gene, which some Europeans, like southern Italians, Spaniards and Romanians, share with some Middle Eastern ethnic groups due to migrations that took place during the Neolithic period thousands of years ago. 

During this time, Anatolian farmers spread into Europe, likely sharing their languages along the way. This is also where Indo-European languages like Greek, Albanian, Armenian, Farsi and Kurdish originate from. Armenians are not descendants of Europeans; rather, some Europeans are descendants of former Near Eastern populations. Indo-European does not mean of European origin. There is no doubt that the Near East has had a massive impact on modern Europe, whether it be genetically, linguistically and even culturally. 

The conclusion here is that Armenians are genetically, historically and geographically West Asian and Middle Eastern, not European. The rhetoric that Armenians are European continues the genocidal language of the Turkish and Azerbaijani governments, which seek to erase Armenians from Anatolia and the Caucasus and choose to ignore our immense impact in the creation and foundation of the modern Middle East. If we allow this rhetoric to continue, we will lose the historic Armenian identity completely. This false rhetoric also perpetuates the impact of Russian colonization, under which Eastern Armenians begin to believe the notion that they too are Eastern Europeans just like their colonizers. One can strive to adopt Western ideals and still recognize one’s geographic, historic and genetic identity. The two can co-exist. May we remove the distorted lens that occupation has left us with, and may we never forget our roots, our ancestors and our affinity to the cradle of civilization. 

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Jane Partizpanyan is a journalism and public relations major at California State University, Northridge. She works as a contributing writer for the Daily Sundial. She's also a public relations coordinator at the Agency 398 PR firm and a published poet.


Pope’s top diplomat undertakes quiet peace mission in Armenia, Azerbaijan

Ani Basmajian
CRUX
July 15 2023
By Elise Ann Allen

ROME – This past week the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, quietly led his own “peace mission” to the Caucuses nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have long been engaged in violent conflict, to promote peace talks.

In contrast with the Vatican’s other, higher-profile peace mission this summer, the visit of Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna to both Russia and Ukraine, Parolin’s visit was not announced by the Vatican beforehand, nor did it receive much of an international or media spotlight.

However, Parolin’s visit was celebrated by civil and ecclesial leaders in each country and hailed as an important step not only in strengthening bilateral relations but in facilitating dialogue.

Conflict between the majority Christian Armenia and the majority Muslim Azerbaijan dates back to the early 20th century, with the present conflict rooted in the late 1980s. Fighting is focused on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, which though located within Azerbaijan is populated by ethnic Armenians.

In late 2020, an escalation of violence now dubbed as the “Second Nagorno-Karabakh War” erupted, resulting in thousands of casualties. The deadliest clashes took place last September, when hundreds of soldiers were killed.

A loose ceasefire was struck, with Azerbaijan claiming victory. However, intermittent violence has continued, and Azerbaijan has been accused of making numerous incursions into Armenian territory and of blocking the Lachin corridor, the lone road allowing Armenia access to Nagorno-Karabakh.

That blockade, which human rights activists have warned could cause a new humanitarian crisis, remains in place, and numerous calls have been made by the international community, including the European Parliament, the United States, and France, for Azerbaijan to withdraw troops from Armenian territory.

Pope Francis visited the Caucuses nations of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in 2016, traveling first to Armenia and a few months later visiting Georgia and Azerbaijan. He initially intended to visit all three at once, but tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan made it impossible for him to include both as part of the same trip.

Parolin’s visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan this week is a further advancement of Pope Francis’s agenda in the region, and a continuation of his push to promote peace among the warring nations.

Parolin first visited Azerbaijan, where he held meetings with several top government officials, including a conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on July 10.

According to a statement from the president’s office, Aliyev thanked Parolin for his visit, as well as Pope Francis’s visit in 2016, and he voiced hope that Parolin’s visit would help to expand bilateral relations.

Parolin on his part thanked Aliyev for his hospitality and for the good treatment of the country’s small Catholic population.

During the conversation, Parolin and Aliyev discussed ongoing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, as well as the success of joint projects, including the opening of an Azerbaijani embassy to the Holy See in 2021, and an agreement signed that year between the Vatican and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, a charitable entity spearheaded by Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, to restore the Catacombs of Commodilla in Rome.

Aliyev previously visited the Vatican in 2020, the year that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalated.

Parolin also met Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, with whom he discussed regional tensions and the ongoing pursuit of peace.

Azerbaijan State News Agency reports that Bayramov spoke about the so-called “44-day Patriotic War” in the Nagorno-Karabakh area and condemned “the crimes, vandalism and destroyed cultural and religious heritage” in Azerbaijan territory. Bayramov also warned Parolin about mine threats and other “provocations” by Armenia.

The two reportedly also exchanged views on various regional and international issues.

Parolin also visited the Heyder Aliyev Center and on Monday, July 10, met with Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Grand Mufti of the Caucasus.

According to local media, Pashazadeh defended Azerbaijan against accusations of destroying Armenian heritage and insisted that Azerbaijan has suffered various forms of vandalism, while also praising the country’s religious and cultural diversity.

Both the European Parliament and the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO have raised concerns over the destruction of historic Christian sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Ethnic and religious diversity is the national wealth of the multicultural Azerbaijan state,” Pashazadeh said, saying that in the wake of the 2020 war, “the whole world sees the traces of Armenian vandalism.”

He insisted that Azerbaijan is “restoring and rebuilding our religious and spiritual heritage” that was damaged during the war, and he accused Armenians of conducting “slander campaigns.”

During his visit, Parolin also visited the grave of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s president from 1993 to 2003, which is located in the Alley of Honor, a burial site for distinguished Azerbaijanis in the capital city of Baku.

Parolin arrived in Yerevan for a two-day visit to Armenia July 11, celebrating Mass the next morning inside the chapel of the apostolic nunciature.

Afterward, he paid a visit to Tsitsernakaberd, the national memorial for victims of the Armenian genocide, where he laid a wreath, reiterating the Vatican’s recognition of the systematic elimination of the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1917.

Pope Francis has repeatedly called this extermination a “genocide,” and he caused a brief diplomatic row with Turkey after referring to it as such during his 2016 visit to Armenia. Turkey briefly recalled its ambassador to the Holy See as a result.

On July 12, Parolin met Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan at the presidential palace.

According to a statement from the president’s office, Khachaturyan voiced appreciation for Parolin’s visit and said the pope’s closeness and blessings at such a difficult moment for Armenia is appreciated.

“We also highly appreciate the relations between the Holy See and Armenia, which have a long history and are developing upward. These relations are based on such values as Christian values, peace, justice, human rights,” he said, insisting that “We are committed to achieving peace, and we are on that path.”

Khachaturyan thanked the Holy See for its commitment to peace efforts in the region, saying high-level meetings are important for deepening relations and strengthening dialogue.

In his speech, Parolin thanked Armenia for its hospitality and said it was an honor to visit the country and to commemorate victims of the Armenian genocide.

At the Tsitsernakaberd memorial, “I was able to deepen (of course, I was well aware beforehand) the historical information related to the tragedy that befell the Armenian people,” Parolin said, and also voiced hope that the many mutual visits of Armenian and Holy See officials would further bolster their good relations.

During the meeting, reference was also made to Azerbaijan’s blockage of the Lachin Corridor, with Khachaturyan, according to a statement from his office, saying the isolation of the Armenians in the area has caused a humanitarian crisis with the blockage of gas, electricity and telecommunications.

Parolin stressed the need to ensure peace and stability in the region, and to create an atmosphere of trust on all sides.

Both parties insisted on the importance of continued negotiations and to ensure the protection of the rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Following his meeting with Khachaturyan, Parolin met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who in his remarks, according to a statement from his office, thanked Parolin for his visit and recalled the visit of both Pope Francis in 2016, and of John Paul II in 2001.

Parolin’s visit, he said, “indicates a new charge” in relations between Armenia and the Holy See.

In his speech, Parolin voiced gratitude for his welcome and for having the opportunity to “have a dialogue and exchange ideas with you,” saying the visit would “definitely” strengthen relations, and pointed to the recent appointment of a Vatican envoy to Armenia.

During their private conversation, according to Armenian news site Armenpress, the two discussed bilateral relations and issues of regional importance, specifically the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the blockage of the Lachin Corridor, as well as ongoing peace talks.

Parolin expressed the Holy See’s readiness to assist in achieving a lasting peace and stability in the region, as well as in the resolution of humanitarian issues.

On July 13, Parolin met with Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians at the Holy Etchmiadzin Mother See.

According to the patriarchate’s website, Karekin stressed the importance of Parolin’s visit and voiced gratitude for the efforts being made “to overcome the challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh.”

Karekin referred to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor “and the created humanitarian disaster,” as well as Armenia’s security concerns. He also highlighted “the practical intervention of the international community to stop Azerbaijan’s expansionist ambitions, offensive actions and protect the right of Artsakh Armenians to self-determination.”

Parolin conveyed Pope Francis’s greetings and insisted that opening a permanent diplomatic representation of the Holy See in Yerevan would further strengthen bilateral relations.

He insisted that his visit was of a “humanitarian nature” and was intended “to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

Parolin said the peace process is complicated due to various obstacles, and he lamented that a lasting peace has not yet been achieved.

Karekin closed thanking Parolin for his visit and for the Holy See’s support “during this difficult period,” and conveyed his own greetings to Pope Francis.

As part of this trip, Parolin also celebrated Mass at the Holy Martyrs Cathedral in Gyumri, Armenia, where he also met with individuals and families impacted by the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020.

So far the Vatican has issued no statement on Parolin’s visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan, nor has the Vatican’s state-run information platform, Vatican News, covered the trip.

 

F18News: AZERBAIJAN: Will State Committee return religious books seized in 2007?

Ani Basmajian 
FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjh0eelh9$
 

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief

=================================================

Tuesday 
AZERBAIJAN: Will State Committee return religious books seized in 2007?

Shukran Mammadov is still waiting for the State Committee for Work with
Religious Organisations to return books by Muslim theologian Said Nursi
seized in a police raid in 2007. The European Court of Human Rights ruled
in his favour in 2020, and on 1 March 2023 Baku Appeal Court ordered the
books to be returned. "The government should have ensured that Shukran's
property was returned, but few European Court of Human Rights decisions are
fully carried out," Mammadov's lawyer Asabali Mustafayev told Forum 18.

AZERBAIJAN: Will State Committee return religious books seized in 2007?
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2847__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjlPy5FVq$
 
By Felix Corley, Forum 18

Following a 2020 decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), a
Baku court has ruled that the State Committee for Work with Religious
Organisations must return religious books seized from Shukran Mammadov.
Police seized the books – by the late Turkish Muslim theologian –
during a raid in 2007, and Mammadov was also fined for hosting a religious
meeting. The books were then handed to the State Committee.

The ECtHR stated in its December 2020 decision that "the interference with
the applicant's possessions could not be considered lawful" (see below).

Despite the ECtHR decision that seizing his books had violated his rights,
Mammadov had to go to Azerbaijan's Supreme Court to overturn an earlier
refusal to return the books. He then had to go to Baku Appeal Court, which
on 1 March 2023 ordered the State Committee to return them. As of 18 July,
Mammadov has still not received back his books (see below).

The State Committee failed to respond to Forum 18's question as to when it
intends to return Mammadov's books (see below).

"The government should have ensured that Shukran's property was returned,
but few European Court of Human Rights decisions are fully carried out,"
Mammadov's lawyer Asabali Mustafayev told Forum 18. "So on our advice
Shukran appealed to the court here. Now he has the decision and it has been
sent to be implemented" (see below).

In a Jehovah's Witness religious literature censorship case, the regime
claimed to the Council of Europe in July 2022 that "the practice of
imposing restrictions on religious literature has become outdated for a
while in Azerbaijan". However, the state censorship of all religious
literature produced in, distributed in and imported into Azerbaijan remains
unchanged (see below).

Elshad Miri, a Muslim theologian who is challenging a State Committee ban
on one of his books at the ECtHR, says the religious literature censorship
system is still in force. "Nothing has changed in the system," he told
Forum 18. "This needs to change – it is not just" (see below).

Eldar Zeynalov of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan agrees. "According
to ordinary human logic, if there are some state structures that are
responsible for recognising a religious text as 'extremist' and for issuing
'relevant permission' for the production and distribution of religious
literature, then this means the presence of 'religious censorship', even if
the office of this organisation does not have a sign with that name," he
told Forum 18 (see below).

Forum 18 asked Chingiz Asgarov, the government agent to the ECtHR who made
this claim to the Council of Europe, why he is claiming this given that the
censorship system remains unchanged. Forum 18 reminded him of Article 22 of
the Religion Law, which sets out this state censorship. Forum 18 received
no immediate response (see below).

Complete religious literature censorship

Under Article 22 of the Religion Law, all religious literature produced in,
published in (including on the internet) or imported into Azerbaijan is
subject to prior compulsory censorship
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2429__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjtTAzSWT$
 ). If the State
Committee for Work with Religious Organisations "Religious Expert Analysis
[Censorship] Department" gives permission to publish or import a work, it
also specifies how many copies can be produced or imported.

The Department – which is headed by Nahid Mammadov – employs 8
officials, according to the State Committee website. Officials at the
Department told Forum 18 on 17 July that Mammadov was not in the office.
They said they were unable to explain why religious books and materials are
subject to censorship, or what the 8 officials do.

Publications which have gained State Committee approval indicate this. For
example, a Catholic prayer book in Azeri published in 2023 includes a note:
"This book was published with the permission of the State Committee for
Work with Religious Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Letter
DK-1929/F)." (DK is the Azeri abbreviation of State Committee.)

All religious materials sold must have a sticker (each costing 0.02 Manats)
from the State Committee stating that they have its approval for
distribution.

As of 18 July, the State Committee website lists 44 shops which it allows
to sell religious literature and materials.

Criminal Code Article 167-2 punishes "Production, sale and distribution of
religious literature (paper and electronic formats), audio and video
materials, religious items and other informational materials of religious
nature with the aim of import, sale and distribution without appropriate
authorisation".

The State Committee regularly announces – without details – how many
publications it has approved and not approved. It said it rejected the
import of 52 books in 2020, the publication of 16 in 2021 and the
publication of 8 and the import of 107 in 2022, claiming that they promoted
"religious intolerance". However, it publishes no list of publications it
has not approved.

State officials have repeatedly denied that this is censorship.

Elshad Miri, a Baku-based Muslim theologian who is challenging a State
Committee ban on one of his books at the European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) in Strasbourg (see below), says the religious literature censorship
system is still in force. "Nothing has changed in the system," he told
Forum 18 on 18 July. "This needs to change – it is not just."

Miri said that since the State Committee ban, it has given permission for
him to publish two more books. "I wrote to the State Committee and asked to
produce 1,000 copies," he said. "They then write back giving the number
that they allow to be published. They warn that if you want to publish
further copies, you need to come back to them again for permission."

Miri said that on going to a printer with the religious book, "the first
thing they ask for is the permission letter from the State Committee". The
book has to include a statement that the book has permission from the State
Committee with the reference number of the approval.

European Court of Human Rights decision, but no return of religious books

Following a 2020 decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in
Strasbourg, a Baku court has ruled that the State Committee must return
religious books seized from Shukran Mammadov in 2007.

Mammadov had legally bought the more than 100 books – from Muslim
theologian Said Nursi's "Risale-i Nur" [Messages of Light] collection –
in a bookshop in Baku. Police seized the books in a raid on a religious
meeting in his home in Ujar in July 2007 (for which he was also fined) and
handed them to the State Committee for censorship. The State Committee has
given varying opinions of Nursi's works
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1964__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjhanO_Ea$
 ) over the years, at
times banning them and others declaring that individuals can import limited
quantities.

In December 2020, the ECtHR found that the regime had violated Mammadov's
rights 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2647__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjPB5Ae_$
 ) (Application
No. 7308/12 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-206272__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjhVkDXZR$
 )) and ordered that
the government pay him compensation. The government has paid the
compensation, but Mammadov was unable to get back the religious books
seized from him.

Shukran Mammadov had earlier unsuccessfully brought legal challenges to
recover his books 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1522__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjArHOUk$
 ),
but ultimately lost his case at the Supreme Court in August 2011. He
revived his attempt to get them back after the ECtHR judgment in December
2020 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2647__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjPB5Ae_$
 ).

On 26 November 2021, Asabali Mustafayev wrote on Mammadov's behalf
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/ENG?i=DH-DD(2022)12E__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjgb_-Txo$
 ) to the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe (which oversees the implementation of
ECtHR decisions). He noted that although the regime had paid the
compensation awarded to Mammadov because of the violation of his rights,
"it has not returned the applicant's possession (religious books)". He
pointed out that the ECtHR had stated in its decision that "the
interference with the applicant's possessions could not be considered
lawful".

Mustafayev noted that Mammadov had repeatedly written to the government's
representative Chingiz Asgarov and the Justice Ministry requesting the
books' return, but "to no avail". The failure to return them meant that the
regime "continues to violate his rights". 

"Shukran clearly did not have these books for distribution, as there was
only one copy of each title," Mustafayev told Forum 18 from Baku on 11 July
2023. "He bought them legally when they were openly on sale in Baku. The
State Committee later banned their mass distribution without any basis. So
their confiscation was illegal."

Following the December 2020 ECtHR decision, and given the failure to hand
back his books, Mammadov brought a suit against the State Committee to the
Plenum of the Supreme Court. He sought to overturn the Supreme Court's
rejection of his suit handed down in 2011.

On 30 September 2022, the Plenum of the Supreme Court ruled that earlier
court decisions rejecting the return of the books had been incorrect and
returned Mammadov's case to Baku Appeal Court.

On 1 March 2023, a panel of three judges at Baku Appeal Court, chaired by
Judge Farrukh Qasimov, approved the return of his books. The court "agrees
with the evidence of the plaintiff's appeal and notes that the confiscation
of books belonging to the plaintiff was illegal, and the plaintiff was
entitled to claim back his property illegally held by the defendant [State
Committee]", the decision, seen by Forum 18, declares. The court therefore
annulled the 2010 court decision against Mammadov.

The State Committee did not appeal against the court decision that the
books must be returned, Mammadov's lawyer Mustafayev told Forum 18 on 11
July. "Implementation of this decision is now taking place." It remains
unclear when bailiffs will enforce the decision and return Mammadov's books
to him. Mammadov had not received them back as of 18 July.

Forum 18 asked the press secretary at the State Committee, Yagut Aliyeva,
in writing on 12 July when it intends to return Mammadov's books. It
received no reply by the end of the working day in Baku of 18 July.

"The government should have ensured that Shukran's property was returned,
but few European Court of Human Rights decisions are fully carried out,"
Mustafayev told Forum 18. "So on our advice Shukran appealed to the court
here. Now he has the decision and it has been sent to be implemented."

"Unilateral declarations", "friendly settlements", and failure to change
law and practice

Victims of human rights violations and human rights defenders have
complained that, although the regime pays the compensation ordered by the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), it does not change law and
practices to prevent repeat violations. Thus many cases – such as over
punishments for conscientious objectors or religious literature censorship
– cover human rights violations that the Court has already ruled on in
similar cases.

Jehovah's Witness Seymur Mammadov is considering lodging a case to the
ECtHR 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2846__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjhMuArvZ$
 ) over his
conviction and punishment for refusing compulsory military service on
grounds of conscience. The ECtHR has already ruled in favour of seven
conscientious objectors but the regime has failed to introduce an
alternative service for those who cannot perform military service on
grounds of conscience.

"The Court pointed out that such a situation in principle calls for
legislative action by the respondent State in order to fulfil its
obligations to enable the applicants and other persons in the same
situation to benefit from the right to conscientious objection", a
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2846Council__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjtAieYVx$
  of Europe report
noted of the cases of five of the conscientious objectors.

In recent years the regime has tried to close cases of freedom of religion
or belief violations at the ECtHR
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2795__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjqlAeNg3$
 ) by admitting
violations and offering compensation in a "unilateral declaration" or by
offering compensation in a "friendly settlement".

In October 2022, the ECtHR closed two cases over import bans of Jehovah's
Witness literature 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2647__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjPB5Ae_$
 )
after the regime offered a "unilateral declaration" which included its
"acknowledgement of the fact that there was a violation of the applicants'
rights guaranteed under the Convention". The regime offered compensation to
Baku's Jehovah's Witness community, but not to the individual applicants
who had also been part of the cases to the ECtHR.

"It is easier a couple of times a year to buy off those few complainants
who manage to get to the European Court than to change the well-established
system that suits the authorities," Eldar Zeynalov of the Human Rights
Centre of Azerbaijan told Forum 18 from Baku in March 2021
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2647__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjPB5Ae_$
 ). "And if it is
possible to do this without bringing the essence of the problem to public
consideration at all, this is ideal for the government. And this is exactly
what happens when concluding friendly settlements or when the ECtHR accepts
a unilateral declaration from the government."

Religious literature censorship cases under Council of Europe "enhanced
supervision"

Shukran Mammadov's ECtHR decision is among four cases – another of which
relates to censored Jehovah's Witness literature – which are under
enhanced supervision by the Council of Europe. The regime submitted an
Action Report on 20 July 2022
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/eng?i=DH-DD(2022)785E__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjvXV96VN$
 ) related to three
Jehovah's Witness cases. Chingiz Asgarov, the government agent to the
ECtHR, did not respond to the Committee of Ministers on Shukran Mammadov's
case.

The regime's Action Report in the three Jehovah's Witness cases claims that
it has implemented the ECtHR decisions by paying the compensation awarded
by the Court to victims in two of the four cases (both from Jehovah's
Witnesses), as well as in another Jehovah's Witness case. Asgarov claims
that "no outstanding issues remain unresolved" and asks the Committee of
Ministers to close the case.

"Additional information is awaited," the Council of Europe website
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hudoc.exec.coe.int/eng?i=004-55457__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjQL3QOI$
 ) as of  notes in
response to the regime's Action Report.

The ECtHR ruled in February 2020 that Azerbaijan had violated the rights of
Jehovah's Witnesses by banning three of their publications from import and
distribution back in 2008 (Religious Community of Jehovah's Witnesses v.
Azerbaijan, Application No. 52884/09
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-201087__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjnUeP6RH$
 )).

Following the ECtHR's February 2020 judgment, the regime's July 2022 Action
Report claimed that "since 2016 no restrictions have been imposed on the
Religious Community of Jehovah's Witnesses on importing religious
literature. In general, the practice of imposing restrictions on religious
literature has become outdated for a while in Azerbaijan".

While the State Committee has not refused Jehovah's Witnesses permission to
import specific publications since November 2015, the state censorship of
all religious literature produced in, distributed in and imported into
Azerbaijan remains unchanged.

Eldar Zeynalov of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan told Forum 18 on 18
July that it is "difficult to accept" the claim that "the practice of
imposing restrictions on religious literature has become outdated". He
points to Criminal Code Article 167-2 punishing unapproved production,
distribution and import of religious materials.

Criminal Code Article 167-2 "is not about just extremist literature, but
about any publications of religious content, not even intended for sale",
Zeynalov notes. "How many books or magazines are enough to initiate a
criminal case under this article has not been specified, which gives reason
to believe that even one copy is enough."

Zeynalov adds: "According to ordinary human logic, if there are some state
structures that are responsible for recognising a religious text as
'extremist' and for issuing 'relevant permission' for the production and
distribution of religious literature, then this means the presence of
'religious censorship', even if the office of this organisation does not
have a sign with that name."

Forum 18 asked Chingiz Asgarov, the government agent to the ECtHR who made
this claim to the Council of Europe, in writing in the middle of the
working day in Baku of 17 July why he is claiming this given that the
censorship system remains unchanged. Forum 18 reminded him of Article 22 of
the Religion Law, which sets out this state censorship. Forum 18 received
no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 18 July.

Another religious literature censorship case is pending at the ECtHR. In
February 2018, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations on
theological grounds banned the publication and distribution
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2351__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjjiouiSQ$
 ) of the book "Things
Not Existing in Islam" by Muslim theologian Elshad Miri (also known as
Miriyev). Repeated legal appeals against the ban failed
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2485__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjvfr0hrn$
 ).

After failing on 20 December 2019 in the Supreme Court to overturn the ban
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2490__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjldjFjcW$
 ), Miri lodged a case
in the ECtHR, Miriyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 1717/20). The ECtHR
has not yet asked the regime questions about the case. Miri told Forum 18
on  that he has had no recent news from the Court.

Government "friendly agreement" in one UN appeal, another appeal withdrawn

On 24 March 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Committee discontinued
consideration of an appeal lodged by two Jehovah's Witnesses in June 2016
about violations of freedom of religion, it announced on 28 February 2023.
The Committee said the decision had been taken because the two "had reached
a friendly agreement with the State party".

On 27 July 2022, the Committee discontinued consideration of an appeal
lodged by an individual in November 2015 about violations of freedom of
religion, it announced on 9 March 2023. The Committee said the decision had
been taken at the request of the applicant.

The appeal appears to be related to the Baptist community in the northern
town of Aliabad, which police repeatedly raided and two of whose pastors
were jailed. The Baptist church was able to meet for worship with limited
State Committee approval from January 2020
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2557__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjgJBA1iI$
 ), which might have led
the applicant to withdraw the appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee.
(END)

Full reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?query=&religion=all&country=23__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjqBs1rmv$
 )

For more background, see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2429__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjtTAzSWT$
 )

Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1351__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjqcsZdLj$
 )

Follow us on Twitter @Forum_18 
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://twitter.com/forum_18__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjiIo24Pp$
 )

Follow us on Facebook @Forum18NewsService
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/Forum18NewsService__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!qds6hCYJfEXxXUXOxiaXgG9-i9f2LLnpe3F2jQW_WmJOcO4nqQfspCBoMPgQBPkc10-nYTaApReWZXvx07mEjqX4dEeV$
 )

Follow us on Telegram @Forum18NewsService
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 )

All Forum 18 text may be referred to, quoted from, or republished in full,
if Forum 18 is credited as the source.

All photographs that are not Forum 18's copyright are attributed to the
copyright owner. If you reuse any photographs from Forum 18's website, you
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Armenpress: A group of young people block the Askeran-Akna road with concrete barriers

Ani Basmajian

 20:18,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. A group of young people blocked the Askeran-Akna road with concrete barriers, ARMENPRESS reports, citing ARTSAKHPESS, activist Arshak Abrahamyan, founder of "Vernatun" youth analytical center, announced on his Facebook page.

Earlier, in a meeting with the newly appointed Russian ambassador, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov repeated Baku's proposal that "Aghdam-Khankendi highway can be used to meet the needs of the Armenian residents of Azerbaijan".

Since December, the Azerbaijani side has been keeping the Goris-Stepanakert road / Lachin Corridor, which is of vital importance for Artsakh, closed for various reasons. As a result of the blockade, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Artsakh.




Armenian, German officials refer to importance of deployment EU observation mission in Armenia

Ani Basmajian

 18:16,

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. On July 13, Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan received the delegation led by Tobias Lindner, German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Assembly of Armenia, welcoming the guests, Ruben Rubinyan commended the cooperation with Germany. The Vice President of the National Assembly emphasized that the cooperation between Armenia and Germany has expanded and deepened in recent years, which was also facilitated by the effective work of friendly groups of the parliaments.

Ruben Rubinyan presented the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by Azerbaijan's illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor and emphasized the role of international partners, including Germany, in overcoming it.

The sides referred to the importance of the deployment of the EU observation mission in Armenia.

Ruben Rubinyan also presented the normalization process of Armenia-Turkey relations.

We expect continuous support and concrete actions from international partners- Alen Simonyan to Bruno Retailleau

Ani Basmajian

 10:42,

YEREVAN, 12 JULY, ARMENPRESS: During the working visit to France, the delegation led by the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the head of the "Republicans" faction, Bruno Retailleau, ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Assembly of Armenia.  

“We highly appreciate your personal commitment to the issue of Armenia and Artsakh since 2020, as a prominent French politician, and your activity as the Founder-Chairman of the group on the Nagorno Karabakh issue in the Senate,” the President of the National Assembly said.

He expressed gratitude for the solidarity and principled positions expressed by the Senate especially in the matters of importance for Armenia since the 44-day war of 2020.

Bruno Retailleau noted that this meeting is, first of all, a long-awaited opportunity for him to communicate with good friends, which will provide an opportunity to learn news about Armenia and Artsakh Armenians. He stated that his last visit to Armenia was worrying: not only the people of Nagorno Karabakh, but also the people of Armenia are under threat. Bruno Retailleau added that authoritarianism and dictatorship have seriously questioned the development of the region through democracy.

In response, Alen Simonyan responded that they raise the issue to the international community on a daily basis and expect continuous support and concrete steps from their partners to keep the region free from shocks and war.

A wide range of issues regarding the joint work agenda were also discussed at the meeting.

Armenia ought to intensify cooperation with SCO and BRICS with intent to become full member, says expert

Ani Basmajian

 09:59, 6 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 5, ARMENPRESS. The reputation of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is steadily growing in a bid to become a separate pole in international relations, according to Grigor Balasanyan, an international affairs expert. Balasanyan told ARMENPRESS that the BRICS factor is contributing to the SCO’s growing role because it includes nearly the same founding members.

“The SCO’s appeal is that it is able to maintain the reputation of a universal organization ensuring comprehensive security in the Asia-Pacific. It is noteworthy that for instance India and Pakistan were considered enemies before becoming members of the SCO, but after joining it virtually no border clashes have taken place there, meaning they were able to resolve in the SCO strong disagreements and thus avoid military escalation. It’s no coincidence that many countries are seeking to join the organization because they tie their physical, economic and cultural security with it,” Balasanyan said.

The expert noted that the U.S. is also actively trying to establish close relations with the SCO and BRICS countries by engaging in separate talks so that they don’t abandon dollarization and don’t severe ties with Washington, and to openly condemn the events in Ukraine.  But influential India and China pursue their interests, well realizing that both the SCO and BRICS have real opportunities to abandon U.S. dominance and the impact of the dollar, and not less importantly to decrease Washington’s role in regional processes.

“Following the example of India and China, many countries in Latin America, Africa and Middle East want to join BRICS, which in turn means a significant reduction of U.S. hegemony, whose economy – many believe – does no longer have a leading position in the world,” Balasanyan said.

Armenia ought to intensify cooperation with the SCO and BRICS with intent to become a full member of the two organizations to economically acquire access to broad markets and influential partners for its future development.

“In our case the security component is also important, given that the SCO has proven its vitality in this sense as well, hence joining it could bring significant benefits to Armenia,” the expert said.

 

Interview by Manvel Margaryan




AGBU Marks 110 Years in France With an Emphasis on Current Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)

Ani Basmajian

 

 

Press Release

 

 

 

June 30, 2023

For immediate release

 

 

Paris, June 26, 2023 – The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)—the world’s largest Armenian nonprofit — finally had the opportunity to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of its presence in France three years after the fact, due to the global pandemic and deadly war against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) starting in 2020. Nevertheless, the event attracted participants from across the globe over the course of two days, complete with conferences, dinners, and group activities. The aim was also to generate support from French politicians as well as valued AGBU donors and friends for AGBU’s humanitarian efforts in Artsakh. The AGBU France Board was also renewed on this occasion.

 

A Legacy for Relief

 

Founded in 1906 in Cairo, AGBU first came to France in 1910 with the creation of its Marseille branch. Over the ensuing decades, AGBU came to the aid of Armenian communities in harm’s way. More recently, it expanded its capacity to meet multiple emergency situations in hotspots around the world, thanks to the AGBU Global Relief Fund. From the conflict in Syria and the Beirut Blast in Lebanon to the 2020 Artsakh War, this dedicated fund allowed AGBU to ramp up humanitarian solutions on the local level, whether delivering on-the-ground assistance with food boxes, survival gear, pharmaceutical and medical supplies, or providing longer-term financial assistance. 

 

Since December 2022, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been suffering the full force of a blockade imposed by the government of Azerbaijan that deprives them of energy, food and healthcare. AGBU has stepped up its efforts to support this vulnerable community with resources raised through this special fund. 

In an emphatic speech, AGBU President explained the organization’s commitment to Artsakh and Armenia.  “Because, for AGBU, benevolence is not only a virtue; it is a moral duty, it is a commitment,” he stated. “If the French of Armenian origin are today an exemplary model of integration, it is not only because of their courage and tenacity. It’s also thanks to their spirit of solidarity, to which France has just paid homage by inducting Mélinée and Missak Manouchian into the Panthéon …Our union is more necessary than ever, our energy is more essential than ever, our generosity is more vital than ever …If history has taught us anything, it’s that the future is not given, it must be taken. In 110 years’ time, AGBU will still exist, with future generations who will carry the torch in pursuit of its mission. Today, the future of Armenia and Artsakh is in front of us. It is up to us to conquer it.” 

Anniversary Events

As part of the milestone occasion, AGBU organized three events, including an all-day conference on the challenges facing Armenia in the South Caucasus region, an evening for young professionals and a dinner in solidarity with the Armenian people. 

 

On June 23, “Armenia at the Crossroads, Peace and Prosperity at the Edge of Europe” was organized by AGBU France and Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI) of Armenia at Sciences Po. The keynote remarks for the morning discussion were delivered by Nathalie Loiseau, a member of European Parliament and the chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense. 

 

Also in attendance was Xavier Bertrand, the president of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France who talked about Armenian-French strategic partnership: “Leaving Nagorno-Karabakh today means abandoning Armenia tomorrow. If we leave Nagorno-Karabakh, there’s going to be a massacre. We have to be aware of this. We have to show that important things are happening not only in Ukraine. And also we are talking about ethnic purification, ethnic cleansing. We should be careful that Armenia doesn’t have part of its territory taken from itself, because otherwise Armenia is going to be menaced in the future.” 

 

Among the other speakers of the morning session were Armelle Charrier, International Affairs Commentator, France24; Laure Delcour, Associate Professor in International Relations and EU Studies, Sorbonne Nouvelle University; Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia; Arancha González Laya, the former minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain and the dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po; Ambassador Jacques Faure, the former ambassador of France to Ukraine; Former Co-Chair, OSCE Minsk Group, etc.

 

For the afternoon session, the emphasis was placed on sustainable agriculture in Armenia, transformative technologies, and renewable energies. A number of Armenian entrepreneurs participated, including: Anahit Markosian, the founder and head of R&D and Product Development, Nairian Skincare; Aimee Keushguerian, the founder and owner of Zulal Wines and the managing director of Keush; Victoria Aslanian, the CEO and co-founder of ArmAs Winery. Each shared their experiences and their formula for success. They also discussed how they are strengthening Armenia’s economic and business opportunities and ecosystems to build a more resilient country. First Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Mantashyan also addressed the audience with a speech about the opportunities that exist in that sphere. 

 

That same evening, “La Nuit des YP” was organized by the AGBU Young Professionals of Paris, bringing together 120 young professionals from across Europe to the Monnaie de Paris. 

 

The dinner in solidarity with the Armenian people took place on Saturday, June 24 at the Westin Paris Vendôme. Over 200 people attended.  AGBU Central Board of Directors, under the chairmanship of AGBU President Berge Setrakian, along with the French and European network and AGBU friends, paid tribute to its valued partners, including: Nathalie Loiseau, member of the European Parliament and chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defense; Valérie Pécresse, the president of the Île-de-France Regional Council; Laurent Wauquiez, the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council; Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, represented by Arnaud Ngatcha, the deputy mayor of Paris in charge of Europe and international affairs for the French-speaking world. AGBU leadership expressed its gratitude for their continued support in solidarity projects with Armenia and Artsakh. In turn, the honorees offered their own perspectives on the crisis. 

 

“Is Azeri aggression more acceptable than Russian aggression? Is Azeri gas more acceptable than Russian gas? Is the territory of Artsakh less sacred in the eyes of the European media than Donbass? Is Armenian blood less valuable than Ukrainian blood? Would we impose this peace on Armenia by abandoning 120,000 of your compatriots on the other side of a corridor, in a blockade of an inhumanity we didn’t even think we’d see in the 21st century?” expressed Laurent Wauquiez, the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, during the solidarity dinner organized by AGBU France.

 

“I can no longer stand these diplomatic announcements that sound like they were written by ChatGPT, since they keep saying that both sides need to exercise restraint. I still know the difference between an aggressor and an aggressed. I can still name the fact that Azerbaijan is shooting at Armenia. I still know how to say that while Azerbaijan is firing on the internationally recognized territory of Armenia, so-called Russian peacekeepers are present and crossing their arms“, said Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament.

 

“Realpolitik has its limits, it can’t justify everything. Just because the European Union needs Azerbaijani gas doesn’t mean we should keep quiet. (…) The Armenians of both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh represent the outpost of democracy, in a region where authoritarian, even dictatorial states reign unchallenged. (…) For me, defending Armenia is defending Europe, defending our human values, our common values” added Valérie Pécresse, President of the Paris region.

 

A New AGBU France Board of Directors 

 

On Saturday June 24, members of the new AGBU France Board of Directors were also able to meet with the AGBU Central Board of Directors. During this meeting, the activities and news of AGBU global, AGBU Armenia and AGBU Europe were presented. Stéphane Petrossian is appointed co-president of AGBU France, alongside Nadia Gortzounian, co-president of AGBU France. Camilio Azzouz becomes AGBU Europe President.

 

To help support humanitarian efforts in Artsakh, donate to AGBU Global Relief Fund at agbugiving.org/relief.

Link to photos

 

Photo 1: 

APRI Conference in session at Sciences Po, Paris 

 

Photo 2: 

President of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France Xavier Bertrand, APRI keynote speaker

 

Photo 3: 

European Parliament member Nathalie Loiseau, APRI keynote speaker

 

Photo 4: 

Laurent Wauquiez, the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council addresses guests at the dinner in Solidarity with the Armenian People at the Westin Paris Vendome. 

 

Photo 5: 

AGBU leadership and distinguished guests at the dinner in Solidarity with the Armenian People. From Left: Hovhannes Guevorkian, Ara Toranian, Joseph Oughourlian, Laurent Wauquiez, Nadia Gortzounian, François-Xavier Bellamy, Hasmik Tolmadjian, Arnaud Ngatcha, Berge Setrakian, Stéphane Petrossian, and Camilio Azzouz

 

Photo 6: 

AGBU Central Board members and AGBU France board members meet in Paris. 

 

 

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora.  Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit www.agbu.org.

 

 

Media Inquiries:

AGBU Press Office

55 East 59th Street

New York, NY 10022-1112

This email was sent to [email protected]

AGBU, 55 East 59th Street, NY, New York 10022, United States

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